Daily Current Affairs: 11 November 2025

Headline: New Deep-Sea Fishing Rules for India’s EEZ: Key Features and Objectives

Bullet Points:

• Scheme/Policy Name: New deep-sea fishing rules notified on 4 November for operations in India’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
• Objective: Unlock under-utilised high-value tuna resources and promote community-led, sustainable deep-sea fishing while banning foreign vessels.
• Key Feature 1: Fishermen Cooperative Societies and Fish Farmer Producer Organisations (FFPOs) prioritised for deep-sea fishing with technologically advanced vessels.
• Key Feature 2: Mother-and-child vessel concept introduced for mid-sea transhipment under RBI regulations, benefiting Andaman & Nicobar and Lakshadweep Islands.
• Key Feature 3: Access Pass mandated (free, online via ReALCRaft portal) for mechanised and large motorised vessels; traditional/small-scale fishers exempt.
• Portal Integration: ReALCRaft portal linked with MPEDA and EIC for issuing Fish Catch and Health Certificates, ensuring traceability and export compliance.
• Supporting Schemes: Credit access facilitated under Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) and Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF).

Headline: Egypt announces new natural gas discovery in Western Desert by BAPETCO

Bullet Points:

• 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

Headline: India joins Brazil-led Tropical Forests Forever Facility as observer at COP30

Bullet Points:

• India joined the Tropical Forests Forever Facility (TFFF) as an observer; TFFF aims to mobilise ~USD 125 billion to reward nations that protect/expand tropical forests.
• Indian Ambassador Dinesh Bhatia delivered India’s statement at the Leaders’ Summit of COP30 in Belém, Brazil.
• India stated that global climate ambition remains "inadequate" and that many nations’ NDCs "fall short" a decade after the Paris Agreement.
• India urged developed countries to accelerate emission cuts and deliver promised climate finance, advocating they reach net-zero sooner and invest in net-negative emissions.
• India highlighted domestic progress: 36% reduction in GDP emission intensity (2005-2020), >50% non-fossil fuel power capacity, ~200 GW renewable energy, and 25.17% forest/tree cover creating 2.29 billion tCO₂ additional carbon sink.

Headline: Asia’s happiest cities of 2025 ranked: Locals say Mumbai, Beijing, and Shanghai bring the most joy

Bullet Points:

• Mumbai is named the happiest city in Asia, with 94% of Mumbaikars saying their city makes them happy.
• Beijing and Shanghai follow closely behind, with 93% and 92% of locals respectively saying their city makes them happy.
• Chiang Mai and Hanoi rank in the top 5, each with 88% of residents saying their city makes them happy.
• Seoul, Singapore, and Tokyo ranked lower on the happiness list, with only 70% of Tokyo residents saying their city makes them happy.
• The 10 happiest cities in Asia in 2025 are Mumbai, Beijing, Shanghai, Chiang Mai, Hanoi, Jakarta, Hong Kong, Bangkok, Singapore, and Seoul.

Headline: RBI Repatriates Gold, Boosts Domestic Reserves and Foreign Exchange Assets

Bullet Points:

• The Reserve Bank of India, between March 2025 and September 2025, has brought over 64 tonnes of gold back to the country.
• Since March 2023, the RBI has brought home 274 tonnes of gold.
• The Reserve Bank's gold reserve stands at 880 metric tonnes as of September 2025, according to its Half Yearly Report on Management of Foreign Exchange Reserves.
• Of this, 575.8 metric tonnes are currently in India, while another 290.37 metric tonnes of gold are kept with the Bank of England (BoE) and the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) in Switzerland.
• The share of gold in the total foreign exchange reserves rose from 11.70 per cent in March 2025 to around 13.92 per cent in September 2025.
• The RBI also has foreign currency assets of around $579.18 billion (about Rs 51.09 lakh crore) , comprising $489.54 billion (about Rs 43.15 lakh crore) in securities investments, $46.11 billion (about Rs 4.07 lakh crore) in deposits with other central banks and BIS, and another $43.53 billion (about Rs 3.84 lakh crore) in deposits with overseas commercial banks.

