NATIONAL UPDATES:
1. UP Retains Top Spot in GI-Tagged Goods with Mathura
Zari Poshak and Meerut Bugle: Uttar Pradesh added Mathura zari poshak and
Meerut bugle to its list of Geographical Indication (GI) tagged
goods, maintaining its lead in India with 79 GI-tagged products, ahead of
Tamil Nadu (69).
The zari attire of Mathura, associated with Lord Shri
Krishna, represents centuries of traditional craftsmanship. Thousands of
artisans, including women, continue this embroidery tradition.The bugle of
Meerut, a historical symbol of India’s independence struggle, played a key role
in the 1857 revolution and continues to be used in the army, police, and
schools. Meerut is globally known for manufacturing bugles, trumpets, and
drums.
2. Karnataka Minister N S Boseraju unveiled the concept
of “Quantum City” at Hesaraghatta: Under the Karnataka Quantum Mission, the state has
announced a Rs 1,000 crore investment to build a strong quantum
ecosystem, including Quantum Hardware Park, cryogenic testing, quantum
cloud clusters, and deep-tech startup zones.The state approved Rs 1,136 crore
for establishing the Quantum Supremacy Centre in Bengaluru, supporting quantum
chip fabrication and enabling the export of quantum hardware, cloud services,
and skilled human resources worldwide.Quantum City will provide end-to-end
services from research to commercialisation and has attracted international interest,
including plans for the Swiss-Karnataka Quantum Collaboration Centre.
3. Pralhad Joshi Inaugurates Pellet Plant, Lays
Foundation for K2 Bio Ethanol Project in Haryana’s Rewari: Union Minister Pralhad Joshi inaugurated
a pellet plant and laid the foundation of the K2 Bio Ethanol plant in
Rewari, Haryana, aiming to boost clean energy production from agricultural
residue.The pellet plant will produce 240 tonnes of biomass pellets per day
from stubble, supporting India’s E20 Mission and Net Zero 2070 goals, while
converting crop waste into ethanol, pellets, and rural employment
opportunities.Under the government’s new policy, biomass and MSW co-firing is
mandatory for all thermal plants, helping reduce pollution, generate farmer
income, and promote the use of agricultural residues like paddy straw, mustard
straw, and cotton stalks for clean energy.
4. Chitra Talwar to Become Part-Time Chairperson of Jana
Small Finance Bank: Mr Ramaseshan,
the current Part-Time Chairperson of Jana Small Finance
Bank, will retire on 07 February 2026 after completing the
maximum permissible tenure of eight years. Mrs. Chitra Talwar will
take over as the new Part-Time Chairperson from 08 February 2026 to 30
January 2028.Chitra Talwar, associated with the bank since January 2020 as an
Independent Director, brings over 30 years of corporate experience from
companies like Britannia and PepsiCo, having worked extensively in India and
global markets including New York.
5. PM
to Unveil Asia’s Tallest Lord Ram Statue in Goa: Prime Minister Narendra
Modi will visit Canacona, Goa, to
unveil a 77-feet bronze statue of Lord Ram, recognised as the tallest such
statue in Asia. The event will take place at the historic Shree Samsthan Gokarn
Partagali Jeevottam Mutt as part of its 550-year celebrations, alongside the
release of a commemorative postal stamp and coin. The Partagali Mutt is among
India’s oldest monastic institutions, known for its spiritual, cultural, and
social contributions. It holds a prominent place in the Saraswat and wider
Hindu community. The new bronze statue, crafted by renowned sculptor Ram Sutar,
aims to highlight the legacy of Lord Ram and strengthen the site’s identity as
a pilgrimage destination. The Sardha Panchashatamahotsava will run for 11 days,
from November 27 to December 7. The celebrations include religious discourses,
cultural programmes, community outreach events, and visits by leaders of
several prominent maths. A formal Sneha Patra has been extended to key
spiritual heads to mark the historic occasion.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1. CBSE’s First International Sahodaya Conference in
Dubai: The first
International and 31st Annual Conference of Sahodaya School
Complexes began at the Grand Hyatt Dubai, marking CBSE’s first
major global expansion and bringing together over 1,000 school leaders and
educators from worldwide CBSE-affiliated institutions.The two-day event, themed
“Rooted in Wisdom, Rising with Vision: Reimagining Education through NEP 2020”,
focuses on collaborative learning, holistic education, innovation in teaching,
and implementation of NEP 2020 across diverse educational contexts.CBSE
Chairperson Rahul Singh announced the introduction of standard and advanced
level subjects from Class 9 onwards starting 2026-27 and unveiled the CBSE
Global Curriculum 26, aiming to blend international standards with Indian
values.
