Current Affairs - November 11, 2026 Current Affairs

November 9 is observed as National Entrepreneurship Day in India to commemorate the establishment of the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) in 2014. The day recognises the contributions of entrepreneurs and highlights the importance of innovation, startups and business development in the country's economic growth. India has emerged as the world's third-largest startup ecosystem, after the United States and China. As of November 2026, the country had approximately 2.62 lakh DPIIT-recognised startups, compared with fewer than 500 in 2014. These startups have generated more than 25 lakh direct jobs, supporting employment opportunities and India's vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.

Fifth was the position secured by India among 65 participating nations at the 2026 World Armwrestling Championships held in New Delhi from October 29 to November 6, 2026. India won a total of 59 medals, comprising 9 gold, 19 silver and 31 bronze medals. The championship included the 47th World Armwrestling Championship and the 28th World Para Armwrestling Championship. More than 1,700 athletes, officials and delegates participated in the event. Russia secured the overall championship title, followed by Kazakhstan in second place and Türkiye in third place. This was the first time India hosted these world championships.

Odisha is the state where the new scorpion species Liocheles similipalensis was discovered in the Similipal Tiger Reserve. The species was identified through a collaboration between the Thackeray Wildlife Foundation and officials of the reserve. This discovery marks the first confirmed record of the Liocheles genus in Odisha and increases the globally recognised number of species in this genus to seven. The newly discovered scorpion measures between 44 mm and 53 mm and has a glossy, bluish-black body. It inhabits rocky areas within tropical moist deciduous forests at an elevation of around 1,000 metres.

Kozhikode and Malappuram were the two districts of Kerala that reported Shigella infection outbreaks in November 2026. In Malappuram, infections were reported among individuals who had consumed food from restaurants in Nilambur. In Kozhikode, schoolchildren from Vadakara tested positive after consuming their midday meal at school. The health department implemented several preventive measures, including chlorination of houses, distribution of Oral Rehydration Salts (ORS), food safety inspections and medical assistance. The outbreak highlighted the importance of safe drinking water, proper food hygiene, handwashing and good sanitation in preventing the spread of food- and water-borne infections.

Andhra Pradesh secured the first position in India's Ease of Vehicle Ownership Index (EVOI) 2026 with a score of 5.91 out of 10. The index was developed by IndiaTech.org in collaboration with Consumer VOICE to evaluate the ease of transferring ownership of second-hand vehicles. Kerala ranked second with 5.74 points, while Tamil Nadu and Delhi jointly secured third place with 4.58 points. Andhra Pradesh performed well due to its faster Registration Certificate (RC) transfer process, biometric verification system and road tax refund mechanism. The index assessed 15 states and Union Territories using six parameters, including policy, digital services, efficiency, transparency, support and cost.

Goa secured the first position in the Access Equality Index 2026 with an overall score of 0.68, making it the top-performing state in terms of access to essential services and opportunities. The index was developed by the Centre for New Economics Studies (CNES) at O.P. Jindal Global University. Andhra Pradesh ranked second with a score of 0.66, followed by Sikkim in third place with 0.63. The index evaluates states based on access to basic infrastructure, healthcare, education, socio-economic security and legal services. It covers 28 Indian states and uses 60 indicators to assess accessibility and equality.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) became the first country outside Europe to implement the electronic ATA Carnet (eATA) system on November 9, 2026. This digital initiative simplifies the temporary import and export of goods used in international trade fairs, exhibitions, business events and professional activities. The system replaces traditional paper-based documentation with digital Carnets, mobile applications and QR codes for customs verification. It was developed by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) in collaboration with the World Customs Organisation (WCO). The initiative aims to reduce paperwork, speed up customs clearance, improve transparency and strengthen the UAE's position as a global trade and logistics hub.

November 11 is celebrated as National Education Day in India to commemorate the birth anniversary of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, the first Education Minister of independent India. Born on November 11, 1888, he played a significant role in shaping India's education system after independence. The Ministry of Human Resource Development declared this day in 2008 to recognise his contributions to education and nation-building. The first National Education Day celebration was held on November 11, 2008, at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi and was inaugurated by former President Pratibha Devisingh Patil.

Indian Overseas Bank (IOB) launched its Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) mobile application, named IOB Digital Rupee, to facilitate transactions using India's sovereign digital currency. The application supports Peer-to-Peer (P2P) and Peer-to-Merchant (P2M) payments through a dedicated Digital Rupee Wallet. It also offers UPI interoperability, allowing customers to make payments using existing UPI QR codes. Additionally, its Programmable CBDC feature enables purpose-specific fund disbursements, including Direct Benefit Transfers and government grants. Headquartered in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, IOB was founded in 1937 and nationalised in 1969.

7% is the revised GDP growth forecast for India in FY2026-27 announced by Moody’s Ratings, up from its earlier estimate of 6.5%. The upward revision reflects strong domestic consumption, increasing investments and the Indian economy’s ability to withstand higher energy prices caused by geopolitical tensions. A diversified energy mix, government support and high household consumption have helped reduce the impact of rising oil and natural gas prices. India recorded 7.8% year-on-year economic growth in the April–June quarter of FY2026-27. However, inflation, an unfavourable monsoon and further monetary tightening remain potential risks to economic growth.