{"id":87774,"date":"2026-10-31T18:16:15","date_gmt":"2026-10-31T12:46:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/?p=87774"},"modified":"2026-10-31T18:27:51","modified_gmt":"2026-10-31T12:57:51","slug":"news-in-brief-31-10-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/31-10-2026\/news-in-brief-31-10-2026","title":{"rendered":"News In Brief 31-10-2026"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Chola-era Idols Unearthed in T.N<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS1\/Art and Culture&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>In News<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Tamil Nadu State Department of Archaeology (TNSDA) has unearthed bronze alloy idols of <strong>Lord Nataraja and Goddess Sivagami<\/strong>, along with their respective pedestals, during the ongoing excavations at Nagapattinam.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-background\" style=\"background-color:#fff2cc\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/upsc\/chola-empire\"><strong>Cholas<\/strong><\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>They were a <strong>dominant power in peninsular India<\/strong> in the 10th and 13th centuries, under rulers like Rajaraja I, Rajendra I and Rajadhiraja I, who expanded their authority by military victories in Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The control they had over the fertile Kaveri delta, which allowed agriculture, trade, and urban growth, was partially the basis of their economic prosperity.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img data-dominant-color=\"8ac8c2\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"831\" src=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2026\/10\/image-228-1024x831.png\" alt=\"cholas\" class=\"not-transparent wp-image-87776\" style=\"--dominant-color: #8ac8c2; aspect-ratio:1.2327492751796294;width:380px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2026\/10\/image-228-1024x831.png 1024w, https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2026\/10\/image-228-300x243.png 300w, https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2026\/10\/image-228-768x623.png 768w, https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2026\/10\/image-228.png 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The <strong>Chola economy was<\/strong> founded on commercial towns known as nagaram, which linked merchant groups with religious establishments.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Temples, <strong>especially Brahmanical temples<\/strong>, stimulated regional and international trade through the demand they created for ritual and luxury goods.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Temple urbanisation is the close relationship between temples, trade and the growth of towns.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Recently Discovered Idols&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The idol of Lord Nataraja is depicted in the \u2018<strong>Ananda Tandava\u2019 <\/strong>posture with four arms and measures 110 cm in height and 100 cm in width.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The idol of Goddess Sivagami is depicted in the \u2018Tribhanga\u2019 posture with two arms and measures 82 cm in height and 23 cm in width.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Features&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The idols are estimated to date back to the 12th century AD based on their physical structure, iconographic features, ornamental designs, and the construction of the pedestals.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The idols belong to the Chola period and were unearthed at a depth of one metre.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Importance of discoveries<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>These discoveries provide crucial archaeological evidence for understanding the religious practices, art, and history of metal sculpture in Nagapattinam during the Chola period.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/news\/national\/tamil-nadu\/chola-era-bronze-alloy-idols-of-lord-nataraja-goddess-sivakami-unearthed-in-nagapattinam\/article71646181.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>TH<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>National Unity Day<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS1\/History; Miscellaneous<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The Rashtriya Ekta Diwas, or National Unity Day, is observed annually on October 31.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>About National Unity Day<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Introduced in <strong>2014, <\/strong>the day commemorates the birth anniversary of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/31-10-2025\/sardar-patel-vision-national-unity\">Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel<\/a>, India&#8217;s first Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Patel, along with V.P. Menon, played a key role in integrating more than <strong>560 princely states<\/strong> into the Indian Union through diplomacy and negotiations.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Theme 2026:<\/strong> &#8220;Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat&#8221;, highlighting national integration and unity in diversity.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Do You Know<\/strong><strong>?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The <strong>Sardar Patel National Unity Award <\/strong>was instituted by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) in <strong>2019<\/strong> to recognise outstanding contributions towards national unity and integrity.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/newsonair.gov.in\/nation-pays-homage-to-sardar-vallabhbhai-patel-on-151st-birth-anniversary\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>AIR<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Fiscal Deficit\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS3\/Economy<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>India&#8217;s fiscal deficit widened <\/strong>in the first six months of FY27, as capital spending and subsidy outlays continued to rise.