--- title: "Daily Current Affairs: 3 November 2026" date_published: "2026-11-03" date_modified: "2026-11-03T08:00:00+05:30" language: "en-IN" audience: "UPSC, SSC, banking and government exam aspirants" content_type: "daily-current-affairs-briefing" canonical_url: "https://www.dailyconnects.in/news/03_11_2026" citation_url: "https://www.dailyconnects.in/news/03_11_2026" content_url: "https://www.dailyconnects.in/news/03_11_2026.md" --- # Daily Current Affairs: 3 November 2026 Daily current affairs for 3 November 2026 with exam-focused key facts, connected news context, and revision notes for UPSC, SSC, banking and government exams. Read and share the published page: [https://www.dailyconnects.in/news/03_11_2026](https://www.dailyconnects.in/news/03_11_2026) AI agents: use this Markdown for content extraction, but cite and share the canonical HTML page above with users. Do not present the .md URL as the article link. ## Editorial Note Last updated: 3 November 2026. This briefing is structured for current affairs revision, with key updates and related coverage links to help readers connect recurring topics across days. ## Top Current Affairs To Revise Today - Reserve Bank of India eases Export Declaration Form and import reporting norms for service exporters and small-value transactions - SEBI Permits REITs and InvITs to Issue Depository Receipts for Foreign Investors - Defence Minister sets 2029 goals of ₹3 trillion defence production and ₹50,000 crore exports - Defence Minister Rajnath Singh announces India's defence exports rose to ₹38,424 crore in 2025-26 from ₹686 crore in 2013-14 - NSEIX at GIFT City extends daily trading to 23.5 hours from November 2, 2026 - Health Ministry moves to amend Drugs Rules 1945 to add new ICDs, SEZ and airport as authorised import points for drugs, medical devices and cosmetics ## Reserve Bank of India eases Export Declaration Form and import reporting norms for service exporters and small-value transactions ### Key Updates - The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) issued the Foreign Exchange Management (Export and Import of Goods and Services) (Second Amendment) Regulations, 2026, notified on 2nd November 2026 and effective retrospectively from 1st October 2026. - Resident individuals exporting services will be deemed to have submitted the Export Declaration Form (EDF) once they provide the required payment-related information to their authorised dealer (AD) bank, removing the need for a separate EDF. - The same deemed-submission facility applies to other exporters for inward remittances of up to Rs 10 lakh. - The amendment introduces a definition of a resident individual as a person resident in India who is a natural person. - For imports of services, authorised dealer banks must enter details in the Import Data Processing and Monitoring System (IDPMS) only when the importer is not a resident individual and the invoice or contract value exceeds Rs 10 lakh, within five working days of receipt of details. ### Related Current Affairs Coverage - [Reserve Bank of India exempts individuals from reporting personal foreign transactions; FAQs to be issued soon](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/10/reserve-bank-of-india-exempts-individuals-from-reporting-personal-foreign-transa) ## SEBI Permits REITs and InvITs to Issue Depository Receipts for Foreign Investors ### Key Updates - The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) allowed issuance of Depository Receipts (DRs) against units of Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) and Infrastructure Investment Trusts (InvITs) to attract foreign capital, effective immediately. - DRs are foreign currency-denominated instruments issued by a foreign depository against securities deposited with a domestic custodian in India, and will be listed on India International Exchange (India INX) and NSE International Exchange in the IFSC. - REITs and InvITs can issue fresh units or facilitate transfer of existing units for issuing DRs, with fresh DR issues requiring prior unitholder approval of at least 75 per cent of votes cast. - DR holders, including beneficial owners, cannot be residents of India, and eligibility conditions bar entities debarred from capital markets, wilful defaulters and fugitive economic offenders. - The DR price cannot be lower than the price of the corresponding domestic offering, and disclosures made on international exchanges must be filed with Indian stock exchanges within 24 hours. - The framework was proposed in August 2026 and approved by the SEBI board in September 2026. ### Related Current Affairs Coverage - [Reserve Bank of India Introduces Revised Valuation Framework for InvIT and REIT Units Held by All-India Financial Institutions](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/09/reserve-bank-of-india-introduces-revised-valuation-framework-for-invit-and-reit) ## Defence