Current Affairs - November 3, 2026 Current Affairs

Turkey became the 71st country to join the US-led Artemis Accords, which promote the peaceful, transparent and cooperative exploration of the Moon, Mars and deep space. Turkish Industry and Technology Minister Mehmet Fatih Kacır signed the agreement at NASA headquarters in Washington. Turkey also became the seventh West Asian country to join the framework, following the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Oman, Jordan and Israel. The Artemis Accords are based on the 1967 Outer Space Treaty and promote scientific data sharing, astronaut emergency assistance, interoperability of space systems and the preservation of historical sites on celestial bodies.

India's coconut exports recorded an impressive growth of 62% in the financial year 2025–26, reaching ₹7,038.25 crore. This growth was mainly driven by increasing international demand for value-added coconut products and the expansion of export markets to 155 countries. Coconut-based products have growing applications in various industries, including food processing, pharmaceuticals and water purification. World Coconut Day 2026 will be observed on September 2, 2026, at the Mount Carmel Convention Centre in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. The theme is "Coconuts in Times of Uncertainty: Securing Food, Energy, and Livelihoods."

November 3 is observed every year as the International Day for Biosphere Reserves. UNESCO declared this observance at its 41st General Conference in 2021 through Resolution 37. The first celebration took place on November 3, 2022, marking the conclusion of the 50th anniversary celebrations of UNESCO's Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme. The day highlights the importance of conserving biodiversity while promoting sustainable development in harmony with nature. It also encourages scientific research, environmental education and community participation in protecting ecosystems and managing natural resources responsibly.

Gopal Vittal, Executive Vice-Chairman of Bharti Airtel, was re-elected as the Chairperson of the Global System for Mobile Communications Association (GSMA) for the 2027–2028 term. The announcement was made on November 2, 2026. Vittal has served on the GSMA Board for 10 years and has held the position of Chairperson since 2025. During his second term, he will focus on strengthening telecommunications security, developing high-performance mobile networks, promoting artificial intelligence (AI) and advancing digital communications. Ralph Mupita of MTN Group and Margherita Della Valle of Vodafone Group were elected as Co-Deputy Chairpersons.

Visakhapatnam hosted the commencement of the 5th edition of the India-US Bilateral Tri-Service Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) Exercise, Tiger Triumph 2026. The exercise began on November 2, 2026, at the Maritime Warfare Centre (MWC) and was conducted as a Tabletop Exercise (TTX). It involves personnel from the Indian Army, Navy and Air Force, along with the US Armed Forces. The main objective is to strengthen joint planning, coordination and interoperability between the two countries during large-scale humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations. The 2026 edition also includes the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) for the first time.

The Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has launched WhatsApp-based services to make provident fund-related information easily accessible to its members. Through this initiative, more than 80 million subscribers can check their PF balance, access passbook details and view their latest five transactions. The service also provides support for completing PMVBRY requirements. This digital initiative was announced by Union Labour and Employment Minister Mansukh Mandaviya during EPFO's 74th Foundation Day celebration on November 1, 2026. It aims to improve convenience, accessibility and efficiency in delivering provident fund services to employees.

India's Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) declined to 54.7 in October 2026 from 55.1 in September 2026, indicating a slight slowdown in the pace of manufacturing growth. However, the index remained above the neutral 50 mark, which signifies continued expansion in manufacturing activity. Strong global demand helped export orders reach a six-month high, while factory output continued to increase. Additionally, input inflation dropped to its lowest level since February 2026, and selling prices recorded their slowest increase in almost four years. These trends indicate continued growth in India's manufacturing sector despite moderating momentum.

Bihar and Jharkhand signed an agreement to resolve their long-standing 25-year-old dispute over the distribution of Sone River water. The pact divides a total allocation of 7.75 million acre-feet (MAF) between the two states. It settles the sharing of the water allocation originally granted to undivided Bihar under the 1973 Bansagar Agreement. The agreement was finalised following recommendations from a committee constituted by the Central Government under the Central Water Commission (CWC). The dispute had continued since Jharkhand was separated from Bihar in November 2000. The Union Jal Shakti Ministry supervised the agreement.

Sri Lanka lost the hosting rights for the inaugural 2027 ICC Women's Champions Trophy after the International Cricket Council (ICC) took action over violations of its independence rules. The issue involved alleged government interference in the administration of Sri Lanka Cricket through a government-appointed Transformation Committee. The tournament is scheduled to be held from February 14 to 28, 2027. Sri Lanka's removal as host also affects its automatic qualification and tournament preparations. The ICC will select a replacement host based on factors such as weather conditions, venue availability and broadcasting facilities.

Istanbul hosted the first committee meeting under the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement involving Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan on August 31, 2026. The agreement was formally signed by the three countries on August 7, 2026, to establish a collective security framework and strengthen regional defence cooperation. It includes a collective defence provision modelled on NATO's Article 5, under which an armed attack against one member country is treated as an attack against all three. The agreement also focuses on joint military production, defence industry development and coordination between armed forces. Egypt has been identified as a potential new member.

Finland hosted the Tammer Tournament 2026, an annual international boxing competition held in the city of Tampere. Organised by the Tampere Boxing Association, the tournament has been conducted since 1977 to provide international exposure to boxers. India delivered an impressive performance by securing the top position in the medal tally with 14 medals, comprising 4 gold, 2 silver and 8 bronze medals. The Indian boxing team competed under World Boxing rules. Aarti Dhariyal, Ankushita Boro, Arundhati Chaudhary and Pawan Bartwal were among the Indian boxers who won gold medals in their respective weight categories.

November 3 is observed every year as World Jellyfish Day to raise awareness about the ecological importance of jellyfish and their role in maintaining marine ecosystem balance. The day has been acknowledged in multiple holiday calendars as an annual event since 2014. It highlights the importance of jellyfish in marine food chains, scientific research, biotechnology and ocean conservation. Jellyfish serve as both predators and prey in marine ecosystems. They also contribute to important scientific discoveries, particularly through Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP), which has become a valuable tool in biological and medical research.