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Saturday, Nov 22

Daily Current Affairs: 22 November 2025

Your consolidated report for 22 November 2025

Headline: Ireland named Country Partner for Nagaland's Hornbill Festival 2025

Bullet Points:

  • Ireland is the official Country Partner for Hornbill Festival 2025, announced Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio and Irish Ambassador Kevin Kelly at the Naga House in the national capital.
  • Irish folk ensemble Boinn (featuring members of The Mary Wallopers) will perform traditional Irish ballads at the festival opening.
  • Embassy of Ireland will host investment roundtables, public art installations, literary & theatre-arts work, and a dialogue series on Ireland, India, and Empire.

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UK Designated Country Partner for 2025 Hornbill Festival (Mid of November) ▼
  • The government of Nagaland has announced a formal partnership with the British Council, designating the UK as the country partner for the 2025 Hornbill Festival.
  • The agreement was signed by Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio and Alison Barrett MBE, country director India, British Council.
  • Scottish artist Ruairidh Maclean (RuMac) will perform on Dec 2 as part of the festival.
India-Danish Business Council Launched to Promote Investments & Innovation (Start of November) ▼
  • The Indo-Danish Business Council (IDBC) has been launched in Copenhagen as a strategic think tank and collaboration platform.
  • It aims to foster deeper innovation, policy, and investment ties between India and the Nordic region across life sciences, deep tech, healthcare, sustainability, and venture ecosystems.
  • The launch extends the spirit of the Green Strategic Partnership between India and Denmark into innovation, entrepreneurship, and knowledge exchange.
  • Established in Copenhagen and New Delhi in 2025, IDBC works to connect startups, investors, policymakers, and academic institutions.
  • Its core pillars include Thought Leadership & Policy Insight, Startup & Industry Collaboration, and an Annual Summit Platform.
  • IDBC announced plans to host an annual Indo-Nordic Innovation & Leadership Summit.
NABARD and IAMAI launch Earth Summit 2025-26 to foster rural innovation (End of November) ▼
  • The summit is themed 'Empowering Rural Innovation for Global Change'.
  • It will be held across three cities: Hyderabad (20-21 Nov 2025), Gandhinagar (5-6 Dec 2025), and New Delhi (Feb 2026).
  • The initiative aims to bridge gaps between technology, finance, agriculture, and climate action for rural transformation.
  • Activities include hackathons, startup-investor connects, exhibitions, and product showcases.
  • The summit will demonstrate how India’s Digital Public Infrastructure can scale inclusive innovation across the Global South.
World Water Week 2025 observed from 24 to 28 August in Stockholm, Sweden (End of August) ▼
  • World Water Week 2025 is scheduled from 24 August to 28 August 2025 in Stockholm, Sweden.
  • The theme for World Water Week 2025 is "Water for Climate Action."
  • World Water Week is the leading conference on global water issues, held every year since 1991.
  • The event is co-created with leading organizations and attracts participants from diverse professional backgrounds worldwide.
  • IUCN will be present at World Water Week 2025, hosting official events and engaging throughout the week.

Headline: Punjab Scheduled Castes Commission Opens Dedicated Courtroom for Faster Hearings

Bullet Points:

  • Initiative Name: Punjab State Scheduled Castes Commission's separate Court Room (first-of-its-kind in any State Scheduled Castes Commission in India)
  • Objective: "to ensure faster hearings, timely disposal of cases and overall efficiency in the functioning of the Commission"
  • Key Feature: "Equipped with modern facilities" and an "Online Court System would also be introduced soon to enable complainants to appear virtually, saving time, travel, and expenses for the public"

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Justices Alok Aradhe and Vipul Pancholi appointed as Supreme Court judges (End of August) ▼
  • Justice Alok Aradhe, Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court, appointed as a Supreme Court judge.
  • Justice Vipul Pancholi, Chief Justice of the Patna High Court, appointed as a Supreme Court judge.
  • Appointments made two days after the Supreme Court Collegium recommended their names.
  • Justice Pancholi originally belongs to the Gujarat High Court.
  • Justice Nagarathna dissented over Justice Pancholi’s elevation, citing his 2023 transfer from Gujarat HC to Patna HC.
  • Two consultee Supreme Court judges—Justices K Vinod Chandran and Ahsanuddin Amanullah—gave “positive remarks” on Justice Pancholi’s elevation.
  • Justice Pancholi will likely become the CJI on October 3, 2031, for an 18-month term ending May 27, 2033.
Supreme Court Strikes Down Key Provisions Of Tribunal Reforms Law (Mid of November) ▼
  • 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'.
MHA Empowers Foreigners Tribunals to Detain Unauthorised Foreigners under New Act (Start of September) ▼
  • The Union home ministry has empowered foreigners tribunals to detain suspected illegal immigrants under the new Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025.
  • The Union home ministry, through an order issued on Monday, has given powers to the foreigners tribunal (FTs) to send a suspected foreigner national in a holding centre.
  • The order is part of recently passed Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025, which came into effect on Monday itself.
  • The home ministry issued an order in this effect through the just implemented The Immigration and Foreigners Order, 2025. This order replaces the Foreigners (Tribunal) Order, 1964.
  • The new order empowers foreigners tribunals to issue detention orders if a person whose nationality has been contested fails to appear in person.
  • The order stated that the FTs “shall have the powers of a civil court while trying a suit under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908) and the powers of a judicial magistrate of the first class under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sahita, 2023 (46 of 2023) in matters including - (a) summoning and enforcing the attendance of any person and examining him on oath; (b) requiring the discovery and production of any document; (c) issuing commissions for the examination of any witness; (d) directing the proceedee to appear before it in person; (e) issuing a warrant of arrest against the proceedee, if he fails to appear before it.”
New Chhattisgarh Assembly Building Inaugurated: Key Features and Vision (Start of November) ▼
  • **Initiative Name**: Chhattisgarh’s new Assembly building in Nava Raipur.
  • **Inaugurated by**: Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
  • **Estimated Cost**: Rs 324.93 crore.
  • **Area**: Spanning over 57,800 square metres (around 6.22 lakh sq ft), built on approximately 51 acres.
  • **Capacity**: Main Assembly Hall can currently accommodate 90 legislators, with the capacity to expand to 200.
  • **Vision**: Designed with a 100-year perspective, integrating advanced technology, environmental balance, and scalability.
  • **Symbolism**: Described as a “pilgrimage site of democracy” and symbolizing transparency, accountability, and progress, reflecting Chhattisgarh’s rich heritage and aspirations for a developed India.

