Daily Current Affairs: 2 December 2025
Analysis for 02 December 2025
India Places Entire Himalayan Arc in Newly Created Highest-Risk Zone VI on Revised Seismic Map
Key Updates:
- India has released a major update to its national seismic zonation map under the revised Earthquake Design Code.
- The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) released the revised map based on probabilistic seismic hazard assessment (PSHA) methods incorporating data on active faults, maximum potential magnitudes, ground-shaking behaviour, tectonic regimes and underlying lithology.
- 61% of the country now falls under moderate to high hazard zones.
- The entire Himalayan arc is placed in a newly created highest-risk Zone VI.
- The updated design code requires secure anchoring of non-structural elements such as parapets, ceilings, tanks, façades and suspended fixtures if they account for more than 1% of a building’s weight.
- Buildings near active faults must be designed to withstand severe pulse-like ground motions.
- The code adds new norms covering liquefaction, soil flexibility and site-specific ground-response spectra.
- Critical infrastructure including hospitals, schools, bridges, pipelines and major public buildings must remain functional after major earthquakes.
Similar / Past Coverage
- Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) issued new Rs 100 currency notes featuring a revised map that includes the Kalapani, Lipulekh and Limpiyadhura territories.
- The map was already in the old Rs 100 bank note, and it has been revised as per the government's decision.
- India reacted sharply to Nepal’s move, calling the revised map a 'unilateral act' and cautioning Kathmandu that such 'artificial enlargement' of territorial claims will not be acceptable to it.
- Among various denominations of bank notes, such as Rs 10, Rs 50, Rs 500, and Rs 1,000, only the Rs 100 currency note bears Nepal’s map.
- India's average temperature rose by nearly 0.9 degrees Celsius in the last decade (2015-2024) compared to the early 20th century (1901-1930).
- The hottest day of the year warmed by 1.5-2 degrees Celsius in western and northeast India since the 1950s.
- The research was conducted by climate scientists Chirag Dhara (Krea University), Aditi Deshpande (Savitribai Phule Pune University), Roxy Mathew Koll (Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology), Padmini Dalpadado (Institute of Marine Research, Norway), and Mandira Singh Shrestha (International Center for Integrated Mountain Development, Nepal).
- This warming is driving a surge in extreme weather events, with the number of warm days increasing by 5-10 days per decade.
- The tropical Indian Ocean is warming at a rate of 0.12 degrees Celsius per decade, one of the fastest in the world.
- Marine heatwaves are projected to occur for nearly 200 days per year by 2050, from merely 20 days per year in recent decades.
- The Arabian Sea has become a hotspot for intense tropical cyclones, with the maximum intensity of pre-monsoon cyclones increasing by 40 per cent in recent decades.
- Historical one-in-a-hundred-year extreme sea-level events are projected to become an annual occurrence by mid-century.
- A major proposal to redraw the boundaries and expanse of the strategic Changthang and Karakoram sanctuaries in Ladakh is set to come to the Centre for final clearance.
- It was proposed by the Ladakh State Wildlife Board at its September 19 meeting that the Karakoram wildlife sanctuary's new revised area should stand at 16,550 sq km while Changthang's at 9,695 sq km.
- The new boundaries will involve exclusion of 1,742 sq km from the Karakoram (Nubra-Shyok) WLS and another 164 sq km from the high-altitude cold desert WLS in Changthang.
- The 'rationalisation' of the two sanctuaries has been proposed after a detailed study by the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) and discussions with local stakeholders and the administration, as the 1987 notification did not constitute a properly defined area and had a mismatch in the description of North-South-East-West boundaries.
- The excluded area, including 67 and 45 villages in the two sanctuaries respectively, is key to 'unlocking economic activity and tourism potential in the Himalayan region' and 'facilitating people living within the sanctuaries'.
- The continued presence of villagers in border areas would be critical for 'maintaining vigilance and securing our international borders', addressing a worrying 'depopulation of border villages'.
- India will grant land in Varanasi for construction of a Bhutanese monastery and guesthouse
- The monastery will be built near the banks of the Ganga and serve as a centre for spiritual learning, cultural exchange, and pilgrimage
- India extended a Rs 4,000-crore line of credit to support Bhutan’s development projects
- The 1,020 MW Punatsangchhu-II Hydropower Project was formally inaugurated
- India and Bhutan signed three new agreements on renewable energy collaboration, mental-health research, and medical capacity-building
Tenkasi District Forest Division (Tamil Nadu) Launches ‘Golden Jackal Ambassadors’ Scheme for Conservation
Key Updates:
- The population of golden jackal is rapidly dwindling due to indiscriminate construction activities being taken up in the areas closer to residential areas after removing the forests and shrubs.
- The ‘Golden Jackal Ambassadors’ scheme targets schools and colleges to train students as ambassadors for conserving golden jackal.
- Students badged as ‘Golden Jackal Ambassadors’ will disseminate messages on conserving golden jackal, rescuing and treating injured golden jackals and releasing them back in the forests.
- Lack of awareness among the public on conserving small animals like golden jackal, mongoose, ant-eater, tortoise, snakes, monitor lizard etc. has led to the sharp fall in their population.
- The ‘Friends of Elephants’ scheme has started yielding good results as villagers cooperate in alerting forest personnel about elephants entering ranches or hamlets.
- Forest department cultivates native plants inside the forest preferred by elephants to create sufficient food.
Similar / Past Coverage
- Portal name and URL: The Vulture Network (http://www.thevulturenetwork.org)
- Developed by: We Foundation India in collaboration with Gauhati University’s Department of Zoology
- Purpose: “to compile scientific information, spread awareness, and provide freely downloadable outreach materials”
- Focus species: nine Indian scavenger birds, including the critically endangered slender-billed vulture with “only about 800 mature individuals left”
- Key threats highlighted: carcass poisoning, harmful veterinary drugs such as diclofenac, and negative social perceptions
- Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary is buzzing with life as thousands of migratory birds arrive, heralding the start of the season.
- Over 20 species, including open-billed storks and white ibis, have begun nesting.
- Open-billed storks have not only built their nests but also completed breeding, with chicks already visible on the treetops.
- The tank surrounding the sanctuary is in excellent condition, holding water up to 16ft, replenished by recent rains and surplus inflow from the Valayaputhur lake nearby.
- A previous disruption in the flow from Valayaputhur lake caused by blocked channels has since been resolved, ensuring sufficient water levels for the birds’ breeding season.
- Most of the birds prefer the barringtonia trees to build their nests.
- Forest officials plan desilting work and fresh plantation of barringtonia trees once the summer sets in and the tank dries.
- The sanctuary, home to more than 15,000 birds, has begun attracting more visitors on weekends and holidays.
- Manish Meena is identified as the Chennai wildlife warden.
- On November 29, we celebrate International Jaguar Day.
- The jaguar *Panthera onca* is the largest feline in the Americas and the third largest in the world, behind only the tiger and the lion.
- With up to 2.5 meters in length and more than 100 kg in weight, the jaguar is a top predator, crucial for maintaining the health and balance of the ecosystems where it lives.
- Brazil is home to the largest jaguar population on the planet, especially in the Amazon and the Pantanal.
- Jaguars mark territory through trees, leaving visual marks as well as chemical ones: glands between their toes release pheromones that remain on the bark, signaling to other individuals that the area is occupied.
- Vultures are nature’s most efficient waste managers, playing a vital role in keeping landscapes clean and preventing the spread of pathogens like anthrax, Clostridium botulinum, and rabies.
- India's vulture population has declined by more than 95% since the 1990s due to diclofenac use, representing a slow-burning public health challenge.
- India’s vulture populations are part of the Central Asian Flyway (CAF), a migratory route connecting breeding grounds in Central Asia to wintering areas across South Asia, which is a biodiversity and a public health corridor.
- A post-2025 national strategy for vulture conservation in India could rest on five pillars: nationwide satellite telemetry, a Decision Support System (DSS), stronger cross-sector coordination under a One Health framework, transboundary collaboration through the CAF, and community stewardship.
- This strategy aligns directly with the World Health Organization South-East Asia Regional Office Strategic Roadmap for Health Security (2023–27) and is considered cost-effective compared to the immense costs of outbreak response.
- India's CAF-connected vulture populations include species such as Himalayan griffon, cinereous vultures, and Eurasian griffon.
National Mission for Mentoring (NMM): School teachers to be mentored by professors
Key Updates:
- The University Grants Commission (UGC) has sent out a fresh advisory to Higher Education Institutions, asking them to identify and nominate experienced faculty members for the National Mission for Mentoring (NMM).
- Professors and other eligible faculty with at least eight years of teaching experience may be onboarded as National Mentors.
- National Mentors will conduct both individual and group mentoring sessions through the NMM portal managed by the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE).
- The NMM aligns with NEP 2020’s plan to build a national mentoring system.
- The Department of School Education and Literacy released “NMM: The Bluebook” on March 9, 2024.
Similar / Past Coverage
- MoU signed on November 7, 2025 between Department of Social Justice & Empowerment (DoSJE) and PW Foundation (Physics Wallah Foundation).
- Objective: provide free structured online coaching to 15,000 students from SC, OBC and PM CARES Children Scheme beneficiaries for UPSC, SSC and Banking exams.
- Key features: live/recorded lectures, test series with analytics, mentorship, doubt-clearing sessions, bilingual study material; no government funds involved.
- Selection: transparent online application on DoSJE website, vetted through merit and need-based parameters.
- Scheme Name: Guidelines for co-location of Anganwadi Centres (AWCs) with schools, jointly prepared by Ministry of Women and Child Development (MoWCD) and Department of School Education and Literacy (DoSEL)
- Objective: "to ease children’s transition from Anganwadi to Grade 1, build stronger ties between AWCs and schools, encourage joyful learning, and improve retention and performance in the early years of primary education"
- Key Features: Two co-location models—AWCs operate within schools where facilities allow, or are linked to the nearest school where infrastructure is limited; priority given to centres without permanent buildings, rented/inadequate spaces, and those serving disadvantaged communities; relocation distance within 500 metres (urban) and one kilometre (rural), adaptable by states
- Current Status: India has 14.02 lakh functioning AWCs, of which 2.90 lakh are already attached to 9.16 lakh government and government-aided schools
- Additional Initiative: Union education minister proposed a dedicated training module for anganwadi workers without Class 12 qualification to pursue further studies
- Initiative Name: Model Youth Gram Sabha (MYGS) – jointly by Ministry of Panchayati Raj, Ministry of Education, and Ministry of Tribal Affairs.
- Launch: Unveiled in New Delhi; rollout planned across "over one thousand schools nationwide."
- Objective: "Strengthen Janbhagidari and promote participatory local governance by engaging students in simulated Gram Sabha sessions."
- Key Features: Includes release of a "Training Module on Model Youth Gram Sabha" and the "MYGS Portal."
- Ministers Attending: Minister of State for Panchayati Raj SP Singh Baghel and Minister of State for Tribal Affairs Durgadas Uikey.
- Initiative Name: ‘DigiArivu–Empowering Students Thru Tech’ launched by Samsung in partnership with United Nations Global Compact Network India.
- Objective: Strengthen digital science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education in Tamil Nadu.
- Coverage: 10 government schools in Kancheepuram and Ranipet districts; expected to benefit over 3,000 students.
- Key Provisions: Upgrade school infrastructure, enable STEM and digital learning, train teachers, and support holistic student development.
CBIC wins Gold Prize in Public Outreach & Communication Category at IITF 2025 in New Delhi
Key Updates:
- GST & Customs Pavilion bagged the Gold Prize in the Public Outreach and Communication Category at IITF 2025.
- Pavilion showcased at India International Trade Fair (IITF) 2025 in New Delhi from 14th-27th November 2025.
- Built around the theme Next-Gen GST: सरल कर, खुशहाल राष्ट्र.
- Eight helpdesks from GST, Customs, GSTN, ICEGATE and CPGRAMS provided instant support.
- Educational videos and tutorials available in 10 regional languages plus Hindi and English.
- Interactive digital exhibits showcased CBIC’s key reforms and achievements.
- Engaging activities included magic shows, puppet shows, quizzes, caricature artists, VR games and selfie corners.
- Dedicated sessions introduced students to career opportunities in CBIC.
Similar / Past Coverage
- India collected Rs 1.86 lakh crore as goods and services tax in August, 6.5% higher than the same period last year.
- For the previous month, India’s gross Goods and Services Tax (GST) collection stood at Rs 1.96 lakh crore.
- In April 2025, the GST collections had surged to an all-time high of Rs 2.37 lakh crore.
- The gross domestic revenue grew 9.6 per cent to Rs 1.37 lakh crore, while tax from imports dipped 1.2 per cent to Rs 49,354 crore in August.
- GST refunds were down 20 per cent year-on-year to Rs 19,359 crore.
- Net GST revenue stood at Rs 1.67 lakh crore in August 2025, recording 10.7 per cent year-on-year growth.
- Aditi Nayar, Chief Economist at ICRA Ltd., commented on August GST collection.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced that the next generation reforms in GST will be unveiled by Diwali.
- The indirect tax regime has completed 8 years.
- The GST Council is scheduled to meet from September 3-4.
- The council will also deliberate on reports by three Groups of Ministers (GoMs) on rate rationalisation, compensation cess, and insurance taxation.
- The 44th India International Trade Fair (IITF) will take place at the Bharat Mandapam at Pragati Maidan, with the theme ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat’ for 2025.
- The fair will run from November 14 to November 27.
- Jitin Prasada, Minister of State for Commerce and Industry, launched the exhibition on Monday.
- Report on Assessment of Logistics Cost in India: prepared by NCAER for DPIIT, first comprehensive estimate puts India’s logistics cost at 7.97% of GDP using hybrid methodology (nation-wide surveys + secondary data).
- Industrial Park Rating System (IPRS) 3.0: DPIIT–ADB tool to benchmark industrial-park infrastructure and competitiveness; government developing 20 plug-and-play parks/smart cities under NICDC.
- Logistics Data Bank (LDB) 2.0: high-seas container tracking, multi-modal visibility via ULIP APIs, live container heat-map to pre-empt bottlenecks.
- Logistics Ease Across Different States (LEADS) 2025: annual index to benchmark logistics performance of States/UTs.
