Why in News?

The Central Government has declared Bihar’s Ranivas Mound an archaeological site of national importance through a notification .

Key Highlights

• Location: Kesariya, East Champaran district, Bihar.

• Area: 1.63 acres.

• Ownership: Government of Bihar.

• Authority: Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), Ministry of

• Ranivas Mound is believed to have been part of an important Buddhist monastic establishment near Kesariya Stupa.

• Excavations by the ASI revealed remains of ancient walls, rooms, cells and corridors, indicating the existence of a Buddhist monastery.

• Kesariya Stupa is traditionally associated with Lord Buddha's journey from Vaishali towards Kushinagar before his Mahaparinirvana

• The declaration was made under Section 4(3) of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains (AMASR) Act, 1958.

Why is it called Raniwas Mound?

• Raniwas literally means “Queen's Residence” or “Queen's Palace”.

• According to local folklore, King Vena's queen, Kamalavati, drowned in a nearby pond.

• The king was deeply distressed by her death and, according to the legend, immolated himself along with his family inside the nearby mound.

• Another local tradition associates the mound with the place where Queen Kamalavati lived.

• Therefore, the mound came to be known locally as Raniwas (Queen's Residence).

Significance

• In 1861, Alexander Cunningham, the first Director-General of ASI, explored the mound and reported the existence of an ancient Buddhist establishment with a temple containing a huge Buddha image.

• Helps protect Bihar's archaeological and historical heritage.

• Promotes archaeological research and conservation.

• Currently, 70 sites in Bihar are under the stewardship of the Archaeological Survey of India.

Why in News?

The Indian Navy is coordinating the 5th edition of the pan-India Coastal Defence Exercise ‘Sea Vigil-26’ from 11–19 November 2026 to assess and strengthen India's maritime security and coastal defence preparedness.

Key Highlights

• Coverage: Entire Indian coastline and Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

• Participants: All coastal States and Union Territories.

• Two Phases of the Exercise

• Coastal Defence and Security Readiness Evaluation (CDSRE): 11–17 November 2026.

• Sea Phase: 18–19 November 2026.

Background and Significance

• Conceptualised in 2018, Sea Vigil was launched to validate measures introduced after the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks to strengthen India's maritime security.

• It provides a national-level assessment of coastal defence and maritime security preparedness.

• It helps identify gaps and strengthen coordination among maritime security agencies.

Link with TROPEX

• Sea Vigil serves as a precursor to the Indian Navy's biennial Theatre Level Readiness Operational Exercise (TROPEX).

• Together, the exercises cover the full spectrum of maritime security challenges, from coastal defence to operations in the high seas.

Why in News?

• Afghanistan cricket captain Rahmat Shah has become the first Afghanistani player to enter the top 10 of any category of ICC Test rankings.

• He reached 7th position in ICC Test Batting Rankings after scoring 173 runs in the opening Test against Zimbabwe in Sharjah(UAE).

Important Points

• World No. 1: Harry Brook (England).

• Highest-ranked Indian batter: Rishabh Pant (8th).

• On the other hand, Shubhman Gill secured 10th position.

ICC publishes rankings in the following categories:

1. Team Rankings: Ranking of countries based on their Test match performance.

2. Batting Rankings: Ranking of individual batsmen.

3. Bowling Rankings: Ranking of individual bowlers.

4. All-rounder Rankings: Ranking of players who contribute with both batting and bowling.

Why in News?

• Swiss researchers from the University of Zurich have discovered a new method to detect Gamma-Hydroxybutyrate (GHB), commonly known as a date-rape drug, in urine.

• The new method can detect evidence of GHB consumption for up to 72 hours (3 days) after ingestion.

• This may help improve investigations into sexual assault cases.

Key Highlights

1. What is GHB?

• GHB stands for Gamma-Hydroxybutyrate.

• It is a substance that affects the central nervous system.

• It can cause unconsciousness, drowsiness and memory loss.

• It is sometimes secretly mixed into drinks to facilitate sexual assault.

2. Problem with Traditional Detection:

• GHB disappears quickly from the body.

