NATIONAL UPDATES:
1. Supreme Court Orders Jharkhand to Declare 31,468
Hectares of Saranda Forest as Wildlife Sanctuary: The Supreme
Court has ordered the Jharkhand government to declare 31,468.25
hectares of Saranda forest as a wildlife sanctuary within three months,
upholding the 1968 Bihar notification.Saranda is one of the world’s most
pristine sal forests, home to critically endangered species like the sal forest
tortoise, four-horned antelope, Asian palm civet, and wild elephants, and
inhabited by indigenous Adivasi communities.Despite the region holding 26% of
India’s iron ore reserves, the court ruled that the designated 126 compartments
do not host mining, ensuring biodiversity protection without halting ongoing
mining activities.The court instructed the State to widely publicise that
tribal and forest dwellers’ individual and community rights will not be
affected, reiterating that mining is prohibited inside and within 1 km of
wildlife sanctuaries.
2. Government Proposes ₹30,000 Crore Outlay to Expand
UDAN Regional Air Connectivity Scheme Beyond 2027: The government has
proposed a ₹30,000 crore outlay for the modified UDAN scheme to extend it
beyond April 2027, with ₹18,000 crore for new airports and ₹12,000 crore for
viability gap funding (VGF).The revised scheme aims to boost regional air
connectivity, address earlier challenges, attract private participation, and
expand access to remote and underserved areas.The new version targets 120
additional destinations and plans to facilitate travel for 4 crore passengers
over the next decade, including support for heliports and airports in hilly and
North-Eastern regions.Since its launch in 2016, UDAN has operationalised 649
routes, connecting 93 underserved airports, and has received over ₹4,300 crore
in VGF and ₹4,638 crore for airport development.
3. Cyclone Alert Issued as Andaman Islands
Prepare for Intense Rainfall : The Andaman and
Nicobar Islands are on heightened
alert following a weather advisory issued by the India Meteorological
Department. A developing cyclonic circulation over the Bay of Bengal is
expected to bring intense rainfall, thunderstorms and rough sea conditions,
prompting authorities to caution residents, tourists and fishermen.
Meteorologists report that the cyclonic system is likely to strengthen from
November 21. Heavy to very heavy rainfall is expected across Nicobar Island,
while Andaman Island may experience significant showers. Thunderstorms with
gusty winds and lightning are forecast for several locations on November 24 and
25. Fishermen have been advised to avoid the sea until November 23 due to
squally conditions and the possibility of surging waves. Authorities have
alerted boat operators and tourists to exercise extreme vigilance. Inter-island
and mainland ferry services are expected to face delays, rescheduling or
cancellations depending on weather developments.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1. Parasocial Chosen as Cambridge Dictionary’s Word of
the Year 2025: Cambridge Dictionary selected “Parasocial” as the Word of the
Year 2025 due to a sharp rise in online searches and its shift from an
academic term to a widely used word on social media.The term reflects the 2025
zeitgeist, as public fascination with celebrities, influencers, and even AI has
made one-sided relationships a major topic of discussion. Parasocial means a
one-sided connection someone feels with a celebrity, fictional character, or AI
personality, despite having no real-life interaction with them.
2. India Secures 4th Spot Globally in QS Sustainability
Rankings 2026 with 103 Universities Featured: India ranks 4th globally with 103
universities featured in the QS World University Rankings for Sustainability
2026, behind the S., China, and the U.K., in a list covering nearly 2,000
institutions worldwide.IIT Delhi emerged as the best-performing
Indian institution, placed at rank 205, with India having 12 universities
in the global top 500, matching countries like China and the
Netherlands.Environmental education showed the strongest improvement among
Indian institutions, with nine universities—including IIT Delhi, IIT Bombay,
IIT Madras, IIT Kanpur, JNU, BHU, and IISc—scoring above 84 in this category.At
the indicator level, IIT Delhi (93rd) and IIT Kharagpur (96th) were in the
global top 100 for Employability & Outcomes, while University of Delhi
(94th) made the top 100 in Knowledge Exchange, and IIT Bombay ranked 100th for
Environmental Impact.
