NATIONAL AFFAIRS

1. MoFAHD Notifies Rules for Sustainable Harnessing of Fisheries in India's EEZ

The Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying (MoFAHD) has officially notified the “Sustainable Harnessing of Fisheries in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)” Rules, 2025. The framework fulfills a major Union Budget 2025–26 commitment to secure India's marine potential sustainably.

• Effective Date: The rules were notified under the Territorial Waters, Continental Shelf, Exclusive Economic Zone and Other Maritime Zones Act, 1976, and came into force on November 4, 2025.
• Priority Access: The framework prioritizes Fishermen Cooperative Societies and Fish Farmer Producer Organizations (FFPOs) for deep-sea fishing and advanced vessel operations.
• Mandatory Access Pass: Mechanized and motorized fishing vessels measuring 24 meters or more must obtain an Access Pass via the ReALCRaft (Registration And Licensing of Fishing Craft) portal. Issued under the Merchant Shipping Act, 1958, the pass is valid for 3 years and requires renewal 30 days before expiry.
• Ban on Destructive Practices: Harmful fishing methods, including Light Emitting Diode (LED) light fishing, pair trawling, and bull trawling, are strictly prohibited.
• The "Mother-and-Child" Concept: Introduces an innovative mid-sea transshipment concept to assist fishing operations in distant island regions.

2. Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan Launches ‘Watershed Mahotsav‘ in Guntur

Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD), alongside MoS Dr. Pemmasani Chandrasekhar, launched the national ‘Watershed Mahotsav’ in Guntur, Andhra Pradesh. The event celebrates community-led water rejuvenation and sustainable rural transformation.

• Organizers: Conducted by the Department of Land Resources (DoLR), MoRD, in collaboration with the Government of Andhra Pradesh as part of the National Watershed Conference (November 10–11, 2025).
• Vengalayapalem Tank Rejuvenation: The ministers inaugurated the revival of a 150-year-old, 21-acre water tank in Guntur, developed at a cost of ₹1.20 crore under the WDC-PMKSY scheme as a participatory model.
• Key Mission Launches:
  • Mission Watershed Punarutthaan: Rolled out to restore degraded landscapes.
  • Digital Bhumi Poojan & Project Lokarpan: Groundbreaking and dedication ceremonies for community water conservation works.
  • Watershed Jan Bhagidari Cup 2025: Awards presented to leading communities in water conservation.

3. JSW Energy Commissions India’s Largest Green Hydrogen Plant in Karnataka

JSW Energy Limited has successfully commissioned its first—and India's largest—green hydrogen manufacturing plant at Vijayanagar, Karnataka. The facility was built under Tranche-I of the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme of the National Green Hydrogen Mission.

• Industrial Supply Array: The plant will supply 3,800 Tons Per Annum (TPA) of green hydrogen and 30,000 TPA of green oxygen to JSW Steel’s Direct Reduced Iron (DRI) unit for low-carbon green steel production under a 7-year agreement.
• SIGHT Program Allocation: The project leverages a 6,800 TPA capacity allocation under the Strategic Interventions for Green Hydrogen Transition (SIGHT) program managed by SECI.
• Scaling Up to 2030: JSW Energy signed an MoU with JSW Steel to scale up deliveries to 85,000–90,000 TPA of green hydrogen by 2030. The company targets a total of 30 GW generation capacity and 40 GWh of energy storage by FY30.

4. NSO PLFS Report: India’s Unemployment Rate Declines to 5.2% in Q2FY26

The National Statistical Office (NSO), under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI), released its Quarterly Bulletin of the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) for July–September 2025.

• Unemployment Rate (UR): India’s overall UR for individuals aged 15 and above dropped by 20 basis points to 5.2% in Q2FY26, down from 5.4% in Q1FY26.
• Rural vs. Urban Split: Rural unemployment decreased from 4.8% to 4.4%, while urban unemployment saw a marginal increase from 6.8% to 6.9%.
• State-Wise Metrics: Uttarakhand recorded the highest unemployment rate at 8.9%, followed closely by Andhra Pradesh (8.2%) and Kerala (8%).
• Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR): Rose slightly to 55.1%. Female participation showed positive momentum, improving to 33.7%, while male participation dipped slightly to 77.2%.
• Sector Employment: Agriculture continues to be the largest employer at 42.4%, followed by the tertiary (services) sector at 33.5% and the secondary (manufacturing/mining) sector at 24.2%.

5. NHA Renews MoU with DHR and ICMR for Evidence-Based Healthcare Delivery

The National Health Authority (NHA) renewed its trilateral Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Department of Health Research (DHR) and the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) to optimize healthcare resource allocation.

• Significance: Originally initiated in 2019, the partnership utilizes Health Technology Assessment (HTA) to enhance quality, control clinical costs, and streamline operations under AB-PMJAY and ABDM.
• Focus Areas: Scaling up the National Costing Initiative and implementing standardized clinical pathways.
• Digital Health Evaluation: HTAIn (Health Technology Assessment India) will evaluate AI-based diagnostics, Electronic Health Records (EHRs), and telemedicine platforms to ensure high affordability and accessibility.

