NATIONAL UPDATES:
1. NITI Aayog Launches ‘Reimagining Agriculture’ Roadmap to Drive Frontier Tech-Led Transformation in Farming: NITI Aayog’s Frontier Tech Hub launched a roadmap titled “Reimagining Agriculture: A Roadmap for Frontier Technology Led Transformation” in Gandhinagar, outlining a vision to leverage advanced technologies to enhance agricultural productivity and sustainability.The roadmap emphasizes frontier technologies such as climate-resilient seeds, digital twins, precision agriculture, and Agentic AI, offering tailored solutions by classifying farmers into Aspiring, Transitioning, and Advanced categories.Developed with partners like BCG, Google, and CII, the roadmap aims to boost agricultural resilience, inclusive rural prosperity, and strengthen India’s global competitiveness in agri-tech innovation, aligning with the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.
2. Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy Launches Third Round (PLI 1.2) of Specialty Steel Incentive Scheme: Union Minister D. Kumaraswamy launched the third round (PLI 1.2) of the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for Specialty Steel, aiming to boost investment, employment, and production in India’s advanced steel sector.The scheme has already attracted ₹43,874 crore in committed investments, created 30,760 jobs, and is expected to produce 14.3 million tonnes of specialty steel across key categories.The third round focuses on new-age and high-end products like super alloys, CRGO, stainless steel long and flat products, titanium alloys, and coated steels, to make India a global hub for specialty steel under the Atmanirbhar Bharat vision.Incentives ranging from 4% to 15% of incremental sales will be provided for up to five years (FY 2025–26 to FY 2029–30), with revised base year 2024–25, covering 22 sub-categories across five target segments.
3. National Biodiversity Authority disburses Rs 3 crore to Red Sanders farmers in Andhra Pradesh: The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) released Rs 3 crore to 198 farmers cultivating Red Sanders in Andhra Pradesh, along with an academic beneficiary from Andhra University, under the Access and Benefit-Sharing mechanism of the Biological Diversity Act.The disbursement was facilitated through the Andhra Pradesh State Biodiversity Board as part of NBA’s efforts to promote equitable benefit-sharing and sustainable use of India’s biological resources.The payment covers farmers from 48 villages across Chittoor, Nellore, Tirupati, and Cuddapah districts, who are cultivating and conserving Red Sanders (Pterocarpus santalinus), a rare and endemic tree species of southern India.
4. Asirvad Microfinance Appoints Gerard Pasangha as Co-CEO: Asirvad Microfinance Ltd, a subsidiary of Manappuram Finance Limited, has appointed Gerard David Manoj Pasangha as its Co-Chief Executive Officer (Co-CEO) to lead the company’s growth and innovation strategies.Based in Valapad, Kerala, Pasangha will focus on expansion, operational excellence, and innovation in Asirvad’s financial products and services.With over 30 years of experience in financial services, he has previously held senior roles at IIFL Samasta, ING Life India, and Bharat Financial Inclusion Ltd, where he contributed significantly to digital transformation and inclusive finance.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1. India Exports First Fortified Rice Kernel from Chhattisgarh to Costa Rica: India exported its first Fortified Rice Kernel (FRK) consignment from Chhattisgarh to Costa Rica, marking a significant step in linking the country’s nutrition programme with global markets.This initiative aligns with the ‘Kuposhan Mukt Bharat’ programme under Poshan Abhiyan, connecting domestic nutrition improvement efforts with international trade and creating new opportunities for Chhattisgarh’s farmers and exporters.Fortified Rice Kernel is enriched with essential micronutrients like iron, folic acid, and vitamin B12, highlighting India’s technical capabilities in food fortification and its contribution to global food security.
2. Amul bags ICA top cooperative ranking globally: Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd (GCMMF), marketing dairy products under the Amul brand, has been ranked as the world’s top cooperative based on GDP per capita performance by the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA) World Cooperative Monitor 2025.The recognition highlights Amul’s cooperative model that empowers millions of dairy farmers, promoting inclusive growth, social equity, and sustainable rural development across India.Along with Amul, India’s IFFCO (Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Limited) also ranks among the top cooperatives globally, demonstrating India’s resilience and leadership in the cooperative sector through sustainable practices, farmer empowerment, and technological innovation.The World Cooperative Monitor 2025 underscores that cooperatives like Amul and IFFCO drive equitable growth and resilience, showing that collective effort is a powerful tool for socio-economic transformation from local villages to the global stage.
3. India Withdraws from Ayni Airbase in Tajikistan, Ending Its Only Overseas Military Presence: India has fully withdrawn from the Ayni airbase in Tajikistan, ending its only overseas military presence after the lapse of a bilateral agreement for joint operation with Tajikistan around four years ago.The Congress termed the withdrawal a “setback” to India’s strategic diplomacy, with Jairam Ramesh noting that Ayni, established in the early 2000s, was crucial to New Delhi’s regional influence and strategic outreach in Central Asia.The Ayni base, located 10 km from Dushanbe, had been upgraded by India with enhanced runways, fuel depots, and air traffic control systems, and was last used in 2021 to evacuate Indians from Afghanistan following the Taliban takeover.
