In short: Today’s Prelims current affairs cover falling coal imports and Coal India’s record output, the IAF’s new VAYU vision, the Bengaluru-Mumbai Vande Bharat Sleeper, EPFO’s 74th Foundation Day, the PAC chairpersons’ conference, the new GSI chief and the 108 stupas in Bhutan, with static links, a quick revision table and practice MCQs.
Coal Imports Fall 5.83% in August; Coal India Sets Monthly Output Record
Why in news: India’s coal imports fell 5.83% to 104.57 million tonnes (MT) in August 2026, and Coal India Limited (CIL), marking its 51st Foundation Day on 1 November, reported its highest-ever monthly production of 67.2 MT in October 2026.
- Imports for blending: Imports for blending at domestic-coal power plants fell 35.23%, from 4.64 MT to 3.00 MT.
- Import share: Imported coal’s share in total consumption fell from 21.20% to 19.30%.
- Coking coal: Imports fell 4.18% to 27.30 MT, but steel makers still depend on imports because domestic coking coal is limited and high in ash.
- CIL records in October: Total supply of 70.3 MT and supply to power plants of 57.1 MT, both the highest in any month.
Source: PIB (Ministry of Coal) · GS Paper 3 / Energy
Prelims angle: Coal India Limited was set up in 1975 and is headquartered in Kolkata; it is a Maharatna company.
New Air Chief Unveils ‘VAYU’ Vision for the IAF
Why in news: Air Chief Marshal Ashutosh Dixit, on his first day as the 29th Chief of the Air Staff on 1 November 2026, set out ‘VAYU’ as the guiding theme for the Indian Air Force.
- V: Vigilance, Victory and Readiness, including restoring combat strength to sanctioned levels.
- A: Aatmanirbharta in platforms, sensors and weapons.
- Y: Yukti, or ingenuity, covering AI-enabled command and control and counter-drone capability.
- U: Unity of Effort, meaning jointness with the Army, Navy and national agencies, in line with the national theme ‘JAI’ (Jointness, Aatmanirbharta, Innovation).
Source: PIB (Ministry of Defence) · GS Paper 3 / Defence
Prelims angle: Do not confuse VAYU (IAF vision) with JAI (Jointness, Aatmanirbharta, Innovation), the broader theme for the armed forces.
Bengaluru-Mumbai Vande Bharat Sleeper Express Flagged Off
Why in news: Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw flagged off the SMVT Bengaluru-CSMT Mumbai Vande Bharat Sleeper Express on 1 November 2026.
- Network: Sleeper services began on the Howrah-Guwahati corridor in January 2026; the Varanasi-New Delhi sleeper was flagged off on 31 October 2026.
- Route: Links Bengaluru with Mumbai through Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra.
- Vande Bharat: Indigenous semi-high-speed trainsets; the first (chair car) train ran between New Delhi and Varanasi in 2019, built by the Integral Coach Factory, Chennai.
Source: PIB (Ministry of Railways) · GS Paper 3 / Infrastructure
Prelims angle: First Vande Bharat Sleeper corridor: Howrah-Guwahati (January 2026); first Vande Bharat chair car: New Delhi-Varanasi (2019).
EPFO Celebrates 74th Foundation Day; WhatsApp Services Launched
Why in news: The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) marked its 74th Foundation Day on 1 November 2026 and launched services through WhatsApp and automatic settlement of eligible inoperative accounts.
- Scale: About ₹32 lakh crore corpus from more than 8 crore members.
- Inoperative accounts: First batch of automatic settlement covers one lakh accounts worth about ₹5 crore.
- Law: Employees’ Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952; EPFO works under the Ministry of Labour and Employment.
- Governance: Its Central Board of Trustees is chaired by the Union Labour Minister.
Source: PIB (Ministry of Labour and Employment) · GS Paper 2 / Social security
Prelims angle: EPFO administers three schemes: EPF (1952), the Employees’ Pension Scheme (EPS, 1995) and the Employees’ Deposit Linked Insurance Scheme (EDLI, 1976).
