Current Affairs 06 November 2026

Fast Track Special Courts Scheme

The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the continuation of the Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) for Fast Track Special Courts (FTSCs), including Special POCSO Courts, for five years from 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2031.

The scheme has a total financial outlay of ₹3,788.04 crore, including a Central share of ₹2,353.15 crore and a State/Union Territory share of ₹1,434.89 crore. The Central contribution will be financed through the Nirbhaya Fund.

The scheme aims to expand the number of Fast Track Special Courts from 779 to 850, ensuring speedy trials and reducing the pendency of cases involving rape and offences under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012.

Each Fast Track Special Court will have a dedicated Judicial Officer, a Special Public Prosecutor and six supporting staff members.

The scheme also encourages Vulnerable Witness Deposition Centres (VWDCs) and child-friendly court facilities to help victims provide testimony without additional distress.

Background and Achievements

The Fast Track Special Courts Scheme was launched on 2 October 2019, following the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2018 and Supreme Court directions issued on 25 July 2019.

VISTAR Scheme

The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the VISTAR Scheme (Develop India Initiative – Statistical Transformation, Analysis and Research) for five years, from FY 2026–27 to FY 2030–31, with a total financial outlay of ₹4,371.10 crore.

The scheme will be implemented by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) to modernise India’s official statistical system through digital transformation, Artificial Intelligence (AI), improved data collection and evidence-based policymaking.

Three Major Components of the VISTAR Scheme

Annual Survey of Industries (ASI) 2024–25

The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) released the detailed results of the Annual Survey of Industries (ASI) 2024–25 on 4 November 2026, highlighting growth in India’s registered manufacturing sector.

The survey covers the financial year April 2024 to March 2025 and provides information on industrial production, employment, capital investment, wages and Gross Value Added (GVA).

According to ASI 2024–25, the manufacturing corporate sector recorded 9.28% growth in GVA, while Net Value Added (NVA) per operational factory increased by 6.59% compared with the previous year.

The manufacturing corporate sector, accounting for more than 89% of total manufacturing GVA, registered 3.45% growth in operational factories and 7.57% growth in employment.

Top Five States in Manufacturing GVA

The following five States collectively contributed more than 54% of India’s total registered manufacturing GVA in FY 2024–25.

1. Maharashtra
2. Gujarat
3. Tamil Nadu
4. Karnataka
5. Uttar Pradesh

Major Employment-Generating Manufacturing Industries

Five major industries together accounted for more than 41% of total manufacturing employment:

• Food products
• Textiles
• Basic metals
• Motor vehicles
• Wearing apparel

World Bank’s Poverty and Equity Brief Report 2026

India has achieved a significant reduction in extreme poverty, but the World Bank’s Prosperity Gap indicator highlights that a large section of the population remains far from achieving a comfortable standard of living.

According to the World Bank’s Poverty and Equity Brief, approximately 49.6 crore people moved out of extreme poverty between 2011 and 2023, with the extreme poverty rate declining to 2.6% in 2023.

However, India’s Prosperity Gap stands at 4.9, indicating that consumption levels need to increase substantially to reach the World Bank’s global prosperity benchmark of $28 per person per day, measured at 2021 Purchasing Power Parity (PPP).

India’s Poverty Estimates

The World Bank uses different poverty thresholds to assess economic conditions across countries.

Approximately 63.9% of India’s population falls between the $4.20 and $8.30 daily consumption thresholds, indicating that many people who have escaped extreme poverty remain economically vulnerable.

What Is the Prosperity Gap?

The Prosperity Gap is a World Bank indicator measuring how far individuals’ consumption levels are from a global prosperity standard of $28 per person per day at 2021 PPP.

Nirmala Lakshman Wins Sharjah Award for Best International Non-Fiction Book

Nirmala Lakshman, author, journalist and Director of The Hindu Group, has won the Sharjah Award for the Best International Book in the Best International Non-Fiction Book category for her book The Tamils: A Portrait of a Community.

World Tsunami Awareness Day – 05 November

World Tsunami Awareness Day 2026 was observed on 5 November 2026, with the theme “Be Tsunami Ready: Resilience Starts With You”, highlighting the importance of community preparedness, early warning systems and disaster risk reduction.

The United Nations General Assembly designated 5 November as World Tsunami Awareness Day in December 2015, through Resolution 70/203. The day has been observed annually since 2016 to promote awareness of tsunami risks and encourage preventive measures to protect lives and infrastructure.

Q1. How much total financial outlay has the Union Cabinet approved for the continuation of the Fast Track Special Courts (FTSCs) Scheme for the period 2026–2031?
A. ₹2,353.15 crore
B. ₹3,788.04 crore
C. ₹4,500 crore
D. ₹5,000 crore

Q2. What is the total financial outlay approved by the Union Cabinet for the VISTAR Scheme for the period FY 2026–27 to FY 2030–31?
A. ₹3,788.04 crore
B. ₹4,371.10 crore
C. ₹5,000 crore
D. ₹6,250 crore

Q3. According to the Annual Survey of Industries (ASI) 2024–25, which of the following groups of States accounted for more than 54% of India’s total manufacturing Gross Value Added (GVA)?
A. Maharashtra, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh
B. Maharashtra, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Karnataka
C. Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, West Bengal, Odisha and Gujarat
D. Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Punjab and Haryana

Q4. According to the Annual Survey of Industries (ASI) 2024–25, what percentage of India’s total manufacturing Gross Value Added (GVA) was contributed by the manufacturing corporate sector?
A. More than 69%
B. More than 79%
C. More than 89%
D. More than 95%

Q5. Which book by Nirmala Lakshman won the Sharjah Award for the Best International Book in the Best International Non-Fiction Book category in 2026?
A. The Tamils: A Portrait of a Community
B. The Dravidian Model: Interpreting the Political Economy of Tamil Nadu
C. The Story of the First Civilisations: From Mesopotamia to the Aztecs
D. Early Indians: The Story of Our Ancestors and Where We Came From

Q6. What was the theme of World Tsunami Awareness Day 2026, observed on 5 November?
A. Early Warning for All: Building a Safer Future
B. Be Tsunami Ready: Resilience Starts With You
C. Fighting Inequality for a Resilient Future
D. Building Resilient Communities Against Coastal Disasters

Q7. According to the World Bank’s Poverty and Equity Brief, what is India’s Prosperity Gap, measured against the global prosperity benchmark of $28 per person per day (2021 PPP)?
A. 2.6
B. 3.4
C. 4.9
D. 8.3