2. Shivraj Singh Chouhan Opens 6th International Agronomy
Congress in New Delhi: Agriculture
Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan emphasized the promotion of integrated
farming, especially for marginal farmers, and urged agro
scientists to prepare a five-year integrated farming plan at the Sixth
International Agronomy Congress in New Delhi.He highlighted that 46% of India’s
population still depends on agriculture, stressing the need for strong
research, data-driven approaches, and crop diversification to strengthen the
farming sector.The three-day International Agronomy Congress will include
plenary sessions, thematic symposia, keynote lectures, poster presentations,
and a Young Scientists’ Conference under the theme “Re-envisioning Agronomy for
Smart Agro-Food Systems and Environmental Protection.”
3. Oman Unveils Official Rial Symbol to Strengthen Global
Financial Identity: The
Central Bank of Oman (CBO) unveiled an official symbol for the Omani
Rial, aiming to standardise its representation across financial, commercial,
and digital platforms while enhancing its global recognition.The symbol
reflects Oman’s cultural heritage and economic maturity, linking the nation’s
historic trade legacy with modern financial ambitions and signaling stability
to international investors.The move aligns with Oman Vision
2040, promoting innovation, modernization, and global financial
competitiveness while ensuring clarity and consistency in the Rial’s use across
banking systems and economic communications.
4. Ethiopia’s Hayli Gubbi Volcano Erupts After 12,000
Years: Ethiopia’s long-dormant Hayli Gubbi volcano
erupted after nearly 12,000 years, sending massive ash plumes across the
Red Sea toward Yemen, Oman, India, and Pakistan, and covering nearby Afdera
village in ash.Scientists called the eruption highly unusual and understudied,
noting magma movement, ground uplift, satellite indicators, and earlier
activity from nearby Erta Ale as warning signs, with ash clouds rising up to 14
km into the atmosphere.
5. 25 November – International Day for the Elimination of
Violence against Women: The
day is observed annually on 25 November to raise global awareness
about the violence faced by women and girls.It marks the start of the 16 Days
of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, a worldwide campaign ending on 10
December (Human Rights Day).The United Nations urges governments,
organizations, and citizens to work together to prevent, report, and end
violence in all forms.
OTHER UPDATES:
SPORTS
1. Sarayu Velpula Becomes India’s 26th Woman Grandmaster:
Sarayu Velpula from Warangal, Telangana,
became India’s 26th Woman Grandmaster (WGM) after earning her final
norm at the First League of Central Serbia 2025, completing a remarkable rise
in international chess.She achieved a historic breakthrough at the 2023
Pontevedra Masters, earning WIM, WGM, and IM norms in a single tournament,
followed by her second WGM norm at the Paris IdF Masters 2025 before securing
the final one in Serbia.
2. India Wins Second Consecutive Women’s Kabaddi World
Cup After Defeating Chinese Taipei: India clinched its second consecutive
Women’s Kabaddi World Cup, defeating Chinese Taipei 35–28 in the final in
Dhaka after an unbeaten run through the group stage and a strong 33–21
semifinal win over Iran.Chinese Taipei also entered the final unbeaten, topping
Group B and defeating hosts Bangladesh 25–18 in the semifinals, while 11
countries participated in the tournament.
