Monthly at a glance
- Mon 2 Nov — CM unveils ₹520-crore projects in Gonda and reviews Ayodhya Deepotsav; Delhi–Varanasi bullet train corridor and ₹17,542-crore link expressways headline UP's infra push
- Tue 3 Nov — UP gives ex-Agniveers 20% quota, revises pay of 2.72 lakh outsourced staff; paddy procurement opens at 65 LMT target
All topics — key facts for revision
2 November 2026
Full notes with diagrams →UP-GOVERNANCE Gonda: CM launches 69 projects worth over ₹520 crore in Mankapur and Gaura
- 69 projects worth over ₹520 crore — inaugurations and foundation stones.
- Spread over the Mankapur and Gaura Assembly constituencies of Gonda district.
- Approval letters and cheques handed to beneficiaries of state welfare schemes at the same event.
- CM linked the upcoming Ayodhya Deepotsav to livelihoods for potters, farmers, labourers and small traders.
UP-CULTURE Ayodhya: CM reviews preparations for the 10th Deepotsav (main lighting on 7 November)
- 10th edition of Deepotsav (first held in 2017); main diya lighting on 7 November 2026, eve of Diwali.
- Earthen lamps along the Saryu ghats including Ram ki Paidi; target reported at over 26 lakh diyas.
- 1 lakh diyas inside the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra complex, lit by about 1,000 workers in 5 zones.
- 2025 edition: 26,17,215 diyas and two Guinness World Records (largest oil-lamp display; most people doing diya aarti together).
UP-INFRA Bullet train 'Northern Corridor' approved: Delhi–Agra–Kanpur–Lucknow–Ayodhya–Varanasi; Namo Bridge for Varanasi
- Route: Delhi–Agra–Kanpur–Lucknow–Ayodhya–Prayagraj–Varanasi, onward to Patna, Siliguri and Guwahati.
- Projected times: Delhi–Agra 59 min, Delhi–Lucknow 2 h 12 min, Delhi–Varanasi about 3.5 h; Lucknow–Varanasi about 1 h 21 min.
- Namo Bridge, Varanasi: 2.5 km double-decker over the Ganga — 6-lane road above, 4 rail lines below; cost ₹2,657 crore, target 2029.
- First bullet-train corridor to pass through UP; fares indicated to be lower than air travel.
UP-INFRA Cabinet clears four link expressways — about 322 km for ₹17,542 crore
- Farrukhabad Link (~90.9 km): Agra–Lucknow Expressway to Ganga Expressway (Etawah, Kannauj, Mainpuri, Farrukhabad, Hardoi, Shahjahanpur).
- Agra–Lucknow to Purvanchal Expressway Link (50.94 km); Jhansi Link (~106 km) for Bundelkhand.
- Jewar Link (~74 km): Noida International Airport to Ganga Expressway via Bulandshahr.
- Total ₹17,542.06 crore, fully state-funded; built by UPEIDA on EPC model in 3 years + 5 years maintenance.
UP-SCHEME ₹1,725-crore Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Skill Training and Employment Zone scheme launched
- Outlay ₹1,725 crore, to be implemented over 3 years.
- All 75 districts grouped into 9 zones; first 5 centres: Lucknow, Kanpur, Gorakhpur, Jhansi, Gautam Buddha Nagar.
- Hub-and-spoke centres with training, hostels, employment offices and placement support.
- Foundation skills for arts/commerce students, upskilling for ITI-polytechnic-engineering youth, language training for jobs abroad; AI-based dashboards to track outcomes.
UP-GOVERNANCE UP Cyber Security Operations Centre (UP-CSOC) approved at ₹104.28 crore with IIT Kanpur's C3iHub
- Cost ₹104.28 crore; implemented and run for the first 3 years by C3iHub, IIT Kanpur.
- 24×7 monitoring, threat detection, incident response, vulnerability management and post-incident analysis.
