NATIONAL UPDATES:
1. KIA Becomes India’s First Airport to Achieve Level 3
Accessibility Enhancement Accreditation: Kempegowda International
Airport (KIA) has become the first airport in India to achieve Level
3 Accessibility Enhancement Accreditation (AEA) by Airports Council
International, highlighting its leadership in inclusive travel.Under its
‘B-Included’ initiative, BIAL has introduced accessible facilities, digital
tools, inclusive services, and even employed Persons with Disabilities in
frontline roles, ensuring accessibility in every part of the airport
experience.KIA progressed rapidly from Level 1 (Dec 2024) to Level 3 (Nov 2025)
within a year, backed by extensive training, sensitisation programmes, and
digital inclusivity measures like the UX4G Internet Accessibility Widget and
dedicated PRM/PwD support.
2. NCW Launches 24×7 Short-Code Helpline 14490 for Quick
Support to Women in Distress: The National
Commission for Women (NCW) has launched a 24×7 short-code helpline,
14490, to provide faster and more accessible support to women facing violence,
harassment, or any form of distress.The helpline will act as the first point of
contact, guiding callers, coordinating with authorities, and ensuring timely
intervention during emergencies.The toll-free number 14490 is easy to remember
and is linked to NCW’s existing helpline 7827170170 to ensure seamless
assistance without any cost or delay.
3. India Launches ₹720-Crore Quantum Fabrication
Facilities Across Premier Institutes Under National Quantum Mission: The government announced
₹720 crore quantum fabrication and central facilities across IIT Bombay, IISc
Bengaluru, IIT Kanpur, and IIT Delhi under the National Quantum
Mission (NQM), marking a major step toward India’s technological
sovereignty in quantum science.These facilities will support quantum sensing,
quantum computing, and quantum materials, and will remain open to academia,
industry, start-ups, and strategic sectors, enabling indigenous development of
advanced quantum hardware.IIT Bombay, IIT Kanpur, IISc Bengaluru, and IIT Delhi
will serve as key anchors for quantum sensing, metrology, quantum computing
fabrication, and quantum materials, helping build India’s next-generation
deep-tech ecosystem and skilled quantum workforce.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1. University of Liverpool to Launch First Foreign Campus
in Bengaluru, Admissions Open for 2026: The University of
Liverpool, U.K.-based, has confirmed the location of its first foreign
campus in Bengaluru, which will operate from Alembic City near
Whitefield.Admissions for the 2026 academic year are now open, offering
undergraduate programmes in Computer Science, Business Management, Accounting
& Finance, Biomedical Sciences, and, for the first time at a U.K. campus in
India, Game Design.The campus aims to bring world-class UK-accredited education
to India, fostering India-UK collaboration through research in sustainability,
digital transformation, and health sciences, while providing a state-of-the-art
learning environment for students.
2. 20th G20 Summit 2025 in Johannesburg: The 20th G20 Summit
2025 was held in Johannesburg, South Africa, marking the first-ever
G20 summit hosted on the African continent under the theme “Solidarity,
Equality, Sustainability.”A 122-point G20 Johannesburg Leaders’ Declaration was
adopted, focusing on global equity, climate finance, development, and reforming
international institutions.The summit highlighted Mission 300, led by the World
Bank and African Development Bank, aiming to provide electricity to 300 million
people in Sub-Saharan Africa by 2030.Leaders committed to youth employment,
gender parity, and climate goals, including the Nelson Mandela Bay Target to
reduce youth NEET rates by 5% and achieving 25% gender parity in labour force
participation by 2030.
3. 26 November – World Sustainable Transport Day: World Sustainable Transport
Day is observed on 26 November to promote environmentally
friendly, efficient, and inclusive transportation systems worldwide.The day
highlights the need to reduce carbon emissions by adopting clean mobility
solutions such as electric vehicles, public transport, cycling, and walking.It
emphasizes accessibility and affordability, ensuring that transport systems
benefit all sections of society, including rural communities and the urban
poor.
4. 27 November 2025 – Thanksgiving Day: Thanksgiving Day is
celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November each year, with 27th
November 2025 being the observance for this year.The holiday originated in
the United States as a day to give thanks for the harvest and blessings of the
past year.Traditional celebrations include family gatherings, feasts with
turkey, pumpkin pie, and other regional dishes, as well as parades and football
games.
OTHER UPDATES:
DEFENCE
1. PM Modi Inaugurates SAESI Aircraft Engine MRO Facility
in Hyderabad: Prime Minister Narendra
Modi virtually inaugurated the Safran Aircraft Engine Services India
(SAESI) facility in Hyderabad, Telangana, marking a major step toward making
India a global Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) hub for aircraft
engines.SAESI is a dedicated facility for LEAP engines, which power Airbus
A320neo and Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, and is one of the largest global aircraft
engine MRO facilities established by a global OEM in India.The state-of-the-art
facility, developed at a cost of over ₹1,300 crore, spans 45,000 sq. meters and
is designed to service up to 300 LEAP engines annually, employing over a
thousand skilled Indian technicians and engineers by 2035.The foundation stone
for M88 Military Engine MRO was also laid, which will support the Indian Air
Force and Navy, enhancing India’s self-reliance in the defense and aerospace
sector.
