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Monday, Nov 24

Daily Current Affairs: 24 November 2025

Your consolidated report for 24 November 2025

Headline: National Cashew Day observed on November 23

Bullet Points:

  • National Cashew Day is celebrated every year on November 23 to honour the cashew nut.
  • Cashews originally come from Brazil, where indigenous tribes first discovered the cashew tree.
  • Portuguese explorers carried cashews to India and Africa in the 1500s.
  • India became one of the world’s biggest cashew processors by the 20th century.
  • Cashews grow outside the fruit, attached to the cashew apple, and each cashew apple grows only one single cashew nut.

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World Coconut Day observed in Guwahati under theme ‘Uncovering Coconut’s Power, Inspiring Global Action’ (Start of September)
  • World Coconut Day was observed in Assam on Tuesday under the theme ‘Uncovering Coconut’s Power, Inspiring Global Action’.
  • The inaugural session was held at the Guwahati regional office of the Coconut Development Board.
  • An exhibition showcasing coconut-based handicrafts and food products was organised, featuring innovative work by entrepreneurs supported by the Coconut Development Board.
CDB Launches Revised Schemes and Export Excellence Awards for Coconut Sector Development (Start of September)
  • The Coconut Development Board (CDB) celebrated World Coconut Day 2025 by launching newly revised schemes and presenting Export Excellence Awards.
  • The celebration reflects the government’s broader vision of promoting agriculture-led industrial growth, export competitiveness, and farmer welfare.
  • Financial assistance has been increased manifold under the Board’s initiatives, with a substantial hike in subsidies.
  • Support for the Area Expansion Programme has been raised from ₹6,500 per hectare to ₹56,000, and the subsidy for seedling production has increased from ₹8 to ₹45.
  • The Board has been allocated a larger budget for integrated development schemes, with plans to build a climate-resilient coconut economy by promoting value addition, skill development, and revised financial support structures.
  • The CDB Export Excellence Awards honored companies and organizations for their contributions to global trade of coconut-based products.
  • Several CDB publications were released, including 'Improved Coconut Cultivation Technologies', 'CDB Schemes Booklet (English)', 'CDB Schemes Booklet (Hindi)', and 'Guidelines on CDB’s Revised Schemes'.
Naturopathy Day observed on 18 November: Theme 2025 - "Losing weight naturally through Naturopathy" (End of November)
  • Naturopathy Day is observed in India every year on 18 November to promote a healthy lifestyle through the drugless, holistic system of medicine known as Naturopathy.
  • The Ministry of AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy), Government of India, officially declared this day in 2018 to raise awareness about natural healing practices and overall well-being.
  • The official theme for Naturopathy Day 2025 is "Losing weight naturally through Naturopathy".

Headline: Arunodoy Dohutia surrendered as top leader of United Liberation Front of Asom-Independent (ULFA-I).

Bullet Points:

  • Arunodoy Dohutia surrendered before a joint team of Assam Police and Assam Rifles along the Indo-Myanmar border.
  • He deposited war-like stores at the time of surrender.
  • He is expected to be taken to Delhi for further investigation.

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India withdraws from Ayni airbase in Tajikistan after bilateral agreement ends (Start of November)
  • India withdrew from the Ayni airbase in Tajikistan after a bilateral agreement on stationing Indian personnel ended in 2022
  • The base had a detachment of IAF helicopters, a repair facility and maintenance equipment
  • Russian forces have since taken over the base
Top Maoist Commander Madvi Hidma Killed in Encounter (Mid of November)
  • Madvi Hidma, the commander of the Maoists Peoples Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA) Battalion 1, was killed by security forces in Andhra Pradesh on Tuesday (November 18) morning, along with his wife and four others.
  • Hidma was one of India’s most wanted Maoist commanders.
  • He carried a bounty exceeding Rs 1 crore but remained out of the forces’ bounds until now.
  • Madvi Hidma, who was in his 40s, was born in Puvarti, a remote village in Chhattisgarh’s Sukma district.
  • He was reportedly the youngest Central Committee Member (CCM) of the CPI (Maoist), its top decision-making body.
  • Hidma was married to Raje alias Rajakka, a Divisional Committee Member (DVCM).
  • The Chhattisgarh Police has described Hidma’s death as the “last nail in the coffin” of the insurgency.

Headline: Shramik Kalyan Divas: Cheques Presented for Excellence

Bullet Points:

  • Union minister Sarbananda Sonowal participated in the Shramik Kalyan Divas (Workers’ Welfare Day) at Chabua in Dibrugarh on November 22.
  • The event commemorated the birth anniversary of Santosh Kumar Topno, a prominent leader from the tea garden community from Assam.
  • During the event, Sonowal presented cheques to individuals and institutions that have demonstrated excellence across various sectors, including education, healthcare, welfare of tea garden workers, and infrastructure development in tea garden areas.

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Sonali S Jeet Iyengar conferred with 10th "ATAL Shastra" MARKENOMY & InWENA Lifetime Achievement award 2025 (Mid of November)
  • Eminent multidisciplinary Fine Artist, museologist, sculptor, art restorer Sonali S Jeet Iyengar received the twin awards 10th "ATAL Shastra" MARKENOMY & InWENA Lifetime Achievement award 2025.
  • The award function was held at the Indian Merchants Chamber (IMC) in Mumbai.
  • She has contributed works of art to various energy sectors of Urja, energy, power, nuclear power plant, MBPT Mumbai Port Trust Authority of India, CAI, CIRCOT.
  • She received awards from Central Railways' UNESCO World Heritage for art sculptures at CSMT Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) & Hiramanek Star report Artist Of The year Award 2025 award.
Shardiya Navratri 2025: 10-day festival from 22 Sept-2 Oct, deity & colour list released (End of September)
  • Shardiya Navratri 2025 begins on 22 September and ends on 2 October, making it a 10-day celebration this year.
  • Day-wise colours: 22 Sept – White, 23 Sept – Red, 24 Sept – Royal blue, 25 Sept – Yellow, 26 Sept – Green, 27 Sept – Grey, 28 Sept – Orange, 29 Sept – Peacock green, 30 Sept – Pink.
  • Goddess worship sequence: Shailputri (22 Sept), Brahmacharini (23 Sept), Chandraghanta (24 Sept), Kushmanda (26 Sept), Skandamata (27 Sept), Katyayani (28 Sept), Kalaratri (29 Sept), Mahagauri (30 Sept); Vinayaka Chaturthi is observed on 25 Sept.
Dindi Mahotsav: A Historic State-Level Celebration in Margao (Start of November)
  • The Dindi Mahotsav is celebrating its 116th edition.
  • The festival was accorded the status of a state-level celebration by the government earlier this year.
  • The Dindi festival celebrates Kartiki Ekadashi, marking the end of the four-month Chaturmas period in the Hindu calendar.
  • The tradition began in 1909 when devotees of Shree Vithal Rakhumayee from Maharashtra, who settled in Goa during Portuguese rule, started the festival.
  • The festival originated because devotees were unable to undertake their pilgrimage to Pandharpur due to travel restrictions imposed by the foreign regime.
  • The main event of the festival is the procession of the deity’s palanquin from Shree Harimandir at Pajifond to Shree Vithal Mandir at Comba and returning to Shree Harimandir.
  • The Dindi is known for its sangeet maifals and bhajani baithaks.
  • Legendary performers including Bal Gandharva, Pt Bhimsen Joshi, Pt Jasraj, and Pt Jeetendra Abhisheki have graced the festival.

Headline: Astronomers Spot Possible Primordial Cluster Beyond Neptune

Bullet Points:

  • Astronomers believe they may have discovered evidence of a mysterious structure far beyond Neptune, hidden deep inside the Kuiper Belt.
  • The Kuiper Belt extends approximately 30 to 50 astronomical units (AU) from the Sun and contains icy remnants left behind during the solar system's formation.
  • A team of scientists from Princeton University, led by astrophysicist Aamir Siraj, has identified a new structure at a distance of approximately 43 AU.
  • They believe it could be a 'primordial cluster'—a group of icy objects that has existed virtually unchanged since the early solar system.
  • The extremely calm and stable orbits of these objects indicate the region's antiquity and minimal disruption.
  • This discovery could help explain how giant planets formed and gradually reached their current orbits.
  • The new structure shows even lower eccentricity than the previously identified 'kernel' region, suggesting it may be even older and more stable.
  • According to Princeton researchers, the classical belt's structure should be understood as consisting of three major components: a 'hot' component and two 'cold' components called the core and the kernel.

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NASA discovers two Earth-sized rocky exoplanets orbiting K-type star TOI-2322 (Start of September)
  • NASA has discovered two rocky exoplanets, similar in size to Earth, orbiting a nearby K-type star, TOI-2322.
  • The planets are approximately 195 light-years away from our planet.
  • A team of scientists, led by Melissa Hobson at the University of Geneva, states that both planets have shorter orbital periods as compared to Earth.
  • These exoplanets were first spotted by the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) telescope.
  • The confirmation was done using the Echelle SPectrograph for Rocky Exoplanets and Stable Spectroscopic Observations (ESPRESSO).
  • The inner planet, TOI- 2322 b, is about the same size as Earth and has a mass less than 2.03 times that of Earth, orbiting every 11.3 days with a temperature of around 330 degrees Celsius.
  • The outer planet, TOI-2322 c, is estimated to be 18 times heavier than Earth and is nearly 1.87 times the radius of Earth.
  • TOI-2322 c has an internal structure similar to Earth, which means it likely has a core, mantle, and crust like our planet, making it the largest and one of the most massive planets known with an Earth-like composition.
ESA–NASA Solar Orbiter traces origin of Solar Energetic Electrons, linking them to solar flares and coronal mass ejections (Start of September)
  • Spacecraft: ESA–NASA Solar Orbiter, launched in 2020, carries 10 instruments including STIX and EPD.
  • Finding: More than 300 bursts of Solar Energetic Electrons (SEE) observed between November 2020 and December 2022.
  • Connection: One set of SEE is linked to solar flares; another gradual release is tied to coronal mass ejections (CME).
  • Observation: Solar Orbiter flew through electron streams while simultaneously observing the Sun, capturing both in-situ and remote-sensing data.
  • Implication: Understanding these energetic particles will help protect spacecraft and astronauts from solar threats and improve space-weather forecasting.
RRI’s PRATUSH mission to detect Cosmic Dawn signal using Raspberry Pi-based digital receiver (Start of September)
  • Mission Name: PRATUSH (Probing ReionizATion of the Universe using Signal from Hydrogen) — a future radiometer in lunar orbit developed by Raman Research Institute (RRI), funded by DST, Government of India.
  • Objective: Detect the faint 21-cm hydrogen radio signal from the Cosmic Dawn, the epoch when the first stars and galaxies formed.
  • Key Technology: A compact single-board computer (SBC) built around a Raspberry Pi acts as the master controller and data recorder for the digital receiver, coordinating antenna, analog receiver, and FPGA processing.
  • Location Advantage: PRATUSH ultimately envisions a lunar far-side orbit, described as “the most radio-quiet place in the inner Solar System, free from Earth's interference and ionospheric distortion.”
  • Performance Achievement: Laboratory model tests with 352 hours of data reduced receiver noise to “just a few millikelvins,” demonstrating sensitivity adequate for detecting the faint Cosmic Dawn signal.
Unprecedented Brightening of Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS Reported (Start of November)
  • Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS exhibited an unprecedented and rapid increase in brightness as it approached the Sun.
  • The finding is significant because the internal composition of 3I/ATLAS could suggest that the planetary system from which it originates has a unique chemical makeup.
  • The unusual event was detected by several space-based observatories, including the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO), the GOES-19 meteorological satellite, and NASA’s twin spacecraft, STEREO-A and STEREO-B (Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory).
  • Comet 3I/ATLAS is only the third known interstellar object to enter our solar system, following the elongated asteroid ‘Oumuamua and 2I/Borisov.
  • Karl Battams of the Naval Research Laboratory, Washington DC, and Qicheng Zhang of the Lowell Observatory, Flagstaff, Arizona, reported the findings in a new paper published on the research repository arXiv.
  • The rapid brightening of 3I/ATLAS far exceeds the brightening rate of most Oort Cloud comets at similar radial distances.
  • Researchers have proposed multiple hypotheses for the anomaly, including the comet’s high velocity as it approaches the Sun, or intrinsic differences in its composition or structure compared to typical Oort Cloud comets.
  • Carbon dioxide sublimation seemed to dominate the comet’s activity even when it was just three times farther from the Sun than Earth, suggesting that cooling effects might have delayed water-ice sublimation.

