NATIONAL UPDATES:
1. Government Proposes Mandatory ‘Country of Origin’ Filter on E-Commerce Platforms to Boost Transparency and Promote ‘Vocal for Local’: The Department of Consumer Affairs has proposed the Draft Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) (Second) Amendment Rules, 2025, making it mandatory for e-commerce platforms to provide a searchable and sortable ‘Country of Origin’ filter for packaged commodities.The move aims to enhance consumer transparency and empowerment, allowing buyers to easily identify the origin of products and make informed purchasing decisions while shopping online.The amendment supports ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ and ‘Vocal for Local’ initiatives by promoting visibility of Made-in-India products, giving them a level playing field against imported goods.Under the proposed rule, every e-commerce entity selling imported products must provide this filter, helping consumers search and sort products based on their country of origin directly from product listings.
2. Amit Shah Launches Sahakar Digi Pay and Sahakar Digi Loan to Boost Digital Transformation in Urban Cooperative Banks: Union Cooperation Minister Amit Shah launched two mobile apps — Sahakar Digi Pay and Sahakar Digi Loan — to promote digital transformation in urban cooperative banks and ensure their competitiveness in a cashless economy.He highlighted reforms in the sector, noting that NPAs in urban cooperative banks declined from 2.8% to 0.6% in two years, and set a target for NAFCUB to open at least one new UCB in every town with a population over two lakh within five years.Since the formation of the Cooperation Ministry in 2021-22, model bylaws for PACS have been implemented nationwide, enabling computerisation, while Amul and IFFCO were recognised among the world’s top two cooperatives by the International Cooperative Alliance.
3. Angola Partners with India in Renewable Energy, Wildlife Conservation: Angola has agreed to partner with India in key areas such as renewable energy, wildlife conservation and management, and biofuels, marking major outcomes of President Droupadi Murmu’s state visit — the first-ever by an Indian head of state to the African nation.During the visit, two MoUs were signed — one on fisheries, aquaculture, and marine resources, and another on consular matters — while both nations reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing cooperation in trade, defence, health, infrastructure, and capacity building.Angola announced its decision to join the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) and the Global Biofuel Alliance (GBA) — two Indian-led global initiatives promoting wildlife conservation and sustainable energy, further strengthening India-Angola strategic ties and India-Africa partnership.
4. NHA Renews MoU with DHR and ICMR to Boost Evidence-Based Healthcare and Strengthen Ayushman Bharat Schemes: The National Health Authority (NHA) has renewed its MoU with the Department of Health Research (DHR) and the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) to strengthen evidence-based decision-making in healthcare.The renewed partnership aims to optimize healthcare resource allocation, enhance quality standards, and promote data-driven policy formulation across flagship schemes like Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY and Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM).Originally signed in November 2019, the collaboration has successfully used Health Technology Assessment (HTA) to help NHA in optimising Health Benefit Packages (HBPs) under AB-PMJAY.
5. MSSRF’s Fisher Friend Mobile App Wins Tech4Nature Award for Protecting Olive Ridley Turtles and Empowering Coastal Fishers: The Fisher Friend Mobile Application, developed by the M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF), has won the Tech4Nature Award at the IUCN World Conservation Congress in Abu Dhabi for protecting endangered Olive Ridley turtles while supporting coastal fishing communities.The app’s No-Fishing Zone Alert system, co-developed with Odisha’s Fisheries Department, uses geolocation and geo-fencing to warn fishers when they approach restricted turtle nesting areas like the Gahirmatha Marine Wildlife Sanctuary, helping prevent accidental violations and protecting livelihoods.Originally created after the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami with support from Qualcomm and INCOIS, the app has evolved through 54 updates, now serving over 1.22 lakh users across nine coastal states and one UT, offering real-time information in nine Indian languages on weather, fishing zones, and safety alerts.
