Current affairs: Thursday, November 5, 2026

Thursday, November 5, 2026

1. Assam and the Northeast

   Assam Reduces Elephant Attack Compensation Deadline to 48 Hours

   The Assam government announced on Tuesday that the deadline for disbursing compensation to the next of kin of people killed in human-elephant conflict has been reduced from 72 hours to 48 hours. Forest Minister Jayanta Mallabaruah stated that families will now receive Rs 6 lakh ex gratia within two days.

   The Assam government has reduced the deadline for disbursing compensation to the next of kin of people killed in human-elephant conflict (HEC) from 72 hours to 48 hours. Forest Minister Jayanta Mallabaruah announced this decision on Tuesday during a meeting with senior Forest Department officials and Divisional Forest Officers at Aranya Bhawan in Guwahati. Under this revised timeline, families of individuals killed in elephant attacks will receive Rs 6 lakh in compensation within two days. Additionally, compensation of Rs 8,000 per bigha for crop damage will be disbursed within three to four days. District Commissioners have been authorised to release these funds following joint assessments by the district administration and the Forest Department. During the Assam Legislative Assembly session in July, the government had announced an ex gratia of Rs 6 lakh within 72 hours, which has now been shortened by 24 hours. Alongside the revised compensation timeline, the state government plans to expand its Gajamitra teams from 81 to at least 150 to strengthen mitigation efforts. Each Gajamitra team will consist of 10 local volunteers to help prevent conflicts at the grassroots level. Human-elephant conflict remains a critical environmental and socio-economic challenge in Assam due to the state's significant wild elephant population and shrinking forest corridors. Timely compensation acts as a vital social safety net for rural agrarian communities affected by wildlife depredation, helping reduce retaliatory actions against elephants and promoting co-existence.

   Points to remember

   • Assam reduced compensation deadline for HEC deaths from 72 to 48 hours.
   • Ex gratia amount for death in elephant attacks is Rs 6 lakh.
   • Crop damage compensation is set at Rs 8,000 per bigha.
   • Gajamitra teams are to be expanded from 81 to at least 150.
   • Announcement was made by Forest Minister Jayanta Mallabaruah in Guwahati.

   For the exam: The Assam government reduced the compensation deadline for deaths in human-elephant conflicts from 72 hours to 48 hours.

2. Assam and the Northeast

   Aaranyak Calls for Complete Drone Ban Near Amur Falcon Sites

   Conservation organisation Aaranyak urged authorities to impose a complete ban on drone operations around Amur Falcon congregation sites in Assam. The appeal aims to protect the migratory birds from potential injuries caused by high-speed rotating drone propellers during their seasonal presence.

   Conservation organisation Aaranyak has urged government authorities to impose a complete ban on drone operations at and around identified Amur Falcon congregation sites in Assam during the birds' seasonal presence. The appeal follows reports of content creators and visitors flying drones close to groups of Amur Falcons to capture photographs and videos for social media. Aaranyak has warned that such activities pose serious physical risks to the migratory birds, as high-speed rotating propellers could cause severe injuries in the event of a collision. Furthermore, drone activity can cause unnecessary disturbance at their roosting and congregation sites. Udayan Borthakur, Organising Secretary of Aaranyak and a wildlife photographer, expressed grave concern over the growing trend, stating that wildlife safety must take priority over photography and social media popularity. The organisation specifically requested the Dima Hasao Autonomous Council and the Morigaon district administration to issue prohibitory orders against recreational, commercial, and non-essential drone operations around these sites. It also called for clearly demarcated no-drone buffer zones, effective enforcement by the Forest Department, and public awareness campaigns. Amur Falcons are remarkable migratory raptors that undertake one of the longest long-distance migrations of all birds of prey, travelling from breeding grounds in Siberia and Northern China to wintering grounds in Southern Africa, often stopping over in large numbers in Northeast India, particularly Nagaland and Assam. Protecting their temporary congregation sites is crucial for regional biodiversity conservation and ensures safe passage for these ecologically significant avian visitors.