• It is generally detectable for around 6 hours in blood and 12 hours in urine.

• This makes timely testing difficult.

3. New Discovery:

• Researchers identified a biomarker called GHB-pentose.

• It is formed when GHB interacts with a sugar-like compound in the body.

• Unlike GHB itself, this biomarker remains detectable in urine for a longer period.

1. Detection Window:

• The new biomarker may remain detectable for up to 3 days after GHB intake.

• It provides a longer period for collecting forensic evidence.

5. Significance:

• Helps improve forensic investigations.

• May support evidence collection in sexual assault cases.

• Can help investigators identify suspected drug exposure even after GHB itself disappears.

Why in News?

• The Union Cabinet has approved the extension of the Stand-Up India Scheme for another five years, up to 31 March 2031.

• A credit guarantee corpus of ₹4,111 crore has been approved to support the scheme.

• The government aims to provide financial assistance to at least 2.5 lakh additional entrepreneurs over the next five years.

• Since its launch in April 2016, the scheme has facilitated loans to more than 2.75 lakh entrepreneurs.

Key Features of the Scheme

1. Objective:

• Promote entrepreneurship among women, Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs).

• Encourage people from these groups to start their own businesses.

2. Eligible Beneficiaries:

• Women entrepreneurs.

• Scheduled Caste (SC) entrepreneurs.

• Scheduled Tribe (ST) entrepreneurs.

3. Loan Amount:

• Loans above ₹10 lakh and up to ₹1 crore.

• Loans can cover up to 85% of the total project cost.

4. Eligible Sectors:

• Manufacturing

• Services

• Trading

• Agriculture-allied activities.

5. Credit Guarantee:

• The government provides 85% credit guarantee coverage on the loan amount.

• The standard guarantee fee is 0.50% per year, without any additional risk premium.

6. Type of Loan:

• Term Loan: For purchasing machinery, equipment or other long-term assets.

• Composite Loan: A combination of term loan and working capital.

Why in News?

• The first BIMSTEC Health Ministers’ Meeting was held in Colombo, Sri Lanka, with participation from India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, Nepal and Thailand.

• Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda offered to share India's healthcare expertise, technical capabilities and best practices with BIMSTEC member countries.

India's Key Contributions

• Ayushman Arogya Mandirs: More than 1.85 lakh established across India to strengthen grassroots primary healthcare.

• Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY: Highlighted as one of the world's largest publicly funded health assurance schemes.

• India offered technical cooperation and sharing of healthcare best practices with BIMSTEC nations.

Outcome and Significance

• The meeting adopted a Joint Ministerial Statement.

• BIMSTEC members reaffirmed their commitment to accessible, affordable and quality healthcare across the Bay of Bengal region.

• Strengthens regional health cooperation, knowledge-sharing and healthcare capacity-building.

About BIMSTEC

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

• Established: 6 June 1997.

• Secretariat: Dhaka, Bangladesh.

• Members (7): Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand.

• Objective: Promote regional cooperation in economic and technical fields among Bay of Bengal countries.

Why in News?

• The Union Cabinet has approved a ₹62,370 crore fertiliser subsidy for the Rabi (winter crop) season 2026–27.

• This is an increase of around 64% compared to ₹37,952 crore allocated for the previous Rabi season.

• The revised subsidy will be applicable from 1 October 2026 to 31 March 2027.

Key Highlights

1. Objective: To make fertilisers available to farmers at affordable prices despite rising international prices.

2. Fertilisers Covered:

• Phosphatic and Potassic (P&K) fertilisers.

• Di-Ammonium Phosphate (DAP).

• NPKS fertilisers (containing Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium and Sulphur).

3. DAP Price: The government will continue the special provision to make DAP available to farmers at ₹1,350 per 50-kg bag.

4. Reason for Increase:

• Rising international fertiliser prices.

• Disruption in global supply chains due to geopolitical conflicts in West Asia.

• Higher prices of raw materials such as sulphur and other fertiliser inputs.

5. Nutrient-Based Subsidy (NBS): The subsidy rates are decided according to the nutrient content of fertilisers

What is Fertiliser Subsidy?

