English

UPSC/KPSC Current Affairs: 9th & 10th November 2025

Centre rules out Kuki-Zo groups’ demand for U.T.
The demand rose in talks with Home Ministry on Nov. 7; insurgent groups told the officials that coexistence within Manipur was no longer possible; Centre terms the proposal ‘unacceptable’
Kuki-Zo insurgent groups in Manipur on Saturday said that they held talks with the Union Home Ministry this week, “focusing on the core demand for a Union Territory with a Legislative Assembly” for Kuki-Zo areas, insisting that “coexistence” within the State was not possible.

This comes just two months after the groups signed a Suspension of Operations (SoO) pact with the Union and State governments.

However, the Centre’s representative in the talks said it was not possible to accept their demand, according to both the insurgent groups and a Ministry source.

The two umbrella groups — the Kuki National Organisation (KNO) and the United People’s Front (UPF) — said the talks were held on November 6 and 7, with the MHA being represented by its Northeast Adviser, A.K. Mishra.

In a statement, the SoO groups said that on November 6, the discussions centred on the implementation of the September 4 tripartite agreement, where they demanded that the administration and governance issues in Kuki-Zo inhabited districts should be addressed. “The second day (November 7) focused on the political demand for U.T. with legislature,” the statement said.

According to the SoO groups, Mr. Mishra reiterated that the current policy does not support creation of new Union Territories. He stressed the need for consultations with other communities in Manipur, they said.

An MHA source said that talks with the insurgent groups will continue, to find a negotiated political solution in consultation with all communities, but the demand for a U.T. with legislature was not possible.

The talks covered issues of land, forests, customs, and development, along with mutual confidence-building measures to be pursued alongside the regular political dialogue, the groups said. They urged the MHA to take concrete steps to protect traditional tribal land rights.

“They also urged Government to remove administrative hurdles related to the succession of village chiefs after their demise, and to simplify procedures for land registration and deed processing, which currently require travel to Imphal—an area that has become inaccessible and unsafe for the Kuki-Zo community since the outbreak of ethnic violence,” the SoO groups said.

On September 4, the MHA had announced that the tripartite pact, in limbo since February 2024, had been signed with renegotiated terms and new ground rules. The new terms said that security forces would conduct verification of cadres, de-list and deport foreign nationals, and the relocation of camps run by the insurgent groups. The September 4 agreement, the latest version of the SoO pact in place since 2008, reiterated the territorial integrity of Manipur but inserted a new clause: “negotiated political settlement within Constitution of India.”

The pact had been periodically extended annually until February 29, 2024 when the Manipur government refused to extend the tripartite pact following the eruption of ethnic violence between the tribal Kuki-Zo and Meitei people on May 3, 2023. Former Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh had claimed that the SoO groups had violated the ground rules of the pact. Before May 3, 2023, the SoO groups had been demanding autonomous territorial councils within Manipur. Post-violence, however, the demands have changed.

On Saturday, the SoO groups said that they had highlighted the historical justifications for their political demand, noting that the Kuki-Zo Hills had never been under the control of the Manipur State Durbar before Independence.

Ahead of COP, India says it will join forest protection initiative
At the Leaders’ Summit in Belem, Brazil, where heads of state have converged ahead of the climate conference beginning Monday, India said it would join the Tropical Forest Forever Facility (TFFF) as an ‘Observer’.

The TFFF is the latest measure drummed up to incentivise global finance to invest in limiting net global carbon emissions. The plan is that countries with tropical forests are paid annually for keeping their forests standing. A secretariat called the TFFF and an investment fund called the Tropical Forest Investment Fund will invest sponsor money in emerging market bonds and avoid fossil fuels, coal, and any sector linked to deforestation.

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva called on world leaders to establish a road map to end dependence on fossil fuels, and honour international commitments by 2030 to triple renewable energy capacity and double energy efficiency.

Dinesh Bhatia, India’s Ambassador to Brazil, called TFFF a “significant step” towards collective global action for the preservation of tropical forests.

The TFFF offers a new, budget-neutral model of nature financing that rewards countries protecting forests yearly with $4 per hectare protected. Investors’ initial contributions are invested by the TFIF, and the returns on those investments are used to pay back the original investors in full.

Brazil, the COP30 host, has announced a $1 billion contribution, and Colombia has pitched in with $250 million. France, China, and the UAE have expressed support but have not made financial commitments.

It is essential for countries to leave Belém with NDCs (Nationally Determined Contributions) aligned with the 1.5°C mission committed to in Dubai, Mr. da Silva said.

The Brazilian President also launched the Belém commitment to quadruple the use of sustainable fuels by 2035 and emphasised the need for debt-for-climate swaps to support developing nations.

From 2005 to 2020, India reduced the emission intensity of GDP by 36%, Indian Ambassador Bhatia said.

India had expanded its forest and tree cover, Mr. Bhatia said, and the additional carbon sink of 2.29 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalent was created between 2005 and 2021. He reiterated India’s position that affordable finance, technology access, and capacity-building were essential for implementing ambitious climate targets in developing countries.

State to introduce AI as part of reforms for district judiciary
As the use of artificial intelligence (AI) spreads across sectors, the Karnataka government is coming up with a legislation to allow use of AI to streamline the justice delivery system in the district judiciary.

This is expected to enhance speed, accuracy, transparency, accessibility and objectivity in judicial process.

The implementation of AI will be a coordinated effort between the State government and the Karnataka High Court under the proposed “Karnataka District Judiciary Reforms Bill, 2025”, which covers other aspects of judiciary reforms too. The legislation will allow AI to be implemented in case filing and registration, case management, legal research assistance, document processing and predictive analytics for administration.

With fast track courts

The AI-driven measure is proposed along with the proposed establishment of fast track courts. Cases involving farmers, unemployed, job deprived people, agrarian disputes including land, agricultural loans, crop insurance and tenancy issues, is proposed to be transferred to fast track courts that are expected to dispose of cases within 12 months.

“The Bill had come before the Cabinet but had been deferred. The Finance Department is yet to give approval for setting up of proposed fast track courts. It is likely to be tabled in the ensuing Winter Session of the Legislature,” a government source said.

According to sources, the district judiciary reforms had been pending for sometime, and that Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H.K. Patil had taken interest by holding consultation before the draft was formulated. “The legislation will be in line with latest technology development, but with enough safeguards,” the source said.

Safeguards

As part of the safeguard against the misuse, the proposed legislation bars district judiciary from using AI system to predict, recommend or influence the outcome of judicial decision and AI inputs cannot be treated as evidence or legal opinion. To ensure data protection and confidentiality, the AI system to be used should comply with standards of data security, privacy and confidentiality that will be prescribed by the High Court. The proposed legislation bars sharing of any personal or sensitive judicial data with any external agency without the High Court’s approval. The AI digital audit trail will be maintained, and the High Court will prepare and lay before the legislature an annual AI utilisation and impact report, the Bill says.

As per the proposed provision, the High Court will constitute an artificial intelligence and judicial innovation committee to oversee deployment, ethical use and periodic auditing of AI tools in the justice delivery system. To impart training, the Karnataka Judicial Academy will have training modules in AI literacy, digital ethics and technology assisted adjudication.

Other reforms

The Bill also seeks to establish Bureau of District Judicial Reforms, a permanent body that will review and recommend reforms in recruitment, training, infrastructure, case management and performance evaluation. Among others, it will recommend integration of technology such as AI assisted screening, to expedite selection of judges, prepare list of vacancy every year and anticipated vacancy for four years.

The Bill also proposes the State government to take up construction of at least 500 new court halls and 300 residential units for judicial officers by 2050 in underserved taluks.

Regulation of adjournments and norms for injunction
The Hindu Bureau Bengaluru
To prevent unnecessary adjournments, Civil Procedure Code Karnataka Amendment Act, 2025, is proposed to be adhered to strictly. As per the provision of the proposed Bill, adjournments must be requested in writing with reasons, and if the reasons are found to be frivolous, the court could impose a minimum fine of ₹5,000. Repeated adjournments will be flagged and annual report on adjournment rates per court will be generated and submitted to the High Court. Judges with low adjournment rate will be eligible for performance incentive.

The Bill also lays down guidelines for passing injunctions and stay orders in cases involving public interest and safety.

PM flags off Vande Bharat trains on four new routes
Modi launches Varanasi-Khajuraho Vande Bharat train in Varanasi, along with three newservices on the Ernakulam-Bengaluru, Lucknow-Saharanpur and Firozpur-Delhi routes
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday flagged off four new Vande Bharat Express services from the Banaras railway station in Varanasi.

Mr. Modi inaugurated the Banaras-Khajuraho Vande Bharat train, and virutally flagged of three services which will operate on the Ernakulam-Bengaluru, Lucknow-Saharanpur, and Firozpur-Delhi routes.

Mr. Modi, who represents the Varanasi Lok Sabha constituency, described the new trains as instrumental in regional connectivity, mobility, reducing travel time, and increasing access to economic activities. “These Vande Bharat trains will enhance connectivity and provide greater comfort to citizens. They will reduce travel time, enhance regional mobility, promote tourism, and support economic activity across the country,” the Prime Minister said.

“Every country that has achieved significant progress and development, infrastructure advancement has played a pivotal role. India too is rapidly striding on this path. Trains such as Vande Bharat, Namo Bharat, and Amrit Bharat are laying the foundation for the next generation of Indian Railways. Vande Bharat is a train made by Indians, for Indians, and of Indians, one that fills every Indian with pride,” he added.

The PM said India had embarked on a mission to enhance its resources for a developed India, and these trains were set to become milestones in that journey.

Boost to U.P.’s economy

Mr. Modi touched upon the development in Uttar Pradesh, saying it significantly enhanced pilgrimage. “Developmental initiatives in Uttar Pradesh have significantly enhanced pilgrimage over the past 11 years. In the last year alone, 11 crore devotees travelled to Varanasi for darshan of Baba Vishwanath. Following the establishment of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, more than 6 crore individuals have visited the temple of Ram Lalla,” he said, pointing out that these pilgrims have injected thousands of crores of rupees into Uttar Pradesh’s economy.

“This surge has created ongoing earning opportunities for hotels, traders, transport companies, local artists, and boat operators throughout the State. Consequently, numerous young individuals in Varanasi are now embarking on new business ventures, ranging from transport services to Banarasi sari enterprises,” he said.

U.P. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said the Vande Bharat trains would make travel faster with modern facilities. “Under your [PM’s] guidance, Uttar Pradesh is entering a new era of rapid connectivity and cultural unity. This gift you are giving in the form of Vande Bharat trains will make travel faster, modern and comfortable and will also provide an opportunity for cultural exchange,” the Minsiter added.

Centre notifies rules for deep-sea fishing
Rules for sustainable harnessing of fisheries in EEZ aims to give priority to fishermen cooperative societies, fish farmer producer organisations

The Union Government on Saturday notified the rules for ‘Sustainable Harnessing of Fisheries in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)’ to give priority to fishermen cooperative societies and fish farmer producer organisations (FFPOs) for undertaking deep-sea fishing operations and managing technologically advanced vessels. “The EEZ rules will not only facilitate deep-sea fishing but will also contribute to enhancing seafood exports by emphasising value addition, traceability, and certification,” the Union Fisheries Ministry said in a release.

The rules has defined “operator” as an individual or enterprise, or FFPOs or Fisheries Cooperatives (including multi-state cooperatives), that controls the operation or management of a fishing vessel or who has assumed the responsibility for its operation.

The rules added that the Centre would take steps to provide training and capacity-building of traditional and small-scale fishers including fisheries cooperatives, Self Help Groups and FFPOs to enhance skills for deep sea fishing and value-chain efficiencies.

The Ministry said the initiative is expected to open new horizons for the country’s marine fisheries sector through the creation of modern infrastructure and the introduction of the mother-and-child vessel concept, allowing mid-sea transshipment under an effective monitoring mechanism of RBI regulations. “In island regions of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep, which together account for 49% of India’s EEZ area, the use of mother and child vessels will give boost to the export of high-quality fish,” the Ministry said.

A spokesman for the Seafood Exporters Association of India said the rules should define juvenile and illegal fishing and must ensure that a proper catch certification is provided by the Marine Products Export Development Authority. “We need to have a proper catch certification and the country must promote sustainable fishing practices to help us get new markets,” he said.

The rules prescribe that the applications for catch certificate and health certificate shall be submitted through designated online portals of the respective agencies, which shall be duly integrated with the ‘ReALCRaft’ portal for verification and processing of vessel and catch-related information. The Centre said the EEZ Rules take a firm stand against harmful fishing practices such as LED light fishing, pair trawling and bull trawling to protect the marine ecosystem and ensure equitable fishing opportunities.

“To conserve biodiversity, a minimum legal size for fish species will also be prescribed and Fisheries Management Plans will be developed in consultation with stakeholders including State governments to restore declining fish stocks. Mariculture practices such as sea-cage farming and seaweed cultivation will also be promoted as alternate livelihoods in order to reduce fishing pressure in nearshore areas while increasing production without compromising environmental integrity,” it said.

How is AI going to be regulated in India?
What are the government’s India AI Governance Guidelines? Why have guidelines become necessary? What is the key thrust? How do the guidelines look at AI models for Indian circumstances? What are the concerns it raises about AI usage and intellectual property rights?

On November 5, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) unveiled the India AI Governance Guidelines, a 66-page document outlining an approach to regulating and promoting the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies in Indian society. The guidelines’ launch marks one of the many steps the government is taking in the months leading up to the AI Impact Summit 2026, to be hosted by India in New Delhi.

What do the guidelines seek to accomplish?

The guidelines flow from the government’s need to have a consistent way to regulate the AI industry and the use of its tools, especially in the light of their growing usage in India, the world’s second largest user of Large Language Models (LLMs) like ChatGPT after the U.S. “India’s goal is to harness the transformative potential of AI for inclusive development and global competitiveness, while addressing the risks it may pose to individuals and society,” the guidelines say. In previous multilateral AI summits in Bletchley Park (U.K.), Seoul and Paris, governments have generally agreed on rough starting points to managing the spread of LLMs and AI in their countries: watch out for and classify the risks that can emerge, create policies for who will be responsible when something goes wrong, and conduct safety research among other things.

The guidelines outline a strategy for India to approach this process. An earlier draft framework was prepared by a subcommittee under a Principal Scientific Adviser-led advisory group. These guidelines, however, have been finalised by a committee set up by MeitY in July, separate from that subcommittee. The committee is led by Balaraman Ravindran, who who leads the Centre for Responsible AI (CeRAI) at IIT Madras.

What do the rules recommend?

On the back of principles like people-centricity, accountability, fairness, and understandability (of AI models), the guidelines recommend setting up lines of communication between different parts of the government, like Ministries, sectoral regulators, standards setting agencies, etc. It is recommended that these groups meet often and suggest changes to the law, voluntary commitments, put out standards, and “[i]ncrease access to AI safety tools.” The overarching inter-ministerial body would be the proposed “AI Governance Group”. Beyond the Ministries, the framework recommends the RBI for the financial industry (the RBI has put out its own FREE-AI Committee report for the banking and finance industry in August), bodies like NITI Aayog, and standards organisations like the Bureau of Indian Standards.

The guidelines also include some advice to the private sector, namely to “ensure compliance with all Indian laws; adopt voluntary frameworks; publish transparency reports; provide grievance redressal mechanisms; [and] mitigate risks with techno-legal solutions.” Many of the safety-related recommendations rely on the AI Safety Institute (AISI), a framework that is in place in many countries, including in India; while there is no physical institute, the government has designated a group of academia brought together under the IndiaAI Mission as an online AISI.

A key differentiator from similar AI policies elsewhere is the emphasis the guidelines put on building infrastructure and making it accessible. The policy recommends that State governments “increase AI adoption through initiatives on infrastructure development and increasing access to data and computing resources.” On the other hand, the recommendations join other countries’ concerns around AI and intellectual property, and recommend legal changes in the copyright law to address the issues coming up in that area. The guidelines also reiterate other India-specific priorities that the government has expressed, such as building AI models for Indian languages: one recommendation pushes for the “use of locally relevant datasets to support the creation of culturally representative models and applications”.

Are the guidelines consistent with what the government is planning around AI?

The Union government has largely followed a hands-off approach to pre-emptive AI regulation, as is the case in most countries around the world, with one sharp exception: the issue of deepfakes. “Content authentication,” as the guidelines put it, is a pressing issue, the guidelines say. In the weeks leading up to the guidelines, MeitY proposed rules that would require social media companies to label synthetically (AI-generated) images and videos.

There are other parts of the guidelines that are in line with what MeitY has already been doing: for instance, the IndiaAI Mission under the Ministry is already procuring Graphics Processing Units (GPUs) for a common compute facility and sharing access to that compute capacity with researchers and startups.

Another recommendation, to “[s]upport the integration of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) with AI with policy enablers,” also seems in motion: the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), which manages Aadhaar, easily India’s most recognisable example of DPI, has formed a committee this month to deliberate how to use AI to add value to the ID number.

While the guidelines are a result of the government’s main AI policymakers’ deliberations (such as Additional Secretary Abhishek Singh), IT Secretary S. Krishnan said at the launch that if evolving circumstances demanded quick action outside the framework envisioned by this document, the government “won’t hesitate” to act quickly, such as by passing a stringent law.

• Ensuring mills pay what is mandated is a tough task

Context: This is owing to the ownership pattern of sugar mills in Karnataka, many of which are owned by powerful families from across the political spectrum, and the prevailing Central laws.

• The Karnataka government managed to mediate and end the nine-day farmers’ protest in the northern districts by announcing an additional ₹100 in the fair and remunerative price (FRP) for sugarcane, which now stands at ₹3,300, including ₹50 each to be contributed by the State government and sugar mills.
• However, given the ownership pattern of sugar mills in the State, with many being owned by powerful families from across the political spectrum, and the prevailing Central laws, the truce looks fragile.
• The order on the revised FRP was issued after over several rounds of discussions with farmers, and the Chief Minister’s meeting with farmers and mill representatives. The farmers had demanded ₹3,500 per tonne apart from cutting and transportation charges.
• The challenge before the State government now is to make the factories pay the mandated price of ₹3,250 per tonne for a sugar recovery rate of 10.25% across the State. The Centre had fixed FRP of ₹3,400 per tonne last year, and the factories paid between ₹2,700 and ₹2,900 per tonne, apart from cutting and transport charges.

Reluctance to pay

• Government sources say that some factory owners, including the Nirani brothers — Murugesh Nirani, former Minister and BJP leader, and Hanumant Nirani, MLC — strongly opposed the Chief Minister’s suggestion. They argued that a ₹50 increase in the base price meant a loss of ₹100 crore and that their conglomerate would not be able to absorb it.

• In Karnataka, of the total 81 sugar mills, one is in the public sector and 11 in the cooperative sector. The rest are in the private sector.

• The Nirani family alone controls around 20 factories in north and south Karnataka. Most of the privately owned/ managed sugar mills are with highly influential political families, either associated with the Congress or the BJP and in some cases both, which has historically prevented governments from taking tough decisions.

2025 FRP

• The 2025 FRP order issued by the Centre considers a basic sugar recovery of 10.25%, up from the 2024 FRP order that fixed 9.5% as the basic recovery rate. The 2025 order asks factories to pay ₹34.6 extra, for every one percent increase in recovery. Factories can deduct a similar amount in case of lower recoveries.