- Guidebook on Mapping of Harmonised System of Nomenclature (HSN) Codes: allocates 12,167 HSN codes across 31 Ministries/Departments for targeted policymaking and trade negotiations.
- Integrated State and City Logistics Plans: being prepared under SMILE–ADB for eight pilot cities across eight states to map infrastructure gaps and cut logistics costs.
- Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal launched six initiatives on the occasion of the decade-long celebrations of the Make in India initiative.
- Report on Assessment of Logistics Cost in India: Aims to strengthen data-driven logistics planning as per the mandate of the National Logistics Policy (2022), establish a uniform framework for measuring logistics costs, and benchmark them against global practices.
- As per the current assessment prepared by NCAER for DPIIT, logistics costs in India are estimated at about 7.97% of total GDP.
- Industrial Park Rating System (IPRS) 3.0: Developed by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) with support from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the initiative aims to further strengthen India’s industrial ecosystem and enhance the competitiveness of industrial infrastructure.
- Logistics Data Bank (LDB) 2.0: The initiative aims to boost India’s digital trade and export competitiveness and introduces high-seas container tracking, allowing exporters to track containers even after departure from Indian ports across international waters.
- Logistics Ease Across Different States (LEADS) 2025: The initiative aims to benchmark logistics performance across States and Union Territories to support India’s vision of a globally competitive and future-ready logistics ecosystem.
- Guidebook on Mapping of Harmonised System of Nomenclature (HSN) Codes: The guidebook allocates 12,167 HSN Codes across 31 Ministries and Departments and aims to enable targeted policymaking and support effective trade negotiations.
- Integrated State and City Logistics Plans: The Government has initiated Integrated State and City Logistics Plans under the SMILE programme in collaboration with the Asian Development Bank (ADB), beginning with eight cities across eight states.
Prem Kumar files nomination for Speaker of Bihar Assembly
Key Updates:
- Prem Kumar is a veteran BJP leader and one of few leaders in Bihar who started off during the JP Movement.
- Prem Kumar is an eight-term MLA from Gaya Town.
- Prem Kumar is the sole legislator to have filed the nomination for the post of Assembly Speaker in Bihar.
- Prem Kumar is set for election to the post unopposed as the Mahagathbandhan shied away from fielding a candidate.
- The NDA enjoys a brute majority in the 243-strong Bihar Assembly with 202 seats.
- BJP has 89 MLAs as against JD(U)’s tally of 85 MLAs.
- JD(U) had kept the post of the speaker with itself in the first three tenures.
Similar / Past Coverage
- Nitish Kumar unanimously elected leader of JD(U) legislature party
- Will take oath as Chief Minister of Bihar for the 10th time at Gandhi Maidan
- Governor Arif Mohammad Khan will administer the oath, becoming the eighth governor to swear in Kumar
- Gujarat Governor Acharya Devvrat was given the additional charge of Maharashtra’s Governor.
- The move follows the former Governor of Maharashtra, C P Radhakrishnan, demitting office due to his election as the Vice-President of India.
- Acharya Devvrat was appointed as the Governor of Gujarat on July 22, 2019.
- He has served as the Governor of Himachal Pradesh from August 12, 2015, to July 21, 2019.
- Devvrat is already the chancellor of 24 state universities in Gujarat and accepted the offer to be the next chancellor of Gujarat Vidyapith.
- The President of India, Smt Droupadi Murmu, addressed the Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly.
- The address was delivered at Dehradun, Uttarakhand.
- The occasion was the Silver Jubilee of the formation of Uttarakhand state.
- The President stated that 'legislative assemblies are a key pillar of our parliamentary system'.
- She appreciated the members of Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly for implementing the Uniform Civil Code Bill.
- The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) won 202 of 243 assembly seats in Bihar.
- Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's JDU secured 85 seats, helped by perfect coordination with BJP.
- BJP emerged as the single largest party in the state for the first time.
- The rival RJD-led Mahagathbandhan fared poorly, with RJD barely avoiding its 2010 low of 22 seats.
- Congress won only 6 seats, continuing a pattern of poor performance.
- CPI-ML's streak of successes since 2020 ended, with the party winning 2 seats.
- AIMIM secured 5 seats, reflecting a Muslim desire to diversify beyond 'secular' options led by non-Muslims.
- Prashant Kishor's Jan Suraaj Party drew a blank, proving that political consultancy success does not guarantee electoral victory.
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi inaugurates 36th Konark Festival and 15th International Sand Art Festival
Key Updates:
- The twin festivals are organised by the tourism department in association with Odisha Sangeet Natak Akademi and Odisha Tourism Development Corporation (OTDC).
- The five-day event celebrates India’s cultural heritage and artistic brilliance.
- The inaugural evening at Konark showcased an Odissi performance by Sonali Mohapatra and artists of Nrutya Upasana Pitha, Bhubaneswar.
- The recital opened with Odissi recitals on Hanuman Chalisa, composed by Sant Tulsidas, with music by Guru Abhiram Nanda and choreography by Mohapatra.
- This was followed by ‘Saranga Pallavi’, a dance sequence exploring the beauty of Rag Saranga through intricate rhythm and melody, choreographed by Mohapatra with music by Nirmal Kumar Mahapatra.
- The troupe concluded with Chari Yuga Devi, depicting the divine power of Maa Durga.
Similar / Past Coverage
- The festival will feature poets from thirteen countries presenting works in sixteen different languages.
- The event reinforces the festival’s spirit of global poetic exchange as stated in the article.
- The eighth edition of Chair Poetry Evenings is scheduled to take place in Kolkata.
- Hindus celebrate Govardhan Puja on October 22, 2025.
- Another name for this festival is Annakut or Annakoot.
- The festival is purely dedicated to worship Lord Krishna.
- Govardhan Puja is observed on Pratipada Tithi of Shukla Paksha in the month of Kartik.
- The Pratipada Tithi begins on October 21, 2025 - 05:54 PM and ends on October 22, 2025 - 08:16 PM.
- The Govardhan Puja Pratahkala Muhurat is from October 22, 2025 - 06:26 AM to 08:42 AM.
- The Govardhan Puja Sayankala Muhurat is from October 22, 2025 - 03:29 PM to 05:44 PM.
- This festival commemorates Krishna lifting Govardhan Hill to protect villagers from Indra's wrath.
- In Maharashtra, this event is known as 'Padwa,' where men traditionally give something as a gift.
- This day is observed as 'Vishwakarma Day' in various regions of India, where people worship their machinery, vehicles, weapons, and equipment.
- The Gujarati people celebrate this day as Bestu Baras, which is the first day of Vikram Samvat in their Gujarati calendar.
- The International Blue Flag Certification for 2025-26 was awarded to beaches.
- The Denmark-based Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE), an international agency, awarded the Blue Flag certification.
- Altogether 13 beaches across the country have been recognised for 2025-26.
- Out of the recognised beaches, 12 have been fully awarded and one (Eden beach, Puducherry) has been conditionally awarded.
- Two of the fully awarded beaches are from Odisha.
- The certification signifies that the beaches meet stringent international standards of cleanliness, environmental sustainability, and safety.
- The certification is renewed annually after detailed inspections by national and international committees and compliances of 33 various criteria covering water quality, environmental education, safety, waste management, cleanliness and eco-friendly infrastructure.
- The 44th India International Trade Fair brought together art forms from each corner of the country, showcasing rich cultural diversity at Bharat Mandapam.
- Jharkhand was the focus state of the event.
- The fair featured pavilions from Turkey, Tunisia, Iran, Afghanistan, and Hong Kong.
Syria publishes first print issue of Al Thawra Al Souriya newspaper 5 years after Assad ban
Key Updates:
- Syria published the first print issue of the official Al Thawra Al Souriya newspaper for the first time in five years.
- Al Thawra Al Souriya means 'the Syrian revolution' in Arabic.
- Al Thawra Al Souriya will replace Al Thawra, an Assad-era state newspaper.
- Former President Bashar al-Assad stopped printing dailies during the Covid-19 pandemic.
- Assad was overthrown by Ahmed al-Sharaa, former al-Qaeda commander and current Syrian President, last December.
Similar / Past Coverage
- Hezbollah has confirmed the death of its military commander Haytham Ali Tabatabai in an Israeli strike.
- The strike, which Lebanon's Ministry of Public Health says killed five people and wounded 28, targeted the Haret Hreik area in the southern suburbs of Lebanon’s capital, Beirut.
- Haytham Ali Tabatabai, also known as Sayyid Abu Ali, was Hezbollah’s chief of staff and was among those targeted and killed.
- Sunday’s attack was the first on Beirut’s southern suburbs in several months and the first without warning since last year’s ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah was announced.
- Israeli media reported this was the third attempt on Tabatabai's life, with the two prior attempts occurring during last year’s war with Israel.
- United Nations experts have accused Israel of violating the United States-brokered ceasefire on a near-daily basis.
- Tabatabai was born in 1968 in Bashoura, Beirut, and reportedly joined Hezbollah in the 1980s, being part of the group since its founding in 1982.
- He held senior military positions, including leading Hezbollah’s Nabatieh axis from 1996 until 2000, the Khiam axis from 2000 until 2008, and was in command during the July 2006 war.
- Tabatabai participated in establishing Hezbollah’s elite Radwan Force and was appointed as Hezbollah’s chief of staff after last year’s war.
- Hezbollah also confirmed the deaths of four other members: Qassem Hussein Berjawi, Rifaat Ahmad Hussein, Mostafa Asaad Berro and Ibrahim Ali Hussein.
- Lebanese President Joseph Aoun called on the international community to intervene to stop Israeli attacks on his country after the strike.
- Israel stated it “remains committed to the understandings agreed upon between the State of Israel and Lebanon” and justified the strike by accusing Tabatabai of posing a threat to Israeli security.
- According to Axios, US officials were aware that an “escalation” was expected but were not informed of the details of this particular strike beforehand.
- Mahmoud Qmati, vice president of Hezbollah’s Political Council, said Israel’s strike had crossed a “red line” and the group’s leadership would now consider whether a response was warranted.
- Resolution adopted removes Syria’s transitional President Ahmed al-Sharaa and Interior Minister Anas Khattab from UN sanctions targeting ISIL/Al-Qaida supporters
- US, UK and European Union had already lifted punitive measures covering ~$15 billion in restricted assets and trade in May
- US revoked HTS terrorist designation in July, UK followed in October; Russia notes Syria’s need for economic recovery during transition
- National Press Day is observed on November 16 in India every year.
- National Press Day is observed to honour the establishment of the Press Council of India (PCI).
- The PCI was set up as an independent entity to ensure journalism is free from outside meddling in order to maintain its high ethical standards.
- The establishment of the PCI came from the recommendations of the First Press Commission of 1956.
- The PCI was then established a decade later, on November 16, 1966.
- Newspapers like the Amrita Bazar Patrika, Kesari and Jugantar, played a crucial role in shaping public opinion against British rule.
Middle-Aged Woman Dies with Scrub Typhus Symptoms in Vizianagaram District in Andhra Pradesh
Key Updates:
- Scrub typhus is caused by the bacterium Orientia tsutsugamushi and spreads through bites of infected larval mites.
- Common symptoms include fever, body pain, rash, a scab-like lesion and swollen lymph nodes.
- Most patients respond well to doxycycline, with azithromycin recommended for pregnant women.
- Early treatment with antibiotics prevents complications affecting the lungs, liver, kidneys or central nervous system.
- Health authorities advise avoiding overgrown vegetation, wearing protective clothing and using repellents to reduce mite bites.
- Chittoor reported the highest number of infections this year at 384.
Similar / Past Coverage
- Karnataka issues advisory for Sabarimala pilgrims amid rising cases of Amoebic meningoencephalitis.
- The state health department has advised the pilgrims travelling to Kerala to exercise caution during their travel.
- The advisory requested the visitors to use nose clips or close the nose tightly while bathing from water bodies during their visit to Kerala.
- The department asked the travellers to visit the nearest hospital and seek treatment if they experience fever, unbearable headache, vomiting, tightness in neck area, changes in mental state or behavioural disorders within seven days of the visit.
- The Maharashtra government has officially declared leprosy a “notifiable disease.”
- It is now mandatory for all doctors and healthcare institutions to report every diagnosed case of leprosy within two weeks to the respective district health office, Assistant Director (Health Services – Leprosy), and local municipal health authorities.
- The state had set a goal of achieving a ‘Leprosy-Free Maharashtra by 2027.’
- Objectives include completely breaking the chain of infection, reducing disease transmission to zero, eliminating deformities among children, and eradicating social discrimination against persons affected by leprosy.
- All doctors—both in public and private sectors—as well as pathologists, microbiologists, healthcare staff, and field officers are required to ensure proper treatment, follow-up all diagnosed cases, and administration of Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) to their close contacts.
- Leprosy was declared notifiable in 2005 uniformly under the National Leprosy Eradication Programme (NLEP), Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, and was once again redeclared as notifiable in 2017 to strengthen the surveillance.
- Tuberculosis, or TB, remains one of the world’s deadliest infectious killers, claiming over 1.2 million lives and affecting an estimated 10.7 million people last year.
- Cases are on a downward trajectory for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020.
- Global funding for TB has stagnated since 2020, with just $5.9 billion available in 2024 – far below the $22 billion annual target for 2027.
- Between 2023 and 2024, the global rate of people falling ill with TB declined by nearly two per cent, while deaths fell by three per cent.
- As of last year, over half of the population worldwide is covered by rapid testing, 54 per cent up from 48 per cent in 2023.
- Additionally, treatment saw a success rate of 88 per cent, according to the report.
- Between 2015 and 2024, the WHO African Region managed to reduce the indecent rate by 28 per cent and deaths from the illness went down by 46 per cent.
Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) Records India's Unemployment Rate Decline from 6.0% to 3.2%
Key Updates:
- Unemployment rate on usual status for persons aged 15 years and above declined from 6.0% in 2017-18 to 3.2% in 2023-24.
- In Maharashtra, unemployment rate on usual status dropped from 4.8% in 2017-18 to 3.3% in 2023-24.
- Maharashtra rural unemployment declined from 3.2% to 2.1%.
- Maharashtra urban unemployment reduced from 7.4% to 5.2%.
- Unemployment for 15-year-plus population stood at 5.1% in August 2025 and 5.2% in September 2025.