• Fertiliser subsidy is financial assistance provided by the government to make fertilisers cheaper for farmers.

• The government pays a part of the fertiliser cost to companies.

• As a result, farmers can purchase fertilisers at lower prices than their actual market cost.

Why in News?

• The Union Cabinet has approved the continuation of the Credit Guarantee Fund for Micro Units (CGFMU) for another five years, up to March 31, 2031.

• The government has approved a corpus of ₹5,000 crore to support the scheme.

• It is expected to facilitate loans worth ₹12.6 lakh crore over the next five years.
  

Key Highlights

1. Objective: To encourage banks and financial institutions to provide loans to small businesses without demanding collateral (security).

2. Loan Coverage: The scheme provides guarantee coverage for:

• Loans up to ₹20 lakh under Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY).

• Overdrafts up to ₹10,000 under Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY).

• Loans between ₹10 lakh and ₹20 lakh to eligible Self-Help Groups (SHGs).

3. Lower Guarantee Fee:

• The guarantee fee has been reduced from 1% to 0.75% per year.

• The fee structure for SHGs remains unchanged.

4. Implementation: The scheme operates through the National Credit Guarantee Trustee Company Limited (NCGTC).

What is a Credit Guarantee Scheme?

• It is a government arrangement that reduces the risk of banks when they provide loans to small businesses.

• If a borrower fails to repay a loan, the guarantee fund covers a specified part of the lender's eligible loss.

• This encourages banks to provide loans even to people who do not have property or other assets to offer as security.

Why in News?

• The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has not announced a new date for implementing the Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on selected UPI transactions.

• NPCI had earlier planned to introduce MDR from October 15, 2026, but postponed it until after Diwali.

Key Highlights

• NPCI has stated that there is no announcement regarding the new implementation date at present.

• The proposed MDR levy faced strong opposition from traders, petrol pump dealers and customers.

• Petrol pump dealers argued that MDR would increase their operating costs and reduce their profit margins.

• Customers feared that merchants might pass on the additional cost through higher prices.

• The earlier postponement was reportedly made after strong appeals from traders.

What is MDR (Merchant Discount Rate)?

• MDR is a fee charged to merchants for accepting digital payments.

• It is generally shared among banks, payment networks and payment service providers.

• In this case, the proposed charge applies to selected Person-to-Merchant (P2M) UPI transactions.

• Here, Discount does not mean a price reduction given to the customer; it refers to the deduction from the merchant's payment amount as a transaction fee.

Why in News?

• British author M. John Harrison won the 2026 Booker Prize for his dystopian satire novel The End of Everything at a ceremony in London.

Key Highlights

• At the age of 81, Harrison became the oldest author to win the prestigious Booker Prize.

• His writing career spans nearly 60 years.

• The novel is 198 pages long, making it the shortest book on the 2026 shortlist.

• The judges praised the novel for its ability to leave readers with a “twinge of optimism” despite its dystopian subject.

• The award was decided unanimously by the judging panel chaired by Mary Beard.

About the Winning Novel—The End of Everything

• It is a dystopian satire set on the south coast of England, a few decades in the future.

• The story revolves around Phillip Tennent and his elderly aunt Marnie.

• It takes place years after a mysterious catastrophe involving an invasion by the fictional entities called ‘iGhetti’.

• The title and narrative explore a future shaped by uncertainty and digital-age influences.

Other Shortlisted Authors

• Douglas Stuart—John of John

• Marlon James—The Disappearers

• Elizabeth Strout – The Things We Never Say

• Luke Kennard – Black Bag

• Rebecca Perry—May We Feed the King

Why in News?

• The Department of Posts, Ministry of Communications, collaborated with IndiGo to launch the second edition of Digital Detox 2.0 during Diwali 2026.

Key Highlights

• Conducted across 15 IndiGo flights covering 11 destinations, including Ranchi, Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Varanasi.

• Passengers received special kits containing postcards, greeting cards, and DIY postcards.

• Encouraged passengers to send handwritten Diwali greetings instead of digital messages.

Significance

• Revives the tradition of handwritten communication.

• Promotes mindful screen usage and digital detox.