• Recovery is a complex issue and depends on the variety of the crop, the time of harvesting, and use of efficient machinery in the factories.
• Another former Minister and BJP leader Ramesh Jarkiholi, whose family owns or manages a few sugar factories, said that the average recovery in Karnataka is only 10.5%, while the average recovery in Maharashtra is between 11% and 12%.
• “Only factories that get higher recovery of sugar can pay higher prices, which we cannot,’’ he said. His brother Satish Jarkiholi is a Minister in the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government.

What laws regulate

• The guiding laws are another issue. “The sugar mill owners reminded the State government that most laws regulating sugar and sugarcane were Central Acts.
• The policies and executive orders controlling export of sugar and byproducts, and ethanol blending were issued and modified by the Centre, they said.
• A factory owner from Belagavi said that his two units had multi-State licences and were regulated by the Central Sugar Ministry and not the State government,” a senior officer and member of the Karnataka Agricultural Price Commission said.
• This subtly indicated the owners’ stance on the State government’s role in handling sugarcane protest by pointing out at its limited jurisdiction. “Most millers were reluctant to follow the government’s instructions on higher prices,” admitted an official.

Alternative crops

• There have been in recent years some experiments for promoting alternative sugar-yielding crops. Nirani Sugars is encouraging the cultivation of red sorghum, a 90-day crop for sugar production on pilot plots in Bagalkot and Vijayapura.
• This is a short-duration crop compared to the 12-month long sugarcane. It is easier to harvest and the sugar recovery is as good as sugarcane.
• “This may lead to reduced dependence on sugarcane in northern Karnataka districts where rainfall is less than 800 mm,” said an official from the factory in Mudhol in Bagalkot district.

Cost of cultivation

• Two reports submitted by agricultural economists of the University of Agriculture Sciences, Dharwad and Bengaluru, to the Karnataka Agricultural Price Commission put the cost of cultivation of sugarcane at ₹55,000 per acre for own land and ₹80,000 per acre for leased land.
• The Indian Sugar Mills Association has urged the Union government to hike the minimum support price of sugar to ₹40.2 per kg, as the production cost of sugar at the FRP of ₹3,550 per tonne of sugarcane comes to ₹40.2 per kg. They point out that the MSP now stands at ₹31, as last revised in 2019. ISMA members say the cost of producing ethanol from molasses was ₹66 and from sugar was ₹70. These are less than or equal to the procurement prices.

• Schemes for Brahmin community

Context: Minister for Health and Family Welfare Dinesh Gundu Rao has announced new initiatives under the Vipra Self-Employment Direct Loan Scheme during the Acharyatraya Jayanthi celebration held in Bengaluru recently.

• Under this scheme, members of the Brahmin community can avail themselves of loans up to ₹2 lakh to start self-employment ventures. Beneficiaries will receive a 20% subsidy, while the remaining amount is repayable at 4% interest over 34 installments.
• R.V. Deshpande, chairman of the Administrative Reforms Commission, launched the Chanakya Administrative Training Scheme aimed at encouraging Brahmin graduates to prepare for IAS/KAS exams.
• The scheme offers up to ₹1 lakh in fee reimbursement through Direct Benefit Transfer.

• Aditya-L1 gets a close look at eruptions from the sun

Context: Scientists from IIA and NASA study very first spectroscopic observations of coronal mass ejection in the visible wavelength range; the solar observatory is expected to observe more such eruptions.

• Using the Visible Emission Line Coronagraph (VELC) payload aboard India’s first dedicated space-based solar mission, Aditya-L1, scientists at the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA), along with NASA, have collaborated to estimate the crucial parameters of a coronal mass ejection (CME), very close to its lift-off from the sun.
• Scientists associated with the project said that these are the very first spectroscopic observations of a CME in the visible wavelength range.
• They said that the unique spectroscopic observations with the VELC has let them study the CMEs very close to the sun’s visible surface itself, for the first time.
• “In addition, it provides a sustained view of the sun for 24 hours every day because of being at the sun-earth Lagrangian L1 location where the sun never sets,” they said.
• Taking advantage of these factors, V. Muthupriyal, VELC project scientist, and her colleagues at the VELC payload operations centre at the IIA estimated the electron density, energy, mass, temperature and speed of a CME very close to the sun.

Vital statistics

• R. Ramesh, senior Professor at the IIA and principal investigator of the VELC project, the observations are by far the closest to the sun where spectroscopic observations of a CME in the visible wavelength range have been obtained with a space coronagraph.
• His team calculated that there are about 370 million electrons per cubic centimetre in the CME observed with the VELC. The corresponding number for the non-CME corona near the sun is much less, in the range 10-100 million electrons per cubic centimetre.
• “The CME energy in the present case is approximately 9.4 * 10^21 joules. The mass in the CME is nearly 270 million tons. For comparison, the mass of the iceberg that sank the Titanic is estimated to be 1.5 million tons. The initial speed of the CME is 264 km/sec. The CME temperature is 1.8 million degrees on the Kelvin scale,” Professor Ramesh said.

More eruptions

• He added that though there are observations of CMEs at comparatively larger distances from the sun, with instruments other than the VELC, an understanding of the parameters of a CME in relation to how much is lost from the sun during a CME per se is crucial, and the unique near-sun spectroscopic observations with the VELC is precisely providing us the necessary data.
• Professor Ramesh added that with the sun nearing the maximum activity phase of the current sunspot cycle 25 and with the VELC now stabilised in its operations, more energetic eruptions from the sun are expected to be observed.

• Transparency must in issues of religious oppression: SC judge

Context: The Supreme Court judge Justice Sanjay Kumar has observed that the state must show obvious transparency and fairness while dealing with issues involving religious oppression and secularism.

• “India has developed its own interpretation of secularism, wherein the state neither supports any religion nor penalises the profession and practice of any faith. This being the ideal, the state machinery must tailor its actions accordingly but the inescapable fact remains that such state machinery ultimately comprises members of different religions and communities.
• Therefore, transparency and fairness in their actions must be manifest in matters even remotely touching upon secularism and religious oppression,” Justice Kumar wrote in a recent order.
• Justice Kumar’s remarks came in his separate opinion rejecting a plea by the Maharashtra government to review a September 2025 judgment of the Supreme Court.
• The judgment had directed the constitution of a Special Investigation Team (SIT), comprising equal parts Muslim and Hindu police officers, to investigate allegations of murder and assault made by a 17-year-old Muslim boy against the backdrop of the Akola riots of 2023.
• Justice Satish Chandra Sharma, the second judge on the Bench, agreed with the State government, and concluded that the judgment required a re-look, thus rendering a split opinion on the review petition.
• The case concerned a complaint made by a teenager, Mohammad Afzal Mohammad Sharif, who allegedly witnessed four men attacking a man in an autorickshaw during riots in May 2023.
• The men assaulted the boy, leaving him with head injuries. But Afzal mustered the courage to go to the police station to file a complaint about the murder and the assault on him. However, the police had taken no notice of him.
• The murder victim was later identified as Vilas Mahadevrao Gaikwad, who had been plying the autorickshaw owned by a Muslim. Afzal had stated that Gaikwad was killed under the mistaken impression that he was a Muslim.

• Assam Bill proposes 7-year jail term for polygamy

Context: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday said that the State Cabinet has approved a Bill to ban polygamy, for which convicts may face up to seven years of rigorous imprisonment.

• However, there may be some exceptions for the Sixth Schedule areas.
• Addressing a press conference after a Cabinet meeting here, Mr. Sarma said the government will also create a new fund to compensate the victims of polygamy so that they do not face hardship in continuing with their lives.
• “The Assam Cabinet today approved a Bill to ban polygamy. The Bill will be called ‘The Assam Prohibition of Polygamy Bill, 2025’. It will be tabled in the Assembly on November 25,” he added.
• Climate change, imbalance in fertilizer use impacts soil’s organic carbon: ICAR studyA detailed study conducted by eight scientists of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), including its Director-General, Mangi Lal Jat, has found that the unscientific use of fertilizers and climate change are contributing to degradation of organic carbon in arable areas of the country.
• The study, primarily coordinated by the ICAR’s Indian Institute of Soil Science in Bhopal, has used 2,54,236 soil samples from 620 districts covering 29 States to reach the conclusions. A research paper based on the six-year study started in 2017 has been published now in the England-based international research journal Land Degradation & Development.
• Organic carbon was not only part of the chemistry of the soil, but it covered all the aspects of the physics, chemistry and biology of soil. He said a study published by the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organisation about 25 years ago flagged this issue, but the samples were very low.
• “In this study, we have taken samples extensively, and the sample collection was well designed. We have covered both arable and barren land, mostly arable land,” he said.

Carbon dynamics

• The study has found that if the organic carbon is low, then the deficiency of micronutrients in the soil is high, and if the organic carbon is high, the deficiency is low. The team used an earlier study that said rainfall and temperature determined organic carbon.
• “We correlated this across the country. We found that organic carbon is highly correlated with the elevation. If the elevation of the land is high, then the organic carbon content is high. But if we move from hills to low land, then the organic carbon content is low,” he added.
• Mr. Shukla said organic soil carbon is negatively correlated with temperature. “For example, in Rajasthan and Telangana, the temperature is very high and their organic carbon content is low,” he added.
• The study noted that irrespective of the crops and cropping patterns, temperature, rainfall and elevation are the three important factors which decide the organic carbon concentration in the soil. The team of scientists developed an ‘agri-ecological base’ map to assess the impact of cropping systems and the use of fertilizers on organic carbon.
• The scientists have prepared a map which can help in making policy decisions, particularly for the carbon credit and assessing the land degradation.
• “We found that wherever imbalanced fertilizer application was there, then the organic carbon contained in the soil had declined. Haryana, Punjab, and parts of western Uttar Pradesh have intensified the fertilizer application, skewed towards urea and phosphorus, which was mostly scientific application, and it has negatively impacted organic carbon in the soil,” the scientist added.
• The study noted that climate change also has an impact on organic carbon. “If the temperature is rising, then there are chances that soil organic carbon will decline further in future, and that will not only impact soil health, but will also impact the carbon credit and heat emission from soil.” Mr. Shukla said.

• COP30: beginner’s guide on what to expect from the climate summit

Context: COP30 is being called the ‘Implementation COP’ because it is expected to translate commitments into action. Guided by the Global Stocktake, the summit focuses on energy, industry, and transport transitions; stewardship of forests, oceans, and biodiversity; and transformation of food systems.

• A decade has passed since the member countries of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) adopted the Paris Agreement — a milestone global pact that committed them to keeping the world’s average surface temperature from rising well under 2ºC and striving to limit it to 1.5ºC above pre-industrial levels.
• However, climate finance has lagged, global emissions continue to rise, and the gap between pledges and practice has only widened since.
• Against the backdrop of record-breaking heat, intensifying climate impacts, and mounting public frustration with global inaction, the 30th Conference of the Parties (COP30) to the UNFCCC begins in Belém, Brazil, today.
• It is both symbolic and strategic that COP30 is being hosted in Belém, which is a point of entry to the Amazon rainforest. The Amazon is one of the world’s largest and most important carbon sinks (estimated at 150-200 billion tonnes) and biodiversity reserves on the planet — and it is threatened by deforestation and land conversion to non-forest use. As a result, it is tipping towards irreversible decline.
• Equity and inclusion are central to climate negotiations. But paradoxically, even before the negotiations began, COP30 faced an unexpected test: inclusion. This is because Belém has limited logistical options, leaving hotel room rates to skyrocket and rendering it difficult for representatives from low-income nations and civil society organisations to participate. Such logistical exclusions have, in some ways, undercut the moral weight of the process.

‘Implementation COP’

• For starters, COP30 is being called the ‘Implementation COP’ because it is expected to be a watershed event where commitments are expected to be translated into concrete action. Guided by the Global Stocktake (GST) — which is a mandatory review that countries have to undertake every five years to assess their progress on addressing climate change, identify gaps, and draft plans — COP30 is expected to advance mitigation, adaptation, and means of implementation.
• Its programme will thus focus on six key areas, including energy, industry, and transport transitions; stewardship of forests, oceans, and biodiversity; transformation of food systems; resilience in cities, infrastructure, and water; and human and social development.
• The Baku-to-Belém Roadmap on Climate Finance is a plan led by the COP presidency, developed by Azerbaijan and Brazil under the UNFCCC’s guidance, to show how countries and institutions could scale finance for developing nations to at least $1.3 trillion a year by 2035.
• It’s less a binding pledge and more a menu of actions to inform negotiations after the $300-billion New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) decision at COP29. Now, as the first major stocktake after the Roadmap, participants are looking at COP30 to set a new collective goal for 2035. In addition to revisiting emission reduction and climate finance goals, it’s also expected to reaffirm the fact that protecting forests and indigenous communities is central to global climate resilience.

Ultimately, COP30 will seek to mobilise all actors to accelerate climate action.

Adaptation in negotiations

• Climate adaptation is imperative for the survival of millions of people in the Global South. But because adaptation is context-specific, what works in a coastal delta is unlikely to work in a mountain village. As a result, negotiations surrounding the Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA) have been difficult. The GGA aims to establish quantifiable goals and metrics for resilience, organise funding that matches the need, and create a system for accounting and quantifying adaptation outcomes. This long-delayed framework is expected to be established at COP30.
• As discussions progress, experts around the world emphasise the need to consider local and indigenous knowledge systems in this process. Across India, for example, traditional seed varieties, water-harvesting structures, and community-based ecosystem restoration efforts offer proven models of resilience.

Finance: the missing piece

• Under the Paris Agreement, economically developed countries pledged $100 billion per year to finance climate action in developing nations. At COP29, a breakthrough agreement called the NCQG on Climate Finance was reached. This target is expected to triple climate finance from $100 billion to $300 billion annually by 2035 and scale up finance from all actors, both public and private, to $1.3 trillion per year by 2035.
• However, it should be noted that the $300 billion is significantly less than the estimated trillions of dollars needed by economically developing countries, with the latter arguing that the use of “all actors” to scale up finance has diluted the common but differentiated responsibilities principle, which also includes historical emissions. “All actors” means every potential source of climate finance, not just developed-country governments. It lumps together public treasuries, multilateral development banks, private investors, philanthropies, sub-national authorities, and even developing countries’ own private sectors.
• The Loss and Damage Fund, set up in COP28, is also grossly underfunded, receiving less than a billion dollars against an annual need running into hundreds of billions of dollars. For developing countries, this finance is an enabler of ambition, enhancing preparedness for extreme climate events, expanding climate-resilient agriculture, and accelerating the adoption of renewable energy.
• COP30 is expected to finalise the reporting requirements and financing arrangements under the NCQG. One looming question at Belém is: will a credible pathway emerge for moving from the $300 billion to the $1.3 trillion target and build confidence in developing countries? And will Belém also finalise the modalities of finance: who will pay, who will gain, and how it will be accounted for?

Transition and ambition

• Transitions must be fair as economies move towards net zero (i.e. that humans add no net greenhouse gases to the atmosphere over a period; emissions are reduced almost to zero, and any residual sources are balanced by removals, e.g. restoring forests and carbon capture) — and transformation can’t be fuelled solely by finance. Access to reasonably priced technology and capacity building are equally important for many developing countries, be it efficient water systems, resilient crops, or clean energy, which are frequently hindered by high costs or intellectual property issues.
• Beyond promises, COP30 should lead to North-South collaborations for training, innovation, and technology sharing. Otherwise, climate transition runs the risk of becoming yet another area of inequality. In countries like India, investments in low-carbon manufacturing, renewable energy, ecosystem restoration, green skills development, small businesses, and alternative livelihoods must all be part of a “just transition.”
• Countries were expected to update their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) through 2035 and submit them by February 2025. However, according to Climate Action Tracker, many countries are yet to submit their reports. The ones submitted so far account for only 19% of global emissions.
• Negotiations at COP30 are expected to address the insufficient ambition of climate targets and reveal whether countries are prepared to put aside rhetoric and match science and ambition, a significant challenge in the absence of climate finance.

Climate-nature nexus

• A key spotlight of Belém is the long-overdue integration of climate and biodiversity agendas. Brazil is pushing for an innovative financing model for conservation, known as the ‘Tropical Forest Forever Facility’. The proposal aims to compensate more than 70 developing countries with tropical forests for their efforts to preserve them.
• This growing recognition that climate and biodiversity crises are interlinked could make climate finance more effective, directing funds to ecosystem restoration, agroforestry, and community-led conservation.

India at COP30

• At Belém, India will be championing climate justice and the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities, urging developed nations to take the lead in emission cuts and financial support. In fact, at the mid-year climate talks in Bonn, India played a pivotal role in coordinating the G77+China bloc of developing countries to advocate for a fair and predictable finance goal under the NCQG framework.
• This positioning reinforces India’s role as both a responsible power and a representative of broader southern concerns while serving as a bridge between the Global North and South.
• However, while India’s domestic targets are ambitious, efforts in the institutional landscape remain a work in progress, as reflected in initiatives such as green budgeting, sovereign green bonds, and the proposed national carbon market expected by 2026.
• This gap must be viewed in the context of India’s developmental realities, which continue to shape its climate choices and actions.
• The stakes could not be higher at COP30. The Amazon setting underscores the urgency of protecting the world’s ecosystems while tackling emissions. For India, it is a moment to shape the conversation, striking a balance between domestic imperatives and global responsibilities.
• What unfolds in Belém will go a long way towards determining whether the international community can still bend the curve of emissions and whether emerging economies, such as India, can secure the space and support they need for economic growth that is resilient to climate change.

UPSC/KPSC Current Affairs: 8th November 2025

State enhances sugarcane FRP by ₹100; farmers call off strike

Context: Farmers will now get ₹3,300 per tonne, excluding harvesting and transportation cost, against the FRP of ₹3,200 fixed by the Centre. State government and sugar mills will contribute ₹50 each.

• The Karnataka government announced an enhancement in the Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) for sugarcane by ₹100 per tonne. Following this, farmers withdrew their protest.

• The farmers will now get ₹3,300 per tonne (excluding harvesting and transportation cost) as against the FRP of ₹3,200 per tonne that has been fixed by the Centre.
• In the increased amount, the State government and the sugar mills will contribute ₹50 each.

All-party delegation

• The State government also decided to take an all-party delegation, which will also include farmers and sugar mill representatives, to the Centre to press for increasing the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for sugar, the FRP for sugarcane, the limit for export of sugar and ethanol production and distribution.
• The farmers have been protesting since October 30 seeking an increase in the FRP across sugarcane growing districts of Belagavi, Vijayapura, Bagalkot, Haveri, and Kalaburagi.

• In May, the Centre announced a FRP of ₹3,550 per tonne at the sugar recovery rate of 10.5%.

• As many as 81 mills operate in Karnataka, of which one is in the public sector, while 11 are in the cooperative sector, and the rest are in the private sector.
• The State government estimates that about 6 crore tonnes of cane will be crushed this year as against the 5.6 crore tonnes last year.
• “Both farmer leaders and sugar mill representatives have explained their problem owing to the Centre’s policy.
• The farmers are opposed to the FRP fixed at ₹3,100 for sugar recovery rate at 10.25% and ₹3,200 at the rate of 11.25%. We have decided to take a delegation to the Centre to discuss the issue.
• Though the sugarcane yield differs from district to district, the ₹100 hike per tonne will be implemented uniformly,” the Chief Minister told presspersons.

