In the 2026 United States Midterm Elections, the Democratic Party secured majorities in both chambers of the US Congress—the House of Representatives (lower chamber) and the Senate (upper chamber). US midterm elections take place at the two-year midpoint of a president’s four-year term, where all 435 seats in the House of Representatives and about one-third of the 100 Senate seats are contested.

Eighty-one-year-old English writer M. John Harrison won the Booker Prize 2026 for his novel “The End of Everything”, making him the oldest recipient in the prize’s history. The Booker Prize is awarded annually to the best sustained work of fiction written in English and published in the UK and Ireland.

India’s first indigenously designed and manufactured high-speed bullet train trainset has been designated B28. Built by public sector undertaking BEML Limited at its Bengaluru complex, the 8-coach trainset has a test speed capability of 280 km/h and an operational speed of 249 km/h. It is scheduled to undergo commercial trials on the Surat–Vapi section of the Mumbai–Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail Corridor.

The Indian Air Force’s heavy military transport aircraft Ilyushin IL-76MD (known as Gajraj) established a world record for the highest landing by an aircraft in its heavy-transport class by touching down successfully at the Nyoma Airbase in Eastern Ladakh at an altitude of 13,629 feet above sea level. The milestone reinforces rapid tactical mobility along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

The Chhattisgarh State Wildlife Board officially designated the Orange Oakleaf (Kallima inachus) as the state’s first State Butterfly following a public voting campaign. Commonly called the Dead Leaf Butterfly, it mimics a dry brown leaf when its wings are closed to evade natural predators, but displays iridescent deep blue and bright orange patterns when open.

Collins Dictionary declared “Mogging” as its Word of the Year 2026. Popularized across online subcultures and youth vernacular, the term describes visually outshining, overshadowing, or appearing markedly more confident, striking, or physically dominant than others in appearance or social presentation.

The Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft ‘Amini’ was indigenously constructed by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) in Kolkata with over 80% domestic content. Named after Amini Island in Lakshadweep, the warship is engineered for shallow-water subsurface surveillance, coastal patrolling, and neutralizing enemy submarines in coastal littoral zones.

Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Dr. Virendra Kumar launched the Vayo Samman Rashtriya Abhiyan under the framework of the Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojana (AVYAY). The nationwide campaign connects youth volunteers with senior citizens to promote social interaction, community care, and digital literacy (such as mobile applications and digital banking).

National Education Day is observed annually on 11 November to mark the birth anniversary of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad (born 11 November 1888), independent India’s first Minister of Education (1947–1958). Instituted in 2008 by the Ministry of Education, the day recognizes his pioneering role in establishing premier educational bodies, including the IITs, IISc, and the University Grants Commission (UGC).

Celebrated annually on 10 November under the auspices of UNESCO, World Science Day for Peace and Development 2026 was observed with the theme “Common Ground Through Science Diplomacy”. The observance underscores the importance of scientific collaboration, open dialogue, and technology sharing in resolving global crises and sustaining world peace.