Daily Current Affairs: 20 November 2025

Headline: Climate Change Performance Index 2026: Denmark leads as India drops 13 places

Bullet Points:

• CCPI 2026 published at UN COP30 Climate Summit lists Denmark (80.52 pts) in 4th place as top-ranked country; top three ranks remain vacant as no nation achieved 'very high' rating
• India fell 13 positions—from 10th to 23rd—with a score of 61.31, now classed as a 'medium' performer
• Report jointly released by Germanwatch, NewClimate Institute and Climate Action Network
• Saudi Arabia ranks lowest at 67th (11.9 pts); Iran 66th, United States 65th and China 54th also placed among bottom performers
• Index evaluates countries on GHG emissions, renewable energy, energy use and climate policy

Headline: Venu Srinivasan conferred with CII Quality Ratna Award

Bullet Points:

• Venu Srinivasan, Chairman Emeritus of TVS Motor Company, received the CII Quality Ratna Award.
• The award was presented at the 33rd CII Excellence Summit organised by the CII Institute of Quality in Kolkata.
• The summit gathered over 1,000 quality champions and business leaders to discuss elevating Indian manufacturing.

Headline: Nation pays tribute to former PM Indira Gandhi on her 108th birth anniversary

Bullet Points:

• Indira Gandhi served as Prime Minister of India from January 1966 to March 1977 and again from January 1980 until her assassination on 31 October 1984
• Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi paid floral tributes at Shakti Sthal, her memorial in New Delhi
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi also posted tribute on X: 'Tributes to former PM Smt. Indira Gandhi Ji on the occasion of her birth anniversary'

Headline: PM Fasal Bima Yojana to Cover Wild Animal Attack & Paddy Inundation Losses from Kharif 2026

Bullet Points:

• Scheme Name: Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY); Implementing Ministry: Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India
• Objective: Provide affordable crop insurance against non-preventable natural risks; new add-on covers aim to protect farmers from sudden, localised and severe crop damage due to wild animal attacks and paddy inundation
• Key Feature 1: Crop loss due to wild animal attack recognised as fifth add-on cover under localised risk category; states to notify list of wild animals and vulnerable districts based on historical data
• Key Feature 2: Farmers must report wild animal damage within 72 hours via crop insurance app by uploading geotagged photographs
• Key Feature 3: Paddy inundation reintroduced as localised calamity cover after its exclusion in 2018, benefiting flood-prone and coastal states
• Coverage Start: Kharif season 2026; modalities approved by Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan based on expert committee recommendations

Headline: UN Human Rights Office Responds to Bangladesh Verdict, Citing Investigation Findings

Bullet Points:

• The UN human rights office (OHCHR) reiterated its opposition to the death penalty in all circumstances.
• A UN-led investigation into alleged crimes found that 1,400 people – including many children – may have been killed while thousands were injured during July and August last year.
• OHCHR published its report in February 2025.
• The report found that the former Bangladeshi administration tried to systematically suppress the protests with increasingly violent means in order to remain in power.
• OHCHR has been calling for perpetrators – including individuals in positions of command and leadership – to be held accountable in accordance with international standards and for victims to have access to effective remedies and reparation.
• UN human rights chief Volker Türk said in February that accountability and justice are essential for national healing and for the future of Bangladesh.
• OHCHR advocates for the universal abolition of the death penalty.

Headline: International Men’s Day 2025: Date, Theme, and History

Bullet Points:

• International Men’s Day marked worldwide on Wednesday, 19 November 2025.
• The theme for 2025 is “Celebrating Men and Boys,” with some regions also focusing on “Supporting Men and Boys” and initiatives highlighting mental health concerns through campaigns linked to “Zero Male Suicide.”
• International Men’s Day started in 1999 in Trinidad and Tobago, founded by Dr Jerome Teelucksingh.
• Dr. Teelucksingh chose 19 November to honour his father’s birthday and a meaningful moment in the country’s football history.
• The observance has now spread to more than 80 countries, becoming a global platform to recognise positive male role models and encourage healthier social understanding.
• The day is built on six key pillars, focusing on men’s physical, emotional, and mental health, addressing discrimination, and encouraging healthier and more balanced gender relations.
• International Men’s Day brings attention to issues that are frequently overlooked, especially topics like stress, emotional struggles, and suicide, encouraging more open conversations around mental health.

