NATIONAL UPDATES:
1. PM Modi Hoists Saffron Flag Marking Completion of
Ayodhya Ram Temple: PM Narendra
Modi hoisted the saffron Suryavanshi flag atop the Ayodhya Ram
Temple, marking the formal completion of the temple’s construction and
symbolising the fulfilment of a 500-year-old resolve.
RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat said that those who sacrificed
their lives for the Ram Temple must be at peace today, mentioning leaders like
Ashok Singhal ji and Mahant Ramchandra Das ji, whose long-standing efforts
finally saw completion.The Ram Temple’s journey—from the Supreme Court’s 2019
verdict to foundation laying in August 2020 and Pran Pratishtha in January
2024—culminated in the final flag-hoisting ceremony, with all major works
inside the complex now completed.
2. Justice Vikram Nath Appointed Executive Chairman of
National Legal Services Authority (NALSA): Justice Vikram Nath has been appointed as
the new Executive Chairman of the National Legal Services Authority
(NALSA), strengthening India’s efforts to provide accessible and
affordable justice to vulnerable and economically weaker
sections.He succeeds CJI Surya Kant in this administrative
role.NALSA, created under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987, plays a
crucial role in offering free legal aid, conducting Lok Adalats, and promoting
legal literacy, ensuring justice is not limited by financial constraints.With
the Chief Justice of India as its Patron-in-Chief, NALSA operates through a
wide network of state, district, and local bodies, and Justice Vikram Nath’s
leadership is expected to further streamline operations to enhance nationwide
legal outreach.
3. Sunil Paliwal Appointed New Chairman of Inland
Waterways Authority of India (IWAI): Sunil Paliwal, currently Chairperson of
Chennai Port Authority and Kamarajar Port Ltd, has been appointed as the
new Chairman of the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), with his post
upgraded to the rank of Secretary to the Government of India.He takes over from
Vijay Kumar, who was recently promoted as Shipping Secretary after the
retirement of T.K. Ramachandran.A seasoned IAS officer, Paliwal has held key
roles in Tamil Nadu, including MD of Chennai Metro Water, Tamil Nadu Road
Development Company, and TIDCO—experience that is expected to boost IWAI’s
efforts to modernise India’s inland water transport network.
4. Ravish Kumar Singh Appointed Deputy Chairman of
Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA): The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways has
appointed Ravish Kumar Singh, a 2009-batch IRTS officer, as the
Deputy Chairman of Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) for a five-year term,
with his joining date scheduled on or after December 6.His appointment comes
during a leadership transition at JNPA, where IAS officer Gaurav Dayal recently
became Chairman, filling the gap left after former Chairman Sanjay Sethi
completed his tenure in January 2024.The leadership change aligns with JNPA’s
major responsibility of developing the ₹76,220-crore Vadhvan mega greenfield
port in Maharashtra, which includes constructing India’s longest-ever port
breakwater (10.14 km), crucial for safeguarding the upcoming port’s harbour.
5. 26th November – Constitution Day of India: 26 November is celebrated as Constitution
Day (Samvidhan Divas) to commemorate the day when the Constituent Assembly
of India adopted the Constitution in 1949.The Constitution came into force on
26 January 1950, but 26 November was chosen to honour Dr. B.R. Ambedkar and the
drafting committee’s historic contribution.The day promotes constitutional
values, citizen duties, and awareness about rights, justice, equality, and
liberty enshrined in the Constitution.Government institutions, schools, and organizations
observe the day through Preamble reading, seminars, quizzes, and awareness
activities across the country.
6. 26 November – National Milk Day: National Milk Day is celebrated every
year on 26 November in India to honor Dr. Verghese Kurien, the Father of
the White Revolution.The day commemorates Dr. Kurien’s birth anniversary,
recognizing his role in making India the world’s largest milk producer.Theme
2025 – Let’s Celebrate the Power of DairyIt highlights the success of
Operation Flood, the world’s largest dairy development program, which
transformed India into a self-sufficient milk nation.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1. Malaysia to Ban Social Media Use for Children Under 16
Starting 2026: Malaysia will ban
social media use for anyone under the age of 16 starting in 2026, aiming
to protect children from online harms such as cyberbullying, financial scams,
and child sexual abuse.Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil confirmed the
policy and expects technology firms to comply, while the government is
reviewing age restriction methods used in countries like Australia.The move
aligns Malaysia with global trends on child online safety, following actions by
Australia and several European nations, amid rising concerns over social
media’s impact on youth mental health and harmful content.
