National Affairs

PM Modi Commemorates Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas; Launches ₹9,700 Crore Projects in Gujarat

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas programme in Dediapada town, located in the tribal-dominated Narmada district of Gujarat, marking the 150th birth anniversary of revered tribal freedom fighter Bhagwan Birsa Munda. During the event, the PM unveiled development projects worth over ₹9,700 crore.

• Govind Guru Chair: The PM announced the establishment of the Shri Govind Guru Chair for Tribal Language Promotion Centre (TLPC) in Narmada district to preserve indigenous languages.
• Housing & Infrastructure: Modi participated in the Grih Pravesh (house-warming) of 1 lakh houses constructed under PM-JANMAN and the Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan (DA-JAGUA).
• Education & Community: He inaugurated 42 Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) built at a cost of ₹1,900 crore, alongside 228 multi-purpose community centres. Additionally, the foundation stone was laid for 50 new EMRSs valued at ₹2,320 crore.
• Connectivity: The foundation stone was laid for 748 km of new roads, and 250 specialized buses were flagged off to connect 14 tribal districts across Gujarat.

MoHFW Celebrates Amrit Pharmacy’s 10th Anniversary with 10 New Outlets

Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare J.P. Nadda inaugurated the 10th Anniversary Celebrations of AMRIT (Affordable Medicines and Reliable Implants for Treatment) Pharmacy at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.

• Affordable Healthcare: AMRIT pharmacies drastically lower healthcare costs by offering life-saving and essential medicines at discounts ranging from 50% to 90%, heavily benefiting low-income patients.
• Network Expansion: The ministry inaugurated 10 new AMRIT outlets across the country. The very first AMRIT outlet was launched at AIIMS New Delhi on November 15, 2015.
• Commemorative Launch: A customized 'My Stamp' was released in collaboration with India Post to honor the milestone.

India Skills Report 2026: Employability Reaches 56.35%; Women Surpass Men

The 13th edition of the India Skills Report (2026) has been jointly released by the Educational Testing Service (ETS), CII, AICTE, AIU, and Taggd. The data shows a decisive shift toward a skill-first economy dominated by digital tools and AI integration.

• Employability Milestone: India’s overall employability rate rose to 56.35% (up from 54.81% previously).
• Gender Milestone: For the first time in five years, women's employability (54%) surpassed men's employability (51.5%), championed by hybrid workspace structures and targeted digital training.
• The Rise of AI & Gig Talents: India currently holds 16% of global AI talent, a pool expected to expand to 1.25 million professionals by 2027. Over 90% of employees use Generative AI tools at work. Additionally, India's freelance/gig workforce is projected to climb to 23.5 million workers by 2030.
• Top Geographies: Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Karnataka emerged as the top three states with the highest overall employability. Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities like Lucknow, Kochi, and Chandigarh are bridging the rural-urban gap as new talent hubs.

Oil PSUs Sign Historic Contract to Import 2.2 MTPA of LPG from the USA

Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL), Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL), and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) have signed a landmark one-year structured contract to import approximately 2.2 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) of Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) for 2026 from United States suppliers.

• First-Ever Direct Long-Term Deal: This marks India’s first-ever structured, long-term LPG purchase agreement directly from the USA, shifting away from previous one-time spot shipments.
• Supply Security: The deal represents nearly 10% of India’s annual LPG imports. The supply will source from the US Gulf Coast with pricing pegged against the Mont Belvieu benchmark.
• Import Dynamics: India currently relies on imports to fulfill 65% of its domestic LPG demand (local production satisfies only 35%). While the Gulf region (Qatar, UAE, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia) remains the dominant supplier, the US contract significantly diversifies India's energy grid.

IPC Partners with Jharkhand State Pharmacy Council for Medicine Safety

The Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC), an autonomous body under the MoHFW, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Jharkhand State Pharmacy Council (JSPC) to optimize medicine safety and drive pharmacovigilance across the state.

• Capacity Upgrades: The groups will train registered pharmacists on Adverse Drug Reaction (ADR) reporting, pharmacovigilance (monitoring drug safety), and materiovigilance (monitoring medical device safety).
• Standardized Dispensing: The agreement heavily promotes the National Formulary of India (NFI) as the core reference tool for pharmacists to support rational drug dispensing.