- Rural unemployment was 4.3% in August 2025 and 4.6% in September 2025.
- Urban unemployment was 6.7% in August 2025 and 6.8% in September 2025.
- Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana targets creation of over 3.5 crore jobs over two years with Rs 99,446 crore outlay.
- Code on Social Security, 2020 provides paid maternity leave of 26 weeks and mandatory crèche facility in establishments having 50 or more employees.
Similar / Past Coverage
- India's overall unemployment rate (persons of 15 years and above) declined to 5.1% in August 2025, down from 5.2% in July and 5.6% in June.
- Urban male unemployment fell from 6.6% in July to 5.9% in August, while rural male unemployment declined to 4.5%.
- The overall rural unemployment rate dropped successively for three months from 5.1% in May 2025 to 4.3% in August 2025.
- Female Worker Population Ratio (WPR) rose for two consecutive months to 32.0% in August 2025 from 30.2% in June.
- Female Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) increased from 32% in June to 33.7% in August, with rural female LFPR rising from 35.2% to 37.4%.
- The overall Labour Force Participation Rate rose to 55% in August from 54.2% in June.
- The Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) estimates are based on a survey of 3,76,839 persons in rural areas and 2,15,895 in urban areas, totaling 5,92,734 individuals.
- India’s economy gathered further pace in October.
- Demand conditions exhibited signs of improvement with the revival of urban demand and continued strength in rural demand.
- Manufacturing and services activity showed further resilience.
- Digital payments moderated in both value and volume in October 2025.
- Headline inflation plunged to its lowest level in the current CPI series (2012 base year).
- Retail inflation fell to 0.3 per cent in October from 1.4 per cent in September.
- Fuel and light inflation remained steady at 2.0 per cent in October.
- Core inflation moderated to 4.3 per cent in October from 4.4 per cent in September.
- The core basket, excluding precious metals, posted a 0.1 per cent month-on-month decline.
- Macroeconomic policy measures undertaken in 2025 are expected to reinforce a positive investment cycle and strengthen long-term growth.
- Inflation moderated to a historic low and remained well below the target rate.
- International uncertainty remains elevated.
- India’s overall unemployment rate (persons of 15 years and above) declined to 5.1% in August 2025, down from 5.2% in July and 5.6% in June.
- Urban male unemployment dropped from 6.6% in July to 5.9% in August, while rural male unemployment fell to 4.5%.
- Female Worker Population Ratio rose for two consecutive months to 32.0% in August, up from 30.2% in June.
- Female Labour Force Participation Rate increased from 32% in June to 33.7% in August, with rural rising from 35.2% to 37.4% and urban from 25.2% to 26.1%.
- Overall Labour Force Participation Rate improved to 55% in August from 54.2% in June.
- Survey covered 3,76,839 persons in rural areas and 2,15,895 in urban areas, totaling 5,92,734 individuals.
- India's unemployment rate fell to 5.2% in the July-September period (Q2FY26) from 5.4% in the previous quarter.
- The jobless rate in rural areas declined to 4.4% in Q2FY26 from 4.8% in Q1, while urban unemployment rose to 6.9% from 6.8% over the same period.
- Youth unemployment (15-29) rose to 14.8% in Q2FY26 from 14.6% in Q1.
- The Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) quarterly bulletin, released by the ministry of statistics and programme implementation (MoSPI), covered 133,901 households and 564,828 people.
- The labour force participation rate (LFPR) rose slightly to 55.1% in the July-September period from 55% in the quarter before, with female participation improving to 33.7% and male participation declining to 77.2%.
- The worker population ratio, or employment rate, increased to 52.2% in Q2 compared with 52% in Q1.
- By sector, agriculture employed 42.4% of the workforce, followed by the tertiary sector (33.5%), and secondary sector along with mining and quarrying (24.2%).
Georgia uses World War One-era camite chemical weapon on Tbilisi protesters
Key Updates:
- Camite was deployed by France against Germany during World War One.
- Camite is bromobenzyl cyanide, listed as 'Chemical powder UN3439' mixed with 'Chemical liquid UN1710' trichloroethylene in Georgia's Special Tasks Department inventory.
- Special Tasks Department is the official name of Georgia's riot police.
- Camite believed taken out of circulation in the 1930s due to long-lasting effects and replaced by CS gas.
- Under international law, police forces allowed to use chemicals for crowd control if proportionate with short-term effects.
- UN Special Rapporteur on Torture Alice Edwards stated effects must be temporary and called for investigation under torture or ill-treatment.
Similar / Past Coverage
- Day of Remembrance for all Victims of Chemical Warfare is observed on 30 November.
- The 1925 Geneva Protocol banned the use of chemical weapons in war.
- The Chemical Weapons Convention has nearly universal adherence.
- UN Secretary-General António Guterres issued a message for the Day of Remembrance for all Victims of Chemical Warfare.
- Publication Name: Guidelines on the protection of the natural environment in armed conflict: rules and recommendations relating to the protection of the natural environment under international humanitarian law, with commentary
- Publisher: ICRC
- Year of Publication: 2020
- Content: Sets out rules and recommendations relating to the protection of the natural environment under international humanitarian law (IHL), accompanied by a concise commentary.
- Purpose: Serves as a reference tool for States, parties to armed conflicts, and other actors to interpret and apply IHL, and to facilitate the adoption of concrete measures to reduce the environmental impact of armed conflict.
- Availability: Also available in Arabic, Chinese, French, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, and Ukrainian.
- The terror attack figured prominently at the 44th meeting of the RATS held at Cholpon Ata in Kyrgyz Republic.
- The Regional Anti-Terrorism Structure (RATS) of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation on Wednesday condemned the Pahalgam terror attack even as India called for holding the sponsors of the dastardly strike to account.
- This RATS council meet was organised under the chairship of Kyrgyz Republic.
- The RATS meeting strongly condemned the Pahalgam terror attack, officials said. While doing so, the Council of RATS SCO endorsed the statement on the condemnation of Pahalgam terror attack in the Tianjin declaration.
- The Indian delegation was headed by T V Ravichandran, Deputy National Security Advisor. In his speech, Ravichandran called for holding accountable the sponsors, organisers and financiers of “inexcusable” Pahalgam terror attack.
- The RATS is an influential platform that mainly focuses on countering terrorism and separatism.
- Developed by: National Dope Testing Laboratory and National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Guwahati
- Product: Methandienone Long-Term Metabolite LTM Chemical Reference Material for Anti-Doping Analysis
- Key benefit: "boosts accuracy in dope testing by widening the detection window"
- Global contribution: material "will also be shared with World Anti-Doping Agency-accredited labs worldwide"
- Launch venue: 22nd Governing Body Meeting of the National Dope Testing Laboratory, New Delhi
VMRDA Opens India’s Longest Cantilever Glass Skywalk Bridge at Kailasagiri in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh
Key Updates:
- The cantilever glass skywalk bridge is located at an elevation of around 862 feet (approximately 262 metres) above ground level.
- The bridge has been engineered to withstand wind speeds of up to 250 km/h.
- The structure is constructed using toughened, high-strength glass designed to remain intact even under significant impact.
- Structurally capable of supporting more than 100 people at once, entry is restricted to 40 visitors at a time.
Similar / Past Coverage
- The state government has set up the world's first-ever park crafted entirely from ceramic waste.
- The park is named 'Anokhi Duniya'.
- It is located in Khurja, the state's renowned 'ceramic capital,' in Bulandshahr.
- The park has been constructed on a PPP (Public-Private Partnership) model across a sprawling 2-acre area.
- This park transforms more than 80 tonnes of ceramic waste into stunning artworks.
- The Integrated Sohra Tourism Circuit was launched under the Prime Minister’s Development Initiative for North Eastern Region (PM-DevINE) scheme.
- The circuit was conceptualised jointly by the Ministry of DoNER and the Government of Meghalaya.
- Its objective is to position Sohra on the world tourism map as a model of sustainable and experiential tourism and to transform Sohra into a multi-day experiential tourism destination rooted in sustainability and local livelihoods.
- The project involves total investments exceeding ₹650 crore, with ₹221 crore allocated under MDoNER for the circuit.
- Key components include the Sohra Experience Centre at Kutmadan (₹115 crore), Nohkalikai Falls precinct (₹26 crore), Mawsmai Eco Park (₹29 crore), Seven Sisters Falls Viewpoint, Shella Riverside Development, and Wahkaliar Canyon with adventure tourism features.
- The circuit is expected to increase tourist spending sixfold and generate over 4,600 direct and indirect employment opportunities.
- Skill development programmes are underway in collaboration with the Meghalaya Skills Development Society and IHM Shillong to train local youth.
- Multiple DoNER projects worth ₹233 crore were also launched, including the Pynursla–Latangriwan–Mawlynnong Road (₹29.97 crore), Mawshynrut–Hahim (Athiabari) Road (₹99.76 crore), and a major bridge over the Umngot River on the Jongksha–Wahiajer Road (₹21.86 crore).
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi will unveil Asia’s tallest 77-feet bronze statue of Lord Ram.
- The statue will be unveiled at Shree Samsthan Gokarn Partagali Jeevottam Mutt, in Canacona.
- Prime Minister Modi will also launch a postal stamp by India Post and a coin by the Union ministry of finance.
- The postal stamp and coin commemorate the completion of 550 years of the mutt.
- The mutt is one of the oldest in the country.
- The mutt is rightly hailed as the symbol of unity and identity of the Saraswat and Hindu community.
- The 550-year celebrations of the mutt tradition, named Sardha Panchashatamahotsava, will be held from November 27 to December 7.
- The bronze statue of Lord Ram has been designed by Ram Sutar, a renowned Indian sculptor.
- A Ramayan Theme Park and a 10,000-square-foot museum dedicated to Lord Ram are being set up.
- The South Goa magistrate has issued a temporary ban on aerial photography, videography, and the operation of all unmanned aerial vehicles.
- The ban is issued under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita.
- Unmanned aerial vehicle operations are prohibited within a two-kilometre radius of the mutt.
- The ban also covers the route from Indian Naval Ship Hansa to Partagali via Canacona on National Highway 66.
- South Goa collector Egna Cleetus announced the restrictions.
- Prime Minister will inaugurate Indian space startup Skyroot’s Infinity Campus on 27th November at 11 AM via video conferencing.
- He will also unveil Skyroot’s first orbital rocket, Vikram-I, with capability to launch satellites to orbit.
- The state-of-the-art facility will have around 200,000 square feet workspace for designing, developing, integrating and testing multiple launch vehicles, with a capacity to build one orbital rocket every month.
- Skyroot is India’s leading private space company, founded by Pawan Chandana and Bharath Dhaka, both alumni of Indian Institutes of Technology and former scientists of ISRO turned entrepreneurs.
- In November 2022, Skyroot launched its sub-orbital rocket, Vikram-S, becoming the first Indian private company to launch a rocket to space.
'Rage bait' named Oxford Word of the Year 2025
Key Updates:
- 'Rage bait' was named Oxford word of the year 2025 by Oxford University Press.
- 'Rage bait' beat aura farming and biohack to win the title.
- Rage bait is defined as online content deliberately designed to elicit anger or outrage by being frustrating, provocative, or offensive.
- Aura farming is the cultivation of an impressive, attractive, or charismatic persona or public image.
- Biohack is to attempt to improve one's physical or mental performance by altering one's diet, exercise routine, or lifestyle.
- Previous Oxford words of the year include goblin mode, brain rot, selfie and rizz.
- Brain rot was last year's word of the year.
- Cambridge Dictionary declared parasocial its word of 2025.
- Collins Dictionary went for vibe coding.
Similar / Past Coverage
- Oxford University Press announced the shortlist for Oxford Word of the Year 2025.
- The three shortlisted words are 'Aura Farming', 'Biohack', and 'Rage Bait'.
- The winning word will be announced on December 1.
- "Parasocial" is the Cambridge Dictionary's Word of the Year.
- The Cambridge Dictionary defines "parasocial" as a relationship felt by someone between themselves and a famous person they do not know.
- The term "parasocial" dates back to 1956.
- The word was first coined by University of Chicago sociologists Donald Horton and Richard Wohl.
- New entrants to the Cambridge Dictionary included skibidi, delulu and tradwife.
- 'Manifest' was the Cambridge Dictionary Word of the Year previously.
- 'The ick' and 'boop' were also newest entries in the dictionary.
- Dictionary.com announced it has chosen "67" as its 2025 Word of the Year.
- The term "67" is pronounced "six seven," not sixty-seven.
- "67" is the first word of the year in a really long time that's actually more of an interjection.
- "67" is an example of brainrot slang and is intended to be nonsensical and playfully absurd.
- The term "67" originated from a song by rapper Skrilla, "Doot Doot (6 7)".
Birders Spot Rare Rustic Bunting in NCR for First Time
Key Updates:
- Rustic bunting (Emberiza rustica) spotted at Najafgarh Jheel on Delhi-Gurugram border.
- First time the passerine bird recorded in national capital region (NCR).
- Rustic bunting breeds across northern Palearctic regions in wet coniferous woodlands.
- Migrates to southeast Asia and parts of East Asia including Japan, Korea, and eastern China during winter.
- Handful of records across India predominantly in northeast and Himalayan belt.
- 2025 IUCN Red List reclassifies rustic bunting from vulnerable to near threatened.
Similar / Past Coverage
- Veteran archaeologist from Dharwad Ravindra Korisettar has been selected for the Rajyotsava Award.
- Prof. Korisettar is a UGC Emeritus Fellow in the Department of History and Archaeology in Karnatak University of Dharwad.
- His papers have been published in journals like Science (2007) and Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of America.
- A juvenile albino checkered kneelback snake, a rare hypopigmentation anomaly, has been documented for the first time in Guwahati at the Assam State Zoo.
- This discovery adds the state to an exclusive list of regions that reported hypopigmentation anomalies in this species.
- The snake displayed the character of albinism, a genetic anomaly causing absence of melanin, resulting in pale yellow skin and distinctive red eyes.
- The finding was published in the international journal ‘Reptiles and Amphibians’ by a team of researchers including Rupankar Bhattacharjee, Ashwini Kumar, Jayaditya Purkayastha, Pranjal Mahananda, and Debabrata Phukon.