Headline: Rabih Alameddine and Patricia Smith win 2025 National Book Awards

Bullet Points:

  • Rabih Alameddine won the 2025 National Book Award for Fiction for his novel 'The True True Story of Raja the Gullible (and His Mother)'
  • Patricia Smith won the 2025 National Book Award for Poetry for her collection 'The Intentions of Thunder'
  • Each winner receives $10,000 as part of the award

Similar Headlines

Salman Rushdie receives lifetime achievement award at Dayton Literary Peace Prize event (Mid of November) ▼
  • Salman Rushdie was among the honorees Sunday at the Dayton Literary Peace Prize event in Ohio.
  • He received a lifetime achievement award after publishing his first work of fiction since being stabbed on a New York lecture stage three years ago.
  • The prizes honor both literary merit and the writers' promotion of peace through their work.
  • The lifetime achievement award is also known as the Ambassador Richard C. Holbrooke Distinguished Achievement Award.
  • His most recent work, his 23rd, is "The Eleventh Hour," which includes three novellas and two short stories.
  • He was blinded in one eye from the 2022 attack before a stunned audience.
  • Authorities said Rushdie's attacker, Hadi Matar, then 24 and a U.S. citizen, was attempting to carry out the decades-old edict calling for his death.
Educate Girls becomes first Indian organisation to win Ramon Magsaysay Award (End of August) ▼
  • The Ramon Magsaysay Award is widely considered Asia’s equivalent of the Nobel Prize.
  • The award was set up in 1957 by trustees of the Rockefeller Brothers Fund and the Philippine government.
  • Educate Girls has become the first Indian organisation to win the Ramon Magsaysay Award.
Mohanlal conferred Dadasaheb Phalke Award for 2023 (End of September) ▼
  • Mohanlal has been named the recipient of the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, the highest honour in Indian cinema.
  • The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting made the official announcement on Saturday.
  • The award is for the year 2023, as disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic delayed the National Film Awards cycle by two years.
45 teachers selected for National Teachers’ Award 2025 to be felicitated by President Droupadi Murmu on September 5 (Start of September) ▼
  • President Droupadi Murmu will felicitate 45 school teachers with the National Teachers' Award 2025 on Teachers' Day, September 5.
  • The 45 awardees are drawn from 27 States, 7 Union Territories and 6 Organisations.
  • Among the 45 selected teachers, 24 are male and 21 are female.
  • The selection process involved a two-step procedure: preliminary shortlisting by a search-cum-screening committee and final selection by a national jury.
  • Examples of awardees include Kandhan Kumaresan (Andaman & Nicobar) from Govt. Model Senior Secondary School Aberdeen, Madabathula Thirumala Sridevi (Andhra Pradesh) from Pandit Nehru MPL HS 17 Ward Nang Ekthani, and Awadhesh Kumar Jha (Delhi) from Sarvodaya Co-Ed Vidyalaya Sector-8 Rohini.

Headline: Bajaj Alternate Investment Management hires Jitendra Gohil from Kotak as CIO

Bullet Points:

  • Bajaj Alternate Investment Management Ltd hired Jitendra Gohil as chief investment officer from Kotak Alternate Asset Managers Ltd.
  • India’s alternative asset industry has a committed capital of 15 trillion rupees ($169 billion) according to Securities and Exchange Board of India data.
  • Jitendra Gohil will report to Lakshmi Iyer, group president for investments at Bajaj Alternate Investment.