Headline: India to Host Global Big Cats Summit Next Year

Bullet Points:

• India will host a ‘Global Big Cats Summit’ in New Delhi next year.
• The announcement was made by India’s Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav at a high-level ministerial segment at COP30 conference in Belem, Brazil.
• The summit will focus on renewed global cooperation to protect big cat species and their habitats as part of integrated climate and biodiversity action.
• The International Big Cats Alliance (IBCA) has 17 countries formally associated, with over 30 more expressing willingness to join.
• India's ambition is to bring all big cat range countries, and all nations valuing biodiversity and climate security, into the Alliance.

Headline: UIDAI Launches New Aadhaar Mobile Application with Digital Sharing and Verification Features

Bullet Points:

• The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has announced a new Aadhaar mobile application for iOS and Android devices.
• The app is available on the Google Play Store and Apple App Store, offering users a digital option to carry their Aadhaar and use it for instant verification.
• The authority has announced an early access that will allow residents to test the service and share feedback before its final rollout.
• Users can share their Aadhaar digitally, removing the need for physical copies, with details shareable using a QR code or as verifiable credentials.
• Shared Aadhaar data is masked, so users do not reveal the full 12-digit number.
• Up to five Aadhaar profiles can be added on one device if they are linked to the same registered mobile number.
• The app includes biometric locking and unlocking, ensuring biometric data remains secure until intentionally unlocked or disabled.

Headline: World Toilet Day 2025: Focus on Future-Ready Sanitation and Global Challenges

Bullet Points:

• World Toilet Day is celebrated every year on November 19.
• The day has been chosen by the United Nations (UN) with the aim of spreading awareness about the necessity of proper toilets and better sanitation around the world.
• This year, the UN has chosen the theme ‘Sanitation in a Changing World.’
• The purpose of this theme is to build toilets and sanitation systems that are safe and able to meet future challenges like climate change, growing populations, and ageing infrastructure.
• World Toilet Day started as an awareness day in 2001 by the Singapore-based World Toilet Organisation, created by Jack Sim.
• However, it became a UN-recognised day in 2013.
• Approximately 3.5 billion people do not currently have access to sanitary services that are properly managed.
• Methane emissions from sewage pose a hazard to coastal sanitation infrastructure and services by worsening glacier melting, thus contributing to global sea level rise.
• According to WHO/UNICEF data, 3 billion people may still not have access to safe toilets by 2030.

Headline: ICC Confirms U-19 World Cup 2026 Schedule, Hosts, and Groups

Bullet Points:

• The International Cricket Council (ICC) confirmed the schedule of the 2026 ICC U-19 World Cup.
• The 2026 ICC U-19 World Cup will be hosted by Zimbabwe and Namibia.
• India will aim to win a record-extending 6th title.
• The tournament will be the 16th edition of the tournament.
• The tournament will be held across five venues in two countries: three stadiums in Zimbabwe and two venues in Namibia.
• A total of 16 teams have been divided into four groups, with each group having four teams.
• India, the tournament's most successful team, is in Group A alongside the United States of America (USA), Bangladesh, and New Zealand.
• Defending champions Australia are in Group C.
• The tournament will start on 15th January with India playing the USA in the opening game in Bulawayo's Queens Sports Club.
• The iconic Harare Sports Club will host the final on 06 February.
• India's team is set to be captained by Ayush Mhathre.
• All eyes will be on Vaibhav Suryavnashi.

Headline: Daryl Mitchell becomes first New Zealander since 1979 to top ICC ODI batting rankings

Bullet Points:

• Daryl Mitchell overtook Rohit Sharma by one rating point to claim the ICC No.1 ODI batting ranking.
• Mitchell’s match-winning 119 off 118 balls against the West Indies in Christchurch earned him the top spot.
• Rohit Sharma’s first reign at No.1 lasted only 22 days before being displaced by Mitchell.
• Abrar Ahmed reached a career-best ninth position in the ICC ODI bowling rankings after a three-wicket haul against Sri Lanka.
• Temba Bavuma climbed to a career-best fifth position in ICC Men’s Test batting rankings following an unbeaten 55 in the Kolkata Test.