6. 11 November – National Education Day : National Education Day is observed every year on 11th November to commemorate the birth anniversary of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, India’s first Education Minister.Maulana Azad played a vital role in shaping India’s modern education system, including the establishment of IITs, UGC, and AICTE.The day highlights the importance of education in nation-building and promotes literacy, knowledge, and innovation.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1. ‘Vibe Coding’ Named Collins Dictionary’s Word of the Year 2025: ‘Vibe coding’, a term coined by Andrej Karpathy, former Director of AI at Tesla and founding engineer at OpenAI, was chosen as the Word of the Year 2025 by the Collins Dictionary.The phrase describes a new way of software development where AI converts natural language into code, making app creation effortless and intuitive.Other trending words in 2025 include ‘glaze’ (to flatter someone excessively) and ‘aura farming’ (creating a charismatic and cool persona intentionally).
2. India–Russia nuclear cooperation to deepen at December summit : India and Russia are preparing to strengthen their civil nuclear partnership at the upcoming annual summit, where small and modular reactors (SMRs), fuel-cycle technologies and progress at the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KNPP) will dominate discussions. The meeting is expected to chart the next phase of collaboration as both countries expand long-term strategic energy ties. Rosatom’s director general met India’s atomic energy leadership in Mumbai to outline future cooperation areas. Both sides explored opportunities for joint development of SMRs, which promise flexible deployment, lower upfront costs and enhanced safety features. They also discussed advances in the nuclear fuel cycle, including enriched fuel supply, waste management solutions and research-driven collaborations. The Kudankulam plant remains the centrepiece of India–Russia nuclear cooperation. Units 1 and 2 are already operational and supply power to southern India. Unit 3 has reached the pre-commissioning stage, with safety-system testing scheduled as the next milestone. Construction continues at Unit 4, while Units 5 and 6, part of the plant’s third phase, are advancing with installation and equipment deliveries.
OTHER UPDATES:
DEFENCE
1. Four Defence PSUs Felicitated with Miniratna Status at DPSU Bhawan Review Meeting: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh chaired a comprehensive review meeting of Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs) at the newly inaugurated DPSU Bhawan, World Trade Centre, New Delhi.During the meeting, four DPSUs — Munitions India Limited (MIL), Armoured Vehicles Nigam Limited (AVNL), India Optel Limited (IOL), and Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL) — were felicitated for being granted Miniratna (Category-I) status, recognising their growing performance and autonomy.The Miniratna status signifies the government’s recognition of the enhanced efficiency, financial independence, and strategic contribution of these defence entities towards India’s self-reliance in defence manufacturing.Three major MoUs were exchanged, including a partnership between HAL, BDL, and Yantra India Limited to set up a 10,000-tonne Forging Press facility, and another with MIDHANI to establish a Metal Bank ensuring steady raw material supply for defence production.
2. India and Sri Lanka Begin 11th Edition of Joint Military Exercise ‘MITRA SHAKTI-2025’ in Belagavi, Karnataka: The 11th edition of Exercise MITRA SHAKTI-2025 between India and Sri Lanka commenced on November 10, 2025, at the Foreign Training Node, Belagavi (Karnataka), and will continue till November 23, 2025.The Indian contingent includes 170 personnel (mainly from the Rajput Regiment), and the Sri Lankan contingent includes 135 personnel (primarily from the Gajaba Regiment), along with Air Force participation from both sides.The exercise focuses on counter-terrorism operations, sub-conventional warfare under the UN mandate, and interoperability, featuring heliborne drills, drone operations, AMAR, reflex shooting, and casualty evacuation training.
3. Nyoma airbase activation boosts India’s Ladakh frontline readiness: India has strengthened its military posture along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China by operationalising the upgraded Nyoma airbase in eastern Ladakh, even as a large integrated Army exercise unfolds in Arunachal Pradesh. Together, these moves underline sustained high readiness along both ends of the frontier amid an unresolved border standoff. Located about 35 km from the LAC at an altitude of 13,710 feet, the Nyoma airbase gives the Indian Air Force a forward hub close to key friction points such as Pangong Tso, Demchok and Depsang. The revamp enables faster induction of troops, weapons and logistics into high-altitude sectors, reducing response time in any contingency. Nyoma will operate alongside Leh, Kargil, Thoise and Daulat Beg Oldie to form a dense network of advanced air assets in Ladakh.