- The identity of the snake was confirmed through detailed inspection of its appearance and scalation, which matched published descriptions for the Fowlea piscator.
- Albino snakes face significant difficulty to survive in the wild, making discoveries of such species rare and scientifically valuable, as they rarely get the chance to grow to adulthood.
- After careful observation and study by the state zoo researchers, the snake was released safely into a protected forest habitat within three days of its finding.
- The albino snake found was a juvenile measuring 290 mm.
- A 37,000-year-old fossilized bamboo stem, unearthed in Manipur, reveals early thorn evolution as a defense mechanism against Ice Age herbivores.
- The fossil, found along the Chirang River in Manipur’s Imphal Valley, is the earliest known thorny bamboo in Asia and is assigned to the genus *Chimonobambusa*.
- Researchers from the Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences (BSIP) analysed the fossil, with findings published in Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology.
- This discovery highlights northeast India's role as a vital biodiversity refuge during climatic shifts, maintaining warm and humid microclimates as part of the Indo-Burma biodiversity hotspot.
- Bamboo, particularly thorny varieties, responds sensitively to temperature, rainfall, and soil conditions, making it a reliable indicator of past environmental parameters and ecologically important in stabilising soil, supporting wildlife, and maintaining forest structure.
- The state government has set up the world's first-ever park crafted entirely from ceramic waste.
- The park is named 'Anokhi Duniya'.
- It is located in Khurja, the state's renowned 'ceramic capital,' in Bulandshahr.
- The park has been constructed on a PPP (Public-Private Partnership) model across a sprawling 2-acre area.
- This park transforms more than 80 tonnes of ceramic waste into stunning artworks.
Dr Tessy Thomas honoured with eighth Paulos Mar Gregorios Award
Key Updates:
- Dr Tessy Thomas held the position of Director General (Aeronautical Systems), Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO).
- Dr Tessy Thomas was Vice-Chancellor of Noorul Islam Centre for Higher Education.
- Dr Tessy Thomas served as Project Director for the Agni-IV ballistic missile at DRDO.
- The award recognises her outstanding contribution in women empowerment, space and missile technology.
- Dr Tessy Thomas was mentored by former President and Director General, DRDO, APJ Abdul Kalam.
Similar / Past Coverage
- Thota Tharani has been conferred the French government’s prestigious Chevalier Award
- He is a Padma Shri awardee and has won two National Film Awards, two Tamil Nadu State Film Awards, three Nandi Awards and a Kerala State Film Award
- The award will be conferred by the French Ambassador at Alliance Française of Madras, Chennai
- The 14th International Day of Radiology (IDoR 2025) is celebrated worldwide on November 8.
- The day aims to enhance awareness of the value radiology contributes to safe patient care and to improve public understanding of the vital role radiologists and radiographers play in the healthcare continuum.
- Participants are encouraged to share IDoR 2025 activities by emailing photos to IDoR@myesr.org or posting on social media using the hashtag #IDoR2025.
- Amla Ashok Ruia, known as 'Water Mother,' was honoured with the 'Excellence in Rural Development' award at the inaugural Ramoji Excellence Awards 2025.
- The award was presented by Vice-President C P Radhakrishnan at Ramoji Film City, Hyderabad, in the presence of Telangana CM A Revanth Reddy, AP CM N Chandrababu Naidu and Telangana Governor Jishnu Dev Varma.
- Through her Aakar Charitable Trust, Ruia has restored livelihoods and water security in drought-prone villages via innovative water-harvesting initiatives.
- Shri Kumar Rohit, Director, PDUNASS, jointly received the award for 'Best Achievement in Capacity Building' and 'Special Initiative – Reimagining Governance: Discourse for Excellence (RGDE)'
- Shri Uttam Prakash, RPFC-I, received the RGDE award as Moderator of the RGDE Series since its inception
- Shri Ankur P. Gupta, RPFC-I, jointly received the 'Best Achievement in Capacity Building' award
Central Excise (Amendment) Bill 2025: Replaces GST compensation cess on tobacco products
Key Updates:
- Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman is expected to introduce the Central Excise (Amendment) Bill, 2025, which proposes changes to the Central Excise Act, 1944.
- The bill will replace the current GST compensation cess on cigarettes, chewing tobacco, cigars, hookahs, zarda and scented tobacco.
- The Central Excise (Amendment) Bill, 2025, aims to give the government the fiscal space to increase the rate of central excise duty on tobacco and tobacco products so as to protect tax incidence after the GST compensation cess ends.
- The Health Security se National Security Cess Bill, 2025, seeks to levy a new cess on machines or processes used in the manufacture of pan masala and other notified goods.
- The Health Security se National Security Cess Bill, 2025, will replace the compensation cess on pan masala.
- The proposed health–security cess is meant to augment the resources for meeting Security expenditure on national security and for public health.
- The proposed health–security cess will apply in addition to all other taxes.
- The GST compensation cess, introduced in 2017 for five years to offset states’ revenue loss, was extended till March 31, 2026, to repay the Centre’s Covid-era borrowing.
Similar / Past Coverage
- Policy Name: GST 2.0 reforms approved by the GST Council in its 56th meeting; new rates effective from 22 September 2025.
- Objective: "lower tax burden on common people with sweeping rate cuts and reduction in GST slabs, ease blocked working capital, and facilitate ease of doing business with automated refunds and registration process".
- Key Features: Broad two-slab structure of 5% (merit rate) and 18% (standard rate) plus a 40% demerit rate for super-luxury, sin and demerit goods; removal of 12% and 28% slabs.
- Exemptions: "blanket exemption provided for life insurance, whether term or life, ULIP or endowment policies for individuals along with exemption for health insurance for individuals including family floater plans and policies for senior citizens".
- Sectoral Relief: GST on man-made fibre cut to 5% from 18%, man-made yarn to 5% from 12%; fertiliser inputs like sulphuric acid, nitric acid and ammonia reduced to 5% from 18%; correction of inverted duty structure in textiles and fertiliser sectors.
- Implementing Body: Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council chaired by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
- The Electricity (Amendment) Bill, 2025 aims to overhaul India’s electricity distribution sector, reduce systemic inefficiencies, and ensure affordable, reliable power.
- The Bill transitions away from a monopoly model to regulated competition, allowing multiple distribution licensees to operate in the same area using shared infrastructure.
- A Universal Service Obligation (USO) will be mandatory for all licensees, though SERCs may exempt licensees from USO for large open-access users consuming more than 1 MW of power.
- The reforms address high AT&C losses, poor billing efficiency, and financial stress on discoms by rationalizing charges and promoting cost-reflective tariffs.
- Subsidies for farmers and low-income households will be explicitly protected and provided through direct, budgeted support under Section 65.
- The Bill aims to reduce cross-subsidy for Manufacturing, Railways, and Metro Rail within five years.
- State Electricity Regulatory Commissions (SERCs) will determine uniform, cost-reflective wheeling charges for all network users, drawing inspiration from the Inter-State Transmission System (ISTS) model.
- The reforms are structured around six pillars: Structural Reforms, Tariff and Cross-Subsidy Rationalisation, Infrastructure and Network Efficiency, Governance and Regulatory Strengthening, Sustainability and Market Development, and Legal and Operational Clarity.
- A new Electricity Council will be created as a Centre–State coordination platform for policy consensus and harmonisation.
- SERCs will receive greater regulatory powers, including the authority to penalise non-compliance and determine tariffs suo moto.
- The Bill introduces provisions for Energy Storage Systems (ESS) and reinforces obligations for non-fossil energy procurement with penalties for failure.
- Outdated definitions are updated, references are aligned with the Companies Act, 2013, and the powers of the Electric Line Authority are codified to match those of the Telegraph Authority under the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885.
- The Bill supports the national vision of “Viksit Bharat @2047” by ensuring competitively priced power for industries and subsidised electricity for vulnerable households.
- Wholesale Price Index (WPI)-based inflation stood at (-)1.21 per cent in October 2025, down from 0.13 per cent in September and 2.75 per cent in October last year.
- Deflation in food articles was 8.31 per cent in October, with vegetables at 34.97 per cent, pulses at 16.50 per cent, potato at 39.88 per cent and onion at 65.43 per cent.
- Fuel and power recorded deflation of 2.55 per cent in October, marking seven consecutive months of decline.
- Manufactured products inflation eased to 1.54 per cent in October from 2.33 per cent in September.
- Retail inflation fell to an all-time low of 0.25 per cent in October, down from 1.44 per cent in September.
- The Reserve Bank of India kept the benchmark policy repo rate unchanged at 5.5 per cent in its last review.
- India Ratings and Research expects wholesale deflation in November 2025 to be under 1 per cent.
- Net direct tax collection grew 7% year-on-year to ₹12.92 trillion between April 1 and November 10.
- Refund issuances declined by 18% to ₹2.42 trillion during the same period.
- Net corporate tax collections stood at ₹5.37 trillion, up from ₹5.08 trillion in the corresponding period of FY 2024-25.
- Non-corporate tax receipts, including personal income tax, rose to ₹7.19 trillion from ₹6.62 trillion a year ago.
- Gross direct tax collections before refunds amounted to ₹15.35 trillion, reflecting a 2.15% increase from the previous year.
- The government has set a target of ₹25.20 trillion in direct tax collections for FY 2025-26, representing a 12.7% increase over the previous year.
Kuwait Launches First Geological Park to Showcase Rock Formations and Desert Landscapes
Key Updates:
- Kuwait has launched its first geological park as a public, educational and eco-tourism project designed to showcase the country’s rock formations, desert landscapes and natural heritage while supporting research, schools and sustainable tourism.
- The GeoPark features outdoor geological trails, interpretive signage, interactive exhibits and a visitor centre to explain Kuwait’s Earth history and biodiversity.
- The park includes diverse rock formations, important fossil sites, an Interactive Mineral Garden, educational trails, guided nature walks, workshops and sand injectite ground-surface features resembling the landscape of Mars.
- The site preserves evidence of Neolithic communities and archaeological sites dating back over 10,000 years, including those linked to the ancient Ubaid civilization, and Kuwait's first oil exploration well, Bahra-1, drilled in 1936.
- The project aligns with New Kuwait 2035 Vision and aims for inclusion in the UNESCO Global Geoparks Network (GGN), with Phase 1 developing 20 square kilometers and Phase 2 expanding to 1,000 square kilometers including planting over 300 native plant species like ghaf and acacia trees.
Similar / Past Coverage
- Discovery attributed to Badr El-Din Petroleum Company (BAPETCO), a joint venture of the Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation and Shell
- Well currently producing around 16 million cubic feet of natural gas per day and 750 barrels of condensate
- Discovery expected to add approximately 15 billion cubic feet of natural gas to Egypt’s proven reserves
- Location of the find is in the Western Desert, Egypt
- Technical teams are reassessing the reservoir to identify optimal drilling locations for future development
- Jammu & Kashmir will conduct its maiden auction of seven limestone blocks under the MMDR Act's post-2015 reforms.
- The Centre intervened to speed up the process and open new mineral blocks.
- The initiative is expected to generate jobs, boost state revenues, support industrial expansion, and create new economic opportunities for local communities.
- The Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir will host its first-ever auction of limestone mineral blocks on November 24 in Jammu.
- The launch event will be led by Union Coal & Mines Minister G. Kishan Reddy, alongside the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister of Jammu & Kashmir.
- Seven limestone blocks spanning roughly 314 hectares have been identified across Anantnag, Rajouri, and Poonch districts.
- These deposits fall under United Nations Framework Classification (UNFC) G3 Prospecting and G4 Reconnaissance exploration categories.
- These deposits hold considerable potential for high-quality limestone, a raw material critical for cement, construction, and several industrial applications.
- The auction is being carried out under subsections 4 and 5 of Section 11 of the MMDR Act.
- This provision allows the Central Government to step in when states or UTs face procedural constraints in conducting auctions.
- This mechanism highlights the principle of “cooperative federalism” in speeding up mineral sector reforms.
- The Ministry of Mines has emphasised that the auction will follow a transparent, technology-enabled, and competitive process, aligned with national environmental safeguards to promote sustainable mining practices.
- Energy Efficiency Services Ltd (EESL) is implementing India’s largest Geothermal Energy Technology (GET) pilot project in Araku Valley, Andhra Pradesh.
- The project uses earth air tunnel systems and ground source heat pumps that exploit stable underground temperatures for eco-friendly heating and cooling.
- Expected outcome: over 50% reduction in energy consumption and significant cut in greenhouse-gas emissions for tourism establishments.
- Financial payback period is stated to be three to four years, enhancing attractiveness to the hospitality sector.
- The initiative aligns with Andhra Pradesh’s goal to generate more than 25,000 direct and indirect jobs from tourism projects over the next four years.
- Oman was elected to the International Coordinating Council of UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme for the term 2025–2029.
- The Environment Authority represented Oman during the election held at the 43rd session of the UNESCO General Conference in Samarkand, Republic of Uzbekistan.
- Oman already has two reserves listed in the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves: Al-Sareen Nature Reserve and Al Jabal Al Akhdar Landscape Reserve.
- The MAB Programme’s objectives include expanding protected areas, conserving biodiversity, supporting climate-change research, and granting research support to youth and researchers.
Delay in French Syntactic Foam Procurement Delays India’s Samudrayaan Mission
Key Updates:
- Samudrayaan consists of a sphere capable of plunging to a depth of 6,000 metres into the ocean.
- National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), Chennai, leads the Samudrayaan project and has built a steel replica of the submersible as a simulator.
- Syntactic foam cladding gives the submersible buoyancy and allows it to float.
- Syntactic foam is developed in France and being tested in Norway.
- Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is making two titanium hulls for NIOT.
- Final titanium hull will be tested in Russia for pressure at 6,000 metres.
- Mission aims to collect soil and rock samples pivotal to India’s plans to mine precious metals from the high seas.