Headline: CAG to Establish Centre of Excellence for Financial Audit in Hyderabad

Bullet Points:

• The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) will set up a centre of excellence in Hyderabad to incubate advanced skills and standardised high-quality financial audit methodologies across the departments.
• The centre will serve as an incubator for global best practices, foster advanced skills, and drive the standardisation of high-quality financial audit methodologies across the department.
• The CAG is developing an indigenously built Large Language Model called CAG-LLM to combine deep data synergy with AI-driven analytics for sharper, more focused, and evidence-based audits.

Headline: HAL-L&T consortium delivers first industry-built PSLV for Oceansat launch

Bullet Points:

• ISRO contracted the HAL–L&T consortium in 2022 for end-to-end production of five PSLV-XL rockets
• The first industry-manufactured PSLV is scheduled to launch the Oceansat satellite early next year
• ISRO has transferred Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) technology to HAL, which will now fully own and operate the SSLV business
• Consortium has begun delivering PSLV hardware and expects two or three launches next year
• ISRO intervened to help resolve production challenges faced by the consortium

Headline: Kantar BrandZ 2025: India’s Top 100 Brands Valued at $523.5 Billion, HDFC Bank Leads at $44.99 Billion

Bullet Points:

• India’s 100 most valuable brands are worth a combined $523.5 billion, equal to roughly 13% of the nation’s GDP.
• HDFC Bank retained the top rank with a brand value of $44.99 billion after an 18% year-on-year increase.
• The overall brand list value grew 6% year-on-year, with 34 brands increasing in value and 18 newcomers entering the ranking.
• Tata Consultancy Services is valued at $44.23 billion, Airtel at $41.07 billion, Infosys at $25.54 billion, and ICICI Bank at $20.63 billion.
• UltraTech Cement debuted at No. 7 with a valuation of $14.5 billion after Kantar introduced a new Materials category.
• Zomato was India’s fastest-growing brand for the second consecutive year, jumping 10 spots to No.21 and boosting its valuation 69% to $6 billion.

Headline: Supreme Court Strikes Down Key Provisions Of Tribunal Reforms Law

Bullet Points:

• The Supreme Court struck down key provisions of the 2021 Tribunals Reforms law, also known as the Tribunals Reforms (Rationalisation and Conditions of Service) Act, 2021.
• The law 'overhauled the functioning, structure and service conditions of tribunals across the country'.
• The court invalidated Section 3, which 'mandated a minimum age of 50 years for appointment as a chairperson or member of a tribunal'.
• Section 5 of the Act, which 'fixed the tenure of chairpersons and members of tribunals at four years', was also set aside.
• The selection procedure for appointments in tribunals under Section 3, which 'required the Search-cum-Selection Committee (SCSC) to recommend a panel of two names for every vacancy', was set aside.
• The bench also did not approve Section 7 of the Act, which 'equated the allowances and service conditions of tribunal members with those of civil servants'.
• The Supreme Court directed the Centre 'to constitute a national tribunals commission within four months'.
• The creation of such a commission is 'designed to ensure independence, transparency, and uniformity in the appointment, administration, and functioning of tribunals across the country'.
• The verdict 'reinstated the five-year tenure rule to ensure security of service and institutional independence'.
• The bench ruled that the SCSC 'should recommend only one name per post to curb excessive executive discretion in appointments'.

