Daily GK Update- 16th Nov, 2025

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. JSW Energy Commissions India’s Largest Green Hydrogen Plant in Karnataka: JSW Energy has commissioned India’s largest green hydrogen plant in Vijayanagar, Karnataka, under the PLI Scheme Tranche I, marking a major boost to India’s clean energy transition.The plant will supply 3,800 TPA green hydrogen and 30,000 TPA green oxygen to JSW Steel under a 7-year offtake agreement, forming part of its allocation under the SIGHT programme (SECI).JSW Energy and JSW Steel signed an MoU for scaling supply to 85,000–90,000 TPA green hydrogen and 720,000 TPA green oxygen by 2030, supporting India’s target of 5 MTPA green hydrogen production by 2030.

 

2. 12th Samvad Conclave Opens in Jamshedpur with Tribal Rituals : The 12th edition of Samvad has opened in Jamshedpur with vibrant traditional rituals, marking a renewed celebration of India’s tribal wisdom and cultural diversity. Supported by the Tata Steel Foundation, the conclave brings together communities, artists and knowledge-keepers from across the country. The inauguration featured prayers by Ho, Munda, Santhal and Oraon tribes, accompanied by traditional instruments such as Bhner, Sakua and Nagada. The ceremonial cleansing of the Akhra, performed according to Ho customs, symbolised purity and communal unity. Elders were presented with Jawa saplings, reinforcing the event’s cultural and ecological significance. This year’s edition features 34 tribal art forms representing 18 states and 30 tribes. The event hosts 51 outlets at Gopal Maidan, offering a platform for diverse expressions including craftwork, performance traditions, healing practices and community knowledge. The conclave highlights the depth and variety of India’s tribal heritage through live demonstrations and interactive spaces.

 

3. Eastern Naval Command Hosts NES Conference 2025: The Eastern Naval Command in Visakhapatnam has successfully concluded the Navy Education Society (NES) Conference 2025, held from 10 to 13 November. The annual gathering focused on strengthening policy frameworks and operational systems of Naval Schools as they transition through reforms under the National Education Policy 2020. The conference hosted sessions of the Executive Committee, Management Advisory Committee and Academic Advisory Committee. Senior officers from Naval Headquarters joined academic and administrative leaders from Naval Schools across India. Discussions centred on institutional challenges, case studies and practical strategies for improving educational outcomes within the naval education network. The Executive Committee meeting was chaired by Vice Admiral CR Praveen Nair, while the MAC and AAC were led by Commodore SM Urooj Athar. In his keynote address, Vice Admiral Nair stressed the need for uniform practices across all Naval Schools to create equitable and inclusive learning environments. He reviewed ongoing reforms aligned with NEP 2020 and highlighted improvements in infrastructure, faculty development and policy standardization.

 

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. 14 November – World Diabetes Day: World Diabetes Day (WDD) is observed every year on 14 November to raise global awareness about diabetes, its prevention, early detection, and management.Theme 2025 – Diabetes across life stagesIt was established in 1991 by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) in response to the growing health threat posed by diabetes worldwide. In 2006, it became an official United Nations Day.The date marks the birth anniversary of Sir Frederick Banting, who, along with Charles Best, discovered insulin in 1921 — a breakthrough that transformed diabetes treatment and saved millions of lives.

 

2. India Imposes Five-Year Anti-Dumping Duty on Vietnamese Steel: India has imposed a five-year anti-dumping duty on hot-rolled flat steel imported from Vietnam, stepping up efforts to protect domestic producers and curb the entry of underpriced foreign steel. The measure follows a detailed investigation into pricing patterns and their impact on Indian manufacturers. The Directorate General of Trade Remedies imposed a levy of USD 121.55 per tonne on Vietnamese hot-rolled flat steel, covering both alloy and non-alloy variants up to 25 mm in thickness and 2,100 mm in width. The duty excludes stainless, coated, plated, and clad products. Most exporters from Vietnam face the full duty, while Hoa Phat Dung Quat Steel JSC has been exempted due to a low dumping margin. Industry experts noted that Vietnamese shipments often serve as a route for Chinese-origin steel entering India at low prices. With India importing 9.5 million tonnes of steel in FY25, including 2.4 million tonnes from China, the duty is viewed as an attempt to block these indirect inflows. Early FY26 data shows a sharp decline in finished steel imports, including a significant drop in shipments from China.