2. Oldest San Diego Zoo Resident, 141-Year-Old Galápagos
Tortoise Gramma, Dies: Gramma,
the oldest resident of the San Diego Zoo, has passed away at an estimated
age of 141 years, having been born in her native Galápagos habitat.Galápagos
tortoises are known for their exceptional longevity, often living 100+ years in
the wild and nearly double in captivity, thanks to better care and
protection.The oldest recorded Galápagos tortoise, Harriet, lived to 175 years
at the Australia Zoo, having been collected from the islands in 1835 and
passing away in 2006.
3. Bangladesh
Court Sentences Sheikh Hasina To 21 Years In Corruption Cases: A special court in Dhaka has sentenced
former Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina to a
total of 21 years in prison after convicting her in three corruption cases
linked to irregularities in land allocation under a major government housing
scheme. The verdict marks a significant escalation in the country’s political
and legal turmoil following her ouster last year. The Dhaka Special Judge
Court-5 sentenced the 78-year-old former premier to seven years in each of the
three cases related to the Rajuk New Town Project in Purbachal. The sentences
will run consecutively, raising her total jail term to 21 years. The court also
imposed fines of Taka one lakh in each case, with additional imprisonment in
the event of non-payment. The judgment noted that land was allotted to her
without proper procedure and beyond authorised jurisdiction. Hasina’s son Sajib
Wajed Joy and daughter Saima Wazed Putul were also convicted, receiving prison
terms of five years each alongside monetary fines. Among the 20 additional
accused, most received varying sentences, while one junior official was
acquitted. Only one defendant appeared in person and was handed a three-year
term. The cases stemmed from chargesheets filed by the Anti-Corruption
Commission earlier this year, supported by testimony from 29 witnesses.
4. Jakarta
Becomes World’s Most Populous City In 2025: Jakarta has overtaken Tokyo to become the world’s most
populous urban agglomeration, marking a major shift in global demographic
patterns. A new UN-backed assessment places the Indonesian capital and its
surrounding metropolitan region at 42 million residents, illustrating the
accelerating scale of Asian urbanisation. The latest rankings show that nine of
the world’s ten most populated cities are now in Asia. Following Jakarta are
Dhaka at 37 million and Tokyo at 33 million. Other major Asian centres in the
top tier include New Delhi, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Cairo, Manila, Kolkata and
Seoul. This concentration reflects rapid economic growth, high-density
settlements and long-term demographic momentum across South and Southeast Asia.
Urban specialists attribute the rise of these megacities to sustained
rural-to-urban migration, expanding employment opportunities, and natural
population increase. South Asia and Southeast Asia, in particular, are
witnessing record urbanisation rates. Indian cities such as New Delhi and
Kolkata continue to absorb millions seeking jobs, services and social mobility,
putting their infrastructure under persistent strain.
OTHER UPDATES:
DEFENCE
1. 19th Edition of Exercise Suryakiran XIX-2025 Begins in
Uttarakhand: The 19th edition of
Exercise Suryakiran (XIX) 2025 commenced in Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand,
involving 334 personnel each from India (Assam Regiment) and Nepal (Devi Datta
Regiment).The exercise focuses on sub-conventional operations under UN Chapter
VII, including jungle warfare, counter-terrorism in mountainous terrain, HADR,
medical response, environmental conservation, and integrated ground-aviation
operations.This edition emphasizes emerging technologies like drones,
AI-enabled decision tools, unmanned logistic vehicles, and armoured platforms,
aiming to enhance interoperability, refine tactics, and strengthen India-Nepal
defence cooperation.
2. France
Introduces 10-Month Voluntary Military Scheme: France’s decision to introduce a
10-month voluntary military service from next summer has renewed attention on
how European nations manage military conscription. With rising security
concerns linked to Russia, several countries have retained,
reinstated, or adapted military service systems to strengthen defence
readiness. A number of European states continue to enforce compulsory
service. Denmark recently extended service duration
and made it mandatory for women. Finland requires six to 12 months of service for men, and Norway enforces
12 months for both genders. Estonia mandates eight to 11 months for men, while Greece obliges
nine to 12 months for men. Cyprus, Austria, and Switzerland also maintain compulsory service
for men, with voluntary options for women. Security pressures have prompted
some countries to revive conscription. Lithuania reinstated it in 2015 with a lottery-based system. Sweden restored
conscription in 2017 for both men and women, with nine to 15 months of
service. Latvia reintroduced 11 months of compulsory
service in 2023, and Croatia has voted to bring back male
conscription from next year.