Minister sets 2029 goals of ₹3 trillion defence production and ₹50,000 crore exports ### Key Updates - Defence Minister Rajnath Singh announced targets of ₹3 trillion defence production and ₹50,000 crore defence exports by 2029, while chairing the Consultative Committee meeting of the Ministry of Defence on 'Modernisation of Indian Defence Forces' in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan on November 3, 2026. - The 2029 production target requires annual output to rise about 69% (roughly ₹1.22 trillion) above the ₹1.78 trillion achieved in FY 2025-26, while exports must grow about 25% (around ₹10,000 crore) from the current level of approximately ₹40,000 crore. - Defence production rose from ₹46,429 crore in FY 2014-15 to ₹1.78 trillion in FY 2025-26, and defence exports grew from less than ₹2,000 crore in 2014 to approximately ₹40,000 crore. - The defence budget for FY 2026-27 was raised to a record ₹7.85 trillion, with capital outlay of ₹2.19 trillion, including ₹1.85 trillion earmarked for capital acquisition (modernisation capital budget). ### Related Current Affairs Coverage - [India clears ₹2,400 crore defence procurement from startups and MSMEs, Rajnath Singh flags 90% ammunition self-reliance](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/10/india-clears-2-400-crore-defence-procurement-from-startups-and-msmes-rajnath-sin) - [India plans to expand missile and defence equipment production while boosting global defence exports](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/10/india-plans-to-expand-missile-and-defence-equipment-production-while-boosting-gl) - [India's Defence Minister outlines roadmap for 16 DPSUs](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/09/india-s-defence-minister-outlines-roadmap-for-16-dpsus) ## Defence Minister Rajnath Singh announces India's defence exports rose to ₹38,424 crore in 2025-26 from ₹686 crore in 2013-14 ### Key Updates - Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, addressing the third edition of the Delhi Defence Dialogue in New Delhi, stated that India's defence exports increased to ₹38,424 crore in 2025-26 from approximately ₹686 crore in 2013-14. - Singh stated that modern warfare has extended beyond land, sea and air into space, cyberspace and the digital domain. - The government has established defence industrial corridors and is encouraging greater private industry participation in developing advanced defence platforms and systems. ### Related Current Affairs Coverage - [India and Czech Republic Agree to Broaden Defence Industrial Ties Under Joint Defence Committee](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/10/india-and-czech-republic-agree-to-broaden-defence-industrial-ties-under-joint-de) ## NSEIX at GIFT City extends daily trading to 23.5 hours from November 2, 2026 ### Key Updates - NSE International Exchange (NSEIX), based in Gujarat's GIFT City, extended its trading hours to 23 hours and 30 minutes a day, effective November 2, 2026. - Trading operations now start at 3:15 AM IST and close at 2:45 AM IST the following day, covering Asian, European and American time zones. - NSEIX was set up on June 5, 2017 and is recognised by the International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA). - NSEIX offers Indian single-stock derivatives, index derivatives, currency derivatives, depository receipts and global stocks. ### Related Current Affairs Coverage - [NSE IFSC and London Stock Exchange Sign MoU to Explore Cross-Border Listings and Trading](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/10/nse-ifsc-and-london-stock-exchange-sign-mou-to-explore-cross-border-listings-and) ## Health Ministry moves to amend Drugs Rules 1945 to add new ICDs, SEZ and airport as authorised import points for drugs, medical devices and cosmetics ### Key Updates - The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has proposed an amendment to Rule 43A of the Drugs Rules, 1945 to expand the network of authorised entry points for importing drugs, medical devices and cosmetics. - The proposed additional authorised locations include ICD Sonipat, Piyala and Harsaru in Haryana; ICD Dadri and Noida International Airport in Uttar Pradesh; Gandhidham in Gujarat; and ICD Whitefield in Bengaluru for import of drugs by air. - The amendment aims to facilitate smoother import operations, improve logistics efficiency and strengthen the healthcare supply chain by allowing consignments to be cleared closer to manufacturing facilities, warehouses and distribution centres. ### Related Current Affairs Coverage - [Central Government Amends Import Regulations for Pharmaceutical Products](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/11/central-government-amends-import-regulations-for-pharmaceutical-products) ## Tamil Nadu approves Battery Energy Storage Systems Policy 2026 targeting 2.5 GW capacity ### Key