UPSC and competitive exams · 10 November 2026
UPSC Current Affairs Quiz, 10 November 2026: 25 Questions
25 current affairs questions for UPSC and competitive exams, drawn from Indian reporting on 9 and 10 November 2026, with short explanations. Select an option for instant feedback. Your score updates as you go.
25 questions · Published November 10, 2026, 9:00 PM IST
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- Question 1Polity
In its 6 November 2026 order holding that commercial crop cultivation inside reserve forests is not protected under the Forest Rights Act, 2006, the Supreme Court was dealing with silk cotton cultivation in which biosphere reserve?
The Hindu reported that a Bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta passed the order on extensive silk cotton cultivation within the reserve forests of the Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve. About 3,637.83 hectares of the 5,072.64 hectares of forest land there are under silk cotton cultivation.
- Question 2Polity
Consider the following statements about the Supreme Court's 6 November 2026 order on the Forest Rights Act, 2006: 1. The court took the prima facie view that planned or promoted cultivation of a commercial crop inside forest areas is not a right recognised under the Act. 2. The court noted that Section 3(1)(c) of the Act recognises the right of forest dwellers to collect, use and dispose of minor forest produce. 3. The court asked the National Tiger Conservation Authority to examine Tamil Nadu's view that silk cotton is a minor forest produce. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Statements 1 and 2 reflect the Bench's words as reported by The Hindu. Statement 3 is wrong because the court directed the Central Empowered Committee, not the National Tiger Conservation Authority, to examine the Tamil Nadu government's opinion on silk cotton.
- Question 3Polity
On 10 November 2026 the Election Commission of India extended Model Code of Conduct restrictions to retired officials re-engaged by State governments. Its letter went to the Chief Secretaries and Chief Electoral Officers of which group of poll-bound States?
The Hindu reported that the letter was addressed to Goa, Manipur, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, all of which go to polls early next year. Re-engaged retired officials must stay politically neutral and must not campaign or summon election-related officers for meetings.
- Question 4Polity
The Ladakh administration announced polls to the eight Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Councils on 10 November 2026. Polling is scheduled for which date?
The Hindu reported that polling for the eight LAHDCs is scheduled for 4 December, with the whole process to be completed by 8 December. The Revenue Department notification called on all 100 constituencies of the eight councils to constitute new councils, while Kargil observed a shutdown against holding the polls in winter.
- Question 5Polity
Consider the following statements about the Supreme Court ruling on sales tax surcharges explained by The Indian Express on 10 November 2026: 1. Entry 54 of List II of the Seventh Schedule empowers States to tax the sale or purchase of goods. 2. In the Mineral Area Development Authority case (2024), a nine-judge Bench held that royalty is not a tax. 3. The dispute arose from a 1990 amendment to the Kerala Sales Tax Act. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Statements 1 and 2 are correct as per The Indian Express explainer. Statement 3 is wrong because the dispute arose from a 1990 amendment to Odisha's Sales Tax Act, which made dealers with turnover above Rs 10 lakh pay an extra 10% of the sales tax they owed.
- Question 6Polity
A seven-judge Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court held that a surcharge calculated as a percentage of sales tax payable is not an impermissible tax on tax. Which 1974 Constitution Bench ruling did it say had already settled the question?
The Indian Express reported that the Bench held the issue had been settled by the 1974 Kodar ruling against the State of Kerala and saw no reason to revisit it. The court said the subject of the levy remained the sale or purchase of goods, and only the arithmetic route to the amount differed.
- Question 7Economy
The Directorate General of Trade Remedies has suo motu begun an anti-dumping probe into aluminium extrusion products from China, Malaysia, Vietnam and Thailand. Which ministry takes the final decision on imposing anti-dumping duty?
The Hindu reported that the DGTR, the Commerce Ministry's investigation arm, only recommends duty if dumping is found to cause material injury, and the finance ministry makes the final decision. The probe followed representations from the Aluminium Extrusion Manufacturers Association of India, which represents 228 manufacturers.
