Daily Current Affairs 2 November 2026

• Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said India’s first Swadeshi bullet train design is ready during a visit to BEML in Bengaluru.
• The minister inspected models and systems of the high-speed trainset at BEML on 2 November 2026.
• The Swadeshi high-speed train is identified as B28 and is being developed by a BEML-led consortium.
• The first prototype may roll out in early 2027, according to the minister.
• The B28 is intended for the Mumbai–Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail Corridor and potentially other corridors in the future.
• Its propulsion, electronics and bogie are being manufactured to international standards.
• Components and systems are undergoing tests to check efficiency and safety before manufacturing progresses further.
• The train is designed for operating speeds in the range of 280–350 kmph.
• The trainset is undergoing a squeeze test to check whether coaches can withstand atmospheric pressure without deformation.
• The minister expressed confidence that the BEML-led consortium’s train would meet international standards.

Key Details

Testing and Purpose

• Testing covers the train’s components and systems, including propulsion, electronics and the bogie.
• The squeeze test checks the coach structure and welding for resistance to atmospheric pressure at high speeds.

Source: News On AIR report

• Digi Yatra has begun international passenger trials at seven Indian airports.
• The trials are scheduled to run from November to December 2026.
• The facility is for eligible Indian nationals holding e-passports who are travelling on selected international flights.
• The selected flights for the trial are operated by Air India and IndiGo.
• The seven airports are Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Cochin, Mumbai, Chennai and Amritsar.
• Trial access is planned at terminal entry points, Security Hold Areas and boarding gates where the required infrastructure is available.
• Passengers must create an e-passport-based Verifiable Credential using the Digi Yatra mobile application.
• Credential creation involves scanning the passport’s Machine Readable Zone and reading its embedded chip.
• The embedded chip is read using the Near Field Communication (NFC) feature of a compatible smartphone.
• The credential is stored in the passenger’s Digi Yatra wallet on their device for use at designated trial touchpoints.

Trial Airports

Who Can Use the Trial?

• Eligible Indian nationals with e-passports can use the facility on selected Air India and IndiGo international flights.
• Access is available only at designated airport touchpoints enabled for the trial.

Source: News On AIR report

• Seven OPEC+ countries decided to keep their December 2026 oil production quotas unchanged.
• The decision preserves the production quotas set for September 2026.
• The countries reached the decision at a virtual meeting on 2 November 2026.
• The meeting reviewed global oil market conditions and the market outlook.
• The seven countries named were Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iraq and Kuwait.
• The other countries named were Kazakhstan, Algeria and Oman.
• The decision concerned the seven countries’ production quotas for December; the report did not state a quota quantity.
• OPEC stands for the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries; OPEC+ includes oil-producing countries cooperating with OPEC.

Countries Named in the Decision

Source: News On AIR report

• PV Sindhu won the women’s singles title at the Hylo Open Super 500 badminton tournament.
• The victory was her second title of the season.
• In the final, Sindhu defeated Denmark’s Line Hojmark Kjærsfeldt in straight games.
• The final score was 21–12, 21–14 in Sindhu’s favour.
• The match lasted 39 minutes.
• Sindhu was the second seed and entered the final with a 6–1 head-to-head record against Kjærsfeldt.
• Kjærsfeldt was the eighth seed and ranked world No. 25 at the time stated in the report.
• Sindhu was ranked world No. 8 and earned 9,200 ranking points from the victory.
• The points strengthened her bid to qualify for the season-ending BWF World Tour Finals.
• Earlier in the season, Sindhu had won the Japan Open; she is a double Olympic medallist and former world champion.

Final Result

Why the Win Matters

• The title was Sindhu’s second of the season, following her Japan Open victory.
• The 9,200 ranking points supported her effort to qualify for the BWF World Tour Finals.

Source: News On AIR report

• Dinesh Vitthalrao Ganvir took charge as the 55th Director General of the Geological Survey of India (GSI).
• GSI is a subordinate office under the Ministry of Mines; the appointment was announced by the ministry.
• Ganvir joined GSI on 1 July 1994, after completing a postgraduate degree in geology at RTM Nagpur University.
• He has served in GSI’s Central, North Eastern and Northern regions, with more than 32 years of service stated in the release.
• Before becoming Director General, he was Additional Director General and Head of Department in GSI’s Central Region at Nagpur and also held additional charge as National Mission Head-II.
• His work has included geological mapping, mineral exploration, engineering geology and multidisciplinary geoscience studies.
• His cited assignments included thematic mapping in the Western Bastar Craton, gold and diamond exploration in Maharashtra’s Sakoli Fold Belt, and geological studies related to Bhimbetka and Ellora conservation.
• During his leadership work, GSI submitted 359 geological reports and 377 geological memoranda; 202 blocks related to critical minerals, of which 40 had been auctioned.
• Under the Exploration Licence system, 56 blocks were submitted and 11 had been auctioned under Phase I and Phase II.
• His priorities include critical and strategic mineral exploration, improved mineral-prospectivity mapping, stronger laboratory and analytical capacity, offshore exploration and greater use of advanced data analysis.

Appointment Profile

Priorities as Director General

• Accelerate exploration for critical and strategic minerals and identify scientifically robust blocks suitable for auction.
• Strengthen geological research, landslide early warning, glacier and cryosphere studies, infrastructure support and disaster-risk assessment.

Source: PIB release