3. South
Africa Set World Record With 408-Run Win Over India in Guwahati: South Africa registered a historic 408-run
victory against India in the second Test at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in
Guwahati, becoming the first team ever to defeat India by a margin exceeding
400 runs. The emphatic result sealed a 2–0 series sweep and marked one of the
most decisive outcomes in Test cricket in recent years. Chasing a formidable
549-run target, India collapsed for 140 on the final day. The result handed
India their largest defeat by runs in Test history, surpassing Australia’s previous 342-run record win in Nagpur. The result also marked India’s
second consecutive home series whitewash within a year, underlining a period of
steep decline in their otherwise dominant home record. Before this downturn,
India had suffered only two home series defeats between
2000 and their loss to New Zealand last year. Their back-to-back defeats now mirror
setbacks last seen in 1883 and 1984–85. The latest sweep adds to earlier 0–2
and 0–3 home losses against South Africa in
2000 and New Zealand last year.
4. Rohit
Sharma Reclaims No.1 Spot in ICC ODI Batting Rankings: Rohit Sharma has regained
the top position in the ICC ODI batting rankings ahead of India’s ODI series
against South Africa. His rise back to No.1 marks a strong
return to form and places him above New Zealand’s Daryl Mitchell, who had
briefly overtaken him. The latest rankings also see Virat Kohli and Shubman
Gill secure prominent positions as India prepares for a crucial international
assignment. Rohit’s resurgence reinforces India’s depth in the 50-over format.
Kohli has retained fifth place, maintaining his consistent standing among the
world’s leading ODI batters, while Shubman Gill remains at fourth, continuing
his reputation as one of the most reliable young performers in the format.
Their combined presence strengthens India’s prospects in the upcoming series.
Significant updates have emerged across other formats as well. Zimbabwe’s Sikandar Raza has reached the No.1 T20I all-rounder position for the
first time, powered by steady performances in the ongoing tri-series
involving Sri Lanka and Pakistan. His recent contribution with both bat and ball has elevated him
above Pakistan’s Saim Ayub.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
1. Indian
Scientists Develop AI Framework for Personalised Cancer Therapy: Indian researchers have
unveiled a new artificial intelligence framework capable of transforming
cancer diagnosis and treatment by analysing the disease at its molecular level.
Developed at the S N Bose National Centre for Basic Sciences in collaboration
with Ashoka University, the tool offers a pathway to highly personalised cancer
therapies. The framework, named OncoMark, shifts focus from traditional cancer
staging to the underlying biological programmes that drive tumour growth. These
programmes, known as the hallmarks of cancer, determine how cells become
malignant, spread through the body, evade immune responses and resist
treatment. By decoding these mechanisms, the system provides deeper insight
into why patients with similar stages may experience vastly different outcomes.
Researchers examined 3.1 million single cells spanning 14 cancer types. They
generated synthetic “pseudo-biopsies” to map hallmark-driven tumour states,
allowing the AI model to understand how processes such as metastasis, immune
escape and genomic instability interact. This dataset formed the foundation for
training OncoMark to recognise distinct molecular patterns across cancers.
BANKING AND FINANCE
1. Easebuzz Gets RBI Nod to Operate as Full-Service
Payment Aggregator: Fintech firm
Easebuzz has been authorised by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to
operate as a full-service payment aggregator (PA), enabling services
across online, offline, and cross-border payments.With the approval, Easebuzz
can now offer merchants online payment acceptance, in-person payments via PoS
and UPI soundbox, and cross-border inward/outward transactions, supporting over
2.5 lakh merchants and processing 3 million transactions daily.The company
reported revenue of Rs 656 crore and net profit of Rs 19 crore in FY2024-25,
with an annualised Gross Transaction Value (GTV) exceeding $50 billion,
reflecting RBI’s support in promoting secure, scalable, and innovative payment
solutions in India.
2. Government Appoints New Executive Directors at Union Bank, Central Bank of India, and Bank of India: The government appointed new Executive Directors (EDs) at Union Bank of India, Central Bank of India, and Bank of India for a three-year term, as per a notification dated 24 November 2025.Amresh Prasad, former Chief General Manager at PNB, is now ED of Union Bank of India, bringing 32+ years of experience in corporate credit, review & monitoring, and branch/zonal/head office operations.Ratan Kumar has been appointed ED of Central Bank of India, and Pramod Kumar Dwibedi has taken charge as ED of Bank of India, both with over 30–35 years of diverse banking experience across core operations, IT, and administrative roles.
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