 

3. Ancient RNA Recovered from a 39,000-Year-Old Woolly Mammoth: Scientists have sequenced ancient RNA from a 39,000-year-old woolly mammoth preserved in Siberian permafrost, offering a rare, molecular-level glimpse into the life and cellular activity of this extinct giant. The work shows that fragile biomolecules can survive for tens of thousands of years in frozen ground, turning permafrost into a natural archive of Ice Age biology. The mammoth, commonly known as Yuka, was recovered from frozen sediments near the Laptev Sea coast in Siberia. Exceptional preservation of soft tissues such as skin and muscle allowed researchers to obtain tiny fragments of RNA from the remains. Permanently frozen conditions, stable low temperatures and rapid burial limited microbial activity and chemical degradation, creating an environment where cellular material could persist far beyond normal expectations.

 

 

 

 

 

OTHER UPDATES:

DEFENCE

 

1. India Set to Commission New ASW Craft ‘Mahe’ on November 24: India will commission the indigenous shallow-water anti-submarine warfare craft ‘Mahe’ on November 24, marking a major addition to the Navy’s coastal defence capability. The platform strengthens India’s focus on securing littoral waters with modern, compact, and highly responsive assets. Mahe is the first of eight anti-submarine shallow-water craft built by Cochin Shipyard Limited. The vessel is fitted with lightweight torpedoes, multifunctional anti-submarine rocket systems, and advanced radar and sonar suites. These systems enable rapid detection and engagement of hostile submarines operating close to the coastline. Named after the historic coastal town of Mahe in Puducherry, the ship reflects India’s maritime traditions. Its crest carries an ‘Urumi’, the flexible sword from the Kalarippayattu martial art, symbolising agility and precision—qualities the Navy aligns with the new class of shallow-water combatants.

 

2. US–Trinidad Military Drills Begin Amid Venezuela Tensions: The United States is set to begin a five-day military exercise in Trinidad and Tobago, signalling a sharper security focus in the Caribbean as tensions with Venezuela escalate. The drills, announced by the island nation, follow a recent increase in US naval deployments near Venezuelan waters. The exercise comes shortly after the USS Gravely, a guided-missile destroyer, arrived in Port of Spain. The USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier is also moving closer to the region. Washington’s growing military activity has drawn criticism from Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro, who accused the US of attempting to provoke long-term conflict. In response, Venezuela suspended its energy cooperation with Trinidad and Tobago. Officials in Trinidad and Tobago emphasised that the upcoming drills should not be interpreted as preparations for a military operation against Venezuela. The attorney general confirmed that the US intends to deepen security collaboration, while Foreign Minister Sean Sobers dismissed claims of any imminent regional conflict.

 

SPORTS

 

1. NADA Imposes Five-Year Ban on Hammer Thrower Manju Bala for Doping Violation: Incheon Asian Games bronze medallist Manju Bala has been banned for five years by the Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel (ADDP) after testing positive for dehydrochloromethyl-testosterone and SARMS LGD-4033, both performance-enhancing substances.Her suspension period starts from July 10, 2024, and she will be barred from all AFI-sanctioned events, rankings, and national team selections during this time.The ADDP also announced several other bans, including Mohan Saini (4 years), Gopala Krishnan, Amit Kumar, Rajvardhan Sanjay Waskar (6 years each), and Sumit, Nitin Verma, Shivendra Pandey, and Himani Chandel, reinforcing NADA’s strict anti-doping stance in Indian sports.

 

2. Samrat Rana Becomes First Indian to Win Men’s 10m Air Pistol World Title at ISSF Championship: Samrat Rana created history by winning the men’s 10m air pistol gold at the ISSF World Championship in Cairo with a score of 243.7, becoming the first Indian to clinch an individual air pistol world title; Varun Tomar secured bronze as India achieved a double podium.