Headline: Tesla Expands Physical Presence and Introduces Model Y in India

Bullet Points:

• India’s first Tesla Centre will open its doors to the public on November 26 at Orchid Business Park in Gurugram.
• The launch comes four months after Tesla inaugurated its first experience centre in Mumbai’s Bandra Kurla Complex, followed by another at Delhi’s Aerocity.
• India became Tesla’s 50th global market earlier this year when the company introduced two imported variants of the Model Y, priced from Rs 59.89 lakh.
• Both models are shipped from Tesla’s Shanghai plant, and with a 70% import duty, they rank among the most expensive Model Ys in the world.
• FADA data, based on Vahan registrations, indicates Tesla sold 104 units in September and October.
• Sharad Agarwal, who joined in November, is shaping its strategy under newly appointed country head.
• Tesla’s direct competition includes the BMW iX1, Mercedes EQA, Volvo EC40, Kia EV6, and BYD Sealion 7.

Headline: Afghan Commerce Minister visits India to deepen trade ties and seek investments

Bullet Points:

• A high-level delegation led by Taliban’s Industry and Commerce Minister Alhaj Nooruddin Azizi is visiting India for five days.
• He is expected to meet Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and discuss deepening of trade ties between India and Afghanistan.
• On Wednesday, Azizi visited the India International Trade Fair (IITF) 2025.
• This visit is the first by an Afghan minister to ITPO since 2021, set against escalating Afghanistan-Pakistan tensions, including border closures disrupting exports.
• Afghanistan is seeking Indian investments in its mining sector and hydroelectric projects, and exploring avenues to bypass Pakistan for enhanced connectivity.
• Key Indian exports to Afghanistan include pharmaceuticals, textiles, machinery, food items like sugar, tea, and rice, while imports feature agricultural products and minerals.
• Recent diplomatic steps have included upgrading India’s Kabul mission to full embassy status in October 2025.

Headline: Leonardo DiCaprio to receive Desert Palm Achievement Award at Palm Springs Film Festival 2026

Bullet Points:

• Hollywood superstar Leonardo DiCaprio is set to be honored with the Desert Palm Achievement Award.
• The award will be presented at the Palm Springs Film Festival.
• The ceremony is scheduled for January 3, 2026.
• The prestigious award recognizes his 'riveting and emotionally-charged performance' in Paul Thomas Anderson's upcoming film, 'One Battle After Another'.
• The Film Awards event will take place at the Palm Springs Convention Center.
• Festival Chairman Nachhattar Singh Chandi revealed DiCaprio will be bestowed with the gong.

Headline: WFDF 2025 World Beach Ultimate Championships Scheduled for November

Bullet Points:

• The event is named WFDF 2025 World Beach Ultimate Championships (WBUC).
• The event is scheduled from November 16 to November 22.
• The organizer of the event is the World Flying Disc Federation WFDF.

Headline: India inaugurates two new consulates in Russia to boost bilateral ties

Bullet Points:

• India has opened two new consulates in Russia, in Yekaterinburg and Kazan.
• External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar inaugurated these new offices.
• The move aims to significantly enhance trade, tourism, and economic, scientific, technological, academic, and cultural connections between India and Russia.
• Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko and India's Ambassador to Russia Vinay Kumar were also present at the function held to mark the opening.
• Yekaterinburg is known for its heavy engineering, gem cutting, defence manufacturing, metallurgy, nuclear fuel, chemicals and medical equipment.
• Kazan hosted the 2024 BRICS summit and is well known for its oil production and refining, for fertilisers, automobiles, defence manufacturing, pharmaceuticals and electrical equipment.
• The consulates will contribute to joint efforts in increasing bilateral trade to USD 100 billion by 2030.
• India and Russia set a target of USD 100 billion in annual trade volume by 2030 and vowed to develop a robust bilateral payment settlement mechanism using national currencies.
• There is a sizeable and diverse Indian diaspora in Russia, which includes more than 30,000 Indian students today.