Headline: Ukrainian sumo wrestler Danylo Yavhusishyn wins Grand Sumo Tournament

Bullet Points:

  • Ukrainian sumo wrestler Danylo Yavhusishyn on Sunday became the first from his nation to win a tournament of the traditional Japanese sport.
  • The 21-year-old won the Kyushu tournament after a tie-breaking victory over grand champion Hoshoryu from Mongolia.
  • Known by his ring name Aonishiki Arata, he speaks fluent Japanese.
  • Yavhusishyn arrived in Japan three years ago after fleeing Ukraine and has climbed the sumo ranks at record speed.
  • The Japan Sumo Association will soon hold a special meeting to promote him to “ozeki”, the second-highest ranking.
  • He left Ukraine after Russia’s February 2022 invasion and arrived in Japan two months later.
  • He sought refuge in Germany before moving to Japan, and his parents stayed in Germany.
  • Yavhusishyn became the second Ukraine-born professional sumo wrestler when he made his debut in July 2023.
  • His promotion to sumo’s upper divisions was the fifth fastest since the current system of six tournaments a year was introduced in 1958.
  • The ambitious wrestler said he now has his sights on reaching the top of the sumo hierarchy.

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Arjun Erigaisi and P Harikrishna win Round 3 openers at FIDE World Cup 2025 (Start of November)
  • Arjun Erigaisi defeated Uzbekistan’s Shamsiddin Vokhidov in 30 moves with the white pieces.
  • P Harikrishna beat Belgium’s Daniel Dardha in 25 moves using a sharp Sicilian Classical variation.
  • World champion D Gukesh was held to a draw with black in his Round 3 opener.
Anandkumar Velkumar wins India’s first-ever gold at Speed Skating World Championships 2025 (Mid of September)
  • Anandkumar Velkumar clinched the senior men’s 1,000 m sprint gold with a time of 1:24.924 at the Speed Skating World Championships in Beidaihe, China.
  • Velkumar had earlier secured a bronze in the 500 m sprint with a time of 43.072 s, marking India’s first senior world championship medal in speed skating.
  • Krish Sharma added to India’s tally by winning the junior 1,000 m sprint gold medal at the same championships.
Arshi Gupta becomes India’s first female National Karting Champion (Mid of November)
  • Arshi Gupta becomes India’s first female to win a National Karting Championship title.
  • Arshi clinched the 2025 FMSCI Indian Rotax Max National Karting Championship at the Meco Kartopia circuit in Bengaluru.
  • Arshi competed in the Micro Max class in a mixed grid of boys and girls.
  • Arshi races under Leapfrog Racing.
  • Arshi made her National debut in karting in early 2024.
  • She also has a record in her name in the India Book of Records as the youngest female to receive the National Karting License.
  • In September 2025, she was selected by FMSCI to be a part of Team India for the Asia Pacific Motorsports Championships in Sri Lanka.
  • She finished fourth in the Karting Sprint event in the Mini category for 8 to 12-year-olds.
Indian women boxers win four gold medals at World Boxing Cup Finals 2025 (End of November)
  • Indian women boxers achieved a remarkable feat at the World Boxing Cup Finals 2025.
  • They secured four gold medals in Greater Noida.
  • Minakshi Hooda, Preeti, Arundhati Choudhary, and Nupur emerged victorious in their respective categories.
  • Minakshi Hooda set the tone for the hosts, producing a dominant 5-0 win over Fozilova Farzona in the women’s 48kg final to open India’s tally.
  • Preeti Pawar followed soon after with another clean sweep, outclassing Italy’s Sirine Charaabi 5-0 to claim gold in the 54kg division.
  • Arundhati Choudhary then made it three golds for India by defeating Uzbekistan’s Zokirova Aziza 5-0 in the 70kg final.
  • Nupur Sheoran capped India’s session with a fourth gold, also winning 5-0, as she overpowered Uzbekistan’s Sotimboeva Oltinoy in the 80+kg category.
  • India also secured a silver medal, narrowly missing a fifth gold.
  • Jadumani fell short against Uzbekistan’s Asilbek Jalilov in the 50kg contest and settled for silver.
  • Earlier in the tournament, 15 Indian boxers had advanced to the finals, which was the highest representation by any country in this eight-only event.

Headline: India, Australia, and Canada Form New Trilateral Technology and Innovation Alliance

Bullet Points:

  • India, Australia and Canada agreed to form a new trilateral technology and innovation alliance called the Australia-Canada-India Technology and Innovation (ACITI) Partnership.
  • The three sides agreed to strengthen their ambition in cooperation on critical and emerging technologies, to complement existing bilateral initiatives.
  • The initiative will draw on the natural strengths of the three countries and have an emphasis on green energy innovation and building resilient supply chains, including in critical minerals, said the Ministry of External Affairs in a statement.
  • It will deepen their respective ambition and strategic collaboration towards net zero and drive further diversification of supply chains towards a secure, sustainable, and resilient future.
  • The Partnership will also examine the development and mass adoption of artificial intelligence to improve the lives of our citizens.
  • They agreed that officials should convene in the first quarter of 2026 to take the initiative forward.
  • Separately, Modi met his British counterpart Keir Starmer and UN Secretary-General António Guterres.
  • Addressing the opening session of the G20 Leaders’ Meeting, Modi called for a profound rethink of the global development parameters and proposed setting up of a G20 initiative to counter the drug-terror nexus and a global healthcare response team.

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Adani's Kutch Copper Signs MoU with Caravel Minerals for Australian Copper Supply (Start of November)
  • Adani Enterprises Ltd ’s copper arm, Kutch Copper Ltd (KCL), has signed a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Caravel Minerals Ltd for strategic collaboration on the Caravel Copper Project.
  • The partnership sets up an exclusive framework for negotiating a life-of-mine offtake agreement covering up to 100% of Caravel’s copper concentrate output, expected to be around 62,000 to 71,000 tonnes of payable copper per annum in the project’s initial years.
  • The concentrate would supply Adani’s $1.2 billion (AUD 1.8 billion) Kutch Copper Smelter in Gujarat.
  • The Caravel Copper Project is among Australia’s largest undeveloped copper resources, with an estimated 1.3 million tonnes of payable copper and an all-in sustaining cost (AISC) forecast at USD 2.07 per pound.
  • KCL has secured first rights to participate in direct equity or project-level investments during the term of the MoU, aligned with the project’s AUD 1.7 billion initial capital expenditure.
  • The MoU also lays out collaborative workstreams, including co-engineering, joint procurement, and initiatives leveraging the India-Australia Free Trade Agreement (FTA).
  • Global copper demand is forecast to surge 50% by 2040 on the back of electrification and renewable-energy expansion.
India-France sign overarching R&D pact for future defence challenges (End of November)
  • Agreement signed by DRDO Chairman Dr Samir V Kamat and France’s National Armaments Director Lt Gen Gael Diaz de Tuesta at DRDO Bhawan, New Delhi
  • Enables joint R&D, sharing of know-how, joint training, and co-held intellectual property rights
  • Key cooperation areas: aeronautical platforms, unmanned vehicles, advanced materials, cybersecurity, AI, space, navigation, advanced propulsion, sensors, quantum tech, underwater tech
Andhra Pradesh Secures Over Rs 13 Lakh Crore Investment Commitments at CII Summit (Mid of November)
  • 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.
Air India and Air Astana sign new codeshare agreement to expand travel connectivity (Mid of September)
  • Air India and Air Astana have launched a codeshare partnership, enhancing connectivity between India and Kazakhstan.
  • Air India will place its 'AI' code on Air Astana flights to and from India, offering customers easier access to Almaty via Delhi and Mumbai.
  • The agreement builds upon their existing interline partnership, providing a seamless single-ticket experience with baggage check-through.
  • Air India passengers travelling to Almaty from points beyond Delhi and Mumbai will now be able to book a single ticket and check in their baggage through to Almaty.
  • Currently, Air India has 21 codeshare partnerships and 88 interline agreements, including the new agreement with Air Astana.

Headline: 'Resilience can't be built in silos': PM Modi proposes critical minerals, satellite data initiatives at G20

Bullet Points:

  • PM Modi proposed a G20 initiative to enhance clean energy transitions by boosting recycling, easing supply chain pressures, and advancing joint research on critical minerals.
  • He suggested forging a partnership to make satellite data more accessible and interoperable, proposing the G20 Open Satellite Data Partnership to make G20 space agencies' data available to developing countries for various activities.
  • Modi emphasized strengthening global cooperation to deal with natural disasters, stating that 'resilience cannot be built in silos' and advocating for greater collaboration.
  • He called for the G20 to promote comprehensive strategies linking nutrition, public health, sustainable agriculture, and disaster preparedness to build a stronger global security system.
  • India established the Disaster Risk Reduction Working Group during its G20 Presidency and advocates for a 'development-centric' approach to disaster resilience, which is India's vision behind setting up the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI).
  • India proposed a G20 Critical Minerals Circularity Initiative to promote recycling, urban mining, second-life batteries, and related innovations, aiming to strengthen clean energy transitions and supply chain security.
  • During the New Delhi G20 Summit, a resolution was made to triple renewable energy and double the energy efficiency rate by 2030, requiring developed countries to fulfill their commitments to provide affordable climate finance and technology.
  • Modi highlighted the Deccan Principles on Food Security adopted during India's presidency as a basis for creating a G20 roadmap on food security and called for greater collective action on the climate agenda to strengthen food security.
  • He sought a greater voice for the Global South in global governance structures, noting that the inclusion of the African Union as a permanent member of G20 in the New Delhi Summit was a major step forward that must be taken beyond G20.
  • A declaration adopted at the G20 Leaders' Summit underlined solidarity, equality, and sustainability as key pillars of inclusive growth, also prominently mentioning energy security, climate action, and disaster resilience and response.
  • G20 members comprise the world's major economies, representing 85% of global GDP, 75% of international trade, and two-thirds of the world's population.
  • South Africa is hosting the G20 Summit, marking the first time it is held on the African continent and the fourth consecutive summit of the grouping to be held in the Global South, following Brazil (2024), India (2023), and Indonesia (2022).

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MNRE Launches National Geothermal Energy Policy: Key Features and Objectives (Mid of September)
  • The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has launched the National Policy on Geothermal Energy.
  • The idea behind this policy is to bring together all stakeholders.
  • The Policy will encourage research, inter ministerial collaboration, and adoption of global best practices for geothermal energy development.
  • The regulatory and stewardship responsibilities for geothermal energy shall be with the Ministry.
  • Ten geothermal provinces have been identified in India, including Himalayas, Cambay Basin, Aravalli, Mahanadi basin and Godavari Basin, with an estimated potential of about 10 Gigawatt.
  • The Policy targets integration of geothermal energy with India’s Net Zero and renewable energy goals.
  • There is scope for diverse applications, including electricity generation and space heating and cooling, agriculture, tourism and desalination.
  • The Policy encourages research and development of advanced systems such as hybrid geothermal solar plants, and retrofitting abandoned oil wells.
  • It lays emphasis on local innovation, joint ventures, and repurposing oil and gas infrastructure.
  • It aims to build a robust public-private ecosystem for long term development of Geothermal Sector.
International Conference on Critical Metals in Jamshedpur Highlights Need for Collaboration (Start of November)
  • The event was an ‘International conference on critical metals’.
  • The conference was held in Jamshedpur.
  • Lekhan Thakkar, the joint secretary with the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS), Union Govt., stated that 'International collaboration today is not a choice but a necessity to address strategic needs and, with trust and transparency, lead to mutual development.'
  • Thakkar also said, “Critical metals influence the economic and industrial development of the nation and thereby, geo-politics of a region.”
  • Uranium Corporation of India Ltd (UCIL) CMD Kancham Anand Rao said, “UCIL is ready to partner, especially in the fields of extraction of critical minerals.”
  • CSIR-NML director Sandip Ghosh Chowdhury stressed the need for technological sovereignty in critical minerals towards achieving Atmanirbhar Bharat.
  • Sarma V Pisupati, director, C2M, Penn State University, USA, underlined the current need to be creative, collaborative, and have the conviction to excel in the field of critical minerals.
  • The meet had 'over 350 participants'.
  • Global experts engaged in discussions on critical minerals and deliberated on technical, policy, and supply chain issues in the field.
India-Japan ink critical minerals cooperation pact during 15th Annual Summit in Tokyo (Start of September)
  • Memorandum of Cooperation signed between India’s Ministry of Mines and Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) in the mineral resources sector.
  • Agreement announced during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Tokyo for the 15th India-Japan Annual Summit with counterpart Shigeru Ishiba.
  • Partnership aims to diversify critical mineral supply chains, support India’s net-zero emission targets, and bolster energy, food, and national security.
Oil India and Hindustan Copper Sign MoU for Critical Mineral Exploration (End of September)
  • State-run Oil India Limited (OIL) and Hindustan Copper Limited (HCL) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU).
  • The MoU aims to cooperate in the exploration and development of critical and strategic minerals, including copper, and associated resources.
  • The collaboration is expected to support the objectives of the government’s National Critical Mineral Mission.
  • The National Critical Mineral Mission focuses on securing resources essential for energy security, clean energy transition, and advanced technologies.
  • Copper is considered one of the critical minerals identified by India, with applications in power infrastructure, electric vehicles, renewable energy systems, and defence manufacturing.
  • The collaboration between OIL and HCL is expected to strengthen domestic exploration, reduce import dependence, and secure long-term supply of strategic minerals.
  • OIL, a Maharatna PSU, has diversified into the critical minerals segment.
  • HCL, a Miniratna PSU, is the country’s only integrated copper producer and undertakes mining, beneficiation of copper ore, and production of copper concentrate.

