Daily Current Affairs: 16 November 2025

Headline: Doug McMillon to retire as Walmart CEO; John Furner named successor

Bullet Points:

• Doug McMillon will step down as Walmart CEO on Jan. 31 and remain on the board until the annual shareholders' meeting.
• John Furner, president and CEO of Walmart U.S. since 2019, will become CEO on Feb. 1.
• McMillon started at Walmart in 1984 as an hourly warehouse associate and has been CEO since 2014.

Headline: RBI Announces Moratorium on Export Credit from Sep 1 to Dec 31, 2025

Bullet Points:

• Borrowers with export credit facility classified as standard as on August 31, 2025 are eligible for a moratorium on all repayments from September 1, 2025 till December 31, 2025.
• Interest accrued during the moratorium will be converted into a funded interest term loan repayable after March 31, 2026 but not later than September 30, 2026.
• Pre-shipment or post-shipment credit disbursed till March 31, 2026 can be repaid within an extended credit period of 450 days.
• Banks extending these reliefs must provision 5% of the total outstanding amount of such loans.

Headline: RBI Data: Bank Credit Growth Slows to 11.3%, Deposit Growth Rises to 9.7% in October

Bullet Points:

• Banks' annual credit growth at the end of October 31 stood at 11.3% while deposits grew 9.7%, Reserve Bank of India data showed.
• The gap between credit and deposit growth prints narrowed to 160 basis points at the end of October 31 as compared with the 200 basis points seen on October 17.
• Exactly a year back, the gap in credit and deposit growth was merely 10 basis points with credit expanded 11.8% while deposit grew at 11.7% year-on-year.
• Demand deposits rose 21% year-on-year to Rs 31 lakh crore against 17% rise seen a fortnight back.
• The time deposits, which are known as fixed deposits, grew 8.3% to Rs 211 lakh crore.

Headline: Radhakrishnan Opens 30th CII Summit, Highlights Andhra’s Growth and India’s Rise

Bullet Points:

• Vice-President of India Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan inaugurated the 30th Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Partnership Summit in Visakhapatnam.
• The summit is co-hosted by CII, DPIIT under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, and the Government of Andhra Pradesh.
• Shri Radhakrishnan declared that uplifting millions from poverty through sustained economic activity remains Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s most historic achievement.
• India is now the world’s fourth-largest economy and the fastest-growing major economy.
• Andhra Pradesh is fast becoming India’s industrial engine, supported by progressive infrastructure development, logistics efficiency, and investor confidence.
• The summit theme is “Technology, Trust and Trade: Navigating the New Geoeconomic Order.”
• The event features 45 dedicated business and policy sessions, 72 international speakers, delegates from 45 countries, and over 300 overseas participants.
• India is the third-largest startup ecosystem in the world and aims to lead in clean technology exports, especially in green hydrogen, electric mobility, and renewable energy.
• Visakhapatnam is predicted to emerge as a paradise for investment and innovation in the coming years.
• India’s foreign policy approach is guided by Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam—the world is one family.

Headline: India rises to 6th largest global patent filer with over 64,000 patents

Bullet Points:

• India filed over 64,000 patents, with more than 55% filed by resident Indian innovators
• Country climbed from 81st to 38th rank in the Global Innovation Index
• Key national milestones cited: Chandrayaan-3, world’s first DNA vaccine, and indigenous antibiotics
• Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh emphasized entrepreneurship, start-ups, skilling, and applied sciences as new opportunity drivers
• Government provides accessible funding, mentorship, and skill development pathways even for those without advanced degrees

Headline: WPI and CPI Inflation Fall to Historic Lows in October; RBI Holds Policy Rate

Bullet Points:

• Wholesale inflation turned negative in October, dropping to minus 1.21 percent.
• The Wholesale Price Index (WPI) had inched up 0.13% in September and stood at 2.75% a year earlier.
• Food inflation saw the steepest fall, with overall deflation widening to 8.31% from 5.22% in September.
• Vegetable prices fell 34.97% in October compared with 24.41% in September, while pulses saw deflation of 16.50%.
• Manufactured product inflation eased to 1.54% from 2.33% in the previous month.
• Fuel and power remained in deflation for the seventh consecutive month at (-)2.55%, marginally lower than September’s (-)2.58%.
• Retail inflation data released last week showed consumer price index (CPI) inflation dropping to a historic low of 0.25% in October, compared with 1.44% in September.
• The Reserve Bank of India held its policy rate steady at 5.5% in its last review.
• The slide in wholesale inflation comes soon after the September 22 reduction in Goods and Services Tax (GST) rates, which brought the four-tier tax structure down to two slabs — 5% and 18% — for several mass-consumption goods.