SPORTS
1. Raahul V.S. Becomes India’s 91st Grandmaster: Raahul V.S., a 21-year-old Indian chess player and former Asian Junior Champion, has become India’s 91st Grandmaster after winning the 6th ASEAN Individual Championship in the Philippines with a round to spare.He had earlier earned his International Master (IM) title in 2021 after securing his IM norms and surpassing the 2400 Elo rating mark.This victory not only confirmed Raahul’s final GM norm but also made him the second Indian Grandmaster within two weeks, following Ilamparthi A.R., who achieved the title on October 30, 2025.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
1. PETN link in Red Fort blast intensifies security investigation: Investigators probing the explosion near Delhi’s Red Fort are focusing on the suspected use of PETN, a powerful military-grade explosive rarely seen outside high-risk terror operations. The detection of PETN traces has heightened urgency within national security agencies, which are now examining potential supply chains and trafficking routes behind the blast. Initial laboratory assessments suggest the presence of pentaerythritol tetranitrate, a high-velocity nitrate compound often associated with sophisticated explosive devices. Its combination with ammonium nitrate points to a technically assembled charge. PETN’s sensitivity to heat and friction, and its ability to integrate easily into plastic explosives, make it extremely destructive in compact quantities. The suspected use of PETN has raised sharp questions about access to restricted chemicals. PETN is not commercially available in India and is manufactured only under strict licensing for defence purposes. Past seizures in regions such as Jammu and Kashmir and Kerala indicate the existence of covert procurement channels. Agencies are investigating whether a similar network enabled the movement of PETN into the capital.
BANKING AND FINANCE
1. IFC Invests ₹285 Crore in Axis Max Life Insurance to Boost Solvency and Support India’s ‘Insurance for All by 2047’ Vision: The International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, has invested ₹285 crore ($33 million) in Axis Max Life Insurance Limited through long-term subordinated instruments — marking IFC’s first investment in a licensed Indian life insurer.The investment will strengthen Axis Max Life’s solvency margin and support its expansion in the life insurance sector, aligning with India’s goal of achieving “Insurance for All by 2047.”Axis Max Life Insurance, with IFC’s support, aims to enhance financial inclusion, particularly for women, and increase insurance penetration, which declined to 2.8% in FY24, while the company reported a gross written premium of ₹33,223 crore in FY25.
2. NPCI Partners with Bahrain’s BENEFIT to Link UPI with Fawri+ for Real-Time Cross-Border Remittances: NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL), the international arm of NPCI, has partnered with BENEFIT, Bahrain’s leading fintech firm, to enable real-time cross-border remittances between India and Bahrain.The partnership will link India’s UPI with Bahrain’s Electronic Fund Transfer System (EFTS), specifically the Fawri+ service, allowing users in both countries to send and receive money instantly and securely.Established under the guidance of the RBI and the Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB), the collaboration aims to create a strategic remittance corridor, benefiting Bahrain’s 30% Indian community and enhancing financial connectivity and economic integration between the two nations.
3. IN-SPACe and SIDBI Launch ₹1,000 Crore Venture Capital Fund to Boost India’s Private Space Sector: The Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) and SIDBI Venture Capital Limited (SVCL) have signed a Contribution Agreement to operationalise a ₹1,000 crore Venture Capital Fund for India’s private space sector, approved by SEBI.The fund will provide early-stage and growth capital to startups working in areas such as launch technologies, satellites, payload systems, in-space services, earth observation, and communication platforms.
Approved by the Union Cabinet in October 2024, the fund will be managed by SVCL, with IN-SPACe Joint Secretary Lochan Sehra highlighting its role in empowering startups to build indigenous technologies and strengthen India’s space ecosystem.
AWARDS AND HONOURS
1. Dr Alexander Smith of Northwestern University to Receive Prestigious 2025 SASTRA Ramanujan Prize: Alexander Smith of Northwestern University, USA, has been selected to receive the 2025 SASTRA Ramanujan Prize for his exceptional contributions to mathematics, particularly in number theory.The $10,000 annual award honors mathematicians under the age of 32 who have made significant contributions in fields influenced by the legendary Indian mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan. Smith’s pioneering work combines combinatorics, analytic number theory, and probability, solving several long-standing problems; he earned his PhD from Harvard (2020) and previously held fellowships at MIT and Clay Institute before joining Northwestern University.
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