UPSC Daily Current Affairs| One Liners 08-11-2026

One Liners 08-11-2026

History, Art and Culture

National Education Day

• Celebrated annually on – 11^th November.
• 1^st observed in – 2008, following the declaration by the Ministry of Human Resource Development (now Ministry of Education).
• Aim – To commemorate the birth anniversary of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, India's first Education Minister (1947–1958).

Maulana Abul Kalam Azad

• Birth – November 11, 1888, in Mecca (Saudi Arabia); originally named Feroze Bakht.
• Education – Studied Islamic theology and philosophy; further enriched his knowledge at Al-Azhar University, Cairo.
• Freedom Movement
  • Opposed the Partition of Bengal (1905) and advocated Hindu-Muslim unity.
  • Launched the Urdu journal Al-Hilal (1912) to promote nationalism and oppose British colonial rule.
  • Participated in the Khilafat Movement and supported the Indian freedom struggle.
  • Opposed the Partition of India (1947).

International Relations and Issues

Houthi Attacks on Saudi Arabia & Mecca Joint Defence Agreement

Saudi Arabia issued civil defence alerts in Yanbu Governorate, a major Red Sea oil export hub, amid escalating Houthi attacks.

• Turkey ratified the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey, enabling Ankara to provide military support to Riyadh.

Strategic Importance of Yanbu

• Location – Port city on Saudi Arabia's western coast along the Red Sea.
• Economic significance
  • Major crude oil export terminal of Saudi Arabia.
  • Important outlet for oil transported through the East-West Pipeline (Petroline).
  • Helps Saudi Arabia export crude without depending entirely on the Strait of Hormuz.
• Strategic significance – Any disruption could affect global oil supply chains and maritime energy security.

Mecca Joint Defence Agreement

• Members – Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey.
• Signed in – August 2026.
• Key provision – An armed attack against one member is considered an attack against all members.
• Objective – To promote collective defence, military cooperation and regional security.
• Recent development – Turkey's Parliament ratified the agreement, clearing the way for possible military assistance to Saudi Arabia.
• Egypt has also approved military assistance to Saudi Arabia.

Indo-Pacific Regional Dialogue (IPRD) 2026

• It is an annual apex-level international outreach conference of the Indian Navy.
• Held in – Manekshaw Centre, New Delhi, from 3–5 November 2026.
• Organized by – Indian Navy.
• Knowledge Partner and Principal Organiser – National Maritime Foundation (NMF).
• Participation from – 18 countries.
• Theme – ‘Science, Technology and Academic Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific’.
• 5 Major Thematic Sessions
  • Academic Networks
  • Maritime Situational Awareness
  • Oceanographic Science
  • Ocean Governance
  • Emerging Technologies
• Objectives
  • To promote maritime cooperation through science, technology and academic engagement.
  • To strengthen joint research, technology development and information-sharing.
  • To enhance ocean governance, maritime security and climate resilience.
  • To develop actionable proposals for Indo-Pacific cooperation.

Infrastructure

India's 1^st Dedicated Green Methanol Bunkering Hub

• India's 1^st dedicated green methanol bunkering hub and the only port on India's east coast offering this service.
• Located at – VOC Port, Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu.
• Storage Capacity – 1,500 m³, comprising two tanks of 750 m³ each.
• Pipeline – 2.8-km stainless-steel pipeline connecting storage facilities to the jetty bunkering point.
• Funding – Rs.35.34 crore allocated by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).
• Commercial Launch: Targeted by the end of November 2026, subject to statutory clearances and operational readiness.

Bunkering

• It refers to the process of supplying fuel to ships for their operational requirements.
• Green methanol bunkering enables ships to refuel using alternative low-carbon marine fuels.

National Green Hydrogen Mission (NGHM)

• Launched in – January 2023.
• Nodal Ministry – Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).
• Outlay – Rs.19,744 crore.
• Objective – To make India a global hub for production, usage and export of green hydrogen and its derivatives.
• Target – To develop at least 5 million metric tonnes per annum (MMTPA) of green hydrogen production capacity by 2030.

Environment

Blackbuck Conservation

Chhattisgarh plans to translocate 50 blackbucks from Barnawapara Wildlife Sanctuary to Gomarda Wildlife Sanctuary to reintroduce the species after its local extinction over five decades ago.

• Blackbucks disappeared from Gomarda by the 1970s due to hunting, poaching, habitat encroachment and developmental activities.

Blackbuck (Antilope cervicapra)

• Family – Bovidae; native to the Indian subcontinent, with nearly 90% of its population found in India.
• Habitat – Open grasslands, bushlands, scrublands and dry thorn habitats.
• Feeding – Primarily diurnal (active during daytime) grazers and foragers.
• Sexual Dimorphism
  • Males – Dark brown to black coat with long, spiralling horns.
  • Females – Yellowish coat and generally hornless.
• Significance
  • It helps maintain grassland ecosystems through grazing.
  • It acts as prey for carnivores and contributes to food-chain stability.
  • It serves as an indicator of healthy open-grassland habitats.
• Conservation Status
• Legal Protection – Schedule I provides the highest level of protection under India's Wildlife (Protection) Act.
• The Wildlife (Protection) Amendment Act, 2022 reduced the number of schedules from six to four; blackbuck continues under Schedule I.