Conference of Public Accounts Committee Chairpersons in Thiruvananthapuram
Why in news: The Lok Sabha Speaker will inaugurate a Conference of Chairpersons of Public Accounts Committees (PACs) of Parliament and State/UT legislatures in Thiruvananthapuram on 3 November 2026.
- Theme: ‘Audit, Accountability and Good Governance: The Evolving Role of the PAC’.
- Parliament’s PAC: 22 members (15 Lok Sabha, 7 Rajya Sabha), elected for one year by proportional representation through the single transferable vote.
- Chair: By convention since 1967, the chairperson is from the Opposition; ministers cannot be members.
- Work: Examines the CAG’s audit reports on the appropriation and finance accounts of the Government.
Source: PIB (Lok Sabha Secretariat) · GS Paper 2 / Parliament
Prelims angle: The PAC was first set up in 1921 under the Government of India Act, 1919. The Estimates Committee (30 members) has only Lok Sabha members.
Dinesh V. Ganvir Takes Charge as 55th Director General of the Geological Survey of India
Why in news: Dinesh V. Ganvir assumed charge as the 55th Director General of the Geological Survey of India (GSI) on 1 November 2026.
- About GSI: Founded in 1851, it is an attached office of the Ministry of Mines with headquarters in Kolkata.
- Role: Geological mapping, mineral exploration, and studies on landslides, earthquakes and engineering geology.
- Background: He has worked on gold and diamond exploration in the Sakoli Fold Belt of Maharashtra and on conservation studies at Bhimbetka and Ellora.
Source: PIB (Ministry of Mines) · GS Paper 1 / Geography
Prelims angle: GSI (1851) is one of the oldest scientific bodies in India; the Survey of India (1767) is older and works under the Department of Science and Technology.
108 Stupas Raised in Bhutan’s Gelephu Mindfulness City
Why in news: Union Minister Kiren Rijiju represented India at the raising and consecration of 108 stupas in Gelephu Mindfulness City, Bhutan, led by King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck on 1 November 2026.
- Scale: Thousands of volunteers erected 108 stupas, each 15 metres tall and 108 metres apart, along an 11.7 km stretch of the Aie (Mau) river in a single day.
- Location: Gelephu, in southern Bhutan, lies on the border with Assam.
- India link: Stupa No. 76 was dedicated by the King to the Indian Prime Minister for his support to the project.
- Gelephu Mindfulness City: A special administrative region planned as a hub of Vajrayana Buddhism and sustainable economic activity.
Source: PIB (Ministry of Minority Affairs) · GS Paper 2 / India and neighbourhood
Prelims angle: Gelephu borders Assam, not West Bengal; Bhutan follows Vajrayana Buddhism of the Drukpa Kagyu school.
Quick Revision Table
| Item | Key fact to remember | Subject |
|---|---|---|
| Coal imports and CIL record | Imports -5.83% (Aug); CIL 67.2 MT in Oct; CIL est. 1975 | Economy / Energy |
| IAF VAYU vision | Vigilance, Aatmanirbharta, Yukti, Unity of Effort | Defence |
| Vande Bharat Sleeper | Bengaluru-Mumbai, flagged off 1 Nov 2026 | Infrastructure |
| EPFO 74th Foundation Day | ₹32 lakh crore corpus; 8 crore+ members; Act of 1952 | Social security |
| PAC chairpersons conference | Thiruvananthapuram, 3-4 Nov; PAC 22 members; Opposition chair | Polity |
| New GSI chief | Dinesh V. Ganvir, 55th DG; GSI est. 1851, Kolkata | Geography |
| 108 Stupas, Gelephu | Bhutan; along Aie river; near Assam border | IR / Culture |
Practice MCQs
Q1. Consider the following statements about coal in India:
1. Coking coal is mainly used to make coke for the steel industry.
2. Coal India Limited is headquartered in Ranchi.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- 1 only
- 2 only
- Both 1 and 2
- Neither 1 nor 2
Show answer
Answer: (a) Statement 1 is correct. Statement 2 is wrong: Coal India Limited is headquartered in Kolkata; Ranchi hosts its subsidiary Central Coalfields Limited.
