Current Affairs 04 November 2026

Sikkim’s Soreng District Becomes India’s First Notified Organic Fisheries Cluster

Soreng district in Sikkim has become India’s first notified organic fisheries cluster under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY). The initiative aims to promote sustainable fish farming, strengthen fisheries value chains and increase fish farmers’ incomes through environmentally friendly aquaculture practices.

India’s First Organic Fisheries Cluster – Soreng

The organic fisheries cluster in Soreng promotes fish farming without harmful chemicals, antibiotics and pesticides. It focuses particularly on Amur carp, Indian major carps (IMC) and trout. The initiative builds on Sikkim’s established organic farming ecosystem and aims to improve fish quality, ensure traceability and create premium domestic and international market opportunities for organic fish products.

Fisheries Development Under PMMSY

The Government of India has adopted a cluster-based approach to integrate fish production, processing, value addition and marketing within identified geographical areas. Under PMMSY, 34 fish production and processing clusters have been notified across India, including organic fisheries clusters in Sikkim and Meghalaya.

The newly inaugurated ₹3.75 crore projects in Sikkim include fish hatcheries, feed mills, cold storage facilities, and advanced aquaculture technologies such as:

• Biofloc Technology: A fish farming method that uses beneficial microorganisms to recycle waste nutrients and improve water quality.
• Recirculating Aquaculture System (RAS): A fish farming system that treats and reuses water, reducing freshwater requirements.

Khet Bachao Abhiyaan – Rabi 2026

The Government of India is implementing Khet Bachao Abhiyaan (KBA) – Rabi 2026, a nationwide agricultural campaign from 22 October to 30 November 2026, under the theme “Healthy Earth, Prosperous Farmers.” The initiative aims to improve soil health, promote balanced fertiliser use and encourage sustainable agricultural practices.

The campaign covers 34 States and Union Territories, more than 700 districts and 50,000 villages, targeting approximately 50 lakh farmers through field-level activities. It also prioritises 100 districts with high fertiliser consumption to promote efficient nutrient management and reduce excessive fertiliser use.

Major Objectives of Khet Bachao Abhiyaan – Rabi 2026

• The campaign focuses on balanced nutrient management, natural farming, integrated nutrient management, crop residue management, crop diversification and climate-resilient agriculture.
• A major component is the promotion of the 4R Principle of Fertiliser Management, which encourages farmers to apply fertilisers using the Right Source, Right Rate, Right Time and Right Place.

Andhra Pradesh Relevance

Andhra Pradesh is among the States specifically identified for promoting climate-resilient agriculture in drought-affected areas, along with Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana and Rajasthan.

Cyclone Murasu

Cyclone Murasu, a severe cyclonic storm that developed over the Bay of Bengal, affected coastal areas of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu in November 2026, bringing heavy rainfall, strong winds and disruptions to normal life.

The name ‘Murasu’ was suggested by the Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC), Chennai, India. The word Murasu comes from Tamil and refers to a traditional drum, historically used for public announcements, ceremonies and signalling important events.

Legislative Councils in India

Elections to 28 Legislative Council seats in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra and Karnataka in October 2026 have brought renewed attention to the role, composition and powers of State Legislative Councils in India.

A Legislative Council (Vidhan Parishad) is the Upper House of a State Legislature. It functions as a revising chamber, examining legislation passed by the Legislative Assembly (Vidhan Sabha). Currently, six Indian States have bicameral legislatures: Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.

Constitutional Provisions

Powers of Legislative Councils

Legislative Councils have fewer powers than Legislative Assemblies.

• Ordinary Bills: A Council can delay a Bill for up to three months on its first consideration and one month on its second consideration, making the maximum delay four months.
• Money Bills: A Money Bill can be introduced only in the Legislative Assembly. The Council can make recommendations within 14 days, but the Assembly is not bound to accept them.
• Joint Sitting: There is no provision for a joint sitting of the two Houses of a State Legislature.
• Executive Accountability: The State Council of Ministers is collectively responsible only to the Legislative Assembly.

Second Administrative Reforms Commission Recommendations

The Second Administrative Reforms Commission (ARC), in its 2007 report on Local Governance, recommended transforming Legislative Councils into “Councils of Local Governments.”

Its major recommendations included:

1. Establishing Legislative Councils in all States as representative institutions of local governments.
2. Electing all Council members through representatives of local bodies.
3. Discontinuing separate electoral constituencies for graduates and teachers.
4. Strengthening local self-government by providing local bodies with representation in State legislatures.

