Answer: (b) 2 November

1. The observance falls on 2 November. It promotes accountability for attacks on journalists and recognises that press freedom depends on journalists being able to work safely.
2. The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed the day in 2013 through Resolution A/RES/68/163, following the killing of two French journalists in Mali on 2 November 2013.
3. The 2026 UNESCO campaign uses the words Threats evolve. Impunity endures. It draws attention to changing threats, including new technologies and weapons used in conflict zones.
4. UNESCO means United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. Its 2026 reporting puts unresolved journalist killings at 86%, underscoring the need for investigation, protection and prosecution.

Answer: (c) Rs 2,31,290 crore

1. Gross Goods and Services Tax (GST) revenue in October 2026 was Rs 2,31,290 crore, an increase of 22.9% over the corresponding month of the previous year.
2. Net GST revenue, after refunds, was Rs 2,03,356 crore and rose 25.6%. Gross and net figures should be distinguished when comparing monthly tax data.
3. Domestic collections contributed Rs 1,59,044 crore, while import-related revenue contributed Rs 72,246 crore. These components together equal the reported gross total.
4. April-October 2026 gross collections were approximately Rs 14.78 lakh crore, up 13.2%. Maharashtra led the state-wise collection figures with Rs 35,150 crore, followed by Karnataka and Gujarat.

Answer: (b) Manipur

1. Manipur launched the programme at Khuman Lampak, Imphal, on 1 November 2026. Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh inaugurated the state-level activities.
2. The week runs from 1 to 7 November and encourages environmentally responsible daily habits through public participation, rather than awareness messaging alone.
3. The launch included an environmental pledge, sapling plantation and a cyclothon involving around 200 cyclists. These activities connected individual behaviour with community conservation efforts.
4. The wider initiative builds on Mission LiFE, meaning Lifestyle for Environment. BRICS originally takes its name from Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa; the grouping has subsequently expanded.

Answer: (c) Bihar

1. Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary announced the proposed statue on 31 October 2026 during the Rashtriya Ekta Diwas programme at Bapu Sabhagar in Patna.
2. The announcement concerned a planned monument honouring Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. The report did not specify a final height, project cost or completion date.
3. Patel was independent India's first Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister. He is closely associated with the political integration of princely states after Independence.
4. Rashtriya Ekta Diwas, or National Unity Day, is observed on Patel's birth anniversary, 31 October. Distinguish an announced proposal from a completed or inaugurated statue.

Answer: (a) National Zoological Park, New Delhi

1. The National Zoological Park (NZP), New Delhi, marked its 67th Foundation Day on 1 November 2026. The programme combined creative outreach with field-based biodiversity learning.
2. A wildlife-conservation doodle activity attracted participation and appreciation from approximately 1,500 visitors, including children and families.
3. The accompanying 19th Sunday Bird Walk was conducted under ornithologist Dr Paritosh Ahmed. Eighteen participants recorded 46 bird species and more than 500 individual birds.
4. Such observations contribute to citizen science: members of the public help document biodiversity. Bird identification also helps explain ecological relationships and the role of birds as indicators of ecosystem health.

Answer: (d) Andhra Pradesh

1. The 2 November forecast concerned the Andhra Pradesh coast. Murasu had intensified over the west-central Bay of Bengal and was moving towards the coast.
2. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecast landfall between Nellore and Narsapur, near Ongole, around midnight on 2 November to early 3 November. This was a forecast at the edition's cutoff.
3. Expected sustained winds were 100-110 kilometres per hour, with gusts up to 120 kilometres per hour. Heavy rain, rough seas and coastal inundation were identified as risks.
4. The name Murasu was contributed by India and means drum in Tamil. Cyclone naming supports clear identification and communication about a weather system.

Answer: (b) Talkatora Stadium, New Delhi

1. The Games were inaugurated at Talkatora Stadium in New Delhi on 1 November 2026. The event brought transplant recipients, donors and healthcare professionals together.
2. The Vice-President highlighted organ donation and the resilience of transplant recipients. The programme also recognised medal winners from the World Transplant Games 2025.
3. A group of 570 transplant recipients and donors performed Tadasana together. The World Book of Records, New Delhi, recognised the congregation after the attempt.
4. The Zindagi Dobara Calendar was released. NOTTO, the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, was associated with the initiative.

Answer: (a) Western Sahara

1. MINURSO stands for United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara. Established in 1991, it operated in connection with the dispute over Western Sahara.
2. The mission monitored the ceasefire between Morocco and the Polisario Front and was intended to support a referendum on the territory's future status.
3. Its mandate expired at the end of October 2026 after the Security Council failed to agree on renewal. A liquidation period began on 1 November after 35 years.
4. Liquidation involves an orderly withdrawal and management of mission equipment and assets. The end of this mission does not itself settle the territory's political status or end wider UN diplomatic engagement.