- Tech stack: AI/ML, SIEM, SOAR and Network Detection & Response (NDR).
- C3iHub earlier set up SOCs for SAIL (Bhilai Steel Plant), NHAI and the Indian Ports Association.
UP-ECONOMY Power bills: record 9.17% relief in November under fuel-cost adjustment, saving consumers about ₹645 crore
- Relief of 9.17% on November 2026 bills — the highest so far under FPPAS.
- Total saving for consumers about ₹645 crore; applies to domestic, commercial and other categories.
- Fifth straight month of relief: Jul 4.43%, Aug 2.92%, Sep 7.93%, Oct 5.24%.
- Mechanism: when actual fuel/power-purchase cost falls below the cost built into the tariff, the gap is passed back to consumers.
NATIONAL October GST collections jump 22.9% to ₹2.31 lakh crore; import GST up 42.2%
- Gross GST ₹2.31 lakh crore (+22.9% YoY); net after refunds ₹2.03 lakh crore (+25.6%).
- Domestic GST ₹1.59 lakh crore (+15.8%); import GST ₹72,246 crore (+42.2%).
- Refunds ₹27,934 crore (+6.5%).
- April–October FY27: gross ₹14.77 lakh crore (+13.2%).
NATIONAL PM opens Bharat Renewable Energy Summit & Expo 2026 at Bharat Mandapam (2–5 November); UP among 13 showcase states
- 130+ countries, 40+ ministers; 9 country partners incl. Australia, Denmark, EU, France, Germany, UK.
- 13 states/UTs showcase potential, including Uttar Pradesh.
- Co-located: 9th Assembly of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) and 4th International Conference on Green Hydrogen.
- Expo with 400+ exhibitors — solar, wind, green hydrogen, storage.
3 November 2026
Full notes with diagrams →UP-GOVERNANCE Ex-Agniveers get 20% horizontal reservation in UP direct recruitment
- 20% horizontal reservation for Agniveers who complete 4 years of service, in notified direct-recruitment posts.
- No written or physical test; medical standards and post eligibility still apply; 3-year relaxation in upper age limit.
- Posts include Police constable, PAC, mounted police, Jail warder, Forest, Fire service and Transport enforcement constable.
- At the same event the CM launched/laid foundation of 69 projects worth ₹520.83 crore.
UP-GOVERNANCE Pay of ~2.72 lakh outsourced workers revised: ₹17,646 to ₹39,000 a month
- Four categories: ₹39,000 / ₹21,947 / ₹19,446 / ₹17,646 per month.
- Categories 2-4 get up to 1.5 times earlier pay; nobody already earning more will see a cut.
- State bears the 18% GST; agency service charge capped at 7% (UPCOS charge 1%).
- September arrears to be paid with October salary in November 2026.
UP-AGRICULTURE Paddy procurement for KMS 2026-27 opens with 65 lakh tonne target
- Target 65 LMT, up from 62 LMT bought last season.
- MSP ₹2,441/qtl (common) and ₹2,461/qtl (Grade-A); extra ₹20/qtl for unloading, sorting and cleaning.
- Payment through DBT within 48 hours; about 4,500 centres run by 8 agencies.
- Registration via the state food & civil supplies portal; toll-free helpline 18001800150.
UP-URBAN Gorakhpur gets ₹1,375-crore projects; Goddhoiya Nala Phase-1 dedicated
- Goddhoiya Nala Phase-1 (~₹495.24 crore): pucca drain, sewer lines and a 38 MLD STP; benefits 17 wards.
- Foundation of about ₹880 crore works incl. Sewerage Zone A-3 (~₹721.40 crore).
- Goddhoiya Nala Phase-2 (~₹92.72 crore) and a road parallel to the nala (~₹65.93 crore).
- Aim: end monsoon waterlogging and stop untreated sewage flow.