6. Collins Aerospace Opens USD 100 Million Manufacturing Hub in Bengaluru

Aerospace and defense titan Collins Aerospace (a subsidiary of US-based RTX Corporation) has inaugurated the Collins India Operations Center (CIOC) at the KIADB Aerospace Park in Bengaluru, Karnataka.

• Financial Scope: Represents a USD 100 million investment, forming a core part of RTX's broader USD 250 million expansion blueprint in India.
• Production Portfolio: The center will manufacture aircraft seating, advanced cabin lighting, cargo systems, temperature sensors, communication/navigation kits, and emergency evacuation slides.
• Tech Integration: The facility is embedded with cutting-edge industry 4.0 systems, including robotics, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and additive manufacturing (3D printing).

7. India’s First Modern River Ferry Terminal Inaugurated in Guwahati

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman inaugurated the Guwahati Gateway Terminal and Jetty, marking India’s first state-of-the-art modern river ferry terminal built on the banks of the Brahmaputra River in Assam.

• Infrastructure & Cost: Developed by the Assam Inland Water Transport Development Society (AIWTDS) at a cost of ₹304.95 crore, backed by an USD 88 million loan from the World Bank.
• Capacity: Designed with a 180-meter jetty capable of handling six modern catamaran vessels simultaneously, complete with a 100-seat passenger lounge and observation decks to reduce urban road congestion.
• Riverfront Development: The Minister also launched the Brahmaputra Riverfront Development Project (Sati Radhika Shaanti Udyan), a 1.2 km cultural promenade built under the Smart City Mission for over ₹327 crore.

8. MeitY Secretary Launches “Cyber Bharat Setu” Exercise in Tripura

S. Krishnan, Secretary of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), inaugurated the national cybersecurity workshop “Cyber Bharat Setu: Bridging States, Securing Bharat” in Agartala, Tripura.

• The Collaboration: Organized by the Directorate of Information Technology (DIT), Government of Tripura, alongside CERT-In.
• Tripura Cyber Security Policy 2025 (TCSP 2.0): Formally launched during the event to secure state ICT/IT infrastructure with a resilient, citizen-centric framework.
• Awareness Campaign: Initiated the Tripura Cyber Security Awareness Month 2025 featuring the cybersecurity mascot "Raksha Mitra" to encourage robust cyber hygiene among citizens.

9. India's First MWh-Scale Vanadium Redox Flow Battery Inaugurated at NTPC NETRA

Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar (Ministry of Power) inaugurated India’s largest and first MegaWatt-hour (MWh) scale Vanadium Redox Flow Battery (VRFB) system at NTPC’s Energy Technology Research Alliance (NETRA) in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh.

• System Capacity: Features a 3 MWh long-duration energy storage capacity.
• Technology Edge: Unlike conventional lithium-ion setups, VRFB stores energy in liquid vanadium electrolytes. This provides significantly higher thermal safety, extreme scalability, and a longer operational lifecycle for balancing renewable energy grids.

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

10. President Droupadi Murmu Commences Historical State Visit to Angola

President Droupadi Murmu undertook a historic four-day official visit to Angola (November 8–11, 2025), marking the first-ever visit by an Indian President to the nation, coinciding with the 40th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic relations.

• Key Engagements: Held comprehensive bilateral discussions with Angolan President João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço and became the first Indian head of state to address the National Assembly of Angola in Luanda.
• Bilateral Agreements Signed:
  1. An MoU on Fisheries and Aquaculture between MoFAHD (India) and the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources (Angola) for capacity building and joint research.
  2. An MoU between the MEA (India) and the Ministry of External Relations (Angola) to upgrade consular and citizen support systems.
• Line of Credit: India proposed a USD 200 million Line of Credit (LoC) to Angola to fund joint ventures across the defense and energy infrastructure sectors.

11. India-Vietnam Bilateral Army Exercise 'VINBAX 2025' Begins in Hanoi

The 6th edition of the Vietnam-India Bilateral Army Exercise (VINBAX 2025) has commenced at the National Military Training Centre 4 in Hanoi, Vietnam.

• Personnel & Structure: The 18-day tactical exercise (November 11–27, 2025) involves 300 personnel from the Indian Army (Engineer Regiment and Medical Corps under the Southwestern Command) and the Vietnam People’s Army (VPA).
• Strategic Blueprint: Part of India’s active Act East Policy, focusing on cross-training engineering tasks, medical medical support setups, and UN Peacekeeping operational layouts.

BANKING & FINANCE

12. RBI Recognizes SRPA as the SRO for Payment System Operators

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has formally recognized the Self-Regulated Payment System Operators Association (SRPA) as the official Self-Regulatory Organization (SRO) for Payment System Operators (PSOs) in the country.

• Mandated Role: The SRPA will govern industry ethics, establish professional behavior parameters, resolve inter-PSO conflicts, and serve as a unified gateway for policy dialogues with the RBI under the PSS Act, 2007.
• Prominent Members: Includes key industry players like Razorpay, PhonePe, BillDesk, CRED, and Infibeam Avenues.
• Current SRO Landscape: This brings India’s recognized SRO count to four, joining Sa-Dhan and MFIN (Microfinance), FACE (Fintech), and FIDC (NBFCs).

