Daily Current Affairs: 15 November 2025

Headline: Bihar election results 2025: Nitish does it again; alliance returns with crushing 202 seats

Bullet Points:

• 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.

Headline: New Mangalore Port Authority Golden Jubilee: Rs 1,500-cr Infrastructure & CSR Projects Unveiled

Bullet Points:

• Implementing Agency: New Mangalore Port Authority (NMPA) under the Union Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways.
• Financial Outlay: 16 infrastructure and 113 CSR projects collectively valued at Rs 1,500 crore announced during the golden-jubilee celebration.
• Strategic Objective: Projects align with Maritime India Vision 2030 and Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047 to expand India’s maritime infrastructure.
• Green Initiative: NMPA currently operates on 100% solar power and is transitioning further toward green energy.
• Future Cargo Target: Port presently handles over 46 million tonnes annually, with plans to double capacity to 100 million tonnes by 2047.
• Upcoming Investment: India Maritime Week 2025 is expected to bring additional MoUs worth Rs 52,000 crore for the port sector.

Headline: India signs ₹2,095.70 crore deal with Bharat Dynamics for INVAR anti-tank missiles

Bullet Points:

• Contract value: ₹2,095.70 crore signed between Ministry of Defence and Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL)
• Equipment: INVAR laser-guided anti-tank missiles to be inducted into Indian Army’s T-90 tanks
• Objective: Strengthen lethality and firepower of T-90 tanks and enhance mechanised warfare capabilities

Headline: UAE completes first government transaction using Digital Dirham under CBUAE FIT Programme

Bullet Points:

• The UAE’s first government financial transaction using the Digital Dirham was executed between the Ministry of Finance and the Dubai Department of Finance (DOF) in collaboration with the Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE).
• The transaction was carried out through the mBridge platform and was completed in less than two minutes.
• The Digital Dirham pilot is part of the CBUAE’s Financial Infrastructure Transformation (FIT) Programme, which aims to accelerate digital-payment adoption and strengthen the UAE’s position as a global financial hub.

Headline: RBI Penalizes Three Cooperative Banks for Regulatory Non-Compliance

Bullet Points:

• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) imposed monetary penalties on three cooperative banks for non-compliance with various regulatory norms.
• By orders dated November 6, 2025, the RBI imposed a penalty of Rs 2 lakh on The Mumbai District Central Co-operative Bank Ltd., Maharashtra, for contravention of Section 20 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949.
• The Karaikudi Co-operative Town Bank Ltd., Tamil Nadu, faced a penalty of Rs 1.5 lakh for non-compliance with RBI directions on ‘Prudential Norms on Capital Adequacy – Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks (UCBs)’ and ‘Know Your Customer (KYC)’ guidelines.
• The District Co-operative Central Bank Ltd., Eluru, Andhra Pradesh, was fined Rs 50,000 for violations related to KYC norms.
• The penalty on the District Co-operative Central Bank Ltd., Eluru, Andhra Pradesh, was imposed under Section 47A(1)(c) read with Sections 46(4)(i) and 56 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949.

Headline: Banas Dairy and Union Cooperation Ministry Sign Pact for High-Quality Potato Seeds

Bullet Points:

• The Banas Dairy and union cooperation ministry signed an important agreement.
• The agreement is aimed at encouraging scientific production of potato seeds to develop a complete value chain and increase farmers' income.
• Under the agreement, Bhartiya Beej Sahkari Samiti Ltd (BBSSL) and Banas Dairy will jointly produce seed potatoes.
• Banas Dairy will share its advanced tissue culture and aeroponic technology with BBSSL to ensure the supply of disease-free seed potatoes to farmers.
• Farmers will also be provided with facilities such as scientific farming, training, contract farming, and organised markets.
• BBSS is a cooperative society established by the central government to produce, procure, and distribute high-quality seeds through a network of cooperatives.