• The sugar mills have agreed to pay ₹3,250 per tonne as the FRP, and that the government will contribute another ₹50 per tonne. “Based on recovery rate, the FRP will be fixed in different districts.
• The sugar mills have asked the government to revisit the proposal to impose 60 paise tax per unit on the power being sold by them, and will consider it.
• Farmers have urged the government to open a laboratory to check the recovery rate in front of sugar mills.
• They have also pointed out dues towards farmers by some factories.

Comparison Table: MSP vs FRP vs SAP

‘T.N.’s vision for inclusive economywill make blueprint for nation’

Context: In 2047, when India marks its centenary year of Independence, Tamil Nadu’s vision for sustainability and an inclusive economy will also become the blueprint for the nation.

• The State has been at the forefront of renewable energy for many years. “At present, its third in terms of the total renewable energy [capacity] in the country.
• The State is first in terms of wind capacity. It could continue to focus on this sector, and this will [benefit] the manufacturing ecosystem,”.
• Southern States are advancing in tandem. “We can make significant progress by working on sustainability and towards enabling future growth. Sustainability is a profitable venture, something that is not spoken about,”.

10 Bills reserved for President, 170 granted assent: Raj Bhavan

Context: Clarification seeks to counter ‘unfounded and factually incorrect’ claims that the Tamil Nadu Governor has been delaying assent to Bills passed by State Assembly.

• The Raj Bhavan said Governor R.N. Ravi had reserved 10 Bills for consideration by the President, as they were contrary to the provisions of the University Grants Commission (UGC) regulations framed under an Act of Parliament. They were “considered beyond the remit of the State Legislature”.
• The Governor had granted assent to 81% of the 211 Bills received as of October 31, 2025.
• The 10 Bills were initially withheld by the Governor, and the decisions were conveyed to the State government. However, they were adopted again by the Assembly and submitted to the Governor.
• The clarification was issued after “certain unfounded and factually incorrect allegations” were made in the public domain that the Governor was delaying assent to Bills passed by the Assembly.
• Between September 18, 2021, and October 31, 2025, a total of 211 Bills were received by the Governor, of which 170 were granted assent, while 27 were reserved for the President’s consideration.
• Of the 27 Bills, 16 were reserved for the President’s consideration “at the request of the State government”. While four Bills were returned, two were withdrawn by the government.

• Of the 170 Bills cleared, 73 were granted assent within a week; 61 within a month; 27 within three months; and nine after three months. Eight Bills were received in the last week of October this year, and they were under consideration, the Raj Bhavan said.
• The Governor had examined every Bill with due diligence to uphold the rule of law and protect the interests of the people of Tamil Nadu, the Raj Bhavan said. He had always acted in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution, and had been performing his constitutional duties with “utmost sincerity, transparency, and commitment, and with complete fairness, diligence, and respect for democratic processes”, it added.

Trump hints at possible India visit next year, calls Modi a ‘great man’

Quad summit: India will host leaders from Australia, Japan, and the United States for the Quad summit in New Delhi after the 2024 summit was held in the U.S. However, the dates for the summit are yet to be announced.

• Meanwhile, President Trump once again claimed that India has stopped buying from Russia.
• Mr. Trump imposed 25% reciprocal tariffs and an additional 25% levies for New Delhi’s purchases of Russian oil, bringing the total duties imposed on India to 50%. India had described the U.S. action as “unfair, unjustified and unreasonable”.
• Mr. Trump also reiterated his claim that he stopped the war between India and Pakistan in May using trade.

HAL inks $1-billion deal with GE Aerospace for 113 fighter jet engines

Context: Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) sealed a $1-billion deal with American defence major GE Aerospace to procure 113 jet engines for its Tejas light combat aircraft programme.

• The firming up of the deal came notwithstanding a downturn in India-U.S. relations after the Trump administration slapped a 50% tariff on Indian goods.
• Under the deal, the delivery of the F404-GE-IN20 engines will begin from 2027 and the supplies will have to be completed by 2032.
• The size of the deal is learnt to be close to $1 billion (approximately ₹8,870 crore). HAL said it has entered into an agreement with General Electric Company to acquire the engines and support package for execution of 97 Light Combat Aircraft Mk1A programme.
• The Defence Ministry in September had finalised a ₹62,370-crore deal with the state-owned aerospace major to procure 97 Tejas MK-1A light combat aircraft for the Indian Air Force.

UPSC/KPSC Current Affairs: 7th November 2025

Centre says right to vote different from freedom of voting

Context: The Centre has argued in the Supreme Court that the ‘right to vote’ in an election is different from the ‘freedom of voting’, and while one is a mere statutory right, the second is a part of the fundamental right to freedom of speech and expression.

• The Centre in respons to a petition seeking to declare Section 53(2) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, and Rule 11 read with Forms 21 and 21B of the Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961, which apply to ‘uncontested elections’, ultra vires the Constitution for violating freedom of speech and expression under Article 19(1)(a). Section 53(2) kicks in when the number of candidates equals the number of seats to be filled in an Assembly or Lok Sabha election.
• In such cases, the provision instructs a Returning Officer (RO) to declare all such candidates as duly elected by filling in Form 21 (in case of a general election) or Form 21B (in case of an election to fill a casual vacancy).

Prevents voters’ right to exercise NOTA

• The petitioners, Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy, represented by advocate Harsh Parashar, and the Association for Democratic Reforms, through advocates Prashant Bhushan and Neha Rathi, submitted that the RO’s declaration without conducting a poll prevented citizens from expressing their right to vote the ‘None of the Above’ or the NOTA option and voice their dissatisfaction about the contesting candidate.
• Both the government and the Election Commission of India have responded to whether declaration of a sole candidate without taking any poll was a violation of the electors’ right to express their unhappiness by voting NOTA.
• The Centre’s affidavit in court began with a fundamental lesson on the difference between ‘right to vote’ and the ‘freedom of voting’. It said the ‘right to vote’ was only a statutory right conferred by Section 62 of the Representation of the People Act of 1951, and subject to the limitations given in the statute. Freedom of voting, on the other hand, was a “species of the right to expression under Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution”.

CM writes to PM seeking meet to address FRP concerns

Context: As the sugarcane growers’ protest demanding a Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) of ₹3,500 per tonne in the Karnataka State’s northern sugar bowl turned the heat on the government, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking an urgent meeting with him to address the issues.

• In the letter that was released to the press, the Chief Minister sought to draw the Prime Minister’s attention to the ongoing agitation by sugarcane farmers in North Karnataka, particularly in Belagavi, Bagalkote, Vijayapura, Vijayanagara, Bidar, Gadag, Hubli-Dharwad and Haveri districts.
• He pointed out that the FRP fixed by the Central government for the 2025-26 season stands at ₹3,550 per tonne for a basic recovery rate of 10.25%.
• “However, after deducting the mandatory harvesting and transport (H & T) costs, which range between ₹800 and ₹900 per tonne, the effective payment reaching the farmer is only about ₹2,600 to ₹3,000 per tonne.
• But due to sharp increases in fertilizer, labour, irrigation and transport costs, this pricing structure has rendered sugarcane cultivation economically unsustainable,” he said.
• He argued that the root of the problem is the Central policy levers, the FRP formula, the stagnating Minimum Support Price (MSP) for sugar, export curbs on sugar and the under-utilised ethanol offtake from sugar-based feedstock.
• Pointing out that it was the Centre that had the authority to revise the FRP, he argued that the State only had the powers to ensure that the sugar factories adhered to the FRP norms.
• “To respond constructively, we request that the Union government should immediately enable a central notification to allow States to fix or endorse a net price to farmers after H&T or mandate that mills absorb H&T so that ₹3,500/tonne net becomes feasible,” he said.
• The letter also sought recalibration of the recovery rate linked calculation of FRP, revision of sugar MSP above ₹31 per kg, export window to relieve mills of unsold stocks, increased ethanol allocation and assured procurement from Karnataka’s sugar-based capacity.
• The decision to write to the Prime Minister was taken at the State Cabinet meeting. The Ministers and district officials had managed to convince the sugar factories to offer an FRP of ₹3,200 per tonne at sugar recovery percentage of 11.25, and ₹3,100 at sugar recovery percentage of 10.25, he said.
• He expressed concern that the Centre had increased the sugar recovery percentage to 10.25 from the level of 9.5 during the erstwhile NDA regime for determining the FRP. This would affect States that had low sugar recovery percentages, he said.
• He alleged that though Karnataka was producing 271 crore litres of ethanol a year, the Centre had given permission for the oil companies to buy only 47 crore litres from the State.

NITI Aayog member advocates for Unified Water Reuse Standards

Context: Vinod K. Paul, a member of NITI Aayog, said that India needs a unified national standard to assure the public about the quality and safety of treated water.

• ‘Reuse of treated water’, Dr. Paul mentioned that deliberations are under way to formulate an integrated policy at the national-level for this purpose.
• Jointly organised by the State government and the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB), the workshop spotlighted the critical decline in India’s per capita water availability, now below 1,400 cubic metres, and the pressing need for a unified national framework to promote water reuse.
• Dr. Paul called for ambitious national targets: 50% reuse by 2030 and full reuse by 2045.
• Currently, only 11 States have formal reuse policies, highlighting the urgency for a comprehensive national strategy.
• Chief Secretary Shalini Rajneesh showcased Bengaluru’s efforts, including the rejuvenation of 110 lakes and a goal to achieve 100% water reuse and rainwater harvesting by 2028.
• The BWSSB, which supplies 2,225 million litres of water daily, treats 1,350 MLD through 34 sewage treatment plants (STPs), with 12 more under construction, she said.

Tenth-century inscription dating to Ganga dynasty reign found on outskirts of Mysuru

Context: A 10th-century inscription from the Ganga dynasty reign has been found inside the ​Mahalingeshwara Temple at Nadanahalli on the outskirts of Mysuru.

• The inscription, dating back to the time of Butuga II, a ruler from the dynasty, was discovered on the wall to the right and faces east inside the temple.
• The six-line inscription was carved on white granite which is two feet wide and two-and-a-half feet tall.
• “This inscription, dated 948 A.D., is inscribed in the Kannada script.
• It is believed that during the reign of Butuga II, his bodyguard, Maremma, may have donated the garden to the temple tax-free and entrusted its management to the village chief Vijaketa Gavunda.
• The full text of the inscription cannot be stated as it is corrupted. However, since the inscription references ‘Vijaketa Gavunda Dise’, it can be inferred that the management of the garden was entrusted to Vijaketa Gavunda, the chief of the village,” said a statement here.
• Further, the embossed painting of the temple is symbolically engraved on the inscription, confirming that it was a donation related to the temple, the statement added.
• “Since the Shiva Linga in the Mahalingeshwara Temple, where the inscription was found, is in the Ganga architectural style and the inscription is from the Ganga period, it can be understood that this donation is related to the Mahalingeshwara temple,” the statement further said.
• An embossed sculpture of a cow feeding its calf is also carved at the end of the inscription, which is 1,076 years old.

Cabinet approves policy to help set up 25,000 start-ups in five years

Context: Policy aims to ensure that at least 10,000 of the targeted 25,000 start-ups are set up outside Bengaluru.

• The Karnataka Cabinet approved the Karnataka Startup Policy 2025-30 that seeks to develop the State as a global innovation centre and help set up an additional 25,000 start-ups.
• The policy seeks to set aside a budget of ₹518.27 crore over the next five years to offer financial support to start-ups.
• The policy aims to ensure that at least 10,000 of the targeted 25,000 start-ups are set up outside.
• The policy will seek to create an appropriate ecosystem and work towards building the necessary infrastructure and ensure the availability of the required skilled manpower.
• The Cabinet also approved a proposal to modify the composition of the INDIRA (Integrated Nutrition and Dietary Initiative for Revitalising Anna Bhagya Beneficiaries) food kit under the Anna Bhagya scheme to provide additional quantum of toor dal in proportionate to the cost of the earlier proposed green gram.

Two Census apps, test portal for self-enumeration go live

Context: Enumerators have been trained to use apps to help in digital collection and faster processingof Census data; self-enumeration portal is open to the public in pre-test areas till today.

• The Registrar-General and Census Commissioner of India launched two mobile applications this week in preparation for the trial phase of the country’s first digital Census in 2027.
• The pre-test for the first phase, House Listing and Housing Operations (HLO), when a total of 30 questions on housing amenities will be asked, will be held in select areas across the country from November 10 to 30.
• The enumerators, including block development officials, revenue officials, and government schoolteachers, have been trained to collect data on the two applications available on Google Play Store: Digital Layout Map (DLM) and Census 2027 – Houselist. The apps are compatible with both Android and Apple phones, and can only be downloaded by authorised personnel.

Public participation

• The self-enumeration portal is available for testing from November 1 to 7.
• “To encourage public participation, a Self-Enumeration facility will be made available through the Census Portal from 1st to 7th November 2025, allowing individuals residing in the areas selected for Pre-Test to submit their details online through the website https://test.census.gov.in/se, prior to field visits by enumerators,” a government statement said.

Digital mode

• The DLM app’s description explains the evolution of India’s Census, the world’s largest data collection exercise, into a digital operation.
• “Until the 2011 Census, data was collected on paper schedules, with layout map sketches prepared manually. These paper records were later digitised through scanning, a process that was both time-consuming and prone to inconsistencies.
• With the upcoming 16th Census of India, a historic transformation is taking place. For the first time, Census operations are being carried out in digital mode, ensuring improved accuracy, faster data availability, and enhanced monitoring. A crucial part of this transition is the preparation of Digital Layout Maps and the geo-tagging of all buildings within each Houselisting Block (HLB),” it says.
• It adds that the DLM app replicates the traditional methodology followed by supervisors and enumerators for drawing notional sketches for houselisting blocks, the primary unit for data collection, while introducing digital efficiency, accuracy, and real-time monitoring capabilities.
• The app will record building coordinates (latitude and longitude for each structure), the names of localities, roads or streets, building numbers (if available; otherwise, temporary Census house numbers will be assigned by enumerators), building names (if available), building type (pucca or kutcha), building use (residential, partly residential, and non-residential), landmarks (mandatory), number of floors, and number of Census houses.
• The description emphasised that “no personal information of the residents/ occupants of the buildings are collected through this app.”
• The description for the House Listing Operation app says it was developed as part of the Census of India 2027 to modernise and streamline the data collection process. Both phases of the Census — houselisting and population enumeration — will be completed between April 1, 2026 and February 28, 2027.

CAG plans to create two new cadres for more centralisation

Context: The Comptroller and Auditor-General (CAG) of India has granted in-principle approval for the creation of two new specialised cadres for more centralisation.

• These cadres are within its Indian Audit and Accounts Department, and they will be called the Central Revenue Audit (CRA) Cadre and the Central Expenditure Audit (CEA) Cadre.
• Explaining the benefits of centralisation, K. Subramaniam, Deputy Auditor General (Human Resources, Industrial Relations, Content Delivery Network), said specialisation in the cadre of the CRA and the CEA will lead to deeper domain expertise in revenue and expenditure audits.
• “This reform, which will come into effect from 1st January 2026, aims to build deeper professional expertise and further improve the quality of audit of Central Government finances,”by CAG.
• At present, the audit of Central receipts and expenditure is undertaken by multiple offices with cadre control dispersed across multiple State Civil Audit offices leading to fragmentation.
• The new cadres will consolidate over 4,000 audit professionals out of the total strength of the CAG at 42,000. This measure will also help reduce dependence on deployment and manage manpower in a more flexible manner.

Talks on with RBI, lenders for big, world class banks, says FM

Context: The Centre is holding discussions with the lenders and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) for creating a ‘lot of big and world-class banks.’

• “We will have to sit and talk with the Reserve Bank and also with the banks themselves to see how they want to take it forward and also discuss with the RBI about how they have an idea of taking or idea of building larger banks,” she said at an event.
• “That work has already commenced. We are discussing with RBI, we are discussing with banks.”
• “It is not by creating from among those which exist today just by amalgamation, that can also be one of the ways but you need an ecosystem and also an environment in which more banks can operate and operate to grow,” she emphasised.
• “So, that environment is actually well established in India but I need it to be a bit more timely. So, some work is happening on it.”
• Since 2017, the government had been facilitating merger of public sector banks to become stronger and further consolidation is on. Under regulatory supervision, private lenders are being strengthened and foreign banks are being encouraged to invest in Indian banks to improve capital base as well as bring in higher levels of corporate governance and financial prudence into the banking ecosystem.

India is capable

• To another question on the impact of global uncertainties and protectionism by way of tariffs on India, she said “I do not want to sound too ambitious or give a statement of overconfidence but I can very clearly see India has shown its capability. In spite of global uncertainties, people of India have responded to next generation GST reforms and every sector saw it even on the first day [September 22, 2025].
• Earlier, she told the gathering the world was today facing slower globalisation, fragile supply chains and rising climate transition costs.
• “These external shocks test the resilience of our economy and underline the need for stronger domestic capabilities and diversified trade partnerships.
• “To sustain high growth, we must invest in people. Our workforce needs continuous upskilling and reskilling to meet the demands of emerging technologies and global competitiveness, ensuring higher labour productivity and better-quality jobs,” the Finance Minister said.

• India to unveil SAF national policy: Naidu

Context: The Centre will soon release a national policy on Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), Minister for Civil Aviation Ram Mohan Naidu said, as he emphasised on India’s unique position as an agriculture powerhouse to cater to the rising global demand for the fuel.

• SAF refers to aviation fuel derived from non-fossil sources.
• At a FICCI event, he said the global need for SAF was 2 million tonne which by 2040 would rise to 183 million tonne. “As an agricultural powerhouse with over 750 million tonne of available biomass, India has the capacity to become the global leader in SAF production”.
• India has a surplus of 213 million tonne of agricultural residue along with adequate manufacturing capacity, he said.
• To achieve 1% blending of SAF by 2027, India will require 30 million litre, while the 2% target for 2028 translates to 62 million litre. Local oil makers collectively have an annual production capacity of 70 million litre. “We are well on course to meet the domestic demand and even emerge as a global production player in SAF”.

• Trump’s nuclear test threat risks upending global test ban regime

Context: On October 29, just minutes before his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Busan, South Korea, U.S. President Donald Trump said the U.S. would “start testing our nuclear weapons on an equal basis with other nations”. Back in the U.S., Mr. Trump repeated his claims in an interview. “Russia is testing; China is testing, but they don’t talk about it… And certainly North Korea has been testing. Pakistan has been testing.”.

• Mr. Trump is correct about North Korea, which has tested multiple nuclear weapons in the new century. But other nuclear powers, including the U.S., China and Russia, have maintained a moratorium on weapons testing since the 1990s. They, however, have tested weapons that can carry nuclear warheads.
• Mr. Trump’s announcement came immediately after Russia announced that it successfully tested a nuclear-powered cruise missile (Burevestnik) and an undersea torpedo (Poseidon). Both are designed to overcome American missile defence systems and can carry nuclear warheads. But those were not nuclear detonation tests.
• The last time Russia tested a nuclear weapon was in 1990, when the Soviet Union was still alive. The last American nuclear bomb test was held in 1992, and the last Chinese test was in 1996.
• In 1996, the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) banned all nuclear tests, but it never came into force as the required number of countries did not ratify it. The U.S. and China have signed the treaty but never ratified it. Russia had signed and ratified it, but in 2023, amid mounting tensions with the U.S., it decided to de-ratify it.