Note: The Andhra Pradesh Legislative Council was abolished in 1985 during the tenure of Chief Minister N. T. Rama Rao and re-established in 2007. Andhra Pradesh is one of the six States currently having a Legislative Council.

Pumped Storage Projects

The Government of India is accelerating the development of Pumped Storage Projects (PSPs) to support renewable energy integration and strengthen electricity grid stability. According to a Press Information Bureau (PIB) backgrounder released on 2 November 2026, India has outlined a roadmap to increase its cumulative pumped storage capacity to approximately 105.56 gigawatts (GW) by 2035–36.

What Are Pumped Storage Projects?

• Pumped Storage Projects are large-scale energy storage systems often described as “water batteries.” They use two reservoirs located at different elevations.
• During periods of surplus electricity generation, water is pumped from the lower reservoir to the upper reservoir. When electricity demand increases, the stored water is released through turbines to generate electricity.
• This technology helps balance fluctuations in solar and wind power generation and ensures reliable electricity supply during peak demand.

Types of Pumped Storage Projects

Pumped storage projects are classified into three categories based on their connection with natural watercourses:

1. On-stream PSP: Both reservoirs are located on a river, stream, or natural watercourse.
2. Off-stream Open-loop PSP: One reservoir is connected to a natural watercourse, while the other is not.
3. Off-stream Closed-loop PSP: Neither reservoir is located on a perennial natural watercourse.

Andhra Pradesh Relevance

The southern region has an identified pumped storage potential of 97.76 GW, with Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Tamil Nadu among the major contributing States.

India’s Global Position

According to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), global installed pumped hydro storage capacity stood at approximately 159.8 GW at the end of 2025.

INS Sudarshini Completes 10-Month Transoceanic Expedition ‘Lokayan-26’

The Indian Navy’s Sail Training Ship INS Sudarshini completed its 10-month transoceanic sailing expedition, ‘Lokayan-26’, and returned to Kochi, Kerala, on 2 November 2026. During the expedition, the ship covered over 22,000 nautical miles, demonstrating the Indian Navy’s ocean sailing capabilities and maritime expertise.

The expedition began from Kochi on 20 January 2026 and included visits to 17 ports across 11 countries in Asia, Europe, Africa and North America. The voyage also involved crossing the Atlantic Ocean twice, providing valuable experience in long-distance navigation and seamanship.

First International Maize Conference 2026 Held in Hyderabad

The first International Maize Conference 2026 was held from 2–4 November 2026 at the JD Convention Centre in Hyderabad, Telangana, under the theme “Maize Revolution for Food, Feed, Fodder, Fuel and Sustainability in a Changing World” (M4FS).

From 4F to 5F: Farmers at the Centre

The conference proposed expanding the traditional 4F approach — Food, Feed, Fodder and Fuel — into a 5F framework by including Farmers. The approach emphasises improving farmers’ profitability, strengthening public-sector hybrid seed systems, reducing yield gaps and promoting maize cultivation according to different agro-climatic conditions without adversely affecting pulses and oilseeds.

Q1. In which city was the first International Maize Conference 2026 held?
A. New Delhi
B. Bengaluru
C. Hyderabad
D. Pune

Q2. Which Indian Navy ship successfully completed the 10-month transoceanic sailing expedition ‘Lokayan-26’, covering over 22,000 nautical miles?
A. INS Tarangini
B. INS Sudarshini
C. INS Vikrant
D. INS Shardul

Q3. What is the primary objective of the nationwide ‘Khet Bachao Abhiyaan – Rabi 2026’ campaign?
A. To promote agricultural exports and establish new food processing industries
B. To improve soil health, encourage balanced fertiliser use and promote sustainable agriculture
C. To replace traditional food crops with commercial plantation crops
D. To provide free agricultural machinery to all small and marginal farmers

Q4. According to the Central Electricity Authority’s roadmap highlighted in November 2026, what is India’s projected cumulative pumped storage capacity by 2035–36?
A. 73.93 GW
B. 105.56 GW
C. 159.80 GW
D. 345.38 GW

Q5. Which country named the recent Cyclone ‘Murasu’, which affected the coastal areas of Andhra Pradesh in November 2026?
A. Bangladesh
B. Sri Lanka
C. India
D. Thailand

Q6. In which of the following groups of States were elections to Legislative Councils conducted in October 2026?
A. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka and Maharashtra
B. Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra and Karnataka
C. Bihar, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh
D. Karnataka, Maharashtra, Telangana and Bihar