4. COP30 Unveils ‘Baku to Belem Roadmap’ to Mobilize $1.3 Trillion Annually for Climate Action by 2035: The COP30 Presidency released the ‘Baku to Belem Roadmap to 1.3 Trillion’, a global plan to mobilize $1.3 trillion annually by 2035 to support developing nations in tackling climate change and transitioning to cleaner economies.The roadmap builds on the COP29 Baku agreement, urging all stakeholders — governments, banks, and businesses — to work together in directing large-scale, low-cost finance toward renewable energy, adaptation, and post-disaster rebuilding.The plan emphasizes affordable and accessible climate finance, calling for tripling of UN climate fund disbursements by 2030, lowering borrowing costs, and aligning multilateral banks, private investors, and concessional funds to achieve equitable and effective climate action.
5. 6 November – International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict: The United Nations observes November 6 every year as the International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict.The day highlights the impact of wars and armed conflicts on the environment, such as deforestation, pollution, and destruction of ecosystems.It was established by the UN General Assembly in 2001, acknowledging that environmental damage during conflicts can last for decades.
OTHER UPDATES:
DEFENCE
1. 17th India-Israel Joint Working Group on Defence Cooperation Held in Tel Aviv: The 17th India-Israel Joint Working Group (JWG) on Defence Cooperation was held in Tel Aviv, co-chaired by Defence Secretary Shri Rajesh Kumar Singh and Israeli DG Maj Gen (Res) Amir Baram.During the meeting, an MoU on Defence Cooperation was signed to provide a unified vision and strengthen defence collaboration between India and Israel.The MoU identifies key areas of cooperation including strategic dialogues, training, defence industrial collaboration, R&D, technological innovation, AI, and cybersecurity, enabling technology sharing, co-development, and co-production.
BANKING AND FINANCE
2. Chandigarh Tops India’s Services-Driven Economy with 88.8% GVA Share;: Chandigarh recorded the highest share of services in Gross Value Added (GVA) at 88.8% in 2023–24, followed by Delhi (84.1%), according to NITI Aayog’s report “India’s Services Sector: Insights from GVA trends”.At the national level, the services sector contributed 54.5% to India’s GVA, showing a strong correlation between high per capita income and services orientation among states/UTs.Karnataka (62.3%), Kerala (61.5%), and Telangana (60.3%) lead among states, with real estate and professional services being major contributors; Bihar (58%) also shows a surprisingly high services share despite low income.Chhattisgarh (33.9%), Odisha (38.2%), and Madhya Pradesh (38.8%) have the lowest services share due to mining and industrial dominance, while NITI Aayog urges investment in digital infrastructure, skills, and e-governance to boost service-led growth.
3. DGCA Proposes 48-Hour Free Cancellation Window and Stricter Refund Rules to Protect Air Passengers’ Rights: The DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation) has proposed allowing passengers to cancel or amend flight tickets within 48 hours of booking without extra charges, under new draft rules aimed at improving refund norms.Airlines will be responsible for ensuring refunds within 21 working days, even if tickets are booked through travel agents or online portals, as agents act as their official representatives.Under the proposal, airlines must also allow name corrections within 24 hours of booking (for direct bookings on airline websites) without additional fees, and provide a ‘Look-in option’ for 48 hours to modify or cancel tickets without penalties.The new draft rules also suggest refunds or credit shells for cancellations due to medical emergencies, and the DGCA has invited public feedback on the draft CAR till November 30, 2025.
4. Top IITs rank slip as universities from China, Singapore surge ahead: QS Asia Rankings 2026: Nine of the top 10 Indian institutions, including seven IITs, saw a decline in their ranks in the QS Asia University Rankings 2026, as universities from China, Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea, and Malaysia outperformed them.IIT Delhi remained India’s top-ranked institution but fell to 59th place from 44th last year, marking its lowest rank in the past few years.IIT Bombay witnessed the sharpest drop, slipping 23 positions to rank 71 in 2026, after consistently being among India’s best-ranked institutes from 2021 to 2024.Chandigarh University was the only Indian university among the top 10 to improve its rank, rising to 109th from 120 last year.Indian institutions performed well in academic and employer reputation but lagged behind peers in citations per paper, faculty-student ratio, and internationalisation metrics like student and faculty diversity.
AWARDS AND HONOURS
1. Sunil Kant Munjal Conferred France’s Knight of the National Order of Merit: Mr Sunil Kant Munjal, Chairman of Hero Enterprise and Founder of Serendipity Arts Foundation, was awarded the Chevalier de l’Ordre national du Mérite (Knight of the National Order of Merit) by the Ambassador of France, recognising his contributions to civil society, education, innovation, and arts accessibility.Over the past decade, Mr. Munjal has fostered cross-cultural artistic dialogues through the Serendipity Arts Festival, transforming art into a participatory public experience and positioning the Foundation as a major cultural force in South Asia.
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