   Points to remember

   • Aaranyak demanded a complete drone ban near Amur Falcon congregation sites.
   • High-speed rotating drone propellers pose severe injury risks to birds.
   • Appeals were made to Dima Hasao Autonomous Council and Morigaon administration.
   • Udayan Borthakur is the Organising Secretary of conservation group Aaranyak.
   • Amur Falcons are known for undertaking massive transcontinental seasonal migrations.

   For the exam: Conservation organisation Aaranyak urged authorities to ban drones near Amur Falcon congregation sites in Assam.

3. Assam and the Northeast

   Complainants to Challenge Louis Berger Closure Report in High Court

   Original complainants in the Louis Berger bribery scandal announced they will approach the Gauhati High Court to challenge the CBI closure report. The announcement follows a CBI court's decision to dispose of the matter after the agency recommended dropping criminal proceedings.

   Original complainants in the high-profile Louis Berger bribery scandal have stated they will approach the Gauhati High Court later this month to challenge the Central Bureau of Investigation's (CBI) closure report. This development comes after the CBI court in Guwahati disposed of the matter on Wednesday. Complainants Abdul Wahed and Jayanta Gogoi had previously filed a formal protest petition before the Special Judge, CBI court, opposing the closure report submitted by the CBI's Anti-Corruption-I branch on May 12, 2026. The CBI report had recommended dropping criminal proceedings against all parties involved, citing a lack of prosecutable evidence. In their protest petition, the petitioners argued that the closure was premature and legally flawed, as the investigative agency allegedly failed to pursue crucial leads, including overseas evidence and the money trail. Advocate Krishna Gogoi represented the petitioners during the proceedings. Abdul Wahed expressed deep dissatisfaction with the verdict and confirmed that fresh legal action would be pursued in the High Court. The Louis Berger bribery scandal relates to allegations of corruption and illegal payments made by executives of the US-based consultancy firm Louis Berger to secure major water supply and sewerage projects in Guwahati under developmental schemes. The high-profile corruption case had triggered widespread political uproar and extensive investigations by central anti-corruption agencies into administrative graft and institutional accountability within infrastructure projects in Assam.

   Points to remember

   • Complainants Abdul Wahed and Jayanta Gogoi will move Gauhati High Court.
   • The challenge is against the CBI closure report in the Louis Berger case.
   • The Special Judge CBI court in Guwahati disposed of the matter.
   • The CBI earlier recommended dropping proceedings citing lack of evidence.
   • The scandal involved corruption allegations in Guwahati water supply projects.

   For the exam: Complainants in the Louis Berger bribery case announced they will challenge the CBI closure report in the Gauhati High Court.

4. Assam and the Northeast

   NPP Inducts Three TMC MDCs, Raising GHADC Strength to 21

   The National People's Party inducted three All India Trinamool Congress members of the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council on Wednesday. This political shift raises the NPP's total strength in the council to 21 members.

   The National People's Party (NPP) on Wednesday inducted three All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) members of the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC), taking its total strength in the council to 21. The three MDCs who joined the NPP are Cherak Watre Momin of Kharkutta constituency, Alphonsush R Marak of Williamnagar constituency, and Agassi R Marak of Balachanda constituency. Former Director of Mineral Resources Pius D Sangma also joined the party during the event. They were formally inducted by NPP national president and Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma in the presence of state president Prestone Tynsong and other senior leaders at the party office in Shillong. Explaining his decision, Agassi R Marak stated that he wanted to move forward politically and left the TMC without animosity, noting that public perception of the TMC as a regional outsider party affected its local acceptance. Autonomous District Councils (ADCs) in Meghalaya operate under the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution, which provides constitutional safeguards, administrative autonomy, and legislative powers over distinct tribal areas regarding land, forests, social customs, and local administration. The Garo Hills Autonomous District Council administers the Garo Hills region, playing a crucial role in local tribal self-governance and grassroots developmental planning within the state.

