NATIONAL UPDATES:
1. India’s National Beekeeping & Honey Mission Drives ‘Sweet Revolution’: The National Beekeeping and Honey Mission (NBHM) is a Central Sector Scheme launched to promote scientific beekeeping and achieve the vision of a “Sweet Revolution” in India, ensuring the holistic growth of the beekeeping sector.The mission has a budget outlay of ₹500 crore and is being implemented by the National Bee Board (NBB) for the period FY 2020-21 to FY 2025-26, covering all major aspects of honey production and marketing.NBHM operates through three Mini Missions focused on productivity enhancement, post-harvest management, and research & technology development, promoting innovation and value addition in beekeeping.In FY 2023-24, India produced around 1.4 lakh MT of natural honey and exported 1.07 lakh MT worth USD 177.55 million, becoming the second-largest exporter of honey globally, aided by digital initiatives like the Madhukranti Portal for online registration and traceability.
2. PM Modi to Attend International Gita Festival and 350th Martyrdom Anniversary of Guru Tegh Bahadur in Kurukshetra on November 25: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend the International Gita Festival and the state-level commemorative event for the 350th martyrdom anniversary of Guru Tegh Bahadur on November 25 in Kurukshetra, Haryana.The 10th International Gita Mahotsav will feature spiritual seminars, global participation, cultural programmes, and a Maha Aarti at Brahma Sarovar. The main events will take place from November 24 to December 1, with Madhya Pradesh as the partner state.Since 2016, the festival has gained international recognition, with editions held in Mauritius, Britain, Canada, Sri Lanka, Australia, Indonesia, and Japan, aiming to connect the world with the eternal message of the Bhagavad Gita and India’s spiritual heritage.
3. Union Minister George Kurian Launches Fully Digital Marine Fisheries Census 2025 with VyAS Apps: Union Minister George Kurian launched the fully digital Marine Fisheries Census (MFC) 2025 in Kochi, marking a shift from traditional paper-based methods to a completely digital and geo-referenced enumeration process.Slogan – “Smart Census, Smarter Fisheries”The census will cover 1.2 million fisher households across 5,000 coastal villages in 13 States and UTs, including the Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep, over a 45-day period (3 Nov–18 Dec 2025).Custom Android apps—VyAS–NAV, VyAS–BHARAT, and VyAS–SUTRA—developed by ICAR–CMFRI, will power real-time data collection, supervision, and validation through a multi-tier dashboard and drone-assisted monitoring.The MFC–2025 aims to generate granular, evidence-based socio-economic data for precise government welfare planning, supporting schemes like PMMSY and PM-MKSSY, and promoting inclusive, climate-resilient coastal growth.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1. India Hands Over Multi-Ethnic Trilingual School in Polonnaruwa: A Multi-ethnic Trilingual School built with Indian grant assistance was inaugurated in Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka, jointly by Sri Lankan PM Dr Harini Amarasuriya and Indian High Commissioner Santosh Jha.Constructed under India’s High Impact Community Development Projects (HICDP) initiative, the school aims to promote inclusive and quality education in a multi-ethnic and multicultural environment.With a grant of over 320 million Sri Lankan rupees, the school will offer education in Sinhala, Tamil, and English, reflecting India–Sri Lanka’s deepening cooperation in education and development.
2. 4 November 2025 – Melbourne Cup Day: The Melbourne Cup Day is celebrated on the first Tuesday of November every year at Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne — this year it is being celebrated on 4th November 2025.Started in 1861, the race covers a distance of 3,200 metres and is considered one of the most prestigious horse racing events in the world.The Melbourne Cup is not only about racing but also about fashion, entertainment, and tradition, showcasing Australia’s rich sporting and cultural spirit.
3. 5 November – World Tsunami Awareness Day: World Tsunami Awareness Day is observed every year on 5th November to promote awareness about tsunami preparedness, early warning systems, and disaster risk reduction across the world.The United Nations established this day in December 2015, inspired by Japan’s “Inamura-no-hi” (Burning of the Rice Sheaves) story — a historical act of saving lives through early warning in 1854.
OTHER UPDATES:
DEFENCE
1. Vishvajit Sahay Assumes Charge as Controller General of Defence Accounts (CGDA): Vishvajit Sahay, a 1990-batch officer of the Indian Defence Accounts Service (IDAS), assumed charge as the Controller General of Defence Accounts (CGDA), bringing over three decades of experience in defence finance and public administration.An alumnus of St. Stephen’s College, University of Delhi, he has served in several senior roles, including Additional Secretary and Financial Adviser in the Department of Science and Technology, and Joint Secretary in the Department of Heavy Industry.He has also represented India at international training forums, including Cambridge University (UK) and the George C. Marshall Center (Germany), reflecting his expertise in global defence finance and administration.
2. Vice Admiral B. Sivakumar Assumes Charge as 40th Chief of Materiel, Indian Navy: Vice Admiral B. Sivakumar, AVSM, VSM, has taken charge as the 40th Chief of Materiel of the Indian Navy, succeeding Vice Admiral Kiran Deshmukh.An alumnus of the 70th Course of the National Defence Academy, he was commissioned as an Electrical Officer in the Indian Navy on July 1, 1987, and has served in key roles across Naval Headquarters, Dockyards, and warships like INS Ranjit, Kirpan, and Akshay.Over a distinguished 38-year career, he has commanded the premier Electrical Training Base INS Valsura and made significant contributions to the Navy’s operational and technical capabilities.