Debate in the U.S.

• Russia remains the world’s largest nuclear power with an inventory of 4,309 warheads, according to the Federation of American Scientists.
• The U.S. comes second with 3,700 weapons, while China is believed to have more than 1,000 warheads.
• Historically, the U.S. has carried out the most number of nuclear tests — 1,030 detonations, followed by the Soviet Union (715) and the French (210). China has conducted more than 45 nuclear tests. In total, there have been 2,056 nuclear tests since ‘Trinity’, the first nuclear detonation by the U.S.
• In the U.S., the debate on whether the country should resume nuclear tests has been raging for some time. Those who support tests argue that it is important to bolster the country’s nuclear deterrent — tests can prove that nuclear arsenals actually work, and provide critical data allowing countries to build more powerful, compact and specialised warheads.
• On November 2, U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright said the U.S. would not resume nuclear weapons tests but would conduct “subcritical tests”. A subcritical test uses conventional explosives to compress fissile material (Plutonium 239), without triggering nuclear chain reaction or explosion. But Mr. Trump, in another interview, clearly said, “We are going to test nuclear weapons like other countries do.”

Devastating effects

• The 1963 Partial Test Ban Treaty, signed by the Soviet Union, the U.S. and the U.K., banned all nuclear test detonations in the atmosphere, outer space and underwater. Since then most tests were conducted underground. Even subterranean tests, experts say, could cause devastating environmental damages, including total destruction of ecosystems at test sites and contamination of soil, air and water.
• If the U.S. starts testing weapons, it could cause a domino effect on other nuclear powers. There were reports that China had made preparations at Lop Nur, where Mao detonated China’s first bomb in 1964, in case it decides to resume testing. Russia was unambiguous in its reaction. “If they begin testing, naturally we will do the same,” Russia’s Security Council chief Sergey Shoygu said on October 31.
• If the U.S. and Russia resume tests, China could do the same. And if China does it, India will come under internal pressure to start testing its weapons. Then Pakistan may not stand out. A new phase of nuclear arms race would begin, with long-term consequences for humanity.

• Why the nomination process needs reform
• The Representation of the People Act (RP), 1951 mandates that only qualified candidates can contest an election. However, the process of verifying said qualifications has accumulated complexity over the years, with too much importance being laid on procedural technicalities than actual ‘defects of a substantial character’

Kannan Gopinathan

• A young woman from Dadra and Nagar Haveli called last week about the recent municipal council elections. This is a district in which I once served as Collector and Returning Officer. Her father’s nomination for municipal councillor had been rejected with no hearing or chance at verification. She asked, “Sir, is this how elections work?” The honest answer is yes. And that is the problem.
• One often hears about how nominations of candidates contesting elections are rejected over technicalities without any chance for clarification. However, the fact of that matter is that such rejections are lawful. The most undemocratic part of India’s electoral process occurs before a single vote is cast — at the stage of nomination scrutiny.

The politics of procedure

• India’s electoral nomination process vests extraordinary discretion in a single official — the Returning Officer (RO).
• The Representation of the People Act (RP), 1951, particularly Sections 33 to 36, and the Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961, govern the nomination process. Section 36 authorises the RO to scrutinise nominations and reject those deemed invalid.
• The RO’s power under Section 36(2) to conduct a “summary inquiry” and to reject nominations for “defects of a substantial character” is extraordinarily wide, and largely un-reviewable before polling, since Article 329 (b) bars courts from interfering mid-election. The law says no nomination should be rejected for defects not of a substantial character.
• But there are no written guidelines on what is substantial. And the only remedy to protest it is an election petition after the polls, when the damage is irreversible. In a democracy, this absolutism dressed in legal language has the potential to become a tool of political exclusion.
• In Bihar this year, a Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) candidate’s nomination was rejected for leaving some fields blank. Last year in Surat, Opposition candidates were eliminated after proposers denied signatures, delivering a Lok Sabha seat unopposed. In the 2019 elections in Varanasi, decorated BSF jawan Tej Bahadur Yadav was rejected because he could not obtain an Election Commission certificate overnight. In Birbhum, former IPS officer Debasish Dhar was kept off the ballot when his no-dues certificate from the government was delayed. Yet, there is no publicly available consolidated dataset on rejection grounds, patterns, or party-wise breakdowns. This opacity shields the weaponisation of procedure.

Procedural traps

• Section 36 of the RP Act mandates that only qualified candidates can contest. However, the process of verifying qualification has accumulated complexity over the years. Well-intended judicial interventions have paradoxically worsened the problem. Supreme Court directions mandating detailed affidavits on assets, liabilities, and criminal cases were meant to ensure transparency, yet each new disclosure requirement added another opportunity for technical rejection. For example, in Resurgence India versus Election Commission (2013), the Supreme Court held that false declarations lead to prosecution but don’t invalidate nominations, only incomplete ones do. This means that a candidate who lies but fills all columns stays on the ballot, and one who makes a good-faith error can be rejected. The system now punishes incomplete declarations more harshly than dishonest ones.
• A missing signature, a mismatched electoral number, a form filed at 3:05 PM instead of 3:00 PM, a blank column in an affidavit, a delayed oath, a missing no-dues certificate — any of these can end a candidacy. The burden of proof thus lies entirely on the citizen seeking to exercise a legal right, and not on the official denying it. This is constitutionally backwards. The right to be voted for is the necessary twin of the right to vote. Without candidates to choose from, the ballot is ritual without substance. The first principle must be that every qualified citizen has a presumptive right to contest. That right can be denied only when the RO establishes, with clear evidence, a substantive constitutional or statutory disqualification. Technical paperwork errors cannot be a reason for disqualification.

Some of the common procedural technicalities on which nominations are rejected include:

• The oath trap: Every candidate must take an oath before a specified authority after filing nomination but before scrutiny. If its too early, it’s invalid, and if too late, the nomination is rejected. Moreover, if it is not before the specified authority, your form is again bound to be rejected.
• The notarisation trap: Every Form 26 affidavit (an affidavit which needs to be filed by the candidate along with nomination papers) must be notarised by a specified authority. Not having done so can result in rejection of the nomination.
• The certificate trap: Along with nomination papers, the candidate is liable to submit no-dues certificates from municipal bodies, electricity boards, or other government departments; clearance certificates from the Election Commission for government servants; and various other bureaucratic attestations, each of them a veto point when it comes to the time of scrutiny. Thus, each issuing office becomes a potential chokepoint where deliberate delay can eliminate a candidacy.
• These procedures, once designed as safeguards, have turned into potential opportunities for delay and manipulation.
• Here, bureaucratic compliance is being rewarded over democratic legitimacy.

Facilitation, not filtration

• Other democracies show a different approach. In the U.K., ROs help candidates fix errors before deadlines. Canada mandates a 48-hour correction period. Germany requires written notice of problems, time to remedy them, and multiple appeal layers. Australia encourages early submission to allow corrections. The common idea being that officials are facilitators, not sentinels.
• India also has a checklist system. The RO Handbook instructs ROs to point out defects at the time of filing and record them in a checklist. But this checklist has no legal standing. The Handbook itself clarifies that the checklist “will not prevent the Returning Officer from pointing out other defects, if any, discovered later during scrutiny.” A nomination can be marked defect-free at filing, yet rejected at scrutiny for defects the RO discovers later. The candidate has no right to rely on the checklist, and the RO faces no legal obligation to honour it. The checklist thus remains as an illusion of transparency without offering any real protection to the candidate.
• The RO’s role must shift from discretion to duty. When a deficiency exists, the RO must issue a detailed written notice specifying the exact error, the legal provision violated, and the correction needed. Candidates must get a guaranteed 48-hour window to fix it after receiving this notice.
• The law must thus classify deficiencies into three categories: (1) technical or paperwork defects such as missing signatures, blank affidavit columns, clerical errors, no-dues certificates etc. These cannot justify rejection; (2) matters requiring verification of authenticity such as disputed signatures, challenged documents etc. These require investigations before rejection; and (3) constitutional and statutory bars. These should lead to immediate and absolute disqualification. Moreover, every rejection order must be reasoned. The RO must specify which exact requirement was not met, which provision of law was violated, what evidence supports the finding, and why the defect is substantial enough to justify rejection.

A digital solution

• The Election Commission of India (EC) can build a nomination system that is digital-by-default; one that doesn’t depend on excessive paperwork. This is not to argue for a digital-only framework, but a digital-by-default framework that can eliminate disqualifications based on blank columns and misspelt names or typos. The entire nomination process could move to an integrated online portal linked with the electoral roll. The system could automatically validate voter ID, age, and constituency details. Oath, affidavit submission, proposer verification, and deposit payment could all be digital. Moreover, every nomination’s progress such as when it was filed, verified, deficiency notified, corrected, accepted or rejected, should be visible on a public dashboard with timestamps and reasons.

Upholding democracy

• When a nomination is rejected arbitrarily, two rights are violated: the candidate’s right to contest and the voters’ right to choose. The world’s largest democracy deserves a nomination process that is modern, fair, and inclusive, where the burden of proof is on the state to justify exclusion, not on citizens to prove their right to participate.
• The EC should work towards a citizen-friendly nomination process that would end the bureaucratic red tape around disqualifications for blank columns, wrong payment modes, misplaced signatures, misspelt names and typos, no dues certificates or a delayed oath. It should work towards a simplified process that removes the possibility of using procedure as politics.

Current Affairs: 6th November 2025

New York gets its first Mayor-elect of South Asian origin

Context: Zohran Mamdani made history by becoming New York City’s first Muslim and South Asian-origin Mayor-elect, and its youngest since 1917, topping off a stunning grassroots campaign led by the message of affordability and upending a political class dominated by wealthy donors.

• In his victory speech before a jubilant crowd in Brooklyn, the 34-year-old declared: “We have toppled a political dynasty… tonight, New York has stepped from the old into the new.” Quoting from Jawaharlal Nehru’s “Tryst with Destiny” speech, Mr. Mamdani said: “Standing before you, I remember the words of Jawaharlal Nehru. A moment comes, which comes but rarely in history, when we step out from the old to the new, when an age ends, and when the soul of a nation, long suppressed, finds utterance.”
• He defeated both a Republican challenger, Curtis Sliwa, and former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, who was backed by a coalition of billionaires who spent millions to block Mr. Mamdani’s rise.
• More than two million New Yorkers voted, the highest turnout for a mayoral contest in more than 50 years, according to the New York Board of Elections.
• Mr. Mamdani won 50.4% of the votes, while Mr. Cuomo, running as independent, won 41.6%. Mr. Sliwa won 7.1%.

About:

QUICK FACTS

Born: 18 October 1991

Famous for: Mamdani is New York City’s first Muslim and South Asian mayor

Political views: He describes himself as a democratic socialist, which has no clear definition but essentially means giving a voice to workers, not corporations

Born in Uganda, Mamdani moved to New York with his family at the age of seven.

He attended the Bronx High School of Science and later earned a degree in Africana Studies from Bowdoin College, where he co-founded the campus chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine.

He became a naturalised American citizen in 2018.

He is of Indian descent. His mother, Mira Nair, is a celebrated film director and his father, Professor Mahmood Mamdani, teaches at Columbia University in New York. Both parents are Harvard alumni.

Mamdani and his wife, Brooklyn-based Syrian artist Rama Duwaji, met on the dating app Hinge.

• Wildlife Board for diverting forest land

Context: The Standing Committee of the State Wildlife Board has recommended forwarding the proposal to divert forest land from the Sharavathi Lion-tailed Macaque Wildlife Sanctuary, to the National Board for Wildlife for approval.

• The Standing Committee of the Board, chaired by Environment Minister Eshwar Khandre, decided to forwared to the National Board for Wildlife the proposal for diversion of 0.976 hectares of forest land
• The Standing Committee of the State Wildlife Board has recommended forwarding the proposal to divert forest land from the Sharavathi Lion-tailed Macaque Wildlife Sanctuary, to the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) for approval.
• The Standing Committee of the State Wildlife Board, chaired by Environment Minister Eshwar Khandre, which met, decided to recommend the proposal for diversion of 0.976 hectares of forest land.
• A proposal to release forest areas of the Sharavathi Lion-tailed Macaque Wildlife Sanctuary for approval by the Standing Committee of the NBWL was submitted to the State government through the Parivesh portal last September.

Approved

• The committee also approved various road construction and widening proposals linked to the Sharavathi Lion-tailed Macaque Sanctuary, the Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary Eco-Sensitive Zone, and the Someshwara Wildlife Sanctuary with the condition that project plans ensure that there is no harm to wildlife.
• The Minister directed that while granting approval to any project in forest and wildlife sanctuary areas, proposals should mandatorily include measures to reduce risks and ensure no harm to wildlife.
• On the proposal to establish a leopard conservation reserve in Chittapur, Mr. Khandre directed officials to conduct a field inspection and submit a detailed report.
• Mr. Khandre also directed officials to fix a radio collar on the elephant captured near Kerekatte in Chikkamagaluru district and release it back into the forest. The elephant had reportedly caused the death of two persons in Kerekatte range of Kudremukh Wildlife Division in Sringeri taluk on October 31.
• The Minister instructed the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests to invite former Indian cricket team captain Anil Kumble, who is the ambassador of the Karnataka Forest Department, and for wildlife conservation to attend future meetings of the Department.

• Centre’s governance guidelines for AI call for trust and safety

Context: Advocating a hands-off approach to the regulation of artificial intelligence, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology on Wednesday released the India AI Governance Guidelines.

• The document is a significantly changed revision of a framework put out for consultation in January.
• The report was drafted by a panel formed in July and headed by Balaraman Ravindran, the head of the Department of Data Science and Artificial Intelligence at the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras. The broader group that worked on the previous framework was headed by Principal Scientific Adviser Ajay K. Sood.
• The guidelines will “be a cornerstone in developing AI for India, and can be a role model for AI governance globally”, Abhishek Singh, Additional Secretary at the Ministry, said.
• The report emphasises seven principles for AI: trust; people-centricity; “responsible innovation”; equity; accountability; understandability of LLMs; and “safety, resilience and sustainability.” Mr. Ravindran stressed that the governance guidelines seek to signal India’s largely hands-off approach to AI.
• The report has six recommendations also: expand access to AI infrastructure and “leverage the power of digital public infrastructure for scale, impact and inclusion”; build capacity by skilling in AI; “adopt balanced, agile and flexible frameworks” as far as regulating AI is concerned; mitigate risks by looking at “India-specific” factors that need to be addressed; boost accountability in the AI ecosystem by requiring “greater transparency… about how different actors in the AI value chain operate”.
• “We are calling this the AI Governance Guidelines, not AI regulation or anything like that, because we don’t want it to be viewed as something that throttles AI adoption in India,” he said.
• While the previous framework laid emphasis on minimising risks inherent in deploying AI, the current model scales this back to promoting innovation with guardrails. The report also strips away much of the previous work done by NITI Aayog and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development that was foundational to the earlier draft framework’s approach.
• In the long term, the report says, new laws should be drafted based on “emerging risks and capabilities” of AI systems. Responding to reports on the government considering a new AI law, IT Secretary S. Krishnan said that there were no immediate plans, but as and when there would be an urgent need for such legislation, the government would act swiftly.
• The AI guidelines are separate from a draft amendment to the IT Rules, 2021.

• Skilling treated as extracurricular activity: NITI Aayog CEO

Context: Skilling is still treated as an extracurricular activity in India and yet to be treated as part of mainstream education, said B.V.R Subrahmanyam, CEO, NITI Aayog.

• “Skilling is yet to be part of our country’s education system, unfortunately. This is at the root of the problem India is currently facing. Since our curriculum lacks general employability skill training, a majority of our population remains hugely unskilled, doing very low paying jobs or even staying unemployed,’’ he lamented, while delivering the keynote address at Bengaluru Skill Summit, being organised by the Government of Karnataka.
• Addressing a gathering of law/policy makers, educators, industry leaders, and start-ups, he said, India as a whole has to think differently and focus on skilling its people of all ages: young, old, students, women and farmers and others.
• The country’s 50-crore farmers have to be also trained otherwise the magic of agriculture won’t happen again.
• “We are actually putting people in silos and treating skilling as something separate. Actually, skilling has to be an integral part of the education system and skilling has to be thrown open to people of all ages — 20, 30, 40, 50 or 60 years,’’ he suggested.
• India was in a sweet spot, the country was at an important inflection point, with a positive growth trajectory, even geopolitics was also favouring India and the country has to invest in its demographic dividend, Mr. Subrahmanyam insisted adding, “If we don’t, our demographic advantage can be a curse for us. Only a skilled, employable, well-earning workforce having productive-livelihood will power India to become a $30 trillion economy by 2047, with each individual expected to contribute $18,000 (per capita income) to the economy.’’
• According to Mr. Subrahmanyam, the country required integrated academic, skill and vocational training schools and institutes on a large scale. Many have done wrong education and taken up courses and wasted their time, and now they are 35 or 40 years old and think their life is over.
• He suggested a system that would map skill sets, bring people and job roles on a common platform and establish interoperability (communication) between different educational platforms which would eventually help create diverse career roadmaps, define skill sets, identify newer job roles and create huge employment opportunities for a skilled workforce.
• On the impact of artificial intelligence on employment oportunities, Mr. Subrahmanyam added that AI would remove roles and not jobs.

• FATF releases updated asset recovery framework; India played a key role, says ED

Context: The global inter-governmental Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has released the “Asset Recovery Guidance and Best Practices” guidelines, which provide a comprehensive and updated framework to strengthen the global system for asset recovery against financial crimes.

• “The guidance follows up on one of the most significant global reforms to the FATF standards on confiscation and international cooperation in over three decades. It outlines practical measures for policymakers and practitioners to identify, trace, freeze, manage, confiscate, and return assets derived from criminal activity,” the Enforcement Directorate (ED).
• The ED stated that India played a prominent role in the development of both the revised FATF standards and the guidance document.
• “The document contains multiple examples from cases investigated by the ED, which are cited as models of effective asset recovery practice and inter-agency coordination. This recognition reflects the increasing international standing of India and the ED in the global discourse on asset recovery and financial crime enforcement,” it said.
• The new framework expands the definition of asset recovery to cover the entire process from the identification of criminal property to its eventual confiscation and return.
• “For the first time, the FATF has mandated that countries provide for non-conviction-based confiscation, enabling authorities to recover criminal assets even in the absence of a criminal conviction where prosecution is not possible or practical,” the agency said.
• The guidance also promotes the adoption of tools such as extended confiscations and unexplained-wealth orders that require individuals to show the lawful origin of their assets when there is reasonable suspicion of criminal linkage. Greater emphasis has been placed on provisional measures to secure assets at an early stage and prevent their dissipation.