Similar / Past Coverage
- Project agency: National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) under Dr Balaji Ramakrishnan
- Target depth: 6,000 m—"far deeper than any existing structure of its kind"
- Demonstrator phase: 500-m module will host three scientists for >24 h
- Key capabilities: 360° transparent viewport, regulated life-support, docking for deep-sea vehicles
- Scientific goals: deep-sea biodiversity surveys, chemical/geological sampling, high-pressure human physiology, biotech and drug discovery from rare microbes
- Developed by: DRDO's Naval Science and Technological Laboratory (NSTL), Visakhapatnam
- Primary payloads: side scan sonar and underwater cameras for real-time detection of mine-like objects
- Key capability: onboard deep learning based target recognition algorithms enable autonomous classification, reducing operator workload and mission time
- Exercise name: Japan-India Maritime Exercise (JAIMEX-25); participants: Indian Navy's INS Sahyadri and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force ships Asahi, Oumi, and Submarine Jinryu
- Sea phase location: west of Kyushu; harbour phase location: Yokosuka Port, Japan
- Key activities: advanced anti-submarine warfare and missile defence drills, flying operations, underway replenishment, professional and cultural exchanges, joint operational planning, yoga session
- The Indian Navy launched ‘DSC A 22’, the third vessel in a series of five Diving Support Craft (DSC).
- The vessels are being built under contract with M/s Titagarh Rail Systems Ltd (TRSL), Kolkata, with the contract formalized on 12 February 2021 between the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and TRSL.
- Each ship has a displacement of approximately 380 tons, features a catamaran hull, and is specifically designed to conduct professional diving operations in coastal waters, including underwater inspections, search-and-rescue operations, salvage tasks, and underwater repairs.
- All five vessels are indigenously designed and constructed, adhering to the stringent Naval Rules and Regulations of the Indian Register of Shipping (IRS), aligning with the Government of India’s ‘Make in India’ and ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ initiatives.
- The hydrodynamic analysis and model testing for the ships were carried out by the Naval Science and Technological Laboratory (NSTL), Visakhapatnam.
National Maritime Research Institute (NMRI) Robots Unearth 10,000-Year-Old Pottery in Lake Biwa
Key Updates:
- Robotic sensors discovered a nearly intact pottery vessel more than 10,000 years old resting upright in the silt near Tsuzuraozaki underwater ruins.
- The vessel measures about 25 centimeters tall with a tapering pointed base and engraved motifs characteristic of early Jomon craft traditions.
- Specialists attribute the vessel to either the Jinguji-style or the Konami Upper-layer tradition between 11,000 and 10,500 years ago.
- The survey used a next-generation 3-D scanning system with four synchronized cameras at 64 meters deep.
- NMRI transformed deep-sea robotics including AUVs with high-resolution sonar into tools for inland archaeology.
- Lake Biwa’s deep basins create still pockets with minimal sediment accumulation while tectonic activity keeps the lakebed exposed preserving objects.
Similar / Past Coverage
- Researchers confirm the presence of jarosite, a yellow, iron-rich sulphate mineral, similar to what was discovered on Mars a couple of decades ago.
- The jarosite deposit site is in Matanomadh village, located nearly 100 km west of Bhuj in Gujarat.
- This village might end up as a potential test bed for the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) ahead of its Mangalyaan-2 mission to Mars.
- A team of researchers from the Space Applications Centre (SAC) in Ahmedabad, the Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU) and the Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences in Lucknow recently confirmed that the age of jarosite – a mineral discovered in Matanomadh in 2016 – to be around 55 million years old, corresponding with the Paleocene period in the geological timeline.
- The Matanomadh site could thus offer field-analogue missions for Mars, where rover motion, instrument testing, drilling, and geochemistry experiments could be performed.
- The findings were published in the Journal of the Geological Society of India last month.
- lead researcher Aditya Dharaiya, who was at Savitribai Phule Pune University’s Geology Department at the time of the study.
- The discovery of jarosite on Mars was one of the strongest pieces of evidence of the presence of water on the planet at some point of time.
- Veteran archaeologist from Dharwad Ravindra Korisettar has been selected for the Rajyotsava Award.
- Prof. Korisettar is a UGC Emeritus Fellow in the Department of History and Archaeology in Karnatak University of Dharwad.
- His papers have been published in journals like Science (2007) and Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of America.
- Discovery: new species formally named Iridogorgia chewbacca, distinguished by "shaggy, flexible branches" unique within the otherwise rigid-branched Iridogorgia genus.
- Researcher/Institution: discovered by University of Hawai‘i professor emeritus Les Watling; specimen collected off Molokai in 2006.
- Key feature: flexibility attributed to lack of calcium carbonate, the compound that forms coral "bones".
- Habitat: prefers "the upper part of the deep sea," with the Molokai specimen found "about 600 meters deep."
- Known distribution: only two specimens collected—one off Molokai (2006) and one near the Mariana Trench (2016), illustrating the wide Indo-Pacific biogeographic range.
- A new species of coelacanth, *Whiteia anniae* sp. nov., has been discovered.
- The discovery is based on two specimens (Holotype CHU 2016 and Paratype CHU 2017) from the late Smithian (~249 Ma) marine deposits in Maoshankou, He County, Anhui Province, China.
- The new coelacanth is the oldest species of the genus *Whiteia* documented in Asia, predating the previously oldest record of whiteiids on this continent by nine million years.
- With an estimated total length of at least 420 mm, *Whiteia anniae* represents the largest whiteiid named so far from the Early Triassic.
- The new coelacanth is the best-preserved from the Early Triassic of China, featuring a discernible calcified lung.
- Diagnostic features of *Whiteia anniae* include the presence of coronoid fangs and scale ornamentation consisting of about 20 elongate ridges converging midline posteriorly.
- Phylogenetic analysis recovers *Whiteia anniae* as sister to *Whiteia woodwardi* within the Whiteiidae among the Coelacanthiformes.
Pakistan and Egypt agree to deepen ties in economic, commercial, cultural and defence sectors
Key Updates:
- Pakistan and Egypt agreed to deepen ties in economic, commercial, cultural and defence sectors after years of stagnant relationship.
- Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty held discussions with Pakistani counterpart Ishaq Dar on conflicts in Gaza and Sudan, the dispute over the Iranian nuclear programme and ways to boost economic cooperation.
- Pakistan-Egypt Joint Ministerial Commission had not met since 2010.
- The two countries agreed to hold bilateral political consultations in the first quarter of 2026.
- Egypt offered to share experiences to tackle terrorism and stands in full solidarity with Pakistan in the fight against terrorism and violent extremism.
- Egypt aims to elevate bilateral relationship to the strategic level.
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- The EU offers zero import duties on two-thirds of exports from GSP+ beneficiary countries in return for progress on sustainable development and good governance.
- GSP+ eligibility requires full implementation of 27 international conventions covering human rights, labour standards, environmental protection and good governance.
- Pakistan's GSP+ compliance grants duty-free or low-duty access for key exports including apparel, home textiles and surgical instruments.
- Export earnings to the EU reached $3.17 billion between July and October, up from $3 billion in the same period last year.
- GSP+ countries must submit a public progress report to Brussels every two years to assess continued implementation of the 27 conventions.
- Officials agreed to reactivate bilateral dialogue mechanisms across trade, defence, energy, civil nuclear, security, critical minerals, space, science & technology, and agriculture
- Progress noted since June 2025 includes the return of High Commissioners to each other’s capitals
- Both sides committed to constructively address capacity-related issues at their respective Missions and Consulates
- MoU signed during 17th Joint Working Group (JWG) on defence cooperation co-chaired by Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh and Director General of Israeli Ministry of Defense Maj Gen (Res) Amir Baram in Tel Aviv
- MoU covers strategic dialogues, training, defence industrial cooperation, R&D, AI, cyber security, and promotes co-development and co-production
- JWG reviewed ongoing initiatives and discussed future tech collaboration and shared challenges like terrorism
- India and Israel Tuesday signed a pact on defence cooperation.
- The MoU was signed during the 17th meeting of Joint Working Group (JWG) on defence cooperation.
- The meeting was co-chaired by Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh and Director General of Israeli Ministry of Defense Maj Gen (Res) Amir Baram in Tel Aviv.
- The MoU will enable the sharing of advanced technology and would promote co-development and co-production.
- A wide range of areas for cooperation have been identified in the MoU, which include strategic dialogues of mutual interest, training, defence industrial cooperation, and capabilities including science and technology, research & development, and technological innovation, artificial intelligence and cyber security cooperation.
India B (Manipur) beats Colombia 8-5 to win the 15th Manipur Polo International Tournament
Key Updates:
- India B (Manipur) clinched a spectacular victory over Colombia with a score of 8–5 in the final.
- The championship match was held at the Imphal Polo Ground.
- The Imphal polo ground, also known as Mapal Kangjeibung, is widely known as one of the oldest polo grounds in the world.
- The winning team, India B (Manipur), was awarded a cash prize of Rs 2 lakh, while team Colombia took home a prize money of Rs 1.5 lakh.
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- Scheme/Policy Name: Tripartite Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement renewed for one year between Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Government of Manipur, Kuki National Organisation (KNO) and United People's Front (UPF)
- Objective: Maintain territorial integrity of Manipur, relocate seven designated militant camps away from vulnerable areas, and work towards a negotiated political settlement under the Constitution of India
- Key Features: Camps to be relocated and weapons stored with nearest CRPF/BSF units; stringent verification to de-list any foreign nationals; joint monitoring group to enforce ground rules; Kuki-Zo Council to reopen National Highway-02 for free movement of commuters and goods
- Namitbir Singh Walia secured the fourth overall position at the 3rd Annemasse International Masters Tournament in France.
- He is the second player from Punjab to earn the International Master title, after Dushyant Sharma.
- Walia won the Senior State FIDE Rating Open Chess Championship earlier this year.
- Justice M Sundar, senior judge of the Madras High Court, appointed as the next Chief Justice of the Manipur High Court.
- He will take charge after the retirement of the present Chief Justice, Justice Kempaiah Somashekar, on September 14, 2025.
- Justice Sundar was born on July 19, 1966, in Chennai and enrolled as an advocate in 1989 after graduating from Madras Law College.
- The 14th Sirarakhong Hathei (Chilli) Festival will be held from September 16 to 18 at Sirarakhong village in Ukhrul district.
- Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla will be the chief guest of the inaugural function.
- Around 500 chilli growers will attend the inaugural function under the theme ‘A Heritage of Blessing’.
- The festival promotes the Geographical Indication (GI)-tagged Sirarakhong chilli variety.
- Sirarakhong Hathei acquired the GI tag in September 2021.
- The festival was first held in 2010.
- The festival was postponed from August to September due to extension of the ripening period following continuous rainfall.
Turkey's Baykar Kizilelma unmanned aircraft downs jet-powered aerial target using Gokdogan missile
Key Updates:
- Turkey's Kizilelma aircraft, developed by Baykar, achieved a historic milestone by accurately targeting a jet-powered drone with a Gokdogan missile.
- The test was guided by radar information during trials in the Sinop firing area.
- The Kizilelma flew with five F-15 fighter jets from Merzifon’s 5th Main Jet Base as the launched Gokdogan missile directly hit the target drone.
- Baykar conducted the pilot test on 30 November.
- Kizilelma features Aselsan's Murad Aesa radar with a Beyond Visual Range air-to-air Gokdogan missile.
- The Bayraktar Kizilelma is a single-engine, low-observable, carrier-capable aircraft developed as part of Turkish Muharip İnsansız Uçak Sistemi (MIUS) project.
- Kizilelma is equipped with low radar cross-section and advanced sensors.
- Planned variants include Kizilelma B and Kizilelma C, with the latter having a twin-engined configuration.
- It is one of the two Turkish jet-powered stealth UCAVs, along with TAI Anka-3.
- As many as 6 prototypes of the multirole stealth unmanned combat aerial vehicle have been built.
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- A newly released video captured by a U.S. reaper drone shows a glowing orb off the coast of Yemen.
- Then in the video, a Hellfire missile suddenly struck the unidentified object and bounced off it.
- The U.S. military was conducting regular air strikes against Houthi targets that posed a threat to the U.S. Navy and commercial vessels.
- A recent government report revealed that it had received more than 750 new UAP sightings between May 2023 and June 2024, leaving lawmakers digging into the mystery and national security concerns posed by the objects.
- The Defense Department in 2023 launched a website for declassified UAP information.
- Technology Perspective and Capability Roadmap (TPCR-2025) is a 15-year blueprint for military preparedness focused on nuclear deterrence and drone warfare capabilities.
- Army requirement cited for stealth remotely piloted aircraft with ranges up to 1,500 km and operational altitude of 60,000 feet.
- Loitering munitions with AI-enabled targeting and reusable warhead systems are specified as key future assets.
- Adaptive jamming systems and electronic denial bubbles of 15 km radius are planned to counter hostile drone swarms.
- Unmanned ground vehicles for CBRN (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear) reconnaissance are included to strengthen nuclear fallout protection.
Centre relaxes Protected Area Permit (PAP) Regime in Nagaland
Key Updates:
- Ministry of Home Affairs relaxed the Protected Area Permit (PAP) regime in Nagaland.
- The relaxation aims to promote tourism, improve ease of movement and strengthen integration with the rest of the country during the Hornbill Festival.
- Nagaland government requested lifting of the PAP regime.
- Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio urged Union Home Minister Amit Shah to relax the PAP regime.
Similar / Past Coverage
- PM Shri Tourism Helicopter Service was launched in Madhya Pradesh.
- Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, along with Union Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu, flagged off the service.
- Madhya Pradesh has become the first state in the country to introduce intra-state connectivity and an air ambulance.
- Through the service, tourists will now be able to enjoy spiritual and religious pilgrimages and wildlife sanctuaries in remote areas via helicopters.
- Tourists will be offered a travel and return package, including accommodation, local transportation, breakfast, lunch, and dinner, along with a guide.
- An MoU for the construction of an airport in Ujjain was also signed between the Central and state governments.
- The service will begin in Sector 1 covering Indore, Ujjain, Omkareshwar, Mandu, Maheshwar, and the western region of Madhya Pradesh.
- Sector 2 will cover Central Madhya Pradesh including Bhopal, Pachmarhi, Sanchi, and Orchha.
- Sector 3 will cover Jabalpur, Bandhavgarh, Kanha, Khajuraho, and Chitrakoot.
- The government of Nagaland has announced a formal partnership with the British Council, designating the UK as the country partner for the 2025 Hornbill Festival.
- The agreement was signed by Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio and Alison Barrett MBE, country director India, British Council.
- Scottish artist Ruairidh Maclean (RuMac) will perform on Dec 2 as part of the festival.