Headline: India-France conduct 8th Garuda 25 air exercise at Mont-de-Marsan

Bullet Points:

• Exercise: Garuda 25 (8th edition) with Indian Air Force and French Air and Space Force
• Location: Mont-de-Marsan, France
• IAF assets: Su-30MKI fighters, C-17 Globemaster III, IL-78 refuellers
• Focus: air-to-air engagements, air-defence missions, coordinated strike operations

Headline: Birsa Munda's Birth Anniversary observed on November 15

Bullet Points:

• November 15 marks the birth anniversary of Birsa Munda, one of India's most revered tribal leaders, freedom fighters, and social reformers.
• Birsa Munda was born on November 15, 1875.
• He is best remembered for leading the Ulgulan (The Great Rebellion, 1899–1900) against the oppressive British colonial authorities and exploitative landlords.
• In Jharkhand, Birsa Munda’s birth anniversary is celebrated with statewide ceremonies, cultural programs, and educational initiatives.
• He is revered as a symbol of resistance against oppression and the protector of tribal communities.

Headline: Qatar to host 'Doha Tattoo' international military music festival

Bullet Points:

• Qatar will host the inaugural Doha Tattoo, an international military music and marching festival.
• The festival will be held from December 16–20, 2025, at Katara Cultural Village.
• The festival will feature bands from seven countries.
• It will be held under the patronage of H.E. Sheikh Khalifa bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Qatar’s Minister of Interior and Commander of the Internal Security Force (Lekhwiya).

Headline: South India Natural Farming Summit: Key Details and Features

Bullet Points:

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Coimbatore on Nov 19 to inaugurate the South India Natural Farming Summit at the Codissia Trade Fair Complex here.
• Modi will speak during the summit, organized by the farmers' associations in Tamil Nadu.
• The Prime Minister will interact with 50 scientists specializing in organic agriculture.
• The three-day summit will feature an exhibition with 300 stalls, interactive sessions by eminent scientists and policymakers, live demonstrations and a focus on youth and women engagement.

Headline: Navi Mumbai Airport To Begin Commercial Flights On Christmas

Bullet Points:

• Budget airline Akasa Air has announced its first flights from the Navi Mumbai International Airport from December 25, 2025.
• The first Akasa flight to Navi Mumbai Airport will commence from the national capital New Delhi.
• Akasa Air will operate the maiden flight between Delhi and Navi Mumbai International Airport on 25th December 2025.
• Scheduled flights connecting Navi Mumbai with Goa will commence effective 25th December 2025, Delhi and Kochi effective 26th December 2025, and Ahmedabad effective 31st December 2025.
• Indigo will also start operations from Navi Mumbai International Airport on December 25 and will connect NMIA to ten cities across India.

Headline: Andhra Pradesh and WEF to establish Centre for Energy and Cyber Resilience

Bullet Points:

• Andhra Pradesh government and World Economic Forum signed agreement to set up a centre for energy and cyber resilience
• Centre aims to protect electricity infrastructure in the state
• CM Chandrababu Naidu stated target to generate 160 GW of green energy in Andhra Pradesh
• AI-driven technologies to be used to reduce power transmission losses and supply costs
• State quickly implemented solar rooftop power generation under PM Surya Ghar scheme

Headline: MMRDA inaugurates Asia’s largest elevated Metro depot at Mandale with India’s longest test track

Bullet Points:

• Facility: Mandale Depot for Mumbai Metro Line 2B, Asia’s largest elevated Metro depot spread over 30.45 hectares
• Capacity: 72 eight-coach trains can be stabled simultaneously on two levels (36 per level)
• Test infrastructure: India’s longest 965-m test track for advanced rolling-stock testing and performance
• Technology: G+3 Depot Control Centre monitors train movement, maintenance, and safety in real time
• Environmental features: 175 KLD Effluent + Sewage Treatment Plants to recycle water for cleaning & landscaping

