05 Nov 2026 - "Daily Current Affairs" Updates

01  Super El Niño and the Indian Ocean Dipole

WHY IN NEWS  The June–September 2026 monsoon ended at 87% of its Long Period Average (LPA): about 759 mm against 868.6 mm, a 13% deficit, during a very strong “super/Godzilla” El Niño.

First understand El Niño

• El Niño is abnormal warming in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific. Weaker trade winds shift the Walker circulation eastwards; descending air over India tends to suppress rainfall.

• The Niño 3.4 index tracks this warming. An anomaly of +0.5°C or more indicates El Niño; +2°C or more is informally called a “super” event. La Niña is its opposite phase; both form ENSO.

Then add the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD)

• IOD compares sea-surface temperatures in the western equatorial Indian Ocean (Arabian Sea side) with those in the east (near Sumatra). It is also called the “Indian Niño”.

• Positive IOD: relatively warmer west, which can support Indian monsoon rain. Negative IOD: relatively cooler west, which can weaken it. Thus, El Niño does not guarantee drought; a positive IOD may offset its effect.

Four years that make the link memorable

Year

ENSO

IOD

Monsoon result

1997

Very strong El Niño

Strong positive

Near normal (+2%)

2009

El Niño

Neutral

−22%: severe drought

2015

Strong El Niño

Weak positive

−14%

2026

“Super” El Niño

Not strongly positive

−13%; 87% of LPA

IMD rainfall bands (% of LPA)  Deficient <90 • Below normal 90–95 • Normal 96–104 • Above normal 105–110 • Excess >110. The cited LPA is 87 cm (1971–2020 average).

MEMORY LOCK  El Niño = Pacific warming; IOD = Indian Ocean east–west temperature difference. 1997 is the reminder that a strong positive IOD can counter an El Niño.

GS I / GS III  |  DISASTER MANAGEMENT

02  Cyclone Murasu: Naming, Landfall and Wind Bands

WHY IN NEWS  Severe Cyclonic Storm Murasu made landfall on the southern Andhra Pradesh coast. India proposed the name “Murasu”, Tamil for “drum”.

How are North Indian Ocean cyclones named?

• The WMO/ESCAP Panel on Tropical Cyclones adopted a list of 169 names in 2020: 13 names each from 13 member countries. The IMD in New Delhi is the Regional Specialised Meteorological Centre (RSMC) that names cyclones in the North Indian Ocean.

• The 13 contributors are Bangladesh, India, Iran, Maldives, Myanmar, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, UAE and Yemen. Names are used sequentially and are not reused.

What is landfall—and why is the Bay of Bengal more exposed?

• Landfall occurs when the storm’s centre or eye crosses the coastline. Storm surge, damaging winds and very heavy rain cause most destruction. After landfall, the cyclone weakens without its warm, moist ocean-air supply.

• The Bay of Bengal usually has more cyclones than the Arabian Sea due to warmer water, its funnel shape, remnants of Pacific typhoons and a relatively flat eastern coast. Peak seasons: April–May and October–December.

IMD intensity ladder: remember the cut-offs

Classification

Maximum sustained wind

Depression / Deep Depression

31–49 / 50–61 km/h

Cyclonic Storm

62–88 km/h

Severe Cyclonic Storm

89–117 km/h

Very Severe Cyclonic Storm

118–166 km/h

Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm

167–221 km/h

Super Cyclonic Storm

≥222 km/h

MEMORY LOCK  Murasu = name proposed by India; landfall = eye crosses coast; severe cyclonic storm = 89–117 km/h; post-monsoon cyclone peak = October–December.

GS III  |  INDIAN ECONOMY

03  Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS)

WHY IN NEWS  RBI figures show around US$20 billion sent abroad by resident Indians so far in 2026 through LRS. In FY 2025–26, outward remittances totalled US$28.9 billion, down about 2% from US$29.6 billion in FY25; travel (about US$16.5 billion) was the largest component.

Who can remit, and how much?

• RBI introduced LRS in February 2004 with a US$25,000 ceiling. Under FEMA, 1999, the limit is now US$250,000 per resident individual per financial year.

• Eligible: resident individuals, including minors acting through guardians. Not eligible: companies, partnership firms, HUFs and trusts.

Allowed uses vs prohibited uses

• Current-account uses: travel, education, medical treatment, gifts and maintenance of relatives. Capital-account uses: foreign shares/debt, property, foreign-currency accounts and overseas businesses within ODI rules.

• Prohibited: margin/forex trading overseas, lotteries or betting, purchase of FCCBs issued by Indian companies, and remittances to FATF “call for action” jurisdictions.

Checks to remember

• PAN is mandatory. The source notes TCS under Section 206C(1G) above ₹10 lakh annually (increased from ₹7 lakh in Budget 2025); rates are lower for education/medical spending and nil where education is financed by a loan.

MEMORY LOCK  LRS = RBI + FEMA, 1999 | US$250,000 per resident individual per FY | PAN mandatory | TCS threshold in source = ₹10 lakh.