Headline: A comprehensive guide to the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals

Bullet Points:

• The UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are the world’s shared blueprint for ending poverty, protecting the planet, and ensuring prosperity for everyone by 2030.
• Adopted by all 193 United Nations member states in 2015, the SDGs translate broad ambitions into 17 measurable goals with 169 targets and hundreds of indicators.
• The SDGs grew out of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs, 2000–2015), which drove large improvements in child mortality, primary education and extreme poverty reduction.
• The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development was adopted on 25 September 2015 as UN General Assembly Resolution A/RES/70/1.
• The SDGs are arranged as 17 goals, 169 targets, and indicators that enable data-driven monitoring.
• Goal 1 is to ‘End poverty in all its forms everywhere’, targeting both extreme and multidimensional poverty.
• Goal 2 is to ‘End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture’.
• Goal 3 is to ‘Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all ages’.
• Goal 4 is to ‘Ensure inclusive, equitable and quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities’.
• Goal 5 is to ‘Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls’.
• Goal 6 is to ‘Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all’.
• Goal 7 is to ‘Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all’.
• Goal 8 is to ‘Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all’.
• Goal 9 is to ‘Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialisation, and foster innovation’.
• Goal 10 is to ‘Reduce inequality within and among countries’.
• Goal 11 is to ‘Make cities inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable’.
• Goal 12 is to ‘Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns’.
• Goal 13 is to ‘Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts’.
• Goal 14 is to ‘Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources’.
• Goal 15 is to ‘Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems’.
• Goal 16 is to ‘Promote peaceful and inclusive societies, provide access to justice, and build effective, accountable institutions’.
• Goal 17 is to ‘Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalise the global partnership for sustainable development’.
• Implementation involves policy alignment, data systems, financing, partnerships, and monitoring and reporting.
• The UN’s Sustainable Development Goals Report (2024) warns that progress is too slow on many targets.
• The SDGs require systems thinking because goals are interdependent and can create trade-offs.
• Measuring success requires robust, timely and disaggregated data so that ‘no one is left behind’.
• Filling the SDG financing gap will require trillions of dollars each year.
• Practical recommendations include mainstreaming SDGs into national planning, aligning corporate strategies, developing blended finance, and holding governments accountable.
• The SDGs remain the operating manual for a sustainable future, but achieving them requires unprecedented cooperation, fiscal innovation, and political will.

Headline: India's Forex Reserves Fall to $689.73 Billion as of October 31, 2025

Bullet Points:

• India’s foreign exchange reserves fell by $5.6 billion in the week ended October 31, 2025.
• The total foreign exchange reserves stood at $689.73 billion as of October 31, 2025, according to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
• In the week preceding, the reserves had dipped by $6.92 billion to $695.36 billion.
• Foreign currency assets, a major component of the reserves, decreased by $1.9 billion to $564.59 billion for the week ended October 31.
• The value of gold reserves declined by $3.8 billion to $101.72 billion during the week.
• Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) were down by $19 million to $18.64 billion.
• India's reserve position with the IMF was up by $16.4 million at $4.77 billion in the reporting week.
• The Reserve Bank of India undertakes interventions in the foreign exchange market to moderate undue volatility in the rupee’s exchange rate and preserve orderly trading conditions.

Headline: Global Scientific Community Celebrates World Science Day 2025 Focusing on Peace, Development, and Future Science

Bullet Points:

• World Science Day for Peace and Development is celebrated each year on 10 November.
• The idea for the Day was born at the 1999 World Conference on Science in Budapest, co-organized by UNESCO and the International Science Council’s predecessor, the International Council for Science (ICSU).
• UNESCO officially proclaimed the Day in 2001.
• This year’s theme for the celebrations was “Trust, Transformation, and Tomorrow: The Science We Need for 2050”.
• Over 70 events led by ISC Members and partners celebrated World Science Day for Peace and Development 2025 across the world, from Argentina to Tanzania, and from Slovakia to India.
• In Uganda, the Society for the Advancement of Science in Africa engaged students and early-career researchers through “Empowering Youth for Climate Action,” promoting dialogue on sustainability and local innovation.
• The International Astronomical Union’s Office of Astronomy for Development led the online event “Science in Action: Grassroots Development with the Stars,” highlighting how astronomy contributes to education and community development.

Headline: PM Modi Unveils Over Rs 8,000 Crore Development Projects and Initiatives in Uttarakhand

Bullet Points:

• Prime Minister Modi inaugurated development projects worth over Rs 8,140 crore.
• These initiatives target core areas such as drinking water, irrigation, technical education, energy, urban development, sports, and skill development.
• The Prime Minister also released a support amount of Rs 62 crore under the PM Fasal Bima Yojana, transferred directly into the bank accounts of more than 28,000 farmers.
• Projects inaugurated include the Dehradun water supply coverage for 23 zones under the AMRUT scheme, an electrical substation in Pithoragarh district, solar power plants on government buildings, and the AstroTurf Hockey Ground at Haldwani Stadium in Nainital.
• Foundation stones were laid for projects such as the Song Dam Drinking Water Project, which will supply 150 million litres per day (MLD) of drinking water to Dehradun, and the Jamarani Dam Multipurpose Project in Nainital, designed to provide drinking water, support irrigation activities and generate electricity.