UP-INFRA Cabinet clears four link expressways worth ₹17,542 crore
- Farrukhabad Link (~90.9 km), Agra-Lucknow–Purvanchal Link (50.94 km), Jhansi Link (~106 km) and Jewar Link (~74 km).
- Jhansi Link boosts Bundelkhand access; Jewar Link serves the Noida International Airport area.
- Executed by UPEIDA on EPC mode; completion in 3 years; contractors maintain for 5 years.
- Same meeting: Cyber Security Operations Centre via IIT Kanpur's C3iHub, PM MITRA park master developer, UP Inland Vessels Rules, 2026.
UP-INFRA Northern Bullet Train Corridor approved; Varanasi–New Delhi Vande Bharat Sleeper launched
- Corridor names Agra, Kanpur, Lucknow, Ayodhya, Varanasi, Prayagraj in UP — the state's first bullet-train link.
- Proposed times from Delhi: Agra 59 min, Kanpur 1h 45m, Lucknow 2h 12m, Varanasi ~3.5 h.
- Vande Bharat Sleeper 27421/27422: 16 coaches, 823 berths; halts Prayagraj, Kanpur Central, Aligarh, Ghaziabad.
- Regular service from 2 November 2026; departs Varanasi 20:50, reaches New Delhi 06:10.
UP-SCHEME ₹1,725-crore Sardar Patel Skill Training & Employment Zone Scheme launched
- Outlay ₹1,725 crore; aim to cover all 75 districts.
- Skill training and employment zones offering market-driven, employability-focused courses near home.
- Phased rollout: begins in 5 pilot districts before statewide expansion.
- Training institutes to be linked with industry for placement.
UP-ECONOMY Record 9.17% FPPAS relief on November electricity bills
- 9.17% reduction — the highest so far under FPPAS.
- Fifth consecutive month of negative surcharge: Jul 4.43%, Aug 2.92%, Sep 7.93%, Oct 5.24%.
- Mechanism: Fuel and Power Purchase Adjustment Surcharge (FPPAS) passes cost changes to consumers monthly.
- Relief is automatic in the bill; no application needed.
NATIONAL Grievance Redressal Rules, 2026 notified under VB-G RAM G Act
- Complaints via Grievance Redressal Officer, Speed Post, digital platform or helpline; registration number issued.
- Inquiry within 7 days; unresolved cases escalated after 15 days.
- Dropped from the May 2026 draft: mandatory FIR for financial irregularities and a weekly grievance day.
NATIONAL ₹53,866.50-crore contracts for eight Next Generation Corvettes
- GRSE (Kolkata) builds 5, Goa Shipyard builds 3 corvettes.
- Roles: anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare, coastal security, surveillance.
- First warship buy that is Navy-designed and awarded to DPSUs via competitive selection; ~72 lakh shipyard person-days.
Prelims rapid-fire — 12 facts
| Govt jobs rule: Character-verification rules tightened: candidates involved in violent activities aimed at changing the government barred from direct-recruitment posts; an FIR alone is not enough to disqualify. |
| PM MITRA Park: Master developer selection approved for the PM MITRA Mega Textile Park on 1,000 acres in Lucknow–Hardoi. |
| Sainik School: 9.524 hectares of land transferred free for the Sainik School, Mainpuri. |
| Aligarh: ₹80 crore for Talanagri Industrial Area (est. 1992) under the Atal Industrial Infrastructure Mission — ~1,300 plots, 40 km drains, 15 km roads. |
| Cashless care: Cashless medical treatment extended to Basic Education Department staff and non-teaching staff of secondary & Sanskrit schools, with dependents. |
| GI tags: UP holds 77 GI tags, the most of any state (e.g., Banarasi saree, Kannauj attar, Lucknow chikankari). |
| Ayodhya Deepotsav on 7 November 2026 — CM terms it a boost for potters, labourers and small traders. |
| Cyber Security Operations Centre for UP to be set up through IIT Kanpur's C3iHub (Cabinet, 27 Oct). |
| Master developer approved for PM MITRA Mega Textile Park on 1,000 acres in Lucknow–Hardoi. |
| 9.524 hectares transferred free for a Sainik School in Mainpuri. |
| UP Inland Vessels Rules, 2026 promulgated for river navigation. |
| 845 residential units approved for High Court officials in Prayagraj. |
Data points of the period
~322 km | ₹17,542 crore
UP's new link expressways
Four links approved on 27 October; to be built in 3 years by UPEIDA.