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Jio Financial Services and Allianz form 50:50 reinsurance JV 'Allianz Jio Reinsurance Ltd' with Rs 2.5 lakh initial capital (Mid of September) ▼
  • Allianz Jio Reinsurance Ltd (AJRL) is a 50:50 joint venture between Jio Financial Services Ltd (JFSL) and Allianz of Germany.
  • AJRL will invest Rs 2.50 lakh towards initial subscription of 25,000 equity shares of face value Rs 10 each.
  • The incorporation follows receipt of a no-objection certificate from the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI).
Hinduja Group Chairman Gopichand P Hinduja passes away in London (Start of November) ▼
  • Gopichand P Hinduja, Chairman of the Hinduja Group, passed away in London on Tuesday according to a PTI report.
  • He assumed the role of chairman after his older brother Srichand passed away in May 2023.
  • He began his career with the family enterprise in Mumbai during 1959 and played a pivotal role in evolving the organisation into a diverse, international business group.
Goldman Sachs appointed sole banker for up to 5% stake dilution in four PSBs (End of August) ▼
  • The Government of India has appointed Goldman Sachs as the sole transaction advisor for the stake sale in four public sector banks—UCO Bank, Central Bank of India, Punjab & Sind Bank, and Indian Overseas Bank.
  • The government is likely to dilute its equity stake in each of the four banks by up to 5%.
  • The disinvestment will be executed in tranches, starting in the current fiscal year (FY26) and spread over the next two to three years.
  • The Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM) has already approved Offer for Sale (OFS) transactions for five PSBs, including the four mentioned above.
  • Bank of Maharashtra is expected to meet the 25% minimum public shareholding (MPS) requirement through a Qualified Institutional Placement (QIP) route.
  • Currently, government holdings in all four PSBs stand at 89% or higher.
  • The government is preparing to invite financial bids for the strategic sale of IDBI Bank between October and December 2025, to select a successful bidder by the end of FY26.
Former RBI Governor Urjit Patel appointed as India ED at IMF (End of August) ▼
  • The government appointed former Reserve Bank governor Urjit Patel as the executive director, India, at the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
  • Patel will succeed Krishnamurthy V Subramanian.
  • The appointment is for three years from the date of the resumption of the charge or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
  • It has been approved by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet, according to an order dated August 28 by the Department of Personnel and Training.

Headline: TCS and TPG form joint venture for gigawatt-scale AI-ready data centres in India

Bullet Points:

  • Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) is joining forces with private equity group TPG in a multi-billion dollar joint venture.
  • The joint venture, named HyperVault AI Data Centre Ltd, aims to create gigawatt-scale, AI-ready data centres.
  • TCS will own a controlling 51% of HyperVault, and TPG will deploy Rs 8,820 crore ($1.1 billion) for a stake of up to 49%.
  • Both partners have agreed to cumulatively invest up to Rs 18,000 crore ($2.1 billion) as equity in HyperVault over the next few years.
  • The new data centre arm will operate as a colocation data centre provider, offering services to hyperscalers, Indian enterprises, government entities, and Tata companies.
  • TCS announced its plan to enter the data centre space with an aim of building up to 1.2 GW of capacity, entailing $6.5-7 billion in investments to be funded via debt and equity.
  • This is the first time that cash-rich TCS will be taking equity from a PE firm as well as external debt to fund a project.
  • The project will complete buildout in five to seven years and revenue could start kicking in over the next 18-24 months.
  • AZB & Partners, Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas and Latham & Watkins LLP were the legal advisers, while Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu India and Price Waterhouse & Co were tax advisers.

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Odisha Government partners with TCS for IFMS 3.0 and AI Workbench implementation (Start of September) ▼
  • Odisha government partners with Tata Consultancy Services Ltd. (TCS) to design and implement Integrated Financial Management System (IFMS) 3.0
  • IFMS 3.0 leverages cloud-native, microservices-based architecture to automate the state’s public finance workflows
  • TCS will implement its open-source AI Workbench to support AI/ML projects in model development, monitoring and retraining
TCS creates dedicated AI-focused unit led by Amit Kapur (End of August) ▼
  • Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has formed a new 'AI and services transformation unit' to consolidate all of its existing artificial-intelligence capabilities.
  • Insider Amit Kapur—who has spent 20 years at TCS and most recently led its UK and Ireland business—has been appointed head of the new unit, effective from September.
  • The unit’s objective is to 'deepen its focus on AI domain solutions and accelerate innovation,' according to an internal company memo.
  • TCS is the first Indian IT company to dedicate an entire business unit solely to AI and allied technologies, following a similar move by U.S. rival Accenture in June.
  • The announcement follows TCS’s recent disclosure of plans to cut 12,000 jobs, underscoring industry-wide concerns that deeper AI adoption may lead to further layoffs in India’s $283 billion outsourcing sector.
Telangana Establishes AI Innovation Hub (TAIH) to Become a Global AI Leader (Start of November) ▼
  • The Telangana Artificial Intelligence Innovation Hub (TAIH) has been established by the State Government.
  • The primary goal behind setting up TAIH is to ensure that by 2035, Telangana finds a place among the top 20 AI hubs in the world.
  • The hub will serve as a focal point for AI-based innovation, research, and collaboration across multiple sectors.
  • The Special Chief Secretary (IT), Commissioner of Mee Seva, and Joint Director of Emerging Technologies will serve as members of the Innovation Hub.
  • Telangana aims to achieve transformative results in public service delivery, healthcare, transportation, and education through AI-powered solutions.
  • Telangana successfully hosted the AI Global Summit in 2024, becoming the first State in the country to organize an event of such magnitude.
  • Strategic partnerships have been forged with premier academic and research institutions and global technology leaders including Google, Microsoft, Infosys, and Amazon.
TCS and C-DAC partner to build India’s sovereign cloud ecosystem using indigenous OpenStack technologies (Mid of September) ▼
  • Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) and the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) have signed an MoU to accelerate India’s sovereign cloud ecosystem.
  • The collaboration will integrate indigenous innovations into TCS’ sovereign cloud stack to host critical government applications such as e-Sanjeevani and Dial 112.
  • The sovereign cloud platform is built on OpenStack and indigenous technologies to reduce reliance on global hyperscalers.
  • The platform aligns with India’s data localisation mandates and supports digital transformation of public sector services.
  • Key sectors targeted include healthcare, defense, smart cities, and banking and financial services (BFSI).

