Continuation of the Centrally Sponsored Scheme for (FTSCs) for speedy trial of rape and POCSO Act for 5 years.

The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister has approved the continuation of the Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) for Fast Track Special Courts (FTSCs), including Special POCSO Courts, for a period of five years, i.e., from 01.04.2026 to 31.03.2031. The total financial outlay of the scheme is ₹3,788.04 crore (Central share ₹2,353.15 crore and State/UT share ₹1,434.89 crore). The Central share will be funded from the Nirbhaya Fund. The primary beneficiaries of this scheme are women and children who are victims of rape and crimes under the POCSO Act, 2012.

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Continuation of the Centrally Sponsored Scheme for (FTSCs) for speedy trial of rape and POCSO Act for 5 years.

This scheme has been operational since October 2, 2019. The scheme is proposed to be expanded to cover up to 850 FTSCs. This expansion aims to include additional districts, which will be identified based on the pendency of rape and POCSO Act cases. There are 29 participating States/UTs. Total cases settled since the launch of the scheme is 4,02,457. There are 779 total functional FTSCs including 399 Special POCSO Courts. The scheme was initially launched for a period of one year and was later extended to March 31, 2026.

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The Union Cabinet has approved the Develop India Initiative for the period of 2026-27 to 2030-31

The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today approved the Develop India Initiative – Statistical Transformation, Analysis and Research (VISTAR) Scheme for the period from FY 2026-27 to FY 2030-31. The scheme has a financial outlay of ₹4,371.10 crore. The three major components of the expansion plan are as follows: Component 1: Strengthening the comprehensive statistical operations and ecosystem (the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation proposes to conduct 59 surveys during the 16th Finance Commission period, as against 43 major surveys conducted earlier.) Component 2: Support for statistical robustness. Component 3: Economic calculations

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Cabinet approves Rs.14,500 crore Viability Gap Funding Scheme for development of 92 GWh Grid-Scale Energy Storage Systems

The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has approved the Viability Gap Funding (VGF) Scheme for Development of Grid-Scale Energy Storage Systems, with a total financial support of Rs.14,500 crore for the period FY 2026-27 to FY 2030-31. The scheme aims to support the development of 92 GWh of, yet to be commissioned; energy storage capacity across the country. The scheme will support creation of new capacities equivalent to 170% of the present-day Grid Scale Energy Storage System capacity in the country and help meet the required Grid Scale ESS capacity of 411 GWh by 2031-32.

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Cabinet approves Rs.14,500 crore Viability Gap Funding Scheme for development of 92 GWh Grid-Scale Energy Storage Systems

A key objective of the scheme is to strengthen India's domestic energy storage manufacturing ecosystem through demand-side financial support and reduce dependence on imported components. The scheme envisages the development of 60 GWh of Hydro Pumped Storage Plant (PSP) capacity, 30 GWh of Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) capacity and 2 GWh of capacity through alternative energy storage technologies, with a total estimated investment of Rs.97,600 crore. Energy storage capacity will be allocated through a tariff-based competitive bidding process.

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MANAGE Hyderabad Recognised as Centre of Excellence-Skills in Agriculture Sector by MSDE

The National Institute of Agricultural Extension Management (MANAGE), Hyderabad, established in 1987, an autonomous organisation working under the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Government of India has been recognised as a Centre of Excellence-Skills (CoE-Skills) in the Agriculture Sector by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), Government of India. The recognition as a Centre of Excellence has been formally conferred through a Certificate of Recognition presented by the Ministry at a ceremony held at Kaushal Bhawan, New Delhi, on 2 November 2026.

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MANAGE Hyderabad Recognised as Centre of Excellence-Skills in Agriculture Sector by MSDE

The Certificate was presented to MANAGE by Smt Debashree Mukherjee, Secretary, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), Government of India. The recognition is valid for a period of three years. The vision to contribute to the skill development mission of the country, with empanelment being a key component of this initiative, was developed under the leadership of Shri Sanjay Kumar Agarwal, IAS, Director General (MANAGE) and Joint Secretary (Ext) by a team consisting of Dr K C Gummagolmath, Dr Veenita Kumari and Dr Shalendra.