Four links approved on 27 October; to be built in 3 years by UPEIDA.
65 lakh tonnes
UP paddy procurement target, KMS 2026-27
Up from 62 lakh tonnes last season; MSP ₹2,441/qtl (common).
Up from 62 lakh tonnes last season; MSP ₹2,441/qtl (common).
4 practice MCQs — UPPSC Prelims pattern
Q1. With reference to the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Skill Training and Employment Zone Development Scheme of Uttar Pradesh, consider the following statements: 1. Its outlay is ₹1,725 crore. 2. Jhansi and Gorakhpur are among the first five centres. 3. It is to be implemented over five years. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- 1 only
- 1 and 2 only
- 2 and 3 only
- 1, 2 and 3
Show answer
Answer: B
Outlay is ₹1,725 crore and the first five centres are Lucknow, Kanpur, Gorakhpur, Jhansi and Gautam Buddha Nagar; the scheme runs over 3 years, not 5.
Outlay is ₹1,725 crore and the first five centres are Lucknow, Kanpur, Gorakhpur, Jhansi and Gautam Buddha Nagar; the scheme runs over 3 years, not 5.
Q2. The proposed Uttar Pradesh Cyber Security Operations Centre (UP-CSOC) will be implemented by C3iHub, which is located at:
- IIT (BHU) Varanasi
- IIT Kanpur
- IIIT Allahabad
- MNNIT Prayagraj
Show answer
Answer: B
C3iHub is the Technology Innovation Hub for cyber security at IIT Kanpur under NM-ICPS; it will run UP-CSOC (₹104.28 crore) for the first 3 years.
C3iHub is the Technology Innovation Hub for cyber security at IIT Kanpur under NM-ICPS; it will run UP-CSOC (₹104.28 crore) for the first 3 years.
Q3. With reference to the recent Uttar Pradesh decision on ex-Agniveers, consider the following statements: 1. It provides a 20% horizontal reservation in certain direct-recruitment posts. 2. Selected candidates are exempt from the written and physical tests. 3. It gives a 5-year relaxation in the upper age limit. Which of the statements given above are correct?
- 1 and 2 only
- 2 and 3 only
- 1 and 3 only
- 1, 2 and 3
Show answer
Answer: A
The quota is 20% horizontal with exemption from written/physical tests; the age relaxation is 3 years, not 5.
The quota is 20% horizontal with exemption from written/physical tests; the age relaxation is 3 years, not 5.
Q4. Which of the following link expressways approved by the UP Cabinet is intended mainly to improve connectivity of the Bundelkhand region?
- Farrukhabad Link Expressway
- Jewar Link Expressway
- Jhansi Link Expressway
- Agra-Lucknow–Purvanchal Link
Show answer
Answer: C
The ~106 km Jhansi Link Expressway targets Bundelkhand; Jewar Link serves the Noida International Airport area.
The ~106 km Jhansi Link Expressway targets Bundelkhand; Jewar Link serves the Noida International Airport area.
Mains practice questions
- “Expressways and high-speed rail are redrawing Uttar Pradesh's economic geography.” Examine this statement in the light of the new link expressways and the bullet-train Northern Corridor, and suggest how the benefits can reach Bundelkhand and Purvanchal. (UPPSC GS-VI, 200 words)
- Uttar Pradesh is building a dense expressway grid alongside high-speed rail plans. Discuss how such connectivity can reduce regional disparities between western UP, Purvanchal and Bundelkhand. (125 words)
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