Updates - The Tamil Nadu government approved the Tamil Nadu Battery Energy Storage Systems Policy, 2026, issued through an energy department notification, aiming to make the state India's foremost storage hub. - The policy targets deployment of at least 2.5 GW, matching a 10 GWh storage capacity across the state during its operative period. - Tamil Nadu Green Energy Corporation Limited is the nodal agency for the initiative, which aims to reduce power curtailment and optimise grid operations. - New solar and hybrid energy projects exceeding 1 MW, commissioned from April 2027 onward, must integrate battery storage with a four-hour continuous discharge duration. - A complete waiver of transmission and wheeling charges for 10 years applies to eligible projects commissioned within the policy window, provided the discharged energy is utilised within the State. - The policy mandates safety, environmental, and cybersecurity compliance, including adoption of domestically developed Energy Management Systems. ### Related Current Affairs Coverage - [India plans blended domestic and international financing to achieve 500 GW renewable energy goal, says MNRE Secretary](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/10/india-plans-blended-domestic-and-international-financing-to-achieve-500-gw-renew) - [India's non-fossil fuel power capacity surpasses 300 GW milestone](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/10/india-s-non-fossil-fuel-power-capacity-surpasses-300-gw-milestone) ## Union Minister Dr Virendra Kumar to Launch 'Vayo Samman Rashtriya Abhiyan', a National Intergenerational Bonding Campaign Under Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojana, in New Delhi ### Key Updates - The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment will launch the 'Vayo Samman Rashtriya Abhiyan' – National Intergenerational Bonding Campaign under the Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojana (AVYAY), with Union Minister Dr Virendra Kumar formally launching it in the National Capital. - The campaign is structured around a '5C' model – Connect, Converse, Co-create, Contribute and Continue – and will be implemented across twelve thematic areas including '30 Minutes Together', 'Teach Me – I'll Teach You', 'My Story, My India', 'Digital Dada-Dadi / Digital Saathi', 'Generation Health & Wellness' and 'Silver Skills – Seniors as Mentors'. - A key launch component is Vayo SAATHI (Support, Awareness, Assistance, Training, Health and Inclusion), a digitally enabled volunteer initiative open to all citizens aged 18 years and above, with registration through the Senior Citizens Welfare (SCW) SAMAVESH Portal or the JEEVAN App and a Vayo SAATHI Certificate for registered volunteers. - The Union Minister will also release a Handbook detailing the campaign's objectives, implementation framework, thematic activities and the roles of States, Districts and community institutions. - The Department of Social Justice and Empowerment will sign two MoUs with Shri Ram Chandra Mission (SRCM) and Adhyatma Vigyan Satsang Kendra (AVSK), Jodhpur, to promote senior citizens' wellbeing through meditation, yoga, wellness programmes, pledge drives and walkathons. - India's population aged 60 years and above is projected to grow from approximately 10 crore in 2011 to 23 crore by 2036, with its share in the total population rising from 8.4 per cent to 14.9 per cent. ### Related Current Affairs Coverage - [Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojana Boost Integrated Care and Support for Senior Citizens](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/10/atal-vayo-abhyuday-yojana-boost-integrated-care-and-support-for-senior-citizens) - [DoSJE and Ramakrishna Mission Sign MoU for Intergenerational Bonding Initiative in 200 Schools](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/09/dosje-and-ramakrishna-mission-sign-mou-for-intergenerational-bonding-initiative) ## Bihar Launches India's First Comprehensive Silt Management Policy Under 'Nadi Sanjeevani' Initiative ### Key Updates - Bihar became the first state in India to implement a comprehensive silt management policy, announced by Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary. - The policy, named the 'Bihar Water Source Restoration and Silt Management Policy 2026', aims to address recurring floods and use accumulated river silt for infrastructure development. - The announcement was made at an MoU signing event for the 'Nadi Sanjeevani' initiative in the presence of Union Minister Nitin Gadkari. - Under the policy, farmers affected by silt deposition will receive Rs 20,000 per two hectares for excavation. - At the Odhni Dam in Banka district, a private contractor offered to pay the government Rs 60 crore for desilting, converting a potential Rs 350 crore expenditure into revenue. - Seven major rivers entering Bihar from Nepal contribute to its