Headline: IOC plans blanket ban on transgender women from female events at LA 2028 Olympics

Bullet Points:

• The International Olympic Committee is preparing a universal rule that would bar all transgender women from competing in women’s events at the 2028 Los Angeles Games.
• Current regulations allow each sport to set its own testosterone-based eligibility rules; the proposed change would impose a single across-the-board ban.
• The new policy, still under discussion, could also affect athletes with differences in sexual development (DSD) such as 2024 Olympic boxing gold medallist Imane Khelif.

Headline: Canada Loses Measles Elimination Status, Americas Region Affected

Bullet Points:

• Canada has lost its measles elimination status, as stated by the Pan American Health Organization (Paho).
• The Americas region as a whole has lost its elimination status because Canada is no longer deemed measles-free.
• The Americas is the first and only region in the world to have been declared measles-free, starting in 2016.
• Prior to Monday, Canada had been declared measles-free for three decades.
• The US risks losing its measles elimination status if it does not stop an ongoing outbreak by January.
• Venezuela and Brazil regained measles elimination status in 2024.
• Mexico ranks among the top 10 countries with the largest measles outbreaks, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Headline: Mizoram & NITI Aayog to jointly organise Mizoram Tourism Conclave

Bullet Points:

• 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.

Headline: 2900 kg of explosives, 5 kg heavy metal: Major terror module busted in Delhi-NCR; what cops found in Faridabad

Bullet Points:

• Jammu & Kashmir and Haryana Police jointly recovered 360 kg of suspected ammonium nitrate, arms, and bomb-making equipment in Faridabad.
• Two individuals, Dr Muzammil Ahmad Ganaie and Dr Adil Ahmad Rather, were arrested in connection with the seizure.
• Officials confirmed the seizure of 360 kg of suspected ammonium nitrate, along with 2,900 kg of IED-making material, including chemicals, detonators, wires, and other bomb-making components.
• Recovered items included one assault rifle with three magazines and 83 live rounds, one pistol with eight live rounds, 20 timers with batteries, 24 remote controls, walkie-talkie sets, and 5 kg of heavy metal.
• The operation is being described as one of the biggest terror-related recoveries in the Delhi-NCR region in recent years.
• The Faridabad raid followed crucial leads developed by Jammu and Kashmir Police during a separate investigation in Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh.
• An AK-47 rifle was earlier recovered from Dr Rather’s locker at the Government Medical College in Srinagar.
• The Jammu and Kashmir Police dismantled an inter-state and transnational terror module associated with proscribed organisations Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind (AGuH).
• Investigations revealed that the arrested individuals were part of a “white-collar terror ecosystem” involving radicalised professionals, including doctors and academics, allegedly operating under instructions from foreign handlers in Pakistan.
• Funds were raised through professional and academic networks under the guise of social and charitable causes.
• Seven individuals were arrested by J&K Police, including Dr Muzammil Ahmad Ganaie and Dr Adeel of Kulgam.
• The J&K Police confirmed the recovery of one Chinese Star pistol, one Beretta pistol, one AK-56 rifle, and a Krinkov rifle, along with a significant quantity of ammunition.
• A day before the Faridabad recovery, the Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) arrested three suspects, Dr Ahmed Mohiuddin Syed, Mohd Suhel, and Azad, near the Adalaj Toll Plaza.
• The Gujarat ATS recovered two Glock pistols, one Beretta pistol, 30 live cartridges, and 4 litres of castor oil from the suspects.
• Central agencies, including the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and Intelligence Bureau (IB), are coordinating with local forces.

Headline: ISSF World Championships: Samrat Rana wins gold in men's 10m air pistol, India secures team gold

Bullet Points:

• Samrat Rana wins gold in 10m air pistol.
• Varun takes bronze.
• Samrat, who hails from Karnal, shot 243.7 in the final to beat back the challenge of China’s Hu Kai, who took the silver in a nerve-wracking medal round with a score of 243.3.
• India’s Varun Tomar shot 221.7 to take the bronze in a high-intensity final.
• The 20-year-old Samrat became the first Indian pistol shooter in an Olympic discipline to become a world champion.
• Samrat also helped India win the team gold in the event.
• India clinched the team gold with the trio of Samrat (586), Varun (586), and Shravan (582) aggregating 1754.
• India got a small consolation by winning a team silver with Esha (583), Manu (580), and world No.1 Suruchi Inder Singh (577), aggregating 1740 for the second-place finish.
• The article was Updated : Nov 11, 2025 02:45 IST.
• The article was Published on Nov 10, 2025.