• Sikh relic brought to Patna from Delhi after over 300 years

Context: An important holy relic related to the Sikh faith, the sacred Jore Sahib, the footwear of the 10th Sikh Guru, Shri Guru Gobind Singh Ji Maharaj, and his wife, Mata Sahib Kaur Ji, had an unusual journey of 1,500 kilometres from New Delhi to Patna after a gap of more than 300 years.

• It was established on November 1 at the Takhat Sri Harmandir Ji Patna Sahib.
• The establishment of the reliquary at Patna Sahib, the birthplace of Shri Guru Gobind Singh Ji, is being seen as a major event in the Sikh faith, as the private custodians of the relics have offered them to the larger Sikh congregation.
• The relics were scientifically validated by the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts, and a system for transporting and further preservation of the relics was created. The provenance of the relics were authenticated by the Union Ministry of Culture via carbon dating. Interestingly, the private custodians of the relics are related to the family of the Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Hardeep Singh Puri.
• “Our ancestors were in the service of Guru Maharaj with the holy Jore Sahib ‘Charan Suhawa’ more than 300 years ago…,” Mr. Puri said in a post on X at the conclusion of a yatra.

• Stubble-burning area in Punjab 20% lower than last year’s in three major districts: data

Context: While instances of stubble burning in Punjab in October were at a five-year low, the area that was actually set afire in three major districts — Amritsar, Taran Taran and Ferozpur — was likely 20% less than last year’s, according to data sourced by The Hindu from a satellite-imagery firm and a senior official formerly with the Punjab Pollution Control Board.

• However, the first fortnight of November is historically when farm fires in Punjab peak and there may well be a surge in the burnt area.
• The government regularly shares daily data on the fire count but does not disclose burnt area. The link between fire counts and burnt area is significant for an accurate picture on efforts to curb farm fires, which in previous years have contributed as much as 35% of the daily winter pollution load in Delhi.
• Last November,— triggering the Supreme Court to order increased scrutiny — that Punjab’s claims of a reduction in farm fires, by publicising only fire counts caught on satellite, did not capture reality. The area actually burnt in Punjab had increased in 2023 (19.1 lakh hectares) compared to 2022 (15.4 lakh hectares). This was likely due to farmers burning stubble after satellite-passes to avoid detection. In 2024, the burnt area was nearly the same as 2023, at 19.4 lakh hectares.
• This year, satellite imagery of farm fires over Punjab only began emerging around October 10 — almost a month-long delay — due to heavy rain and flooding during most of September, contributing to a delayed harvest. Between October 13 and 28, the three districts were responsible for 515 fire events detected by satellite, about 55% of the 933 such events in the State. During the period, 2.46 lakh hectares were burnt in these districts, according to an analysis shared with by Noida-based Suhora Technologies, a space-analytics company with expertise in using satellite imagery for a variety of applications.

• Krunesh Garg, who had served as the Member Secretary, Punjab Pollution Control Board, until September 2025 and has for years monitored and implemented measures to address stubble burning, told that data with him showed ”the three districts at the same time last year reported 3.15 lakh hectares of burnt area”. “If it is indeed 2.46 lakh hectares, that is a reduction and is certainly a positive sign…it shows that measures implemented in the last five years have started to show results,” he added. He said that Amritsar and Taran Taran belt (north-east Punjab) typically saw fires start early and conclude by October-end. “I believe whatever burning that usually happens in those regions has already concluded,” he noted.
• Couldn’t establish what proportion of cultivated area in the three districts of Amritsar, Taran Taran and Firozpur has been harvested.
• In the week from October 28 to November 4, fire counts have sharply spiked from 993 to 2,839 — nearly three times higher than the cumulative October figure. Still, this is nearly half of the fire count logged at the same time last year and about a fifth of figures from 2023. The spike was attributed to the window for sowing wheat — the rabi crop — fast closing and available till November 15.

• Chinese varsities dominate QS Asia rankings; India slips

Context: China has overtaken India as the most-represented location in the QS World University Rankings: Asia 2026, according to the rankings released this week.

• While India added 132 universities and institutes to the list this year, taking its tally to a record high of 294, China added 259 institutions, bringing its total to 394.
• In the last two editions, India had the highest number of universities and institutes in the rankings, ahead of China. This year, a total of 1,526 universities were ranked, of which 557 are new entries.

Among the top 100

• Seven Indian institutions feature in the top 100, with the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, ranked highest at 59, followed by the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), and the IITs in Madras, Bombay, Kharagpur, and Kanpur, along with the University of Delhi.
• China, meanwhile, has 25 universities in the top 100. While India retained the same number of institutes in the top 100 as last year, their rankings declined. The IIT-Delhi slipped from 44 in the 2025 rankings to 59 this year.
• Delhi University fell from 81 to 95, the IISc from 62 to 64, and the IIT Madras from 56 to 70.
• The top 10 positions in the 2026 rankings were dominated by universities from Hong Kong, Singapore, and China.

• ‘Highest’ FPI sell-off signals waning confidence in India         

Context: Unless corporate performance improves significantly, foreign investors won’t find India attractive for investments, say experts; tepid corporate profitability has more to do than just stock returns.

• Foreign investors have sold ₹1.5 lakh crore worth of Indian stocks as of November 4, 2025, according to NSDL data. Continued selling will make this the largest sell-off in about 20 years.
• “India benefitted from investors leaving China, but this benefit has run out,” said Mike Coop, Chief Investment Officer, EMEA at Morningstar Investment Management.
• “I think India was like the mirror image of China when the latter collapsed, and people thought it was uninvestable. India boomed and benefited from the reshoring from China to India. We have reached the end of that and probably, that’s not a great starting point for Indian equities. The valuation level has not been positive as it was,” he said.
• “On a PE basis, Indian markets have remained expensive relatively to peers in most years [in the past nine years],” said Dhananjay Sinha, CEO and co-head of Institutional Research at Systematix, an Indian financial services firm. Price to earnings (PE) ratio is a measure used to determine if the price of a stock justifies its earnings to the shareholder. “Currently, Indian stocks are trading 22 times their earnings,” Mr. Sinha said.
• A section of experts though believes that the market is past the stage of expensive valuations and may now be ready for better returns. “Over the last year, returns have been weak in India, whereas returns in many other parts of the world have been much stronger,” Pranjul Bhandari, Chief Economist ASEAN, HSBC, said.
• “Today, we are seeing our relative valuation actually going back to long term average. It’s not looking too rich,” she added.
• “This is because investors have understood that earnings growth can’t be in teens when the nominal gross domestic product (GDP) growth is in single digits. A more realistic expectation may trigger foreign investors to return and an improvement in market returns might be around the corner,” Ms. Bhandari said.
• Despite divergent views, there is consensus among experts that corporate India’s profits must grow at a faster pace. For FPI participation to revive, either corporate earnings growth must quicken to 15-20% or valuations must compress significantly, Mr. Sinha said. “Currently, trailing earnings over the past 4-6 quarters are flattish, while forward expectations for the next two years are only approximately 10-11%; hardly enticing, especially amid visible downside risks,” he added.

FDIs trend lower

• While FPIs are selling, net foreign direct investments (FDI) also trend lower. Total foreign investment, which includes portfolio and direct investment as a share of gross domestic product (GDP), hit a 25-year low in 2024-25, he said. What makes this more concerning is that, FPIs who invest in India based on their conviction in the economy’s long-term growth redeemed for the eighth consecutive week as of October 31, 2025, according to Sunil Jain, V-P of Elara Capital.
• A low-performing corporate sector has consequences beyond just the stock market. “Elusive private capital expenditure and slowing household incomes are inter-linked trends that have curtailed private demand and lending growth. These issues, persisting for years and recently intensifying, have been partly offset by government spending on infrastructure and household transfers. Amid intensifying de-globalisation, India’s structural growth outlook faces considerable risks,” Mr. Sinha reiterated.
• Adding credence to his views, the World Bank, in its World Development Report 2024, highlighted the need for sweeping institutional reforms in the absence of which developing economies like India can run the risk of slowing down before it becomes a high income economy, a phenomenon that economists call “The Middle Income Trap.”
• That being said, conversations about middle income trap happen all over emerging economies in Southeast Asian economies and is not exclusive to India. With policy reforms, India can reduce the risk of structural economic slowdown, Ms. Bhandari asserted.

• Agri tech a ‘big part’ of FTA negotiations with India: McClay

Context: Agricultural technology sharing and methods to increase output are a “big part” of the negotiations between New Zealand and India on a free trade agreement (FTA), New Zealand’s Minister for Trade and Investment Todd McClay.

• India and New Zealand began the fourth round of negotiations towards an FTA on Monday, with the Indian team visiting Auckland until Friday. Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal also visited New Zealand on Wednesday to discuss various issues with Mr. McClay.
• Speaking to reporters in Auckland along with Mr. Goyal, Mr. McClay said that New Zealand had been innovating over the years and working with its farmers to find ways to produce more and to increase its farmers’ incomes.
• “Prime Minister [Christopher] Luxon has directed me in our discussions and negotiations to make sure New Zealand does its part to help Prime Minister [Narendra] Modi meet his commitment to increasing the earnings of Indian farmers by 50% by 2030,” Mr. McClay said.
• “So a lot of the science that we have developed here to help them produce more is available to us in cooperation with India and that’s been a big part of our discussion around the negotiation so far,” he added.
• Negotiations with India regarding agriculture have been tricky as the Indian government has been steadfast in protecting the interests of its farmers.
• This has been a speed bump in negotiations with the U.S., European Union, and even the United Kingdom.

‘Challenges remain’

• “It’s fair to say that on both sides, there are always challenges in a trade negotiation,” Mr. McClay acknowledged.
• “What Minister [Piyush] Goyal and I have agreed is that rather than our negotiators arguing, we will find solutions together. And so far, I think we’ve made great progress.”
• Neither Minister was forthcoming about a deadline by which the deal would be finalised.

Current Affairs: 5th November 2025

• SIR second phase beginsin nine States, three U.T.s 

Context: The exercise will cover 51 crore voters; West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee alleges ‘silent, invisible rigging’, while ruling DMK in Tamil Nadu moves Supreme Court, terming the exercise ‘arbitrary’.

• The Election Commission launched the second phase of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in nine States and three Union Territories, covering around 51 crore voters, with booth-level officers distributing enumeration forms to electors.
• The exercise, however, drew sharp opposition from several parties. West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee led a rally in Kolkata, alleging “silent, invisible rigging”, while the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) in Tamil Nadu challenged the exercise in the Supreme Court, calling it “arbitrary, unreasonable, and prone to disenfranchising voters”.
• The 12 States and Union Territories where the SIR is being conducted are the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Puducherry, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.

• State releases new Skill Development Policy

Context: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah unveiled Karnataka’s new Skill Development Policy 2025–32, here.

• Speaking at the inaugural ceremony of the Bengaluru Skill Summit, the Chief Minister said the policy came with a seven-year strategic blueprint, backed by a robust outlay of ₹4,432 crore.
• “This aims to position Karnataka as a global hub for a skilled, inclusive, and future-ready workforce,’’ he added.
• Mr. Siddaramaiah also said that his government has been, since 2023, redefining its skilling vision to align with the demands of a rapidly changing, post pandemic, global economy.
• According to Sharanaprakash Patil, Minister for Medical Education, Skill Development, Entrepreneurship & Livelihood Ends, the new Karnataka State Skill Development Policy 2025–32 aims to train 3 million youth by 2032.

• “This policy document will serve as the backbone for the state’s skilling vision, integrating schemes, improving quality and aligning with the $1 trillion economic goal,” he added while speaking at the opening session of a two-day Skill Development Summit which began on Wednesday.
• The policy also envisages to increase women’s ITI enrolment to 33%, to double district-level skilling capacity, and to strengthen global placement linkages through the International Migration Centre–Karnataka (IMC-K).
• It focuses on lifelong learning, reskilling, and upskilling, with strong industry collaboration through apprenticeships and partnerships. It also proposes special interventions for women, persons with disabilities, marginalised communities, and the informal workforce.
• Speaking on the occasion, Deputy Chief Minister D.K Shivakumar said Karnataka’s commitment to global partnership in knowledge sharing was critical to shape its workforce development. He said the State produced more than 1.6 lakh engineering graduates annually through 270 colleges and operated 1,160 ITIs, contributing to a robust talent pipeline for domestic as well as global enterprises.
• The Skill summit is being organised by the Karnataka Skill Development Corporation (KSDC), Karnataka Skill Development Authority (KSDA) and the Karnataka Digital Economy Mission (KDEM). The Hindu is a media partner of the event.

• Bengaluru among 3 Indian cities of 33 worldwide to reimagine urban spaces for a hotter future

Context: As Indian cities experience record-breaking temperatures, three major urban centres i.e. Bengaluru, Ahmedabad, and Mumbai, have joined a global coalition of 33 cities committed to addressing one of the most serious impacts of the climate crisis: extreme heat.

• Announced on the first day of the C40 World Mayors Summit in Rio de Janeiro, the Cool Cities Accelerator will help urban leaders protect residents, safeguard economies, and redesign cities for a hotter future.
• The initiative brings together 33 founding cities representing over 145 million people from every region of the world, including Austin, Boston, Buenos Aires, Freetown, London, Nairobi, Phoenix, Paris, Singapore and others, all committed to protect residents and transform urban spaces for a hotter future by 2030, said a release.
• C40 established the Accelerator with support from The Rockefeller Foundation, and with implementation support from ClimateWorks Foundation, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Z Zurich Foundation and Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
• Extreme heat is already the deadliest weather-related hazard worldwide, responsible for nearly half a million deaths each year. Without decisive action, the number of people exposed to life-threatening urban heat is projected to increase five-fold by 2050, said the release, adding, “The vast majority of deaths caused by extreme heat are preventable through timely access to cooling, hydration, medical care, public health interventions, and improved infrastructure. These preventable deaths typically occur when individuals are not adequately protected during periods of dangerously high temperatures.”
• The Cool Cities Accelerator provides a science-based, practical framework for cities to take both immediate and long-term action. Participating cities will collaborate, share best practices, and issue progress reports on protecting residents by establishing clear heat leadership, strengthening early warning systems, and ensuring access to cooling during emergencies within two years, as well as transforming cities for the future by improving building standards, expanding urban tree cover and shade, and future-proofing critical infrastructure within 5 years.
• In support of the Cool Cities Accelerator, The Rockefeller Foundation is providing a grant of approximately $1 million to develop the targets for heat adaptation and provide technical assistance for cities to implement solutions that mitigate the dangerous effects of extreme heat, the release added.

• IISc professor Arpita Patra summits highest volcanic peaks of four continents

Context: A professor at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) has summited the highest volcanic peaks of four continents in the last one year, with the latest being accomplished on October 24 when she successfully climbed Pico de Orizaba in Mexico – the highest volcanic peak in North America.

• Arpita Patra who is a professor at IISc’s Department of Computer Science and Automation has climbed the highest volcanic peaks of four continents: Mt. Kilimanjaro (5,895 metres), Africa in July 2024; Mt. Elbrus (5,642 metres), Europe in August 2024; Mt. Giluwe (4,367 metres) Oceania in May 2025; and Mt. Pico de Orizaba (5,636 metres) in North America.

Childhood dream

• Prof. Patra, who has been with the IISc since 2014, said that mountaineering was a childhood dream which she had not been able to pursue. “This was a childhood dream which I could not pursue earlier as I come from a very humble background and grew up in a very small village in West Bengal.
• Growing up, my focus was on completing my studies following which I pursued a career in academics. In 2024, I started my mountaineering journey when I summited Mt. Kilimanjaro and Mt. Elbrus.”
• Following this, I did a course at the National Institute of Mountaineering and Adventure Sport in Arunachal Pradesh,”.
• She said that summiting the Pico de Orizaba marks a major milestone in her mountaineering journey.
• Her journey to summit Pico de Orizaba started on October 19 and she completed it on October 24, along with her guide.

Challenging climb

• “I had earlier climbed the highest mountains of three continents. Pico de Orizaba was, by far, the most challenging climb I have undertaken. The ascent was technically demanding, involving glacier travel and a relentless 45-degree incline up the conical volcanic slope.
• On summit day, we gained nearly 1,450 meters of elevation, climbing from 4,200 m to 5,636 m via the Jamapa Glacier route on the northern face. What makes this achievement particularly meaningful to me is that I am not a full-time mountaineer,” she said.
• In preparation for the expedition, Prof. Patra said that on a daily basis she followed a four hour workout routine which involved either running, cycling or swimming along with strength building ​exercises.

• ‘Karnataka to turn its demographic strength into demographic dividend’

Context: Karnataka currently stands at a unique demographic crossroads: over 60% of our population is below the age of 35, and nearly 1.2 crore young people will enter the workforce in the next decade, said Chief Minister Siddaramaiah while inaugurating the Bengaluru Skill Summit, the State’s maiden initiative to train and nurture its most previous asset, the human capital.

• Addressing the audience here, he said, “This is an extraordinary opportunity if we equip this generation with the right skills, mindset, and confidence.’’
• He said the Bengaluru Skill Summit, a new annual exposition created by the State to focus on skill development, reskilling and deskilling was more than an event.
• “It is a movement to prepare our people for careers in a rapidly transforming world. This event is part of the commitment by the government to bring together the best minds from industry, academia, start-ups, and the youth to re-imagine the future of skills, jobs, and innovation,’’ the Chief Minister said.
• The summit will showcase emerging funding models, technological enablers, and partnerships that will shape the next decade of skilling in Karnataka.
• “This is how we will turn Karnataka’s demographic strength into a demographic dividend, and ensure that every youth becomes a builder of the new Karnataka,’’ he said.
• In his inaugural address, he said, “the Buddha once compared the head to the seat of wisdom, the heart to the source of compassion, and the hands to the instrument of service. Only when the head, heart, and hand work together does a person become complete. This harmony of intellect, empathy, and ability is what true skill development must aim for.’’
• Karnataka has always been at the forefront of skilling, and the State was among the first in India to create a dedicated Department for Skill Development, Entrepreneurship and Livelihood in 2016-17. He also clarified that it was (initiation of this event) not a bureaucratic move, it was a visionary step to unify all skill initiatives under one umbrella, with one mission, to make Karnataka Skills Gateway to the World.However, he said skill was not built in a day, it was built through patience, perseverance, and continuous practice.
• Giving a snapshot on the State’s various initiatives towards skill development, Mr. Siddaramaiah said, through Chief Minister Kaushalya Karnataka Yojana (CMKKY), the target was to train 5 lakh youth, but the State exceeded that target.
• Between 2013 and 18, the State started 100 new ITIs, upgraded 104 ITI buildings, and introduced 11,835 short-term and 19,500 long-term training programmes through Government Tool Room and Training Centers, he said.
• Under Yuva Yuga, the State imparted advanced digital skills on over 1.10 lakh youth in IT, electronics, and animation sectors. Karnataka also conducted 16 mega job fairs, connecting over 52,000 youth to employment opportunities, and 75 Mini job melas

• SWR launches ‘MUTS Sahayak’ ticketing scheme

Context: In a bid to streamline the ticketing process, South Western Railway (SWR) has launched the Mobile Unreserved Ticketing System (MUTS) Sahayak Scheme at the KSR Bengaluru Station. This makes SWR the first railway zone in the country to introduce the initiative.