Headline: India, Nepal Ink New Rail Transit Deal to Boost Multimodal Trade

Bullet Points:

• India and Nepal signed a Letter of Exchange (LoE) amending the Protocol to the Treaty of Transit.
• The agreement, exchanged during a bilateral meeting in New Delhi, will facilitate the movement of rail-based freight between Jogbani (India) and Biratnagar (Nepal), including bulk cargo under an expanded definition.
• This liberalization extends to key transit corridors: Kolkata-Jogbani, Kolkata–Nautanwa (Sunauli), and Visakhapatnam–Nautanwa (Sunauli).
• The Jogbani–Biratnagar rail link, constructed with grant assistance from the Government of India, was jointly inaugurated by the Prime Ministers of India and Nepal on 1 June 2023.

Headline: Delhi Government Abolishes Mandatory Renewal of Establishment Registrations

Bullet Points:

• The Delhi government has abolished the provision of mandatory renewal of registration every 21 years for establishments.
• This change is implemented under the Delhi Shops and Establishments Act, 1954.
• The Labour Department of the Delhi Government has abolished the mandatory renewal of registration under Section 5 of the Act.
• The primary objective of this decision is to promote 'Ease of Doing Business' and simplify business processes.
• Previously, the Act mandated renewal of registration every 21 years from the date of registration.
• This step will move the registration process towards a one-time registration model, freeing traders from the hassle of periodic renewals.
• The registration process under the Delhi Shops and Establishments Act, 1954, is already fully online, requires no documents or fees, and issues certificates immediately, a system in effect since 2009.

Headline: DRDO develops new generation man-portable autonomous underwater vehicles

Bullet Points:

• 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

Headline: China begins sea trials for Type 076 amphibious assault ship 'Sichuan'

Bullet Points:

• China has begun sea trials for its new Type 076 amphibious assault ship Sichuan.
• On Friday, the Sichuan departed from the Hudong-Zhonghua shipyard in Shanghai at around 9 am (local time), beginning its maiden voyage into designated waters for its first trial.
• The vessel’s displacement is described as exceeding 40,000 tonnes by some Chinese media, though earlier assessments have cited a figure around 50,000 tonnes.
• The inclusion of electromagnetic launch and recovery equipment is the most distinctive aspect of the new class.
• This feature makes the Type 076 the second ship in the Chinese fleet equipped with this technology and the first amphibious assault vessel anywhere to use it.
• The potential for the Sichuan to serve as a launch and recovery platform for such UAVs is one of the reasons it is frequently described in international assessments as the world’s first drone-capable amphibious assault ship equipped with carrier-grade launch systems.

Headline: Esha Singh wins historic bronze in women’s 25m pistol at ISSF World Championships

Bullet Points:

• Esha Singh became the first Indian woman to win a World Championships medal in the women’s 25m pistol event.
• Gold and silver in the same event were won by Paris Olympics champion Yang Jiin of Korea and world number 2 Qianxun Yao of China.
• The competition was held at the same Cairo range where Esha had won her first World Junior Championship title in 2022.

Headline: Supreme Court Directs Jharkhand to Declare Saranda Forests as Wildlife Sanctuary and Conservation Reserve

Bullet Points:

• The Supreme Court directed the Jharkhand government to declare the Saranda forests as a wildlife sanctuary and conservation reserve.
• The directive prohibits any mining activity within a one-km radius of the boundary of the declared sanctuary and conservation reserve.
• The bench directed the state government to notify the area comprising 126 compartments as notified in 1968 notification, excluding six compartments, as a wildlife sanctuary within three months from the date of the judgment.
• The Supreme Court stated that the state cannot run away from its duty to declare the extent of 31,468.25 hectares as Saranda Wildlife Sanctuary, overruling the state’s plan to declare only a part of the forest as sanctuary.
• The bench directed the state “to give wide publicity to the fact that by this judgment, neither the individual rights nor the community rights of the tribals and the forest dwellers in the said area would be adversely affected” and that “in view of the provision of… the Forest Rights Act, all rights of tribals and forest dwellers, both individually as well as of community, shall stand protected”.
• The directive is based on “the mandate of Articles 48A and 51A(g) of the Constitution, Section 26A of the Wildlife Protection Act, and particularly in the light of the report of the Wildlife Institute of India”.
• The top court reiterated its direction that “mining within the National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary, and within an area of 1 km from the boundary of such National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary shall not be permissible.”
• The National Wildlife Action Plan 2017-31 “recognises the need to enhance the protected area network (broadly including national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, community reserves etc.) and to demarcate boundaries for protected areas” and “further stresses on in situ conservation of threatened species, and the need for immediate conservation measures including the protection of critical habitations”.