Headline: Arshi Gupta becomes India’s first female National Karting Champion

Bullet Points:

• Arshi Gupta becomes India’s first female to win a National Karting Championship title.
• Arshi clinched the 2025 FMSCI Indian Rotax Max National Karting Championship at the Meco Kartopia circuit in Bengaluru.
• Arshi competed in the Micro Max class in a mixed grid of boys and girls.
• Arshi races under Leapfrog Racing.
• Arshi made her National debut in karting in early 2024.
• She also has a record in her name in the India Book of Records as the youngest female to receive the National Karting License.
• In September 2025, she was selected by FMSCI to be a part of Team India for the Asia Pacific Motorsports Championships in Sri Lanka.
• She finished fourth in the Karting Sprint event in the Mini category for 8 to 12-year-olds.

Headline: IN-SPACe and SVCL Sign Agreement to Operationalise Rs 1,000 Crore Spacetech VC Fund

Bullet Points:

• The Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) and the Small Industries Development Bank of India Venture Capital Ltd (SVCL) signed a contribution agreement.
• The agreement is to operationalise a Rs 1,000 crore venture capital fund for the Indian space sector.
• SVCL is a 100% subsidiary of SIDBI.
• The fund received SEBI approval on Oct 31.
• The Union cabinet approved the VC fund for the space sector in Oct 2024.
• In March 2025, SIDBI was appointed as the fund manager.
• The fund is designed to provide critical early-stage and growth capital to startups working across launch technologies, satellites, payload systems, in-space services, earth observation, communication platforms, and downstream applications.

Headline: Centre proposes 'country of origin' filter on e-commerce sites under Legal Metrology Rules

Bullet Points:

• Consumer affairs department has proposed that every e-commerce company selling imported products must provide a 'searchable and sortable filter' for 'country of origin' with their product listings.
• The proposed change in the Legal Metrology Rules is aimed at helping consumers make quick choices as per their preference.
• The consumer affairs department has notified amended Legal Metrology Rules stating that 18 different weights and measures will be verified by government approved test centres.

Headline: GRI launches UN-endorsed Integrity Matters Checklist to align corporate climate disclosures with Paris Agreement

Bullet Points:

• Tool name: Integrity Matters Checklist — jointly developed by GRI and the UN to operationalise the UN High-Level Expert Group (HLEG) Integrity Matters recommendations
• Mapping function: links every HLEG net-zero integrity recommendation to the GRI Standards, specifically the updated GRI 102: Climate Change 2025 Standard
• Disclosure scope: guides companies to report science-based GHG targets, transition plans, fossil-fuel phase-out steps and just-transition integration
• Institutional endorsements: endorsed by United Nations and welcomed by UN Assistant Secretary-General Selwin Hart, UN Global Compact CEO Sanda Ojiambo, and UN HLEG Chair Catherine McKenna
• Release timing: launched on 10 Nov 2025, coinciding with COP30 in Belém, Brazil, and the updated 2025 HLEG stocktake released at the C40 World Mayors Summit in Rio

Headline: FAIFA slams exclusion of farmers from COP11; 36 million livelihoods at risk, urges govt action

Bullet Points:

• The Federation of All India Farmer Associations (FAIFA) condemned the exclusion of farmers and their representatives from the upcoming 11th Conference of the Parties (COP11) to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC).
• The COP Secretariat continues to deny participation to stakeholders whose livelihoods are directly affected by the discussions, despite repeated appeals from farmer organisations.
• FAIFA called this exclusion “undemocratic and one-sided,” stating it undermines principles of inclusivity and transparency.
• FAIFA President PS Murali Babu said farmers are victims of policy decisions made without their voice.
• The COP Secretariat cited that farmers’ interests are “not aligned” with FCTC objectives for their exclusion.
• FAIFA called this reasoning illogical and discriminatory, pointing out that Articles 17 and 18 of the FCTC explicitly mandate protection of tobacco farmers’ livelihoods.
• India is among the world’s largest producers and exporters of Flue-Cured Virginia (FCV) tobacco.
• The trend of policy isolation poses a severe risk to over 36 million people dependent on tobacco cultivation, curing, trading, and allied sectors.
• FAIFA urged the Government of India’s delegation to COP11 to uphold the interests of India’s farming community and ensure no unilateral decisions harm farmers’ livelihoods.
• The federation appealed to the WHO and FCTC Secretariat to recognise farmers’ right to be heard in all decisions affecting their future.