• Strengthens India Post's public outreach through innovative initiatives.

Why in News?

• The Asian Development Bank (ADB) approved a $98 million loan to support Sri Lanka’s digital transformation and develop an inclusive, secure, and resilient digital economy.

About the Project

• Project Name: Advancing Digital Transformation Project. It aims to:

1. Expand high-quality broadband connectivity, particularly in rural and underserved areas.

2. Improve government data infrastructure.

3. Expand access to digital government services for citizens and businesses.

4. Promote digital inclusion, especially among women and underserved communities.

Key Challenges Addressed

• Unequal access to reliable, high-speed broadband despite high mobile coverage.

• Gaps in digital infrastructure and government data systems.

• Challenges related to cybersecurity and data protection.

• Shortage of digital skills, affecting public service delivery and private sector growth.

About the Asian Development Bank (ADB)

• Established: 1966.

• Headquarters: Manila, Philippines.

• Membership: 69 members, including 50 from the Asia-Pacific region.

• Objective: Promote sustainable, inclusive, and resilient economic growth across Asia

Why in News?

Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal launched the curtain raiser for the 3rd Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2027 on 10 November 2026.

Key Highlights

• Dates: 4–9 February 2027.

• Venues: Bharat Mandapam and Yashobhoomi, New Delhi.

• Theme: “Smarter Mobility for a Better Tomorrow."

• Scale: 1,750+ exhibitors, 11 shows, and 10 lakh+ expected visitors.

• International participation: Target of at least 25,000 foreign visitors.

Focus Areas

• Electric mobility and advanced batteries.

• AI, automation, and connected vehicles.

• Air mobility and urban mass transit.

• Auto components, sustainable materials, and advanced manufacturing.

• Participation of MSMEs and startups.

Significance

• Promotes India as a global mobility manufacturing hub.

• Boosts exports, investment, and international partnerships.

• Strengthens innovation and sustainable mobility.

Why in News?

• Three of India's greatest treasures, Kalhana's Rajatarangini, the Mahabharata, and Kautilya's Arthashastra, have now been added to UNESCO's Memory of the World Regional Register for Asia and the Pacific.

• It is a proud moment because these are not just old books. They are the memory of our civilization.

About UNESCO

UNESCO stands for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. It is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) founded on November 16, 1945, with its permanent headquarters in Paris, France.

Key Points:

• The decision was taken at the 11th General Meeting of MOWCAP, held in Jakarta, Indonesia.

• India's total now: With these 3 new additions, India now has 6 inscriptions in the regional register.

• Earlier inscriptions in 2024: Ramcharitmanas, Panchatantra, and Sahrdayaloka-Locana.

The Three Treasures

India's three newly recognized manuscripts represent three pillars of our civilization—history, values, and governance. Each one comes from a different time and place, but together they tell the complete story of India.

Rajatarangini:

• Written by Kalhana in the 12th century.

• It is a Sanskrit historical chronicle of Kashmir, documenting its rulers and political history.

• The manuscript is preserved at the Oriental Research Library, Srinagar.

Mahabharata:

• Traditionally attributed to Vyasa.

• It is one of India's two major Sanskrit epics, exploring Dharma, duty, and morality.

• The inscribed manuscript is 400 years old, written on birchbark in Sharada script.

• It is preserved at the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute, Pune.

Artha Shastra:

• Traditionally attributed to Kautilya (Chanakya). It is an ancient treatise on governance, administration, diplomacy, economics, and statecraft.

• Its inscribed manuscript is from the 16th century and written on palm leaf.

• It is preserved at the Oriental Research Institute, Mysuru.

Role of IGNCA:

• The Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) played an important role in preparing the nomination dossiers for all three manuscripts.

UNESCO Memory of the World Programme

• The Memory of the World Programme is UNESCO's way of protecting the world's most precious documents before they are lost forever to war, disaster, or simply time.

Established and Objective:

• Launched by UNESCO in 1992. Its aim is to preserve documentary heritage, especially heritage threatened by conflicts and natural disasters.

• It also works to ensure universal access and to make people aware of why these documents matter.