ECONOMY & BUSINESS

13. IndiGo Signs Codeshare Agreement with China Southern Airlines

InterGlobe Aviation Limited (IndiGo) has signed a codeshare and mutual cooperation partnership with China Southern Airlines to boost business and travel connectivity between India and China.

• Operational Benefits: Passengers gain access to single-ticket itineraries, streamlined check-ins, and shared network options.
• Route Resumption: Aligns with the restoration of direct air connectivity between the nations, including IndiGo's daily flights connecting Delhi–Guangzhou and Kolkata–Guangzhou. This marks IndiGo’s 13th international codeshare alliance.

AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS

14. Tamil Nadu's Kovalam Beach Retains Blue Flag Status for 5th Straight Year

Kovalam Beach in the Chengalpattu district of Tamil Nadu has successfully retained its international Blue Flag Certification for the fifth consecutive year (2025–26).

• Background: Kovalam became the first beach in Tamil Nadu to earn this global eco-label from Denmark's Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) in September 2021. It evaluates locations on 33 parameters across water quality, environmental management, and safety.
• Expansion Blueprint: Driven by Kovalam's success (which saw over 5.5 lakh tourists in FY25), Tamil Nadu has nominated 10 new beaches for certification, including Marina and Palavakkam in Chennai.
• National Count: India’s total tally of Blue Flag-certified clean eco-beaches stands at 18, following the addition of 5 beaches from Maharashtra.

APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

15. Shailesh Chandra Elected as First Indian President of OICA

Shailesh Chandra, the current President of the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) and MD & CEO of Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles, has been elected President of the Organization Internationale des Constructeurs d’Automobiles (OICA).

• Significance: He is the first Indian to lead this Paris-headquartered global federation of motor vehicle manufacturers since its inception in 1919.
• Succession: He succeeds John Bozzella (USA), while Hildegard Muller (President of Germany’s VDA) was elected as the Vice-President of OICA.

16. Egypt's Khaled El-Enany Elected as Director-General of UNESCO

Renowned Egyptologist and former Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Khaled El-Enany, has been elected as the 12th Director-General of UNESCO for a four-year term (2025–2029).

• The Vote: Secured a dominant victory with 172 out of 174 votes during the 43rd General Conference held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.
• Historical Milestone: He succeeds France's Audrey Azoulay, becoming the first Arab Director-General and only the second African leader to head UNESCO.

17. Vivek Singla Appointed as MD & CEO of Power Exchange India Limited

Power Exchange India Limited (PXIL), India's premier institutionally promoted power exchange marketplace (backed by the NSE and NCDEX), has appointed Vivek Singla as its new Managing Director and CEO.

• Profile: Singla boasts over 35 years of energy sector leadership, previously heading the Green Hydrogen & Transmission branches at ReNew Power. He succeeds Satyajit Ganguly.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

18. ISRO Successfully Executes Critical Gaganyaan Parachute Test (IMAT)

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully carried out an Integrated Main Parachute Airdrop Test (IMAT) for the Gaganyaan Crew Module at the Babina Field Firing Range in Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh.

• The Drop Drill: An Indian Air Force (IAF) Ilyushin IL-76 heavy transport aircraft dropped a simulated crew module mass from an altitude of 2.5 km to test real-world landing dynamics.
• Parachute System Complexity: The Gaganyaan deceleration module employs a system of 10 distinct parachutes spanning 4 categories:
  • Apex Cover Separation Parachutes: Disengage the outer protective shell.
  • Drogue Parachutes: Stabilize and reduce velocity.
  • Pilot Parachutes: Pull out and deploy the final trio of massive Main Parachutes.
• Off-Nominal Validation: The trial simulated an asymmetric dis-reefing case where one main parachute opened late, proving the canopy's structural strength under uneven, high-stress landing conditions.
• Inter-Agency Support: Co-developed alongside the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) and the Aerial Delivery Research and Development Establishment (ADRDE) of the DRDO.

IMPORTANT DAYS

19. National Education Day 2025 – November 11

India celebrates National Education Day annually on November 11 to honor the birth anniversary of Maula Abul Kalam Azad, a visionary freedom fighter and the first Education Minister of independent India. The year 2025 marks his 137th birth anniversary.

STATE NEWS

20. Gujarat Initiates India’s First Tribal-Focused Genome Database Mapping

The Government of Gujarat, through the Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre (GBRC), has launched a landmark genome sequencing project focused entirely on indigenous tribal communities. The project launch coincides with the state observing 2025 as the 'Tribal Pride Year' to honor the 150th birth anniversary of Bhagwan Birsa Munda.

• Project Goal: Constructing the 'Creation of Reference Genome Database for Tribal Population', isolating DNA characteristics from 31 distinct endogamous tribal groups across 11 districts.
• Healthcare Application: Will map unique genetic variations to design efficient, targeted prenatal screening and therapeutic panels for eradicating hereditary blood disorders, notably Sickle Cell Anaemia and G6PD deficiency. It integrates into India's wider national Genome India Project.