Headline: Shaikha Nasser Al Nowais makes history as first woman to lead UN Tourism

Bullet Points:

• Shaikha Nasser Al Nowais has made history as the first woman to lead UN Tourism.
• Her four-year term begins in January 2026, marking a significant achievement for the UAE and its commitment to women's empowerment and global leadership in the sector.
• Her nomination was confirmed during the 123rd UN Tourism Executive Council session held in Segovia, Spain, where she secured a majority vote.
• Shaikha Al Nowais becomes the first woman to lead the organization since its establishment 50 years ago in 1975.
• Key positions that prepared her for this historic role include Corporate Vice President at Rotana Hotels and Chair of the Abu Dhabi Chamber’s Tourism Working Group.
• She has articulated a comprehensive Five-Pillar Vision designed to transform the tourism sector: Responsible Tourism, Capacity Building, Technology for Good, Innovative Financing, and Smart Governance.

Headline: Anish Bhanwala wins silver in men’s 25m rapid fire pistol at ISSF World Championships

Bullet Points:

• Anish Bhanwala secured India’s fifth medal at the ongoing Shooting World Championships by clinching the silver medal in the men’s 25m rapid fire pistol event in Cairo, Egypt.
• The Indian finished with a score of 28 at the end of eight series, behind gold medal-winner Clement Bessaguet’s (France) score of 29.
• Ukraine’s Maksym Horodynets clinched bronze with 25.
• Bhanwala entered the final in second place after qualification (585 - 22x) and prevailed in four shoot-offs en route to his maiden individual World Championships medal.
• Earlier this year, Bhanwala had also won the silver medal at the Asian Shooting Championships in the same event in Shymkent, Kazakhstan.

Headline: Pharmaceutical Investments and Pricing in India

Bullet Points:

• WeGovy's 2.4 mg dose is priced at ₹ 26,015 for a month's supply in India.
• Eli Lilly disclosed plans to invest $1 billion for contract manufacturing in India.
• Eli Lilly will set up a new manufacturing and quality centre in Hyderabad.
• The investment by Eli Lilly came amid 100% US tariffs on the pharma sector.
• India is referred to as the world's third largest pharmaceutical industry.

Headline: Hurun Research Institute Report: Mumbai Ranks Third, New Delhi Ninth Among Top Billionaire Cities Globally

Bullet Points:

• New York tops the list with 119 billionaires.
• London is second with 97 billionaires.
• Mumbai secured third place with 92 billionaires.
• According to a recent report by the Hurun Research Institute, shared by World of Statistics on social media platform X, the cities with the highest number of billionaires include New York, London, Mumbai, Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Hong Kong, Moscow, New Delhi, and San Francisco.
• India’s capital, New Delhi, also made it to the global top ten, ranking ninth with 57 billionaires.

Headline: Maldives President Muizzu Inaugurates India-Funded Hanimaadhoo Airport

Bullet Points:

• Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu inaugurated the Hanimaadhoo International Airport.
• The airport project was built with Indian financial assistance.
• It was financed through a line of credit extended by India’s EXIM Bank under a 2019 agreement with the Maldivian government.
• Construction was carried out by India’s JMC Projects.
• India’s Civil Aviation Minister, Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu, attended the inauguration ceremony.
• President Muizzu described the airport as a “gateway to prosperity” and a “catalyst for unlocking the potential of the northern Maldives and enhancing global connectivity.”
• The Indian High Commission described the project as a “true vehicle for progress and prosperity, and a symbol of India’s commitment under Neighbourhood First and MAHASAGAR vision.”

Headline: Philippines hit by 'intense' typhoon as nearly a million evacuate

Bullet Points:

• Typhoon Fung-wong made landfall in the Philippines with sustained winds of around 185 km/h and gusts of 230 km/h.
• More than 900,000 people have been evacuated.
• Two people have died: one person drowned and a woman was found trapped under debris in Catbalogan City.
• The eye of the storm hit Aurora province in Luzon.
• The storm weakened to a typhoon and was over La Union in western Luzon by 02:00.
• The country's meteorological service warned of destructive winds and 'high-risk of life-threatening' storm surges.
• Almost 300 flights have been cancelled and several airports closed.
• More than 200mm of rain is forecast for parts of Luzon, with 100–200mm expected in Metro Manila.
• Typhoon Fung-wong comes days after Typhoon Kalmaegi, which left nearly 200 people dead and over 100 still missing.
• The Filipino government declared a state of calamity across the country after Typhoon Kalmaegi and in preparation for the coming storm.