Headline: India Expands Visa-on-Arrival Program for UAE Nationals: Key Features and Eligibility

Bullet Points:

  • India has expanded its Visa-on-Arrival program for UAE nationals to three new airports – Kochi, Calicut, and Ahmedabad, joining six existing hubs.
  • With this update, UAE citizens can now obtain a Visa-on-Arrival at nine major Indian airports: New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Kochi, Calicut, Ahmedabad.
  • The VoA facility is available exclusively to UAE nationals who have previously obtained an Indian e-Visa or a regular paper visa.
  • Purpose of visit: Allowed for tourism, business, conferences, or medical treatment only.
  • Duration of stay: Maximum of 60 days.
  • Entry limit: Allows double entry within the 60-day period.
  • Visa fee: 2,000 INR (DH83) or equivalent in foreign currency per passenger, including children.
  • The move aims to simplify travel and strengthen bilateral ties.

Similar Headlines

FDI rises 15% to USD 18.62 billion in Apr-June FY26; US inflow triples (Start of September) ▼
  • Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in India surged by 15% to reach USD 18.62 billion during the April-June quarter of the current fiscal year.
  • Inflows from the United States nearly tripled to USD 5.61 billion, compared to USD 1.50 billion in April-June 2024-25.
  • Total FDI rose to USD 25.2 billion during the reviewed quarter, compared to USD 22.5 billion in the corresponding period of 2024-25.
  • Karnataka topped the list of states receiving FDI, with inflows of USD 5.69 billion, followed by Maharashtra at USD 5.36 billion.
  • Sector-wise, computer software and hardware attracted USD 5.4 billion, services received USD 3.28 billion, and the automobile sector brought in USD 1.29 billion.
India-UAE Knowledge Diplomacy: IIM-A Dubai Campus & IIT-D Abu Dhabi AIC Inaugurated (Mid of September) ▼
  • IIM Ahmedabad Dubai campus inaugurated by HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, described as "another big leap towards globalisation of India’s education"
  • First-ever overseas Atal Incubation Centre (AIC) inaugurated at IIT Delhi Abu Dhabi campus to nurture Indo-UAE start-ups in deep tech, AI, clean energy, healthcare
  • Bilateral meeting between Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and UAE Acting Minister of Higher Education Dr Abdulrahman Abdulmannan Al Awar agreed to deepen cooperation in knowledge, innovation and scientific research
Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan visits UAE to strengthen India-UAE educational collaboration (Mid of September) ▼
  • Dharmendra Pradhan, Union Minister for Education, is on an official two-day visit to the UAE to bolster bilateral cooperation in education.
  • He will inaugurate the Atal Incubation Centre at the IIT Delhi-Abu Dhabi Campus, the first foreign centre of its kind.
  • Pradhan is scheduled to launch PhD and B.Tech programmes and interact with students and faculty during the visit.
Fast Track Immigration – Trusted Traveller Programme (FTI-TTP): Key Features and Implementation (Mid of September) ▼
  • The initiative is called the Fast Track Immigration – Trusted Traveller Programme (FTI-TTP) and is a Central Government initiative.
  • FTI-TTP aims to enhance the efficiency of the immigration process for Indian citizens and those holding Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cards, offering a seamless immigration experience for travellers.
  • Under the initiative, applicants who have pre-registered their biometric information can bypass long queues and use automated e-gates at the airport.
  • The programme was launched in 2024 in Delhi, followed by its implementation at Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Kochi, and Ahmedabad airports, and is now operational at 13 airports simultaneously with the addition of Lucknow, Thiruvananthapuram, Trichy, Kozhikode, and Amritsar.
  • While Indian citizens will certainly benefit, OCI cardholders will benefit the most from this facility.
  • The Centre has planned to integrate this programme with the upcoming Navi Mumbai and Jewar airports.

Headline: India's Waves Film Bazaar Attracts International Participation, Aims for Global Content Bridge

Bullet Points:

  • The 56th edition of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) launched the freshly rebranded Waves Film Bazaar.
  • The event is held in Panaji, Goa.
  • International attendees included South Korean MP Jaewon Kim, South Korean actor Kim Jaewon, Australian filmmaker Garth Davis, and Waves Bazaar adviser Jerome Pilloard of France.
  • Waves Film Bazaar is positioned as one of Asia’s most important film markets and aims to help bridge Indian stories with world producers.
  • Dr L. Murugan declared that India is emerging as a global power in production, digital content, gaming, fashion, and music.

