Daily GK Update- 14th Nov, 2025

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. ToneTag Launches RetailPOD 3.0 to Revolutionize Retail with Voice-Enabled: ToneTag, the world’s largest audio-based solutions provider, has launched RetailPOD 3.0, an advanced digital commerce platform that combines payment acceptance, inventory management, customer engagement, and analytics in one compact dual-display device.The RetailPOD 3.0 features a 3.5-inch customer-facing screen for dynamic QR generation and supports voice functionality that allows retailers to check past transactions, manage offers, track sales, and monitor bank balances in real time Supporting 12 Indian languages, the device ensures accessibility for small and medium retailers, helping them compete with organised retail and e-commerce platforms while retaining their personalised customer service.

 

2. India’s NCC-PvPI Joins 10th Global #MedSafetyWeek Campaign to Promote Medicine Safety Awareness and Reporting of Side Effects: The National Coordination Centre – Pharmacovigilance Programme of India (NCC-PvPI) under the Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC) participated in the 10th global #MedSafetyWeek campaign (3–9 November 2025), joining 130 partner organisations from around the world to promote medicine safety awareness. The campaign highlighted that only 5–10% of suspected side effects are reported globally, emphasizing the need for public participation in reporting adverse drug reactions to make medicines safer for all.

 

3. BIMSTEC-India Marine Research Network Holds First Biennial Meet in Kochi: The first biennial conference of the BIMSTEC–India Marine Research Network (BIMReN) was held in Kochi, aiming to strengthen India’s Blue Economy cooperation in the Bay of Bengal region.BIMReN, launched by the Ministry of External Affairs in 2024, facilitates institutional collaboration by linking India’s leading marine research institutions with those from BIMSTEC member countries. The pilot phase of BIMReN connected 25 institutions and over 50 researchers across BIMSTEC nations, marking a significant step toward regional cooperation in marine research, ecosystem health, and sustainable blue economy initiatives.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. India to Host 2nd WHO Traditional Medicine Global Summit at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi: The 2nd WHO Traditional Medicine Global Summit will be held from 17th to 19th next month at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, co-hosted by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Ministry of AYUSH under the theme “Restoring Balance: The Science and Practice of Health and Well-being.” The summit aims to advance the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025-2034 by promoting dialogue, evidence, and action to strengthen the role of Traditional, Complementary, and Integrative Medicine in achieving universal health coverage and SDGs.Around 7,000 participants worldwide will attend in hybrid mode, focusing on integrating traditional medicine with science, innovation, indigenous wisdom, and digital health to promote harmony within self, society, and the environment.

 

2. Engineers India Signs MoU with NMDC Energy to Boost Onshore Oil, Gas, and Green Energy Projects in Saudi Arabia: Engineers India Limited (EIL) has signed an MoU with NMDC Energy to enhance cooperation in executing onshore projects in Saudi Arabia, including oil & gas processing, refineries, petrochemicals, pipelines, storage terminals, and energy transition projects.The partnership, announced during ADIPEC 2025 in Abu Dhabi, aims to combine EIL’s engineering expertise with NMDC Energy’s execution capabilities, focusing on innovation, sustainability, and operational excellence, with joint tendering and EPC project execution in the region. EIL is expanding its global footprint across Africa, the Middle East, and Central Asia, engaging in refinery upgrades, fertiliser plants, oil & gas infrastructure, and green energy projects including green hydrogen and ammonia initiatives in Oman and other international markets.

 

3. UAE Creates Artificial Reefs by Scuttling Decommissioned Vessels to Boost Marine Conservation and Dive Tourism: The UAE has intentionally scuttled three decommissioned vessels—Inchcape 1, Inchcape 2, and Inchcape 10—off its east coast to create artificial reefs, combining marine conservation with dive tourism. Artificial reefs provide hard surfaces and complex structures for corals, sponges, algae, and fish, helping to restore marine ecosystems and build a balanced food web, while diverting diver pressure from natural reefs. Each wreck offers unique diving experiences: Inchcape 1 (~32m) for experienced divers with snapper and cardinalfish; Inchcape 2 (~22m) for training and photography with parrotfish, morays, boxfish, and rays; Inchcape 10 (~23m) with barracuda and turtles. Access is controlled via licensed dive centres to protect the reefs. The initiative supports ecotourism and coastal livelihoods, promotes environmental stewardship through diver education, and contributes to citizen science via fish counts, visibility logs, and temperature monitoring to track reef health.

 

4. 12 November – World Pneumonia Day: World Pneumonia Day is observed on 12th November every year to raise awareness about pneumonia, a severe lung infection that affects millions globally, especially children under five and the elderly. Pneumonia is one of the leading causes of death worldwide, claiming over 2 million lives annually, with a significant proportion in low- and middle-income countries. The day highlights the importance of vaccination, early diagnosis, proper treatment, and public health interventions to prevent pneumonia-related deaths.

 

5. 13 November – World Kindness Day: World Kindness Day is observed every year on 13th November to promote the importance of being kind to one another, to yourself, and to the world.