3. Keerthy Suresh Appointed as UNICEF India’s New
Celebrity Advocate for Child Rights: Keerthy Suresh has been
appointed UNICEF India’s new Celebrity Advocate, where she will
support the promotion and protection of child rights across the country.The
National Award-winning actor, known for strong women-centric roles, will work
to raise awareness on children’s mental health, well-being, gender equality,
and other key child rights priorities.UNICEF India Representative Cynthia
McCaffrey stated that Keerthy’s strong connection with audiences will help
create a powerful platform for inspiring action and awareness for every child.
4. 19th November – International Men’s Day: International Men’s
Day is observed every year on 19th November to celebrate the
positive contributions of men to society, family, nation, and communities.Theme
2025 – Celebrating men and boysThe day highlights key issues affecting men
and boys, including mental health, suicide prevention, toxic masculinity
pressures, gender equality, and fatherhood roles.International Men’s Day aims
to promote positive male role models, improve gender relations, and create a
world where men and boys can lead healthy, responsible, and fulfilling lives.
5. 19 November 2025 – World Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary
Disease (COPD) Day: World Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Day is
observed every year on the 3rd Wednesday of November, and in 2025 it
falls on 19th November.The day aims to raise global awareness about COPD,
a chronic lung disease that affects breathing and is often caused by smoking,
air pollution, and occupational exposure.World COPD Day is organised by the
Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) to promote early
diagnosis, prevention, and better management of COPD worldwide.
OTHER UPDATES:
DEFENCE
1. Indian Army Sets Up Three New Garrisons Near
Bangladesh Border to Strengthen Eastern Frontier Security: Indian Army Sets Up Three
New Garrisons Near Bangladesh Border to Strengthen Eastern Frontier
SecurityThe Indian Army has established three new garrisons — Lachit
Borphukan Military Station in Assam (Dhubri) and forward bases in Kishanganj
(Bihar) and Chopra (West Bengal) — to enhance security amid regional
shifts in Bangladesh and rising Chinese activity near the Siliguri Corridor.The
new bases will boost surveillance and operational readiness in the sensitive
corridor, improve coordination with the Border Security Force (BSF), and
support the Tri-Shakti Corps, which already fields key assets like Rafale jets,
BrahMos missiles, and advanced air-defence systems.
SPORTS
1. Curaçao Becomes Smallest Nation Ever to Qualify for
the FIFA World Cup 2026: Curaçao created history by becoming the smallest nation by
population (1.58 lakh) to qualify for the FIFA World Cup, securing a spot
in the 2026 tournament after a tense 0–0 draw against Jamaica, surpassing
Iceland’s 2018 record.The Caribbean island, part of the Kingdom of the
Netherlands, completed an unbeaten qualifying campaign with 12 points,
finishing at the top of Group B under veteran Dutch coach Dick Advocaat.Their
qualification run featured a massive 7–0 win over Bermuda, the biggest victory
by any team in the round—crucial in helping them edge Jamaica by just one point
to secure their historic World Cup berth.
2. Oscar Piastri Wins Australia’s Prestigious Don Award,
the Nation’s Highest Sporting Honour: Oscar Piastri, a nine-time Grand Prix winner, has
received Australia’s highest sporting honour — the Don Award, recognising
the athlete who most inspired the nation in the past year.The 24-year-old
Formula One driver has rapidly risen to elite status, boosting national pride
as he competes to become Australia’s third F1 world champion after Jack Brabham
and Alan Jones, though he currently trails teammate Lando Norris by 24
points.Piastri was honoured at the Sport Australia Hall of Fame ceremony in
Melbourne, joining past Don Award recipients such as Ian Thorpe, Cathy Freeman,
Adam Scott, Ashleigh Barty, and the Matildas, with the award named after
cricket legend Sir Donald Bradman.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
1. Intellipaat Partners with IndiaAI Mission to Launch
Nationwide ‘YUVAi for ALL’ Free AI Literacy Program: Intellipaat has partnered
with the IndiaAI Mission (MeitY) to launch the ‘YUVAi for ALL’
program, aiming to democratize AI education and make India
future-ready.Under this collaboration, students, teachers, and working professionals
will receive free training in Artificial Intelligence and Generative AI,
supporting the government’s goal of empowering 10 million citizens by January
2026.Participants will get Government-recognised certification, while
Intellipaat will conduct AI awareness workshops, GenAI tool demos, community
learning drives, and offer foundation-level AI e-learning videos.