Headline: Tropical Cyclone Fina threatens Darwin with destructive winds and flooding

Bullet Points:

  • Australia’s Bureau of Meteorology said Fina, a Category 3 cyclone sitting in the Van Diemen Gulf with wind gusts up to 165 kilometres per hour (102 miles per hour), was forecast to hit the region’s remote Tiwi Islands and Cape Hotham on Saturday afternoon.
  • It would then likely pass north of Darwin, the capital of the Northern Territory, on Saturday as a “severe tropical cyclone”.
  • Weather bureau senior meteorologist Dean Narramore said that while the cyclone was not expected to make landfall, it would bring “widespread heavy rainfall and damaging-to-locally destructive winds” to Darwin, which has a population of about 140,000 people.
  • Kirsten Engels, the Northern Territory Emergency Operations Centre incident controller, urged everyone in affected areas to activate their household emergency plans and move to public shelters if needed.
  • The warning for Darwin conjures painful memories of Cyclone Tracy, which destroyed much of the city on Christmas Day in 1974, killing 71 people, in one of Australia’s worst-ever natural disasters.

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IMD issues cyclone alert over Bay of Bengal, heavy rain likely in Andaman (End of November)
  • India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued alert due to cyclonic circulation over Bay of Bengal likely to intensify
  • Heavy to very heavy rainfall (07-20 cm) very likely at one or two places in Nicobar Island; heavy rainfall (07-11 cm) expected in Andaman Island
  • Squally weather with surface wind speed 35-45 kmph gusting to 55 kmph very likely over Andaman Sea
  • Local Cautionary Signal-3 issued at Port Blair Port; fishermen advised not to venture into Andaman Sea till November 23
  • Directorate of Shipping Services likely to reschedule or cancel inter-island vessels and harbour/ferry services at short notice for safety
Cyclone Ditwah Intensifies Over Bay of Bengal, Expected to Reach Tamil Nadu-Andhra Pradesh Coast (End of November)
  • Cyclonic Storm Ditwah has intensified over the Bay of Bengal.
  • The storm is moving north-northwest.
  • The deep depression over the southwest Bay of Bengal and the adjoining Sri Lanka coast intensified into Cyclonic Storm Ditwah on Nov 27.
  • The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said the storm was centred near latitude 6.9°N and longitude 81.9°E, close to Pottuvil on Sri Lanka’s eastern coast.
  • Ditwah was located about 90 km south-southeast of Batticaloa, 120 km northeast of Hambantota, 200 km south-southeast of Trincomalee, 610 km south-southeast of Puducherry, and 700 km south-southeast of Chennai.
  • The system is expected to continue moving north-northwest across the southwest Bay of Bengal and the Sri Lanka coast.
  • It is likely to reach the waters off North Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and adjoining south Andhra Pradesh by the early hours of November 30, the IMD said.
NASA Confirms Strongest Geomagnetic Storm of the Year (G5 Event) (Start of November)
  • NASA confirmed Earth is experiencing its strongest geomagnetic storm of the year, identified as a G5 event.
  • The storm was caused by multiple coronal mass ejections (CMEs) launched in quick succession from the Sun, which merged into a massive solar plasma wave.
  • According to NASA and NOAA’s joint reports, the current geomagnetic storm reached a G5 level, the highest on the geomagnetic scale.
  • The event made auroras visible at lower latitudes than usual, including parts of northern Europe, Canada, the United States, the UK, Tasmania, and southern New Zealand.
  • Technological impacts included temporary communication dropouts for satellite operators and rerouted polar flights by airlines to avoid high radiation exposure.
  • NASA scientists stress that better forecasting models and improved space-weather monitoring are vital to protect modern infrastructure.
  • Experts warn that as the Sun approaches its peak in the current 11-year solar cycle, more eruptions are expected, potentially leading to stronger or more frequent geomagnetic storms.
New species of giant stick insect, Acrophylla alta, discovered in North Queensland (Mid of November)
  • Researchers have discovered a new species of giant stick insect, Acrophylla alta.
  • The discovery was made in North Queensland's rainforests, specifically in the Tablelands region, at heights between 1,600 and 3,900 feet (500 to 1,200 metres) above sea level.
  • This large insect measures up to 16 inches (40 centimetres) long.
  • It might be the heaviest insect yet in Australia, with one studied insect weighing about 1.6 ounces (44 grams).
  • The discovery was shared in a study published in the journal Zootaxa.
  • Its size is thought to be an adaptation to the cool, high-altitude environment, following Bergmann’s rule.
  • Study co-author Angus Emmott from James Cook University in Australia was involved in the research.

Headline: Uranium found in breast milk in 6 Bihar districts

Bullet Points:

  • A study conducted between October 2021 and July 2024 detected Uranium (U238) in all breast milk samples analysed from 40 mothers aged 17-35 in Bhojpur, Samastipur, Begusarai, Khagaria, Katihar and Nalanda.
  • Uranium concentrations ranged from 0 to 5.25 g/L, and there is no permissible limit for uranium in breast milk.
  • Khagaria recorded the highest average contamination, Nalanda the lowest, while Katihar showed the single-highest reading.
  • Nearly 70% of infants faced exposure levels associated with potential non-carcinogenic health risks.
  • The source of the uranium contamination remains unclear, and the Geological Survey of India is also trying to find out.
  • Uranium can cause cancer, neurological disorders, affect the growth of children, kidney damage, neurological impairment, cognitive delays, and increase the risk of cancer later in life.
  • Bihar's environmental conditions, including heavy dependence on groundwater, discharge of untreated industrial effluents, and long-term use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides, have already led to contamination with arsenic, lead and mercury in biological samples.
  • Infants are especially vulnerable to uranium because their organs are still developing, they absorb toxic metals more readily, and their low body weight amplifies exposure.
  • Despite the alarming results, the researchers strongly emphasised that breastfeeding should continue, as it remains irreplaceable for immunity and early development, and should be discontinued only on medical advice.
  • The study calls for urgent biomonitoring, rigorous water-quality testing, and immediate public-health intervention.

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Kerala Government's Initiatives to Address Maternal Mortality and Bolster Safe Motherhood Programs (Mid of September)
  • The state has been focusing on safe motherhood initiatives.
  • The state government has initiated further investigations into the factors contributing to maternal deaths.
  • These investigations aim to implement targeted interventions.
  • The government plans to bolster safe motherhood programs.
International Day against Nuclear Tests observed on August 29: Theme for 2025 and Significance (End of August)
  • Every year on August 29, the world observes the International Day against Nuclear Tests.
  • The UN declared August 29 as the International Day against Nuclear Tests in 2009, inspired by the closure of the Semipalatinsk Nuclear Test Site in Kazakhstan in 1991.
  • The first nuclear test took place in July 1945 in New Mexico, USA.
  • Since then, more than 2,000 tests have been carried out by the US, Russia (earlier USSR), the UK, France, China, India, Pakistan and North Korea.
  • The theme for International Day against Nuclear Tests 2025 is “Ending nuclear testing for the sake of humanity and environment, peace and security, and onwards to a world free of nuclear testing.”
  • This day will remind the world about the human, environmental and health impacts of nuclear tests.
  • The day also urges all countries to stop testing, support the CTBT (Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty) and work toward a nuclear-free future.
India’s Birth And Death Rates Halve In 50 Years; Sharp Drop In Infant And Maternal Mortality (Start of September)
  • India’s birth, death, and infant mortality rates have shown a steady decline over the past few decades.
  • The birth rate has fallen from 21.4 in 2013 to 18.4 in 2023, and from 36.9 in 1971 to 18.4 in 2023.
  • Rural birth rate declined from 22.9 to 20.3 between 2013 and 2023, while urban birth rate fell from 17.3 to 14.9.
  • Bihar reported the highest birth rate at 25.8 in 2023, while the Andaman & Nicobar Islands recorded the lowest at 10.1.
  • The death rate decreased from 7.0 in 2013 to 6.4 in 2023.
  • Rural death rate was 6.8 compared to 5.7 in urban areas in 2023.
  • Chhattisgarh recorded the highest death rate at 8.3, while Chandigarh registered the lowest at 4.0.
  • Infant Mortality Rate dropped from 40 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2013 to 25 in 2023.
  • Rural IMR fell from 44 to 28, and urban IMR declined from 27 to 18 between 2013 and 2023.
  • In 2023, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh reported the highest IMR at 37, while Manipur had the lowest at 3.
  • India’s Maternal Mortality Rate declined by 83% between 1990 and 2020, compared to a 42% global decline.
  • Maternal mortality now stands at 97 deaths per 100,000 live births, improved from 556 earlier.
Malabar Group–WHO India MoU for 'Nurturing Beginnings' CSR Project (Mid of September)
  • MoU signed between Malabar Group (through Malabar Charitable Trust) and WHO India to implement the 'Nurturing Beginnings' project.
  • Objective: improve nutrition and overall well-being of mothers and children in disadvantaged urban communities and support children’s mental and intellectual development.
  • Key intervention: provide free nutritious food and medical services supporting physical and mental health, focusing on the first 1,000 days from conception.
  • Initial rollout in urban communities of Delhi, with planned expansion to other states.

Headline: Oman makes history with launch of first national communications satellite, OmanSat-1

Bullet Points:

  • Oman is set to launch its first communications satellite, OmanSat-1, in partnership with Airbus Defence and Space.
  • The satellite will expand secure communications across Oman and the region, support critical sectors, and develop local expertise.
  • OmanSat-1 will be based on Airbus’ OneSat platform, featuring full digital flexibility that allows reconfiguration while in orbit.
  • The satellite will operate in the high-capacity Ka frequency band, covering Oman, including its economic waters, as well as regions across the Middle East, East Africa, and Asia.
  • Space Communications Technologies, a company owned by the Oman Investment Authority, will act as both the national operator after launch and the executive arm during the design and manufacturing phases.
  • OmanSat-1 will strengthen Oman’s digital sovereignty, allowing the country to provide secure and independent communications and data services.
  • The project focuses on local capacity building, integrating local companies into the supply chain and collaborating with universities to boost scientific research.
  • OmanSat-1 is a cornerstone of the National Space Policy (2023–2033), aimed at positioning Oman as a regional hub for space services.
  • The satellite aligns with Oman Vision 2040, emphasizing innovation and advanced technology as central pillars in developing a diversified, knowledge-based economy.