- The TB Mukta Panchayat (TMP) is an initiative of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
- The TMP was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 24, 2023.
- The initiative aims to involve elected members of the panchayats to eliminate tuberculosis by 2027.
- The criteria for declaration of the tuberculosis-free panchayat includes collection of at least 30 samples per 1000 population, and the number of TB patients in the panchayat should be zero or less than one per cent per 1,000 population.
- A panchayat will be qualified to be TB Mukt Panchayat, only if all criteria related to test result, treatment and all notified cases benefited from Nikshay Mitra under Prime Minister TB Mukta Bharat Abhiyan.
- The Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) rules are ready and will be published in the next 10 days
- IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw confirmed the rules will be released by September 28
- The rules followed an extensive consultation process
56th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) from November 20 to 28 themed 'Creativity & Technology'
Key Updates:
- The 56th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) is held in Goa.
- The 56th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) runs from November 20 to 28.
- The theme of the 56th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) is 'Creativity & Technology'.
- Japan is the country of focus at the 56th International Film Festival of India (IFFI).
- For the first time, a grand opening float parade takes place at the 56th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) on November 20.
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- A two-member Indian Coast Guard (ICG) delegation, led by Director General Paramesh Sivamani, is participating in the 4th Coast Guard Global Summit (CGGS).
- The summit is being held in Rome, Italy, from September 11–12.
- The event is hosted under the co-chairmanship of Italy and Japan.
- The CGGS focuses on strengthening multilateral efforts in maritime safety, marine environmental protection, and maritime law enforcement.
- India made a notable contribution with an expert lecture titled ‘Guardians Against the Blaze: ICG’s Tactical Response to Fire Emergencies’.
- India has announced its intention to bid for the Presidency of the 5th Coast Guard Global Summit in 2027, which it hopes to host.
- The 44th India International Trade Fair (IITF) will take place at the Bharat Mandapam at Pragati Maidan, with the theme ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat’ for 2025.
- The fair will run from November 14 to November 27.
- Jitin Prasada, Minister of State for Commerce and Industry, launched the exhibition on Monday.
- Infibeam Avenues' subsidiary, IA Fintech IFSC, has secured in-principle approval from the International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA) to operate as a Payment Service Provider (PSP) within Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT-IFSC).
- The approval will allow IA Fintech to offer regulated payment and settlement services, including escrow operations, cross-border remittances, and merchant payment processing.
- Trade finance transaction volumes at GIFT-IFSC rose from $20 billion in FY22 to $46 billion in FY25.
- The International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA) serves as the unified regulator for financial products, institutions, and services within the IFSC ecosystem.
- GIFT-IFSC is India’s designated international financial centre located in Gandhinagar.
- PM Modi proposed six initiatives: G20 Global Traditional Knowledge Repository, G20-Africa Skills Multiplier Initiative, G20 Global Healthcare Response Team, G20 Initiative on Countering the Drug-Terror Nexus, G20 Open Satellite Data Partnership, and G20 Critical Minerals Circularity Initiative.
- "First among them is the creation of a G20 Global Traditional Knowledge Repository. India has a rich history in this regard. This will help us pass on our collective wisdom to further good health and well-being."
- "The proposed Africa Skills Multiplier Initiative aims to train one million certified trainers across Africa in the next decade."
- "We are stronger when we work together in the face of health emergencies and natural disasters. Our effort should be to create teams of trained medical experts from fellow G20 nations who are ready for rapid deployment in case of any emergencies."
- "Let us weaken the wretched drug-terror economy!"
- "Proposed the setting up of a G20 Open Satellite Data Partnership whereby satellite data and analysis from G20 space agencies can be made more accessible for countries of the Global South."
- "India is fully committed to sustainability and clean energy, which is why we propose a G20 Critical Minerals Circularity Initiative to promote recycling, urban mining, second-life batteries and related innovations."
- "India's approach to AI is based on the three pillars of: Equitable access, Population-scale skilling, Responsible deployment."
- "India will host the AI Impact Summit in February 2026, guided by the theme Sarvajana Hitaya, Sarvajana Sukhaya."
Uttar Pradesh Tops Most-Visited States Ranking by Domestic Tourist Arrivals in India 2024-25
Key Updates:
- India recorded 2,948.19 million domestic tourist visits in 2024.
- Uttar Pradesh hosted 646.81 million domestic tourists, accounting for 21.94% of the national share.
- Top five most-visited states accounted for 60.38 per cent of total domestic tourist visits.
- Top 10 states by domestic tourist arrivals: 1. Uttar Pradesh (646.8M), 2. Tamil Nadu (306.8M), 3. Karnataka (304.6M), 4. Andhra Pradesh (290.3M), 5. Rajasthan (230.1M), 6. Gujarat (184.0M), 7. Maharashtra (189.4M), 8. West Bengal (184.5M), 9. Madhya Pradesh (133.2M), 10. Himachal Pradesh (18.0M).
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- NITI Aayog and the Mizoram government will jointly organise the ‘Mizoram Tourism Conclave’ aimed at developing tourism in the northeastern state.
- A task force will be constituted to ensure expeditious fixation of the conclave’s schedule and to widen stakeholder participation.
- Tourism Minister Lalnghinglova Hmar highlighted that 1,27,458 tourists (including 2,208 foreigners) visited Mizoram during Aug–Sept, attributing the rise partly to the new railway link up to Sairang.
- Gross FDI inflows reached $81 billion in FY 2024-25, an increase of 13.7% from the previous year.
- FDI inflows fell to $71 billion in FY 2023-24 after peaking in FY 2021-22, before recovering slightly.
- In the four years after the COVID-19 pandemic, gross inflows recovered at an annual rate of 0.3%, while disinvestments and repatriations by foreign investors grew at 18.9% annually.
- During the post-pandemic period, India saw $308.5 billion in gross FDI inflows, but foreign investors withdrew or repatriated $153.9 billion.
- After adjusting for outward FDI by Indian companies, the net retained capital within India fell to $0.4 billion.
- Disinvestments surged by 51% to $44.4 billion in FY 2023-24 and rose again in FY 2024-25 to $51.4 billion.
- Net FDI in May 2025 was down 98% to $35 million due to lower gross inflows and higher repatriation.
- The manufacturing sector's share of total FDI dropped to 12% due to incredible outflows.
- FDI outflows by Indian firms grew from $13 billion in FY 2011-12 to $29.2 billion in FY 2024-25.
- Maharashtra and Karnataka accounted for 51% of FDI in India in FY25, as stated by the government.
- Around half of India’s FDI outflows are directed toward developed economies.
- The Best Tourism Villages initiative was launched in 2021 under the UN Tourism for Rural Development Programme.
- Villages are evaluated under nine categories: cultural and natural resources, economic stability, promotion and conservation of cultural resources, environmental sustainability, social sustainability, infrastructure and connectivity, tourism development and value chain integration, governance and prioritization of tourism, and health, safety, and security.
- The 2025 list includes 52 villages selected from over 270 applications submitted by 65 UN Tourism Member States.
- Only two Indian villages—Pochampalli (Telangana, 2021) and Dhordo (Gujarat, 2023)—have ever been recognised in previous editions.
- The Government of India has unveiled an ambitious plan to develop 50 new destinations of global standards by 2029.
- The vision is to create world-class experiences that reflect India’s rich heritage, diverse landscapes, and modern aspirations.
- The initiative seeks to showcase India’s unparalleled cultural and natural wealth through destinations that meet international benchmarks, spanning from Kashmir valleys to Kerala backwaters, Gujarat coasts to Assam hills.
- Each state and union territory has been asked to submit proposals within the next month, identifying potential sites for development.
- Once approved, states will have three to four years to complete the transformation of these sites.
- A uniform development framework, designed by the Centre, will guide these projects to ensure global standards of infrastructure, sustainability, and visitor engagement.
- Every state and union territory is expected to have at least one flagship destination under the project, ensuring equitable representation and regional balance.
- These sites are expected to draw global attention, drive employment, and give a significant push to local economies once complete.
Dr Jitendra Singh Launches Indigenous Hansa-3 NG Trainer Aircraft at CSIR-National Aerospace Laboratories (CSIR-NAL)
Key Updates:
- CSIR-National Aerospace Laboratories (CSIR-NAL) developed the Hansa-3 NG as India's first all-composite airframe two-seater trainer aircraft for PPL and CPL training.
- Industry partner M/s Pioneer Clean Amps is setting up a facility at Kuppam, Andhra Pradesh, to produce up to 100 Hansa-3 NG aircraft annually.
- CSIR-NAL is developing the 19-seater SARAS Mk-2 Light Transport Aircraft with pressurised cabin, digital avionics, glass cockpit, autopilot, and command-by-wire flight controls.
- Dr Jitendra Singh inaugurated the Iron Bird Facility for SARAS Mk-2 for full-system integration and ground testing of aircraft subsystems.
- CSIR-NAL inaugurated a manufacturing facility for High Altitude Platforms (HAPs), solar-powered unmanned aircraft capable of flying above 20 km altitude.
- CSIR-NAL's subscale HAP vehicle achieved 7.5 km altitude and over 10 hours endurance, with full-scale flight to 20 km targeted for 2027.
- CSIR-NAL collaborated with M/s Solar Defence & Aerospace Ltd for 150-kg class Loitering Munition UAV powered by NAL’s certified Wankel engine.
- The Loitering Munition UAV features 900 km range, 6–9 hours endurance, 5 km service ceiling, GPS-denied navigation, low radar cross-section, and AI-enabled target identification.
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- The Tejas is primarily a single-seat fighter aircraft, though the Indian Air Force uses a twin-seat trainer version as well.
- The Technology Demonstrator-1 (TD-1) completed its first test flight in 2001, while the Second Series Production (SP2) aircraft under the Initial Operational Clearance ( IOC ) category carried out its maiden flight on 22 March 2016.
- Reports state that the Tejas can handle a maximum payload of 4,000 kg.
- It is a single-engine, single-pilot aircraft with a maximum take-off weight of around 13,300 kg.
- According to available details, the Light Combat Aircraft Tejas is classified as a 4.5-generation fighter capable of carrying out multiple roles.
- As per reports, Tejas is considered one of the smallest and lightest aircraft in its category, made possible by its compact design and extensive use of composite materials.
- The government recently approved the purchase of 97 LCA Tejas Mark 1A fighter jets for the IAF, as reported in August.
- Collins Aerospace (RTX subsidiary) inaugurated the Collins India Operations Center (CIOC) on a 26-acre site at KIADB Aerospace Park, Bengaluru.
- The facility will manufacture seats, lighting and cargo systems, temperature sensors, communication and navigation systems, water solutions, and evacuation slides for global markets.
- It incorporates advanced manufacturing technologies such as artificial intelligence, additive manufacturing, and robotics.
- Employment is projected to exceed 2,200 people by 2026.
- The $100 million investment forms part of RTX’s broader $250 million commitment to India, with the remaining $150 million allocated to engineering and test development centers and Pratt & Whitney India engineering center.
- Chief of Defence Staff Gen Anil Chauhan has told a gathering of IAF commanders the need for continuous adaptation, tactical innovation and strategic foresight in the evolving security environment.
- He said this in his address at the two-day Commanders' Conference of the Western Air Command (WAC) of the Indian Air Force which ended on November 28.
- The theme of the event was ' Vikashil Saksham Bharatiya Vayu Sena '.
- IAF Chief Air Chief Marshal A P Singh in his address called upon all air warriors to uphold the core value of mission, integrity and excellence, as he also reaffirmed the force's commitment to national security.
- Prof Ajay Kumar Sood, Principal Scientific Adviser to the government of India, also spoke at the Western Air Command Commanders' Conference 2025.
- He emphasised that a self-reliant and technologically advanced Indian Air Force remains essential for protecting India's sovereign interests.
- K Rajalakshmi Menon, Director General (Aero), Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), gave a talk on Future Technologies in Airborne surveillance System, and underscored the rising importance of autonomous aerial systems, long endurance platforms and space-enabled ISR (intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance).
- Discussions and brainstorming were also undertaken towards embracing 'Atmanirbharta' in all aspects of operational thought and furthering the nation's and the IAF's commitment towards becoming a true 'Made in India' and 'Made for India' force.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Safran Aircraft Engine Services India facility located at the GMR Aerospace and Industrial Park - SEZ, Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, Hyderabad.
- The facility is Safran’s largest Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul facility for LEAP engines which power Airbus A320neo and Boeing 737 MAX aircraft.
- The facility is designed to service up to 300 LEAP engines annually and employ over 1,000 highly skilled Indian technicians and engineers upon achieving full operational capacity by 2035.
- The Government of India is developing the country as a strong MRO hub under initiatives such as MRO Guidelines 2021 and the National Civil Aviation Policy 2016.
ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan Inaugurates Ananth Technologies' Centre of Excellence in Navigation
Key Updates:
- Private companies entering work of building navigation systems for spacecraft and defence supports Viksit Bharat 2047.
- Navigation systems are highly complex and critical which ISRO alone could not develop.
- Ananth Technologies has entered navigation field in Thiruvananthapuram.
- Ananth Technologies works closely with ISRO, DRDO, and BrahMos.
- Centre of Excellence in Navigation aims to achieve full strategic autonomy for India in Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) technologies.
- India has been heavily reliant on imported navigation technology for space missions and missile and defence systems.
- Gaganyaan mission has completed 8,000 tests including propulsion hot tests, simulations, structural tests, and acoustic tests.
- Gaganyaan in final stages of software development and simulation with 2027 target and three unmanned missions before manned.
- ISRO to launch first private PSLV-N1 in this financial year.
- ISRO preparing for BlueBird mission.
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- Indian Institute of Technology, Madras researchers have developed and deployed India's first indigenous vessel traffic management system for ports.
- The system has been developed by the National Technology Centre for Ports, Waterways and Coasts (NTCPWC) at IIT Madras based on the requirements outlined by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways.
- The system has already been implemented in Vizhinjam International Seaport Limited (VISL), Kerala.
- The indigenous system eliminates the risk of a leak of strategic data on the movement of vessels.
- The system is scalable to accommodate deployment in more ports with enhanced capabilities and is completely secure, with minimal deployment and maintenance costs.
- The Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DoT) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee (IITR) to establish a centre of excellence (CoE) on the IITR campus.