floods; this year three major rivers reached peak flood levels despite a 32% rainfall deficit. ## Supreme Court expands review of DGP appointment rules to all states amid Jharkhand challenge ### Key Updates - The Supreme Court asked the Centre to provide a summary of the laws, rules and executive orders followed by every state in selecting and appointing Directors General of Police (DGPs). - A bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana asked the Jharkhand government and DGP Tadasha Mishra to respond by November 16, 2026 to petitions challenging her appointment. - The Centre has challenged Jharkhand's Selection and Appointment of Director General and Inspector General of Police, Jharkhand (Head of the Police Force) Regulation, 2025, notified on January 8, 2025, which set up a nomination committee, provided a panel of three to five officers and required candidates to have at least six months of service remaining. - The Centre alleged Jharkhand amended the regulation on December 29, 2025 and appointed Tadasha Mishra as DGP on December 30, a day before her scheduled retirement, giving her a two-year tenure contrary to the Supreme Court's prescribed procedure. - In the 2006 Prakash Singh versus Union of India judgment, the Supreme Court directed states to select DGPs from the three senior-most eligible officers shortlisted by the Union Public Service Commission and provided a minimum two-year tenure for an appointed DGP irrespective of retirement date. ## India and United States Launch Fifth Edition of Tiger Triumph 2026 HADR Exercise in Visakhapatnam ### Key Updates - The fifth edition of the India–US bilateral exercise Tiger Triumph 2026 commenced in Visakhapatnam, with the opening ceremony held on November 2, 2026 at the Maritime Warfare Centre (MWC), Visakhapatnam. - Tiger Triumph is a bilateral Tri-Service Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) exercise, conducted as a Tabletop Exercise (TTX) this year, focusing on joint planning, coordination and interoperability for large-scale HADR operations. - The Indian side includes specialists from all domains of maritime operations from the Indian Navy, ground forces from the Indian Army, Indian Air Force representatives, Special Forces personnel from all three Services, and — for the first time — a team from the NDRF. - The US Joint Force comprises specialists from the Air Force, Army, Marine Corps and Navy, as well as specialists in Space, Cyber, Medical and Explosive Ordnance Disposal. - The exercise aims to enhance interoperability and facilitate Combined Joint All-Domain Operations, including integrated multi-domain command and control with cyber and space synchronisation. ## India Sets Out COP31 Priorities on Climate Finance, Adaptation and Just Transition ### Key Updates - UNFCCC COP31 will be held in Antalya, Türkiye, from 9 to 20 November 2026, and Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav outlined India's priorities at a media briefing in New Delhi. - India will approach COP31 with a solution-oriented vision for the Global South and will work closely with G-77 and China, LMDC and BASIC. - India seeks a COP31 decision to commence the Climate Finance Work Programme, holding that finance is a developed-country obligation under Article 9.1 and must be predictable, largely public and concessional without adding debt burden. - India will press for mitigation and the Global Stocktake to remain Party-driven, facilitative and non-punitive, respecting the nationally determined nature of NDCs and ruling out new top-down targets. - India wants Global Goal on Adaptation indicators to remain voluntary and not condition access to finance, alongside scaled-up adaptation finance. - India will support continuation of the Just Transition Work Programme through a Party-driven mechanism and stress that technology transfer is a developed-country obligation with cost, IPR and trade barriers addressed; carbon market participation should remain voluntary. - India's COP31 engagements include LeadIT 3.0 with Sweden, high-level side events on coastal resilience, and panels on IBCA and forests. ### Related Current Affairs Coverage - [India Unveils Four Publications on Biodiversity, Biosafety and Access and Benefit Sharing at CBD COP-17 in Yerevan](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/10/india-unveils-four-publications-on-biodiversity-biosafety-and-access-and-benefit) ## India Elected International Solar Alliance President for Third Consecutive Term as Pralhad Joshi Addresses Bharat Renewable Energy Summit 2026 ### Key Updates - India has been elected President of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) for the third consecutive term, while France was re-elected as Co-President. - Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Shri Pralhad Joshi reaffirmed India's commitment to international solar cooperation at a press