Why in News?

The Union Cabinet approved the CAPEX Support Scheme to Promote Critical Mineral Processing on 4 November 2026, with an outlay of ₹2,814 crore. It will help set up domestic lithium and nickel processing plants.

About the Scheme

• Ministry: Ministry of Mines.
• Outlay: ₹2,814 crore, fully funded from the Union Budget.
• Period: FY 2026-27 to FY 2030-31 (five years).
• Support: A 30% capital subsidy on eligible investment for four plants.
• Lithium: Two plants of at least 30 kt capacity each. They will process ores and concentrates (not brines) into battery-grade products.
• Nickel: Two plants of at least 50 kt capacity each. They will make Class-1 nickel or battery-grade nickel sulphate, with cobalt recovery.
• Aim: To fill the missing link in processing, cut import dependence and build a resilient value chain.

Why Domestic Processing Matters

• Concentrated supply: Processing is concentrated in a few countries, which exposes supply chains to geopolitical disruption, price swings and export restrictions.
• Import dependence: India’s needs for refined intermediates and high-purity materials are met largely through imports.
• Not viable without support: Plants need advanced equipment, multi-stage conversion and strict environmental safeguards, which raise costs, and access to raw materials and technology is limited.

Background

• Critical minerals: India identified 30 critical minerals in 2023, of which 24 are in Part D of the First Schedule of the MMDR Act, 1957, including lithium, nickel, cobalt, graphite and rare earths.
• National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM): Launched in January 2025, with ₹16,300 crore (2024-25 to 2030-31).
• Recycling scheme: ₹1,500 crore, approved on 3 September 2025, for recovering critical minerals from e-waste and spent lithium-ion batteries.
• Exploration and mining: The Centre has auctioned 64 critical and strategic mineral blocks and 11 Exploration Licence blocks.
• Net zero: India’s 2070 net-zero goal raises demand for these minerals.

Why in News?

BIS hallmarking has expanded sharply since it became mandatory for gold in 2021. By 15 October 2026, over 65 crore gold articles had received a Hallmark Unique Identification (HUID), and the number of BIS-registered jewellers rose from 43,153 to 2,36,624.

About the Scheme

• Ministry: Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution (Department of Consumer Affairs).
• Implementing body: The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), India’s national standards body, a statutory body under the BIS Act, 2016. It is the sole agency for the hallmarking scheme.
• What it is: A consumer protection measure that certifies the purity of gold and silver articles against prescribed standards.

Timeline

• 2000: Voluntary hallmarking scheme launched for gold.
• 2005: Scheme for silver launched.
• 23 June 2021: Mandatory gold hallmarking began in 256 districts, under the Hallmarking of Gold Jewellery and Gold Artefacts Order, 2020.
• Now: Covers 392 districts, as Assaying and Hallmarking Centres have grown.
• Silver: Hallmarking is still voluntary, but from 1 September 2025, every BIS-hallmarked silver article must carry an HUID.

Key Points

• Gold (IS 1417): Seven caratages: 9K (375), 14K (585), 18K (750), 20K (833), 22K (916), 23K (958) and 24K (995). Fineness is in parts per thousand.
• Silver (IS 2112:2025): Eight grades: 800, 835, 900, 925, 958, 970, 990 and 999.
• HUID: A unique six-digit alphanumeric code marked on each hallmarked article, which makes it traceable.
• BIS CARE App: Consumers enter the HUID to see purity, product type, jeweller and AHC, and since 8 June 2026, photos and the recorded weight. It is free and works in 12 languages.

Background

• Why hallmarking: Gold is too soft for jewellery and is alloyed with other metals, so its purity is hard to judge, and the gold content of intricate or gold-plated items is even harder.
• Exemptions: Jewellers with annual turnover up to ₹40 lakh, and certain items such as watches, fountain pens and special jewellery like Kundan, Polki and Jadau.
• Penalties: Violations are punishable under the BIS Act, 2016, including fines and imprisonment.
• Three marks: Since 2023, only the three-mark system with the six-digit HUID is allowed for gold.