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Israel Launches Ofek 19 Spy Satellite for Middle East Surveillance (Start of September)
  • Israel has launched a new spy satellite
  • the satellite, called Ofek 19
  • will strengthen their surveillance capacity across the Middle East in the years ahead.
  • the satellite’s manufacturer, Israel Aerospace Industries
  • defense officials described as a strategic cornerstone
Oman Airports First Globally to Deploy Wi-Fi 7 (Mid of November)
  • 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.
ISRO’s LVM3-M5 ‘Bahubali’ rocket successfully launches India’s heaviest home-built communication satellite CMS-03 into GTO (Start of November)
  • CMS-03 satellite, weighing approximately 4,410 kg, is India’s heaviest communication satellite built entirely on home soil.
  • LVM3-M5 rocket (nicknamed ‘Bahubali’) is ISRO’s flagship heavy-lift launch vehicle capable of carrying payloads up to 4,000 kg to GTO and 8,000 kg to LEO.
  • CMS-03 is a multi-band communication satellite designed to provide coverage over the Indian subcontinent and wide oceanic regions, enhancing telecommunications, internet connectivity, and satellite broadcasting.
  • The launch sequence included S200 solid booster ignition at T+0 s, payload fairing separation at 198.86 s, and CMS-03 separation at 965.94 s into a Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit.
  • The mission demonstrates India’s growing space autonomy by enabling heavier satellites to be launched directly from Indian soil without dependence on foreign rockets.
PM Modi inaugurates Skyroot’s Infinity Campus, unveils orbital rocket Vikram-I (End of November)
  • Skyroot’s Infinity Campus in Hyderabad will provide around 2,00,000 square feet for designing, developing, integrating and testing multiple launch vehicles.
  • The facility has the capacity to build one orbital rocket every month.
  • Skyroot unveiled its first orbital rocket, Vikram-I, capable of launching satellites to orbit.
  • Skyroot became the first Indian private company to launch a rocket to space with its sub-orbital rocket Vikram-S.

Headline: Indian Women Clinch Inaugural Blind T20 Cricket World Cup

Bullet Points:

  • India won the inaugural T20 Blind Women's World Cup after defeating Nepal by seven wickets in the final at the P Sara Oval in Colombo.
  • India restricted Nepal to 114 for 5 after opting to bowl.
  • India coasted to 117 for 3 in just 12 overs to win the title.
  • Nepal managed only a single boundary in their innings.
  • Phula Saren top-scored for India in the run chase with 44 not out.
  • India had beaten Australia in the first semifinal.
  • Nepal had won against Pakistan in the second semifinal.
  • Co-hosts Sri Lanka won only one game—against the USA—out of five preliminary round games.
  • Pakistan's Mehreen Ali scored over 600 runs in the tournament, including a 78-ball 230 against Sri Lanka and 133 against Australia.

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ICC launches official song 'Bring It Home' for Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 (End of September)
  • The ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 is scheduled to take place from 30 September to 2 November.
  • The official event song titled 'Bring it Home' is performed by acclaimed Indian singer Shreya Ghoshal.
  • The 13th edition of the quadrennial showpiece offers record-low ticket prices, starting at just Rs 100 (approximately USD 1.14).
ICC Partners with Google to Boost Women's Cricket Engagement (Start of September)
  • The International Cricket Council (ICC) announced a partnership with Google.
  • The collaboration will enhance fan engagement in women's cricket.
  • The ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 is scheduled in India and Sri Lanka.
  • The ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 is scheduled in England and Wales.
ICC Women's ODI Cricket World Cup 2025 schedule announced with India vs Pakistan on October 5 (Start of September)
  • The ICC Women's ODI Cricket World Cup 2025 will begin on September 30 with co-hosts India and Sri Lanka facing off in the opening match at Assam Cricket Association Stadium in Guwahati.
  • The highly-anticipated India vs Pakistan cricket match is set to take place on October 5.
  • Defending champions Australia will kickstart their title defence with a match against Trans-Tasman rivals New Zealand on October 1.
  • The tournament will conclude on November 2 either in Navi Mumbai or Colombo, depending on whether Pakistan qualifies for the final.
  • All eight teams will play each other once in a round-robin format with the top four sides after all the group matches qualifying for the semi-finals.
  • The Women's ODI World Cup 2025 will be held in five venues across India and Sri Lanka in a hybrid model: Navi Mumbai, Guwahati, Indore and Visakhapatnam in India, and Colombo in Sri Lanka.
India wins Women's World Cup; BCCI announces Rs 51 crore reward (Start of November)
  • India wins Women’s World Cup.
  • BCCI announce Rs 51 crore cash reward boost for Harmanpreet Kaur’s team.
  • The Indian women’s cricket team ended a 47-year wait for their maiden ICC World Cup title in Navi Mumbai on Sunday.
  • BCCI has decided to reward the entire Indian team — players, coaches, selectors, and support staff — with a total of Rs 51 crore.
  • Ahead of the competition, ICC chairman Jay Shah had announced a prize money rise for teams at the Women’s World Cup, with the winners set to receive USD 4.48 million (approximately INR 42 crore).
  • India edged out South Africa by 52 runs in the final, setting up a 299-run target for the Proteas.
  • Shafali Verma first scored a superb 87 runs and then scalped two crucial wickets in the middle overs, dismissing Sune Luus and Marizanne Kapp.
  • Deepti Sharma capped off a successful tournament with a half-century and five wickets in the final.

Headline: Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill 2025 row: Chandigarh’s unique status, and why Punjab opposes proposed change

Bullet Points:

  • The Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill 2025 proposed to include Chandigarh under Article 240, which would pave the way for the city to get an independent administrator, altering its current status where the Governor of Punjab holds additional charge as its Administrator.
  • Chandigarh holds a unique status as a Union Territory and the shared capital of Punjab and Haryana, an arrangement established after Haryana was carved out under The Punjab Reorganisation Act, 1966, with properties divided in a 60:40 ratio.
  • Punjab opposes the proposed change and stakes sole claim to Chandigarh because it was built as a replacement for Lahore, the united Punjab’s capital after Partition, and the Centre had announced in 1970 that the capital project area of Chandigarh should, as a whole, go to Punjab, a claim Punjab considers undisputed.

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16th Finance Commission Submits Report on Tax Devolution and Financial Arrangements (Mid of November)
  • The 16th Finance Commission, led by Dr Arvind Panagariya, submitted its report for 2026-31 to President Droupadi Murmu.
  • The report contains recommendations on how the tax pool will be divided between the Centre and states for the next five years beginning April 1, 2026.
  • It includes a formula for dividing tax among states based on a weighted sum of population, area, demographic performance, fiscal effort, income distance, and forest cover.
  • The report also specifies revenue augmentation measures, arrangements for financing disaster management initiatives with reference to funds under the Disaster Management Act, 2005, and determines financing of municipal bodies.
  • The 16th Finance Commission was set up on December 31, 2023, and was mandated to submit its report by October 31, with an extension until November 30.
  • The commission's members include former senior finance ministry official Annie George Mathew and economist Manoj Panda as full-time members, and SBI Group Chief Economic Advisor Soumya Kanti Ghosh and RBI Deputy Governor T Rabi Sankar as part-time members.

Headline: PM Modi Tamil Nadu Visit LIVE Updates: Natural Farming Summit, PM-KISAN release, Stalin’s Metro row

Bullet Points:

  • PM Modi will inaugurate the South India Natural Farming Summit in Coimbatore.
  • PM Modi will release over Rs 18,000 crore to farmers under the 21st instalment of PM-KISAN, benefiting 9 crore farmers nationwide.
  • PM Modi will arrive in Coimbatore at 1:30 pm from Puttaparthi after attending the centenary celebrations of Sri Sathya Sai Baba.
  • The summit will promote natural and regenerative farming, strengthen market linkages for FPOs and rural entrepreneurs, and showcase innovations in organic inputs, agro-processing, eco-friendly packaging, and indigenous technologies.
  • More than 50,000 farmers, experts, and stakeholders from Tamil Nadu and neighbouring states are expected to attend the summit.
  • Chief Minister M.K. Stalin accused the Centre of denying Metro rail projects to Madurai and Coimbatore, calling it “political revenge” against an Opposition-ruled state.
  • Stalin wrote an open letter to the PM seeking urgent support for the state’s bumper harvest and monsoon-related needs ahead of Modi’s Coimbatore visit.
  • The Tamil Nadu BJP launched the “#VanakkamModi” campaign, calling PM Modi “a true friend of every farmer.”
  • IMD has issued fresh alerts for thunderstorms, lightning, and heavy showers through the week in Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Karaikal.
  • Chennai could see heavier rain forecast for Saturday and Sunday, with parents advised to stay in touch with schools for updates.

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Tam Nadu Signs 33 MoUs Worth Rs 15,516 Crore During CM Stalin's UK-Germany Visit (Mid of September)
  • Tamil Nadu signed 33 MoUs during CM Stalin’s visit to the UK and Germany, securing investment commitments worth Rs 15,516 crore.
  • The agreements are projected to generate employment for over 17,600 people across multiple sectors.
  • In Germany, 26 MoUs worth Rs 7,020 crore were finalised, expected to create more than 15,000 jobs.
  • Knorr-Bremse committed Rs 2,000 crore to establish a facility in Tamil Nadu for railway braking systems and doors, creating 3,500 jobs.
  • Nordex Group pledged Rs 1,000 crore to expand operations, generating 2,500 jobs and reinforcing the State’s green industrialisation.
  • ebm-papst will invest Rs 201 crore over five years to strengthen its Global Capability Centre and manufacturing base, adding 250 jobs.
  • In the UK, Wilson Power committed Rs 300 crore and Britannia RFID will invest Rs 520 crore in Tamil Nadu projects.
PM Modi Concludes China-Japan Tour, Attends SCO Summit (Start of September)
  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi returned to New Delhi on Monday evening.
  • He concluded his four-day visit to Japan and China.
  • The visit spanned from August 29 to September 1.
  • In China, PM Modi attended the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit.
  • The SCO Summit was held on August 31 to September 1.
  • PM Modi held bilateral meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
PM Modi’s 15th India-Japan Annual Summit in Tokyo: Quad, Defence Ties, Bullet-Train Expansion and ¥10 trn Investment Pact (Start of September)
  • Summit: 15th India-Japan Annual Summit held in Tokyo between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba.
  • Quad Focus: Quad (India, Japan, Australia, United States) identified as an “important platform” for Indo-Pacific peace, stability, prosperity and development; cooperation on health, critical & emerging technologies, resilient supply chains and infrastructure to be discussed.
  • Defence Cooperation: India and Japan to deepen defence ties including defence equipment and technology collaboration (DRDO–ATLA), possible Indian Navy–JMSDF ship-maintenance cooperation, and an intended upgrade of the 2008 Declaration on Security Cooperation.
  • Bullet-Train Expansion: Leaders to explore Japan’s participation in future Indian bullet-train corridors beyond Mumbai–Ahmedabad; tour of Tohoku Shinkansen plant in Sendai and discussion on procurement of E10 bullet-train sets for the 508-km Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail Corridor.
  • Investment & AI Initiative: Japan to invest ¥10 trillion ($68 billion) in India over the next decade across eight sectors including AI and semiconductors; launch of an India-Japan AI cooperation initiative and Tokyo’s plan to absorb more Indian tech talent.
Live Updates: PM Narendra Modi arrives in Indore; to launch 'Ek Bagiya Maa Ke Naam' (Mid of September)
  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Indore and is scheduled to proceed by helicopter to Dhar district in Madhya Pradesh for his 75th birthday celebration.
  • He will launch the ‘Swasth Nari Sashakt Parivar’ and the 8th Rashtriya Poshan Maah campaigns, aimed at improving women’s health services and promoting nutrition.
  • An instalment of the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY) will be released, directly crediting accounts of over one million women beneficiaries.
  • The ‘Ek Bagiya Maa Ke Naam’ campaign will be launched, promoting environmental stewardship and honouring motherhood.
  • As a symbolic gesture for the campaign, the Prime Minister will gift a sapling to a woman from a self-help group, encouraging more than 10,000 women to cultivate gardens named ‘Maa Ki Bagiya’.
  • Awareness sessions on yoga, Ayurveda, and healthy living will be organised, and nutrition camps will be held across the state.
  • Modi will lay the foundation stone for India’s first PM Mitra Textile Park in Bhainsola village, spread over 2,158 acres.
  • The textile park is intended to develop Madhya Pradesh into a textile hub, integrate the cotton processing chain, reduce costs, improve prices for farmers, attract investment, and generate thousands of jobs.
  • The Prime Minister’s birthday initiatives will focus on empowerment, progress, and inclusive development, reflecting a vision that combines welfare, environmental care, and industrial growth.
  • Over 1.5 lakh people have gathered at the domes to catch a glimpse of Prime Minister Modi.
  • Madhya Pradesh chief minister Mohan Yadav also reached the venue.