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WaveX launches Media Tech Incubator to boost AVGC-XR startups in India (Start of September) ▼
  • WaveX, the startup accelerator program of the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (I&B), in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Creative Technologies (IICT), has announced the launch of a dedicated Media Tech Startup Incubator focused on the AVGC-XR sector — Audio, Visual, Comics, Gaming, and Extended Reality.
  • The incubator will provide structured mentorship from industry veterans, state-of-the-art infrastructure such as AV/digital labs and cloud services, strategic business advisory on branding, fundraising, and compliance, real-world testing opportunities through government media unit partnerships, and access to policy clinics and investor connect sessions.
  • Facilities include co-working spaces at IICT, AV/digital production labs, hosting servers, high-speed LAN/Wi-Fi, AWS and Google Cloud credits, with India AI compute services to be added soon.
  • The program features masterclasses and bootcamps led by experts from global technology leaders such as Google, Microsoft, Amazon, and others.
  • The first cohort will consist of 15 selected startups at the IICT campus, with applications open until 7th September 2025.
Angikaar 2025 Campaign under PMAY-U 2.0: Launch, Objectives, and Features (Start of September) ▼
  • Shri Manohar Lal, Hon’ble Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs, launched “Angikaar 2025”, a last-mile outreach campaign under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana - Urban 2.0 (PMAY-U 2.0).
  • The campaign was launched in New Delhi on 4th September 2025.
  • Angikaar 2025 is an outreach campaign that will accelerate the implementation of PMAY-U 2.0 by creating widespread awareness about the scheme across the country.
  • The campaign is designed to fast-track verification of applications under the scheme and expedite the completion of already sanctioned houses under PMAY-U.
  • Another key objective of Angikaar 2025 is to inform stakeholders about the Credit Risk Guarantee Fund Trust for Low Income Housing (CRGFTLIH) scheme.
  • Benefits of the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana will be provided to beneficiaries of PMAY-U and housing needs of beneficiaries from Special Focus Group identified under PMAY-U 2.0 will be prioritised.
  • Angikaar 2025 will run for a period of two months from 4th September 2025 to 31st October 2025 across 5,000+ Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) in the country.
  • It will feature a line-up of camps, loan melas, and cultural events designed to engage prospective beneficiaries and other related stakeholders to participate in the Jan Bhagidari movement.
  • As part of the campaign, PMAY-U Awas Diwas will be celebrated on 17th September 2025 to mark the first year of launch of PMAY-U 2.0.
  • An anchor event named “PM Awas Mela – Shehri” will be held at District Headquarters, conducted in two phases – the first phase from 17th September 2025 to 27th September 2025 and the second phase will be any day between 16th October 2025 to 31st October 2025.
  • Under PMAY-U 2.0, one crore additional families of urban India will receive financial support of up to ₹2.50 lakh by the Government to construct or purchase a pucca house in cities.
MAR-a-THON 2025: India’s Maritime Hackathon Launched under Sagarmala Start-up Innovation Initiative (End of August) ▼
  • Scheme Name: MAR-a-THON 2025 – India’s Maritime Hackathon, organised under the Sagarmala Start-up Innovation Initiative (S2I2) by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW)
  • Launch Date & Venue: Launched on 25 August 2025 at IIT Madras
  • Objective: To advance Research, Innovation, Start-ups, and Entrepreneurship (RISE) in the maritime sector and act as a curtain-raiser to India Maritime Week 2025
  • Implementing & Partner Agencies: MoPSW, National Technology Centre for Ports, Waterways & Coasts (NTCPWC), IIT Madras, National Maritime Complex (NMC), and Chennai Port Authority (ChPA)
  • Funding Support for Selected Start-ups: Proof of Concept (PoC) up to ₹10 lakh, Seed Funding (MVP) up to ₹60 lakh, Tech Pilot Grant (Commercial Scale-up) up to ₹1 crore
  • Key Timelines: Application window 25 August – 29 September 2025; Hackathon 16–18 October 2025; Awards & agreements during India Maritime Week 2025
Key Abbreviations and Their Full Forms (Start of November) ▼
  • IICT stands for Indian Institute of Creative Technologies.
  • AVGC stands for Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, and Comics.
  • IFFI stands for International Film Festival of India.
  • AVGC-XR stands for Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, Comics, and Extended Reality.

Headline: Supreme Court Rules No Timelines for Governors on Bills

Bullet Points:

  • The Supreme Court held that the Court cannot impose any timelines for decisions of the President and the Governor on granting assent to Bills under the Constitution.
  • A Constitutional bench led by Chief Justice BR Gavai issued its opinion while answering 13 questions referred to it by the President Droupadi Murmu under Article 143 of the Constitution.
  • The Supreme Court refused to accept the preliminary objections raised by opposition-ruled states like Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Kerala to maintainability of Presidential Reference.

Similar Headlines

SC questions governors' authority to withhold assent to money bills (End of August) ▼
  • The Supreme Court Constitution Bench, led by CJI BR Gavai, raised concerns that interpreting Article 200 to allow governors to withhold assent could enable even money bills to be withheld.
  • Justice Narasimha observed: 'Because, at the threshold, the Governor withholds the Bill. There is a problem because with this power, even a money bill can be withheld.'
  • Solicitor General Tushar Mehta for the Centre said: 'Article 207 requires a governor's nod for introducing a money bill. So there's no scope for withholding by the governor once introduced.'
  • Senior advocate Harish Salve for Maharashtra argued: 'The substantive provision of Article 200 does not say that the governor cannot withhold a money bill.'
  • Salve added: 'If what is approved finally does not accord with what was recommended by the governor, the governor can withhold assent.'
  • Mehta reiterated: 'governors hold four options under Article 200 and that withholding assent leads to the bill falling through.'
  • The hearings arise from a Presidential reference under Article 143(1) made by President Droupadi Murmu after the Court’s April 8 ruling that imposed timelines on governors and the President to act on state bills.
  • Kerala and Tamil Nadu have challenged the maintainability of the reference, calling it an indirect attempt to revisit binding precedents.
Appellate Court Rules Bulk of Trump's Global Tariffs Not Legal (Start of September) ▼
  • A federal appellate court on Friday upheld a lower-court ruling invalidating the bulk of President Trump's sweeping global tariffs.
  • The Court of International Trade ruled Trump did not have the authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to impose tariffs.
  • In a 7-4 ruling, the court said Trump's reasoning for the tariffs did not constitute an emergency and went beyond the president's authority.
  • The tariff program is now generating about $30 billion a month in revenue.
  • The court also held its ruling through Oct. 14 to give either side time to appeal to the Supreme Court.
  • The administration has sought to safeguard some of its trade agenda by imposing higher duties — on steel, aluminum and more — under separate authorities.
  • In recent weeks, the administration has widened the scope of steel and aluminum tariffs and announced plans for tariff investigations to include furniture.
RBI sets up Regulatory Review Cell and external Advisory Group for periodic review of regulations (Mid of September) ▼
  • The Reserve Bank of India has constituted a Regulatory Review Cell (RRC) in the Department of Regulation with effect from 1 October 2025.
  • The RRC will ensure every RBI regulation undergoes a comprehensive internal review every five to seven years.
  • An independent Advisory Group on Regulation (AGR) has been formed concurrently, with an initial tenure of three years renewable by a further two years.
  • Rana Ashutosh Kumar Singh, Managing Director of State Bank of India, is appointed Chairman of the AGR.
Supreme Court backs Allahabad HC 2-month cooling-off, no-arrest rule in 498A cases (Mid of September) ▼
  • The Supreme Court upheld the Allahabad High Court guidelines mandating that 'No arrest or police action shall be made before the lapse of two months from the lodging of the FIR or complaint under Section 498A IPC.'
  • During the cooling-off period 'the matter must be referred to a Family Welfare Committee (FWC)' set up under the District Legal Services Authority.
  • The Court directed that 'FWC members cannot be called as witnesses' and that 'all complaints under 498A IPC shall be sent to the Family Welfare Committee before any police action.'
  • Investigating Officers 'must be trained in matrimonial disputes and act with utmost sincerity and transparency.'
  • In Shivangi Bansal vs. Sahib Bansal the parties reached 'an amicable resolution' leading the Court to quash 'all civil and criminal proceedings between the parties' and dissolve the marriage under Article 142.

