NATIONAL AFFAIRS

GoI Approves PM’s Awards for Excellence in Public Administration 2025

The Government of India (GoI) has officially approved the Prime Minister’s (PM) Awards for Excellence in Public Administration 2025. The awards recognize and reward exceptional work done by civil servants across the country.

• Presentation Date: April 21, 2026 (Marking Civil Services Day).
• Presenter & Venue: PM Narendra Modi at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi.
• Award Rewards: A trophy, a scroll, and an incentive of ₹20 lakhs to the awarded District or organization for project implementation and welfare needs.

2025 Award Categories

The 2025 awards honor outstanding contributions under three specific categories:

• Category 1 – Holistic Development of Districts: Focuses on overall development and exceptional performance in 11 priority sectors (including drinking water & sanitation, rural/urban housing, health services, maternal & child welfare, agriculture, and nutrition).
  • Total Awards: 5
• Category 2 – Aspirational Blocks Programme (ABP): Honors blocks showing remarkable progress and innovation in areas identified as backward or needing targeted intervention.
  • Total Awards: 5
• Category 3 – Innovations: Conferred for innovative practices developed by Central Ministries/Departments, State Governments, and District Administrations.
  • Total Awards: 6

14th India-Maldives Joint Military Exercise "EKUVERIN 2025" Begins

The Indian Army (IA) and the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) have commenced the 14th edition of their annual bilateral military exercise, EKUVERIN 2025.

• Location: Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.
• Duration: December 2 to 15, 2025 (Two weeks).
• Contingents: A 45-member Indian Army battalion from the Garhwal Rifles and an equally sized contingent from the MNDF.
• Core Focus: Enhancing interoperability and improving Counter-Insurgency/Counter-Terrorism (CI/CT) capabilities in semi-urban, jungle, and coastal terrains through tactical drills and joint operational planning.

                  [ EXERCISE EKUVERIN MECHANISM ]
                  
   "EKUVERIN" = "Friends" in Dhivehi (Maldivian Language)
   ┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
   │  • Conducted annually since 2009 (Alternating)     │
   │  • Aligned with India's 'Neighborhood First' Policy│
   │  • Supports India-led SAGAR Vision                 │
   └────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

Static Facts: Republic of Maldives

• President: Mohamed Muizzu
• Capital: Male
• Currency: Maldivian Rufiyaa (MVR)

Ministry of Tourism Signs MoU with Mastercard for Global Promotion

The Ministry of Tourism (MoT) has inked a two-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Mastercard to position India as a premier international tourism hotspot.

• Objective: Boost digital payments in the tourism sector, curate unique travel experiences, and strengthen the overall tourism ecosystem.
• Mastercard's Role: The global financial firm will leverage its Priceless Experiences Platform to market India’s cultural, spiritual, natural, and culinary assets globally.
• Initial Target Destinations: Curated itineraries will focus heavily on key heritage and tourist hubs like Goa, Varanasi, and Andhra Pradesh.

Bharat Dynamics Secures ₹2,461 Crore Emergency Orders from Indian Army

Defense Public Sector Undertaking (DPSU) Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) has bagged additional defense contracts worth ₹2,461.62 crore from the Indian Army through an emergency procurement route.

• The Order: Supply of Anti-Tank Guided Missiles (ATGMs) and Surface-to-Air Missiles (SAMs).
• ATGM Timeline: Scheduled for execution over 42 months; intended to upgrade the firepower of frontline T-90 tanks utilized by mechanized regiments.
• SAM Timeline: Expected to complete within 12 months, rapidly strengthening India’s air defense shield.

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

India Finishes 8th at WorldSkills Asia Competition 2025 in Taiwan

The Indian contingent made its debut appearance at the 3rd WorldSkills Asia Competition (WSAC 2025) and finished in the top 10 list.

• Venue & Date: Taipei Nangang Exhibition Centre, Taipei, Taiwan | November 27 to 29, 2025.
• India's Tally: Finished 8th out of 29 participating nations with a total of 6 medals (1 Silver, 2 Bronze, and 3 Medallions for Excellence).
• Indian Operations: Led by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) alongside the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC). A total of 23 competitors participated across 21 skill categories.

WSAC 2025 Medal Table Leaders

BANKING & FINANCE

RBI Ombudsman Annual Report 2024-25: Grievances Rise by 13.55%

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) released its annual performance report under the Reserve Bank – Integrated Ombudsman Scheme (RB-IOS), 2021. Total ombudsman complaints crossed the 13 lakh mark in FY25.

