Daily Current Affairs: 17 November 2025

Headline: Goa Police's 1930 Cloud-Based Cyber Fraud Call Centre: Key Features and Achievements

Bullet Points:

• Goa police has become the first state police force in India to achieve a 100% response rate in cyber fraud calls.
• The initiative is a '1930 cloud-based call centre' which was launched last month and inaugurated by Union home minister Amit Shah.
• The call centre ensures 100% accessibility by successfully responding to all calls, including missed calls.
• Nine police personnel of the cyber police station attend to calls round the clock.
• The system automatically records calls for quality assurance, allows staff to review conversations, supports conference calling, and enables real-time supervision by senior officers.
• The objective of the call centre is to reduce the time taken to report cyber fraud incidents, allowing officers to act faster and helping save substantial amounts of citizens’ money.

Headline: New filter-feeding pterosaur species Bakiribu waridza identified inside fossilised dinosaur vomit in Brazil

Bullet Points:

• Discovery: New filter-feeding pterosaur species Bakiribu waridza identified from bones preserved in fossilised regurgitate (regurgitalite).
• Institution: Specimen stored at Museu Camara Cascudo, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil.
• Key features: Long jaws with dense, brush-like rows of teeth; belongs to Ctenochasmatidae family; first filter-feeding pterosaur known from the tropics.
• Associated fauna: Fossil contained bones of two B. waridza individuals plus four fossil fish.
• Predator inference: Arrangement suggests predator ate pterosaurs then fish and later regurgitated mixed material; likely candidates are spinosaurid dinosaurs or ornithocheiriform pterosaurs.

Headline: India imposes anti-dumping duty on hot rolled flat steel from Vietnam

Bullet Points:

• India has imposed an anti-dumping duty of USD 121.55 per tonne on imports of hot rolled flat steel products from Vietnam for five years.
• Steel imports stood at 4.90 million tonnes in April-September FY26, with Vietnam contributing 13 per cent.
• Imports from Vietnam were 0.64 million tonnes, 17 per cent higher year-on-year.

Headline: Indian Navy to commission first indigenous ASW-SWC 'Mahe' built by CSL

Bullet Points:

• Defence equipment: Anti-submarine warfare shallow-water craft 'Mahe' – first of eight ASW-SWC being built by Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL), Kochi
• Commissioning venue: Naval Dockyard, Mumbai
• Key capabilities: equipped with torpedoes, multi-functional anti-submarine rockets, advanced radars and sonars; designed for submarine hunting, coastal patrol and securing maritime approaches
• Indigenous content: more than 80 per cent indigenous; showcases India's mastery in warship design, construction and integration under Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative

Headline: US to hold five-day military drills in Trinidad and Tobago amid tensions with Venezuela

Bullet Points:

• The United States will hold five-day military drills in Trinidad and Tobago.
• The drills will involve the US Marine Corps’ 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit.
• The exercises are being held amid tensions with Venezuela and criticism from Nicolás Maduro.
• The US Marine Corps’ 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit is stationed in the Caribbean as part of what Washington describes as a mission to “disrupt illicit drug trafficking.”
• Trinidad and Tobago’s government said the exercises will help both forces better understand each other’s tactics and operations, while also allowing American troops to train local security personnel to respond to domestic threats such as drug crimes and gang activity.
• Washington sent a warship, the USS Gravely, to the country’s capital last month.
• The aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford is moving closer to Venezuelan waters.

Headline: Celebrating India's Tribal Heritage: The 12th Samvad Conclave Kicks Off in Jamshedpur

Bullet Points:

• The 12th edition of Samvad conclave is a five-day event held at Gopal Maidan from November 15 to 19.
• The conclave coincides with Jharkhand's 25th Statehood Day and the 150th birth anniversary of Birsa Munda.
• It brings together 2,500 participants representing 153 tribes from 26 states and Union Territories.
• Mornings are dedicated to dialogue across multiple venues, and evenings feature cultural performances at Gopal Maidan.
• There are 51 outlets showcasing tribal handicrafts and 30 stalls for tribal healing practices.
• The four key elements of the conclave are 'tribal cuisine, healers, handicrafts, samuday ka sath'.