Headline: Government Notifies Amendments to the Capital Gains Accounts Scheme, 1988 to Enable Electronic Payments and Digital Processes

Bullet Points:

  • The CBDT vide Notification No. 161/2025 dated November 19, 2025 has notified the Capital Gains Accounts (Second Amendment) Scheme, 2025.
  • The Scheme now formally incorporates section 54GA, allowing depositors claiming exemption on account of shifting of industrial undertakings from urban areas to Special Economy Zones to use CGAS accounts.
  • A detailed definition of “electronic mode” has been inserted, enabling deposits through Credit/Debit Cards, Net Banking, IMPS, UPI, RTGS, NEFT and BHIM Aadhaar Pay.
  • All earlier references to “cheque or draft” have been expanded to include electronic mode of payment across application and deposit processes.
  • The effective date of deposit for exemption purposes will now be the date on which the electronic payment is received by the deposit office, subject to realization.
  • Depositors may now use electronic statements of account in place of physical passbooks for operations such as withdrawals, transfers, or account closure.
  • Closure of CGAS accounts shall only be executed electronically using digital signature or electronic verification code (EVC) starting 1 April 2027.
  • The Principal Director General of Income-tax (Systems) is assigned responsibility for prescribing procedures for Form G and Form H filing, forwarding digitally filed forms to jurisdictional Assessing Officers, specifying the standards for EVC generation, and ensuring secure storage, archival, and retrieval of electronically submitted forms.
  • Forms A and C have been updated to include section 54GA, provide fields for transactions made via electronic modes, and insert new fields for RTGS/IMPS/NEFT transaction details under the deposit office section.

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Global Virtual Asset Market Reaches $4 Trillion by Q2 2025 Amid Evolving Regulatory Frameworks (Mid of September)
  • The global virtual asset market (crypto market cap) grew from approximately US$390 billion in 2020 to about US$4 trillion by the close of the second quarter of 2025, representing a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of ~59 percent.
  • Stablecoins alone surpassed US$272 billion in market capitalisation by 2025, accounting for about 7 percent of the total cryptocurrency market.
  • As of April 2025, FATF data indicates that 138 jurisdictions had been assessed for compliance with FATF standards on virtual assets, with 29 percent found to be largely compliant, an increase from 25% in FY2024.
  • In the U.S., industry lobbying for crypto exceeded US$100 million in 2024 elections, influencing a shift towards crypto-friendly regulation under the 2025 Trump administration.
  • The Biden administration's SEC, under Chair Gary Gensler (April 2021–January 2025), initiated 583 enforcement actions in the 2024 fiscal year, securing about US$8.2 billion in remedies.
  • India imposes a flat 30 percent tax on income from virtual digital assets, including cryptocurrencies and NFTs, with a 1 percent tax deducted at source (TDS) and no deductions allowed beyond acquisition costs.
  • The European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) will be fully operational from 2025, delivering a harmonised framework covering stablecoins, VASPs, and DeFi.
  • Nigeria's Investments and Securities Act (ISA) 2025 formally classifies virtual and digital assets as securities, placing VASPs, exchanges, and digital asset operators under the sole regulatory oversight of the SEC.
  • In April 2025, the Bank of Ghana (BoG) disclosed plans to regulate VASPs through a forthcoming Virtual Asset Providers Act, targeted for enactment by September 2025.
IPPB-EPFO MoU: doorstep Digital Life Certificate service for pensioners (Start of November)
  • India Post Payments Bank signed an MoU with EPFO to provide doorstep Digital Life Certificate services to EPFO pensioners under the Employees’ Pension Scheme, 1995.
  • IPPB will use its network of over 1.65 lakh post offices and 3 lakh postal service providers equipped with doorstep banking devices for face and fingerprint biometric authentication.
  • EPFO will bear the entire cost of issuing the Digital Life Certificate, making the service free for pensioners.
FIEO signs MoU with BRISKPE to promote digital cross-border payment solutions for Indian exporters (Start of September)
  • The Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) and BRISKPE signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at Niryat Bhawan, New Delhi.
  • The collaboration aims to educate exporters, particularly Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), on transparent, compliant, and efficient cross-border payment systems.
  • BRISKPE will engage with FIEO members through knowledge sessions and outreach initiatives to share insights on technology-driven and compliant cross-border payment solutions.
IPPB Partners with EPFO to Offer Digital Life Certificates to Pensioners (Start of November)
  • India Post Payments Bank (IPPB), a 100% government-owned entity under the Department of Posts, has signed an MoU with the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO).
  • The partnership aims to provide doorstep digital life certificate services to pensioners under the Employees' Pension Scheme, 1995.
  • IPPB will use its network of around 1.65 lakh post offices and over 3 lakh postal service providers equipped with doorstep banking devices.
  • Pensioners will be able to submit their digital life certificates from home through face authentication or fingerprint biometric verification.
  • The service will be free for pensioners as the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation will bear the entire cost.
  • The agreement was exchanged between IPPB MD & CEO R Viswesvaran and EPFO central provident fund commissioner Ramesh Krishnamurthi.

Headline: Steel Ministry launches ‘SARAL SIMS’ for simplified import registration

Bullet Points:

  • The Steel Ministry has introduced a new facility, ‘SARAL SIMS’, to streamline compulsory registration under the Steel Import Monitoring System (SIMS) for small consignments and export-linked imports.
  • The new system allows a single annual number for multiple imports and reduces regular SIMS fields for easier compliance.
  • The system will be available from November 21, 2025.
  • Importers will need to declare only the total intended quantity of import to receive a SARAL SIMS number, which can be used for multiple consignments during the financial year.
  • The facility is available for imports of consignments up to 10 MT, with an annual cap of 1,000 MT under ‘SARAL SIMS for small import’.
  • It is also available for imports made under Advance Authorisation, SEZ and EOU routes under ‘SARAL SIMS for export purposes’, with no quantity limit.
  • For 2025-26, the threshold for small imports will be 500 MT until April 2026, with the annual cap of 1,000 MT applying from 2026-27.
  • Importers will need to file an annual return by April 30 of the following financial year, detailing actual imports made under SARAL SIMS.
  • Importers can import against a SARAL SIMS number generated in a financial year until April 30 of the next year.
  • If an importer exceeds 1,000 MT of actual imports in a financial year under the small import category, they must shift to regular SIMS for the remainder of that year and cannot return to SARAL SIMS for that period.
  • The registration process under regular SIMS has been revised, cutting the number of required fields from 56 to 20.
  • The ministry has revoked the requirement for clarification or NOC for non-QCO steel grades, allowing importers to generate SIMS numbers for such grades directly through the portal.
  • The changes are intended to simplify registration and support ease of doing business.

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Voluntary Hallmarking System for Silver Jewellery with Digital HUID (Start of September)
  • The government has introduced voluntary hallmarking for silver jewellery and articles, backed by a digital identification system to assure quality and protect consumers, effective from September 1.
  • The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) updated its hallmarking standard with the release of IS 2112:2025, replacing the earlier IS 2112:2014 version.
  • The revision introduces Hallmarking Unique Identification (HUID)-based hallmarking for silver, aligning it with the gold hallmarking system and improving traceability.
  • The updated standard specifies seven purity grades: 800, 835, 925, 958, 970, 990, and 999 – with 958 and 999 newly added.
  • Consumers can now verify the article type, purity grade, hallmarking date, testing centre details and jeweller registration number of hallmarked silver through the BIS Care mobile application.
Piyush Goyal Launches Six Initiatives to Boost Logistics and Trade Competitiveness (End of September)
  • Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal launched six initiatives on the occasion of the decade-long celebrations of the Make in India initiative.
  • Report on Assessment of Logistics Cost in India: Aims to strengthen data-driven logistics planning as per the mandate of the National Logistics Policy (2022), establish a uniform framework for measuring logistics costs, and benchmark them against global practices.
  • As per the current assessment prepared by NCAER for DPIIT, logistics costs in India are estimated at about 7.97% of total GDP.
  • Industrial Park Rating System (IPRS) 3.0: Developed by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) with support from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the initiative aims to further strengthen India’s industrial ecosystem and enhance the competitiveness of industrial infrastructure.
  • Logistics Data Bank (LDB) 2.0: The initiative aims to boost India’s digital trade and export competitiveness and introduces high-seas container tracking, allowing exporters to track containers even after departure from Indian ports across international waters.
  • Logistics Ease Across Different States (LEADS) 2025: The initiative aims to benchmark logistics performance across States and Union Territories to support India’s vision of a globally competitive and future-ready logistics ecosystem.
  • Guidebook on Mapping of Harmonised System of Nomenclature (HSN) Codes: The guidebook allocates 12,167 HSN Codes across 31 Ministries and Departments and aims to enable targeted policymaking and support effective trade negotiations.
  • Integrated State and City Logistics Plans: The Government has initiated Integrated State and City Logistics Plans under the SMILE programme in collaboration with the Asian Development Bank (ADB), beginning with eight cities across eight states.
BSL inks technology transfer pact with DRDO for military-grade steel production (End of November)
  • Bokaro Steel Limited (BSL) partnered with the Defence Metallurgical Research Laboratory (DMRL) of DRDO.
  • The agreement is a licensing agreement for transfer of technology (LAToT) for manufacturing steel sheets.
  • BSL is granted a non-exclusive license to utilise the technology for manufacture of DMR 249A steel sheets.
  • The DMR 249A steel sheets are vital for India's defense initiatives, including advanced naval vessels like INS Vikrant, INS Nilgiri, INS Kiltan, INS Mahendragiri & INS Vindhyagiri.
  • Over 46,500 tonnes of DMR 249A steel have been produced so far for key naval defence platforms.
  • The agreement was signed in Hyderabad.
PLI 1.2 Scheme for Speciality Steel: Third Round Launched to Boost High-Grade Steel Production (Start of November)
  • Scheme Name: PLI 1.2 (third round of the Production Linked Incentive Scheme for speciality steel) launched by Union Steel Minister H D Kumaraswamy.
  • Objective: "to encourage production of high-value, high-grade steels used in sectors such as defence, aerospace, energy, automobiles, and infrastructure" and "accelerate India's journey towards becoming a global hub for high-grade steel production."
  • Financial Outlay: Total scheme outlay of Rs 6,322 crore with incentive rates "range from 4 per cent to 15 per cent, applicable for five years starting 2025-26."
  • Coverage: Covers 22 product sub-categories including "super alloys, CRGO, alloy forgings, stainless steel (long and flat), titanium alloys, and coated steels."
  • Capacity Target: Aims "to add about 26 million tonnes of speciality steel capacity over the next few years."
  • Investment Attracted: "So far, the PLI scheme has attracted investment commitments worth Rs 43,874 crore...and is expected to add 14.3 million tonnes of new specialty steel capacity in India."

Headline: India & France ink pact for joint R&D. The aim—to develop solutions for future defence challenges

Bullet Points:

  • Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) and France’s Directorate General of Armaments (DGA) Thursday signed a technical agreement to deepen bilateral collaboration in the field of research and development.
  • The agreement, signed by DRDO chief Samir V. Kamat and France’s armaments director Gael Diaz de Tuesta, is an overarching pact enabling joint R&D, not tied to any one project.
  • This strategic partnership aims to leverage the combined expertise and resources of all stakeholders to develop innovative solutions for future defence challenges, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said in a statement.
  • The agreement provides a formal framework for joint research and training programmes, testing activities, exchange of information, organisation of workshops, seminars etc. to enhance the skill and knowledge in defence R&D.
  • Under the agreement, the transfer of equipment, know-how and technologies will be available to both countries.
  • Key areas of cooperation outlined in this agreement include aeronautical platforms, unmanned vehicles, advanced materials for defence applications, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, space, navigation, advanced propulsion, advanced sensors, quantum technologies, underwater technologies and other areas of mutual interest, the statement said.
  • Both countries are looking at declaring 2026 as the ‘India-France year of innovation’ which will not be limited to just pure defence.
  • France was India’s first strategic partner and an agreement to this effect was signed on 26 January 1998.

