NATIONAL AFFAIRS

1. PM Modi Inaugurates India’s First Global Safran MRO Facility & Skyroot Infinity Campus

Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually inaugurated the Safran Aircraft Engine Services India (SAESI) facility, marking a historic leap in domestic aviation infrastructure. Alongside it, he unveiled key space tech hubs in Hyderabad, Telangana.

• Location: GMR Aerospace & Industrial Park – SEZ, Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA), Hyderabad.
• Safran SAESI MRO Facility:
  • Scale & Budget: Spans 45,000 sq. meters with an investment of ₹1,300 crore (USD 145 million).
  • Core Function: Dedicated to the Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) of LEAP (Leading Edge Aviation Propulsion) engines powering Airbus A320neo and Boeing 737 MAX fleets.
• Skyroot Aerospace Expansion:
  • Infinity Campus: A massive 200,000 sq. ft. facility launched for complete rocket design, integration, and testing.
  • Vikram-I Rocket: India's first privately-developed orbital rocket was unveiled. It stands 20 meters tall, carries a 300–350 kg payload capacity to Low Earth Orbit (LEO), and is slated for its maiden launch in 2026.

2. Basic Animal Husbandry Statistics (BAHS) 2025 Released

On National Milk Day, the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD) published its annual BAHS-2025 report, highlighting explosive growth in India's livestock sectors.

• Global Standings: India ranks 1st in milk production and 2nd in egg production globally.

Production & State Rankings (2024-25)

3. Highlights from the 44th India International Trade Fair (IITF 2025)

The 44th IITF concluded its 14-day event at Bharat Mandapam, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi, operating under the central philosophy of 'Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat'.

• Organized By: India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO).
• Key States: Partner States were Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, and Bihar. Focus State was Jharkhand.

IITF 2025 Excellence in Display Awards

Note: Maharashtra received a Special Commendation certificate in the Partner States category.

4. IMD Upgrades Infrastructure with Doppler Weather Radars & Meteorological Museum

Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh launched three landmark sustainable and scientific initiatives for the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

• Doppler Weather Radars (DWRs): Two indigenous solid-state C-band DWRs with a 250 km range were deployed:
  • Raipur (Chhattisgarh): The state's first DWR; improves severe weather forecasts across Central India.
  • Mangaluru (Karnakata): Karnataka's first IMD radar; vital for storm and cyclone tracking along the Arabian Sea.
• Meteorological Museum: Established at Mausam Bhawan, New Delhi, featuring historical weather monitoring instruments and interactive audio-visual showcases to mark IMD’s 150-year journey (established 1875).
• Solar Power Facility: An environmentally clean 771 kWp solar energy network (1,315 panels) installed at Mausam Bhawan by the National Buildings Construction Corporation (NBCC).

5. RailTel Partners with Nokia to Revamp National Optical Transport Network

RailTel Corporation of India entered a technological modernization pact with Nokia Corporation to overhaul its National Long-Distance (NLD) and metro network lines.

• Technology Stack: Implementation of Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing (DWDM) to rapidly multiply data bandwidth over existing optical fibers without laying new cables.
• Hardware Integration: Upgrading with Nokia 1830 Photonic Service Switches (PSS) and Nokia 7750 Service Routers (SR) for high-efficiency IP routing.
• Core Benefit: Standardizes an open, vendor-neutral system layout, vastly reducing foreign exchange outflow and structural operation costs.

6. India and Afghanistan Establish Bilateral Joint Chamber of Commerce

Following high-level talks with Afghan Commerce Minister Alhaj Nooruddin Azizi, India and Afghanistan have agreed to set up a Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

• Strategic Execution: Both nations will station dedicated commercial and trade attachés in their respective embassies in New Delhi and Kabul.
• Logistics Boost: New air-freight transport corridors are being established connecting Kabul with Delhi and Amritsar to bypass transit delays for perishable and high-value commodities.
• Priority Fields: Focuses on textiles, pharmaceuticals, agro-processing, spices, and infrastructure investment.

7. India’s First Indigenous Vessel Traffic Management System (VTMS) Deployed

The Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) has custom-developed and successfully running the nation's first fully indigenous VTMS setup for maritime tracking.

• Development Body: National Technology Centre for Ports, Waterways and Coasts (NTCPWC), IIT Madras, under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW).
• Deployment: Fully functional at the Vizhinjam International Seaport Limited (VISL) in Kerala.
• Value Proposition: Enhances coastal data security and slashes vendor lock-in dependencies on expensive foreign OEM technologies.

8. Telangana Unveils '1 Bio'—India’s First Single-Use Bioprocess Scale-Up Facility

The Government of Telangana, in partnership with central departments and corporate giants, launched 1 Bio at Genome Valley, Hyderabad.