Headline: Noted alt-country singer-songwriter Todd Snider passes away

Bullet Points:

• Todd Snider, a beloved figure in American roots music, died at age 59.
• His label announced the death on Saturday, stating he had been hospitalized with pneumonia in Hendersonville, Tennessee.
• Snider's recent tour was cancelled after he was assaulted in the Salt Lake City area and later arrested following an incident at a hospital.

Headline: Rediscovery of 'Lost' Killifish Moema claudiae in Bolivia's Fragile Wetlands

Bullet Points:

• A rare killifish, Moema claudiae, thought extinct for over two decades, has been rediscovered in a small Bolivian pond.
• Moema claudiae was last recorded more than 20 years ago at its original collection site in Bolivia, which has since been destroyed and converted into agricultural land.
• The species held a status of “Critically Endangered (Possibly Extinct)” according to IUCN criteria.
• Researchers Heinz Arno Drawert and Thomas Otto Litz made the discovery of a surviving population.
• The finding was published in the journal Nature Conservation.
• The rediscovery site is located where the Amazon rainforest transitions into the Llanos de Moxos, a mosaic of wetlands, savannas, and forest patches.
• The rediscovery site also revealed six additional species of seasonal killifish, making it the most genetically diverse assemblage of seasonal killifish ever recorded worldwide.
• Moema claudiae was named by renowned ichthyologist Professor Wilson Costa in honour of his wife, Claudia.
• In the last 25 years, Bolivia has lost nearly 10 million hectares of forest, including vast wetland areas essential for seasonal fish species, largely driven by expanding agriculture.
• Seasonal killifish like Moema claudiae survive in temporary pools that dry out for months at a time, with their eggs remaining dormant in the soil until rains return, a strategy known as diapause.

Headline: ISRO targets 2028 for Chandrayaan-4 lunar sample-return mission and triples spacecraft output

Bullet Points:

• ISRO Chairman V Narayanan: "the government has approved the Chandrayaan-4 mission, designed as a lunar sample-return mission"
• Chandrayaan-4 objective: "will attempt to bring back samples from the moon — a capability currently demonstrated only by the US, Russia and China"
• LUPEX mission: "joint lunar polar exploration programme with JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency)" aiming to "study water ice at the lunar south pole"
• Space station plan: "first of the five modules will be placed in orbit by 2028" with full Indian Space Station targeted for completion "by 2035"
• Human spaceflight timeline: "crewed mission was always planned for 2027" with "three uncrewed test missions" to precede it

Headline: Scientists extract ancient RNA from 39,000-year-old woolly mammoth 'Yuka'

Bullet Points:

• Researchers led by Stockholm University paleogeneticist Love Dalén extracted RNA from the permafrost-preserved woolly mammoth named Yuka found in eastern Siberia.
• The recovered RNA fragments, though short, were computationally verified as authentic woolly mammoth sequences, offering the first snapshot of gene activity in an extinct animal.
• RNA from Yuka’s muscle tissue matched genes for slow-twitch muscle function and development, confirming the tissue type and showing cellular processes frozen at death.
• Additional RNA indicated stress-related gene activity in the mammoth’s muscles, consistent with—though not exclusively proving—an attack by cave lions or another stressful event.
• Genetic analysis of Yuka’s DNA revealed one X and one Y chromosome, contradicting the initial visual inspection that had classified the mammoth as female.

Headline: 10th Film Preservation and Restoration Workshop India 2025 inaugurated by Waheeda Rehman in Odisha

Bullet Points:

• The 10th Film Preservation and Restoration Workshop India 2025 was inaugurated in Bhubaneswar, Odisha.
• Legendary actress Waheeda Rehman praised the Film Heritage Foundation's preservation efforts at the opening ceremony.
• The Outstanding Achievement Award was presented to Robin Baker for his 35-year dedication to archival films.
• The Champion of Film Heritage Award was conferred upon Surya Deo for documenting Odia cinema.
• Sanjoy Patnaik received the Champion of Film Heritage Award for preserving stories of Odia cinema pioneers.
• Rashmiranjan Mohapatra was awarded a Certificate of Appreciation for interpreting classic Odia films through Pattachitra.