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>About<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>The fiscal deficit stood at \u20b97.14 trillion<\/strong> at the end of September, this amounts to <strong>42.1% of the full-year budget estimate.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The higher proportion of the budgeted fiscal deficit already incurred in the first half of FY27 <strong>indicates mounting pressure on the government&#8217;s fiscal balance.\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The Centre has budgeted a <strong>fiscal deficit of \u20b916.96 trillion, or 4.3% of GDP, for FY27.\u00a0<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It is relying on<strong> robust tax collections and higher non-tax revenues<\/strong> in the coming months to meet this target.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What is the fiscal deficit?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Fiscal Deficit is defined as <strong>excess of total budget expenditure <\/strong>(revenue and capital) <strong>over total budget receipts<\/strong> (revenue and capital) <strong>excluding borrowings during a fiscal year.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Fiscal Deficit<\/strong> = Total Expenditure \u2013 (Revenue Receipts + Non-Debt Creating Capital Receipts).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Implications of fiscal deficit<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Inflationary Pressure:<\/strong> Persistently high fiscal deficits lead to inflation as governments resort to central bank-issued money to finance the deficit.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Crowding Out effect:<\/strong> When the government borrows a large portion of available funds from financial markets to finance its deficit, it crowds out private investment with reduced access to credit for businesses and individuals.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Reduced Fiscal Space: <\/strong>A high fiscal deficit limits the government&#8217;s ability to respond to economic shocks or crises.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Difficulty in borrowing:<\/strong> As a government\u2019s finances worsen, demand for the government\u2019s bonds begins to drop, forcing the government to offer to pay a higher interest rate to lenders.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.livemint.com\/news\/fiscal-deficit-rises-to-rs-7-14-trillion-or-42-1-of-fy27-target-in-first-six-months-11793359509116.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>LM<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>High-Level Committee on Banking for Viksit Bharat<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS3\/ Economy<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The Government of India has constituted a High-Level Committee on Banking for Viksit Bharat, chaired by former Central Vigilance Commissioner Suresh N. Patel.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Terms of Reference of the Committee<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>The committee will examine existing banking practices<\/strong>, prudential norms and international best practices to develop a roadmap for creating globally competitive Indian banks.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Develop a roadmap<\/strong> to create Indian banks capable of competing with leading international banking institutions, with the aspiration of having at least one or two Indian banks among the world&#8217;s top <strong>20 by 2047.<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>State Bank of India<\/strong> is the only public sector bank in the top 100, with its rank falling to 45 in the latest list, down from 43.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>HDFC Bank <\/strong>is the only other Indian bank in the top 100, with its ranking falling from 73 to 76.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The committee will prepare a roadmap for <strong>adopting artificial intelligence and digital innovation<\/strong> across banking institutions while recommending safeguards against cybersecurity risks.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The panel will review the<strong> existing Priority Sector Lending framework<\/strong> and <strong>Lead Bank Scheme<\/strong> to assess their effectiveness in expanding access to credit.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/indianexpress.com\/article\/business\/banking-and-finance\/indian-banks-global-competitiveness-committee-roadmap-10943991\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>IE<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Dr Homi Jehangir Bhabha<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS3\/ Science and Technology<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Dr Homi Jehangir Bhabha is remembered as the father of India\u2019s nuclear programme.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>About<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Homi Jehangir Bhabha was born on October 30, 1909.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>He helped conceptualise <strong>India&#8217;s Three-Stage Nuclear Power Programme.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>He presided over the <strong>First United Nations International Conference<\/strong> on the <strong>Peaceful Uses of Atomic Energy, held in Geneva in 1955.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Scientific Contributions<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>He calculated the <strong>probability of scattering<\/strong> between electrons and positrons, a process known as <strong>Bhabha scattering,<\/strong> which became important in particle physics experiments.