In short: Today’s Prelims current affairs cover CPI inflation for October 2026, bids under the PLI scheme for Advanced Chemistry Cells, One Nation One Ration Card, 25 years of the PPV&FR Act, the red sanders seizure at Chennai Port and the AI-ELINT satellite project, with static links, a quick revision table and practice MCQs.
Retail Inflation Rises to 6.09% in October 2026
Why in news: MoSPI released the Consumer Price Index (base 2024=100) for October 2026, showing year-on-year retail inflation of 6.09% and food inflation of 8.94%.
- Rural and urban: Headline inflation was 6.63% in rural areas and 5.41% in urban areas, up from a combined 5.54% in September.
- Drivers: Onion (116.22%), garlic, silver jewellery, ginger and lemon showed the highest item-level inflation, while potato and cauliflower prices fell.
- Data: Prices are collected weekly from 1,407 urban markets and 1,465 villages by the NSO’s Field Operations Division.
Source: PIB (Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation), 12 Nov 2026 · GS Paper 3 / Economy
Prelims angle: Under flexible inflation targeting, the RBI’s target is 4% CPI inflation with a tolerance band of 2% to 6%; October’s 6.09% is above the upper limit.
PLI ACC: 22 Bids for 10 GWh of Grid-Scale Battery Cell Capacity
Why in news: The Ministry of Heavy Industries received 22 bids for 10 GWh of Advanced Chemistry Cell (ACC) manufacturing capacity earmarked for grid-scale stationary storage.
- Scheme: The PLI scheme for the National Programme on ACC Battery Storage was approved in May 2021 with an outlay of ₹18,100 crore.
- Target: The scheme aims at 50 GWh of domestic ACC capacity; this 10 GWh is part of that target.
- Process: Selection is through a two-stage Quality and Cost Based Selection (QCBS) on the Central Public Procurement Portal.
Source: PIB (Ministry of Heavy Industries), 12 Nov 2026 · GS Paper 3 / Energy, Industry
Prelims angle: Advanced Chemistry Cells store electricity as chemical energy; grid-scale storage helps balance variable solar and wind power.
PIB Backgrounder: One Nation, One Ration Card
Why in news: A PIB backgrounder reviewed the One Nation One Ration Card (ONORC) scheme, which lets NFSA beneficiaries draw their entitled foodgrains from any Fair Price Shop in the country.
- Coverage: ONORC runs in all 36 States and UTs, with about 3.27 crore portability transactions a month.
- Scale: Over 233 crore portability transactions have taken place since launch, distributing more than 614 LMT of foodgrains.
- Digitisation: 98.8% of the 20.51 crore ration cards are Aadhaar-seeded, and 99.8% of 5.51 lakh FPSs have e-PoS devices.
Source: PIB Backgrounder, 12 Nov 2026 · GS Paper 2 / Welfare; GS Paper 3 / PDS
Prelims angle: ONORC was launched in 2019 by the Department of Food and Public Distribution; the National Food Security Act, 2013 covers up to 75% of the rural and 50% of the urban population.
PPVFRA Foundation Day: 25 Years of the Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Act
Why in news: The Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Authority (PPVFRA) marked its 22nd Foundation Day and 25 years of the PPV&FR Act, 2001, with the Plant Genome Saviour Awards.
- Farmers’ varieties: Nearly half of the varieties registered under the PPVFRA are farmers’ varieties.
- Gene bank: The National Genebank at ICAR-NBPGR was described as the second largest in the world.
- Heritage: Koraput in Odisha was recognised by the FAO in 2012 as a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System (GIAHS).
Source: PIB (Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare), 12 Nov 2026 · GS Paper 3 / Agriculture, IPR
Prelims angle: The PPV&FR Act, 2001 is India’s sui generis law for plant variety protection under the TRIPS Agreement, and it recognises farmers as breeders and conservers.
DRI Seizes 12.87 Tonnes of Red Sanders at Chennai Port
Why in news: The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence seized about 12.87 metric tonnes of red sanders logs worth around ₹7.72 crore from an export container bound for Malaysia.
- Modus operandi: The syndicate misused the self-sealing facility of a manufacturer-exporter and replaced the declared cargo of paper laminate rolls.
- Law: The logs were seized under the Customs Act, 1962, and three members of the syndicate were arrested.
- Protection: Red sanders is listed in Appendix II of CITES and Schedule IV of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, and its export is prohibited.
Source: PIB (Ministry of Finance), 12 Nov 2026 · GS Paper 3 / Environment, Security
Prelims angle: Red sanders (Pterocarpus santalinus) is endemic to the southern Eastern Ghats, mainly in Andhra Pradesh.
TDB Supports AI-ELINT Satellite Constellation by Astrome
Why in news: The Technology Development Board of DST signed an agreement to give ₹64.05 crore to Astrome Technologies, Bengaluru, to develop a space-based AI-enabled Electronic Intelligence (AI-ELINT) constellation.