Headline: India hits record Rs 1.54 lakh crore defence production in FY25; defence sector stocks upbeat

Bullet Points:

  • India recorded its highest-ever defence production of Rs 1.54 lakh crore and record exports of Rs 23,622 crore in FY25.
  • Indigenous production stood at Rs 1,27,434 crore in FY24, marking a 174% rise compared to FY15.
  • DPSUs and other PSUs accounted for approximately 77% of total production, while the private sector contributed 23%.
  • The private sector accounted for over Rs 15,233 crore of defence exports, while DPSUs contributed around Rs 8,389 crore.
  • FY25 saw 193 defence contracts worth Rs 2,09,050 crore signed, with 177 contracts worth nearly Rs 1.69 lakh crore going to domestic industries.
  • India now sources at least 65% of its defence needs from local producers.
  • Government targets Rs 3 lakh crore defence production and Rs 50,000 crore in defence exports by 2029.
  • India exports defence products to over 100 nations, including the United States, France, and Armenia.
  • HAL share price up 13.57%, BDL up 37.24%, BEL up 44.78%, Bharat Forge up 11.02%, and Paras Defence up 48.13% so far in 2025.

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India-UK conduct 8th 'Ajeya Warrior-25' joint military exercise in Rajasthan (Mid of November) ▼
  • Exercise name: 'Ajeya Warrior-25' (8th edition)
  • Location: Mahajan field firing ranges, Bikaner district, Rajasthan
  • Participants: 240 personnel with equal representation from Indian Army (Sikh Regiment) and British Army
  • Focus: Counter-terrorism operations in semi-urban environment under UN mandate
  • Training components: joint mission planning at Brigade level, integrated tactical drills, simulation-based scenarios, company-level field training exercises
Global Firepower Index 2025: Top 10 Military Powers Ranked (End of October) ▼
  • Report: Global Firepower (GFP) Index 2025 ranks world militaries using 60+ factors; lower Power Index (PwrIndx) score denotes stronger capability
  • Top 3: United States leads with PwrIndx 0.0744, Russia second at 0.0788, China ties Russia at 0.0788
  • India ranks 4th with PwrIndx 0.1184, highlighted for self-reliance push and indigenous projects like Tejas Mk1A and Arihant-class submarines
  • Completing top 10: South Korea (5th), United Kingdom (6th), France (7th), Japan (8th), Türkiye (9th), Italy (10th)
Mission Sudarshan Chakra and IADWS: Advancing India’s Multi-Layered Air Defence by 2035 (End of August) ▼
  • Scheme Name: Mission Sudarshan Chakra – a comprehensive, multi-layered, networked system announced by the Prime Minister on Independence Day to protect India and its vital installations from enemy attacks across domains by 2035.
  • Key Components: Integrated Air Defence Weapon System (IADWS) – a multi-layered air defence system comprising indigenous Quick Reaction Surface to Air Missiles (QRSAM), Advanced Very Short Range Air Defence System (VSHORADS) missiles and a high-power laser-based Directed Energy Weapon (DEW).
  • Implementing Agencies: Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) with collaboration expected from defence research organisations and the private sector; Centralised Command and Control Centre developed by Defence Research & Development Laboratory.
  • Integration Plans: Likely to be integrated with the Indian Air Force’s Integrated Air Command and Control System (IACCS) and the Army’s Akashteer subsequently.
India launches Mission Sudarshan Chakra for indigenous integrated air & missile defense shield (Mid of September) ▼
  • Mission Sudarshan Chakra announced by PM Modi as national programme to develop multi-layered integrated air and missile defense shield covering strategic and civilian sites by 2035
  • Programme to integrate cyber defense and counter-strike weapons; existing systems include Indo-Israeli Barak-8, Russian S-400, DRDO’s Project Kusha long-range interceptor and IADWS short-range laser/missile system
  • Analysts expect emphasis on indigenous solutions; DRDO developing 150–400 km range Kusha interceptors and new Ballistic Missile Defence system alongside Prithvi/Ashiwin BMD and ASAT weapons