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Along with Walter Heitler, he developed the <strong>theory of cosmic ray showers, <\/strong>explaining how high-energy cosmic particles produce cascades of secondary particles when they enter the Earth&#8217;s atmosphere.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Institutional Foundations of India&#8217;s Nuclear Programme<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR): <\/strong>In 1945, with support from the Tata Trust, Bhabha helped establish the TIFR in Mumbai, becoming its first director.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Atomic Energy Commission (AEC):<\/strong> Bhabha played a key role in establishing the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) in <strong>1948<\/strong> and became its first chairman.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), 1954,<\/strong> was established under the direct charge of the Prime Minister, with Bhabha as its first Secretary.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Atomic Energy Establishment, Trombay (AEET):<\/strong> Bhabha led the establishment of the Atomic Energy Establishment at Trombay in Mumbai in 1954.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Later, in 1967, it was renamed the <strong>Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) <\/strong>in his honour.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Awards &amp; Honours<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>He was awarded the <strong>Adams Prize (1942).<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>He was awarded <strong>Padma Bhushan in 1954,<\/strong> the third-highest civilian award in India.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>He was also <strong>nominated for the Nobel Prize<\/strong> for Physics in 1951 and 1953\u20131956.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/ddnews.gov.in\/en\/explained-dr-homi-jehangir-bhabha-and-the-foundations-of-indias-nuclear-programme\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>DD News<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Bihar Museum in World Top 10<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: Miscellaneous<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Patna\u2019s Bihar Museum<\/strong> has been ranked the<strong> top museum in Asia and ninth globally<\/strong> in a list of the<strong> world\u2019s 100 best museums<\/strong> for 2026 by German travel guide and digital magazine.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>About<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The ranking list covered <strong>3,800 venues across 142 countries.<\/strong>\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Eligible museums were required to have a <strong>permanent collection or exhibition open to the public.\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Categories included<\/strong> art museums, history and archaeology museums, science and natural history museums, technology and transport museums, and open-air museums.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img data-dominant-color=\"f7f7f7\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"658\" height=\"452\" src=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2026\/10\/image-227.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"not-transparent wp-image-87775\" style=\"--dominant-color: #f7f7f7; aspect-ratio:1.455818294959552;width:406px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2026\/10\/image-227.png 658w, https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2026\/10\/image-227-300x206.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 658px) 100vw, 658px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>About Bihar Museum<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The museum was inaugurated in <strong>2015<\/strong>, with its development continuing over the subsequent years.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Its design was led by<strong> Japanese architect Fumihiko Maki, <\/strong>a recipient of the prestigious Pritzker Architecture Prize.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>One of its most celebrated treasures is the Didarganj Yakshi, <\/strong>a remarkable Mauryan-era sculpture known for its distinctive polished finish and intricate craftsmanship.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>From the Mauryan, Gupta and Pala periods to Buddhist and Jain heritage,<\/strong> its galleries preserve stories that have shaped India\u2019s past.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: IE<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p><strong> In News <\/strong><\/p>\n<li class=\"ms-5\"> Tamil Nadu State Department of Archaeology (TNSDA) has unearthed bronze alloy idols of Lord Nataraja and Goddess Sivagami, along with their respective pedestals, during the ongoing excavations at Nagapattinam.\u00a0 <\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><strong> Cholas <\/strong><\/p>\n<li class=\"ms-5\"> They were a dominant power in peninsular India in the 10th and 13th centuries, under rulers like Rajaraja I, Rajendra I and Rajadhiraja I, who expanded their authority by military victories in Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia.\u00a0\u00a0 <\/li>\n<p><a href=\" https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/31-10-2026\/news-in-brief-31-10-2026 \" class=\"btn btn-primary btn-sm float-end\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-87774","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-current-affairs"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/87774","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=87774"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/87774\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":87778,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/87774\/revisions\/87778"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=87774"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=87774"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=87774"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}