• Under the scheme, trained MUTS Sahayaks will use MUTS handheld devices to issue unreserved tickets to passengers. The move is aimed at easing congestion at ticket counters and providing commuters with a quicker, hassle-free option for purchasing tickets, according to officials.

NSG-1 category station

• The KSR Bengaluru is among five NSG-1 category stations identified by the Railway Board for the pilot implementation of the MUTS Sahayak model.
• “The launch of the MUTS Sahayak Scheme marks an important step towards enhancing passenger convenience through the use of technology. By enabling Sahayaks to issue unreserved tickets through handheld MUTS devices, we are providing passengers with an additional ticketing option and reducing the pressure on conventional counters,” said Manjunath Kanamadi, Chief Public Relations Officer, SWR.

• Viksit Bharat scheme to generate3.5 cr. jobs

Context: The Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana (PMVBRY) has earmarked a budget of ₹99,446 crore with an ambitious target of generating over 3.5 crore new jobs across the country.

• In this regard, the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO), Regional Office, Bengaluru, conducted a training programme for its staff to enhance outreach efforts towards establishments for coverage under the scheme, which is aimed at promoting employment generation and formalisation of the workforce.
• The PMVBRY, launched under the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047, provides incentives both to employees and employers to encourage formal job creation.
• Under the scheme, first-time employees will receive an incentive equivalent to one month’s wage (up to ₹15,000), paid in two instalments after six and twelve months, provided they are registered under EPFOa monthly gross salary up to ₹1 lakh, said an official release.

• SC flags misuse of POCSO Act to punish adolescent relations

Context: The court mulls directions to raise awareness of provisions of the Act, and sexual equality among students, asks States and U.T.s to respond.

• The Supreme Court expressed concern over the growing misuse of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act to criminalise consensual adolescent relationships, and said it was considering issuing directions to spread legal awareness of the subject.
• A Bench of Justices B.V. Nagarathna and R. Mahadevan observed that while adjudicating bail pleas, it had repeatedly come across instances where stringent provisions of the law were being invoked as a form of retribution in situations not envisaged by its framers.
• The judges stressed the need for greater legal awareness, particularly among male adolescents, who are often at the receiving end of such prosecution.
• “The POCSO Act is being misused in cases concerning consensual relationships between adolescents,” Justice Nagarathna remarked, adding that parents frequently lodged complaints against boys involved in such relationships with girls of similar age. “We should spread awareness among boys and men about the legal provisions,” she said.
• The court was hearing a writ petition filed by senior advocate and petitioner-in-person Aabad Ponda, who had attributed the rise in sexual offences and crimes against women to inadequate education on gender equality. Accordingly, he had urged the inclusion of early sensitisation on gender parity and legal literacy in school curricula.
• Earlier, the court had directed the Centre to indicate steps taken to include the concept of sexual equality and moral education in school syllabi, observing that “ethical and behavioural training on how men should treat women with respect” must be a vital part of education.
• The Bench noted that several States and Union Territories, including Telangana, Tripura, Himachal Pradesh, and Jammu and Kashmir, were yet to file their responses. Granting them “one last opportunity”, the court said it would consider issuing directions to promote awareness regarding the POCSO framework once all responses were received.

• ‘India-Israel ties are defined by trust, must ensure global approach to fight terrorism’

Context: Against the backdrop of growing concern over the fragile ceasefire in Gaza Strip, Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar held talks with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and National Security Adviser Ajit Doval.

• Starting the conversation at Hyderabad House, Mr. Jaishankar said the India-Israel ties were marked by a “high degree of trust” and “reliability”. He said India-Israel counter-terror cooperation was “essential”.
• “India and Israel have a strategic partnership and particularly in our case, that term has a real meaning. We have stood together in testing times. And we have created a relationship with a high degree of trust and reliability,” said Mr. Jaishankar. He said the two sides should work for “ensuring a global approach of zero-tolerance towards terrorism, in all its forms and manifestations”.
• The two Ministers presided over the signing of an agreement between the Sushma Swaraj Institute of Foreign Service of the Ministry of External Affairs and the Foreign Ministry of Israel for training of diplomats.
• After the meeting with Mr. Doval, Mr. Sa’ar said, “We discussed ways to cooperate and confront our common challenges, especially the mutual threat of terror. We are building a long-term strategic partnership between Israel and India.
• Mr. Jaishankar expressed support for business-level cooperation between the two sides, adding, “Our businesses are very keen to explore opportunities in Israel, and we would certainly like to give that more attention.”
• Diplomatic sources had told that Israel will undergo a major construction and infrastructure boom in the near future, for which it would require globally available expertise, including from relevant sectors in India.

• SC to review surrogacy ban on couples with one child

Context: Centre says there is no basic right to surrogacy, which involves the use of another woman’s body; petitioner cites secondary fertility is emotionally taxing, notes India has no one-child policy.

• The Supreme Court decided to examine whether a law banning married couples facing secondary infertility from using surrogacy to have a second child amounts to a state restriction on the reproductive choices of citizens.
• The Union government has supported the constitutionality of the legal provision, Section 4(iii)(C)(II) of the Surrogacy (Regulation) Act, 2021, arguing that availing surrogacy cannot be claimed as a fundamental right. It has contended that surrogacy involves the use of the womb of another woman, the surrogate mother, and should be availed only after all other options to attain parenthood have failed, including natural birth and assisted reproductive technologies (ART).
• “The Constitution does not recognise a right over another individual’s body. Thus, the right to avail surrogacy cannot be claimed as a fundamental right and exists purely as a statutory right subject to conditions/restrictions prescribed in the 2021 Act,” the government submitted in the top court.

‘Emotional toll’

• Appearing before a Bench headed by Justice B.V. Nagarathna on Tuesday, advocate Mohini Priya, representing a couple facing secondary infertility and seeking to use surrogacy, argued that the state cannot interfere in the private lives and reproductive choices of citizens.
• “Secondary infertility is a complex and emotionally challenging issue that many couples face when they struggle to conceive a second child after having successfully given birth to one or more children previously. This condition, often shrouded in stigma and misconceptions, can be just as distressing as primary infertility,” Ms. Priya submitted.
• The lawyer submitted that the definition of “infertility” in the context of surrogacy both in the ART Act and the Surrogacy Act was not restricted to primary infertility. She urged the court to read down Section 4(iii)(C)(II) to allow couples with secondary infertility to have a second child through surrogacy.

Balancing interests

• The government pointed to the proviso to the Section, which offers an exception for couples with a child who is mentally or physically challenged or suffers from a life-threatening disorder or a fatal illness with no permanent cure. This applies whether their existing child is biologically theirs, adopted, or through surrogacy.
• “This is a well-considered provision which balances the interests of an intending couple who may have a genuine, grave need to have a second child through surrogacy, while ensuring that a surrogacy procedure is not availed and a surrogate mother does not undergo an entire pregnancy when the intending couple already has a healthy, living child,” the Centre said, backing the restriction.

‘No one-child policy’

• Justice Nagarathna orally remarked in court that the restriction imposed under the provision was “reasonable”. The judge, on one occasion, referred to the burgeoning population of the country.
• Ms. Priya noted that the country does not have a “one-child policy”, insisting that couples could ensure the best interests of their first child while availing of surrogacy for a second child. She referred to the Adoption Regulations, 2017 under the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015, which allow three children of any gender to be adopted.

• Online tournaments may be excluded from gaming ban: SC

Context: The Supreme Court orally indicated that regular competitions and tournaments may be excluded from the ambit of the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025 as they do not come under the definition of “betting and gambling”.

• The 2025 law bans real money games, related banking services, and advertisements.
• A Bench of Justices J.B. Pardiwala and K.V. Viswanathan was hearing a request made by a “chess player” who plays the game online as a “livelihood”, and said he was about to launch an app.
• “India is a strange country… you say you are a player, it is your only source of income and you want to join these proceedings here… Are you betting or gambling?” Justice Pardiwala asked counsel for the player.
• Counsel, speaking on behalf of his client, said he was a chess player who participated in “tournaments”.
• “Then there is no problem for you [from the Act]. They [the government] do not object to tournaments… Tournaments are completely excluded… So why come here?” Justice Pardiwala questioned the chess player. Additional Solicitor-General N. Venkataraman, appearing for the Union government, remarked the petitioner “does not play tournaments”.

• Counsel for the petitioner denied his client was into betting or gambling. He said these were online tournaments organised by companies.
• Justice Pardiwala agreed to club the plea with other petitions filed by online platforms challenging the new law.
• The court scheduled the case for a detailed hearing on November 26 even as senior advocate C.A. Sundaram and advocate Rohini Musa, appearing for the platforms, conveyed urgency.

• Food systems huge violators of planetary limits: study

Context: Warning that food systems are the largest contributor to the breaching of planetary boundaries, accounting for five of seven breached boundaries, the 2025 EAT-Lancet Commission on Healthy, Sustainable and Just Food Systems has, in a report, called for placing justice at the centre of all food systems transformations.

• India performed poorly on nitrogen overloading and pesticide pollution, straying from the global requirement of having 50-60% of intact nature, leading to loss of ecological functioning, the report stated. The report said under 1% of the world’s population lives in a “safe and just space” meeting food needs sustainably.

• After visit to Vantara, global wildlife panel recommends India pause animal imports

Context: A committee of CITES, the globe’s most influential agreement on wildlife conservation, whose strictures on the cross-border movement of protected animal species inform national wildlife laws, has recommended that India’s wildlife authorities pause the issue of permits that allow endangered animals to be imported by zoos, and wildlife rescue and rehabilitation centres.

• This, CITES says, should be in place until India comprehensively reviews its practices and ensures that “due diligence is exercised systematically and consistently”, and animal trade is not carried out in “violation of the Convention”.
• The recommendations are part of a report prepared by a CITES-designated committee after a visit to the Greens Zoological Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre (GZRRC) in Jamnagar, a part of the Vantara animal rescue and rehabilitation centre affiliated to the Reliance Foundation. The Radha Krishna Temple Elephant Welfare Trust (RKTEWT) is also a part of Vantara, and while primarily focused on elephant welfare, also has permissions to manage other imported species of fauna.
• It also noted that it “could not find evidence” that the facility brought in animals for commercial purposes nor evidence that animals being imported to India lacked import, export, and re-export CITES permits.

Due diligence

• The committee’s report, uploaded on October 31 on the CITES website, noted that “…several imports [by GZRRC and RKTEWT] still raise questions regarding the origin of the specimens… the use of source and purpose-of-transaction codes, and the exercise of due diligence by India”.
• India can be a beacon of how AI can be used for social good: OpenAI official

Context: OpenAI, a San Francisco-based AI research and deployment firm that created ChatGPT, has introduced IndQA, a new benchmark for evaluating AI systems on Indian culture and languages.

• The company said its mission was to make AGI (Artificial General Intelligence) benefit all of humanity, across languages and cultures. Some 80% of people worldwide do not speak English as their primary language and yet most existing benchmarks that measure non-English language capabilities fell short, the firm noted.
• That means, existing multilingual benchmarks like MMMLU are now saturated, which make them less useful for measuring real progress.
• In addition, current benchmarks mostly focus on translation or multiple-choice tasks. They don’t adequately capture what rally matters for evaluating an AI system’s language capabilities — understanding context, culture, history, and things that matter to people where they live.
• That’s why IndQA, a new benchmark designed to evaluate how well AI models understand and reason questions that matter in Indian languages, across cultural domains.
• “We are rolling out IndQA. Built in collaboration with 261 experts across 12 languages, IndQA fills a key gap by enabling fair and rigorous evaluation that reflects India’s cultural and linguistic diversity,’’ said Srinivas Narayanan, CTO, B2B Application, OpenAI .

• Indian satellites: laden with features

Why are India’s communications satellites so heavy

On November 2, ISRO launched the GSAT-7R satellite for the Indian Navy. The satellite’s launch mass was 4,410 kg — rendering the launch the heaviest of a communications satellite from Indian soil.

• India’s communications satellites are heavy because they combine wide coverage, high power, and long service life in one spacecraft.
• To serve the entire country and nearby seas, the communications payload needs to support many channels across multiple frequencies, including the C, Ku, and Ka bands. These in turn require many large deployable antennas, high-power amplifiers, waveguides, filters, switches, and either many analog transponders or flexible digital processors.
• The antennas and pointing mechanisms also need to hold tight alignment in space, so their structure and thermal control systems add more mass.
• The satellites’ high throughput demands several kilowatt of electrical power available for 12-15 years, so satellites carry large solar arrays, large batteries, and power-conditioning units, plus structures to shield them in space.
• The spacecrafts’ long life demands redundancy, ergo they’re fit with duplicate computers, radios, and power units.

• Getting to the geostationary orbit (GTO) adds more mass in propellant. The GTO is a highly elliptical orbit; once a rocket places a satellite in this orbit, the satellite will use its own propulsion to move into a geostationary (like GSAT-7R) or geosynchronous orbit.
• The satellite also needs to perform station-keeping manoeuvres and manage its momentum. The chemical propulsion systems still common on many Indian satellites thus need significant quantities of fuel for these tasks.

• How BRICS is challenging SWIFT

Context: The BRICS grouping’s motivation to challenge Western financial dominance is driven by a desire for greater financial sovereignty and reduced exposure to U.S. sanctions. However, navigating the maze of individual countries’ ambitions with respect to their own payment systems could dent early progress towards this goal.

• For over a decade, the BRICS have taken a series of steps showing their increasing determination to reduce dependence on the dollar-dominated international financial system.
• The Fortaleza Summit in 2014 marked the beginning of this process with the grouping taking the initiative of setting up financial institutions to meet not only their needs but also of other developing countries.
• The New Development Bank, the BRICS’ development bank, and the Contingent Reserve Arrangement, their lender of last resort, was the first time developing countries had established financial institutions, until then, the exclusive preserve of advanced countries.
• The following year, after the imposition of Western sanctions on Russia for deployment of its troops in Crimea, the BRICS grouping decided to explore the potential of expanding the use of their national currencies in inter se transactions.
• In 2017, the grouping agreed to communicate closely to enhance currency cooperation, including through currency swap, local currency settlement, and local currency direct investment. At the turn of the decade, the grouping agreed to set up the BRICS Payments Task Force to develop systems to facilitate transactions between member countries.
• This step seemed to come together at the Kazan Summit in 2024 wherein BRICS leaders underscored the importance of “strengthening of correspondent banking networks within BRICS and enabling settlements in local currencies in line with BRICS Cross-Border Payments Initiative”.

Challenging status quo

• The BRICS Cross-Border Payments Initiative, or BRICS Pay is the most concrete step that the grouping has taken to explore the possibility of reducing their dependence on the “SWIFT network”, the messaging system used by over 11,000 banks and financial institutions worldwide for international money transfers, and which is controlled by the G-10 central banks.
• BRICS’ motivation to challenge Western financial dominance is driven by a desire for greater financial sovereignty and reduced exposure to U.S. sanctions. The decision to include Iran in the grouping in 2024, a country that has long faced similar sanctions, lent further relevance to this objective.
• However, the development that attracted most attention was the symbolic step taken by the BRICS during the Kazan summit to unveil a BRICS banknote.
• This symbolic move ignited discussions about the intent of emerging economies to move away from the dominance of the dollar.
• This was especially so since it raised the hackles of the then President-elect Donald Trump who threatened to impose 100% tariffs on members of the grouping if they were to “create a new BRICS currency, [or] back any other currency to replace the mighty U.S. Dollar”.

Building BRICS Pay

• Amid these developments, the possibility that holds out maximum promise is BRICS Pay. This sentiment was reflected in the grouping’s Rio Summit Declaration earlier in the year wherein they “agreed to continue the discussion on the BRICS Cross-Border Payments Initiative, and [acknowledged] the progress made by the BRICS Payment Task Force (BPTF) in identifying possible pathways to support the continuation of discussions on the potential for greater interoperability of BRICS payment systems”.
• Clearly, BRICS is in a good position to develop a new financial network. Besides the strong motivation to bypass the dollar-dominated system and avoid Western sanctions, these countries have the necessary infrastructure to put in place BRICS Pay.
• The Russian System for Transfer of Financial Messages (SPFS), the Chinese Cross-Border Interbank Payment System (CIPS), India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) and Brazil’s Pix system are well-equipped to support the proposed network. Of course, the interoperability of these systems is essential for creating a cohesive BRICS-led payment infrastructure that can rival SWIFT in scope and reliability, albeit within a more limited geographic and political bloc.
• A prototype demonstration of BRICS Pay was unveiled in Moscow in October 2024, marking an important landmark in the project’s progress. Expectedly, Russia is most enthusiastic about this project, but the remaining original BRICS nations seem to be more circumspect because of interests in promoting their own platforms globally.
•  India’s UPI is accepted in nine countries, but is yet to find acceptance within BRICS. China’s increasing clout in the international financial system and the prominence its currency (the RMB) has received after it was included in the basket of currencies making up the Special Drawing Right has increased the acceptance of CIPS, which currently has participants in more than 120 countries, including all BRICS members with the exception of India.
• Brazil’s Pix system, introduced in 2020 and operated by the country’s central bank, is used across several Latin American countries. While navigating through the maze of ambitions of individual countries to promote their own payment systems could dent the progress towards an early realisation of BRICS Pay, Mr. Trump’s aggressive intent, particularly against members of the grouping, could force them into a political understanding towards launching their payment system, sooner than expected.
• A nationwide SIR: the need to check double entries in the electoral list

Context: With the credibility of India’s electoral processes at stake, the success of the nationwide Special Intensive Revision relies on leveraging technology and administrative efficiency to eliminate duplicate entries and ensure that every vote counts.

• After the completion of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise in Bihar, which faced sharp criticisms from political parties and eventually the Supreme Court, the Election Commission of India (EC) has now announced a nationwide SIR, referred to herein as SIR 2.0. This exercise has been purported to be a paperless, people-friendly, and procedurally robust undertaking.
• With nearly one billion voter entries, a digital approach is not only inevitable but essential. The electoral roll is no longer a static, State-wise record; it is a dynamic national database whose precision defines the integrity of India’s elections. Yet, despite judicial caution, one persistent issue remains unresolved — the double or multiple listing of a single voter.
• This problem, affecting countless citizens who shift residences, is not about fraud but rather procedural lapses that erode confidence in the system. A recent case involving a voter (Prashant Kishor), whose name appears in both the Bihar and West Bengal rolls, illustrates the flaw.
• While the SIR in West Bengal is yet to begin, such duplication defeats the core purpose of the Bihar exercise — ensuring that no voter listed in Bihar remains enrolled elsewhere. It questions the credibility of the SIR process and undermines trust in the voter database.