Q2. The ‘Y’ in the IAF’s new guiding theme ‘VAYU’ stands for:
- Yojana
- Yukti
- Yoddha
- Yuva
Show answer
Answer: (b) Y stands for Yukti, meaning ingenuity and innovation in doctrine, technology and operations, including AI-enabled command and counter-drone systems.
Q3. With reference to the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament, consider the following statements:
1. It has members from both Houses of Parliament.
2. A minister can be its member.
3. It examines the reports of the Comptroller and Auditor General.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
- 1 and 2 only
- 1 and 3 only
- 2 and 3 only
- 1, 2 and 3
Show answer
Answer: (b) Statements 1 and 3 are correct. Ministers cannot be members of the PAC, so statement 2 is wrong.
Q4. The Geological Survey of India works under which Ministry?
- Ministry of Earth Sciences
- Ministry of Science and Technology
- Ministry of Mines
- Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
Show answer
Answer: (c) GSI is an attached office of the Ministry of Mines. The Survey of India is under the Department of Science and Technology.
Q5. Gelephu Mindfulness City in Bhutan, where 108 stupas were raised on 1 November 2026, lies close to the border of which Indian State?
- Sikkim
- West Bengal
- Arunachal Pradesh
- Assam
Show answer
Answer: (d) Gelephu is in southern Bhutan on the border with Assam; it is being developed as a special administrative region.
FAQs
What are the important Prelims current affairs of 1 November 2026?
The key Prelims topics of 1 November 2026 are coal imports and Coal India’s record output, the IAF’s VAYU vision, the Bengaluru-Mumbai Vande Bharat Sleeper, EPFO’s Foundation Day, the PAC conference, the new GSI chief and the Gelephu stupas.
What is the VAYU vision of the Indian Air Force?
VAYU is the guiding theme set out by Air Chief Marshal Ashutosh Dixit: Vigilance, Victory and Readiness; Aatmanirbharta; Yukti, or innovation; and Unity of Effort with other services.
How much coal did India import in August 2026?
India imported 104.57 million tonnes of coal in August 2026, 5.83% less than the 111.05 million tonnes imported in August 2025.
How many members does the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament have?
The Public Accounts Committee of Parliament has 22 members, 15 from the Lok Sabha and 7 from the Rajya Sabha, and its chairperson is by convention from the Opposition.
हिंदी सारांश
1 नवंबर 2026 के प्रारंभिक परीक्षा करंट अफ़ेयर्स में अगस्त में कोयला आयात में 5.83% की गिरावट और कोल इंडिया का अक्टूबर में 67.2 मिलियन टन का रिकॉर्ड उत्पादन प्रमुख है। नए वायुसेना प्रमुख ने ‘VAYU’ विज़न प्रस्तुत किया। बेंगलुरु-मुंबई वंदे भारत स्लीपर एक्सप्रेस शुरू हुई। EPFO ने 74वाँ स्थापना दिवस मनाया और व्हाट्सऐप सेवाएँ शुरू कीं। लोक लेखा समितियों के अध्यक्षों का सम्मेलन तिरुवनंतपुरम में होगा। दिनेश वी. गनवीर भारतीय भूवैज्ञानिक सर्वेक्षण के 55वें महानिदेशक बने, और भूटान के गेलेफू माइंडफुलनेस सिटी में एक ही दिन में 108 स्तूप बनाए गए।
Sources: PIB release 2331073; PIB release 2331212; PIB release 2331297; PIB release 2331157; PIB release 2331150; PIB release 2331156; PIB release 2331224.
Related reading on GSMitra: UPSC Prelims Current Affairs 31 October 2026, Digi Yatra International Trials Explained for UPSC, PIB News Today for UPSC: 2 November 2026.
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