Headline: Miss Universe 2025 Winner: Mexico’s Fátima Bosch wins the 74th Miss Universe title

Bullet Points:

  • Mexico’s Fátima Bosch defeated over 100 contestants to win the 74th Miss Universe title.
  • Thailand’s Praveenar Singh was crowned first Runner Up.
  • Victoria Kjær Theilvig of Denmark, the 73rd Miss Universe, crowned the winner.
  • Fátima Bosch Fernández is from Villahermosa, Tabasco, Mexico.
  • She studied Fashion and Apparel Design at Universidad Iberoamericana and NABA in Milan.
  • She creates sustainable fashion from discarded materials.
  • Miss Universe director Nawat Itsaragrisil was restricted from pageant activities after yelling at Miss Mexico.
  • India’s Manika Vishwakarma reached Top 12 before elimination.
  • Puerto Rico will host the 75th Miss Universe pageant.
  • Badminton legend Saina Nehwal served as one of eight judges.

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Sarayu Velpula Becomes India's 26th Woman Grandmaster (End of November) ▼
  • Sarayu Velpula became India's 26th Woman Grandmaster on 18/11/2025.
  • She scored her final norm at First League of Central Serbia.
  • Her first WIM, WGM, and IM-norms were scored at Pontevedra Masters 2023 in July.
  • She earned her second WGM-norm at Paris IdF Masters in July 2025.
  • She crossed 2300 in the September 2023 FIDE Rating list, achieving a published rating of 2386.
  • Her peak rating is 2443.
  • She joins the Indian team at the FIDE World Women's Team Championship 2025 in Linares, Spain.
  • Her trainer is IM N Krishna Teja.
  • Pravaha foundation has been supporting Sarayu’s journey from March 2025.
Harbhajan Singh, Saina Nehwal, and Rohit Shetty honoured as ‘Fit India Icons’ (Start of November) ▼
  • Harbhajan Singh, Saina Nehwal, and Rohit Shetty were "honoured as ‘Fit India Icons’".
  • The honour was bestowed "at National Fitness & Wellness Conclave 2025".
  • They were "felicitated by Union Minister for Youth Affairs & Sports Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya".
  • The conclave was "hosted at The Trident, Mumbai".
  • Harbhajan Singh is identified as a "World Cup-winning cricketer", Saina Nehwal as an "Olympic medallist", and Rohit Shetty as a "Bollywood filmmaker".
  • The event celebrated the "Fit India Mission, which aims to inspire citizens to adopt a healthier lifestyle in the journey towards a Fit and Viksit Bharat."
Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 Champions to Receive Record Prize Money (Start of September) ▼
  • The winners of the upcoming ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup will receive the biggest-ever prize money in the history of the tournament, a massive hike from USD 1.32 million (Rs 11.65 crore) in the previous edition to USD 4.48 million (Rs 39.55 crore).
  • The International Cricket Council (ICC) today announced a staggering four-fold increase in prize money for the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 to be hosted by India from 30 September to 2 November.
  • Overall, the eight-team event will witness nearly a three-fold increase in prize money, with the ICC announcing a total prize purse of USD 13.88 million (Rs 122.5 crore approx) for the mega event.
  • The runners-up will now receive USD 2.24 million (Rs 19.77 crore approx), an increase of 273 per cent in comparison to the USD 600,000 (Rs 5.30 crore) England received for reaching the final.
  • The total prize pot eclipses the prize money at the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023, which had total prize money of USD 10 million (Rs 88.26 crore approx).
ICC Launches Campaign Film and Opens Ticket Sales for Women's ODI World Cup 2025 (Mid of September) ▼
  • The ICC has unveiled the flagship ‘Will to Win’ campaign film.
  • The release of ‘Will To Win’ ... comes as the general window for ticket sales opened (at 8 PM IST on Tuesday, 8 September) at tickets.cricketworldcup.com.
  • The 13th edition of the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup is set to be staged at five venues across India and Sri Lanka.
  • The tournament will commence on 30 September with co-hosts India and Sri Lanka facing off in the opener.
  • The ‘Will To Win’ campaign brings into the spotlight stars from across each participant at the Cricket World Cup, including India’s Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur, Sri Lanka’s Chamari Athapaththu, Australia’s Ellyse Perry, South Africa’s Marizanne Kapp, Pakistan’s Muneeba Ali, Bangladesh’s Nigar Sultana Joty, New Zealand’s Melie Kerr and England’s Nat Sciver-Brunt.
  • The ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup is returning to India after 12 years.

Headline: World Television Day observed on 21 November: History, Significance and Future Trends

Bullet Points:

  • World Television Day is observed every year on 21 November.
  • The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 21 November as World Television Day through resolution 51/205 of 17 December 1996.
  • The first World Television Forum was held on 21 and 22 November 1996 under United Nations auspices.