Headline: Nitish Kumar to be sworn-in as Bihar Chief Minister for 10th time

Bullet Points:

• Nitish Kumar unanimously elected leader of JD(U) legislature party
• Will take oath as Chief Minister of Bihar for the 10th time at Gandhi Maidan
• Governor Arif Mohammad Khan will administer the oath, becoming the eighth governor to swear in Kumar

Headline: Trump designates Saudi Arabia major non-NATO ally; approves F-35 sale

Bullet Points:

• Saudi Arabia formally designated as a major non-NATO ally of the United States
• US approves future deliveries of F-35 stealth fighter jets to Saudi Arabia; kingdom agrees to purchase 300 American tanks
• Saudi Arabia commits almost $1 trillion investment in the US, including $142bn for F-35 procurement
• Joint declaration signed on completion of civil-nuclear energy cooperation negotiations
• Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman repeats Saudi condition for joining Abraham Accords: securing a clear path to a two-state solution

Headline: World COPD Day observed on third Wednesday of November: Theme 2025 - "Short of Breath, Think COPD"

Bullet Points:

• World COPD Day is celebrated annually on the third Wednesday of November.
• This year, on November 19, World COPD Day focuses on the theme "Short of Breath, Think COPD."
• COPD is the third leading cause of death worldwide.

Headline: First known human infection with H5N5 bird flu virus reported in Washington

Bullet Points:

• State and federal health officials say it appears to be the first known human infection with the H5N5 bird flu virus.
• It is the nation's first human case of bird flu since February.
• Bird flu was found in dairy cows for the first time in March of last year.

Headline: Pradeep Chaudhary and Reenu Sandhu win 40th Indira Marathon titles

Bullet Points:

• Event: 40th All India Prize Money Indira Marathon (42.195 km) in Prayagraj.
• Men’s winner: Army runner Pradeep Singh Chaudhary (Uttarakhand) with a timing of 2:19:58.
• Women’s winner: CISF sub-inspector Reenu Sandhu (Haryana) with a timing of 2:53:02, her second straight title.
• Men’s runner-up: Gyan Babu (Pratapgarh) in 2:20:35; third place Rohit Saroj (Prayagraj) in 2:22:43.
• Women’s runner-up: Ashwani Madan Jadav (Maharashtra) in 2:53:32; third place Jyoti Shankar Rao Gawate (Maharashtra) in 3:04:48.
• Prize money: ₹2 lakh each to men’s and women’s winners; ₹1 lakh to runners-up; ₹75,000 to third-place finishers.

Headline: MoSPI Releases National Industrial Classification (NIC) - 2025

Bullet Points:

• The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) released the National Industrial Classification (NIC) - 2025.
• The release of the National Industrial Classification (NIC) - 2025 took place in New Delhi.
• The National Industrial Classification (NIC) - 2025 was released on 18th November, 2025.
• The releasing body is the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation of the Republic of India.

Headline: Andhra Pradesh Secures Over Rs 13 Lakh Crore Investment Commitments at CII Summit

Bullet Points:

• Andhra Pradesh has seen over Rs 13 lakh crore investment commitments.
• The summit has been instrumental in attracting over Rs 13 lakh crore worth of investment agreements, backed by nearly 640 Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs).
• The commitments are expected to generate approximately 16.3 lakh jobs across sectors.
• Energy emerged as the largest investment category, accounting for Rs 5.3 lakh crore of the total commitments.
• Reliance Industries announced plans for a 1 gigawatt (GW) Artificial Intelligence Data Centre alongside a 6 gigawatt peak (GWp) solar facility.
• Alphabet, Google’s parent firm, plans to invest $15 billion in Andhra Pradesh to build a major AI data hub center in the state.
• Adani Group announced an investment commitment of Rs 1 lakh crore over the next decade across renewable energy, ports, logistics and digital infrastructure.
• The combined infrastructure initiative for Drone City in Kurnool and the Twin Space Cities in Sri Sathyasai and Tirupati carries a projected Rs 25,000 crore investment value.
• The Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) finalised agreements to establish a 1,200 megawatt-hour (MWh) Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) in Nandyal and a 50 megawatt (MW) hybrid solar plant.
• The Raymond Group announced a Rs 1,201 crore expansion plan covering apparel production, automotive component manufacturing and aerospace engineering.
• The state approved 12 new projects valued at Rs 2,320 crore as part of the Sri City industrial cluster expansion.