Headline: Cleveland Cavaliers icon Lenny Wilkens dies at 88

Bullet Points:

• Lenny Wilkens served as Cavaliers head coach from 1986-1993 and holds the franchise record with 316 regular-season coaching wins.
• He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as both a player (1989) and a coach (1998).
• Wilkens coached the Seattle SuperSonics to their only NBA title in 1979 and was named NBA Coach of the Year with the Hawks in 1994.

Headline: International Conference on Green Hydrogen 2025 to convene in New Delhi

Bullet Points:

• Event: Third edition of the International Conference on Green Hydrogen (ICGH-2025) organised by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).
• Duration & Format: Two-day conference on 11–12 November featuring "plenary sessions, expert panels and technical discussions focused on building a resilient green hydrogen ecosystem."
• Context: The 2025–26 financial year is "heading for a record in renewable energy installations," with 3,089 MW of wind and 21,686 MW of solar capacity added in the first six months.
• National RE share: Non-fossil fuel capacity reached 2,56,089 MW, constituting 51.12% of India’s total power capacity of 5,00,889 MW.
• State rankings: Maharashtra (27,674 MW) has overtaken Tamil Nadu (26,589 MW) in total installed renewable energy capacity, while Rajasthan leads at 40,407 MW.

Headline: Max Planck Institute team identifies PU.1–CD28 axis that switches microglia into neuroprotective mode against Alzheimer’s damage

Bullet Points:

• Discovery: Down-regulating the transcription factor PU.1 converts a small subset of microglia into neuroprotective cells that suppress brain-wide inflammation and curb amyloid pathology in Alzheimer’s mouse models
• Institution: Max Planck Institute (Anne Schaefer laboratory) in collaboration with Alison Goate and Alexander Tarakhovsky
• Key finding: Protective microglia express the lymphoid co-stimulatory receptor CD28; microglia-specific deletion of CD28 abolishes their suppressive function, accelerates plaque growth and worsens neuroinflammation
• Human relevance: Results were validated in human microglia and human brain tissue, and align with prior genetic evidence that lower PU.1 (SPI1) expression is associated with reduced Alzheimer’s risk
• Therapeutic implication: The PU.1–CD28 signaling axis provides a new molecular target for microglia-directed immunotherapies aimed at slowing or preventing Alzheimer’s progression

Headline: Assam Cabinet Approves Bill to Ban Polygamy

Bullet Points:

• Assam Cabinet on Sunday approved a bill that proposes to prohibit polygamy and grant seven years of imprisonment for the guilty.
• The Assam Prohibition of Polygamy Bill, 2025, is scheduled to be tabled in the winter session of the Assembly from November 25.
• The bill, after passage by the Assembly, however, seeks to exempt the ethnic communities and the areas under the three autonomous councils set up under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.
• These autonomous councils are Bodoland Territorial Council, Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council and Dima Hasao Autonomous Council.
• Under this bill, polygamy is prohibited in respect of the person who shall not marry if he has a living spouse or is not legally separated from the other spouse by following due procedure of law or is a party to a marriage which is not yet dissolved or annulled by a decree of divorce.
• The Assam Prohibition of Polygamy Bill, 2025 further seeks to provide compensation to the victim women as they have to suffer immense pain and hardship due to polygamous marriage.
• If the bill is passed by the Assembly, Assam will join Uttarakhand in banning polygamy.

Headline: Qatar National Day Celebrated Annually on December 18

Bullet Points:

• Qatar celebrates its National Day annually on December 18.
• The day marks the founding of the state in 1878 by Sheikh Jassim bin Mohammed bin Thani.
• The official slogan for Qatar National Day 2025 is “Bekum Ta'lu W' Minkum Tantazer” (translated as “The nation rises with you, waits for you”).
• The 2025 slogan is taken from a speech delivered by HH the Amir during his 2016 visit to Qatar University.
• HE Sheikh Abdulrahman bin Hamad Al Thani is the Minister of Culture.

Headline: Prince William announces Earthshot Prize 2025 winners in Rio

Bullet Points:

• The Earthshot Prize 2025 winners were named at an awards ceremony in Brazil.
• The ceremony took place in Rio de Janeiro's Museum of Tomorrow.
• The Prince of Wales, Prince William, founded the global environmental award in 2020 and is the president of the prize.
• Five winners were chosen from 15 finalists, each receiving £1m to scale up their projects to repair the climate.
• The five Earthshots, or goals, for which an award is given are: Protect and Restore Nature; Clean Our Air; Revive Our Oceans; Build a Waste-Free World; and Fix Our Climate.
• Winners included re.green (Brazil), the city of Bogotá (Colombia), The High Seas Treaty, Lagos Fashion Week (Nigeria), and Friendship (Bangladesh).
• Prince William is scheduled to give a speech at COP30, the UN's annual climate change meeting, in Belem.