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Paras Defence and Space Technologies receives DRDO technology transfer for T-90 tank Driver Night Sight system (End of November)
  • Paras Defence and Space Technologies Ltd announced it has signed an agreement with Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) to receive technology for the Driver Night Sight (DNS) system used in T-90 tanks.
  • The technology transfer agreement has been executed with DRDO under the Ministry of Defence, Government of India.
  • The DNS system enables enhanced visibility for tank drivers during low-light and night-time operations, making it a critical component for armoured vehicle mobility and combat readiness.
India-France sign overarching R&D pact for future defence challenges (End of November)
  • Agreement signed by DRDO Chairman Dr Samir V Kamat and France’s National Armaments Director Lt Gen Gael Diaz de Tuesta at DRDO Bhawan, New Delhi
  • Enables joint R&D, sharing of know-how, joint training, and co-held intellectual property rights
  • Key cooperation areas: aeronautical platforms, unmanned vehicles, advanced materials, cybersecurity, AI, space, navigation, advanced propulsion, sensors, quantum tech, underwater tech
GSV–DRDO MoU targets indigenous smart defence tech in logistics, chip design & cryptography (Mid of November)
  • MoU signed on 17 November 2025 in New Delhi between Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya (GSV) and Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)
  • Joint focus on Defence Logistics Management: “Modelling, simulation, and validation of logistics plans” and “Improving supply chain resilience for defence operations”
  • Indigenous chip design & hardware security: “Indigenous chip design for defence applications” and “Secure hardware solutions for critical systems”
  • Advanced cryptographic R&D: “Homomorphic encryption for secure computation” and “Blockchain-based encryption for tamper-proof defence communication systems”
  • Human-capacity building: “Train young researchers, scientists, and military logisticians” through workshops, conferences and research exchanges
BSL inks technology transfer pact with DRDO for military-grade steel production (End of November)
  • Bokaro Steel Limited (BSL) partnered with the Defence Metallurgical Research Laboratory (DMRL) of DRDO.
  • The agreement is a licensing agreement for transfer of technology (LAToT) for manufacturing steel sheets.
  • BSL is granted a non-exclusive license to utilise the technology for manufacture of DMR 249A steel sheets.
  • The DMR 249A steel sheets are vital for India's defense initiatives, including advanced naval vessels like INS Vikrant, INS Nilgiri, INS Kiltan, INS Mahendragiri & INS Vindhyagiri.
  • Over 46,500 tonnes of DMR 249A steel have been produced so far for key naval defence platforms.
  • The agreement was signed in Hyderabad.

Headline: GeM–UN Women Sign MoU to Empower Women Entrepreneurs in Public Procurement

Bullet Points:

  • The Government e-Marketplace (GeM) has signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with UN Women.
  • The partnership aims to integrate more women entrepreneurs from the informal sector into India’s public procurement ecosystem.
  • The MoU was signed at GeM’s headquarters in the Jeevan Bharti Building, New Delhi.
  • The MoU places a strong emphasis on advancing GeM’s Womaniya initiative.
  • The Womaniya initiative is designed to increase procurement from women-led enterprises and expand government market access for women entrepreneurs and SHGs.
  • Smt. Kanta Singh, Country Representative, UN Women India, and Shri Ajit B. Chavan, Additional CEO, GeM, officially signed the MoU.
  • GeM serves as the national online procurement portal for Central Government Ministries, State Governments, Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs), and Autonomous bodies.
  • UN Women will contribute strategic expertise and global best practices by designing training tools and recommending global models of gender-responsive procurement.
  • GeM will complement these efforts through capacity-building training for women-led enterprises and sensitisation workshops for government buyers.
  • The MoU directly contributes to SDG 5: Gender Equality and Empowerment of All Women and Girls.
  • The initiative also aligns with the Government of India's broader missions, including Skill India, Startup India, Atmanirbhar Bharat, Make in India, and Digital India.
  • The GeM–UN Women MoU marks a transformative step toward building an inclusive, equitable and gender-responsive public procurement ecosystem in India.

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Women’s Entrepreneurship Day observed annually on November 19 (End of November)
  • Every year on November 19 , the global observance known as Women’s Entrepreneurship Day honors the vision, creativity, and achievements of women who launch and lead businesses, innovate, and drive economic and social change.
  • Founded in 2014 by Wendy Diamond through the Women’s Entrepreneurship Day Organization (WEDO), the day seeks to spotlight the contributions of female entrepreneurs worldwide, support their journeys, and help remove barriers they face.
  • The idea emerged as a response to the fact that although women perform a large share of work globally, they often have less access to economic opportunities, leadership roles, and capital.
  • Wendy Diamond launched the inaugural Women’s Entrepreneurship Day in November 2014, with events held in 144 nations on that first year.
  • Over time the day has grown into a movement supported by events, awards (such as the WEDO Pioneer Awards), and advocacy for policies, funding, and networks that help women-owned businesses thrive.
  • Celebrating Women’s Entrepreneurship Day matters because empowering women entrepreneurs has far-reaching benefits—not only for the individuals themselves, but also for economies, communities, and innovation.
  • It also draws attention to ongoing barriers such as unequal access to finance, fewer mentorship opportunities, social norms, and digital divides—highlighting the need for action and systemic change.
Dr. Sima Bahous Reappointed as UN Women Executive Director for Second Term (Mid of September)
  • Dr. Sima Bahous Reappointed as UN Women Executive Director for Second Term.
  • Dr. Sima Sami Bahous has been reappointed by UN Secretary-General António Guterres to serve a second term as Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN Women.
  • Her renewed mandate comes at a pivotal moment for global gender equality efforts, as UN Women advances its newly endorsed Strategic Plan 2026–2029.
  • Before joining UN Women in 2021, she served as Jordan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations.
  • She held senior roles with UNDP, and played a key role in promoting sustainable development and regional cooperation in the Arab States.
Uttar Pradesh Launches India’s First Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE) Index to Track Gender-Disaggregated Data (Mid of September)
  • Women contribute only 18% to India’s GDP though they form nearly half the population.
  • India targets a $30 trillion economy by 2047, contingent on inclusive growth.
  • Female Labour Force Participation Rate has improved to 41.7%, yet only 18% are in formal employment.
  • 196 million employable women remain outside the workforce.
  • The WEE Index tracks women’s participation across five levers: Employment, Education & skilling, Entrepreneurship, Livelihood & mobility, and Safety & infrastructure.
'We Rise' Initiative: NITI Aayog’s WEP and DP World Partner to Empower Women Entrepreneurs (End of October)
  • Initiative Name: 'We Rise- Women Entrepreneurs Reimagining Inclusive and Sustainable Enterprises' launched by NITI Aayog’s Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP) and DP World
  • Objective: 'help women entrepreneurs in India to scale their businesses globally through trade facilitation, mentorship, and strategic partnerships'
  • Key Feature: DP World will 'enhance the export readiness of 100 women entrepreneurs' and provide opportunity to showcase products at Bharat Mart in Dubai
  • Implementing Agency: WEP (incubated in NITI Aayog in 2018, transitioned to public-private partnership in 2022)

Headline: Govt scraps sign-on/sign-off and shore leave pass for crew of Indian flag ships engaged in coastal trade

Bullet Points:

  • The Ministry of Home Affairs has scrapped the coastal sign-on/sign-off and shore leave pass (SLP) procedures for crew and supernumerary of Indian flag ships solely engaged in coastal trade, dredgers, barges and research vessels operating within port limits.
  • The shore access of crew, supernumerary of Indian flag coastal vessels plying exclusively on local routes shall, henceforth, be regulated by the port authorities.
  • The move follows demands from the shipping industry to ease the procedures as Indian seafarers were facing difficulties with the existing immigration process.
  • The Home Ministry has asked the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways to direct the port authorities concerned to keep a record/data of the crew, supernumerary of the Indian flag coastal run vessels.
  • The Bureau of Immigration shall conduct periodical surprise inspections and seek crew lists from the Indian flag coastal run vessels, dredgers, barges, research vessels and similar types/categories of vessels operating within port limits.

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Union Home Ministry Order on Stay for Persecuted Minorities (Start of September)
  • Members of minority communities from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan -- Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians -- who came to India till December 31, 2024, to escape religious persecution will be allowed to stay in the country without passport or other travel documents, according to the Union Home Ministry.
  • The significant order was issued under the just-implemented Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025.
  • A person belonging to a minority community in Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan -- Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians -- who were compelled to seek shelter in India due to religious persecution or fear of religious persecution and entered the country on or before December 31, 2024 without valid documents, including a passport or other travel documents, or with valid documents, including a passport or other travel documents, and the validity of such documents have expired" will be exempted from the rule of possessing a valid passport and visa, according to an order issued by the Home Ministry.
  • According to the Citizenship (Amendment) Act ( CAA ), which came into force last year, members of these persecuted minorities who came to India on or before December 31, 2014, will be granted Indian citizenship.
India Maritime Week 2025 kicks off in Mumbai under theme 'Uniting Oceans, One Maritime Vision' (Start of November)
  • Event: India Maritime Week 2025 (IMW 2025) organised by Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) in partnership with Indian Ports Association
  • Location: NESCO Grounds (Bombay Exhibition Centre), Mumbai
  • Participation: Ministers and delegations from 11 countries, 85+ countries represented, 500+ exhibitors, 350+ speakers
  • Key Themes/Outcomes: Showcase India as maritime hub and Blue Economy leader, potential MoUs across ports, shipbuilding, logistics, green shipping, inland waterways, aligns with Maritime India Vision 2030 and Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047
  • Flagship Conferences: Global Maritime India Summit (GMIS 2025), QUAD 'Ports of the Future' conference, The Great Oceans Dialogue, SheEO Conference
Rules for Sustainable Harnessing of Fisheries in India’s EEZ: Key Features (Mid of November)
  • Name: Rules for Sustainable Harnessing of Fisheries in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) notified by Government of India
  • Announced in: Union Budget 2025-26
  • Implementing Ministry: Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying
  • Objective: "create an enabling framework for sustainable fisheries from India's EEZ and high seas, with a special focus on the Andaman & Nicobar and Lakshadweep Islands"
  • Key provision: "prioritise Fishermen Cooperative Societies and Fish Farmer Producer Organisations (FFPOs) for deep-sea fishing operations and management of technologically advanced vessels"
  • Export boost: "promoting value addition, traceability, and certification"
  • Innovation: "introduction of the mother-and-child vessel concept, which will allow mid-sea transshipment under strict monitoring in line with Reserve Bank of India regulations"
  • Support measures: "training, international exposure visits, and capacity-building initiatives across the value chain -- including processing, branding, and marketing"
  • Credit access: "through flagship schemes such as the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) and the Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF)"
  • Prohibited practices: "LED light fishing, pair trawling, and bull trawling"
  • Conservation tools: "Minimum legal fish sizes and Fisheries Management Plans"
  • Alternate livelihoods: "Mariculture activities like sea-cage farming and seaweed cultivation"
  • Digital system: "fully digital Access Pass system ... through the ReALCRaft portal for mechanised vessels"
  • Traceability: "Integration with MPEDA and EIC will facilitate traceability and eco-labelling for global seafood exports"
  • Safety & security: "mandate transponders and QR-coded ID cards to enhance sea safety and coastal security"
New Deep-Sea Fishing Rules for India’s EEZ: Key Features and Objectives (Mid of November)
  • Scheme/Policy Name: New deep-sea fishing rules notified on 4 November for operations in India’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
  • Objective: Unlock under-utilised high-value tuna resources and promote community-led, sustainable deep-sea fishing while banning foreign vessels.
  • Key Feature 1: Fishermen Cooperative Societies and Fish Farmer Producer Organisations (FFPOs) prioritised for deep-sea fishing with technologically advanced vessels.
  • Key Feature 2: Mother-and-child vessel concept introduced for mid-sea transhipment under RBI regulations, benefiting Andaman & Nicobar and Lakshadweep Islands.
  • Key Feature 3: Access Pass mandated (free, online via ReALCRaft portal) for mechanised and large motorised vessels; traditional/small-scale fishers exempt.
  • Portal Integration: ReALCRaft portal linked with MPEDA and EIC for issuing Fish Catch and Health Certificates, ensuring traceability and export compliance.
  • Supporting Schemes: Credit access facilitated under Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) and Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF).