Headline: New Trade Intelligence & Analytics Portal Launched by Commerce Ministry

Bullet Points:

• The Trade Intelligence & Analytics (TIA) portal was launched by Union commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal.
• The portal aims to empower Indian businesses to understand global trade patterns, spot emerging opportunities, and make informed decisions.
• It will open up new insights for importers, exporters, startups, and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
• Smaller businesses, even in the remotest regions, will now have access to data that was previously available only to larger enterprises.
• The Department of Commerce initiated the development of the TIA portal in March 2024.
• The portal offers more than 270 interactive visualisations across over 28 dashboards.
• Database collation has been automated via APIs for convenient user access, and a seamless data extraction capability has been developed.
• The TIA portal replaces legacy trade information dissemination portals such as the Department of Commerce Monitoring Dashboard, Niryat Portal, and Tradestat Portal.

Headline: DAE Launches India’s First Nitric-Oxide Wound Dressing and Indigenous Rare Earth Elements Reference Material

Bullet Points:

• DAE, in collaboration with Cologenesis Pvt. Ltd., launched ColoNoX, India’s first nitric-oxide-releasing wound dressing for diabetic foot ulcers DFU.
• The wound dressing was developed by Bhabha Atomic Research Centre BARC and clinically validated through Phase II and III trials, receiving DCGI approval for commercial manufacturing.
• DAE released an indigenously developed Certified Reference Material CRM titled Ferrocarbonatite FC – BARC B140, to support exploration, extraction and process control in Rare Earth Elements REEs.
• The CRM was created jointly by BARC’s NCCCM National Centre for Compositional Characterisation of Materials and the Atomic Minerals Directorate AMD, Hyderabad.
• The Ferrocarbonatite FC – BARC B140 CRM provides certified values for thirteen rare-earth elements and six major elements.
• Officials noted that this CRM is the first of its kind developed in India and only the fourth in the world.

Headline: India Re-Elected to Codex Executive Committee

Bullet Points:

• India has been unanimously re-elected to the Codex Executive Committee (CCEXEC) for the Asia region.
• This re-election occurred during the 48th Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC48).
• India’s leadership in global food safety and trade standards is ensured until 2027.
• The Indian delegation was led by FSSAI CEO Rajit Punhani.
• India pushed for stronger data systems, updated global databases for additives and pesticide residues, and the use of AI tools to speed up Codex work.
• Key highlights included the Adoption of the Standard for Fresh Dates and the Forwarding of the Standard for Fresh Curry Leaves.
• Other approvals included new guidelines for pesticide reference material, an updated aflatoxin code for peanuts, and nitrogen-to-protein conversion factors.
• The Revival of the Cashew Kernel Standard was noted as a major boost for India’s exports.
• India also supported global standards for laver products and camel milk.

Headline: Bank of Baroda and SIDBI Sign MoU to Boost Credit Access for MSMEs and Startups

Bullet Points:

• Bank of Baroda and SIDBI Sign MoU to Boost Credit Access for MSMEs and Startups Across India.
• Partnership aims to enhance joint financing, streamline digital working capital, and expand global opportunities for small businesses and startups under the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.
• The MoU was formalised in the presence of Mr. M. Nagaraju, IAS, Secretary, Department of Financial Services DFS, who attended as the Chief Guest.
• Both institutions will combine SIDBI’s deep expertise in MSME development with Bank of Baroda’s strong national footprint to enhance credit delivery and expand financial inclusion among small businesses.
• Bank of Baroda’s digital Working Capital Platform will be operationalised for SIDBI-approved borrowers, ensuring seamless, technology-driven working capital access.
• The partnership will reinforce startup support through SIDBI’s Venture Debt Programme and BOB’s specialised Startup Banking solutions, including advisory services and customised financial products.
• Bank of Baroda’s extensive international network will be leveraged to assist MSMEs and startups in exploring export opportunities, gaining market insights, and availing global banking solutions.
• The Small Industries Development Bank of India SIDBI is the principal financial institution for the promotion, financing, and development of MSMEs and startups in India.