The day was introduced in 1998 by the World Kindness Movement (WKM), a coalition of nations formed to inspire individuals towards greater kindness and humanity. It encourages individuals and communities to perform acts of kindness, promote empathy, and create a more compassionate world through small but meaningful gestures.

 

6. 13 November 2025 – World Usability Day: World Usability Day is observed every year on the second Thursday of November (which falls on 13th November in 2025) to promote the values of usability, user experience (UX), and human-centred design in technology and daily life. It was established in 2005 by the Usability Professionals’ Association (now UXPA) to ensure that products and services are easier to access, more effective, and user-friendly. The day highlights the importance of designing technology, systems, and services that work better for people, focusing on simplicity, accessibility, and inclusion.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

SPORTS

 

1. Jerlin Jayaratchagan to Lead India as Flagbearer at Deaflympics 2025: Badminton ace Jerlin Jayaratchagan will be India’s flagbearer at the Deaflympics 2025 in Tokyo, marking her third appearance at the event. India is sending a record 111-member contingent to compete in 11 disciplines including athletics, badminton, golf, judo, karate, shooting, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, wrestling, and tennis. Jerlin Jayaratchagan, a 21-year-old from Madurai, is a three-time Deaflympics gold medalist and the first Indian woman Deaflympian to receive the Arjuna Award in 2022. Apart from badminton, medal hopes also rest on rifle shooter Dhanush Srikanth, a two-time gold medalist from the previous Deaflympics.

 

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

 

1. India Unveils Its First Indigenous Quantum Diamond Microscope Developed by IIT Bombay: India has developed its first indigenous Quantum Diamond Microscope (QDM) at IIT Bombay under the National Quantum Mission (NQM), marking a significant advancement in quantum sensing technology. The QDM, led by Prof. Kasturi Saha’s team, utilizes nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers in diamond to perform three-dimensional nanoscale magnetic field imaging, useful in neuroscience, material research, and semiconductor testing. The innovation, which earned India’s first patent in quantum diamond microscopy, was unveiled at ESTIC 2025, and will be enhanced with AI and machine learning for applications in chip diagnostics, biological imaging, and geological studies.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. Ageas Federal Life Insurance Partners with Muthoot Microfin to Expand Life Insurance Reach in Underserved India: Ageas Federal Life Insurance has partnered with Muthoot Microfin Ltd to expand life insurance access across India, particularly targeting underserved regions and small business owners., The collaboration will utilise Muthoot Microfin’s wide rural and semi-urban network—with nearly 78% branches in non-metro areas—to reach entrepreneurs and SMEs. As of March 31, 2025, Ageas Federal Life Insurance had issued over 19.71 lakh policies and managed assets worth ₹18,956 crore, strengthening its focus on bridging India’s insurance protection gap.

 

2. India’s Retail Inflation Falls to Record Low of 0.25% in October Amid GST Rate Cuts: India’s retail inflation (CPI) dropped sharply to a multi-year low of 0.25% in October 2025, primarily due to the recent GST rate reductions that helped bring down prices across sectors. According to the Ministry of Statistics, the headline inflation fell by 119 basis points from September’s 1.44%, marking the lowest inflation rate since the CPI series began in 2015 (base year 2012). Apart from GST cuts, the decline was supported by a favourable base effect and lower prices of oils, vegetables, fruits, eggs, footwear, cereals, and transport, strengthening expectations of a policy rate cut by the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC).

 

3. Ageas Federal Life Insurance Partners with Muthoot Microfin to Boost Life Insurance Access in Underserved India: Ageas Federal Life Insurance has formed a strategic partnership with Muthoot Microfin Ltd to expand life insurance coverage across India, targeting underserved markets and small business owners. The collaboration will utilize Muthoot Microfin’s vast branch network, with nearly 78% branches in non-metro regions, to integrate life insurance products with services like home loans, business loans, and SME credit solutions.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Infosys Prize 2025 Honours Outstanding Young Researchers Across Six Fields: The Infosys Prize 2025 celebrates exceptional young researchers under 40 across six fields—Economics, Engineering & Computer Science, Humanities & Social Sciences, Life Sciences, Mathematical Sciences, and Physical Sciences—awarding each laureate a gold medal, citation, and $100,000 for advancing science, innovation, and human knowledge. Notable laureates include Nikhil Agarwal (Economics, MIT) for pioneering market design research, Sushant Sachdeva (Engineering & CS, University of Toronto) for mathematical optimisation breakthroughs, and Andrew Ollett (Humanities & Social Sciences, University of Chicago) for studies on Prakrit and classical Indian languages. In the sciences, Anjana Badrinarayanan (Life Sciences, NCBS) was honoured for genome maintenance and DNA repair mechanisms, Sabyasachi Mukherjee (Mathematical Sciences, TIFR) for linking complex dynamics with Kleinian group theory, and Karthish Manthiram (Physical Sciences, Caltech) for electrochemical methods enabling sustainable chemical production with renewable energy.