Why in News?

DRDO successfully flight-tested the Pralay quasi-ballistic missile on 5 November 2026, with induction now “imminent”.

INS Sahyadri arrived at Yokosuka, Japan, on 4 November 2026 for the multilateral naval exercise Malabar 2026.

Part 1: Pralay Missile Flight Test

• The test: From Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island, off Odisha, at about 1110 hrs. All objectives were met, as confirmed by data from instruments of the Integrated Test Range, Chandipur.
• Developer: Research Centre Imarat (RCI), Hyderabad, with other DRDO laboratories.
• Producer: Bharat Dynamics Limited, one of the Development-cum-Production Partners.
• Type of trial: A user evaluation trial, conducted with senior officials of DRDO, industry and the Defence Forces.

About Pralay

• What it is: An indigenous, solid-propellant, surface-to-surface short-range missile with a quasi-ballistic flight path.
• Quasi-ballistic: It follows a lower, flatter trajectory than a standard ballistic missile and can manoeuvre in flight, which makes it harder to intercept.
• Range: 150 to 500 km.
• Payload: Different warheads of up to about 1,000 kg.
• Targets: Airfields, command and control centres, troop concentrations, radars and air defence installations.
• Place in the arsenal: Its range fills the gap between the Prithvi missiles (150 to 350 km) and the Agni series.
• History: The project was sanctioned in 2015, and the first flight tests were on 22 and 23 Dec 2021.

Part 2: Exercise Malabar 2026

• The ship: INS Sahyadri, an indigenous guided missile stealth frigate of the Eastern Fleet, was welcomed by the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force.
• The exercise: Malabar 2026 brings together the navies of India, Japan, the United States and Australia.
• Aim: Better operational coordination and interoperability, and sharing of professional expertise.
• Link to vision: India’s participation reflects MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions) and a “secure and stable Indo-Pacific”.
• Malabar: Began in 1992 as a bilateral exercise between India and the US. Japan became a regular participant in 2015, and Australia rejoined in 2020, bringing together the Quad navies.

Why in News?

The Prime Minister highlighted India’s rise from 14 medals (2010) to a record 114 medals at the Asian Para Games (2026), calling it proof of the “immense potential and talent” of India’s athletes.

Key Points

• The Games: The 5th Asian Para Games, held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, from 18 to 24 October 2026, with athletes from 45 countries and regions.
• India’s result: 114 medals, made up of 30 gold, 35 silver and 49 bronze. India finished fourth and had its best-ever Asian Para Games campaign.
• Records: Five world records and nine Asian records.
• Podium sweeps: India took all three medals in four events.
• Debutants: 36 of the 61 athletes making their Asian Para Games debut won medals.
• Women: 34 of the 56 women athletes won medals.
• By sport: Para athletics gave 65 medals (including 22 golds). Para badminton gave 16 medals, para swimming 11, para table tennis 7, para archery 6 and para shooting 5.
• Quotas: India also secured two shooting quotas for the 2028 Paralympics.

Growth of India’s Medal Tally

Background

• Asian Para Games: A multi-sport event for athletes with physical disabilities, run by the Asian Paralympic Committee every four years, after each Asian Games. The first was in 2010 in Guangzhou, China.
• Recognition: The Games are recognised by the International Paralympic Committee and are described as the second-largest multi-sport event after the Paralympic Games.
• India’s body: The Paralympic Committee of India (PCI), recognised by the International Paralympic Committee.
• Paris Paralympics 2024: India won 29 medals, including 7 gold, its best Paralympic tally.
• Support: Para athletes are supported through schemes such as the Target Olympic Podium Scheme and the Khelo India programme.

Why in News?