Headline: Eastern Naval Command Hosts Annual Navy Education Society (NES) Conference 2025

Bullet Points:

• Event Name: "annual Navy Education Society (NES) Conference 2025"
• Host and Location: "The Eastern Naval Command, Visakhapatnam"
• Dates: "from November 10 to 13"
• Key Focus: "policy framework and operational aspects of Naval Schools amidst the transformative implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020."
• New Participation: "Sankalp Schools - institutions dedicated to fostering education, pre-vocational training, and life-skills development for children with special needs within the Naval community"
• Chairperson: "VAdm CR Praveen Nair, Controller Personnel Services and Chairperson of NES"

Headline: Qatar successfully trials first autonomous eVTOL urban flight

Bullet Points:

• Qatar has successfully trialed its first autonomous eVTOL air taxi, marking a milestone in smart urban mobility.
• The AI-powered flight operated without human intervention, conducted between the Old Doha Port and Katara Cultural Village.
• The Ministry of Transport (MoT), under the leadership of HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulla bin Mohammed Al Thani, demonstrated a safe, AI-enabled flight.
• The trial flight leveraged a full self-control system powered by artificial intelligence and advanced air navigation technologies.
• The MoT plans phased development, regulatory frameworks, and infrastructure upgrades to integrate safe, efficient, and eco-friendly air transport into Qatar’s future mobility network.
• The unmanned air taxi project will advance in multiple consecutive phases, carefully considering technical, operational, and regulatory requirements.
• The initiative supports Qatar’s broader goals under the National Development Strategy 3 (NDS3) and Qatar National Vision 2030 (QNV 2030), particularly in reducing carbon emissions and improving quality of life.

Headline: Dubai to Launch World's First Urban Aerial Taxi Network in 2026

Bullet Points:

• Dubai is set to launch the world's first comprehensive urban aerial taxi network in 2026.
• The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has named four priority vertiport locations: Dubai International Airport (DXB), Downtown Dubai, Dubai Marina, and Palm Jumeirah.
• The RTA, in partnership with US-based Joby Aviation, successfully completed the UAE's first crewed electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) flight.
• This breakthrough flight saw the air taxi lift off from the Dubai Jetman Helipad in Margham and land 17 minutes later at Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC).
• The primary vertiport hub at Dubai International Airport (DXB) is being constructed by Skyports Infrastructure, is 60% complete, and will be seamlessly connected to the Emirates Metro Station.
• The vehicle at the heart of the service is the fully electric Joby S4 air taxi, designed to carry a pilot and four passengers.
• The Joby S4 air taxi boasts a maximum speed of 320 km/h and has a flight range of 160 km on a single charge.
• The trip from Dubai International Airport (DXB) to Palm Jumeirah is expected to take only 10 to 12 minutes by air, a journey that currently takes approximately 45 minutes by car.

Headline: Oman Airports First Globally to Deploy Wi-Fi 7

Bullet Points:

• Oman Airports has become the first airport operator globally to roll out Wi‑Fi 7.
• The upgrade was introduced in partnership with Huawei and is fully operational across the country’s airports.
• Wi‑Fi 7 delivers ultra-high bandwidth and can support a far larger number of simultaneous users.
• The rollout covers departure halls, check-in counters, retail spaces, and dining areas.
• It enhances connectivity for more than 40,000 daily travellers at Muscat International Airport alone.
• The deployment supports both passenger use and critical airport operations.
• This initiative aligns with Oman Vision 2040, which emphasises smart infrastructure and world-class digital services.

Headline: MeitY Notifies Digital Personal Data Protection Rules, 2025, Begins Phased Rollout

Bullet Points:

• MeitY notifies digital personal data protection Rules, 2025, beginning a phased rollout of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023.
• The framework sets clear rules for how companies, digital platforms, and government bodies must collect, store, process, and manage the personal data of individuals (“Data Principals”).
• The operational rules specify a phased rollout: general duties, grievance redressal provisions, and other foundational obligations under Rules 1, 2, and 17‑21 are effective immediately; the registration and governance of Consent Managers under Rule 4 will be applicable one year from notification; and the detailed notice formats, security measures, processing conditions, data retention norms, and remaining operational rules under Rules 3, 5‑16, 22‑23 will apply in full after 18 months.
• A significant addition through the new rules is the establishment of a formal framework for Consent Managers, who must be registered with the Data Protection Board and comply with governance, transparency, and security requirements.
• The Rules also lay down standards for encryption, masking, tokenisation, access controls, activity logging, backup systems, and business-continuity planning, making these safeguards mandatory for all fiduciaries.
• In the event of a data breach, fiduciaries must provide immediate intimation to the Board and deliver a fuller report within 72 hours while simultaneously informing affected users about the nature of the breach, potential harm, and mitigation steps.
• The Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act is India’s first full-scale privacy law, introducing explicit and affirmative consent for data processing and codifying a clear set of rights for individuals, including withdrawing consent, correcting or erasing data, and seeking timely grievance redressal.
• The Act also requires mandatory breach notifications to both regulators and affected users and imposes steep penalties up to Rs 250 crore for violations.

Headline: Intellipaat partners with IndiaAI Mission to roll out nationwide AI literacy programme

Bullet Points:

• Intellipaat has partnered with the IndiaAI Mission under MeitY to launch the 'YUVAi for ALL' programme aimed at making India AI-literate
• The initiative will provide free training on Artificial Intelligence and Generative AI to students, teachers, and professionals
• Participants will receive Government-recognized certification upon completion of the programme
• The programme includes AI awareness workshops, GenAI tool demonstrations, community learning drives, and foundation AI literacy e-learning videos
• The collaboration aligns with the Government's vision to empower 10 million citizens with essential AI skills by January 2026

Headline: CBFC Introduces Multilingual Module on E-Cinepramaan Portal to Streamline Film Certification

Bullet Points:

• The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has launched the Multilingual Module on the E-Cinepramaan portal.
• This initiative is part of CBFC’s ongoing vision to digitize and simplify the film certification process for the Indian film industry.
• The module is designed to streamline and simplify certification for films intended for release in multiple Indian languages.
• Applicants can submit films in various languages through a single, unified application, significantly reducing procedural duplication.
• Each film certified for multilingual release will receive a Multilingual Certificate, clearly listing all languages in which the film has been approved.
• The entire application will be processed by one Regional Office, ensuring efficiency and uniformity.

Headline: Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan inaugurates AI innovation and incubation centre at DPS RK Puram

Bullet Points:

• The centre is developed in collaboration with VVDN Technologies and Google Cloud
• Technologies available include Google Cloud’s Vertex AI and Gemini Enterprise platforms
• Students will gain hands-on experience with humanoid and companion robotics (AIBO, Unitree G1), AR/VR glasses, IoT kits, and Raspberry Pi systems
• The facility will serve as a shared innovation resource for neighbouring and government schools
• The initiative aligns with the Union government’s four-level AI curriculum for students from Class 6 onwards, covering foundational AI to generative AI applications

Headline: First-ever state visit by an Indian President to Botswana

Bullet Points:

• President Droupadi Murmu's ongoing visit is the first-ever state visit by an Indian head of state to Botswana.
• India and Botswana will mark 60 years of diplomatic relations in 2026.
• Botswana has symbolically donated eight cheetahs to India under Project Cheetah.

Headline: Axis Bank Evolve Series in Kozhikode: MSMEs Driving India’s $10 Trillion Goal

Bullet Points:

• Axis Bank hosted the 10th edition of its multi-city knowledge series Evolve in Kozhikode, themed “MSMEs Powering the $10 Trillion Economy.”
• The event drew over 103 MSME promoters and founders to discuss pathways for India’s economy to expand from $4.1 trillion to $10 trillion by 2032.
• Kerala has more than 7 lakh registered MSMEs, with nearly half led by women entrepreneurs.

Headline: SBI to Discontinue mCASH Service After November 30, 2025

Bullet Points:

• State Bank of India will stop its mCASH sending and claiming facility on OnlineSBI and YONO Lite after November 30, 2025.
• SBI advises customers to switch to UPI, IMPS, NEFT, and RTGS for future money transfers.
• mCASH allowed SBI customers with Internet Banking to transfer funds without registering the recipient as a beneficiary.