- The primary objective of the C-DoT Centre of Excellence (CoE) is to accelerate indigenous research, innovation and capacity building in advanced communication technologies.
- The CoE will have a strong focus on research in the areas of wireless communication, quantum technologies, cybersecurity and AI-based applications.
- The centre will drive joint research and prototype development in key emerging domains, including 5G and 6G, RF-sub-THz integrated circuits, sensors, millimetre-wave beamforming antennas with integrated ICs, V2X Communication, data-driven wireless communication technologies and energy efficiency.
- Name: Great Nicobar Project; spear-headed by NITI Aayog with ANIIDCO (Andaman and Nicobar Islands Integrated Development Corporation).
- Objective: Build an International Container Transshipment Terminal (deep-sea port at Galathea Bay), a dual-use greenfield international airport, a 300,000-400,000-person township, and a 450-MVA gas-and-solar energy plant.
- Strategic relevance: Positions India near the Strait of Malacca/Six Degree Channel, offering an alternative to Chinese-controlled ports and enhancing real-time surveillance and response for the Andaman & Nicobar tri-services command.
- Scheme Name: UDAN (Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik); Launch: October 21, 2016; first flight 27 April 2017
- Objective: Regional air connectivity; 649 routes operationalised connecting 93 unserved/underserved airports, 15 heliports, 2 water aerodromes
- Financials: Over ₹4,300 crore disbursed as Viability Gap Funding to airlines; ₹4,638 crore invested for airport development
- Future Plan: Scheme to continue beyond April 2027 with expanded framework targeting hilly, North-Eastern and aspirational regions and around 120 new destinations
InDApp to streamline ease of doing business for MSMEs
Key Updates:
- NIRDC, an autonomous not-for-profit institution under the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME), launched InDApp.
- InDApp is designed as a single-window system to accelerate access to government approvals, real-time market information and business opportunities across the country.
- InDApp integrates physical outreach with digital services for entrepreneurs across sectors and geographies to access information on industrial opportunities, export schemes, financial subsidies and technology upgrades.
- InDApp has been developed in coordination with seven Union Ministries — Food Processing Industries; Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying; Agriculture and Farmers Welfare; Commerce and Industry; Environment, Forest and Climate Change; Corporate Affairs; and New and Renewable Energy.
- Target beneficiaries are micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
Similar / Past Coverage
- The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) released the National Industrial Classification (NIC) - 2025.
- The release of the National Industrial Classification (NIC) - 2025 took place in New Delhi.
- The National Industrial Classification (NIC) - 2025 was released on 18th November, 2025.
- The releasing body is the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation of the Republic of India.
- Ministry of Science and Technology announced four Quantum Fabrication and Central Facilities under the National Quantum Mission (NQM).
- Total outlay for the facilities is Rs 720 crore.
- Facilities to be set up at IIT-Bombay, IISc-Bengaluru, IIT-Kanpur, and IIT-Delhi.
- Facilities will support quantum sensing, quantum computing, and quantum materials development.
- Access open to NQM investigators, academia, industry, start-ups, and strategic sectors.
- The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) launched CSIC 1.0 under the Information Security Education and Awareness (ISEA) project.
- CSIC 1.0 invites students and researchers to solve real-world cyber challenges and develop product-oriented solutions.
- The initiative adopts a 'whole-of-nation' approach, uniting MeitY, CERT-In, NSCS, AICTE, C-DAC, DSCI, academia and industry.
- Two reports released: 'Roadmap for AI for Viksit Bharat – An Opportunity for Accelerated Economic Growth' and the 'NITI Frontier Tech Repository'
- Released by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Railways/Electronics & IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, NITI Aayog Vice Chairman Suman Bery, and NITI Aayog CEO B.V.R. Subrahmanyam
- Reports aim to guide policy, investments, and research to position India as a global leader in AI and emerging technologies
- Event held in New Delhi and marks a step toward harnessing AI and frontier technologies for inclusive growth and economic transformation
Bank of India and State Bank of India (SBI) sign MoU to establish Centre of Excellence for Strategic Leadership in Project Financing Across India
Key Updates:
- Bank of India and State Bank of India (SBI) collaborate on co-financing, capacity building, and co-branded initiatives.
- The MoU provides a framework for the two banks to collaborate on multiple fronts.
- The partnership addresses structured project financing in infrastructure, energy, and industrial development sectors.
- State Bank of India (SBI) offers retail banking, corporate banking, treasury operations, and international banking.
- Bank of India focuses on corporate banking, project financing, and trade services.
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- The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has approved the acquisition of certain businesses from ICICI Venture Funds Management Company Limited by ICICI Prudential Asset Management Company Limited.
- The Acquirer is a joint venture between ICICI Bank Limited and Prudential Corporation Holdings Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Prudential Plc.
- Target Businesses include managing and/or sponsoring five SEBI-registered alternative investment funds and providing non-exclusive, non-binding advice to an identified offshore investment fund.
- Bank of Baroda and SIDBI Sign MoU to Boost Credit Access for MSMEs and Startups Across India.
- Partnership aims to enhance joint financing, streamline digital working capital, and expand global opportunities for small businesses and startups under the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.
- The MoU was formalised in the presence of Mr. M. Nagaraju, IAS, Secretary, Department of Financial Services DFS, who attended as the Chief Guest.
- Both institutions will combine SIDBI’s deep expertise in MSME development with Bank of Baroda’s strong national footprint to enhance credit delivery and expand financial inclusion among small businesses.
- Bank of Baroda’s digital Working Capital Platform will be operationalised for SIDBI-approved borrowers, ensuring seamless, technology-driven working capital access.
- The partnership will reinforce startup support through SIDBI’s Venture Debt Programme and BOB’s specialised Startup Banking solutions, including advisory services and customised financial products.
- Bank of Baroda’s extensive international network will be leveraged to assist MSMEs and startups in exploring export opportunities, gaining market insights, and availing global banking solutions.
- The Small Industries Development Bank of India SIDBI is the principal financial institution for the promotion, financing, and development of MSMEs and startups in India.
- Bank of Baroda and SIDBI signed an MoU 'to jointly enhance credit flow to small businesses and startups' and will 'provide joint finance for micro, small and medium enterprises'.
- RBL Bank launched two premium credit cards—‘Lumiere’ and ‘Nova’—carrying 'membership fees of up to Rs 50,000 per year'.
- Axis Bank introduced 'a corporate salary solution aimed at startups' that bundles 'financial, lifestyle, and wellness offerings'.
- The Standard opened a new Global Capability Centre in Pune and 'appointed Mohua Sengupta as the country head'.
- MoU signed between Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry, and CarDekho Group to strengthen DPIIT-recognised startups in mobility, fintech, insurtech, and emerging tech sectors.
- Startups will receive strategic mentorship, market access, technology infrastructure, and funding opportunities through CarDekho platforms (CarDekho, InsuranceDekho, rupyy, BikeDekho, ZigWheels, PowerDrift, Revv, CollegeDekho, Crack-ED).
- Partnership will host innovation challenges under Bharat Startup Grand Challenge focusing on electric mobility, auto-tech, finance, and sustainability.
- CarDekho’s leadership network will provide domain-specific guidance and co-investment opportunities via Girnar Vision Fund (GVF).
- Joint skill-development initiatives with CarDekho brands will build entrepreneurial and technical capabilities among founders and startup teams.
International Union for the Scientific Study of Population (IUSSP) receives 2025 United Nations Population Award
Key Updates:
- United Nations Population Fund India (UNFPA India) honored International Union for the Scientific Study of Population (IUSSP) for receipt of the 2025 United Nations Population Award during the 46th Annual Conference of the Indian Association for the Study of Population.
- Shireen Jejeebhoy is President of IUSSP.
- Andrea M Wojnar is Representative of UNFPA India.
- The conference theme is 'People, Planet, Prosperity.'
Similar / Past Coverage
- The Second World Summit for Social Development (WSSD-2) will be held in Doha, Qatar.
- The summit is scheduled from 4–6 November 2025.
- Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, Union Minister for Labour & Employment and Youth Affairs & Sports, will lead the Indian delegation.
- World leaders will adopt the Doha Political Declaration during the summit.
- A side event hosted by NITI Aayog on “Pathways Out of Poverty: India’s Experience in Empowering the Last Mile” is scheduled for 5 November 2025.
- The NITI Aayog side event will feature interventions from international partners, including Brazil, Maldives, and the ILO.
- The Union Minister will participate in the ILO-sponsored Ministerial Event on the Global Coalition for Social Justice.
- Bilateral meetings are planned with Ministers from Qatar, Romania, Mauritius, and the European Union, as well as with the Director-General of the International Labour Organization (ILO) and senior UN officials.
- The Minister will attend an event on the National Career Service (NCS) Portal, jointly organised by the Ministry of Labour & Employment and the Indian Business and Professionals Council (IBPC).
- The initiative/vision discussed is Viksit Bharat (Developed India).
- Women and Youth are called the architects of Viksit Bharat.
- The force that will drive Viksit Bharat lies in the confidence of youth, the compassion of women, and the curiosity of minds, along with youthful innovation, women’s leadership, empathy, resilience, creativity, youthful energy, and intellect.
- The goal of Viksit Bharat is India’s emergence as a global leader in the 21st century.
- The inaugural Ramoji Excellence Awards 2025 concluded this evening at Ramoji Film City, celebrating distinguished individuals whose exceptional contributions uplift communities, advance knowledge, and inspire the nation.
- Instituted in memory of Sri Ramoji Rao garu, the awards honoured seven exemplary personalities across diverse fields.
- **Shri Jaideep Hardikar** received the Excellence in Journalism Award as 'A distinguished journalist and author, Shri Hardikar has spent over two decades reporting on India’s rural realities with deep empathy and insight.'
- **Shri Srikanth Bolla** received the Youth Icon Award as 'Founder & Chairman of Bollant Industries and an MIT alumnus, Shri Bolla has become a national symbol of resilience and inclusive leadership.'
- **Prof. Sathupati Prasanna Sree** received the Excellence in Art & Culture Award as 'A visionary scholar who created scripts for 19 tribal languages' and 'Vice-Chancellor of Adikavi Nannayya University.'
- **Smt. Amla Ashok Ruia** received the Excellence in Rural Development Award, 'Popularly known as the “Water Mother,” Smt. Ruia has transformed drought-prone villages through innovative water-harvesting initiatives' through 'Aakar Charitable Trust.'
- **Shri Akash Tandon** received the Excellence in Service to Mankind Award as 'Founder of Pehchaan – The Street School, Shri Tandon has built a movement providing education to thousands of underprivileged children in Delhi-NCR.'
- **Smt. Pallabi Ghosh** received the Women Achiever Award as 'A fearless crusader against human trafficking, Smt. Ghosh has rescued over 10,000 women and children and impacted more than 75,000 lives' through the 'Impact and Dialogue Foundation.'
- **Prof. Madhavi Latha Gali** received the Excellence in Science & Technology Award as 'A pioneering geotechnical engineer at IISc Bengaluru, Prof. Latha contributed to major national infrastructure projects, including the Chenab Railway Bridge.'
- Shri Kumar Rohit, Director, PDUNASS, jointly received the award for 'Best Achievement in Capacity Building' and 'Special Initiative – Reimagining Governance: Discourse for Excellence (RGDE)'
- Shri Uttam Prakash, RPFC-I, received the RGDE award as Moderator of the RGDE Series since its inception
- Shri Ankur P. Gupta, RPFC-I, jointly received the 'Best Achievement in Capacity Building' award
Praveen Kumar takes additional charge as Director General of Border Security Force (BSF)
Key Updates:
- Praveen Kumar has taken additional charge of BSF Director General following the retirement of Daljit Singh Chawdhary.
- Daljit Singh Chawdhary handed over the responsibilities to Praveen Kumar at a BSF camp in Chhattisgarh’s Raipur.
- Praveen Kumar is the 35th Director General of Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP).
- Daljit Singh Chawdhary is a 1990-batch IPS officer of Uttar Pradesh cadre.
- Praveen Kumar is a 1993-batch officer of West Bengal cadre.
- Daljit Singh Chawdhary took charge as BSF Director General in August 2024.
Similar / Past Coverage
- Sipan Kumar Garg has assumed the additional charge of Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of THDC India Limited.
- He has been serving as Director (Finance) at THDC India Limited.
- He is a member of the ICAI, ICMAI and ICSI, and a rank holder in the Company Secretary examination.
- He brings over 24 years of experience in finance, accounts, taxation and commercial functions in the power sector.
- Before joining THDC India Limited, he worked as Chief Financial Officer at Aravali Power Company Private Limited and Patratu Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Limited, both subsidiaries of NTPC Limited.
- Praveer Ranjan, a 1993-batch IPS officer of AGMUT cadre, was appointed as the Director General (DG) of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF).
- Praveer Ranjan was presently working as Special DG, CISF before his appointment as DG.
- Praveen Kumar, a 1993-batch IPS officer of West Bengal cadre, was appointed as the Director General (DG) of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP).
- Praveen Kumar was presently working as Special Director, IB before his appointment as DG.
- The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) approved these proposals from the Ministry of Home Affairs.
- Both officers will take charge upon the retirement of the current chiefs on September 30.
- Shri Sanjay Garg, a senior civil servant of IAS-1994 batch from the Kerala cadre, has assumed charge as the Director General of the Bureau of Indian Standards, the National Standards Body of India, with effect from 1 November 2025.
- Prior to joining BIS as DG, he served as Additional Secretary, DARE (Department of Agriculture, Research and Education) and Secretary, Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR).
- In DARE and ICAR, he spearheaded the digital transformation through application of IT in Research Management and Administration. He also played a pivotal role in scaling up and expansion of Kisan Sarathi portal which connects farmers directly to agricultural scientists.
- As the Director General of BIS, Shri Garg will also serve as the President of India’s national committee in IEC.
- Shri Garg brings vast and diverse administrative experience spanning over three decades with expertise in strategic planning, policy formulation and implementation across various sectors including agriculture, food logistics, defence industry sector, industrial promotion, finance and various social sectors at State and National levels.
- Govt appoints IRS officer Sandip Pradhan as member Sebi
- The government on Thursday appointed Indian Revenue Service officer Sandip Pradhan as a whole-time member of the Securities and Exchange Board of India ( Sebi ) for a period of three years.