Headline: Central Bank of Oman unveils new currency symbol for Omani Rial

Bullet Points:

  • The Central Bank of Oman (CBO) has unveiled an official symbol for the Omani Rial.
  • This marks a major national milestone and standardizes the currency’s representation across financial, commercial, and digital platforms.
  • The symbol reflects Oman’s rich heritage and economic maturity.
  • It aligns with Oman Vision 2040, strengthening global recognition, investor confidence, and the Sultanate’s position as a growing financial hub.
  • Ahmed Ja’afar Al Musalmi, Governor of the Central Bank of Oman, described the adoption of the symbol as a strategic initiative.
  • The symbol will facilitate international exchange operations by ensuring the currency is immediately recognizable.
  • Its design draws inspiration from Oman’s rich heritage, linking Oman’s economic past with its contemporary ambitions.
  • The CBO anticipates that the new symbol will strengthen global recognition of the Omani Rial and support Oman’s growing economic integration with the world.

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UAE Ministry of Economy & Tourism (MoET) launches region-first digital marketplace for trading trademarks. (End of November)
  • MoET unveils TM Market Place, the Middle East’s first dedicated digital platform for listing, buying and trading registered trademarks.
  • Only national and international trademarks officially registered in the UAE can be listed on the platform.
  • There is no subscription fee required to browse, list, or access the marketplace; users pay only the agreed purchase price and the government fee for re-registering ownership.
Oman elected to UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Council for 2025–2029 (Mid of November)
  • Oman was elected to the International Coordinating Council of UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme for the term 2025–2029.
  • The Environment Authority represented Oman during the election held at the 43rd session of the UNESCO General Conference in Samarkand, Republic of Uzbekistan.
  • Oman already has two reserves listed in the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves: Al-Sareen Nature Reserve and Al Jabal Al Akhdar Landscape Reserve.
  • The MAB Programme’s objectives include expanding protected areas, conserving biodiversity, supporting climate-change research, and granting research support to youth and researchers.
UAE Executes First Government Payment Using Digital Dirham via mBridge Platform (End of November)
  • The Dubai Department of Finance and Ministry of Finance conducted the first government payment using the Digital Dirham issued by the Central Bank of the UAE.
  • The settlement concluded in under two minutes without intermediaries involved.
  • In January 2024, UAE authorities executed an international value transfer using Digital Dirham technology via the mBridge system, routing funds to Chinese recipients.
RBI Launches New Microsite on Indian Currency for Public Awareness and Financial Literacy (Mid of September)
  • The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has unveiled a new microsite on Indian currency.
  • The initiative is part of RBI’s ongoing efforts to enhance financial literacy and help citizens better understand the features, security, and usage of Indian banknotes.
  • A standout feature of the portal is the 360-degree view of banknotes, allowing users to examine each note in detail and differentiate between genuine and counterfeit currency.
  • The microsite incorporates multimedia tools such as audio guides, animations, and interactive games to make learning more accessible and enjoyable.
  • It provides a dedicated section explaining the process for exchanging old, damaged, or withdrawn notes.
  • The microsite is designed for students, teachers, business owners, and the general public.

Headline: Fintech firm Easebuzz receives RBI nod for full-service payment aggregator operations

Bullet Points:

  • Fintech firm Easebuzz has secured authorisation from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to operate as a full-service Payment Aggregator.
  • The authorisation covers online, offline, and cross-border transactions.
  • Easebuzz is now among only three Indian payment fintechs to hold all three key licenses.
  • This approval enables Easebuzz to provide merchants with end-to-end payment capabilities, including online payment acceptance, in-person payments through POS devices and UPI soundboxes, and cross-border inward and outward transactions.
  • Rohit Prasad, MD & CEO of Easebuzz, stated that the move stresses the RBI’s “progressive approach” in enabling innovation across integrated payment ecosystems.
  • Easebuzz currently serves more than 2.5 lakh merchants.
  • It processes around 3 million transactions per day.
  • Its annualised Gross Transaction Value stands at over $50 billion.
  • For FY2024-25, the company reported revenue of ₹656 crore and a net profit of ₹19 crore.
  • Easebuzz continues to focus on sector-specific SaaS integrations as part of its long-term strategy.
  • Its verticalised solutions cater to sectors such as education, insurance, NBFCs, travel, e-commerce, retail, government and real estate, embedding payment capabilities via SaaS APIs to digitise and streamline financial workflows.

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PhonePe Receives Final RBI Authorization to Operate as Online Payment Aggregator (End of September)
  • PhonePe has received the final authorization from the Reserve Bank of India to operate as an online payment aggregator.
  • PhonePe's digital payments app has over 65 crore registered users and a merchant acceptance network of over 4.5 crore merchants.
  • PhonePe processes over 36 crore transactions daily with an Annualized Total Payment Value of over INR 150 lakh crore.
NPCI Bharat BillPay (NBBL) targets 135 million households via digital and assisted channels. (End of November)
  • NPCI Bharat BillPay Ltd (NBBL) currently covers 70-80 million households.
  • NBBL plans to expand Bharat Connect and bill payment platforms to reach about 135 million households.
  • CareEdge projects MSME and retail segments to drive 12% credit growth in FY26.
  • NBFC borrowings projected to reach $750 billion by FY27 as markets shift towards capital markets.
  • Piramal Finance eyes Rs 1 lakh crore AUM by FY26 as its retail portfolio scales up.
PayGlocal Receives RBI PA-CB-I&O Licence for Full Cross-Border Payment Aggregation (Mid of November)
  • 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.
PayU receives RBI authorisation to operate as payment aggregator for online, offline and cross-border transactions (Mid of November)
  • PayU has received authorisation from the Reserve Bank of India to operate as a payment aggregator across online, offline and cross-border transactions, including both inward and outward, under the Payment and Settlement Systems (PSS) Act.
  • The approval enables PayU to offer secure, compliant, and seamless payment acceptance, settlement and cross-border solutions for merchants across channels.
  • This development strengthens PayU's position as a full-stack digital payments provider, empowering businesses with reliable and seamless experiences across online, offline and cross-border touchpoints.

Headline: Glitter of Mathura poshak, symphony of Meerut bugle put UP on top of GI list

Bullet Points:

  • UP maintained its dominance in GI-tagged goods with 79 GI products, surpassing Tamil Nadu’s 69.
  • Mathura zari poshak and Meerut bugle received fresh GI tags.
  • Mathura zari attire is linked to Lord Shri Krishna and involves generations of artisans.
  • Thousands of women artisans contribute to Mathura’s zari embroidery.
  • Meerut bugle played a role in the 1857 freedom struggle and is still used by army, police and schools.
  • Meerut manufactures about 10 major traditional instruments, including bugles, trumpets and drums.
  • Khazani Welfare Society applied for Mathura zari poshak GI with support from Mathura district administration and SIDBI.
  • Meerut Vadya Yantra Nirmata Vikreta Vyapari Welfare Association applied for Meerut bugle GI with NABARD UP and Meerut district administration backing.
  • Rajni Kant, GI Man of India, oversaw the legal process for both registrations.

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GI Tag Granted to Traditional Lepcha Musical Instruments: Tungbuk and Pumtong Pulit (Mid of November)
  • The Government of India granted Geographical Indication (GI) registration to two traditional Lepcha musical instruments – Tungbuk and Pumtong Pulit – under the Musical Instrument category of the Geographical Indication Registry.
  • The GI registration certificates were presented during the 1st Tribal Business Conclave in New Delhi, organised by the Ministries of Culture, Tribal Affairs, and Commerce & Industry.
  • The Tungbuk is a three-string instrument and the Pumtong Pulit is a bamboo flute, both integral to Lepcha folk music and culturally significant to the Lepcha community of Sikkim.
  • NABARD, Gangtok supported the GI filing process, which took around two years to complete.
Arunachal Pradesh Government's Initiative for Securing GI Tags for Indigenous Products (End of November)
  • The traditional Arunachal Pradesh Dao has been awarded the Geographical Indication (GI) tag, recognizing its unique cultural and geographical heritage.
  • The certification was granted by the Geographical Indications Registry under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India, as part of the Arunachal Pradesh government's aggressive pursuit of GI registrations.
  • The GI tag aims to safeguard authenticity by ensuring only Daos produced in Arunachal Pradesh using traditional methods bear the label, enhance economic opportunities for artisans, promote tourism and branding, and preserve endangered skills.
  • The government plans to support artisans through specialized training programs, branding initiatives, improved marketing linkages, and collaborations with organizations like NABARD for post-GI marketing and skill development, aligning with its “Brand Arunachal” initiative.
  • The state hosted its first GI Mahotsav in New Delhi in 2025, displaying certified products to a national audience, as part of its broader strategy to empower rural artisans and boost the local economy.
Setback to India's Efforts for Basmati Rice GI Tag Abroad (End of November)
  • India's efforts to obtain exclusive market rights for basmati rice faced setbacks in New Zealand and Kenya.
  • The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (Apeda) is the nodal authority for implementing the GI tag.
  • Apeda sought a certification mark from the Intellectual Property Office of New Zealand (IPONZ) in February 2019.
  • The New Zealand High Court dismissed Apeda’s appeal against the dismissal of its application for a certification trade mark for India’s basmati rice.
  • Kenya’s Court of Appeal dismissed Apeda’s plea against a Kenya High Court ruling against its opposition to the registration of a trade mark with Basmati as a component by Kenya’s Krish Commodities.
  • The New Zealand High Court upheld the decision that the basmati growing area (BGA) comprises India and Pakistan, and granting certification trade mark protection for Indian basmati would unfairly prevent rice grown in the Pakistan part of the BGA from being sold in New Zealand.
  • Kenya’s Court of Appeal stated that basmati has not been registered or formally recognised in Kenya, which meant Apeda lacked the legal footing to object.
  • Basmati received the GI tag in India in 2016.
PayGlocal Receives RBI PA-CB-I&O Licence for Full Cross-Border Payment Aggregation (Mid of November)
  • 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: Chitra Talwar appointed Part-Time Chairperson of Jana Small Finance Bank (JSFB)

Bullet Points:

  • Chitra Talwar has been appointed as Part-Time Chairperson of Jana Small Finance Bank effective February 8, 2026.
  • She succeeds R Ramaseshan who is retiring after completing the maximum tenure of eight years.
  • Her tenure as Part-Time Chairperson is until January 30, 2028.
  • The appointment has received approval from the Reserve Bank of India.

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RBI approves S Krishnan's appointment as J&K Bank Chairman (Mid of November)
  • The Reserve Bank of India has approved the appointment of S Krishnan as part-time chairman of J&K Bank.
  • His appointment is effective from November 13, 2025, till March 26, 2028.
  • Krishnan previously served as MD & CEO of Punjab & Sind Bank.
  • He also held the top position as MD & CEO of Tamilnad Mercantile Bank in September 2022.
  • Krishnan is currently an independent director on the board of Srinagar-headquartered bank.
Justice Ashok Bhushan Reappointed as NCLAT Chairperson (Start of November)
  • Justice Ashok Bhushan has been reappointed as the Chairperson of the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT).
  • The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) approved his re-appointment.
  • He will hold the office until July 4, 2026.
  • He is a former Judge of the Supreme Court.
  • He assumed charge as the NCLAT Chairperson for his first term in November 2021.
RBI returns Jana SFB’s universal-bank licence bid; Q2 FY26 gross NPA 2.75%, net NPA 0.90% (Start of November)
  • RBI has returned Jana SFB’s application to convert into a universal bank, citing unmet eligibility criteria.
  • Jana SFB reported gross NPA of 2.75 percent and net NPA of 0.90 percent for Q2 FY26.
  • The bank took accelerated provisions of Rs 72 crore in Q2 FY26 and Rs 222 crore in H1 FY26 to contain microfinance slippages.
  • Slippages stood at Rs 591 crore in Q2 FY26, up from Rs 515 crore in the preceding quarter.
  • Secured loans accounted for 72.5 percent of total advances as of September 2025, versus 64.6 percent a year earlier.
  • Total unsecured book was Rs 8,715 crore, with 49 percent of the microfinance segment covered under government credit-guarantee schemes.
  • Advances grew 20 percent year-on-year to Rs 31,655 crore and deposits rose 31 percent to Rs 32,532 crore in Q2 FY26.
  • Liquidity coverage ratio stood at 170 percent.
Government Appoints New Secretary-Rank Officers (End of November)
  • Govt appointed seven new secretary-rank officers, including the new heads for oil, telecom and agriculture ministries.
  • Neeraj Mittal, a 1992-batch IAS officer of the Tamil Nadu cadre, [was appointed] as petroleum secretary, replacing Pankaj Jain.
  • Amit Agrawal moves to the Department of Telecom.
  • Manoj Joshi... will move to pharmaceuticals from the department of land resources.
  • V Vidyarthi will move from tourism to the department of empowerment of persons with disabilities.
  • Srivatsa Krishna [will replace V Vidyarthi] in tourism.
  • Atish Chandra... has been named officer on special duty in the department of agriculture and farmers welfare, and will take over as secretary at the end of Feb, when Devesh Chaturvedi retires.
  • Pankaj Jain, who was named member secretary of the Eighth Pay Commission.
  • Chennai Port Trust chairman Sunil Paliwal has been named chairman of the Inland Waterways Authority of India.

