NATIONAL UPDATES:
1. Khangchendzonga National Park Rated ‘Good’ by IUCN —
Only Indian World Heritage Site to Earn the Distinction: The International Union for
Conservation of Nature (IUCN) rated Khangchendzonga National Park in Sikkim as “good” in its latest global review of natural World
Heritage Sites — the only Indian site to receive this rating, while
regions like the Western Ghats and Sundarbans face serious concerns.Recognised in 2016, the Khangchendzonga
Biosphere Reserve is India’s first “mixed” World Heritage Site, known
for both its natural beauty and cultural heritage. It spans 1,784 sq km,
ranging from subtropical forests to the 8,586-metre Mount Khangchendzonga, the
world’s third-highest peak.The park’s success lies in community participation,
careful management, and cross-border cooperation with Nepal. It supports rare
species like snow leopards, red pandas, and over 550 bird species, while
promoting sustainable living among local Lepcha and Buddhist communities who
view it as sacred land.
2. PM Modi Inaugurates ₹8,260 Crore Development Projects
in Uttarakhand on Statehood Silver Jubilee: Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated
and laid foundation stones for projects worth over ₹8,260 crore in Dehradun to mark 25 years of Uttarakhand’s statehood, covering
key sectors like drinking water, irrigation, energy, education, sports, and
skill development.Under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, financial aid of
₹62 crore was transferred to 28,000 farmers, while Modi highlighted that
projects worth over ₹2 lakh crore are currently underway in the state.PM Modi
emphasised making Uttarakhand the spiritual capital of the world, promoting it
as a film and wedding destination, and showcasing its local festivals and
GI-tagged products under initiatives like ‘Vocal for Local’ and ‘One District –
One Festival’ to boost global tourism.
3. PM Modi Flags Off Four New Vande Bharat Trains to
Boost Connectivity Across North and South India: The Prime Minister Modi
visited Varanasi to flag off four
new Vande Bharat Express trains operating on the Banaras–Khajuraho, Lucknow–Saharanpur,
Firozpur–Delhi, and Ernakulam–Bengaluru routes, marking another
milestone in India’s railway modernization.These new Vande Bharat trains will
further strengthen India’s semi-high-speed rail network across North and South
India, enhancing comfort, speed, and connectivity between key cultural,
economic, and spiritual hubs.The additions are expected to reduce travel time,
promote regional mobility, and boost tourism and trade, improving access to
major destinations like Varanasi, Khajuraho, Bengaluru, and Ernakulam, while
supporting economic growth across multiple states.
4. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to Inaugurate 22nd CPA
India Region Zone-3 Conference in Nagaland: Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla will
inaugurate the 22nd Annual
Conference of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) India Region
Zone-3 in Kohima, Nagaland, with participation from Presiding Officers,
MPs, and MLAs of eight Northeastern states.The two-day conference is based on
the theme “Policy, Progress and
People: Legislatures as Catalysts of Change,” highlighting the
crucial role of legislatures in driving governance and development.The CPA
India Region Zone-3 has been instrumental in promoting parliamentary best
practices, fostering regional cooperation, and addressing key issues such as
infrastructure development and the Act East Policy for the Northeast.
5. Mumbai Crowned Asia’s Happiest City in Time Out’s City
Life Index 2025: According
to the Time Out City Life Index 2025, Mumbai has been declared
Asia’s happiest city, surpassing Beijing, Shanghai, Chiang Mai, and Hanoi. An
impressive 94% of Mumbaikars said the city makes them happy, driven by its
vibrant culture, energetic lifestyle, and endless opportunities.The survey
revealed that 89% of Mumbaikars feel happier in their city than anywhere else,
88% believe people are generally positive, and 87% feel overall happiness has
increased recently — attributing this rise to Mumbai’s entertainment scene,
social life, and world-famous street food culture.Beijing ranked second with
93%, and Shanghai third with 92% residents expressing happiness. Both Chinese
megacities scored high on safety, convenience, cost, and cultural experiences,
remaining attractive destinations for Gen Z professionals seeking modern urban
lifestyles.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1. India and Ecuador Sign MoU on Diplomatic Training
Cooperation: Union Minister of State for External
Affairs Pabitra Margherita met
Ecuador’s Foreign and Human Mobility Affairs Minister Gabriela Sommerfeld during his
official visit, focusing on enhancing
bilateral cooperation across key sectors including politics, trade, pharmaceuticals,
training, and capacity building.The two leaders signed a Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) between the diplomatic training institutions of India and
Ecuador, aimed at promoting knowledge exchange, skill development, and
institutional collaboration in foreign affairs.During the visit, both leaders
jointly inaugurated India’s resident Embassy in Ecuador’s capital, Quito,
marking a major milestone in diplomatic relations.