Rana, along with Varun Tomar and Sharvan Kumar, also secured the men’s 10m air pistol team gold, while Manu Bhaker, despite missing an individual medal, contributed to India’s success with a women’s team silver alongside Esha Singh and Suruchi Singh.

 

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

 

1. New Flying Reptile Species Found Inside Fossilised Dinosaur Vomit: Scientists have identified a new species of flying reptile preserved within fossilised dinosaur vomit, offering rare insights into predator–prey behaviour during the Cretaceous period. The unusual specimen, long stored in a Brazilian museum, has revealed remarkable details about tropical pterosaur diversity. The discovery comes from a fossil known as regurgitalite, preserved in the Museu Camara Cascudo in Brazil. The specimen contained bones from two individuals of a newly described filter-feeding pterosaur species, “Bakiribu waridza”, along with four fossil fish. The absence of soft tissue and the fragmentation of bones indicate they were broken and digested before being expelled by a predator. Researchers reported that “Bakiribu waridza” possessed long jaws lined with dense, brush-like teeth suited for filter feeding. While comparable to “Pterodaustro”, another filter-feeding pterosaur, it differs in tooth size and spacing. This species belongs to the Ctenochasmatidae family, noted for slender, needle-like dental structures adapted for specialised feeding.

 

2. Rediscovery of Moema claudiae in Bolivia After Two Decades: The reappearance of Moema claudiae, a rare seasonal killifish long considered lost, has brought renewed optimism to conservationists working in Bolivia’s threatened lowland ecosystems. Found after more than two decades, the species offers a timely reminder of nature’s resilience and the urgent need to safeguard vulnerable wetland habitats. Moema claudiae was last documented over 20 years ago at its original collection site, which has since been cleared for agriculture. Repeated surveys failed to locate surviving fish, leading to concerns that the species had vanished. Its rediscovery overturns those fears, demonstrating that small and isolated habitats can still harbour rare species despite widespread environmental degradation. Researchers identified a surviving population in a temporary pond surrounded by farmland, confirming the species’ presence through live photographs and ecological observations. The discovery also revealed six additional seasonal killifish species sharing the same confined habitat. This exceptional diversity underscores the ecological value of the transition zone where the Amazon rainforest meets the Llanos de Moxos savannas.

 

 

 

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. Cabinet Approves Credit Guarantee Scheme for Exporters with 100% Coverage to Boost MSME and Export Growth: The Union Cabinet approved the Credit Guarantee Scheme for Exporters (CGSE) to provide 100% credit guarantee coverage through NCGTC, enabling MLIs to extend up to ₹20,000 crore in additional credit to eligible exporters, including MSMEs.The scheme will be implemented by the Department of Financial Services (DFS) through NCGTC, with a Management Committee chaired by the Secretary, DFS, to monitor progress and oversee execution.CGSE aims to strengthen liquidity and provide collateral-free credit, helping Indian exporters expand into new global markets, boost competitiveness, and support India’s target of achieving USD 1 trillion in exports, aligned with Aatmanirbhar Bharat.With exports contributing 21% of India’s GDP and MSMEs accounting for 45% of total exports, the scheme will ensure enhanced financial support, enabling exporters to diversify markets and maintain sustainable business growth.

 

2. Government Approves ₹25,060 Crore Export Promotion Mission to Shield Indian Exporters from U.S. Tariff Shock: Government launches ₹25,060 crore Export Promotion Mission (2025–2031) with two sub-schemes — Niryat Protsahan (₹10,401 crore) for affordable MSME trade finance and Niryat Disha (₹14,659 crore) for export quality, branding, logistics and market readiness.The mission aims to support sectors hit by global tariff hikes, especially after the U.S. imposed a 50% tariff on Indian goods, with focus on textiles, leather, gems & jewellery, engineering goods and marine products to boost export competitiveness. Implemented by DGFT through a digital platform, the mission seeks to address structural challenges like costly trade finance, compliance burdens, weak branding, and logistics gaps — thereby improving India’s export readiness amid rising trade deficit.