2. Education Minister Launches First-of-its-Kind AI
Innovation and Incubation Centre at DPS RK Puram: Education Minister
Dharmendra Pradhan inaugurated a first-of-its-kind AI innovation and
incubation centre at DPS RK Puram, designed to integrate AI, cloud
computing and applied research into school education.Developed with VVDN
Technologies and Google Cloud, the centre will support neighbouring and
government schools by providing access to Vertex AI, Gemini Enterprise,
mentorship, and hands-on AI tools for inclusive learning.Students will get
practical experience in robotics, AR/VR, IoT kits, Raspberry Pi systems,
aligning with the new national four-level AI curriculum for Classes 6 onwards,
covering foundational to advanced generative AI concepts.
3. Godrej Delivers First Human-Rated Vikas Engine to ISRO
for Gaganyaan Mission: Godrej Aerospace has delivered the first human-rated L110
stage Vikas engine to ISRO, a crucial component for India’s first human
spaceflight mission under Gaganyaan, whose first uncrewed test flight is
scheduled for early next year.Godrej, which has been supporting India’s space
programme for over 40 years, has supplied precision engines and components for
major missions like Chandrayaan and NISAR, reaffirming its strong collaboration
with ISRO and LPSC.The human-rated LVM-3 rocket will use this Vikas engine to
safely carry Indian astronauts into Earth’s orbit by 2027, marking a
significant step in India’s ambition to achieve human spaceflight capability.
BANKING AND FINANCE
1. BoB inks pact with SIDBI for small biz credit: Bank of Baroda and
SIDBI have partnered to enhance credit flow to small businesses and startups,
enabling joint financing support for MSMEs.
Under the MoU, both institutions will
operationalise BoB’s working capital platform for SIDBI-sanctioned borrowers
and collaborate on export promotion initiatives.
AWARDS AND HONOURS
1. Aravind Yashavant Patil and Meenangadi Cooperative Win
National Gopal Ratna Awards 2025: Aravind Yashavant Patil (Kolhapur,
Maharashtra) won the best dairy farmer award for rearing indigenous
cattle/buffalo breeds, while Meenangadi Ksheerolpadaka Sahakarana Sangham Ltd
(Wayanad, Kerala) was awarded best dairy cooperative society.For the North
Eastern and Himalayan regions, Vijay Lata (Himachal Pradesh) and Kulha Duud
Udpadhak Sahkari Samiti (Uttarakhand) were recognized.Second and third prizes
were awarded to multiple farmers and cooperatives across India, including
Kankanala Krishna Reddy (Hyderabad), Harshit Jhuria (Rajasthan), Shraddha
Satyawan Dhavan (Maharashtra), and Pradeep Pangariya (Uttarakhand), along with
various cooperatives from Kerala, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, and
Uttarakhand.Winners will receive certificates, mementos, and cash prizes
ranging from ₹2 lakh to ₹5 lakh, while awardees from North Eastern/Himalayan
regions get ₹2 lakh. Best Artificial Insemination Technicians (AITs) were also
recognized, though no cash prize is provided for this category.
2. Ace Art Director Thota Tharrani to Receive France’s Prestigious Chevalier Honour: Renowned art director Thota Tharrani has been selected to receive France’s prestigious Chevalier de Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters) for his contributions to cinema and visual arts in India.The honour will be conferred by France’s Ambassador to India, Thierry Mathou, recognizing Tharrani as a legendary figure in Indian cinema.Alliance Française Madras, an Indo-French cultural and teaching centre, announced the award, highlighting its role in promoting cultural ties between India and France in Tamil Nadu.The Chevalier award is given to individuals who have excelled in art, culture, or literature or have significantly influenced the global arts scene; past recipients include Shah Rukh Khan, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Bharti Kher, and Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia.
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