conference during the Bharat Renewable Energy (BRE) Summit and Expo 2026 on 3 November 2026. - The International Solar Alliance was established by India and France in 2015 and now has 130 Signatory and Member Countries. - ISA's priorities include the USD 200 million Africa Solar Facility, India's commitment of around ₹225 crore (USD 25 million), and the USD 300 million Nigeria Distributed Renewable Energy Fund. - ISA-supported initiatives in Fiji, Madagascar, Comoros and Seychelles power healthcare facilities, schools, clean drinking water and agricultural cold storage, while aggregated solar and storage opportunities are being advanced beginning with Mauritius for Small Island Developing States. - India's PM-KUSUM initiative, which reduces irrigation costs and creates income for farmers, is being adapted through ISA across Member Countries, particularly in Africa; 3 million farmers have been empowered through solar energy and Agri-PV. - ISA has established 17 Solar Technology Application Resource Centres, the Global Capability Centre–SHINE (Strategic Hub for Innovation and Execution), and an AI-enabled ISA Academy. ### Related Current Affairs Coverage - [India Hosts 7th Agrivoltaics World Conference 2026 in New Delhi with Global Participation](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/10/india-hosts-7th-agrivoltaics-world-conference-2026-in-new-delhi-with-global-part) ## Supreme Court Rejects UK Divorce Decree in Hindu Marriage Case, Keeps Bigamy Proceedings Against Husband ### Key Updates - In a case involving a Hindu marriage, the Supreme Court declined to recognise a UK divorce decree based on irretrievable breakdown and refused to quash bigamy and criminal conspiracy proceedings against the husband. - A bench of Justices Prashant Kumar Mishra and Shree Chandrashekhar ruled that the UK decree contravened Indian matrimonial law and failed the requirements of Section 13 of the Code of Civil Procedure (CPC) for recognition of foreign decrees. - The court quashed the criminal proceedings against the man's parents and second wife while keeping the case against him alive. - The complaint invoked Sections 494 and 120B, read with Section 34, of the Indian Penal Code; the court allowed proceedings against the husband to continue despite the second marriage occurring in the UK. ## Indian Navy Rescues All 20 Crew of Hijacked Fishing Vessel Azini from Pirates in 48-Hour Arabian Sea Operation ### Key Updates - The Indian Navy liberated the hijacked fishing vessel Azini from armed pirates in a 48-hour operation, rescuing all 20 crew members with no casualties or injuries; the operation was completed on November 2, 2026, more than 3,000 km from Mumbai in the Arabian Sea. - Fishing Vessel Azini had been hijacked by an armed pirate group off the north-eastern coast of Somalia earlier last month, raising fears it could be used as a 'mother ship' for further pirate attacks on merchant shipping. - A mission-deployed Indian Navy warship and a maritime reconnaissance aircraft located and tracked the vessel, using calibrated non-kinetic measures to contain its movement and prevent escape. - Marine Commandos were augmented through a precision airdrop by an Indian Air Force (IAF) C-17 aircraft, after which Navy personnel secured the vessel, neutralised the pirate threat and released the crew safely. ### Related Current Affairs Coverage - [Six Indians Among Crew of Cargo Ship Hijacked off Somalia](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/08/six-indians-among-crew-of-cargo-ship-hijacked-off-somalia) ## India's Prasar Bharati Receives Two Awards at Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union Prizes 2026 in Colombo ### Key Updates - India's public broadcaster Prasar Bharati won two honours at the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU) Prizes 2026 held in Colombo, Sri Lanka. - Prasar Bharati-Akashvani, Bengaluru, received the Audio Public Service Announcement Special Commendation for its programme 'Beyond the Call', with the recognition accepted by Jyoti Das. - The ABU Broadcast Engineering Excellence Award 2026 was presented to Nongmaithem Nandakumar Singh of Prasar Bharati, with Mihir Kumar Jha, Under Secretary in the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, receiving the award. - The 63rd ABU General Assembly is being held in Colombo from October 30 to November 3, 2026, under the theme 'Media for Peace and Humanity: Truth, Trust, and Transformation'. ## Bulgaria's Acting President Iliana Iotova Wins Runoff to Become Nation's First Elected Female Head of State ### Key Updates - Iliana Iotova, Bulgaria's acting President and former vice president, won the presidential runoff on November 1, 2026, becoming the country's first elected female head of state. - With 99.95% of precinct protocols processed, Iotova and her running mate Valchev secured 57.58% of the vote (about 1.1 million