Headline: PayGlocal Receives RBI PA-CB-I&O Licence for Full Cross-Border Payment Aggregation

Bullet Points:

• PayGlocal has received final authorisation from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to operate as a Payment Aggregator – Cross Border – Inward & Outward (PA-CB-I&O).
• The latest authorisation follows the company’s Payment Aggregator – Online (PA-O) licence granted in September 2024.
• Founded in 2021, the Bengaluru-based company works with merchants in sectors including exports, retail, travel, education and software services.

Headline: ICRA Projects India GDP Growth to Moderate to 7% in Q2 FY26

Bullet Points:

• ICRA forecasts India’s GDP growth to slow to 7% in Q2 FY26 from 7.8% in Q1 FY26.
• The moderation is attributed primarily to reduced government expenditure.
• Industrial sectors—especially manufacturing and construction—are expected to stay resilient, supported by favorable base effects and festive-season inventory stocking.

Headline: WPI Inflation Hits 27-Month Low of (-)1.21% in Oct 2025 on GST Cuts, Favourable Base

Bullet Points:

• Wholesale Price Index (WPI)-based inflation stood at (-)1.21 per cent in October 2025, down from 0.13 per cent in September and 2.75 per cent in October last year.
• Deflation in food articles was 8.31 per cent in October, with vegetables at 34.97 per cent, pulses at 16.50 per cent, potato at 39.88 per cent and onion at 65.43 per cent.
• Fuel and power recorded deflation of 2.55 per cent in October, marking seven consecutive months of decline.
• Manufactured products inflation eased to 1.54 per cent in October from 2.33 per cent in September.
• Retail inflation fell to an all-time low of 0.25 per cent in October, down from 1.44 per cent in September.
• The Reserve Bank of India kept the benchmark policy repo rate unchanged at 5.5 per cent in its last review.
• India Ratings and Research expects wholesale deflation in November 2025 to be under 1 per cent.

Headline: 6th National Water Awards 2024: Winners Announced Across 10 Categories

Bullet Points:

• Scheme Name: 6th National Water Awards (NWA) 2024, launched by Department of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation (DoWR, RD & GR), Ministry of Jal Shakti
• Launch Year: Awards announced for 2024; application process opened on 23 October 2024 on Rashtriya Puraskar Portal of Ministry of Home Affairs
• Objective: "creating awareness among the people about the importance of water and motivating them to adopt best water usage practices" and recognising efforts towards "Jal Samridh Bharat"
• Key Feature: 46 winners (including joint winners) selected across 10 categories—Best State, District, Village Panchayat, Urban Local Body, School/College, Industry, Water User Association, Institution, Civil Society, and Individual
• Implementing Agency: Evaluation by Jury Committee; ground-truthing by Central Water Commission (CWC) and Central Ground Water Board (CGWB)
• Award Ceremony: To be held on 18 November 2025 at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, with Hon’ble President Smt. Droupadi Murmu as Chief Guest

Headline: One 97 Communications (Paytm) Share Price and Financial Highlights

Bullet Points:

• One 97 Communications is trading at ₹1,285.90, down -0.72 % compared to its last closing price.
• The company’s market capitalization is ₹82,209.34 Cr.
• One 97 Communications reported a net profit of ₹21.00 Cr in its last quarter.
• The company’s revenue grew 24.19 % year-on-year in the September quarter, from ₹1,659.50 Cr to ₹2,061.00 Cr.
• The company’s profit declined 97.74 % year-on-year during the September quarter, from ₹928.30 Cr to ₹21.00 Cr.
• The debt-to-equity ratio of the company is 0.01, which is lower than the industry median.
• Mutual Fund holding in One 97 Communications was 16.25 % as of 30 Sep 2025, an increase from the last quarter.
• FII holding in One 97 Communications was 51.71 % as of 30 Sep 2025, a decrease from the last quarter.

Headline: World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims observed on November 16, 2025, with the theme "Safe Speeds Save Lives"

Bullet Points:

• November 16, 2025, is World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims.
• Over 300 small flags will represent those who have died on our roads since the last World Day of Remembrance in 2024.
• This year’s theme is Safe Speeds Save Lives, focusing on the need to use more effective – but under-used – tools to discourage dangerously high speeds.”