• Funding Split: The Telangana government invested ₹150 crore for core structural units, paired with ₹90 crore from Thermo Fisher Scientific to set up a Bioprocess Design Centre.
• Operational Scale: Features 1.5 lakh sq. ft. of R&D suites designed to support 200–250 researchers annually with single-use bioreactors capacity scaling up to 500 liters.

BANKING & FINANCE

1. Utkarsh SFB & Axis Securities Roll Out Integrated 3-in-1 Account

Utkarsh Small Finance Bank Limited (Utkarsh SFBL) teamed up with Axis Securities to present a seamless financial wealth management asset.

• The Structure: Merges a basic Utkarsh SFBL savings bank account directly with Axis Securities' demat and trading services into a singular user interface.
• Accessibility: Operates multi-channel utility via traditional branch banks, internet networks, and mobile banking layouts to increase financial inclusion.

2. Nepal Releases Disputed NPR 100 Currency Note

The Central Bank of Nepal (Nepal Rastra Bank - NRB) officially issued a new NPR 100 banknote carrying a controversial diplomatic layout.

• The Issue: The note prints the newly revised political map of Nepal containing Kalapani, Lipulekh, and Limpiyadhura inside its boundary lines.
• Current Status: These three territories are administratively controlled by India but remain historically claimed by Nepal.
• Visual Highlights: Features Mount Everest and an Ashoka Pillar watermark stating "Lumbini, the birthplace of Lord Buddha" on the front, and a one-horned rhinoceros on the reverse side.

ECONOMY & BUSINESS

IMF Projects 6.6% India GDP Growth for FY26; Reclassifies FX Regime

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) issued its 'India: 2025 Article IV Consultation' report, outlining steady metrics for the subcontinental market.

• GDP & Inflation Metrics:
  • FY26 GDP Growth: Estimated at 6.6% (slowing slightly to 6.2% in FY27).
  • Inflation Forecast: Expected to dip to 2.8% in FY26 before rebounding closer to 4.0% in FY27.
• Exchange Rate Reclassification: The IMF reclassified India's currency framework from a "stabilized arrangement" to a "crawl-like arrangement", defined as a structure featuring gradual, tightly monitored mini-periodic adjustments.

AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS

Mythological Epic 'Mahavatar Narsimha' Enters Oscars 2026 Race

India's animated mythological feature, Mahavatar Narsimha, has made history by qualifying for the 98th Academy Awards (Oscars 2026) pool.

• The Category: Best Animated Feature Film (competing alongside 34 other global films like Zootopia 2 and The Bad Guys 2).
• Production & Direction: Directed by Ashwin Kumar; produced under Kleem Productions and Hombale Films. It is intended to kickstart a 7-part cinematic universe based on Vishnu's avatars.

APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

• CEC Gyanesh Kumar to Chair IIDEA (2026): India’s Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar will formally assume the chair of the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IIDEA) in Stockholm, Sweden. India is a founding member of this 35-nation inter-governmental forum.
• Paschal Donohoe Named WBG MD & CKO: The World Bank Group named former Irish Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe as its Managing Director and Chief Knowledge Officer, succeeding the retiring Axel van Trotsenburg.

SPORTS

Javokhir Sindarov Wins Historic 11th FIDE Chess World Cup 2025

The 11th edition of the FIDE Chess World Cup concluded at the Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Indoor Stadium in Goa, bringing the premium event to Indian soil after 23 years.

• The Champion: 19-year-old Uzbekistan Grandmaster Javokhir Sindarov became the youngest FIDE World Cup winner in history, besting China's Wei Yi in a rapid tiebreak.
• The Trophy: The official award was renamed the Viswanathan Anand Cup, showcasing a gold-plated brass peacock design.

Final Medal Podiums

• 🥇 Gold: Javokhir Sindarov (Uzbekistan)
• 🥈 Silver: Wei Yi (China)
• 🥉 Bronze: Andrey Esipenko (Russia)

IMPORTANT DAYS & THEMES

1. International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People – November 29

• Historical Legacy: Commemorates UN General Assembly Resolution 181 (II) passed on November 29, 1947, which outlined the Partition Plan for Palestine. First observed globally in 1978.
• 2025 Milestones: The UN held its official "Special Meeting" at its Geneva offices in Switzerland to campaign for humanitarian rights.

2. National Newborn Week – November 15 to 21

• 2025 Theme: “Newborn safety: Every touch, Every time, Every baby.”
• Major Update: Coordinated by the MoHFW, the event marked the release of the updated Facility-Based Newborn Care (FBNC) guidelines—the first major policy revision in 14 years to tackle preventable neonatal mortality.

3. AAI's Aviation Safety Awareness Week – November 24 to 28

• Significance: Conducted by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) across all central airports to run mock drills and elevate navigation safety standards.
• Aviation History Note: India's commercial aviation timeline began in 1911 with a 10-mile mail flight operated by Henri Pequet from Allahabad to Naini.