2. Italy
Unveils the Advanced ‘Michelangelo Dome’ Defence System: Italy has introduced the Michelangelo
Dome, an advanced multi-domain defence system developed by defence major
Leonardo to counter modern threats ranging from missiles and drones to cyber
intrusions and space-based attacks. The project represents one of Europe’s
most ambitious attempts to build an integrated defence architecture aligned
with NATO’s evolving security needs. The system
was formally presented in Rome in the presence of defence minister Guido
Crosetto and senior military leaders. It marks a major step in Leonardo’s
long-term strategy to specialise in next-generation defence technologies,
including artificial
intelligence, satellite systems, drones
and digital infrastructure. The Dome is positioned as a core future asset
for Italy and a potential contributor
to Europe’s collective defence. Unlike
traditional air defence built around a fixed platform, the Dome uses an
advanced software layer to integrate data from multiple national and
international systems. The architecture, based on NATO standards,
blends inputs from sensors, radars, satellites, naval assets and ground
interceptors. This enables seamless cooperation between different countries’
equipment, irrespective of manufacturer or origin.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
1. MeitY Launches Cyber Security Innovation Challenge 1.0
to Boost India’s Homegrown Cyber Resilience: MeitY Secretary S.
Krishnan launched the Cyber Security Innovation Challenge (CSIC) 1.0 in
New Delhi under the Information Security Education and Awareness Project
to boost cybersecurity innovation.The initiative aims to expose students to
real-world cybersecurity challenges, helping build a stronger and more
resilient homegrown cyber ecosystem.CSIC 1.0 encourages indigenous,
research-driven cybersecurity solutions by actively engaging the academic
community in solving emerging digital security threats.
BANKING AND FINANCE
1. BHIM Introduces Full Delegation Feature in UPI Circle
to Expand User Base: BHIM app launches full delegation feature
for UPI Circle, enabling primary users to authorise trusted secondary contacts
to make UPI payments up to a monthly limit of ₹15,000.Each primary account
can delegate payments to up to five secondary users, who need not have a bank
account but must be registered on BHIM with a valid Virtual Payment Address
(VPA).The feature complements UPI Circle’s existing partial delegation option,
allowing fully delegated payments without requiring approval for every
transaction, enhancing convenience for users.
2. IDFC FIRST Bank Partners with FPSB India to Strengthen
Financial Planning Standards and Professional Upskilling: IDFC FIRST Bank has
signed an MoU with FPSB India as an Approved Corporate Partner
(ACP) to strengthen professional standards in financial planning and
enhance upskilling opportunities for its management and private banking
teams.The partnership, signed under FPSB India’s ACP initiative, aims to
promote financial planning excellence, professional certification, and ethical
standards across India’s financial services industry.
3. SBI Ventures to Raise ₹2,000 Crore for Third
Climate-Focused Fund to Boost Green Innovation in India: SBI Ventures, backed by the
State Bank of India, plans to raise ₹2,000 crore for its third
climate-focused fund, aiming to invest in early and growth-stage climate
startups, especially in frontier climate technologies and AI-driven climate
innovations.The fund will involve domestic and global investors, with roadshows
beginning early next year, and aligns with India’s rise as a hub for climate
innovation in areas like cooling solutions, low-carbon materials, waste
management, and circular economy.
AWARDS AND HONOURS
1. Norwegian
Film Safe House Awarded ICFT–UNESCO Gandhi Medal: A Norwegian feature set
against the backdrop of the 2013 civil war in the Central African Republic has earned global recognition for
its compelling portrayal of humanitarian courage. The film, titled “Safe
House”, received the prestigious ICFT–Unesco Gandhi Medal for its sensitive exploration of
moral responsibility in conflict zones. The story unfolds inside a Doctors
Without Borders hospital in Bangui over a tense 15-hour period. Through the
experiences of aid workers confronted with life-and-death decisions, the film
examines the ethics of care, the cost of survival, and the fragile line between
duty and danger. Its depiction of resilience amid chaos resonated strongly with
the jury. The selection committee commended the film for its restrained yet
gripping approach to wartime storytelling. The lead performance by Kristine
Kujath Thorp was highlighted as a key strength, adding depth and emotional
intensity. The film’s ability to transcend cultural boundaries and uphold
universal humanitarian themes made it a standout entry.
2. Youth Icon Award Honours Historic Naval Circumnavigation: Two Indian Navy officers have been recognised nationally for completing a landmark maritime expedition that showcased endurance, skill, and the rising profile of women in uniformed services. Their achievement secured the Youth Icon Award at the Indian of the Year 2025 ceremony. The officers completed a 250-day circumnavigation aboard INSV Tarini under the Navika Sagar Parikarma II mission. Their journey covered more than 25,000 nautical miles across multiple oceans and continents. Sailing in double-handed mode, they became the first Indian duo to accomplish a global circumnavigation with only two crew members managing the vessel. The voyage followed three years of intensive preparation under the Indian Navy’s training framework. Long periods of isolation, particularly in the Pacific Ocean, demanded technical expertise and psychological resilience. The officers highlighted teamwork as the most essential factor that enabled them to navigate extreme weather, ocean storms, and prolonged solitude.
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