- Pradhan replaces Ashwani Bhatia, who demitted office after completion of his term as a whole-time member.
- The government hereby appoints Sandip Pradhan , IRS (IT:1990), Director General of Income Tax (Investigation), Pune, as Whole Time Member of the Sebi
- He would be the second IRS officer serving as a whole-time member, as his batchmate Kamlesh Chandra Varshney has been with the capital markets regulator since September 2023.
- Pradhan rejoined his parent department, the Central Board of Direct Taxes, after serving as Director General, Sports Authority of India (SAI) till September 2024.
- Before his appointment at the SAI, Pradhan had worked as the director general of the Sports Authority of Gujarat for four years (2013-17).
Belgium defeats India to win Sultan Azlan Shah Cup 2025
Key Updates:
- Belgium clinched the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup 2025 by defeating India 1-0 in the final.
- Thibeau Stockbroekx scored the decisive goal in the 34th minute.
- The final was held in Malaysia.
- Belgium won its maiden Sultan Azlan Shah title on its second appearance in the tournament.
Similar / Past Coverage
- India defeated Chinese Taipei 35-28 in the final to win its second consecutive World Cup title.
- India went undefeated throughout the tournament.
- The Indian women’s kabaddi team won the Women’s Kabaddi World Cup in Dhaka.
- India won all its group matches to reach the semifinals, where it defeated Iran 33–21 to enter the final.
- Chinese Taipei also had an unbeaten run in its group and beat host Bangladesh 25–18 in the semifinal.
- The 2025 edition of the tournament is only the second time it has been held.
- The last iteration of it was held in Patna in 2012, with India coming out on top against Iran in the final in a tournament with 16 teams.
- Former India captain Ajay Thakur said, “It is a very proud moment for India as the women’s team retained the World Cup trophy in Dhaka.”
- Former India international and Haryana Steelers head coach Manpreet Singh said, “The women’s team has delivered a performance the whole nation can be proud of.”
- Despite hosting the last two FIH Men’s World Cup at home, India failed to finish on the podium even once.
- In the 2018 edition they were eliminated in the quarterfinals and finished sixth in the standings.
- In 2023 they were knocked out by New Zealand in the crossovers stage and finished ninth overall.
- Belgian hockey coach Pascal Kina believes India have a fair chance to finish among the three medallists during the 2026 World Cup which will be jointly hosted by Belgium and the Netherlands.
- Lancers, who failed to put up a good show at the last edition of HIL and finished sixth in the standings.
- Antoine has been part of the Belgian team that has won 2018 World Cup.
- Antoine has been part of the Belgian team that has won ... the Olympic gold in Tokyo.
- India secured their first Asia Cup title in 8 years.
- The sport discipline is Hockey, as indicated by the team's participation in the "Hockey Pro League".
- The Asia Cup 2025 final was won in Rajgir.
- The final took place on Sunday, September 7, 2025.
- India's coach is Craig Fulton.
- The team's captain is Harmanpreet Singh.
- In the previous year, India won the bronze medal at the Paris Olympics and then went on to claim the Asian Champions Trophy title.
- In 2025, India finished seventh in the European leg of the Hockey Pro League, losing seven of their eight games and missing their chance at direct World Cup qualification.
- The event was the CAFA Nations Cup 2025.
- The Indian football team won a bronze medal.
- India edged past Oman 3-2 in a penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw.
- The match took place in Hisor, Tajikistan.
- Udanta Singh Kumam scored in regulation time for India.
- Gurpreet Singh Sandhu made three saves in the shootout for India.
- This was Khalid Jamil’s first outing as the India national team coach.
- India is 133rd in the FIFA rankings.
- Oman is 79th-ranked in the FIFA rankings.
- India had beaten 106th-ranked Tajikistan 2-1 in their opening match of the tournament.
- India went down 3-0 against defending champions Islamic Republic of Iran.
- India then played out a goalless draw against Afghanistan to finish second in the group.
Jason Gunawan defeats Srikanth Kidambi to win 2025 Syed Modi International Men’s Singles
Key Updates:
- 🇭🇰 Jason Gunawan won the Men’s Singles by defeating 🇮🇳 Srikanth Kidambi 21–16, 8–21, 22–20.
- 🇯🇵 Hina Akechi won the Women’s Singles by defeating 🇹🇷 Neslihan Arın 21–16, 21–14.
- 🇲🇾 Kang Khai Xing and 🇲🇾 Aaron Tai won the Men’s Doubles by defeating 🇲🇾 Chia Wei Jie and 🇲🇾 Lwi Sheng Hao 21–9, 21–19.
- 🇮🇳 Treesa Jolly and 🇮🇳 Gayatri Gopichand Pullela won the Women’s Doubles by defeating 🇯🇵 Kaho Osawa and 🇯🇵 Mai Tanabe 17–21, 21–13, 21–15.
- 🇮🇩 Dejan Ferdinansyah and 🇮🇩 Bernadine Anindya Wardana won the Mixed Doubles by defeating 🇹🇭 Pakkapon Teeraratsakul and 🇹🇭 Sapsiree Taerattanachai 21–19, 21–16.
- The tournament was held at the Babu Banarasi Das U.P. Badminton Academy in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Similar / Past Coverage
- The G20 Summit, hosted for the first time on African soil, took place in Johannesburg, South Africa, from November 21 to 23.
- The 2025 summit opened under the theme 'Solidarity, Equality and Sustainability'.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi proposed a new G20 initiative to tackle the drug-terror nexus and create a global healthcare response team.
- India also proposed a G20 Open Satellite Data Partnership whereby data can be made more accessible for countries of the Global South.
- India put forward a G20 Critical Minerals Circularity Initiative to promote recycling, urban mining, and second-life batteries.
- Prime Minister Modi announced an Australia-Canada-India Technology and Innovation (ACITI) Partnership to deepen collaboration in emerging technologies, support diversification of supply chains, clean energy, and mass adoption of AI.
- The G20 comprises 19 countries plus the European Union and the African Union, and accounts for 85 percent of the world's GDP and two-thirds of its population.
- The United States boycotted the event due to a diplomatic rift with the host country.
- The Department of Science and Technology (DST) is set to organise the first-ever Emerging Science, Technology and Innovation Conclave (ESTIC) in November.
- ESTIC may ‘replace’ the Indian Science Congress, the oldest congregation of scientists in India with a rich history predating Independence.
- The inaugural ESTIC will be held at the Bharat Mandapam here from November 3-4.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to attend the inauguration of ESTIC.
- All the science-related Ministries, ranging from atomic energy to space and information technology, will be involved in ESTIC.
- According to the ESTIC website, there will be 11 thematic technical sessions and 75 exhibition stalls by ‘deep tech’ startups at the event.
- Nobel Laureate Andre Geim (2010, Physics) is expected to make an appearance, and Jean-Yves Le Gall and Professor Masaru Tomita are among the foreign dignitaries expected.
- Science Minister Jitendra Singh said that ESTIC will “showcase cutting-edge research, deep-tech breakthroughs, and thought-provoking discussions, igniting a new era of scientific leadership towards Viksit Bharat 2047.”
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Indore and is scheduled to proceed by helicopter to Dhar district in Madhya Pradesh for his 75th birthday celebration.
- He will launch the ‘Swasth Nari Sashakt Parivar’ and the 8th Rashtriya Poshan Maah campaigns, aimed at improving women’s health services and promoting nutrition.
- An instalment of the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY) will be released, directly crediting accounts of over one million women beneficiaries.
- The ‘Ek Bagiya Maa Ke Naam’ campaign will be launched, promoting environmental stewardship and honouring motherhood.
- As a symbolic gesture for the campaign, the Prime Minister will gift a sapling to a woman from a self-help group, encouraging more than 10,000 women to cultivate gardens named ‘Maa Ki Bagiya’.
- Awareness sessions on yoga, Ayurveda, and healthy living will be organised, and nutrition camps will be held across the state.
- Modi will lay the foundation stone for India’s first PM Mitra Textile Park in Bhainsola village, spread over 2,158 acres.
- The textile park is intended to develop Madhya Pradesh into a textile hub, integrate the cotton processing chain, reduce costs, improve prices for farmers, attract investment, and generate thousands of jobs.
- The Prime Minister’s birthday initiatives will focus on empowerment, progress, and inclusive development, reflecting a vision that combines welfare, environmental care, and industrial growth.
- Over 1.5 lakh people have gathered at the domes to catch a glimpse of Prime Minister Modi.
- Madhya Pradesh chief minister Mohan Yadav also reached the venue.
- The 'India-AI Impact Summit 2026' will be held on 19-20 Feb 2026 here.
- Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology today unveiled the logo and key flagship initiatives for the India-AI Impact Summit 2026 which is being hosted for the first time by a Global South nation.
- This summit is guided by the principles or Sutras of People, Planet and Progress.
- The discussions will be further centered around seven chakras- Human Capital, Inclusion, Safe and Trusted AI, Resilience, Science and Social Good.
- India launches eight indigenous foundational model projects to build multilingual, healthcare, scientific, industrial, governance and agriculture AI capabilities.
- 30 Data and AILabs have been launched pan-India, forming the first wave of a 570-lab network.
- The IndiaAI mission cleared this year with an budget outlay of Rs 10,300 crore is the government's push towards spreading AI across the country.
World AIDS Day on December 1
Key Updates:
- Theme 2025: “Overcoming disruption, transforming the AIDS response,”
- World AIDS Day is the first global day dedicated to a health issue.
- World AIDS Day was created by the World Health Organization in 1988.
- The U.S. has marked World AIDS Day since 1988.
- President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) was launched in 2003.
Similar / Past Coverage
- November 17 marks the first World Cervical Cancer Elimination Day – mandated by the World Health Assembly.
- The Day supports the core pillars of the WHO’s global elimination strategy: vaccinating 90% of girls against human papillomavirus (HPV), screening 70% of women, and treating 90% of those with pre-cancer and invasive cancer.
- Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and its partners estimate that the ambitious goal to reach 86 million girls by the end of 2025 has been met.
- The World Day for the Prevention of and Healing from Child Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Violence is marked every year on November 18.
- This observance was established in 2022 by the UN General Assembly.
- On November 7, 2022, the UN General Assembly adopted resolution A/RES/77/8, officially designating November 18 as the World Day.
- The observance aims to raise awareness of child sexual abuse, strengthen global action, and support survivors in their journey toward healing and justice.
- The theme for the 2025 commemoration is “Strengthening the Protection of Children Against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse Through Evidence-Based Policy Making.”
- World Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Awareness Week (WAAW) is observed from 18 – 24 November. (Proof: "This week (18 – 24 November) marks World Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Awareness Week (WAAW)")
- It is a WHO-led initiative. (Proof: "a WHO-led initiative")
- The initiative aims to improve understanding of antimicrobial resistance and promote best practices that help prevent the further emergence and spread of resistant infections. (Proof: "to improve understanding of antimicrobial resistance and promote best practices that help prevent the further emergence and spread of resistant infections.")
- The WHO theme for 2025 is “Act Now: Protect Our Present, Secure Our Future.” (Proof: "The WHO theme for 2025 is “Act Now: Protect Our Present, Secure Our Future,”")
- The theme emphasizes the urgent need for coordinated, cross-sector action as AMR continues to impact health systems, food production, the environment, and global economies. (Proof: "emphasising the urgent need for coordinated, cross-sector action as AMR continues to impact health systems, food production, the environment, and global economies.")
- The WHO calls on governments, healthcare professionals, civil society, veterinarians, farmers, environmental sectors and the public to turn commitments into concrete, measurable action. (Proof: "The WHO calls on governments, healthcare professionals, civil society, veterinarians, farmers, environmental sectors and the public to turn commitments into concrete, measurable action.")
- World Immunisation Day is observed every year on November 10.
- The day serves as a reminder of how vaccines save lives.
- It also highlights why equitable access to vaccines remains essential.
India Celebrates BSF Raising Day Marking Border Security Force Foundation
Key Updates:
- BSF Raising Day is celebrated every year on 1 December.
- BSF Raising Day marks the foundation of the Border Security Force in 1965.
- Border Security Force (BSF) is one of the world’s largest border-guarding forces.
- BSF plays a role in border security, disaster relief, internal security and humanitarian operations.
- BSF Raising Day honours the courage, sacrifice and duty of personnel guarding India’s borders.
Similar / Past Coverage
- The President of India, Smt Droupadi Murmu, graced the inaugural session of the third edition of the Indian Army’s Seminar, ‘Chanakya Defence Dialogue-2025’, in New Delhi.
- The recent success of Operation Sindoor stands as a defining moment in our counter-terror and deterrence strategy.
- Our diplomacy, economy and armed forces together project an India that seeks peace, but is prepared to protect its borders and its citizens with strength and conviction.
- The Army is transforming itself through quantifiable deliverables under the Decade of Transformation.
- The President expressed confidence that these defence reforms will help in making India self-reliant.
- Celebrated annually on 15 November, the International Day for the Prevention of and Fight against All Forms of Transnational Organized Crime acts as a worldwide call to action against crimes that cross borders and compromise human rights, security, and peace.
- Emphasizing the expected 2025 theme, “Global Cooperation for a Safer World: Strengthening Unity Against Transnational Organized Crime,” is: Sharing cross-border intelligence is accelerated.
- The origins of this celebration are in the United Nations Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC), sometimes referred to as the Palermo Convention, approved by the UN General Assembly, Palermo, Italy, November 15, 2000.
- The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) coordinates worldwide initiatives and supports member nations through research, policy development, and capacity building.
- The main forms of transnational organized crime include: Human trafficking, drug smuggling, cybercrime, arms trafficking, environmental crimes, and money laundering.
- The third International Day of Police Cooperation is observed on 7 September 2025.
- The 2025 theme highlights responsible use of artificial intelligence and digital technologies in policing.
- The Day reaffirms that technology must serve the public good and uphold human rights.
- The "No Kings" national day of protest took place on October 18, 2025.
- People gathered across the country to vent their anger over President Trump's policies in "No Kings" protests.
- Organizers of "No Kings" stated that the president thinks his rule is absolute, but in America, there are no kings, and people will not back down against chaos, corruption, and cruelty.