SPORTS
1. Rohit Sharma Appointed Ambassador for ICC Men’s T20
World Cup 2026: Rohit Sharma has
been appointed the Tournament Ambassador for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup
2026, which will be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka.A two-time T20 World
Cup winner (2007 & 2024), Rohit played a pivotal role in both campaigns,
including unbeaten knocks in the 2007 Super Eights & final, and leading
India to the 2024 title as captain.Rohit’s stellar T20I career includes 4231
runs with a strike-rate of 140.89, and standout performances such as 92 off 41
vs Australia and 57 off 39 vs England in the 2024 edition.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
1. Hub71 and UAE–India CEPA Council Sign Pact to Boost
Cross-Border Startup Expansion: Hub71 and the UAE–India CEPA
Council have signed a strategic partnership to boost cross‑border
startup expansion between India and Abu Dhabi, creating a structured pathway
for Indian startups to enter, validate and scale up in the UAE.Under the deal,
five winning startups from the CEPA Council’s Start‑Up Series will be onboarded
into Hub71’s Immersion Programme, giving them tailored market‑entry support,
mentorship, and access to Abu Dhabi’s tech ecosystem.From those five, one
startup will further be selected for Hub71’s “Access” programme, enabling a
soft‑landing in Abu Dhabi with deeper support — regulatory facilitation,
investor connections and long‑term growth opportunities.
2. Oman Launches OmanSat-1, Its First Communications
Satellite, Boosting Digital Independence: Oman launched OmanSat-1, its first
communications satellite, marking a national milestone that strengthens digital
independence, high-speed secure connectivity, and aligns with Oman Vision 2040
to build a technology-driven economy.The satellite, developed in collaboration
with Airbus Defence and Space, operates on the adaptable OneSat platform in the
Ka-band, covering Oman, its economic waters, and neighbouring regions in the
Middle East, East Africa, and Asia, enhancing regional communication
capabilities.The programme, managed by Space Communications Technologies,
focuses on digital sovereignty and local expertise, improving internet coverage
in remote areas, integrating local SMEs into the supply chain, and
collaborating with universities for research and specialised training.
BANKING AND FINANCE
1. CCI Approves ICICI Prudential AMC’s Acquisition of Key
ICICI Venture Fund Businesses: CCI has approved ICICI Prudential AMC’s
proposal to acquire key business units of ICICI Venture Fund,
including management of five SEBI-registered AIFs and the advisory business for
an offshore investment fund.ICICI Prudential AMC, a joint venture between ICICI
Bank and Prudential Corporation Holdings (UK), is engaged in mutual fund
management, PMS, AIF management, and offshore advisory services.CCI also
cleared two other major deals: Toyota Asset Preparatory Co. acquiring Toyota
Industries Corporation, and Jindal Jhajjar Power Ltd acquiring 100% of Jhajjar
Power Ltd, strengthening consolidation in the power and manufacturing sectors.
AWARDS AND HONOURS
1. Rabih Alameddine Wins 2025 National Book Award for Fiction at 76th Annual Ceremony: Rabih Alameddine’s novel, “The True True Story of Raja the Gullible (and His Mother),” won the 2025 National Book Award for Fiction, blending family comedy with wartime tragedy.Other winners included Omar El Akkad for nonfiction, Patricia Smith for poetry, Daniel Nayeri for young people’s literature, and Gabriela Cabezón Cámara for translated literature, highlighting a diverse range of literary achievements.The 76th National Book Awards ceremony was held at Cipriani Wall Street, Manhattan, attended by hundreds of writers, publishers, editors, and industry professionals, featuring honorary awards for George Saunders and Roxane Gay. The event, often called the “Oscars of book publishing,” included musical performances and a humorous hosting by Jeff Heller, celebrating literary excellence and the contributions of the broader book community.
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