The Union Home Minister inaugurated the Martyrs’ Memorial of the First War of Independence of 1857 at Ambala Cantonment, Haryana, on 5 November 2026. It was built at a cost of about ₹594 crore on 22 acres, with 22 galleries, and uses virtual reality, holography and interactive projection.

About the Revolt of 1857

• Beginning: 10 May 1857 at Meerut, in the mainstream account. Sepoys marched to Delhi and declared Bahadur Shah II the symbolic leader. An earlier spark was at Barrackpore on 29 March 1857.
• Ambala’s claim: Haryana historians argue that the 60th Native Infantry revolted at Ambala on 10 May 1857, about nine hours before Meerut.
• Immediate cause: The Enfield rifle cartridges, rumoured to be greased with cow and pig fat.
• Political causes: The Doctrine of Lapse, the annexation of Awadh (1856) and the end of titles and pensions, such as that of Nana Saheb.
• Economic causes: Heavy land revenue, drain of wealth and decline of handicrafts.
• Military causes: Discrimination in pay and promotion, and the General Service Enlistment Act, 1856.
• Social and religious causes: Fear of interference with religion.

Centres, Leaders and Haryana’s Role

• Centres and leaders: Delhi (Bahadur Shah II, General Bakht Khan), Kanpur (Nana Saheb, Tatya Tope), Lucknow (Begum Hazrat Mahal), Jhansi (Rani Lakshmibai), Bihar (Kunwar Singh), Faizabad (Maulvi Ahmadullah Shah) and Haryana (Rao Tula Ram, Raja Nahar Singh).
• Haryana’s role: Gurgaon, Rohtak, Hisar and Karnal and states such as Jhajjar, Ballabhgarh, Pataudi and Loharu joined by the end of May 1857. Battles were fought at Sirsa (Chormar), Sonipat, Rohtak and Hissar.

Suppression and Consequences

• Suppression: Delhi was retaken in September 1857 and Jhansi in April 1858. Rani Lakshmibai died in June 1858, and Tatya Tope was executed in 1859. The revolt was largely confined to north and central India.
• Why it failed: No unity or common plan, limited support from many princes and zamindars, and British advantages in arms and communications.
• Government of India Act, 1858: Ended the rule of the East India Company and transferred power to the Crown. The Governor-General became the Viceroy.
• Queen Victoria’s Proclamation (1 November 1858): Promised not to interfere in religion and to respect the rights of princes.
• Other consequences: The army was reorganised with more British soldiers, and the Doctrine of Lapse was dropped.
• Different names: “Sepoy Mutiny” (British view), “First War of Indian Independence” (popularised by V.D. Savarkar in 1909) and “Revolt of 1857”.

Why in News?

The Ministry of Railways completed its four-phase programme for 150 years of Vande Mataram with a closing event at Rail Bhawan on 5 November 2026.

The nationwide commemoration of the National Song, led by the Ministry of Culture, ends on 7 November 2026, the song’s 150th anniversary.

About Vande Mataram

• Meaning: “Mother, I bow to thee.”
• Composer: Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, who wrote it on 7 November 1875, on Akshaya Navami.
• First publication: In the literary journal Bangadarshan on 7 November 1875.
• Anandamath: He later included it in his novel Anandamath (1882), set against the backdrop of the Sannyasi rebellion.
• First sung at a Congress session: By Rabindranath Tagore at the 1896 session of the Indian National Congress in Calcutta.
• Swadeshi Movement: It became a popular slogan and rallying cry during the Swadeshi movement after the Partition of Bengal (1905).
• National Song: On 24 January 1950, the Constituent Assembly gave it equal status with Jana Gana Mana, the National Anthem. The Assembly’s President announced this.
• National Anthem: Jana Gana Mana, composed by Rabindranath Tagore, was adopted as the National Anthem on the same day.
• Commemoration: The Ministry of Culture is leading the year-long commemoration, which was launched on 7 November 2025 at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium, New Delhi, with mass singing of the full version and the release of a commemorative stamp and coin.