Key Data Points

• Volume Surge: Total complaints rose 13.55%, moving from 11,75,075 in FY24 to 13,34,244 in FY25.
• Entity Share: Complaints against Banks formed the largest chunk (81.53%), followed by Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs) at 14.80%.
• Bank Category Breakdown: Private sector banks accounted for the highest share of grievances at 37.53%, while Public Sector Banks (PSBs) stood at 34.80%.
• Top Complaint Drivers: Loans and Advances topped the charts at 29.25%, followed closely by Credit Card grievances which surged by 20.04% YoY.

       [ TOP REGIONAL CONTRIBUTOR RATES ]
       (Complaints received per lakh accounts)
       
  Highest: Chandigarh, Delhi, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Rajasthan
  Lowest:  Mizoram, Nagaland, Ladakh, Manipur, Meghalaya

India & ADB Sign USD 800+ Million Loan for Multi-State Projects

The Government of India and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) signed three independent loan agreements exceeding USD 800 million to catalyze infrastructure, green energy, and skill development across multiple states.

Project Allotment Breakdown

SBI, HDFC Bank, and ICICI Bank Retain D-SIB Status for 2025

The Reserve Bank of India announced that State Bank of India (SBI), HDFC Bank, and ICICI Bank will continue to be classified as Domestic Systemically Important Banks (D-SIBs) for 2025.

• The Bucketing Rule: D-SIBs are identified based on bank size crossing 2% of the national GDP. They are considered "Too Big to Fail" and are assessed on four indicators: Size, Interconnectedness, Complexity, and Lack of Substitutes.
• Additional Capital Buffers: To absorb systemic shocks, these banks must maintain extra Common Equity Tier-1 (CET-1) capital over their Risk-Weighted Assets (RWAs):

┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│             D-SIB CET-1 BUFFER REQUIREMENTS            │
├─────────────┬──────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ SBI         │ 0.80% additional CET-1 requirement       │
├─────────────┼──────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ HDFC Bank   │ 0.40% additional CET-1 requirement       │
├─────────────┼──────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ ICICI Bank  │ 0.20% additional CET-1 requirement       │
└─────────────┴──────────────────────────────────────────┘

SEBI Approves ₹10,000 Crore IPO of ICICI Prudential AMC

The capital markets regulator, SEBI, has cleared the mega ₹10,000 crore Initial Public Offering (IPO) of ICICI Prudential Asset Management Company (AMC).

• Structure: The issue is entirely an Offer for Sale (OFS) by its foreign promoter, Prudential Corporation Holdings (UK). No fresh capital is being raised for the company.
• Stake Adjustment: Prudential UK (which holds 49%) will offload up to 4.94 crore equity shares, while ICICI Bank will fully retain its controlling 51% stake.
• Registrar: KFin Technologies Limited.
• Note: SEBI also approved the IPO filings of Powerica Ltd, Technocraft Ventures, and Annu Projects.

RBI Grants Cross-Border Payment Aggregator License to Razorpay

Fintech unicorn Razorpay has secured the Payment Aggregator – Cross Border (PA-CB-I&O) license from the RBI under the Payment and Settlement Systems (PSS) Act, 2007.

• Operational Scope: Covers both Inward and Outward cross-border money flows.
• Impact: Razorpay can seamlessly process global payments for Indian businesses and enable international entities to pay or operate within India under strict KYC and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) compliances.

ECONOMY & BUSINESS

India’s FDI Inflow Rises 18% to USD 35.18 Billion in H1 FY26

According to data released by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) equity inflows into India registered strong growth during the April–September period of FY25-26.

• H1 Growth: Equity inflows jumped 18% to USD 35.18 billion, compared to USD 29.79 billion in H1 FY25.
• Total FDI: Including equity, reinvested earnings, and other capital, total FDI hit approximately USD 50 billion (up from USD 42.3 billion in the previous period).
• The US Factor: Direct inflows from the United States more than doubled, touching USD 6.62 billion.

  [ FDI LEADERBOARDS: FIRST HALF OF FY26 ]
  
  Top Source Nation : Singapore (USD 11.94 Billion)
  Top Recipient State: Maharashtra (USD 10.57 Billion)
  Top Sector Focus   : Computer Software & Hardware (USD 9 Billion)

OECD Retains India’s FY26 GDP Growth Forecast at 6.7%

The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) released its bi-annual Economic Outlook Report, maintaining steady projections for India's economic growth momentum.

• GDP Growth Forecasts: 6.7% for FY25-26, easing to 6.2% for FY26-27, and recovering slightly to 6.4% for FY27-28.
• Inflation Cool-off: Retail inflation is projected to drop drastically by 100 bps to 1.9% in FY26 and stabilize at 3.4% in FY27—falling well within the RBI's target band.
• Fiscal Deficit Projection: Estimated at 4.5% for FY26, slightly above the Union Government's target of 4.4%.
• Global Baseline: Global growth is projected at 3.2% for 2025 and 2.9% for 2026.

AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS

Armand Duplantis and Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone Named World Athletes of the Year 2025

The World Athletics Awards ceremony held in Monaco honored the standout performers of the tracks and fields for the 2025 season.

• Men's World Athlete of the Year: Swedish pole vault icon Armand "Mondo" Duplantis (Won the title for the 3rd time).
• Women's World Athlete of the Year: American hurdles/sprint sensation Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone (Won the title for the 2nd time).

Other Notable World Athletics Winners

• Rising Stars: Edmund Serem (Kenya - Men's Steeplechase) & Zhang Jiale (China - Women's Field).
• Out of Stadium Athletes: Sabastian Sawe (Kenya) & Maria Perez (Spain).
• Woman of the Year: Kenyan athletics coach Ruth Jepchumba Bundotich, for her contribution to expanding women's athletic structures globally.

Darjeeling Mandarin Orange Receives GI Tag

West Bengal’s local hill-orange variety, the Darjeeling Mandarin Orange (Citrus reticulata Blanco), locally called ‘suntala’, has been granted the prestigious Geographical Indication (GI) Tag.

• Proprietor: The Darjeeling Organic Farmers Producer Organisation (DOFPO), Mirik, West Bengal.
• Facilitators: The application process was driven by Uttar Banga Krishi Vishwavidyalaya (UBKV) and the Patent Information Centre of West Bengal.
• Significance: Protects the unique sweetness and aroma cultivated in the specific soil conditions of the Darjeeling and Kalimpong hills. This marks West Bengal's 33rd GI tag and the Darjeeling region's second horticultural product after the Dalley Khorsani chili.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

DRDO Successfully Tests Tejas Fighter Aircraft Escape System

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) conducted a successful high-speed rocket-sled test of a fighter aircraft's emergency pilot escape system.

• Velocity Achieved: Hit a controlled ground velocity of 800 km/h.
• Facility Used: Rail Track Rocket Sled (RTRS) facility at the Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory (TBRL) in Chandigarh.
• Configuration: Utilized a dual-sled system fitted with the actual fore-body section of the LCA Tejas fighter jet, using an instrumented Anthropomorphic Test Dummy to record pilot safety metrics.
• System Validated: Confirmed flawless function of the Canopy Severance System (CSS), ejection sequencing timing, and complete parachute deployment recovery.

Indian Army Conducts Combat Launch of BrahMos Missile in Bay of Bengal

The Indian Army’s Southern Command, in coordination with the Tri-Services Andaman and Nicobar Command (ANC), executed a successful combat flight trial of the BrahMos Supersonic Cruise Missile.

• Firing Zone: Test range in the Bay of Bengal.
• Technical Parameters Met: The missile maintained supersonic velocities (Mach 2.8 to 3.5) and executed a low-altitude sea-skimming flight profile (10-meter altitude) before striking the designated target with pinpoint accuracy using its indigenous radar seeker.
• Joint Venture Background: BrahMos is built by BrahMos Aerospace, a strategic joint venture between India's DRDO and Russia’s NPO Mashinostroyenia.

IMPORTANT DAYS

International Day for the Abolition of Slavery 2025 – December 2

The United Nations observes December 2 every year to raise global awareness around ending modern slavery (forced labor, human trafficking, child exploitation, and forced marriages).

• 2025 Milestone: Marked the 76th anniversary of the UN Convention for the Suppression of Traffic in Persons (adopted in 1949, enforced in 1951).
• The Crisis Scale: Latest figures from the International Labour Organisation (ILO) estimate that 50 million people worldwide are trapped in modern slavery (28 million in forced labor, 22 million in forced marriage). Nearly one in eight victims are children.

International Day of Persons with Disabilities 2025 – December 3

Observed globally by the UN since 1992 to support and protect the rights, dignity, and socio-economic well-being of Persons with Disabilities (PwDs).

• 2025 Theme: "Fostering disability-inclusive societies for advancing social progress"
• Indian Milestone: On this occasion, President Droupadi Murmu presented the National Awards for the Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities in New Delhi across individual and institutional excellence subcategories.

STATE NEWS

Bihar Launches 'Mukhyamantri Bharat Darshan Yojana' for Secondary Students

Bihar Education Minister Sunil Kumar announced the expansion of the state's educational tourism program by unveiling the 'Mukhyamantri Bharat Darshan Yojana'.

• Target Group: Enrolled students of state-run/government secondary schools.
• Objective: Move beyond the existing state-centric boundaries (Mukhyamantri Bihar Darshan Yojana) to provide students with pan-India experiential learning tours covering major historical, cultural, and natural heritage spots to promote national integration.