Headline: Art director Thota Tharani conferred France’s Chevalier Award

Bullet Points:

• 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

Headline: Mallika Srinivasan's Tenure as PESB Chairperson Extended Until 2026

Bullet Points:

• Mallika Srinivasan’s tenure as PESB Chairperson has been extended.
• Her extension will take effect from November 19, 2025, allowing her to continue leading the PSU head-hunter until November 18, 2026.
• This marks her second consecutive extension in this role.
• Mallika Srinivasan continues to serve as Chairperson and Managing Director of Tractors and Farm Equipment Ltd TAFE.

Headline: DRDO Unveils New-Generation Man-Portable AUVs for Mine Countermeasure Missions

Bullet Points:

• DRDO has successfully developed a new generation of Man-portable Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (MP-AUVs).
• The MP-AUVs are designed to strengthen India’s naval mine countermeasure capabilities.
• The breakthrough comes from the Naval Science & Technological Laboratory (NSTL), Visakhapatnam, which led the development of the advanced underwater systems.
• The MP-AUV system features multiple compact AUV units equipped with Side Scan Sonar and underwater cameras as primary payloads.
• The vehicles leverage onboard deep learning-based target recognition algorithms that enable autonomous classification.
• DRDO has integrated a robust underwater acoustic communication system that supports inter-AUV data exchange.
• Recent field trials conducted at NSTL’s harbour facilities have validated key system parameters and mission-critical objectives.
• The MP-AUVs are expected to be ready for production in the coming months.

Headline: India Bags 3 Gold, 2 Silver at Asian Archery Championships 2025

Bullet Points:

• India's archers made the country proud by bagging three gold and two silver medals at the 24th Asian Archery Championships 2025 in Dhaka.
• Jyothi Surekha Vennam won gold, defeating Prithika Pradeep by a 147 - 145 score.
• Prithika performed well and secured a silver medal.
• The Indian Compound Women's Team, including Deepshikha, Prithika Pradeep, and Jyothi Surekha Vennam, grabbed gold after a victory over Korea 236 - 234 in the final.
• Abhishek Verma and Deepshikha grabbed gold in the Compound Mixed Team final, beating Bangladesh 153 -151.
• In the men's team, Verma, Prathamesh Fuge, and Sahil Jadhav clinched silver after a close contest.
• Jyoti Surekha Vennam, the 29-year-old Indian ace woman archer, shone with double gold in individual and team at the Asian Archery Championships in Dhaka.
• Surekha now holds 8 Asian Championship titles, which she won between 2011 and 2025, in addition to the three individual gold medals from 2021 and 2015.
• The Deputy Collector in the Government of Andhra Pradesh has a total of 90 international medals, including 33 gold and silver, and 24 bronze.
• The 24th Asian Archery Championships began on 8th November 2025 and will conclude on 14th November 2025.
• The 24th Asian Archery Championships are hosted in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
• There is a total of 29 countries and around 207 athletes participating in the 24th Asian Archery Championships 2025.
• The event covers both recurve and compound bow competitions across individual, team and mixed-team formats for men and women.
• You can watch the 24th Asian Archery Championships 2025 on Archery+ and the Indian channel DD Sports.

Headline: Padma Shri awardee and environmentalist Saalumarada Thimmakka passes away

Bullet Points:

• Padma Shri awardee and renowned environmentalist Saalumarada Thimmakka passed away at a private hospital in Bengaluru on Friday.
• The 114-year-old had been unwell for some time and was undergoing treatment when she breathed her last, her family sources said.
• Thimmakka earned the title Saalumarada after planting 385 banyan trees along a 4.5-km stretch between Hulikal and Kudur in Ramanagara district.
• She began planting and nurturing the trees, treating them as her children to cope with the void of being childless.
• Thimmakka received 12 major awards for her work, 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.

Headline: World Usability Day 2025 Theme: Emerging Technologies and the Human Experience

Bullet Points:

• World Usability Day hosted on, November 13, 2025.
• The theme for this year's World Usability Day is Emerging Technologies and the Human Experience.
• The event will share practical insights on creating digital government services that are not only compliant with accessibility requirements, but usable by all.