Governing duplicate entries

• Under the Representation of the People (RP) Act, 1950, duplicate entries technically constitute a violation, though such lapses are rarely intentional.
• Many law-abiding citizens, simply by shifting residence, unintentionally find themselves in breach of the Act through no fault of their own.
• This underscores the urgent need for a systematic, technology-driven correction mechanism within the EC’s digital framework to make SIR 2.0 robust, reliable, and error-free.
• The RP Act, 1950, defines the framework for maintaining integrity of electoral rolls and preventing duplication. Under Section 22(b) of the Act, if a voter changes residence within the same constituency, the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) should transpose the entry to the appropriate part of the roll.
• When a voter moves to another constituency, Section 23(2) governs inclusion in the new roll. It mandates that the ERO, if satisfied that the applicant is entitled to be registered, shall direct inclusion of the applicant’s name in the new roll.
• The section further requires that if the applicant is already registered in the roll of another constituency, the concerned ERO must inform the officer of that constituency, who shall then strike off the applicant’s name from that roll.
• To ensure the uniqueness of every voter’s registration, Sections 17 and 18 explicitly prohibit multiple registrations — no person may be listed in more than one constituency, or more than once in the same constituency. Violations constitute an offence under electoral law. Duplication often occurs when a voter’s name is added at a new place of residence but not simultaneously deleted from the previous one.
• In essence, the Act places the primary responsibility on the EROs to ensure that transposition, inclusion, and deletion are carried out accurately, promptly, and simultaneously. This process is crucial in preventing duplicate registration and ensuring the credibility, transparency, and integrity of the national electoral database.
• The EC has consolidated the above provisions related to change of residence and correction of voter details in Form 8, used for transposition or correction of entries. A change of address request may fall under four categories: (I) No change in constituency or polling station, (II) No change in constituency but a change in polling station, (III) Change in constituency within the same State, and (IV) Change in both constituency and State. The most frequent cause of double entries arises in Type IV cases, where a voter relocates to another State. The new entry may either retain the same EPIC (Electors Photo Identity Card) number or generate a new one. For instance, Bihar voter (Prashant Kishor)’s double entry involves different EPICs, whereas the author has encountered several cases where both entries shared the same EPIC.
• In such situations, accountability for failing to delete the old entry lies squarely with the concerned EROs, whose prompt coordination was essential to prevent duplication in the national electoral roll. Another source of duplication arises when a voter uses Form 6 —meant for new inclusion without declaring the existence of a registration elsewhere. A false declaration constitutes a legal violation, with accountability shared by both the voter and the officials responsible for verification.

Decoding the procedure

• The backbone of India’s electoral roll is ECINet — a fully digital, nationwide system managed by the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), Pune. With records of nearly one billion voters, ECINet ranks among the world’s largest dynamic databases. Each voter is identified by a unique EPIC number, ensuring a single verifiable entry per individual. ECINet can detect duplicates, flag inconsistencies, and facilitate corrections through authorised verification. It should also be extended to incorporate a voter’s update history for complete traceability.
• The EC and C-DAC deserve credit for developing robust search and verification APIs that enable efficient detection of duplicates. Ideally, any double entry should automatically trigger an alert for review and deletion upon verification. With such tools available, there is little justification for the persistence of duplicate records. Whether SIR is paper-based or paperless, the real challenge lies in database accuracy and administrative responsiveness. In a digital framework, detection and deletion should be instantaneous.
• Ultimately, most cases of duplicate entries stem from the failure to delete older records, whether linked to the same or different EPIC number. This recurring problem reflects not a technological shortcoming but an administrative lapse — a failure of timely coordination and accountability within the electoral machinery.

The way forward

• SIR 2.0 must not degenerate into another bureaucratic ritual. India cannot afford another exercise mired in procedural inertia. The gaps are administrative, not technological. ECINet already holds the potential and should be further enhanced through seamless integration with Aadhaar, the only credible pan-India database for independent verification.
• Before SIR 2.0 begins, electoral data must be cleaned, duplicates flagged, and deleted. With proper use of technology, this can become a trust revolution — one where transparency, verification, and integrity are built into the system. The focus must shift decisively to software-led validation, digital audit trails, and real-time corrections. The ECINet should function as a reliable public utility — intuitive, glitch-free, and responsive. A real-time dispute resolution mechanism is needed to replace long queues and unanswered complaints.
• With a transparent, self-correcting feedback system in place, future SIRs will be unnecessary and electoral rolls will stay perpetually accurate, updated, and verifiable. Only then can India move from ‘verification by ritual’ to ‘verification by design’.

Current Affairs: 4th November 2025

• SIR of electoral rolls begins in 12 States and U.T.s today

Context: The Election Commission will begin the enumeration phase of the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in 12 States and Union Territories.

• The SIR exercise will cover close to 51 crore voters in Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Kerala, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Puducherry, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and Lakshadweep.
• Among these, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, West Bengal, and Puducherry will go to the polls in 2026.
• The first round of the clean-up exercise was carried out in Bihar earlier this year, during which more than 68 lakh names were deleted from the electoral rolls.
• The house-to-house enumeration process will take place from November 4 to December 4. The poll body will publish the draft rolls on December 9, after which claims and objections can be submitted from December 9 to January 8. Notices will be issued, and hearings and verifications will take place from December 9 to January 31. The final electoral rolls will be published on February 7.
• In most of these States, the SIR exercise was last carried out between 2002 and 2004.
• The poll body has implemented certain changes to the SIR 2.0, drawing upon insights gained from the experience in Bihar. Among the most significant changes is the directive that no documents should be collected from electors during the enumeration phase.
• The poll body took this decision after it found in Bihar that a substantial number of voters could be traced to the electoral rolls prepared after the preceding SIR.
• Secondly, prior to the announcement of the SIR, the poll body had begun the process of matching the current voters’ lists with those from the years 2002 to 2004, during which the last SIR was conducted in these states. This procedure has been referred to as pre-mapping. So most States are expected to have the lists of people whose names were already there in the voters’ list, and they are thus not expected to submit any of the 11 indicative documents along with their enumeration forms.
• Aadhaar has been added as the 12th document, as directed by the Supreme Court, but only as proof of identity and not of citizenship.
• The poll body has also amended the enumeration form, incorporating a column where a parent or a relative can provide a signature in the absence of the voter. This signature will be counter-signed by the booth-level officer (BLO).
• For electors whose enumeration forms have not been returned, the BLO may ascertain a probable cause, including death or duplication, through inquiries conducted with neighbouring electors and document these findings.
• Since the draft electoral rolls will only include the names of those who have submitted the enumeration forms, booth-wise lists of electors whose names have not been included in the draft rolls will be displayed on the notice board of the respective Panchayat Bhavan or the urban local body office and at the offices of the block development officers. This will enable the general public to access the aforementioned voters’ lists, along with the probable reasons for the non-inclusion of their names.
• The electoral registration officers will issue a notice only after the publication of the draft rolls to those electors who could not be linked with the previous SIR in order to ascertain their eligibility.
• Also, unlike Bihar, the voter rolls of all States will be available for mapping the names of voters and their parents or guardians. This means that voters can check their names in the voter list of any State in the country, not just in the State where they are currently residing.
• In another modification to the process, fresh voter registrations will be carried out simultaneously during the house-to-house enumeration exercise. The BLO will carry at least 30 blank Form 6s along with blank declaration forms to provide to anyone who seeks to enrol as a new elector.

• State announces ₹600 crore fund to push ‘Deep Tech Decade’

Context: The Karnataka government said it was entering into a ‘Deep Tech Decade’ and also announced an investment pool of ₹600 crore to kick off various initiatives to trigger growth in deep-tech across the State.

• Addressing a media conference, Minister for IT/BT, Panchayat Raj and Rural Development Priyank Kharge said the government’s ₹600 crore investment commitment would power the ‘Deep Tech Decade’, aimed at positioning Karnataka as the deep tech capital of India.
• “This initiative reflects our vision to create a robust deep-tech pipeline supporting entrepreneurs working on technologies such as AI, ML, quantum computing, advanced manufacturing, robotics, and sustainability-driven innovation,” he said.
• He further said the government was also in talks with various players in the venture capital industry, including the ones he met last week, to expand the size of this investment pool to ₹1,000 crore or more.
• “It is not that ₹600 crore will be enough for deep-tech growth for the whole decade. We will re-look at the investment required. We will certainly require more funds to create deep-tech and AI startups across the State and for this we are also exploring to create joint funds in collaboration with venture capital players.” The Minister further said the blueprint of the rollout and funding was already ready as the State was absolutely serious about retaining its global leadership in the technology landscape.
• According to Mr. Kharge, the ₹600 crore investment earmarked for deep-tech would comprise ₹150 crore for DeepTech Elevate Fund, with a special focus on AI and frontier technologies; ₹80 crore under the Elevate Beyond Bengaluru Fund to promote startups in Mysuru, Mangaluru, Hubballi-Dharwad and Kalaburagi; ₹75 crore through the KITVIN Fund for equity-based investments in deep-tech and AI startups, with funding between ₹50 lakh to ₹2 crore; ₹48 crore for new incubators and accelerators at IIT and IIIT Dharwad and Kalaburagi; and ₹110 crore for business incubators in higher education institutions, nurturing early innovation and entrepreneurship across 11 institutions already cleared by the Cabinet.
• He said the government would explore a fund-of-funds through co-investment models with the VC ecosystem to ensure continuous capital flow and scalability across the deep-tech value chain.
• The Minister further said, the 28th edition of the Bengaluru Tech Summit (BTS 2025), the State’s tech exposition scheduled from November 18 to 20 at the Bangalore International Exhibition Centre (BIEC), would feature Future Makers Conclave (FMC).

• Need for shift in focus from food security to nutrition security: PM

Context: Modi addresses experts at first Emerging Science Technology and Innovation Conclave, which replaces the Indian Science Congress.

• In his inaugural address at the first Emerging Science Technology and Innovation Conclave (ESTIC), Prime Minister Narendra Modi said India’s scientists should generate ideas to move from food security to nutrition security; create biofortified crops to address malnutrition; develop low-cost fertilizers; better map India’s genomic biodiversity for personalised medicine; and arrive at new and cheap innovation in clean battery storage.
• “This conclave should make a collective roadmap towards achieving these goals,” Mr. Modi said, addressing an auditorium full of representatives from scientific Ministries, and technologists.
• Commencing his speech by congratulating the Indian women’s cricket team on their maiden World Cup win, he said the 21st century was an epoch of “unusual changes” that were being shaped by science and technology.

Doubling R&D

• India’s expenditure on research and development had doubled in the past decade, the number of patents registered had grown 17 times, and the number of “deep-tech start-ups” risen to 6,000, Mr. Modi said.
• India had made operational a fund of ₹1 lakh crore via the Anusandhan National Research Foundation, which would help scientists and technologists in the public and private sectors to invest more substantially in research and development, he said.
• The ESTIC replaces the Indian Science Congress, the oldest congregation of scientists in India, with a history predating Independence. Over the years, the Indian Science Congress had gone into oblivion, with its last session held in 2023.
• The ESTIC continues till November 5, with sessions on quantum science, bio-engineering and energy environment, and climate.

• Great Nicobar project: map ready for denotification of tribal reserve

Context: The Andaman and Nicobar Islands administration has prepared a map for the denotification and renotification of tribal reserve land for the Great Nicobar Island mega-infrastructure project, and will soon be finalising the sites for setting up towers in these lands.

• The administration has also said that transit accommodation to initially serve all Great Nicobar Island project staff has been constructed, and that a “Comprehensive Tribal Welfare Plan” is slated to be finalised by next month.
• The administration made a presentation to this effect to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands Integrated Development Corporation’s (ANIIDCO) Monitoring Committee overseeing tribal-related matters for the ₹92,000-crore infrastructure project proposed on the Great Nicobar Island, which includes a transhipment port, an airport, a power plant, and a township. The project is being developed by the ANIIDCO, even as forest and environment clearances issued for the project are under challenge in courts and tribunals.
• In a meeting of the monitoring committee on tribal-related matters held in October, the Tribal Welfare Department of the islands’ administration noted that a Geographic Information System (GIS) map had been prepared for the denotification and renotification of land with help from the Forest Department. Additionally, sites for towers will be finalised after consultations with the Assistant Commissioner of Campbell Bay and the Andaman Adim Janjati Vikas Samiti, the administration body representing the Shompen people.
• Notably, any denotification of tribal reserve land for the GNI project requires that forest rights over it be first settled under the Forest Rights Act, 2006. This finalisation of maps for denotification comes even as the Calcutta High Court is hearing petitions challenging the administration’s claim that it had settled forest rights here as per law.

• India, Bahrain hold talks on boosting defence, trade ties

Context: India reiterated that the Gaza peace plan of U.S. President Donald Trump will lead to a “lasting” solution to the West Asian conflict.

• Welcoming Bahrain’s Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Alzayani, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said there are “unprecedented” changes in the West Asian region as well as in the world.
• “So I take the opportunity to reiterate our support for the Gaza Peace Plan which we hope will lead to a lasting and durable solution,” said Mr. Jaishankar in his opening remarks.
• A joint statement issued after the meeting of the High Joint Commission headed by Mr. Jaishankar and Mr. Alzayani said that India and Bahrain expressed optimism for “enhancing future collaboration in the areas of defence and security”. The joint statement also mentioned unequivocal condemnation of “terrorism, in all its forms and manifestations and reaffirmed strong commitment to combat terrorism, including cross border terrorism.”
• The two sides highlighted that India is among the top five trading partners of the Kingdom of Bahrain.
• Both sides agreed to develop a common understanding to commence Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) negotiations, which will help eliminate double taxation, provide tax certainty and promote trade and investment.

• ‘Digital arrests’ are a very big challenge; victims, mostly elderly, lost ₹3,000 cr. in India alone: SC

Context: The Supreme Court said more than ₹3,000 crore had been scammed by fraudsters from victims, mostly drawn from the elderly population, through “digital arrests”.

• A Bench headed by Justice Surya Kant was referring to a confidential report submitted by the Union government. Justice Kant, who is the Chief Justice of India-designate, said the report showed that the problem of digital arrests was a “very big challenge”. “Much more than we thought…” Justice Kant observed.
• “The report shows the extent of fraud is very big… ₹3,000 crore was collected from victims in India alone. What would be the suffering at the global level?” Justice Kant asked.
• Solicitor-General Tushar Mehta, for the Centre, agreed with Justice Kant, saying digital arrest scam was initially found to be beyond what they had expected.
• Justice Kant said the judiciary would pass harsh and stringent orders to strengthen the hands of the agencies against the fraudsters, “give you all support”. “Otherwise, this problem will magnify, and the victims are aged people,” Mr. Mehta said.
• In an earlier hearing, the Supreme Court had orally mooted tasking the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) with probing the menace of digital arrests orchestrated by fraudsters posing as judges and police officers who use forged documents.
• Attorney-General R. Venkataramani had submitted that these cyber crimes originate from across the border and were fashioned by “money-laundering gangs”.

‘Scam compounds’

• The Solicitor-General had informed that the organised cybercrimes behind digital arrests were generated from “scam compounds” and done at a large-scale level.
• The Supreme Court had originally taken suo motu cognisance of a case of digital arrest of a senior citizen couple in Haryana’s Ambala on the basis of forged orders of the court and probe agencies by fraudsters to extort ₹1.05 crore. However, the court was later informed that there were numerous cases across the country in which innocent people, especially senior citizens, were threatened with “cyber arrests” by criminals, who misuse Artificial Intelligence and other advanced technology to morph courtrooms and police stations, unless they cough up huge sums of money.
• “The impact of the problem is great. There is not only a financial but also a human angle. Gullible people are promised employment abroad and reduced to the status of human slaves. Criminals morph the faces of judges and make calls to victims with the Court rooms shown as the background,” Mr. Mehta had said.

• Delhi HC upholds FSSAI ban on ‘ORS’ tagged drinks

Context: The Delhi High Court has rejected a plea challenging the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India’s (FSSAI) decision to ban the use of the word ‘ORS’ (Oral Rehydration Solution) in the naming of any fruit-based, non-carbonated, or ready-to-drink beverages.

• Justice Sachin Datta passed the order on October 31, dismissing a petition by Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories Ltd., which had challenged the FSSAI’s directive restricting the use of the label ‘ORS’ for its brand Rebalanz VITORS.
• On October 14, the FSSAI withdrew all prior permissions for using the term ‘ORS’ in product names or branding unless they met the medical standards.

• India, New Zealand begin fourth round of FTA talks

Context: India and New Zealand began the fourth round of negotiations towards a free trade agreement, with the Indian team visiting Auckland until November 7, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry announced.

• “Negotiations in this round are focusing on key areas, including trade in goods, trade in services, and rules of origin,” the statement added. “Both sides are working constructively to build on the progress achieved in earlier rounds.”

• Strong demand lifts manufacturing PMI to 59.2 in October

Context: Manufacturing activity accelerated to 59.2 in October, nearly a 17-year high, driven by strong demand and the Goods and Services Tax (GST) rate reductions, according to a private sector survey.

• The seasonally adjusted HSBC India Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index in October was higher than the 57.7 in September, which it said indicated a quicker improvement in the health of the sector.
• October’s 59.2 was just lower than the 59.3 recorded in August, which was the highest in 17-and-a-half years.
• “Manufacturing sector conditions in India continued to strengthen in October, buoyed by GST relief, productivity gains and tech investment,” the report noted.

Rise in new orders

• “A faster increase in new orders boosted growth of output and buying levels, and the latter drove a near-record expansion in input inventories.”
• According to the survey, companies attributed the increase in new orders to “advertising, buoyant demand and the GST reform”.

• UAE is supplying weapons to RSF militia, says Sudan’s ambassador to India Eltom

Context: Sudan is not in a state of civil war and is confronting attacks from “non-regional actors” that include the UAE, which is supplying weapons to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia that has been killing civilians in El Fasher city in Darfur in western Sudan, said the Sudanese ambassador to India.

• Addressing a press conference at the Embassy here, Ambassador Mohammed Abdalla Ali Eltom said stopping the supply of weapons by the UAE to the RSF will be the “first step” in “ending the war”.
• “Sudan is not facing a civil war. We are confronting conspiracies of non-regional actors. The RSF is acting like a proxy foreign powers and a few countries in the region are acting as corridors for arms supply to the RSF,” said Mr. Eltom, explaining that the UAE’s weapons are being channelled through Libya and Chad.
• “The militia threatens to destabilise the entire region from the Red Sea to the Central African region. Therefore, the international community must designate the RSF as a terrorist organisation and impose targeted sanctions on them and on all weapons suppliers that are supporting the RSF,” said Mr. Eltom.
• The RSF, which has been carrying out attacks in El Fasher, is using “strategic drones” that are capable of flying for long duration which indicate that state-level armed forces are involved in arming the RSF.
• The Sudanese envoy acknowledged India’s humanitarian assistance to Sudan during the crisis that has been continuing since April 2023. He appreciated India’s decision to maintain the embassy in Sudan despite the violence.
• He also confirmed that an Indian national was captured by RSF in El Fasher as  militants entered the city on October 26.

• Has cloud seeding been effective?

Context: For the first time in nearly 50 years, Delhi conducted two cloud seeding trials with the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IITK) last week. The aim was to induce rain over Delhi to settle the build of smog and particulate matter that had deteriorated the air quality.

What is cloud seeding?

• Cloud seeding involves spraying a salt mixture into clouds. The science is that such seeding, which is done by aircraft fitted with flares that fire the salt mixture into clouds, can induce ice or water vapour within the clouds to form water droplets. When lots of such droplets coalesce, they can pour down as rain.

What has been its history?