- Project: The total cost is ₹128.11 crore, with support given through optionally convertible debt under the RDI Fund.
- Design: Microsatellites of about 50 kg in low Earth orbit, with an ELINT payload, AI-based ground software and inter-satellite links.
- Goal: Move the technologies from Technology Readiness Level 4 to TRL 9.
Source: PIB (Ministry of Science and Technology), 12 Nov 2026 · GS Paper 3 / S&T, Security
Prelims angle: ELINT is electronic intelligence gathered from non-communication signals such as radar; TRL is a scale from 1 (basic idea) to 9 (proven in operation).
Quick Revision Table
| Item | Key fact to remember | Subject |
|---|---|---|
| CPI October 2026 | 6.09% headline; 8.94% food; base 2024=100 | Economy |
| PLI ACC | ₹18,100 cr; 50 GWh target; 22 bids for 10 GWh | Economy / Energy |
| ONORC | Ration card portability; 36 States/UTs; launched 2019 | Polity / Economy |
| PPV&FR Act | 2001; sui generis; farmers’ rights; National Gene Fund | Agriculture / IPR |
| Red sanders | CITES Appendix II; WPA Schedule IV; Eastern Ghats | Environment |
| AI-ELINT | TDB support ₹64.05 cr; Astrome; LEO microsatellites | S&T |
Practice MCQs
Q1. Under the flexible inflation targeting framework, the RBI’s inflation target is:
- 2% CPI inflation with a band of 1%-3%
- 4% CPI inflation with a band of 2%-6%
- 4% WPI inflation with a band of 2%-6%
- 6% CPI inflation with a band of 4%-8%
Show answer
Answer: (b) The target is 4% CPI inflation with a tolerance band of 2% to 6%; October 2026 inflation of 6.09% is above the band.
Q2. With reference to the PLI scheme for Advanced Chemistry Cells, consider the following statements:
1. It aims to create 50 GWh of domestic ACC manufacturing capacity.
2. It is implemented by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.
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: the scheme is implemented by the Ministry of Heavy Industries.
Q3. The One Nation One Ration Card scheme mainly enables:
- Free foodgrains to all citizens
- Portability of PDS entitlements across the country
- Direct cash transfer in place of foodgrains
- Issue of a single card for all welfare schemes
Show answer
Answer: (b) ONORC lets NFSA beneficiaries draw their entitled foodgrains from any Fair Price Shop, which mainly helps migrant workers.
Q4. Red sanders, recently seized at Chennai Port, is listed under which of the following?
1. Appendix II of CITES
2. Schedule IV of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972
Select the correct answer:
- 1 only
- 2 only
- Both 1 and 2
- Neither 1 nor 2
Show answer
Answer: (c) Red sanders is listed in Appendix II of CITES and Schedule IV of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, and its export is prohibited.
Q5. The Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Act was enacted in:
- 1999
- 2001
- 2005
- 2010
Show answer
Answer: (b) The PPV&FR Act was enacted in 2001; 2026 marks 25 years of the Act.
FAQs
What are the important Prelims current affairs of 12 November 2026?
The key Prelims topics of 12 November 2026 are CPI inflation for October 2026, bids under the PLI scheme for Advanced Chemistry Cells, the One Nation One Ration Card backgrounder, 25 years of the PPV&FR Act, the red sanders seizure at Chennai Port and the AI-ELINT satellite project.
What was retail inflation in October 2026?
CPI inflation (base 2024=100) was 6.09% in October 2026, with food inflation at 8.94%, according to MoSPI.
What is One Nation One Ration Card?
ONORC, launched in 2019, allows beneficiaries under the National Food Security Act to collect their foodgrains from any Fair Price Shop in India using their existing ration card.
What is the legal status of red sanders?
Red sanders is listed in Appendix II of CITES and Schedule IV of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, and its export from India is prohibited under the Foreign Trade Policy.
हिंदी सारांश
12 नवंबर 2026 के प्रारंभिक परीक्षा करंट अफ़ेयर्स में अक्टूबर 2026 की खुदरा महंगाई 6.09% और खाद्य महंगाई 8.94% रहना प्रमुख है। उन्नत रसायन सेल (ACC) के लिए PLI योजना के तहत 10 GWh क्षमता के लिए 22 बोलियाँ मिलीं। एक राष्ट्र एक राशन कार्ड पर PIB पृष्ठभूमि लेख आया। पौधा किस्म और कृषक अधिकार संरक्षण अधिनियम, 2001 के 25 वर्ष पूरे हुए। चेन्नई बंदरगाह पर लाल चंदन की तस्करी पकड़ी गई और AI-ELINT उपग्रह परियोजना को सहायता मिली।
Sources: PIB release 2335416; PIB release 2335459; PIB release 2335306; PIB release 2335454; PIB release 2335529; PIB release 2335322.
Related reading on GSMitra: UPSC Prelims Current Affairs 11 November 2026, Battery Recycling and the Black Mass Export Ban, Daily Editorial Analysis 12 November 2026.
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