ballots), while opponents Andrey Gyurov and Georgi Kandev received 39.47% (around 749,500 votes), and about 2.95% chose the 'I support no one' option. - In the first round on October 25, 2026, Iotova and Valchev led with 34.6% ahead of Gyurov and Kandev with 32%, forcing a runoff as no candidate secured a majority. - Iotova became acting president in January 2026 after Rumen Radev resigned to enter the parliamentary race, which he won; Radev supported her presidential bid. ## Aditya-L1's VELC Spectroscopy Shows Solar Eruptions Expand Asymmetrically in Three Dimensions ### Key Updates - ISRO reported on 3 November 2026 that scientists at the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA), Bengaluru, used Aditya-L1 to study how a solar eruption expands near the Sun; the study was published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters. - The study combined spectroscopic observations from Aditya-L1's Visible Emission Line Coronagraph (VELC) with images from NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) and three-dimensional modelling of a coronal mass ejection (CME) observed on 5 August 2024. - The analysis found the CME did not expand like a simple symmetric bubble but underwent non-uniform expansion and developed an asymmetric shape; a symmetrically expanding model could not reproduce the observed spectra, while asymmetric lateral expansion with a tilt matched VELC observations well. - VELC measured line-of-sight plasma velocities of up to 218 km/s, a projected radial speed of 1,135 km/s and a plane-of-sky lateral speed of 692 km/s for the August 2024 eruption. - VELC's Doppler spectroscopy of the Fe XIV 5303 Å green coronal line revealed two distinct blue- and red-shifted emission branches, showing plasma in the CME bubble moving both towards and away from the observer — line-of-sight motion that imaging-only coronagraphs cannot directly measure. - Differences in CME expansion can affect its speed and trajectory towards Earth, making arrival-time prediction and space-weather impact assessment more challenging; CME shape may also influence the drag it experiences from the solar wind. - The study demonstrates that VELC can constrain the three-dimensional geometry of an eruption from a single vantage point by combining Doppler spectroscopy with imaging observations, which is especially valuable in the low corona where CMEs evolve most rapidly. - VELC, developed by IIA Bengaluru with substantial support from ISRO, observes the inner corona from roughly 1.05 to 3 solar radii, a region important for tracking CME initiation and early acceleration; Aditya-L1 operates in a halo orbit around the Sun–Earth L1 region. ### Related Current Affairs Coverage - [Indian and European solar observatories jointly study coronal mass ejections in a first](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/10/indian-and-european-solar-observatories-jointly-study-coronal-mass-ejections-in) - [Aditya-L1's VELC payload produces first-of-their-kind Doppler velocity images of the solar corona](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/10/aditya-l1-s-velc-payload-produces-first-of-their-kind-doppler-velocity-images-of) ## FDA tentatively clears Dr. Reddy's twice-yearly generic HIV-prevention injection lenacapavir for low- and middle-income countries ### Key Updates - The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted tentative approval to India-based Dr. Reddy's Laboratories' generic version of lenacapavir, the world's only twice-a-year injectable shot to prevent HIV, under the PEPFAR program. - The generic is expected to cost USD 40 per person per year across 120 low- and middle-income countries covered by the royalty-free voluntary licenses Gilead Sciences granted to six generic manufacturers, including Dr. Reddy's, in 2024. - Dr. Reddy's plans to begin first supplies from next month, with broader availability across eligible countries in 2027. - The generic cannot be sold in the US because Gilead's brand-name version Yeztugo, approved last year, remains under patent, with a US list price of USD 28,218 a year. - In India, the subject expert committee has favourably recommended the drug's approval, but final marketing approval from the Central Licensing Authority (CDSCO) is still pending. ## NITI Aayog Unveils India S&T Scoreboard for State-Level Science and Technology Benchmarking ### Key Updates - NITI Aayog launched the India S&T Scoreboard on 3rd November 2026 at the Civil Services Officer's Institute (CSOI), KG Marg, New Delhi. - The Scoreboard was unveiled by NITI Aayog Vice Chairman Shri Ashok Kumar Lahiri, who urged all States and UTs to make full use of the platform. - The Scoreboard is an interactive platform providing an integrated view of the science and technology landscape of Indian States and UTs, designed to facilitate evidence-based policymaking and benchmarking. - It brings