Headline: ISRO Successfully Tests Boot-Strap Mode Start on CE20 Cryogenic Engine

Bullet Points:

  • ISRO successfully demonstrated the boot-strap mode start test of the CE20 Cryogenic engine.
  • The CE20 engine powers the upper stage of the Launch Vehicle Mark -3 (LVM3) rocket.
  • The test was conducted for 10 seconds under vacuum conditions at the High-Altitude Test (HAT) facility at ISRO Propulsion Complex, Mahendragiri on November 7.
  • The CE20 cryogenic engine is already qualified for operation at thrust levels between 19 and 22 tonnes with a single start in flight and is cleared for use in the Gaganyaan missions.
  • Under normal conditions, the engine ignition begins under tank head pressure, followed by a turbopump start up using a stored gas start-up system.
  • For future missions, multiple in-flight restarts of the CE20 engine will be required for mission flexibility, towards multi-orbit missions.
  • With the current configuration, each restart requires an additional start-up gas bottle and associated systems, leading to a reduction in vehicle payload capability.
  • Achieving boot-strap mode start, where the engine builds up to steady operation without external start-up assistance, is essential.
  • During the test, a multi-element igniter was employed in both the thrust chamber and gas generator to facilitate boot-strap starting.
  • In this test, following the ignition of the thrust chamber, the gas generator was ignited under tank head conditions, and the turbopumps were started without the use of the start-up system.
  • Boot-strap mode build-up and steady-state operation of the engine were successfully demonstrated.
  • ISRO has successfully demonstrated boot-strap mode starting of a gas-generator cycle cryogenic engine without any auxiliary start-up system, perhaps for the first time in the world.
  • This achievement is a significant milestone towards enhancing the restart capability and mission flexibility of future LVM3 flights.

Similar Headlines

ISRO conducts crucial asymmetric parachute test for Gaganyaan crew module (Mid of November)
  • ISRO validated the Gaganyaan crew module’s parachute system under an asymmetric two-main-chute scenario released from an IAF IL-76 at 2.5 km altitude over Babina Field Firing Range, Uttar Pradesh.
  • The 7.2-tonne capsule mass simulator demonstrated structural integrity and stable descent when only two of the three main parachutes were intentionally deployed.
  • Gaganyaan’s parachute suite comprises 10 chutes: two for heat-shield separation, two drogue chutes, three pilot chutes, and three main chutes—only two of which need to function for safe landing.
  • The test specifically examined load distribution during asymmetric disreefing, described by ISRO as “one of the most critical load scenarios expected during an actual mission descent.”
  • Three uncrewed test flights will follow, each carrying the half-humanoid robot Vyomitra (“space friend”) to gather data ahead of the first crewed mission targeted for early 2027.
India's First Indigenous Vikram 32-bit Processor Presented to PM Modi (Start of September)
  • Union IT minister Ashwini Vaishnaw presented the first 'Made in India' chip, the Vikram 32-bit processor, to Prime Minister Modi at Semicon India 2025.
  • Developed by Isro’s Semiconductor Lab (SCL) in Chandigarh in collaboration with the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, Vikram is India’s first fully indigenous 32-bit microprocessor.
  • Officially named VIKRAM3201, the chip is qualified to function under the harsh environmental conditions of launch vehicles.
  • It was fabricated at SCL’s 180nm CMOS fab and validated in space during Isro’s PSLV-C60 mission in 2024.
  • The processor is an advanced version of the earlier 16-bit VIKRAM1601 microprocessor, which has been used in Isro’s launch vehicles since 2009.
  • The newer chip comes with floating-point computation capability, custom instruction set architecture, and high-level language support.
  • Isro has also developed in-house tools such as compilers, assemblers, and simulators for its applications.
Government Shifts Biofuel Strategy After Ethanol-Diesel Blend Fails; E20 Rolled Out Nationwide (Mid of September)
  • Experiments to blend 10 per cent ethanol with diesel were unsuccessful.
  • Trials are now underway to blend diesel with isobutanol, a derivative of ethanol.
  • The government has rolled out E20, petrol mixed with 20 per cent ethanol, across India, replacing the earlier E10 fuel.
  • E20 was initially launched at select stations in April 2023 and became the nationwide standard by April 2025.
  • About 85 per cent of India’s fossil fuel needs are met through imports.
  • Corn acreage has increased threefold with the push for biofuels.
Godrej delivers human-rated Vikas engine for Gaganyaan mission (Mid of November)
  • Godrej Enterprises Group’s aerospace business has delivered the first human-rated L110 Vikas engine.
  • The engine was delivered to Isro’s liquid propulsion systems centre.
  • The L110 Vikas engine is for the Gaganyaan human spaceflight mission.
  • The engine is a core component of the LVM-3 launch vehicle.
  • A human-rated version of the LVM-3 (HRLV) will be used for Gaganyaan.
  • The Gaganyaan mission will carry Indian astronauts into space and bring them back safely.

Headline: National Integration Day observed on November 19

Bullet Points:

  • National Integration Day is observed on November 19th.
  • The day commemorates the birth anniversary of former Indian prime minister Indira Gandhi.
  • Indira Gandhi was the first female prime minister of India.
  • The observance extends into a week-long ‘Qaumi Ekta’ [National Integration] week from November 19th to 25th.
  • The primary goal of National Integration Day is to foster a sense of unity, peace, and brotherhood among all citizens.
  • Activities like the Inter State Youth Exchange Programme (ISYEP) are conducted to encourage interaction among young people.

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"No Kings" National Day of Protest Observed on October 18, 2025 (End of October)
  • The "No Kings" national day of protest took place on October 18, 2025.
  • People gathered across the country to vent their anger over President Trump's policies in "No Kings" protests.
  • Organizers of "No Kings" stated that the president thinks his rule is absolute, but in America, there are no kings, and people will not back down against chaos, corruption, and cruelty.
Rashtriya Ekta Diwas (National Unity Day) observed annually on October 31 (Start of November)
  • Rashtriya Ekta Diwas, also known as National Unity Day, is observed annually on October 31 to commemorate the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and to honor his pivotal role in fostering national and political integration and unity in India.
  • The day was first celebrated in 2014, following a declaration by the Government of India to honour and celebrate Sardar Patel’s remarkable contribution to nation-building.
  • The day underscores the importance of maintaining the sovereignty, peace and integrity of the nation, encouraging citizens to pledge their commitment to unity in diversity.
  • The year 2025 marks Sardar Patel's 150th birth anniversary.
  • During the Rashtriya Ekta Divas held on 31st October, 2015 Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi announced the initiative ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat’ for sustained and structured connect between people of different regions of the country for an enhanced understanding and bonding between them.
World Kindness Day 2025 observed on November 13: History and Significance (Mid of November)
  • World Kindness Day is celebrated annually on November 13 as part of the Global Kindness Movement.
  • World Kindness Day 2025 falls on a Thursday, November 13, 2025.
  • The observance was established in 1998 by the World Kindness Movement, a global alliance of organisations that promotes goodwill and mutual respect.
World Usability Day 2025 Theme: Emerging Technologies and the Human Experience (Mid of November)
  • 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.

Headline: World Heritage Week observed from November 19-25, 2025

Bullet Points:

  • World Heritage Week will be observed from November 19 to 25.
  • The Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) will observe World Heritage Week in association with Art Kanara Trust.
  • Ganesh Amin Sankamar, an author and Tulu scholar, will deliver a talk titled ‘Tulu Bhashe Bokka Baduku’.
  • Numismatic collector M. Prashanth Shet will present on ‘Marked by History: The Western Ganga Dynasty Coins’.
  • Yakshagana artist and PhD scholar Shruti Bangera will speak on ‘Streevesha in Yakshagana: Female Impersonation Tradition in Indian Performing Arts’.
  • The art exhibition ‘Namma Ooru Namma Nela’ will be inaugurated in the presence of Tharanath Gatti Kapikad, Chairman of the Karnataka Tulu Sahitya Academy.
  • A 2023 documentary titled ‘The Word and The Teacher: Journey of Ferdinand Kittel as a Lexicographer’ will be screened, presented by filmmaker Prashant Pandit.

Similar Headlines

India's Tentative World Heritage List Expands with 7 New Sites (Mid of September)
  • Seven new properties have been added to the Tentative List of UNESCO's World Heritage for India.
  • With these additions, the number of Indian properties on the Tentative List are now 69.
  • The 69 properties on the Tentative List include 49 under Cultural category, three under Mixed category and 17 under Natural category.
  • The seven new properties added are under the natural category.
  • Addition to the Tentative List is a mandatory requirement before the inscription of any property on the World Heritage List.
World Urbanism Day observed annually on November 8th (Start of November)
  • World Urbanism Day is celebrated annually on November 8th.
  • It is also known as “World Town Planning Day”.
  • The day was instigated by The international organisation for World Urbanism.
  • The International Organisation for World Urbanism was founded in 1949.
  • The International Organisation for World Urbanism was founded by the late Professor Carlos Maria della Paolera of the University of Buenos Aires.
  • The day is a special day to recognise and promote the role of planning in creating livable communities.
  • It appeals to the conscience of citizens and public authorities in order to draw attention to the environmental impact resulting from the development of cities and territories.
  • World Urbanism Day is celebrated in more than 30 countries on four continents.
Goa and Madhya Pradesh Partnership for Tourism Promotion (Start of November)
  • **Parties Involved:** The Department of Tourism, Government of Goa, and senior officials from the Government of Madhya Pradesh.
  • **Objective:** To explore collaborative opportunities in tourism, with a special focus on heritage, wildlife, and cultural experiences.
  • **Specific Purpose:** To promote two-way tourism, encouraging travellers from Madhya Pradesh to discover Goa’s diverse offerings while inspiring Goans to experience Madhya Pradesh’s rich heritage and wildlife destinations.
  • **Key Initiative:** Madhya Pradesh has invited the Director of Tourism, Government of Goa, along with tourism trade stakeholders, to visit Madhya Pradesh for further discussions, and Goa will host tourism trade representatives from Madhya Pradesh.
  • **Shared Vision:** To promote sustainable tourism, celebrate cultural heritage, and create new domestic travel circuits that benefit local communities and travellers alike.
Science City Kolkata’s climate-change gallery "On The Edge?" wins CIMUSET Award (Mid of November)
  • Award-winning entity: National Council of Science Museums (NCSM) for its permanent gallery "On The Edge?" at Science City, Kolkata
  • Award bestowed by: CIMUSET (International Committee for Museums and Collections of Science and Technology) during the 27th ICOM General Conference in Dubai
  • Gallery specifications: 10,000-square-foot permanent gallery addressing human-induced climate-change causes, impacts, mitigation and adaptation
  • Key technologies used: immersive exhibits, augmented reality, virtual reality, and an interactive LED wall to convey climate impacts and solutions
  • Visitor outreach: over one million visitors since inauguration on January 11, 2025, with regular student-group outreach promoting climate literacy