3. Indian Navy to Lead Tri-Services Exercise “Trishul-2025” with Army and Air Force to Enhance Joint Operational Readiness: The Indian Navy will lead the Tri-Services Exercise (TSE-2025) “Trishul”, jointly conducted with the Indian Army and Indian Air Force, starting in early November 2025, focusing on large-scale operations across the Rajasthan-Gujarat sectors and the North Arabian Sea.The exercise involves major formations including the Army Southern Command, Western Naval Command, and South Western Air Command, with participation from the Indian Coast Guard, Border Security Force (BSF), and other central agencies to enhance inter-agency coordination and joint operations.Exercise Trishul aims to validate joint Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR), Electronic Warfare (EW), and Cyber Warfare capabilities, strengthening multi-domain operational synergy and demonstrating India’s integrated defence preparedness.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
1. PM Modi Inaugurates Emerging Science and Technology Innovation Conclave (ESTIC) 2025: Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Emerging Science and Technology Innovation Conclave (ESTIC) 2025 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, bringing together over 3,000 participants including Nobel Laureates, scientists, and innovators to discuss 11 key areas of emerging technologies.The Prime Minister launched the ₹1 lakh crore Research Development and Innovation (RDI) Scheme Fund, aimed at promoting a private sector-driven R&D ecosystem. The scheme offers long-term, low or zero-interest loans and equity investments, with ₹20,000 crore allocated for FY 2025–26 from the Consolidated Fund of India.
2. ISRO Launches India’s Heaviest Naval Communication Satellite GSAT-7R Aboard LVM3 Rocket: ISRO successfully launched GSAT-7R, the Indian Navy’s most advanced communication satellite, using its most powerful launch vehicle LVM3 (M5 mission) from Sriharikota.GSAT-7R, weighing about 4,400 kg, is the heaviest indigenously built communication satellite launched from Indian soil and will enhance naval communication and maritime domain awareness.The mission showcased LVM3’s capability to launch 4-tonne-plus satellites into geosynchronous transfer orbit (GTO), marking a major step toward self-reliance in heavy satellite launches and supporting ISRO’s upcoming Gaganyaan human spaceflight program.
BANKING AND FINANCE
1. IEPFA and SEBI Organise ‘Niveshak Shivir’ in Amritsar to Empower Investors and Resolve Unclaimed Dividend Issues: The Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority (IEPFA), under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, in collaboration with SEBI, organised a “Niveshak Shivir” in Amritsar to empower investors and address issues related to unclaimed dividends and shares.The one-day investor camp served as a single-window facilitation platform, enabling participants to resolve long-pending dividend and share claims, update KYC and nominations, and directly interact with officials without intermediaries.After successful events in Pune and Hyderabad, the Amritsar edition marked the third city to host the initiative, reinforcing IEPFA’s vision of creating a transparent and investor-centric financial ecosystem across India.During the event, IEPFA and SEBI also launched an explainer video by CDSL IPF titled “Understanding the Process of Claiming Unpaid Dividends through IEPFA”, benefitting hundreds of investors through on-the-spot guidance and resolution services.
2. SBI Launches ‘SBI STAR’ Awards to Honour Employee Excellence Beyond Professional Achievements: State Bank of India (SBI) has launched a new annual employee excellence award named ‘SBI STAR’ (Staff Talent Acknowledgement & Recognition) to honour employees’ achievements beyond professional roles, focusing on their talents in diverse fields.
The initiative aims to encourage holistic employee engagement and recognise exceptional contributions in Arts, Literature, Sports, Culture, Social Work, and Environmental initiatives, promoting organisational pride and well-being.The SBI STAR framework follows a fair and transparent selection process, allowing self-nomination by employees, evaluation at Circle or Vertical levels, and final selection by the Corporate Centre in Mumbai.
3. SBI Executes First Gold Trade as Special Category Client on India International Bullion Exchange (IIBX): SBI executed its first-ever gold trade as a Special Category Client (SCC) on the India International Bullion Exchange (IIBX), marking a milestone in transforming India’s bullion import ecosystem with greater efficiency and transparency.The move strengthens MSME jewellers’ access to gold imports, promoting transparency, accessibility, and smoother transactions through IIBX’s advanced digital infrastructure.State Bank of India, which became the first Trading-cum-Clearing Member (TCM) at IIBX in 2024, aims to streamline bullion imports and reduce dependency on traditional methods, aligning with its focus on innovation and financial inclusion.
AWARDS AND HONOURS
1. CEC Gyanesh Kumar Honoured with Distinguished Alumni Award by IIT Kanpur on Its 66th Foundation Day: Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Shri Gyanesh Kumar was honoured with the Distinguished Alumni Award (DAA) by IIT Kanpur during the institute’s 66th Foundation Day celebration for his exceptional contributions to public service.The DAA, instituted in 1989, is IIT Kanpur’s highest recognition bestowed upon alumni for their outstanding professional achievements, service to the institute, and contributions to society and nation-building.Shri Gyanesh Kumar, who completed his B.Tech in Civil Engineering from IIT Kanpur in 1985, joins the list of illustrious alumni recognized for excellence in academics, entrepreneurship, and national service.
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