UPSC Current Affairs, 5 November 2026
13 stories from the news of the day, each in short with why it matters for Prelims and Mains. Practise their UPSC-style questions and take the daily quiz in CAShorts.
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PolityGS2GS3
Supreme Court calls additional sales tax reference academic; Kodar ruling stands
A seven-judge Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court on 4 November 2026 declined to answer a reference on States' power to levy additional sales tax, holding it academic. The question had waited nearly 27 years. The Bench said the 1974 ruling in S. Kodar vs State of Kerala continues to hold the field.
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NationalPrelimsGS2
Finance Ministry extends Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen) Phase-II to March 2028
The Finance Ministry on 3 November 2026 extended Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen) Phase-II to 31 March 2028, at the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation's request. All remaining villages must become ODF Plus by then, within the existing outlay, and no further extension will be considered. The scheme's dashboard lists 5.70 lakh of 5.86 lakh villages as ODF Plus.
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NationalPrelimsGS2
Cabinet extends Fast Track Special Courts scheme till 2031
The Union Cabinet on 4 November 2026 approved continuing the Centrally Sponsored Scheme for Fast Track Special Courts (FTSCs) for five years, from April 2026 to March 2031. The outlay is Rs 3,788.04 crore. The courts may number up to 850.
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NationalGS3Prelims
Cabinet approves VISTAR scheme to overhaul India's official statistics
The Union Cabinet on 4 November 2026 approved VISTAR, a Rs 4,371.10 crore scheme to modernise official statistics. It is a central sector scheme of the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI). It runs from 2026-27 to 2030-31. It funds more national surveys and support to States. It also covers the 8th Economic Census of non-farm establishments.
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DefencePrelimsGS2
Cabinet approves pathway for all Agniveers to become regular soldiers
The Union Cabinet on 4 November 2026 approved a second two-year engagement for the 75% of Agniveers not retained after four years, if they are willing. After it, all will be offered enrolment as regular soldiers, subject to willingness and selection criteria. The 25% merit-based retention stays, and the Agnipath scheme continues.
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EconomyPrelimsGS3
Cabinet approves Rs 14,500 crore VGF scheme for 92 GWh energy storage
The Union Cabinet on 4 November 2026 approved a Rs 14,500 crore Viability Gap Funding scheme to build 92 GWh of grid-scale energy storage. The scheme runs from 2026-27 to 2030-31. It backs 60 GWh of pumped storage, 30 GWh of batteries and 2 GWh of other technologies. Total investment is estimated at Rs 97,600 crore.
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EconomyGS3Prelims
Cabinet clears Rs 2,814-crore capex scheme for critical mineral processing
The Union Cabinet on 4 November 2026 approved a Rs 2,814-crore Capex Support Scheme to Promote Critical Mineral Processing, running from 2026-27 to 2030-31. It will pay 30% of eligible investment for four plants turning lithium and nickel into high-purity compounds. Support is capped at Rs 500 crore per lithium beneficiary and Rs 900 crore per nickel beneficiary.
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PolityGS2Prelims
Two-child election norm has lost relevance, Supreme Court holds
The Supreme Court held on 4 November 2026 that laws making a two-child norm a condition for contesting elections have lost relevance. It noted a drop in India's total fertility rate from 3 to 1.9. A Division Bench headed by Justice P.S. Narasimha referred whether the norm should continue to a larger Bench.
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EconomyGS3Prelims
RBI eases FEMA reporting for service exports and imports by individuals
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has eased reporting of services trade under the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 (FEMA). The change applies from 1 October 2026. A resident individual exporting services is now deemed to have filed the Export Declaration Form once the Authorised Dealer has the payment details. Individuals importing services leave IDPMS reporting.
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EconomyGS3GS2
IRDAI sets four-layer motor insurance cover for private cars, two-wheelers
The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) has ordered general insurers to sell private car and two-wheeler policies in a four-layer structure from 15 December 2026. Third-party liability and the owner's personal accident cover are compulsory. Liability to occupants, accident cover for passengers and own damage are optional, each priced separately in the policy.
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PolityPrelimsGS2
Supreme Court: foreign divorce on irretrievable breakdown not valid in India
The Supreme Court on 3 November 2026 ruled that a foreign court's divorce on irretrievable breakdown of marriage has no validity in India. Such a decree fails Section 13 of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, it said. The Court also refused to quash a bigamy case against a husband who remarried in the UK.
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PolityPrelimsGS2
Election Commission: SIR-dropped voters filing Form 6 face no Section 31 action
The Election Commission of India (ECI) wrote to all States and Union Territories on 3 November 2026. Voters missing from Special Intensive Revision (SIR) draft rolls may apply afresh in Form 6, it said. Under the Representation of the People Act, 1950, registration officers are to start no Section 31 action against them merely for earlier enrolment.
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Sci-TechPrelimsGS3
IndiaAI Mission releases indigenous foundation models EKA-1 and Dhir
The IndiaAI Mission of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) released three indigenous foundation models on 3 November 2026 under its Innovation Centre pillar. EKA-1, the larger model, was developed by Soket Labs and has 26.3 billion parameters. Dhir 2B and Dhir 5B, developed by ZenteiQ AiTech, are open-source models that can run offline.
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