- Question 8Economy
The Reserve Bank of India has extended by another year the supersession of the board of which Mumbai-based co-operative bank, citing public interest?
The Hindu reported that the RBI extended the supersession of Abhyudaya Co-operative Bank's board for a further year from 24 November 2026. The RBI first superseded the board on 24 November 2023, citing poor governance standards, and Satya Prakash Pathak continues as Administrator.
- Question 9Schemes
Revised prices for cancer medicines came into force on 9 November 2026 after the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority capped trade margins for 137 non-scheduled anti-cancer drugs. At what level was the trade margin capped?
The Hindu reported that the NPPA capped trade margins at 30% for 137 non-scheduled anti-cancer drugs, cutting prices of nearly 900 brands by up to 70% to 93%. Andhra Pradesh has ordered inspections so that even stock bearing old printed prices is sold at the revised rates.
- Question 10International Relations
US-brokered talks between Russia and Ukraine, in which India pushed for safety of shipping in the Black Sea, began on 10 November 2026 in which city?
The Indian Express reported that the talks began in Abu Dhabi, and Ukraine's delegation head Rustem Umerov said they had moved to a trilateral format with the United States. India's ideas include safe Black Sea shipping, grain and energy exports, and non-attack possibilities.
- Question 11International Relations
Which Indian agency hosted the 2nd India-United States Drug Policy Executive Working Group meeting in New Delhi on 2 and 3 November 2026?
The Hindu reported that the Narcotics Control Bureau hosted the meeting, with its Director General Anurag leading the Indian side. The US side was led by Debbie Seguin of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, and both sides agreed on coordinated action against emerging narcotics threats.
- Question 12Sports
The third ODI between India and New Zealand at Seddon Park, Hamilton, on 10 November 2026 was called off due to rain. What is the state of the five-match series?
The Hindu reported that the match was abandoned after Shubman Gill won the toss, leaving India with an unassailable 2-0 lead. Shreyas Iyer will lead India in the last two games at Mount Maunganui as Gill joins the Test squad.
- Question 13Governance
According to an update on 10 November 2026, during which period will the second phase of Census 2027, the population enumeration, be conducted?
The Hindu reported that the population enumeration phase of Census 2027 will run from 25 January to 28 February 2027, with a revision phase from 1 to 5 March. Data collection will be based on the 40 questions notified for the census.
- Question 14Environment
Consider the following statements based on the World Meteorological Organization's State of the Climate report released at COP31: 1. 2024 remains the warmest year on record. 2. Atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration reached about 426.8 ppm in 2025. 3. The ocean absorbs about half of the excess heat trapped by greenhouse gases. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
The Hindu reported that 2024 is the warmest year on record and that carbon dioxide rose from about 278 ppm in 1750 to about 426.8 ppm in 2025. Statement 3 is wrong because the report says the ocean absorbs 90% of the excess heat.
- Question 15Environment
COP31 opened on 9 November 2026 in Antalya, Turkiye, under an unusual arrangement. Which country is leading the negotiations while Turkiye presides?
The Hindu reported that Turkiye is presiding over COP31 while Australia leads the negotiations, an arrangement that settled a dispute over hosting. The talks run from 9 to 20 November, and the hosts have branded it the implementation COP.
- Question 16Environment
The Global Carbon Budget study released at COP31 projects that global fossil fuel CO2 emissions will dip slightly in 2026. By how much are India's fossil fuel emissions projected to grow in 2026?
The Indian Express reported that India was the only major emitter whose fossil fuel emissions were expected to grow in 2026, by 4.4%, above its decade average of 3.5%. Global fossil CO2 emissions were projected at 38.2 billion tonnes, 0.4% lower than in 2025.