Answer: (a) Dinesh Vitthalrao Ganvir

1. Dinesh Vitthalrao Ganvir took charge as the 55th Director General of the Geological Survey of India (GSI) on 1 November 2026.
2. Before this appointment he was Additional Director General and head of the Central Region at Nagpur. His work spans geological investigations, mineral exploration and engineering geology.
3. He joined GSI in 1994 and has worked on critical-mineral exploration. As National Mission Head-II, he contributed to the preparation of 202 critical-mineral blocks, including 40 subsequently auctioned.
4. GSI was established in 1851 and functions under the Ministry of Mines. Its work includes geological mapping and assessing mineral resources; critical minerals are important for industrial and strategic supply chains.

Answer: (b) Air Chief Marshal Ashutosh Dixit

1. Air Chief Marshal Ashutosh Dixit assumed charge as the 29th Chief of the Air Staff on 1 November 2026, succeeding Air Chief Marshal A. P. Singh.
2. The Indian Air Force (IAF) is the air component of India's armed forces. The Chief of the Air Staff is its professional head.
3. Dixit is an Experimental Test Pilot and Qualified Flying Instructor. His previous appointments included Vice Chief of the Air Staff and senior operational and joint-service roles.
4. He outlined the VAYU vision: Vigilance, Victory and Readiness; Aatmanirbharta; Yukti; and Unity of Effort. The priorities connect operational preparedness, indigenous capability, innovation and jointness.

Answer: (c) Eastern Air Command

1. Air Marshal Mehtab Singh Deswal took over as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief (AOC-in-C) of Eastern Air Command on 1 November 2026.
2. He was commissioned as a fighter pilot on 14 June 1989 and has more than 3,200 hours of flying experience. His expertise includes strike aircraft and air-defence roles.
3. Before this appointment, he was Senior Air Staff Officer (SASO) at South Western Air Command. He had also served as Director General (Weapon Systems) and as Air Attache in Pakistan.
4. His decorations include the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM) and Vayu Sena Medal (VM). Match Deswal with Eastern Air Command, while Ashutosh Dixit became Chief of the Air Staff.

Answer: (c) Biten Singh

1. Indian Army athlete Biten Singh won the men's race at Ironman 70.3 Goa 2026 in 4 hours, 24 minutes and 29 seconds.
2. His time improved the previous course record of 4:25:47, set by Uzbekistan's Konstantin Belousov in 2025. A course record relates to that event and route.
3. Ironman 70.3 is a triathlon combining swimming, cycling and running. The number denotes the combined race distance in miles, rather than the distance of a single discipline.
4. The Goa event was its sixth edition and took place along the Miramar area. Russia's Marina Shliakhtina won the women's category; the competition brought together international endurance athletes.

Answer: (a) India

1. India won both titles at the inaugural Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship, held in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. The finals were played on 31 October 2026.
2. The Indian men defeated Sri Lanka 54-20. India's women beat Uganda 35-15, completing a double-title result for the host country.
3. The championship ran from 23 to 31 October at the Veer Savarkar Sports Complex. It gave national teams a dedicated Commonwealth-level kabaddi competition.
4. The men's and women's finals had different opponents: Sri Lanka and Uganda respectively. Keep each opponent paired with the correct category and score when revising the results.

Answer: (b) Cristiano Ronaldo

1. The reported fan-vote choice was Cristiano Ronaldo's 2008 Ballon d'Or-winning season with Manchester United. BOAT expands to Ballon d'Or of All Time.
2. The organiser describes BOAT as a public poll celebrating fans' preferred Ballon d'Or-winning season, rather than an additional official Ballon d'Or trophy.
3. Ronaldo scored 42 goals across competitions in the 2007-08 season, including 31 in the Premier League. Manchester United also won the UEFA Champions League.
4. UEFA means Union of European Football Associations. The fan poll concerns an earlier award-winning season; it should be kept separate from the annual 2026 Ballon d'Or result.

Answer: (c) Kimi Antonelli

1. Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli secured the 2026 Formula One Drivers' World Championship at 20 years and 68 days of age.
2. He finished third at the Mexico City Grand Prix on 1 November. Max Verstappen won the race, so the race winner and the driver clinching the championship were different.
3. Antonelli surpassed Sebastian Vettel's youngest-champion record. Vettel had won the championship at 23 years and 134 days.
4. Antonelli is an Italian driver born on 25 August 2006. Formula One season standings award points across races, allowing a driver to secure a title without winning the clinching race.