   Points to remember

   • Three TMC MDCs joined the NPP, raising its GHADC strength to 21.
   • The new inductees include Cherak Watre Momin, Alphonsush R Marak, and Agassi R Marak.
   • Induction took place in Shillong in the presence of CM Conrad K Sangma.
   • GHADC operates under the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution.
   • Autonomous District Councils manage local tribal governance in Meghalaya.

   For the exam: Three Trinamool Congress MDCs joined the National People's Party, increasing its strength in the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council to 21.

5. Assam and the Northeast

   Meghalaya Reassigns Tourism Portfolio to Minister Paul Lyngdoh

   Meghalaya Cabinet Minister Paul Lyngdoh has been reassigned the Tourism and Social Welfare portfolios on Wednesday. He was also given charge of Arts and Culture following his recent return to the state cabinet.

   Meghalaya Cabinet Minister Paul Lyngdoh has been reassigned the Tourism and Social Welfare portfolios, which he previously held before being excluded during a prior cabinet reshuffle. In addition to these departments, he has been given official charge of Arts and Culture. This allocation follows his recent swearing-in back into the Meghalaya state cabinet. Cabinet portfolios in state governments represent the distribution of executive administrative responsibilities among ministers under the parliamentary system of governance. In India's constitutional framework, the Chief Minister holds the supreme authority to allocate and reallocate ministerial portfolios to ensure effective governance, policy implementation, and administrative efficiency within the state administration. Meghalaya, as a North-Eastern hill state with immense natural beauty, rich tribal heritage, and unique cultural traditions, places high strategic importance on the Tourism, Arts, and Culture portfolios for driving local economic growth, generating employment opportunities through eco-tourism, and preserving indigenous heritage. Social Welfare departments simultaneously manage crucial developmental schemes aimed at vulnerable sections, women, children, and differently-abled citizens.

   Points to remember

   • Paul Lyngdoh regained Tourism and Social Welfare portfolios in Meghalaya.
   • He was additionally assigned charge of the Arts and Culture department.
   • The portfolio allocation follows his recent swearing-in to the state cabinet.
   • Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma heads the Meghalaya state government.
   • Tourism is a key economic driver for the North-Eastern hill state.

   For the exam: Meghalaya Minister Paul Lyngdoh was reassigned the Tourism and Social Welfare portfolios along with Arts and Culture.

6. Assam and the Northeast

   Manipur Security Forces Recover Over 5,000 Looted Firearms

   Security forces in Manipur have successfully recovered 5,066 of the 6,020 weapons looted from police armouries during the ongoing conflict, marking an 84.15 percent recovery rate. Officials reported total seized firearms reached 9,128 after confiscating additional weapons from non-police sources.

   State and central security forces in Manipur have successfully reclaimed 5,066 of the 6,020 weapons stolen from police armouries during the ongoing state conflict, representing an 84.15 percent recovery rate. Official data indicates that, as of the end of October 2026, the total number of seized firearms has reached 9,128 following the confiscation of an additional 4,062 weapons from independent, non-police sources. Authorities have confirmed that 954 looted police weapons remain missing, raising serious concerns regarding their unauthorized circulation among armed groups. Security forces have intensified operations, conducting an average of six targeted raids daily using specialized units to intercept hidden caches across multiple sectors. Senior intelligence officials disclosed that a substantial portion of uncatalogued secondary firearms likely originated from Myanmar, with unique weapon characteristics serving as primary leads to trace cross-border supply chains. Investigative bodies noted that definitive confirmation requires exhaustive forensic ballistics, serial-number tracing, and coordinated intelligence verification. The illegal proliferation of sophisticated weaponry poses severe internal security challenges, threatening law and order, aggravating ethnic fault lines, and complicating peace-building initiatives in the sensitive North-Eastern border state.

   Points to remember

   • Security forces recovered 5,066 of 6,020 police-looted weapons in Manipur.
   • Total seized firearms reached 9,128 by October 2026.
   • 954 looted weapons remain missing according to official data.
   • Intelligence probes indicate a suspected Myanmar origin for uncatalogued arms.
   • Security forces conduct an average of six targeted raids daily.