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India and Canada held their first defence dialogue

The first edition of the India-Canada Defence Dialogue was held virtually on November 3, 2026. The meeting was co-chaired by Dr. Amit Telang, Joint Secretary (International Cooperation) in the Ministry of Defence and Mr. Scott Miller, Assistant Deputy Minister (Policy) in the Department of National Defence, Canada. The two sides discussed various measures to achieve concrete results in broadening and strengthening the defense partnership.

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Union Minister Dr Virendra Kumar Launches ‘Vayo Samman Rashtriya Abhiyan’ to Strengthen Intergenerational Bonding

Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Dr. Virendra Kumar launched the ‘Vayo Samman Rashtriya Abhiyan’, a National Intergenerational Bonding Campaign, under the Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojana (AVYAY), in the National Capital on 4th Nov, 2026. The Minister also released the Handbook on Vayo Samman Rashtriya Abhiyan and launched the Vayo SAATHI volunteer initiative to mobilise citizens in support of senior citizens.

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Union Minister Dr Virendra Kumar Launches ‘Vayo Samman Rashtriya Abhiyan’ to Strengthen Intergenerational Bonding

On the occasion, two Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with Voluntary organizations namely Shri Ram Chandra Mission (SRCM) and Adhyatma Vigyan Satsang Kendra (AVSK), Jodhpur, were signed and formally exchanged in the presence of the Hon’ble Union Minister, Secretary MoSJE and other senior officials of the Ministry. Another major component of the initiative is Vayo SAATHI (Support, Awareness, Assistance, Training, Health and Inclusion), a digitally enabled volunteer initiative open to all citizens aged 18 years and above, including students, young professionals and institutions.

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Union Minister Shri Chirag Paswan inaugurated the New Official Website of the Ministry of Food Processing Industries

Hon’ble Union Minister of Food Processing Industries, Shri Chirag Paswan, on 4th Nov inaugurated the new official website of the Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) at Panchsheel Bhawan, New Delhi along with Shri Avinash Joshi, Secretary, Ministry of Food Processing Industries, along with other senior officials of the Ministry. The new website incorporates enhanced data protection and security mechanisms,features multilingual support to facilitate wider access to information, along with improved search functionality for easier navigation and seamless retrieval of relevant information.

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Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) launched 'Network Experience' platform

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) launched the "Network Experience Platform" on 4th Nov. This is a geospatial and analytical dashboard that incorporates user test data and independent drive test data from TRAI. It also features a DND (Do Not Disturb) web interface. The user test data includes test results from TRAI's "MySpeed" and "MyCall" apps. This platform provides critical information on various network parameters to consumers, service providers, and TRAI.

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Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) launched 'Network Experience' platform

The platform reports percentile values calculated from tests taken by users in a given area:

P-50 (Median Speed): Half of the tests recorded a speed equal to or greater than this value.

P-80 (for mobile broadband): 80 percent of tests recorded speeds equal to or greater than this value. P-90 (for fixed broadband): 90 percent of tests recorded speeds equal to or greater than this value.

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Commerce and Industry Minister Shri Piyush Goyal inaugurates Vanijya Bhawan and Udyog Bhawan in Jaipur

Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Shri Piyush Goyal on 4th Nov virtually inaugurated Vanijya Bhawan and Udyog Bhawan in Jaipur, marking the beginning of the co-location of offices of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry and its associated and affiliated organisations at a single location. Jaipur has become the first city and the first State capital to bring all these offices together under one roof. The Minister directed that all processes, including applications for licences and permits, SCOMET approvals and other services, should move entirely online.

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Commerce and Industry Minister Shri Piyush Goyal inaugurates Vanijya Bhawan and Udyog Bhawan in Jaipur

He set 31st March 2027 as the deadline for completing the necessary digitisation, including the digitisation of past data and records at the Regional Authorities (RAs) of the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) across the country. From 1st April 2027, no person should be required or expected to visit any of the offices physically for these services. The Minister informed that the Ministry currently has around 500 offices and 46 organisations. He clarified that the co-located centres would not provide services only for the organisations physically situated there but would facilitate services across all 46 organisations and different departments under the Ministry.