Asia’s Largest Elevated Metro Depot Opened in Mumbai

The state-of-the-art Mandale Depot for Mumbai Metro Line 2B has been officially inaugurated, standing out as Asia’s largest and first completely elevated metro facility.

• Scale and Scope: Spanning 32 hectares, the dual-level structure was built by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA). It supports Metro Line 2B, a 23.6 km elevated route connecting DN Nagar (Andheri West) to Mandale (Mankhurd East).
• Advanced Features: The depot holds India’s longest test track (965 meters) for advanced high-speed train trials and accommodates up to 72 rakes. Operations are driven by a round-the-clock G+3 Depot Control Centre.
• Green Infrastructure: The eco-friendly depot includes a 175 kilolitre per day (KLD) effluent and sewage treatment system for water recycling alongside noise and dust suppression technology.

Goa Police Records India’s First 100% Cyber Fraud Response Rate

The Goa Police has made law enforcement history by becoming the first state police force in India to achieve a 100% initial response rate for all cyber fraud-related complaints.

• Every Case Answered: This milestone implies that every cyber complaint filed in the state is instantly acknowledged, logged, assigned to an investigator, and actively tracked until resolution or escalation.
• System Integration: This operational efficiency is driven by the Citizen Financial Cyber Fraud Reporting & Management System (CFCFRMS). Real-time alerts are routed instantly from the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal (NCRP) and the Cyber Fraud Helpline (1930) directly to banks to freeze fraudulent transactions before money is withdrawn.

International Affairs

India-France Bilateral Air Exercise ‘Garuda’ Commences

The Indian Air Force (IAF) and the French Air and Space Force (FASF) kicked off the 8th edition of Exercise 'Garuda' at the Mont-de-Marsan Air Base in France. The exercise runs from November 16 to November 27.

• Fleet Participation: The IAF deployed its Su-30MKI fighter jets, supported strategically by C-17 Globemaster III airlifters and IL-78 mid-air refueling tankers. The French forces are operating their flagship Rafale and multirole fighter aircraft.
• Operational Focus: The exercises simulate high-intensity combat scenarios, focusing on complex air-to-air combat, comprehensive air defense, and joint tactical strike missions.
• Historical Legacy: Launched in 2003 with its inaugural edition at Air Force Station Gwalior, Exercise Garuda alternates hosts between India and France to deepen the bilateral strategic partnership established in 1998.

3rd International Ayurveda Conference Hosted in Sao Paulo, Brazil

Dinesh Bhatia, the Ambassador of India to Brazil, officially inaugurated the 3rd International Ayurveda Conference in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The event was jointly coordinated by the Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre (SVCC) and Conayur Sao Paulo.

• Four Decades of Practice: The 2025 conference celebrated a major milestone—40 years of formal Ayurveda practice in Brazil, which was the very first South American country to officially recognize the traditional Indian medical system.
• Theme: Conducted under the framework of "Diversity and Inclusion in Ayurveda: Caring for Everybody and Every Being", the conference was patronized by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR).
• Global Road Ahead: The event sets the stage for the upcoming WHO-Ministry of AYUSH Global Summit on Traditional Medicine, slated for mid-December in New Delhi.

Awards & Recognitions

Union Minister Confers 'Son of the Soil Awards' in Assam

Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal (Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways) presented the 5th Biennial Son of the Soil Awards during a special ceremony organized by Care Luit in Tezpur, Assam. Originally instituted in 2016, these awards celebrate local talent driving community growth in Assam.

Science City Kolkata’s Climate Gallery Wins International CIMUSET Award

The interactive climate change gallery "On the Edge?" located at Science City, Kolkata, has won the prestigious CIMUSET Award. The accolade was presented during the 27th International Council of Museums (ICOM) General Conference held in Dubai, UAE.

• Mass Outreach: The 10,000-square-foot gallery was built under the National Council of Science Museums (NCSM) and Ministry of Culture. Since its inauguration, it has recorded over one million visitors and drawn 60,000 students into climate literacy programs.
• Immersive tech: The gallery blends human-induced climate change education with cutting-edge AR/VR modules and interactive LED display walls.
• About CIMUSET: This body recognizes science and technology centers worldwide that use innovative, community-centric projects to satisfy the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda.

Appointments & Resignations

Actress Keerthy Suresh Named UNICEF India Celebrity Advocate

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) India has officially appointed National Award-winning actress Keerthy Suresh as its new Celebrity Advocate.