Headline: 18th Urban Mobility India (UMI) Conference and Expo 2025: Objectives and Focus Areas

Bullet Points:

• The Gurugram Metro Rail Limited (GMRL) will host the 18th Urban Mobility India (UMI) Conference and Expo 2025 in Gurugram.
• The objective of the event is sharing best practices in urban mobility at the national and global level.
• The conference will feature technical sessions related to urban transportation, modernising public transport, e-mobility, road safety, traffic management, and sustainable development.
• Experts, policymakers, city planners, and industry representatives from across the country and abroad will be attending the event.

Headline: Union Minister Khattar on Urban Development Initiatives and Metro Expansion

Bullet Points:

• The Centre has begun holding regional meetings to address a wide range of urban development concerns, discussing subjects like road, drains, mobility, metro rail, and including demands and suggestions from participating states.
• The Centre plans to hold an Urban Conclave in New Delhi soon, where ministers, secretaries, and the mayors of some important corporations will be invited.
• India's metro network has expanded rapidly, with 1,100 km operational and another 900 km in progress, with metro rail work underway in five cities and eventually expanding to 29 across the country.
• Metro and other urban projects are funded through a mix of central-state partnerships, public-private ventures, and international agencies like those in Japan and the World Bank.

Headline: C-DOT and IIT-Gandhinagar sign MoU to establish Centre of Excellence for next-gen telecom innovation

Bullet Points:

• Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT) and Indian Institute of Technology, Gandhinagar (IIT-GN) signed an MoU to set up a Centre of Excellence (CoE) for telecom and cybersecurity research
• The CoE will focus on Mobile Communications, Cyber Security, Quantum Communication, Advanced AI, and Advanced Telecom Applications
• The centre will enable collaboration between IIT Gandhinagar students, faculty, researchers and C-DOT researchers in Telecom and ICT domain
• It will support incubation, mentoring, and collaboration with startups, industries, and academia to foster innovation and entrepreneurship
• The initiative aligns with national missions for telecom, semiconductor, and digital transformation to create an industry-ready workforce

Headline: Google Maps Collaborates with Indian Government Authorities for Enhanced Safety and Utility Features

Bullet Points:

• A new collaboration with the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) will provide Google Maps with near real-time data on highway road closures and repairs.
• The partnership with NHAI will also help surface information for wayside amenities like restrooms and petrol stations.
• Google is partnering with government authorities so that Maps can alert users visually and audibly as they approach areas identified as accident-prone, prompting safer driving.
• Maps will now display the official speed limit for a road—right next to the speedometer—based on data from local traffic authorities.
• India is among the first markets to receive automatic notifications of major disruptions or delays on the road ahead for Android users on major roads in New Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore.

Headline: Tamil Nadu’s ‘Women’s Wellness on Wheels’ Scheme: Cancer Screening Vans for All Districts

Bullet Points:

• Scheme name: ‘Women’s Wellness on Wheels’ – 38 fully-equipped vehicles to be rolled out, one in each of Tamil Nadu’s 38 districts (“Tamil Nadu plans to launch 38 vehicles in 38 districts under the scheme”).
• Objective: Protect women from cancer by enabling “complete check-ups for women to screen them for cancer risks such as cervical cancer and breast cancer” inside the mobile units.
• Key feature: These are “fully-equipped vehicles, the first of its kind in India” for cancer screening of women.
• Associated initiative: Free HPV vaccination for girls aged 14 and below to prevent cervical cancer, to be implemented in private hospitals at a cost of ₹ 36 crore.

Headline: Exercise Malabar-2025 begins at Guam with INS Sahyadri participation

Bullet Points:

• Exercise Malabar-2025 involves the Navies of India, Japan, Australia, and USA
• Harbour Phase will include operational planning, communication alignment, familiarisation visits, and sports fixtures
• Sea Phase will feature joint fleet operations, anti-submarine warfare, gunnery serials, and flying operations

Headline: Bangladesh Joins UN Water Convention, Raising Concerns for India

Bullet Points:

• Bangladesh became the first country in South Asia to join the U.N.’s Water Convention, officially known as the Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes.
• The convention, initially intended for European and Central Asian countries, became available to all U.N. member countries in 2016.
• Bangladesh's decision to join was driven by a need to safeguard and manage its waterways and address rising water security risks.
• The author believes Bangladesh joining the convention could heighten tensions in South Asia, particularly with India.
• India fears that Bangladesh's membership could undermine its negotiating power in future water disputes and when the Ganges River Treaty is due for renewal in 2026.
• A day before signing the U.N. convention, Bangladesh joined China and Pakistan in announcing a ‘trilateral cooperation’ on the economy, climate and social development.