Headline: GI Tag Granted to Traditional Lepcha Musical Instruments: Tungbuk and Pumtong Pulit

Bullet Points:

• The Government of India granted Geographical Indication (GI) registration to two traditional Lepcha musical instruments – Tungbuk and Pumtong Pulit – under the Musical Instrument category of the Geographical Indication Registry.
• The GI registration certificates were presented during the 1st Tribal Business Conclave in New Delhi, organised by the Ministries of Culture, Tribal Affairs, and Commerce & Industry.
• The Tungbuk is a three-string instrument and the Pumtong Pulit is a bamboo flute, both integral to Lepcha folk music and culturally significant to the Lepcha community of Sikkim.
• NABARD, Gangtok supported the GI filing process, which took around two years to complete.

Headline: India Withdraws Quality Control Orders (QCOs) on Key Raw Materials

Bullet Points:

• India has removed mandatory quality checks (Quality Control Orders - QCOs) on numerous raw materials, including textiles, plastics, and metals.
• This move aims to reduce delays and costs for businesses, especially MSMEs.
• The withdrawal, notified on November 13, eliminates mandatory BIS certification for 14 products under the Chemicals & Petrochemicals Ministry and six under the Mines Ministry.
• The list of affected inputs includes PTA, MEG, polyester fibres, polypropylene, polyethylene, PVC resin, ABS, polycarbonate, and metals such as aluminium, lead, nickel, tin and zinc.
• The reforms flow from the Gauba Committee’s findings, which noted that QCOs grew significantly, many covering raw materials without direct safety implications.
• The rollback is expected to immediately ease sourcing pressures in textile hubs like Surat, Ludhiana, Tiruppur and Bhilwara, and among plastics processors, nearly 90% of whom are MSMEs.
• The withdrawal of QCOs for metals restores supply flexibility for downstream sectors including auto components, electronics, batteries, construction and defence.

Headline: GSH India and IIIT Manipur sign MoA for joint research and skill development in sustainable facility management

Bullet Points:

• GSH India Private Ltd (Indian arm of US-based GSH Group UK) signed a Memorandum of Agreement with IIIT Manipur to collaborate on facility management, IoT, sustainability and smart building systems.
• The partnership will focus on joint research, internships, training and skill development programs to bridge the industry-academy gap and promote innovation in sustainable technology-driven facility management.
• GSH India also signed an extended MoA with Anna University to strengthen collaboration in energy management, sustainability and technical skill development through expert lectures, internships, joint research and training programs.
• The MoA was signed at the fifth GSH Sustainable Energy Forum in Chennai, a biennial event fostering dialogue and innovation for a cleaner, greener future.
• Discussions at the forum covered renewable energy sources, energy efficiency, carbon accounting and market mechanisms of energy purchase.

Headline: C-DOT and NAM InfoCom Partner for Indigenous Mission Critical Communication System (MCX) Solution Development

Bullet Points:

• The Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT) signed an Agreement with M/s NAM InfoCom Private Limited for Joint Development of Mission Critical Communication System (MCX) Solution.
• The partnership aims to strengthen India’s indigenous communication infrastructure for public safety and emergency response and enhance India’s self-reliance in mission-critical communications.
• The MCX system has been developed in line with 3GPP standards to support Mission Critical Push-to-Talk (MCPTT), Mission Critical Data (MCData), and Mission Critical Video (MCVideo) services.
• This solution will provide secure, reliable, high-quality, low latency, real-time audio/video communication tailored to work around existing 4G and 5G mobile networks.
• The MCX solution will be useful for Public Protection and Disaster Relief (PPDR) communications and help disaster management agencies, Law and Order enforcement agencies for efficient operations.
• M/s NAM InfoCom is developing the MC Video solution and will bring experience in system integration, deployment, and customization, while C-DOT will provide its expertise in telecom R&D and system design.
• The project is fully funded under C-DOT Collaborative Research Programme (CCRP).
• The proposed MC Video solution offers multi-stream capabilities, a recording feature, and scalability to support multiple simultaneous group/one-to-one video calls, designed for low latency, low bandwidth, and minimal storage requirements.