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Nirmala Lakshman’s book ‘The Tamils : A Portrait of a Community’ wins Sharjah award

Nirmala Lakshman, author, journalist and Director of The Hindu Group, has won the Sharjah Award for the Best International Book in the Best International Non-Fiction Book category for “The Tamils : A Portrait of a Community”. The award was presented by Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Sharjah Book Authority. The book was published by Aleph Book Company in January 2025. Dr. Lakshman, who is also Festival Director of The Hindu Lit for Life, has previously authored a book on Chennai, titled Degree Coffee by the Yard (2013), and edited an anthology of contemporary Indian journalism, Writing a Nation (2007).

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India announces extension of $500 million line of credit for Guyana

India has announced an extension of a USD 500 million line of credit for roads, health and defence projects in Guyana as External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met Guyanese President Mohamed Irfaan Ali in Antigua and Barbuda during Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) visit. The two countries also signed three agreements, including on the supply and installation of Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs) manufacturing projects and grant assistance for implementation of Quick Impact Projects (QIPs) and cooperation in the field of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) and the Functioning of a Unified Payments Interface (UPI)-like System in Guyana.

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Prashant Chaudhary wins Rohini Nayyar Prize

Dehradun technology educator Prashant Chaudhary has won the fifth Rohini Nayyar Prize for Outstanding Contribution to Rural Development. Constituted in memory of Ms. Nayyar, a scholar-administrator and an activist on rural development issues, the prize is given out annually by the Nayyar Foundation to noted contributors for social and economic purposes. Former CEO of NITI Aayog Amitabh Kant presented the prize to Mr. Chaudhary on October 31, 2026. The prize includes a cash award of ₹10 lakh, a citation, and a trophy.

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Shri Dinesh V. Ganvir Assumes Charge as 55th Director General of Geological Survey of India

Shri Dinesh Vitthalrao Ganvir has assumed charge as the 55th Director General of the Geological Survey of India (GSI), an attached office of the Ministry of Mines, Government of India. Shri Ganvir joined GSI on 1 July 1994. With over 32 years of experience in geological investigations, mineral exploration and institutional administration, he has served in various capacities across GSI's Central, North-Eastern and Northern Regions. Prior to his appointment, he was Additional Director General and Head of Department, Central Region, Nagpur, and National Mission Head-II.

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Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises signs MoU with TRIFED to Strengthen Market Access for PM Vishwakarma Artisans

The Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED), under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, to strengthen market access for eligible tribal artisans registered under the PM Vishwakarma Scheme. The MoU was signed in the presence of Dr. Rajneesh, Additional Secretary & Development Commissioner, Ministry of MSME; Shri M. Raja Murugan, Managing Director, TRIFED; along with Shri Nitish Kumar, Deputy Director General (DDG); Shri Danish Ashraf, Joint Development Commissioner, Ministry of MSME; and Shri Prateek Singh Meena, Executive Director, TRIFED.

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Pakistan tests indigenous Fa'az air-to-air missile, says new weapon will boost air force capabilities.

Pakistan's has successfully tested its Fa'az air-to-air missile in a push to strengthen its indigenous missile capabilities. The missile is equipped with an advanced terminal guidance system and is designed to engage hostile aircraft at longer ranges. The armed forces said the new weapon system would significantly expand the operational flexibility of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF). However, it did not disclose the missile's operational range, speed, payload specifications or other technical details.

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Pakistan tests indigenous Fa'az air-to-air missile, says new weapon will boost air force capabilities.

In October, Pakistan successfully tested an extended-range version of its Fatah-4 ground-launched cruise missile.The baseline Fatah-4 is said to have a range of around 750 km. Recently, Pakistan also announced the successful test of the Fatah-2 Extended Range ballistic missile, describing it as a precision-strike weapon equipped with advanced navigation and avionics. In January 2026, the Pakistan Air Force also tested its indigenously developed Taimoor air-launched cruise missile, which has a reported range of 600 km and is designed to engage land and sea targets.

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Culture Ministry signs MoU with Google Arts & Culture to digitise India’s heritage

The Ministry of Culture on 5th Nov signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Google Arts & Culture to digitise India’s cultural heritage and make it accessible to audiences in India and abroad. The agreement was signed at a virtual ceremony in the presence of Culture Secretary Vivek Aggarwal and Google Arts & Culture Vice President and Founder Amit Sood. The partnership will cover monuments and archaeological sites protected by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), national museum collections, manuscripts being documented under Gyan Bharatam, and crafts, performing arts and living traditions supported by the Ministry’s institutions.

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