   For the exam: Security forces in Manipur recovered 5,066 of the 6,020 weapons looted from police armouries during the conflict.

7. India

   Supreme Court Observes Two-Child Penalties Outdated Due to Falling Fertility

   The Supreme Court held on Wednesday that laws penalising having more than two children have lost relevance due to India's falling fertility rate. A Bench headed by Justice P.S. Narasimha stated that the fear of overpopulation which formed the foundation of such laws has crumbled.

   The Supreme Court on Wednesday held that laws penalising having more than two children have lost their relevance due to the falling fertility rate in India. A Bench headed by Justice P.S. Narasimha observed in a 37-page judgment that the foundation of such laws—namely the fear of overpopulation—has crumbled due to demographic changes witnessed over the past few decades. The court noted that its 2003 judgment in Javed versus State of Haryana, which previously upheld such penal laws, needed a revisit by a larger Bench given the shifting national demographic indicators. India's Total Fertility Rate (TFR) has consistently declined, falling below the replacement level in many states as socioeconomic development, female literacy, and urbanization have progressed. Population policies and statutory disincentives restricting persons with more than two children from contesting local body elections or accessing certain state benefits were originally enacted during periods when overpopulation was a primary national policy concern. Legal experts point out that modern demographic trends now indicate an impending stabilization or aging of the population in several regions, rendering punitive legislation counterproductive. Re-evaluating these population control norms reflects evolving judicial jurisprudence balancing fundamental rights, human dignity, and contemporary demographic realities in India.

   Points to remember

   • Supreme Court stated two-child penalty laws are outdated due to falling TFR.
   • A Bench headed by Justice P.S. Narasimha delivered the 37-page judgment.
   • The 2003 Javed vs State of Haryana ruling needs a revisit by a larger Bench.
   • India's Total Fertility Rate has steadily declined below replacement levels.
   • Past population penal laws were framed during overpopulation concerns.

   For the exam: The Supreme Court observed that laws penalising having more than two children have lost relevance due to India's falling fertility rate.

8. World

   Republicans Blame Trump for US Midterm Election Defeats

   Angry Republicans blamed US President Donald Trump for heavy midterm election losses after Democrats won upsets in deep-red states like Texas and Kansas. Critics argued that the president's focus on his legacy and unpopular policies cost the party control of Congress.

   Inside the Republican Party, initial shock at stunning midterm election results quickly gave way to intense anger directed at US President Donald Trump. After Democrats secured upset victories in traditionally deep-red states like Texas, Kansas, and South Carolina, prominent Republicans argued that the president's focus on his legacy and indifference to voter concerns cost the party control of Congress. Bill Miller, a top Republican lobbyist in Texas, described the outcome as a complete rejection of President Trump and a disaster of the first magnitude. While most analysts expected Republicans to face challenges holding the Senate, losses across multiple states surprised party strategists. Critics pointed to public disapproval regarding the administration's foreign policies, tariff implementations, and immigration crackdowns as forming a politically damaging combination. Gregg Peppin, a Minnesota Republican strategist, noted that voters clearly rejected the administration's legislative trajectory. Midterm elections in the United States traditionally serve as a referendum on the incumbent presidential administration, typically resulting in opposition gains. The shifting balance of power in Congress directly impacts federal policymaking, executive oversight, and legislative agendas for the remainder of the presidential term, reshaping American domestic and foreign policy priorities.

   Points to remember

   • Republicans blamed Donald Trump following poor US midterm election results.
   • Democrats won upset victories in strong Republican states like Texas and Kansas.
   • Critics highlighted voter dissatisfaction with tariffs, immigration, and foreign policy.
   • Bill Miller called the election results a disaster of the first magnitude.
   • US midterms traditionally serve as a referendum on the incumbent administration.

   For the exam: Angry Republicans blamed US President Donald Trump for heavy midterm election defeats after losing key congressional races.