3 November 2026 Current Affairs: Headlines, GK & MCQs

Top Headlines

1. Indian Navy Frees Hijacked Fishing Vessel Azini Off Somalia
2. Health Ministry Proposes New Import Gateways for Drugs

One-liner Current Affairs

• The Indian Navy freed the hijacked fishing vessel Azini from armed pirates off the north-eastern coast of Somalia in an operation that ran for more than 48 hours.
• All 20 crew members on board were rescued safely, with no casualties and no injuries.
• A mission-deployed warship and a maritime reconnaissance aircraft located and tracked the boat, then used calibrated non-kinetic measures to stop it escaping.
• Marine Commandos were put into the operation through a precision airdrop by an Indian Air Force C-17 aircraft.
• Pirates could have used the captured boat as a mother ship against merchant shipping; India calls itself First Responder and Preferred Security Partner in the Indian Ocean Region.
• The Union Health Ministry has proposed amending Rule 43A of the Drugs Rules, 1945, the rule that lists authorised entry points for importing drugs, medical devices and cosmetics.
• The inland container depots proposed are Sonipat, Piyala and Harsaru in Haryana, Dadri in Uttar Pradesh, Gandhidham/Mundra in Gujarat, Sanath Nagar and Thimmapur in Telangana, and Whitefield in Bengaluru.
• SEZ Bommasandra in Karnataka and Noida International Airport in Uttar Pradesh are also on the list, the airport for drugs imported by air.
• Inland container depots at Dhannad and Tihi in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, are already among the authorised import gateways.
• Clearance closer to warehouses and factories is expected to cut inland transport distances, logistics costs and delays; objections go to the Under Secretary (Drugs Regulation).

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  National

  Health Ministry Proposes New Import Gateways for Drugs

  The Health Ministry proposed amending Rule 43A of the Drugs Rules, 1945 to add inland container depots, an SEZ and Noida airport as drug import points.

  3 November 2026 · 2 min read

• 
  Defence

  Indian Navy Frees Hijacked Fishing Vessel Azini Off Somalia

  The Indian Navy freed the hijacked fishing vessel Azini off Somalia's north-eastern coast in an operation of over 48 hours, bringing all 20 crew out unhurt.

  3 November 2026 · 2 min read

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