Current Affairs Quiz - November 2026

Notes:
Botanists from the Botanical Survey of India (BSI) discovered and described a new perennial plant species named Bupleurum oslaense in the Western Himalayas of Uttarakhand. The plant was found at an elevation of approximately 2,550 metres in temperate forest habitat. The species was named oslaense after Osla village, near its place of discovery. It is genetically and structurally related to Bupleurum petiolulatum, a species native to China, but differs in its leaves, bracts, flowers and fruits. The plant can grow up to 80 cm tall and has distinctive red-tinged margins on its broader upper leaves.

Notes:
Eminent neurosurgeon and Padma Shri awardee Professor Dr Ashok Kumar Mahapatra passed away at the age of 74 while undergoing treatment at AIIMS, New Delhi. He was a distinguished medical professional from Odisha who made significant contributions to neurosurgery and medical education. He served as the founding Director of AIIMS Bhubaneswar and headed the Department of Neurosurgery at AIIMS, New Delhi. He was the Vice-Chancellor of Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan University, Bhubaneswar. He received the Padma Shri in 2025 for his outstanding contribution to the field of medicine.

Notes:
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann announced that ₹1,291 crore had been transferred as Sanman Rashi to more than 37.43 lakh women under the Mukh Mantri Mawan-Dheeyan Satkar Yojna in November 2026 at Abohar. The Mukh Mantri Mawan-Dheeyan Satkar Yojna is a Punjab government initiative aimed at promoting women’s financial independence, dignity and empowerment. The scheme provides financial assistance directly into the bank accounts of eligible women through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT). Its primary objective is to strengthen the economic independence and self-respect of mothers and daughters by providing them with direct financial support.

Notes:
The International Day for Biosphere Reserves is observed annually on 3 November to promote awareness about the conservation of biodiversity and sustainable coexistence between humans and nature. The day was proclaimed by the UNESCO General Conference in 2021 during its 41st session. India has 18 nationally designated biosphere reserves, of which 13 are included in UNESCO’s World Network. The observance highlights the importance of balancing biodiversity conservation, sustainable development and local community participation.

Notes:
A male Bengal tiger, identified as STR-T10 ‘Ranoji’, was spotted and recorded on camera by tourists during a jungle safari at Radhanagari-Dajipur Wildlife Sanctuary. According to forest officials, it was the first officially documented tiger sighting by tourists in the sanctuary, supported by photographs and video footage. Radhanagari-Dajipur Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Kolhapur district, Maharashtra. Radhanagari-Dajipur Wildlife Sanctuary covers approximately 341 sq. km and forms an important wildlife corridor within the larger Sahyadri Tiger Reserve. The sanctuary is known for its rich biodiversity and wildlife, including gaur and other forest-dwelling species.

Notes:
Indian squash player Velavan Senthilkumar won the 2026 Czech Open, a PSA Copper-level tournament held in Brno, Czech Republic. He defeated Scotland’s Greg Lobban in the final by 3–1 games. The final score was 13–11, 11–5, 8–11, 11–7. Senthilkumar was the fourth seed and ranked World No. 42 at the time of the tournament. With this victory, he secured the 12th PSA Tour title of his career. It was his second PSA Copper-level title, following his victory at the Budapest Open in August 2026. The Czech Open carried a prize purse of US$35,000.

Notes:
Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell announced his retirement from international cricket on 3 November 2026, bringing an end to his international career. He represented Australia in 286 international matches, scoring 7,226 runs and taking 136 wickets. Maxwell was part of Australia’s winning squads in the 2015 and 2023 ODI Cricket World Cups and the 2021 T20 World Cup. He scored 3,990 runs in ODIs and 2,897 runs in T20Is. His five T20I centuries are the joint-most by any player. One of his most memorable performances came against Afghanistan in the 2023 ODI World Cup at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium.

Notes:
Two reports titled ‘Overshoot and the Cryosphere: Averting Global Meltdown’ and ‘State of the Cryosphere 2026: The Cost of Overshoot’ were released on 2 November 2026 by the International Cryosphere Climate Initiative (ICCI) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) ahead of COP31. The reports warn that the world’s frozen regions, including glaciers, ice sheets, sea ice and permafrost, are warming and melting rapidly, increasing the risks of floods and carbon release. The Arctic has warmed up to four times faster than the global average over the past decade. In the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH), global warming of 1.5°C could translate into regional warming of 1.8°C–2.2°C. Permafrost covers approximately 14 million sq km of the Northern Hemisphere and stores at least 1,700 billion tonnes of carbon.

Notes:
World Jellyfish Day is observed annually on 3 November to celebrate jellyfish and raise awareness about their ecological importance and marine ecosystems. Jellyfish are among the oldest marine organisms, having existed in Earth’s oceans for more than 500 million years, even before the dinosaurs. Their bodies consist of approximately 95% water. Jellyfish lack a brain, heart, bones, blood and gills. They play an important role in marine food chains by serving as food for animals such as sea turtles and sharks. They also provide shelter to small fish and are considered indicators of changes in ocean conditions.

Notes:
The Indian boxing team topped the medal tally at the Tammer Tournament 2026, held in Tampere, Finland, winning a total of 14 medals. India’s medal tally included 4 gold, 2 silver and 8 bronze medals. The four gold medals were won by Arundhati Chaudhary (70 kg), Aarti Dhariyal (54 kg), Ankushita Boro (65 kg) and Pawan Bartwal (55 kg). Arundhati Chaudhary, a Commonwealth Games gold medallist, secured the women’s 70 kg title. Aarti Dhariyal defeated Scotland’s Stephanie Kernachan 5–0 in the women’s 54 kg final. Ankushita Boro won gold in the women’s 65 kg category after defeating England’s Ella Thompstone 4–1. Pawan Bartwal secured the men’s 55 kg gold medal.