The Union Cabinet approved the continuation of the Stand-Up India Scheme for another five years.

The scheme will continue until 31 March 2031.

It aims to promote entrepreneurship among women, Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs).

It provides financial assistance for greenfield enterprises in manufacturing, services, trading and allied agricultural activities.

Scheme launched: 5 April 2016.

Implementing department: Department of Financial Services.

Ministry: Ministry of Finance.

Beneficiaries: Women, SC and ST entrepreneurs.

The Central Government declared Ranivas Mound, located in Kesariya, East Champaran district, Bihar, a site of national importance.

The notification was issued by the Ministry of Culture.

The development highlights the importance of protecting India’s archaeological heritage.

Location: Kesariya, East Champaran.

State: Bihar.

Ministry: Ministry of Culture.

Andhra Pradesh secured second position among 28 states in the Access Equality Index (AEI) 2026.

The index was released by the Centre for New Economics Studies (CNES), O.P. Jindal Global University.

State: Andhra Pradesh.

Rank: Second.

Index: Access Equality Index 2026.

Patna Municipal Corporation became the first Urban Local Body in Bihar to raise funds through municipal bonds.

It mobilised approximately ₹199.99 crore from the capital market.

City: Patna.

State: Bihar.

Amount raised: ₹199.99 crore.

Indian Overseas Bank (IOB) launched its IOB Digital Rupee mobile application.

The application enables customers to conduct transactions using India’s Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC).

Bank: Indian Overseas Bank.

Digital currency: Digital Rupee.

The first BIMSTEC Health Ministers’ Meeting was held in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

The meeting focused on strengthening regional health cooperation among BIMSTEC member countries.

Host country: Sri Lanka.

Venue: Colombo.

Organisation: BIMSTEC.

Full form: Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation.

India and Sri Lanka launched a business-led India–Sri Lanka Innovation Forum in Colombo.

Its objective is to connect startups, investors and businesses from both countries.

Cooperation includes digital public infrastructure, fintech, telemedicine and cybersecurity.

UPI.

DigiLocker.

e-Sanjeevani.

India and France strengthened cooperation in space, critical technologies and economic security.

Discussions covered cybersecurity, strategic supplies, commercial space activities and supply-chain resilience.

The discussions took place during Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri’s visit to Paris.

Countries: India and France.

Key areas: Space technology, cybersecurity and economic security.

India and Ecuador conducted their sixth round of Foreign Office Consultations in New Delhi.

Both countries reviewed bilateral relations and discussed international developments.

Meeting: Sixth Foreign Office Consultations.

Venue: New Delhi.

The Ministry of Defence signed a contract worth ₹498.58 crore with Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL).

The contract relates to the normal refit and re-powering of INS Betwa.

The project aims to improve the operational capabilities and service life of the Indian Navy’s warship.

Warship: INS Betwa.

Shipyard: Cochin Shipyard Limited.

Contract value: ₹498.58 crore.

Ministry: Ministry of Defence.

The 8th edition of the India–Myanmar Naval Exercise, IMNEX-26, commenced at Visakhapatnam.

The exercise aims to strengthen maritime cooperation and improve coordination between the two navies.

Exercise: IMNEX-26.

Participating countries: India and Myanmar.

Venue: Visakhapatnam.

The Indian Navy will coordinate the fifth edition of the Pan-India Coastal Defence Exercise, Sea Vigil-26.

The exercise focuses on strengthening coastal security and coordination among maritime security agencies.

Exercise: Sea Vigil-26.

Edition: Fifth.

Raksha Rajya Mantri Sanjay Seth launched the revamped Gallantry Awards Portal.

The portal aims to honour the bravery and sacrifices of India’s gallantry award recipients.

It also includes a dedicated digital space for the Veer Gatha programme.

Launched by: Sanjay Seth.

Ministry: Ministry of Defence.

India’s Consumer Price Index (CPI)-based retail inflation increased to 6.09% in October 2026.

It was 5.54% in September 2026.

The inflation rate crossed the RBI’s upper tolerance limit of 6%.

Food inflation stood at 8.94%.

Indicator: Consumer Price Index.

October inflation: 6.09%.

September inflation: 5.54%.

The Reserve Bank of India issued Master Directions on Cyber Resilience and Digital Payment Security Controls for Non-bank Payment System Operators.

The directions aim to strengthen cybersecurity and improve the security of digital payment systems.

Institution: RBI.

Subject: Cyber resilience and digital payment security.

The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) constituted two working groups.

One group will focus on life insurance and the other on non-life insurance.

Their responsibility is to develop a Risk-Based Capital (RBC) framework aligned with Indian Accounting Standards (Ind AS).

Regulator: IRDAI.

Framework: Risk-Based Capital.

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully conducted a ground test of the revised third stage (PS3) of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV).

The test was conducted at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota.

The development follows anomalies in the third stage during the PSLV-C61 and PSLV-C62 missions.

Organisation: ISRO.

Launch vehicle: PSLV.

Tested component: Third stage (PS3).

Location: Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.

Researchers reported five new species of horned frogs belonging to the genus Jingophrys.

The discovery includes Jingophrys tanogogo, described as India’s first known snail-eating frog.

The research involved scientists from Delhi University and Harvard.

State: Arunachal Pradesh.

Genus: Jingophrys.

CSIR, Norway’s SINTEF and the Research Council of Norway organised a dialogue in New Delhi.

The discussions focused on converting industrial and construction waste into useful resources.

The initiative supports sustainable construction and circular economy practices.

Countries: India and Norway.

Indian organisation: CSIR.

The Technology Development Board signed an agreement with Bengaluru-based Astrome Technologies.

Financial support of ₹64.05 crore will be provided under the Research, Development and Innovation Fund.

Organisation: Technology Development Board.

Company: Astrome Technologies.

Amount: ₹64.05 crore.

Location: Bengaluru, Karnataka.

Karthik Sastry – Economics: For contributions to climate change, technological innovation and business fluctuations.

Riddhipratim Basu – Mathematical Sciences: For research in probability theory and statistical physics.

Manoj Kumar Joshi – Physical Sciences: For developing programmable quantum machines using trapped ions.

Swarun Kumar – Engineering and Computer Sciences: For research in intelligent, low-power wireless networks.

Gautam Bhatia – Humanities and Social Sciences: For legal research relating to civil liberties, equality and freedom of speech.

Isha Jain – Life Sciences: For discoveries in oxygen biology.

Award: Infosys Prize.

Year: 2026.

Number of categories: Six.

Prize money: US$100,000 per recipient.

Instituted: 2009.

Corporate lawyer Bahram Vakil was appointed Chairman of Tata Investment Corporation.

He succeeds Noel Tata.

Bahram Vakil is a co-founder of AZB & Partners.

New Chairman: Bahram Vakil.

Organisation: Tata Investment Corporation.

Predecessor: Noel Tata.

NVIDIA appointed long-time director Harvey Jones as its first-ever board chair.

The appointment marks a change in the company’s board leadership.

Company: NVIDIA.

Observed annually to raise awareness about pneumonia prevention, diagnosis and treatment.

The 2026 theme is “A New Era of Pneumonia Control.”

Observed during 9–13 November 2026.

Theme: “Quality: Powering Performance.”

India observes National Naturopathy Day to promote naturopathy and natural healthcare practices.

The 2026 theme is “Prakrutik Chikitsa, Swasth Bharat.”

The 9th National Naturopathy Day will be observed in Karnataka.

Date: 18 November.

Theme: Prakrutik Chikitsa, Swasth Bharat.

Ministry: Ministry of AYUSH.