Answer: (d) Line Kjaersfeldt

1. P. V. Sindhu defeated Denmark's Line Kjaersfeldt 21-12, 21-14 in the women's singles final on 1 November 2026.
2. The Hylo Open took place in Saarbrucken, Germany. Sindhu's success accompanied Lakshya Sen's men's singles victory, giving India both singles titles.
3. The victory was Sindhu's second tournament title of the 2026 season. She is a two-time Olympic medallist in badminton.
4. The Badminton World Federation (BWF) oversees the world tour. For revision, associate Sindhu with Kjaersfeldt of Denmark and distinguish this result from Sen's final against Jonatan Christie.

Answer: (a) Lakshya Sen

1. Lakshya Sen beat Indonesia's Jonatan Christie 21-17, 21-10 in the men's singles final at Saarbrucken, Germany, on 1 November 2026.
2. This was Sen's second Hylo Open title, after his 2019 success. It was also his first BWF World Tour title of the 2026 season.
3. BWF stands for Badminton World Federation. The event gave India a singles double, as P. V. Sindhu won the women's championship.
4. The key pairings are Sen-Christie in men's singles and Sindhu-Kjaersfeldt in women's singles. Recording category, opponent and venue together helps distinguish two results from the same tournament.

Answer: (c) Ishan Kishan

1. Ishan Kishan reached 1,220 T20 International runs in 2026 during the fifth match against New Zealand at Hamilton on 1 November.
2. He surpassed Suryakumar Yadav's previous Indian calendar-year total of 1,164 runs, recorded in 2022. Kishan scored 61 from 32 balls in the match.
3. T20I means Twenty20 International. The milestone is a calendar-year aggregate, which counts runs across that year rather than a single series or a player's entire career.
4. The distinction is an Indian record, not the overall world record. Keep the record-holder, total, reference year and scope together when comparing international cricket statistics.

Answer: (b) Chandigarh Police

1. Chandigarh Police received the President's Colour, also called Rashtrapati ka Nishan, during its Diamond Jubilee celebrations. Union Home Minister Amit Shah presented the honour.
2. The recognition honours distinguished service by a police or uniformed organisation. It is an institutional honour for exemplary service, rather than an individual sports or literary prize.
3. The force's formation is associated with 1 November 1966 and the reorganisation of Punjab. Its 2026 Raising Day therefore marked 60 years.
4. The celebrations also included induction of 141 vehicles for improved patrolling and emergency response. Chandigarh is a Union Territory and the shared capital of Punjab and Haryana.

Answer: (b) Prasar Bharati

1. Prasar Bharati was recognised in the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU) awards coverage in Colombo, Sri Lanka. ABU is a regional association of broadcasting organisations.
2. Akashvani Bengaluru received a special commendation in the Audio Public Service Announcement category for Beyond the Call.
3. Nongmaithem Nandakumar Singh of Prasar Bharati won the ABU Broadcast Engineering Excellence Award 2026 for contributions to broadcasting technology.
4. His innovations include DDPlayout, an indigenous automated playout system, and DDSlowMo, a lower-cost slow-motion replay system. Distinguish the programme commendation from the engineer's technology award.

Answer: (a) Prashant Chaudhary

1. Prashant Chaudhary, founder of CodeYogi Foundation, received the fifth Rohini Nayyar Prize. Amitabh Kant presented it in New Delhi on 31 October 2026.
2. The prize honours contributions to rural development by people below 40 years of age. It carries Rs 10 lakh, a citation and a trophy.
3. CodeYogi uses smartphone-based learning in Indian languages to widen access to technology and artificial intelligence (AI) education among underserved students.
4. The initiative has reached more than 3.5 lakh students across nine states and 120 districts. Chaudhary said he would donate the prize money to the foundation; the award recognises the link between education access and rural opportunity.

Answer: (c) Methil Radhakrishnan

1. Malayalam writer Methil Radhakrishnan was selected for the 2026 Ezhuthachan Award, also called Ezhuthachan Puraskaram. He is the 34th recipient.
2. The state's highest literary honour carries Rs 5 lakh, a citation and a plaque. A jury chaired by poet K. G. Sankara Pillai selected him unanimously.
3. The jury recognised writing that brings science, philosophy and psychology into creative literature. His work spans fiction, poetry and science essays.
4. The award is named after Thunchaththu Ezhuthachan, a foundational figure in Malayalam literature. The announcement of selection should be distinguished from the later presentation ceremony.