• Advocacy Agenda: In her institutional role, she will advocate for crucial child rights issues, focusing on adolescent mental health, gender equality, the empowerment of young girls, and inclusive education.
• Profile: Keerthy Suresh has a celebrated career spanning Tamil, Telugu, and Malayalam cinema. She won the National Film Award for Best Actress in 2018 for her performance in the biopic Mahanati.

Science & Technology

India’s First Indigenous High-Precision Diode Laser Unveiled

Union Minister of State Dr. Jitendra Singh launched India’s first indigenous high-precision and compact diode laser at the Emerging Science, Technology and Innovation Conclave (ESTIC) held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.

• Quantum Cybersecurity: The breakthrough compact laser natively supports quantum-encrypted communications via Quantum Key Distribution (QKD), offering ironclad cybersecurity layers for high-value banking and financial data networks.
• Development & Support: The tool was engineered by Prenishq Private Limited, an deep-tech startup incubated at IIT-Delhi and backed directly by the National Quantum Mission (NQM) and the Department of Science and Technology (DST).
• Form Factor: The plug-and-play device features integrated driver electronics and a low-power, small form-factor profile designed for immediate rollout across advanced research labs and industrial tech systems.

Obituaries

Environmental Pioneer "Vriksha Mata" Saalumarada Thimmakka Passes Away at 114

Padma Shri recipient and legendary environmentalist Saalumarada Thimmakka, widely revered across the globe as the "Tree Woman of India" or "Vriksha Mata", passed away in Bengaluru, Karnataka, at the remarkable age of 114.

• An Unparalleled Legacy: Lacking formal resources, Thimmakka and her late husband pioneered massive highway afforestation by planting and meticulously nurturing 385 banyan trees along a hot 4.5 km stretch between Hulikal and Kudur. Over her long lifetime, she planted more than 8,000 trees across Karnataka.
• Honors: She was awarded the National Citizen's Award in 1995 and received the civilian Padma Shri from the President of India in 2019. Her life work inspired the founding of the US-based environmental group TREE (Thimmakka's Resources for Environmental Education).

Veteran Bollywood Star Kamini Kaushal Passes Away at 98

Acclaimed classic film actress Kamini Kaushal (born Uma Kashyap) passed away at the age of 98 in Mumbai, Maharashtra. Her career inside the Indian film industry spanned over seven decades.

• Cannes Trailblazer: She made her professional debut in Chetan Anand’s landmark film Neecha Nagar (1946), which won the Grand Prix (now the Palme d'Or) at the first-ever Cannes Film Festival. This achievement marked the first time an Indian film garnered major international critical acclaim.
• Filmography & Awards: She starred in defining post-independence classics like Do Bhai, Shaheed, and Ziddi. In later years, she featured in modern blockbusters like Chennai Express (2013) and Kabir Singh (2019). She won the Filmfare Award for Best Actress in 1956 (Biraj Bahu) and was honored with the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award in 2015.

Important Days

World Usability Day — November 13

Celebrated globally on the second Thursday of November, World Usability Day (also known as "Make Things Easier Day") advocates for user-friendly design and technological accessibility.

• 2025 Theme: "Emerging Technologies and Human Experience"
• Focus: Investigates how emerging systems like Artificial Intelligence, automation, and virtual reality can be responsibly engineered using human-centered design principles.

International Day Against Transnational Organized Crime — November 15

The United Nations observed the 2nd annual International Day for the Prevention of and Fight Against All Forms of Transnational Organized Crime (TOC).

• 2025 Theme: "Follow the Money. Stop Organized Crime"
• Historical Context: Established via UNGA Resolution 78/267 in 2024, the date commemorates the historic adoption of the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC), widely known as the Palermo Convention, signed on November 15, 2000.

National Press Day — November 16

National Press Day is observed annually across India to honor the day the Press Council of India (PCI) officially commenced its institutional operations as a statutory, quasi-judicial watchdog to safeguard press freedom and media ethics.

• 2025 Theme: "Safeguarding Press Credibility amidst Rising Misinformation"
• Key Event: Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw (Ministry of Information and Broadcasting) led the central celebrations at the National Media Centre in New Delhi, emphasizing the critical need to preserve journalistic standards in the digital age.