2. India and Saudi Arabia Sign MoU to Boost Cultural
Cooperation and Heritage Exchange: In Riyadh, India’s Culture and Tourism
Minister Shri Gajendra Singh
Shekhawat and Saudi Culture Minister H.H. Prince Badr Bin Abdullah Bin Farhan Al Saud signed a
bilateral MoU on Cultural
Cooperation to enhance cultural collaboration between the two nations.The
agreement focuses on strengthening cultural ties through cooperation in arts,
heritage, music, and literature, promoting cultural exchanges, policy sharing,
and joint participation in cultural events, while also encouraging knowledge
exchange for heritage preservation.Both Ministers reaffirmed their commitment
to deepen India–Saudi cultural relations under the Strategic Partnership
Council (SPC), co-chairing its Ministerial Committee on Tourism and Cultural
Cooperation—first established during PM Narendra Modi’s April 2025 visit to
Jeddah.
3. Denmark Proposes Ban on Social Media Access for
Children Below 15 Years: Denmark’s government has proposed
banning social media access for
children under 15 years to safeguard them from online risks and
inappropriate content.The plan, led by the Ministry of Digitalisation, allows parents to grant consent for children aged 13–15 to
use social media after an official assessment.The proposal mirrors Australia’s 2024 decision to
restrict social media for users under 16, with penalties for platforms
like TikTok, Facebook, Snapchat,
Reddit, X, and Instagram if they fail to comply.
4. Sweden Becomes the World’s First Cashless Society: Sweden has become
the world’s first cashless
country, replacing physical money with digital payments through phones and
cards.
Travellers
can easily pay anywhere — from shops to northern lights tours — using digital
transactions. The transformation began with the launch of Swish, a mobile
payment app introduced in 2012.Swish enables real-time money transfers between
individuals, businesses, and organizations using just a phone number. Its fast
adoption made digital payments common across shops, cafés, museums, and even
churches.
5. 10 November – World Public Transport Day: World Public Transport Day is
observed on 10th November to
raise awareness about the importance of eco-friendly and efficient public
transport systems for reducing carbon emissions.The day emphasises making
public transport accessible, affordable, and safe for all citizens, including
differently-abled and elderly individuals.Governments, NGOs, and transport
authorities organize campaigns, seminars, and events to motivate people to
prefer public transport over private vehicles for a cleaner future.
6. 10 November – World Immunisation Day: World Immunization Day is
observed on 10th November to
spread awareness about the importance of vaccines in protecting people from
preventable diseases.The day highlights how immunization saves millions of
lives each year by preventing deadly infections such as measles, polio,
tetanus, and influenza.It supports initiatives by organizations like WHO and
UNICEF to ensure that vaccines reach every child and community worldwide.
OTHER UPDATES:
DEFENCE
1. INS Sahyadri Participates in Multilateral Exercise
Malabar 2025 at Guam: The indigenously built Guided Missile Stealth Frigate INS
Sahyadri has arrived at
Guam in the Northern
Pacific to participate in the multilateral Exercise Malabar 2025,
showcasing India’s growing maritime cooperation and strategic engagement with
Indo-Pacific partner nations.The exercise, involving harbour and sea phases,
aims to strengthen joint coordination, interoperability, and regional security
through activities like operational planning, communication alignment, fleet
operations, anti-submarine warfare, and gunnery drills among participating
navies.Built at Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders, Mumbai, INS Sahyadri exemplifies
India’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative and has participated in multiple global
exercises, reinforcing India’s commitment to a free, open, and rules-based
Indo-Pacific and its proactive role in regional maritime stability.Exercise
Malabar, which began as a bilateral exercise between India and the United
States in 1992, has since evolved into a key multilateral naval engagement
involving major Indo-Pacific democracies.
2. Coimbatore to Host Two-Day Defence
Conclave: Coimbatore is
set to host a two-day defence conclave at the Codissia Trade Fair Complex on
November 13 and 14, bringing together industry leaders, defence stakeholders,
and policymakers. Organised by the Codissia Defence Innovation and Atal
Incubation Centre (CDIIC), the event aims to boost indigenous defence
manufacturing and innovation in alignment with India’s Aatmanirbhar
Bharat mission. More than 40 micro, small and medium
enterprises (MSMEs) will showcase a range of defence-related products and
technologies during the conclave. Coimbatore district, home to over 100 MSMEs
catering to the defence sector, has become a growing hub for advanced
engineering and precision manufacturing. Exhibits will include ground support
equipment, drones, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) developed locally.