- Question 17Environment
The Forest Advisory Committee recommended diverting 511 hectares of forest land for the 1,800 MW Panari Pumped Storage Project. The affected tiger corridor links Panna Tiger Reserve with which reserve?
The Indian Express reported that the corridor connects Panna Tiger Reserve to the Ranipur Tiger Reserve in Chitrakoot, Uttar Pradesh. Ranipur was notified in 2022 to compensate for forest submergence in Panna's core zone caused by the Ken-Betwa river linking project.
- Question 18Geography
Panna Tiger Reserve, in the news over the Panari pumped storage project, lies in the Vindhyan ranges. Which river enters it from the south and flows through it for almost 55 km?
The Indian Express knowledge nugget said the Ken river enters Panna Tiger Reserve from the southern end and flows through it for almost 55 km. Panna National Park was set up in 1981 and brought under Project Tiger in 1994.
- Question 19Environment
Punjab recorded 1,152 farm fires on Deepavali (8 November 2026), the biggest single-day jump of the season. Which district has reported the most farm fires this season so far?
The Hindu reported that Tarn Taran had the highest seasonal count at 654, even though Sangrur logged the most fires on Deepavali itself with 194. Punjab's total rose to 4,459, and 884 FIRs were registered under Section 223 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
- Question 20Infrastructure
The newly commissioned 15.121 km Nandyal-Gazulapalli double line, part of the Guntur-Guntakal doubling project, falls under which railway zone?
The Indian Express reported that the section falls under the South Coast Railway zone and is part of the 401 km Guntur-Guntakal Doubling and Electrification Project. It was cleared for a maximum speed of 100 kmph and is expected to ease operations on the Howrah-Visakhapatnam route.
- Question 21History and Culture
The Chola-era Anaimangalam copper plates, also called the Leiden Copper Plates, may be returned to Tamil Nadu. Where did the plates originate?
The Hindu reported that Madurai MP Su Venkatesan wrote that the plates originated in Nagapattinam and should be displayed in Tamil Nadu. The plates, long housed at Leiden University in the Netherlands, were handed over to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in The Hague on 16 May.
- Question 22History and Culture
Consider the following statements about Kadambini Ganguly, profiled by The Hindu on 10 November 2026: 1. In 1882 she and Chandramukhi Basu passed the BA examination of the University of Calcutta. 2. She received the Graduate of Bengal Medical College degree in 1886. 3. She was the first woman to be elected president of the Indian National Congress. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
The Hindu noted that Kadambini and Chandramukhi Basu became the country's first female graduates in 1882 and that Kadambini received the GBMC degree in 1886. Statement 3 is wrong because the article describes her as one of the first women delegates to the Congress and its first woman speaker, not its president.
- Question 23Awards and Persons
Social activist Sanjit Bunker Roy, who died on 10 November 2026 aged 81, founded the Social Work and Research Centre, widely known as Barefoot College, in 1972 at which place?
The Hindu reported that Bunker Roy died at his home in Tilonia in Rajasthan's Ajmer district, where he founded the Social Work and Research Centre in 1972. A former national squash champion, he built Barefoot College on a bottom-up model of community-based water management and renewable energy.
- Question 24Defence
INS Surat arrived at Muscat on 8 November 2026 for the 15th edition of the bilateral maritime exercise Naseem Al Bahr. With which navy is this exercise held?
The Press Information Bureau said INS Surat reached Muscat for the 15th edition of Naseem Al Bahr (Sea Breeze), to be followed by a coordinated patrol with the Royal Navy of Oman. The ministry linked the port call to India's MAHASAGAR vision.
- Question 25Sports
Anuj Shrivatri became India's 100th chess Grandmaster on 8 November 2026 by winning the 7th ASEAN+ Individual Open Chess Championship. In which country was the event held?
The Hindu reported that Shrivatri won the event in Ozamiz City in the Philippines with seven points from nine rounds. The 22-year-old from Katni is also the first Grandmaster from Madhya Pradesh.