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International Jury for IFFI 2025 Announced (End of November) ▼
  • The International Jury for IFFI 2025 will be chaired by Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra.
  • Graeme Clifford (Australia) is a member of the International Jury.
  • Remi Adefarasin (UK) is a member of the International Jury.
  • Katharina Schüttler (Germany) is a member of the International Jury.
  • Chandran Rutnam (Sri Lanka) is a member of the International Jury.
BEE introduces NECA 2025 award category for digital creators promoting energy efficiency (Mid of September) ▼
  • Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) under India’s Ministry of Power launched “National Energy Conservation Awards (NECA) for Content Creators and Influencers” for 2025
  • Eligible creators must have “at least 10,000 followers or subscribers on any major social media platform”
  • Contest requires “short videos (up to 90 seconds) in Hindi or any Indian language” with English or Hindi transcript on themes like setting AC at 24°, using 5-Star appliances, efficient lighting, green buildings and responsible festivals
  • Entries must be posted with hashtag #NECA2025 and registered through official portal www.neca.beeindia.gov.in
  • Winners will be felicitated at the National Energy Conservation Awards Ceremony on 14th December 2025 in New Delhi
Public Service Broadcasting Day observed on 12 November: Mahatma Gandhi’s sole radio address from AIR Delhi (Mid of November) ▼
  • Public Service Broadcasting Day is observed on the 12th of November every year to mark Mahatma Gandhi’s historic radio address.
  • On this day in 1947, Mahatma Gandhi made his first and only visit to the Broadcasting House in New Delhi and addressed displaced Indians in Kurukshetra via a special Deepawali broadcast.
  • The studio in Broadcasting House was arranged in the style of Gandhi’s daily prayer meetings for the occasion.
India Elected as Chairman of AIBD Executive Board at 23rd General Conference in Thailand (End of August) ▼
  • India has been elected as the Chairman of the Executive Board of Asia-Pacific Institute for Broadcasting Development (AIBD) with the highest number of votes.
  • The election took place during the 23rd AIBD General Conference, held from 19–21 August 2025 in Phuket, Thailand.
  • India last held the position of AIBD Executive Council Chairman in 2016.
  • India’s current tenure as President of the AIBD General Conference continues until August 2025.
  • The Asia-Pacific Institute for Broadcasting Development (AIBD) was Founded in 1977 under the auspices of UNESCO.
  • AIBD currently has more 92 member organizations from 45 countries.
  • India is a founding member of AIBD, and Prasar Bharati represents the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting in the organization.
  • The theme for the 23rd AIBD General Conference was “Media for People, Peace & Prosperity”.

Headline: World Philosophy Day observed on third Thursday of November: promotes dialogue, critical thinking and global reflection

Bullet Points:

  • World Philosophy Day is observed every year on the third Thursday of November, and in 2025 it falls on November 20.
  • The day was first celebrated by the UN in 2002 and officially designated by the UNESCO General Conference in 2005.
  • The significance of the day is to encourage individual dialogues, public debates, discussing new ideas and intellectual curiosity, addressing social and global challenges.

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Digvijay Diwas observed on September 11 annually (Mid of September) ▼
  • Digvijay Diwas is observed every year on September 11.
  • It commemorates Swami Vivekananda’s historic speech at the World’s Parliament of Religions in Chicago in 1893.
  • The day celebrates India’s spiritual heritage, unity, and universal brotherhood.
  • Swami Vivekananda’s speech highlighted India’s values of tolerance, acceptance, and the vision of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” — the world as one family.
  • The purpose of celebrating Digvijay Diwas is to inspire youth with Swami Vivekananda’s teachings on tolerance, inclusivity, and spiritual strength.
Global Scientific Community Celebrates World Science Day 2025 Focusing on Peace, Development, and Future Science (Mid of November) ▼
  • World Science Day for Peace and Development is celebrated each year on 10 November.
  • The idea for the Day was born at the 1999 World Conference on Science in Budapest, co-organized by UNESCO and the International Science Council’s predecessor, the International Council for Science (ICSU).
  • UNESCO officially proclaimed the Day in 2001.
  • This year’s theme for the celebrations was “Trust, Transformation, and Tomorrow: The Science We Need for 2050”.
  • Over 70 events led by ISC Members and partners celebrated World Science Day for Peace and Development 2025 across the world, from Argentina to Tanzania, and from Slovakia to India.
  • In Uganda, the Society for the Advancement of Science in Africa engaged students and early-career researchers through “Empowering Youth for Climate Action,” promoting dialogue on sustainability and local innovation.
  • The International Astronomical Union’s Office of Astronomy for Development led the online event “Science in Action: Grassroots Development with the Stars,” highlighting how astronomy contributes to education and community development.
International Day for Tolerance observed on November 16 annually (Mid of November) ▼
  • International Day for Tolerance is observed annually on November 16.
  • In 1995, UNESCO adopted the UNESCO Declaration of Principles on Tolerance.
  • The UN General Assembly (UNGA) invited UN member states to observe the International Day for Tolerance on November 16 the following year.
  • The International Day for Tolerance reminds the world to embrace diversity, reject discrimination, and promote peace, compassion, education, and peaceful coexistence for all.
  • To highlight the cause of peaceful coexistence and non-violence, the UN established in 1995, the UNESCO-Madanjeet Singh Prize for the Promotion of Tolerance and Non-Violence.
  • This award is given to people who promote a spirit of non-violence and tolerance, in scientific, artistic, cultural and communication fields.
  • Madanjeet Singh, born in 1924, at Lahore, devoted his life to creating communal harmony and peace and was even made the UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador.
World Cleanup Day 2025 theme "Strive for Five!" calls for 5% of global population to join cleanups (End of September) ▼
  • World Cleanup Day 2025 theme is "Strive for Five!", a science-backed approach seeking participation of 5% of global population to trigger behavioral changes on plastic pollution.
  • World Cleanup Day 2025 will kick off with a live broadcast from Kiev, Ukraine, showcasing global cleanup stories and real-time impact.
  • International Day of Peace falls on the day after World Cleanup Day, reinforcing the event’s call for world peace through collective action.