Headline: WFI revokes Aman Sehrawat and Neha Sangwan’s suspensions

Bullet Points:

• The Wrestling Federation of India lifted the suspensions on Olympic bronze-medallist Aman Sehrawat and junior wrestler Neha Sangwan.
• Aman had been suspended for failing to make weight for his 57 kg bout at the World Championships in Zagreb, Croatia.
• Neha had been suspended for missing weight at the U20 World Championships in Samokov, Bulgaria.

Headline: Grand 10th Gita Jayanti Mahotsav in Kurukshetra

Bullet Points:

• The 10th Gita Jayanti Mahotsav in Kurukshetra is set to be a grand spiritual and cultural event.
• The festival is running from November 15th to December 5th.
• Madhya Pradesh is a partner in this international event.
• December 1st will see massive global Gita recitations.
• The festival aligns with the 350th martyrdom anniversary of Guru Teg Bahadur.

Headline: Discovery of Albino Checkered Kneelback Snake in Assam

Bullet Points:

• 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.

Headline: Meghalaya Cabinet Approves Amendments to Fiscal Act and Service Rules

Bullet Points:

• The Meghalaya cabinet approved the amendment to the Meghalaya Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Act, 2006.
• This amendment permits the state to increase its fiscal deficit ceiling from 3% to 3.5% of GSDP, thereby facilitating additional borrowing.
• The cabinet also approved the amendment to Rule 6(D) of the Meghalaya Ministerial District Establishment Service Rules, 2017, which will allow 50% of ‘Group D’ posts to be filled from among the Regular Casual Workers (RCWs).
• Additionally, the cabinet approved the Service Rules for the Meghalaya State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, permitting it to have its own recruitment board to recruit its staff.

Headline: China's 3D-printed miniature turbojet engine completes maiden single-engine flight test

Bullet Points:

• Technology: domestically developed ultra-lightweight miniature turbojet engine manufactured primarily by 3D printing
• Institution: Aero Engine Corporation of China (AECC)
• Key performance: 30-minute flight at 6,000 m altitude and Mach 0.75, engine operated normally and stably
• Design features: 160-kilogram thrust class; over three-quarters of engine weight in 3D-printed rotating parts, reducing part count and weight
• Significance: first 3D-printed, ultra-lightweight miniature turbojet engine in this thrust class in China to pass a flight test

Headline: Countries with the strongest passports in 2025

Bullet Points:

• Singapore leads the world with its passport granting access to 193 destinations.
• South Korea’s passport holds the number two spot on the list by allowing access to 190 destinations.
• Japan is on the number third position on the list with access to 189 destinations.
• The European Power Group (Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland) shares the fourth spot on the prestigious list, each offering visa-free access to 187 destinations.
• Austria, Greece, Norway, Portugal, Sweden share the fifth spot on the list with access to 186 destinations.
• Hungary, Malta, New Zealand, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia together share the sixth spot on the list, each allowing access to 185 destinations.
• Australia, Croatia, Czechia, Estonia, UAE, UK together share the seventh spot on the list by allowing access to 184 destinations.
• Canada and Latvia share the eighth spot on the list with access to 183 countries.
• Liechtenstein and Lithuania enjoy strong passports with easy access to 182 countries.
• Iceland and Malaysia share the spot with access to 181 destinations.