Headline: Bilateral Haj Agreement between India and Saudi Arabia for Haj-2026

Bullet Points:

• Agreement Name: Bilateral Haj Agreement.
• Parties: India and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
• Key Provision: India's Haj quota for 2026 has been confirmed at 175,025.
• Objective: To ensure a smooth and comfortable pilgrimage experience by improving facilities, transportation, accommodation, and health services for Indian pilgrims.
• Signatories: Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju (India) and Saudi Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Tawfiq bin Fawzan Al Rabiah (Saudi Arabia).

Headline: Updates on Indian Financial Regulations and Policies

Bullet Points:

• RBI’s seventh amendment to FEMA Regulations on Foreign Currency Accounts: Strengthening IFSC integration and export flexibility
• Evolving jurisprudence in IBC: Analysis of Supreme Court’s review judgment in Bhushan Power and Steel resolution process
• SEBI’s Adani order: Due process and the boundaries of retrospective law
• Subsidized rate of GST for plant-based milk beverages: A dispute in the brewing
• The clean slate doctrine under IBC: Extinguishing claims and ensuring certainty in insolvency resolution

Headline: AU Small Finance Bank Launches 'M' Circle Women's Banking Proposition

Bullet Points:

• AU Small Finance Bank (AU SFB) has unveiled 'M' circle, a distinctive women's banking proposition designed and tailored to meet their unique needs and aspirations.
• M circle customers would enjoy 25 per cent additional discount on locker rentals.
• M circle offers preferential loan rates with 0.2 per cent lower interest.
• M circle customers would get access to exclusive offers on Nykaa, Ajio Luxe, Kalyan Jewellers, BookMyShow, Zepto and Swiggy.
• M circle provides complimentary preventive health check-ups (including cancer screenings); unlimited online consultations and offline visits across specialities such as Gynaecology, Paediatrics.

Headline: Salman Rushdie receives lifetime achievement award at Dayton Literary Peace Prize event

Bullet Points:

• Salman Rushdie was among the honorees Sunday at the Dayton Literary Peace Prize event in Ohio.
• He received a lifetime achievement award after publishing his first work of fiction since being stabbed on a New York lecture stage three years ago.
• The prizes honor both literary merit and the writers' promotion of peace through their work.
• The lifetime achievement award is also known as the Ambassador Richard C. Holbrooke Distinguished Achievement Award.
• His most recent work, his 23rd, is "The Eleventh Hour," which includes three novellas and two short stories.
• He was blinded in one eye from the 2022 attack before a stunned audience.
• Authorities said Rushdie's attacker, Hadi Matar, then 24 and a U.S. citizen, was attempting to carry out the decades-old edict calling for his death.

Headline: Tai Tzu Ying announces retirement from badminton

Bullet Points:

• Tai Tzu Ying of Chinese Taipei announced her retirement from international badminton.
• She ends her career with 17 BWF World Tour titles and 12 runner-up finishes.
• Her last title win came at the India Open 2024.
• She won a silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics and two World Championships medals (silver in 2021, bronze in 2022).
• She also claimed an Asian Games gold in 2018 and three Asian Championships titles.
• PV Sindhu paid tribute, noting they faced each other 24 times, with Tai winning 19 of those matches.

Headline: UAE to host 2026 Asian Youth Archery Championship in Khorfakkan

Bullet Points:

• The United Arab Emirates, represented by the UAE Archery Federation, has won the bid to host the 2026 Asian Youth Archery Championship in the city of Khorfakkan.
• The announcement was made during the Asian Archery Federation Congress, held yesterday evening in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
• The UAE's bid secured the majority of votes thanks to the country's advanced sports infrastructure, world-class facilities, and organisational and logistical capabilities.

Headline: Gujarat launches India’s first tribal-focused genome sequencing project under Genome India initiative

Bullet Points:

• Scheme Name: 'Creation of Reference Genome Database for Tribal Population' approved for FY 2025-26 by Gujarat government
• Objective: Decode genetic blueprint of 31 tribal communities across 11 districts to develop targeted diagnostics, treatment strategies and preventive care for inherited disorders like thalassemia, sickle-cell anaemia and G6PD deficiency
• Implementing Agency: Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre (GBRC) operating three genome-sequencing platforms, including a long-read sequencer