Codissia president M Karthikeyan stated that the conclave will facilitate
discussions on defence procurement, indigenisation, policy frameworks, and
quality standards. A series of expert-led panels and sessions will explore
strategies to enhance industry readiness and promote greater collaboration
between MSMEs, startups, and defence organisations. The event is expected to
serve as a catalyst for regional participation in India’s expanding defence
ecosystem.
SPORTS
1. Kalinga Stadium to Host India’s First
National Indoor Athletics Championships: Bhubaneswar’s iconic Kalinga Stadium is set to host
the inaugural National Indoor Athletics Championships in January 2026, marking
a historic development in India’s athletics calendar. The Athletics Federation
of India (AFI) has announced the introduction of indoor competitions for the
first time in the country, focusing on expanding the domestic athletics ecosystem.
AFI president Bahadur Singh Sagoo confirmed that the National Indoor
Championships would be part of the 2026 domestic season. The indoor meet will
feature key events such as the pole vault and heptathlon, showcasing India’s
readiness to embrace international standards in athletics infrastructure.
Bhubaneswar’s world-class indoor facility at Kalinga Stadium will serve as the
venue for this pioneering edition. The heptathlon for men will span two days
and include seven disciplines—60m sprint, long jump, shot put, high jump, 60m
hurdles, pole vault, and 1,000m run. AFI’s decision to include multi-event
indoor competitions reflects its aim to prepare Indian athletes for global
indoor championships, including the 2028 Asian Indoor Athletics Championships, for
which India has placed a bid.
2. Asian Games Medallist Manju Bala Receives
Five-Year Doping Ban: India’s
hammer thrower and 2014 Asian Games bronze medallist Manju Bala has been handed a five-year suspension
for violating anti-doping regulations. The decision, issued by the Anti-Doping
Disciplinary Panel (ADDP), follows her positive test for banned substances,
including anabolic steroids and selective androgen receptor modulators (SARMS).
Manju Bala tested positive for dehydrochloromethyl-testosterone and SARMS
LGD-4033 during a routine test conducted in 2024. The National Anti-Doping
Agency (NADA) confirmed her violation in September last year. The suspension
will take effect from July 10, 2024, following the panel’s ruling on October
15, 2025. Bala, who brought home a bronze medal from the 2014 Incheon Asian Games, now faces a career setback as her ban rules her out of upcoming major
competitions. The latest anti-doping review also penalised several Indian
athletes across various disciplines. Mohan Saini received a four-year ban
starting October 14, 2025. Three bodybuilders — Gopala Krishnan, Amit Kumar,
and Rajvardhan Sanjay Waskar — were each handed six-year suspensions, while
Shubham Mahara received a four-year ban. Boxer Sumit faced a two-year penalty,
canoeist Nitin Verma was suspended for four years, and basketball player
Shivendra Pandey received a six-year ban for similar offences.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
1. TEC and IIT Bombay Join Hands to Drive Indigenous
Innovation in 6G, AI, and Next-Generation Telecom Technologies: The Telecommunication
Engineering Centre (TEC), DoT, signed an MoU with IIT Bombay to jointly conduct research, technical studies, and standardisation
activities in advanced telecom domains like 6G, AI, VoIP, and
NGN.The collaboration aims to develop India-specific standards, test
frameworks, and boost India’s participation in ITU-T and 3GPP global
standardisation efforts, advancing the Atmanirbhar Bharat vision in telecom
innovation.The partnership covers multiple key areas including 6G architecture,
AI-driven telecom applications, core network development, satellite
communication systems, and signalling protocols, strengthening India’s R&D
ecosystem and telecom self-reliance.
BANKING AND FINANCE
1. Union Minister Manohar Lal Releases ₹50 Commemorative Coin to Mark 50 Years of NHPC Limited: Union Minister for Power, Housing and Urban Affairs Manohar Lal released a ₹50 commemorative coin in New Delhi to mark 50 years of NHPC Limited, India’s premier hydropower company under the Ministry of Power.The minister highlighted that the coin symbolizes NHPC’s resilience, innovation, and service to the nation, recognizing its key role in India’s energy self-reliance and sustainable power development over the past five decades.Along with the coin, a comic book titled “Chhota Bheem aur Bada Bandh” was released to promote awareness about hydropower among children. NHPC currently operates 30 power stations with an installed capacity of 8,333 MW and has 14 projects (9,704 MW) under construction, expanding into solar, wind, and green hydrogen sectors.
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