Headline: Moolathva World Award For Nele Foundation

Bullet Points:

• Bengaluru's Nele Foundation has been honored with the 2025 Moolathva World Award for its dedicated work in empowering underprivileged children.
• The foundation currently shelters 415 children across 12 centers.
• It will receive a cash prize of Rs 1,00,001.
• The award ceremony is scheduled for November 16.
• Nele Foundation started as a project of the Hindu Seva Pratishthana in 2000 and has functioned as an independent trust since 2014.
• Over 2,000 children have been rehabilitated through the foundation so far.
• The foundation provides food, clothing, accommodation, health services, education, holistic development, and personal growth opportunities.

Headline: NIOT-led India to build world’s deepest 6,000-m underwater lab in Indian Ocean

Bullet Points:

• 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

Headline: PM Modi to Inaugurate Rs 9,700-crore Tribal Welfare Projects in Gujarat on Janjatiya Gaurav Divas

Bullet Points:

• Projects include Grih Pravesh for one lakh houses under PM-JANMAN and DA-JAGUA
• 42 new Eklavya Model Residential Schools to be inaugurated
• 250 buses for 14 tribal districts and 748 km of roads to be launched for improved connectivity
• 14 Tribal Multi-Marketing Centres to be established for tribal produce marketing

Headline: Blue Flag Certification awarded to beaches for 2025-26

Bullet Points:

• 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.

Headline: US-South Korea Trade & Security Deal: Tariff Cuts, Nuclear Submarine Plan, $350 Bn US Investment

Bullet Points:

• US import duties on South Korean products reduced from 25% to 15% under the new agreement.
• South Korea will build nuclear-powered submarines and establish new partnerships with the US in shipbuilding, AI, and the nuclear industry.
• South Korea commits to invest $350 billion in the United States, including $200 billion in cash and $150 billion for shipbuilding.

Headline: Veteran actor Kamini Kaushal passes away at 98

Bullet Points:

• Kamini Kaushal dies at 98: Veteran actor’s career spanned from Neecha Nagar to Laal Singh Chaddha
• Often called the oldest living actor of Hindi cinema, she passed away at home.
• She made her debut with Chetan Anand’s 1946 film Neecha Nagar, which won the Palm d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival.
• Her last appearance was in the Aamir Khan film Laal Singh Chaddha.
• Born as Uma Sood, Kamini told SCREEN in 2017 that she was “bullied” into the world of cinema after she finished her graduation in English honours from Lahore.
• Kamini married her brother-in-law since she had promised her dying sister that she would take care of her two daughters.
• By the mid-60s, she transitioned to author-backed character parts that left a strong impact.

Headline: US Launches Operation SOUTHERN SPEAR in Latin America

Bullet Points:

• United States Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth formally announced the launch of a US military operation called “Operation SOUTHERN SPEAR.”
• The mission is “Led by Joint Task Force Southern Spear and @SOUTHCOM.”
• The stated objective of the mission is to “defend our Homeland, remove narco-terrorists from our Hemisphere, and secure our Homeland from the drugs that are killing our people.”
• SOUTHCOM’s area of responsibility “covers 31 countries through South America, Central America and the Caribbean.”
• The USS Gerald R Ford, described as “the most advanced US aircraft carrier, is expected to arrive off the coast of Venezuela within days.”
• Venezuela’s Ministry of Defence mobilized “almost 200,000 troops… for a two-day exercise to improve Venezuela’s readiness to respond to the “imperialist threat”.”

Headline: 114-year-old environmentalist ‘Saalumarada’ Thimmakka passes away

Bullet Points:

• Environmentalist 'Saalumarada' Thimmakka, who planted 385 banyan trees, has passed away at the age of 114.
• The Padma Shri awardee, born in 1911, was recognized for her dedication to nature, treating trees as her children.
• Thimmakka earned the title ‘Saalumarada’ for planting 385 banyan trees along a 4.5 km stretch between Hulikal and Kudur in Ramanagara, Bengaluru South district.
• Her remarkable efforts earned her numerous accolades, including the Padma Shri in 2019, the Nadoja Award from Hampi University in 2010, the National Citizen Award in 1995, and the Indira Priyadarshini Vrikshamitra Award in 1997.
• Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah also expressed his condolences on her passing.