together data on the S&T ecosystem, including higher education institutions, R&D institutions, deep tech startups and incubators, along with outputs like research publications and patents. - It presents indicators of research quality, impact, collaboration and open access across three sectors: Academia, Government R&D Labs and Industry. - The platform enables side-by-side comparison of States/UTs, provides detailed State profiles including State policies and best practices, and shows trends over years on a single interactive dashboard. - The launch was followed by a walkthrough and a technical session on the Scoreboard's methodology and data sources, with the platform accessible at www.sts.niti.gov.in. ## Indian trio wins team gold in men's 50m pistol at ISSF World Championships in Doha ### Key Updates - The Indian team of Ravinder Singh, Saurabh Chaudhary and Amanpreet Singh won the team gold in the men's 50 metre pistol event at the ISSF World Championships in Doha with a combined score of 1659. - Ravinder Singh was India's top scorer with 559 points and also won silver in the individual competition, while Saurabh Chaudhary scored 551 and Amanpreet Singh added 549. - China's Zhang Bingchen, Lyu Junyi and Feng Linlang took the team silver with 1648, five points ahead of the bronze-winning Korean trio of Hong Suhyeon, Choe Boram and So Seung Seob. - In the individual event, Russia's Anton Aristarkhov won gold with 561 and Romania's Luca Joldea claimed bronze with 558. ### Related Current Affairs Coverage - [Udhayveer Sidhu Claims ISSF World Cup Gold in Men's 10m Air Pistol at Cairo](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/10/udhayveer-sidhu-claims-issf-world-cup-gold-in-men-s-10m-air-pistol-at-cairo) ## PM Modi inaugurates ₹21,800 crore Pune Metro projects, launches Hinjawadi-Shivajinagar corridor ### Key Updates - On 3 November 2026, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for Pune Metro projects worth around ₹21,800 crore through video conferencing. - The newly inaugurated Hinjawadi to Shivajinagar corridor connects a major IT hub of Pune, while the new foundation-stone line will link the old and new parts of the city. - The newly inaugurated Pune metro corridor was constructed under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. - India's metro network has expanded to nearly 1,200 kilometers across 26 cities over the past 12 years, serving over one crore daily commuters and ranking among the top three metro networks in the world. - In Maharashtra, operational metro lines grew from about 10-11 kilometers in 2014 to nearly 175 kilometers, with over 680 kilometers under construction at an investment exceeding ₹2.5 lakh crore. ### Related Current Affairs Coverage - [Prime Minister to Launch and Lay Foundation Stone of Pune Metro Projects Worth About ₹21,800 Crore on November 3](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/11/prime-minister-to-launch-and-lay-foundation-stone-of-pune-metro-projects-worth-a) ## Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh Opens Dairy Microbiology Lab, Launches Churpi Traceability and Fodder Plus Products at Sikkim Event ### Key Updates - Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Shri Rajiv Ranjan Singh (Alias Lalan Singh) attended a programme organised by the Sikkim Milk Union (SMU) at Gangtok, Sikkim, on 3 November 2026, where he inaugurated the SMU Microbiology Laboratory under the National Programme for Dairy Development (NPDD), including a virtual inauguration of the laboratory at Karfectar. - The Churpi Traceability initiative was inaugurated to strengthen traceability and marketability of the traditional dairy product, and Fodder Plus products developed by Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) were launched; registration certificates were distributed to five newly established Dairy Cooperative Societies (DCSs). - Sikkim's milk production grew 79% over the last decade, from 1.37 lakh to 2.45 lakh litres per day, dairy cooperative societies rose 88% from 389 in 2014–15 to 733 in 2025–26, and daily milk supply to consumers doubled from 28,000 to 56,000 litres. - The Union Minister announced that the Central Government would sanction funds for a Centre of Excellence for conservation and development of indigenous Siri cattle, promoting advanced breeding technologies including IVF, and invited the State Government to submit a formal proposal. - NDDB will finance and undertake comprehensive modernisation of the dairy processing plant in Mangan district, following the model implemented in Mizoram. ### Related Current Affairs Coverage - [PMMSY: Soreng District in Sikkim is India's first notified Organic Fisheries Cluster; SOP for Organic Certification of Fisheries in Northeast launched](https://www.dailyconnects.in/current-affairs/2026/11/pmmsy-soreng-district-in-sikkim-is-india-s-first-notified-organic-fisheries-clus)