Gomarda Wildlife Sanctuary

• Located near – Sarangarh, Chhattisgarh.
• Designated in – 1975.
• Vegetation – Sal, Bija, Tendu and bamboo forests.
• Rivers – Laat and Manai.
• Fauna – Sambar, Gaur, Barking Deer, Sloth Bear and Dhole.

Barnawapara Wildlife Sanctuary

• Located in – Chhattisgarh, in the northern-eastern part of the former Raipur district.
• Vegetation – Teak, Sal and mixed forests.
• Rivers – Blmedhi, Jonk and Mahanadi.
• Fauna – Gaur, Chital, Sambar, Nilgai and Wild Boar.

Security

RAHAT MITRA

• It is a Bilateral, Tri-Services Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) exercise.
• Venue – Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
• Duration – Two days (5–6 November 2026).
• Participating countries – India and Myanmar.
• Indian participants – Indian Army, Indian Navy and Indian Air Force.
• Myanmar participants – Myanmar Defence Forces delegation.
• Major Activities
  • Joint Planning and Familiarisation
  • Multi-Domain HADR Operations
• Objectives
  • To enhance operational interoperability and joint disaster-response capabilities.
  • To exchange best practices in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.
  • To improve coordination in planning and executing disaster-response operations.

INS AMINI

The Indian Navy received ‘Amini’, an indigenously designed and built Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW SWC), on 5 November 2026.

• Key Features
• Builder – Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata.
• Category – Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW SWC).
• Indigenous Content – More than 80%.
• Designed and constructed – According to the classification rules of the Indian Register of Shipping (IRS).
• Propulsion – Waterjet propulsion; among the largest Indian naval warships powered by waterjets.

Weapons and Operational Capabilities

• Lightweight Torpedoes – Engage underwater threats, particularly enemy submarines.
• Indigenous Rocket Launchers – Support anti-submarine operations.
• Sonars – Detect and track underwater objects using sound waves.
• Major capabilities:
  • Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW).
  • Coastal surveillance.
  • Mine-laying operations.
  • Detection and engagement of underwater threats in shallow waters.

Name and Historical Significance

• Named after Amini Island, located in the Union Territory of Lakshadweep.
• Continues the legacy of the erstwhile INS Amini, a Petya III-class Anti-Submarine Warfare Corvette.
• The earlier INS Amini was decommissioned in 2002.

IAF IL-76MD – World's Highest-Altitude Landing at Nyoma, Ladakh

The Indian Air Force (IAF) successfully landed its IL-76MD heavy-lift transport aircraft at Mudh-Nyoma Airbase, Ladakh.

• It is reported to be the highest-altitude landing ever achieved by an IL-76MD aircraft anywhere in the world.

• Aircraft – Ilyushin IL-76MD.
• Operator – Indian Air Force (IAF).
• Category – Heavy-lift military transport aircraft.
• Origin – Soviet Union (Russian-designed aircraft).
• Landing altitude – 13,629 feet (approximately 4,154 metres).
• Airbase – Mudh-Nyoma, Ladakh.
• Runway length – Approximately 2.7 km.
• Strategic location – Around 23 km from the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China.
• Operational capability – Supports fighter aircraft, transport aircraft and helicopters.

IL-76MD Aircraft

• Designed by – Soviet Union's Ilyushin Design Bureau.
• A strategic military transport aircraft designed for:
  • Heavy cargo transportation.
  • Troop deployment.
  • Military logistics and equipment transportation.
  • Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR).
  • Capable of operating in challenging environmental conditions.

Exercise NASEEM AL BAHR (Sea Breeze) 2026

INS Surat reached Muscat, Oman, on 8 November 2026 to participate in the exercise, followed by a Coordinated Patrol (CORPAT).

• It is bilateral maritime naval exercise.
• Participating Countries – India and Oman.
• Indian Navy – INS Surat.
• Oman Navy – Vessel Al-Mu’azzar.
• Edition – 15th.
• Venue – Muscat, Oman and adjoining maritime areas.
• Major Activities
  • Harbour Phase.
  • Sea Phase
  • Coordinated Patrol (CORPAT).
• Objectives
  • To enhance operational interoperability between the two navies.
  • To strengthen maritime security and professional cooperation.
  • To exchange operational experiences and best practices.
  • To promote mutual understanding and regional maritime stability.

Index

Global Innovation Index (GII)

• Released by – World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).
• First published – 2007.
• Edition – 19^th.
• Coverage – 139 economies.
• Key Indicators – It comprises approximately 80 indicators, which are organized into two sub-indices of equal weight.
  • Innovation Input Sub-Index
  • Innovation Output Sub-Index
• Purpose – To evaluate innovation performance, analyze innovation ecosystems, and identify prominent innovation clusters.
• Significance – It is utilized by governments and international organizations to inform science, technology, and innovation policy development.