Headline: Global Energy Leaders' Summit 2025 to be held in Puri with experts from 7 countries

Bullet Points:

• Summit Name: Global Energy Leaders' Summit 2025, organised by Department of Energy, Government of Odisha in partnership with Tony Blair Institute for Global Change and IIT Kanpur
• Location: Puri, Odisha
• Participating Countries: Experts and stakeholders from over seven countries including Canada, Brazil, Indonesia, Bhutan, Singapore and Malaysia
• Theme: 'Powering India: Sufficiency, Balance, Innovation'
• Key Objective: Sharing best practices in energy sector to help states learn from one another and turn innovation into progress

Headline: Union Bank of India Celebrates 107th Foundation Day, Launches Digital Initiatives and Expands Branch Network

Bullet Points:

• Union Bank of India (UBI) celebrated its 107th Foundation Day.
• A central function was organised by the bank’s headquarters in Mumbai at the Jio World Convention Centre, BKC.
• Department of Financial Services (DFS) Secretary M Nagaraju (IAS), Ministry of Finance, Government of India, attended as the chief guest.
• UBI launched two new digital initiatives — the Union E-Biz mobile app for MSMEs and the Union Ease mobile app.
• The bank announced the opening of 51 new branches across key regions.

Headline: SAMCO Mutual Fund Launches India's First Momentum-Based Small Cap Fund

Bullet Points:

• SAMCO Mutual Fund launched India’s first momentum-based small cap fund, named the SAMCO Small Cap Fund.
• The New Fund Offer (NFO) for the SAMCO Small Cap Fund will open for subscription from November 14, 2025, and will close on November 28.
• The SAMCO Small Cap Fund is an open-ended equity scheme that will predominantly invest in small-cap stocks—companies ranked 251st to 750th by market capitalisation.
• The fund is powered by SAMCO’s proprietary C.A.R.E. Momentum Strategy, which stands for Cross-sectional, Absolute, Revenue, and Earnings Momentum.
• India’s small-cap segment has a combined market capitalisation of over Rs 62 lakh crore.
• The Nifty Smallcap 250 TRI has delivered a 16.05% CAGR since inception.
• The momentum-based index Nifty Small Cap 250 Momentum Quality 100 TRI has delivered 22.03% CAGR since inception.
• The fund is benchmarked against the Nifty Smallcap 250 Total Returns Index (TRI).
• The fund will be managed by a team headed by Umeshkumar Mehta, CIO.
• Viraj Gandhi is the CEO of SAMCO Asset Management.
• Mutual funds increased cash allocation by Rs 10,000 crore to over Rs 2 lakh crore in October.

Headline: RBI approves S Krishnan's appointment as J&K Bank Chairman

Bullet Points:

• The Reserve Bank of India has approved the appointment of S Krishnan as part-time chairman of J&K Bank.
• His appointment is effective from November 13, 2025, till March 26, 2028.
• Krishnan previously served as MD & CEO of Punjab & Sind Bank.
• He also held the top position as MD & CEO of Tamilnad Mercantile Bank in September 2022.
• Krishnan is currently an independent director on the board of Srinagar-headquartered bank.

Headline: Noted computer science education pioneer Prof Vaidyeswaran Rajaraman passes away

Bullet Points:

• Prof Vaidyeswaran Rajaraman, an engineer and academic, passed away.
• He was one of the pioneers of computer science education in India.
• He was credited with establishing the first professional course in computer science in India at IIT Kanpur in 1965.
• He was a Bhatnagar Prize winner and was honoured with a Padma Bhushan in 1998.
• He wrote more than 20 textbooks on computer science which are still being taught in colleges and universities across the country.
• He later shifted to the Indian Institute of Science where he oversaw the development of low-cost parallel computers and a supercomputing facility.

Headline: World Diabetes Day 2025 observed on November 14 with theme 'Diabetes Across Life Stages'

Bullet Points:

• World Diabetes Day is observed every year on November 14.
• The theme for World Diabetes Day 2025 is 'Diabetes Across Life Stages'.
• World Diabetes Day was established in 1991 by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO).
• It became an official United Nations Day in 2006.
• The date was chosen to honour Sir Frederick Banting, who, along with Charles Best, co-discovered insulin in 1922.
• It is recognised as the world’s largest campaign to raise awareness about diabetes, reaching over one billion people across more than 160 countries.