• Cloud seeding has been around for at least three quarters of a century with mixed success. Beginning in the 1940s, General Electric scientists William Schaefer and Bernard Vonnegut chanced upon the principle of using dry ice to form ice crystals in their lab freezer. They then decided to experiment on real clouds. It was reported that they successfully made it snow over Pittsfield in Massachusetts, U.S. This got the U.S. government excited and a formal programme called Project Cirrus was born. While creating rain was certainly on the back of their minds, the big excitement was the prospect of taming hurricanes, which did not pan out well. In the 1950s and 60s, the use of cloud seeding as a weather modification tool became popular. The Soviets seeded clouds over Leningrad to protect May Day parades — years before China used cloud seeding for clear skies ahead of the inaugural ceremony of the Olympics in 2008. The U.S. launched Project Skywater, dumping silver iodide from planes over the Rockies.

What has India’s experience been?

• Nearly coincident with Project Cirrus, S.K. Banerji, the first Indian Director General of the India Meteorological Department (IMD), oversaw the first cloud seeding experiments in Kolkata by releasing salt and silver iodide in hydrogen balloons in 1952.
• Most of these were administered as rockets that were fired from the ground. And while these experiments seemed to suggest that on the days when seeding was done, there was more rain compared to days when there was no seeding, it wasn’t verifiable if the rain was due to natural sources or from the seeding.
• There was even an attempt to conduct such seeding in Delhi in 1962 but it failed.
• It’s only from the 1970s that researchers properly started to use planes and fly to the top of the clouds to spray salt solutions. They also studied cloud physics, condensation, what kind of clouds gave rain, which ones didn’t, and so on. Several States, when grappling with drought, have experimented with cloud seeding. The results have been sporadic and there was never any systematic way to tell how much rain could reasonably be expected if a certain amount of salt mixture was scattered. There was also less clarity on where exactly one could expect rain. The cost-benefit also was not clear, given that hiring aircraft, pilots, technical personnel and making salt mixtures was expensive.

What was the CAIPEEX?

• Initiated by the Pune-based Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology in 2009, Cloud Aerosol Interaction and Precipitation Enhancement Experiment (CAIPEEX) was a systematic scientific investigation to quantify if there were any benefits from cloud seeding.
• For that it actually studied the interior world of clouds, its physics, and water droplet formation for nearly a decade after which from 2017-2019 they physically identified, using radar and other instruments, clouds that were suitable for seeding.
• This experiment was conducted over a drought prone region called Solapur, Maharashtra, and hence a natural test ground to measure enhancement (if there was any). Once the clouds were identified they flew aircraft and fired flares of calcium chloride (no silver iodide used) into some clouds and left others ‘unseeded.’
• Their overall finding was that Solapur got an extra 867 million litres of water — which is considerable. In terms of rainfall measured on the ground: seeded clouds gave an average 46% more rain at the seeded locations relative to the unseeded ones.
• Over a 100 square km area downwind, there was 18% more rain in the seed versus unseeded.

What happened in Delhi?

• There were two flights on October 28 when IIT Kanpur flew its own plane and flared clouds. The results were disappointing with no rainfall triggered, though researchers at IITK said that some parts of Delhi reported a ‘light drizzle’ and a ‘small improvement’ in air quality. The drawback was the quality of clouds.
• The CAIPEEX demonstrated that only monsoon clouds which had a certain quantity of moisture could hope to yield sufficient water. Such clouds are absent in the post-monsoon over Delhi.
• For seven years, there have been various proposals for seeding over Delhi that have been discouraged by scientists due to the winter atmospheric characteristics. IIT Kanpur has however said that it will continue ‘trials’ during this season.

• What are the challenges with the High Seas Treaty?

Context: The High Seas Treaty was ratified by over 60 countries in September; it will now be enforced in January 2026. The treaty sets rules to preserve and use marine biodiversity sustainably and addresses threats from climate change, overfishing and pollution.

What is the treaty about?

• The Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) agreement, as the High Seas treaty is formally referred to, creates an all-inclusive framework to govern and manage common marine biodiversity.
• It identifies Marine Genetic Resources (MGRs) as the common heritage of humankind, insisting on a fair and equitable sharing of benefits.
• Besides, the Area-Based Management Tools (ABMTs) include Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) that can be recognised to protect biodiversity.
• This will help in improving climate resilience and provide food security, combining science and indigenous knowledge.
• The treaty also entails Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) for events potentially affecting these areas, especially when cumulative and transboundary impacts are taken into account.
• The first steps for the treaty began two decades ago. In 2004, the UN General Assembly formed an ad-hoc working group to fix the gap in the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), 1982, which did not have clear guidelines on protecting BBNJ. By 2011, states had agreed to negotiate on four key issues, mainly MGRs, ABMTs, EIAs, and capacity building and technology transfer. Following this, four Intergovernmental Conference sessions were held between 2018 and 2023. The parties to these discussions finally reached an agreement in March 2023, which led to the adoption of the treaty in June 2023.

What are the major issues?

• First is the uncertainty over the principles of “common heritage of humankind” and “freedom of the high seas.” The “common heritage principle” supports equitable access and benefit-sharing of marine resources for all, while the “freedom on the high seas” stresses on unrestricted rights of states to carry out navigation, resource usage and research activities. However, the common heritage principle is only applicable partially, especially when it comes to MGRs. This shows a compromise instead of a resolution. It also creates ambiguity in exploration, research and benefit sharing.
• Second, is the use of MGRs. The governance of MGRs was earlier not defined, raising concerns over “biopiracy” and unfair exploitation by developed countries. Developing nations were concerned that they would be excluded from the profits of scientific discoveries from the high seas. The treaty now includes a framework on sharing monetary and non-monetary benefits, but with no clear details on how such benefits will be calculated or shared.
• Third is the reluctance of big powers to get engaged. The treaty is under threat due to non-participation from the U.S., China, and Russia, who are yet to ratify the treaty.
• Fourth, is interaction with multilateral institutions. The treaty must coexist and not ignore existing international institutions, such as the International Seabed Authority (ISA) and Regional Fisheries Management Organisations (RFMOs). The BBNJ agreement must also blend with existing international treaties to prevent legal conflicts and lead to more fragmentation of ocean governance.

What next?

• The treaty provides more clarity to the UNCLOS provisions, focusing on science-based requirements for EIAs, ABMTs and benefit sharing.
• However, the ambiguous language in the MGRs and the common heritage of humankind principle challenge the execution of the treaty.
• There is a need for dynamic management of MPAs, and regular monitoring. To deliver the BBNJ, linking climate-biodiversity with the ocean will be crucial for resilient management.

Current Affairs: 3rd November 2025

• Indian women script history, clinch maiden World Cup title

Context: In testimony to the progress made by the team over the years, Harmanpreet Kaur’s unit defeats South Africa by 52 runsin the final; Shafali Verma makes a sensational comeback, with a half-century, two key wickets to seal India’s coronation.

• Indian women created history before a packed D.Y. Patil Stadium, winning the Women’s ODI World Cup defeating South Africa by 52 runs.
• If the team’s astounding run to the final in 2017, slaying giant Australia en route, is often cited as the cornerstone of a revolution, the maiden championship win is the fulfilment of a gritty effort to match promise with performance.
• In the eight years since, progress was agonisingly slow but steady. India’s ambitions to dominate world cricket slowly made room for the women.
• Parity in match fees, more fixtures, and the lucrative Women’s Premier League helped India rub shoulders with Australia and England.

• ISRO launches GSAT-7R, India’s heaviest communication satellite

Context: The Indian Space Research Organisation on Sunday successfully launched the Indian Navy’s advanced communication satellite GSAT-7R (CMS-03) from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota.

• The indigenously designed and developed satellite, weighing approximately 4,400 kg, is India’s heaviest communication satellite to date and marks a major milestone in strengthening the Navy’s space-based communications and maritime domain awareness.
• The ISRO launched the rocket aboard its most powerful launch vehicle, the LVM3, on its M5 mission. The lift-off took place at about 5.26 p.m. from the second launch pad, and mission control soon confirmed that the satellite had been successfully inserted into a geosynchronous transfer orbit (GTO).
• This is the heaviest Indian-built communications satellite launched from Indian soil so far.
• Because of the high mass of the GSAT-7R, the launch vehicle targeted a standard GTO; once there, the satellite will raise and circularise its orbit using its onboard propulsion systems.
• The Navy said that equipped with state-of-the-art indigenous components, the GSAT-7R would provide robust and secure telecommunication coverage across the Indian Ocean Region.
• Its advanced payload features transponders supporting voice, data, and video links over multiple communication bands, ensuring seamless connectivity between the Navy’s ships, submarines, aircraft, and Maritime Operations Centres.
• The launch highlights India’s growing self-reliance in space technology and the Navy’s commitment to safeguarding national maritime interests, it said.
• It stands as a testament to Atmanirbhar Bharat, enabling the armed forces to operate with enhanced situational awareness and secure, high-capacity communication links in complex maritime environments, it added.
• The launch also demonstrated the capacity of the LVM3 rocket to routinely handle four-tonne-plus satellites to GTO from India, reducing dependence on foreign launchers for heavy communications satellites as well as feeding directly into ISRO’s preparations for Gaganyaan, its maiden human spaceflight programme, which plans to use an evolved LVM3 variant.
• “ISRO has successfully launched the heaviest GEO communication satellite from Indian soil,” ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan posted on X following the successful launch. “The Indian space sector is soaring high to provide valuable services to the user community in and around the Indian region,” he added.

• Horticulture sector to get hi-tech boost with Dutch initiative

Context: India’s horticultural sector is set to get a hi-tech boost powered by AI for precision, as the Dutch government has embarked on a collaborative project in India to help produce pesticide-free food in state-of-the-art green houses that focus on water conservation and energy efficiency.

• The initiative focuses on technologies and practices that help produce food crops in a climate resilient manner.
• The Dutch horticultural sector has formed a consortium, HortiRoad2India, a public-private partnership, to take forward its initiative in India. The consortium is now ready to forge alliance with stakeholders in India.

Indian requirement

• The Dutch package would offer mid-tech and high-tech green house technologies that include building glass houses instead of conventional polyhouses for high-efficiency and climate resilience.
• However, the choice of mid-tech or high-tech polyhouses would depend on the nature of crops proposed to be grown. While strawberry, coloured capsicum, cherry tomato, micro greens and lettuce are proposed to be grown in hi-tech glass houses, tomato cultivation can be ideally taken place in mid-tech green houses, he explained.

Sustainable

• “The technology is environmentally and financially sustainable as we use 96% less water when compared with cultivation on open field, and get 30 times more yield (with respect to tomato). We desist from using pesticides, and manage pests only with biological control methods. Also, we do not use genetically modified crops. We prefer disease-resistance hybrid varieties,” he says.
• “We want to generate clean food that does not need washing.” The main intention is to develop clusters of high-value crop producing green houses near big cities so that the loss in terms of transport could be minimized, he explains.
• “We are now in the process of taking up glass house projects in Bengaluru, Chennai and Punjab along with farmers who are investing on infrastructure,” he says.
• International & Economic Affairs at Policy/economics Department of Dutch government, points out that in India, a large quantum of food is getting wasted due to post-harvest losses. The Dutch initiative would also focus on setting up a chain of cold storage units to prevent this.
• Dutch Consul General to South India Ewout de Wit says the proposed initiative will not only help ensure availability of clean and pesticide-free food for consumers, but would also ensure sustainable incomes to farmers.
• It would turn farming into a more technical profession and create more employment in rural areas, he says. “With this technology, you can set up production units near ports, markets, consumption centres or whatever place is ideal for export,” he points out.

• Kerala’s poverty eradication mission now has a helpline

Context: Kerala’s Extreme Poverty Eradication Programme 2.0 (EPEP 2.0), the second phase of the programme, will focus on dynamic identification of families at risk of falling into extreme poverty, implementation of a helpline, and steps to improve the situation of families freed from extreme poverty based on the standards of the Multidimensional Poverty Index.

• Minister for Local Self-Governments, the public will be able to use the helpline to inform the Local Self-Government Department about families facing extreme poverty.
• The EPEP 2.0 document acknowledges that the declaration of Kerala as an extreme poverty-free State is the beginning of a process to ensure that families who came out of extreme poverty are not pushed back into. An EPEP safety net cell will be formed in every local body.

Grassroots involvement

• The 64,006 micro-plans prepared for the extremely poor families in the first phase will be updated and used as the basis for further actions.
• Self-help groups will be formed through Kudumbashree to promote income-generating activities for members of extremely poor families. Voluntary organisations and activists will be made part of the interventions.
• The EPEP 2.0 also has a target of ensuring a social security net for all citizens of Kerala. Monitoring mechanisms will be set up so that the families freed from extreme poverty continue to receive the services provided in the first phase. Health insurance, free medical care, mental health support, skill training and sustainable income generating job opportunities will be provided.

Separate allocation will be made in the State Budget for the continued activities under EPEP 2.0. The plan fund of the local bodies will also be utilised.

• ICMR seeks partnersto develop antibody against Nipah virus

Context: The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has invited Expression of Interest (EoI) from eligible organisations, companies, and manufacturers for the development and production of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against Nipah viral disease.

• The Nipah virus (NiV) has emerged as a major zoonotic threat in India, with repeated outbreaks recorded since 2001. Case fatality rates range between 40% and 75%, depending on the level of clinical care available.
• “The importance of having monoclonal antibody stocks ready for deployment in India cannot be overstated. Given the very high case fatality and absence of licensed vaccines, mAbs represent the only currently feasible biomedical countermeasure,” the ICMR said.

Antibodies serve as PEP

• It added that monoclonal antibodies could also serve as post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) for high-risk contacts such as healthcare workers exposed without adequate protection, family members in close contact, or laboratory personnel with accidental exposure. Administered early, they can prevent disease onset, as demonstrated in animal models.
• The council further noted that in patients presenting early during infection, monoclonal antibodies may offer therapeutic benefit by reducing viral load and limiting disease progression.
• The ICMR said this initiative aims to build India’s indigenous medical countermeasures against Nipah virus, particularly monoclonal antibodies. “The intent is to take this forward through active collaboration with Indian industry partners for developing an indigenous monoclonal antibody platform. Producing the stock will ensure timely access during outbreak and boost national preparedness for viral threats,” it said.
• The ICMR-National Institute of Virology (ICMR-NIV), Pune, has already initiated research and development in this direction, with experimental work at an advanced stage.
• As per the latest order, the ICMR and its institutes will provide expert guidance and technical support in R&D for developing monoclonal antibodies against Nipah viral disease at all phases. “This technical oversight by ICMR would accelerate the development of the product and its commercialisation,” it said.

• Experts join hands for Ramsar site tag for wetlands in Assam sanctuary’

Context: Conservationists, wildlife officials, academics, and students have got together to push for the Ramsar site tag for two interconnected wetlands in central Assam’s Nagaon district.

• The Rowmari-Donduwa wetland complex is within the 70.13 sq. km Laokhowa Wildlife Sanctuary, which is a part of the Kaziranga Tiger Reserve. This complex has been recording more birds than the only two Ramsar sites in the northeast – Assam’s Deepor Beel and Manipur’s Loktak Lake.
• A Ramsar site is a wetland designated as one of international importance under the Ramsar Convention, an intergovernmental treaty signed in Ramsar, Iran in 1971.
• “Laokhowa and the adjoining Burhachapori Wildlife Sanctuaries function as connectivity corridors for wild animals migrating between the Kaziranga Tiger Reserve and Orang National Park (Kaziranga-Orang landscape),” said Sonali Ghosh, the Field Director of Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve.
• She said that civil society organisations and students have been researching and monitoring the wetland complex. She said that their efforts have yielded vital data on avian species and the floodplain-marsh ecosystem of the two wetlands, which cover an area of approximately 3 sq. km. An average of 120 species of resident and migratory birds, including globally threatened species such as the knob-billed duck, black-necked stork, and the ferruginous pochard, have been recorded in the wetland complex annually.
• According to the 6th Kaziranga Waterbird Census conducted a few months ago, 20,653 birds of 75 species were recorded at the Rowmari Beel, and 26,480 birds of 88 species were counted at Donduwa Beel.
• Assam Forest Department officials said a proposal has been submitted to make the Rowmari-Donduwa wetland complex to a Ramsar Site.

• Tri-services exercise Trishul begins today, to strengthen joint combat preparedness

Context: The tri-services exercise Trishul will commence on Monday, with the Indian Navy leading the large-scale joint drills alongside the Indian Army and the Indian Air Force across the creek and desert sectors of Rajasthan and Gujarat, extending into the northern Arabian Sea.

• The 12-day exercise is being coordinated by the Western Naval Command.
• According to the Navy, the principal formations participating in the exercise include the Army Southern Command, Western Naval Command, and South Western Air Command, supported by the Indian Coast Guard, Border Security Force, and other Central agencies, underscoring robust inter-agency coordination and multi-domain integration.

Boost interoperability

• More than 20,000 troops, supported by T-90S and Arjun tanks, attack helicopters, missile systems, Rafale and Sukhoi-30MKI fighters, as well as a fleet of frigates and destroyers, will take part in the exercise, said sources. The exercise aims to validate joint operational procedures, enhance interoperability, and strengthen network integration among the services.

• It will feature extensive maritime operations, including amphibious landings using INS Jalashwa and Landing Craft Utility vessels, alongside carrier operations and air-sea coordinated missions with the Air Force, the Navy added.
• A key focus of Trishul, 2025, is on joint intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; electronic warfare; and cyberwarfare operations.
• The drills will also emphasise the use of indigenous systems and refine strategies to meet emerging security challenges.

Current Affairs: 1st November 2025

Human-animal conflict claims three lives on a single day in State

Context: In a sign of human-animal conflict situation only escalating, in Karnataka.

• Kudremukh Wildlife Division in Sringeri taluk of Chikkamagaluru.
• Bandipur Tiger Reserve in Saragur taluk in Mysuru district.

About:

Kudremukha National park

• Derives its name from the highest hill peak known as the Kudremukha Peak having an altitude of 1892 meters from sea level.
• Is spread across 600.57 sq km. in Chikkamagaluru and Dakshina Kannada districts.
• Houses a variety of wildlife such as the leopard, Malabar giant squirrel, sloth bear, gaur, sambar, jackal, mongoose, tiger, wild dog, common langur, porcupine, spotted deer, barking deer and giant flying squirrel.
• The park is home to a variety of birds such as the Malabar trogon, Malabar whistling thrush, and the imperial pigeon.
• At 1892 meters, Kuduremukh is the second highest peak in Karnataka (after Mullayyanagiri). Kuduremukh is declared one of 34 biological hotspots of the world because of its tropical biological richness.
• Kudremukh Township was primarily developed as an iron ore mining town where the Government ran Kudremukh Iron Ore Company Ltd., (KIOCL)

Bandipur Tiger Reserve

• The Bandipur Tiger Reserve is situated in the Mysore and Chamarajanagar revenue districts of southern Karnataka. Geographically, it is an “ecological confluence” as the western and Eastern Ghats meet.
• Tiger Status: The Bandipur tiger reserve has a high density of tiger in the Western ghats landscape, bounded by other important tiger habitats, namely Mudumalai, Waynad, Nagarahole and BRT. As per the 2010 tiger assessment, the tiger density is 11 per 100 sq.km

• India, U.S. sign pact to boost defence ties

Context: Framework outlines a 10-year road map for strategic collaboration; both sides reaffirm commitment to advance cooperation in defence industry.

• India and the United States have unveiled a 10-year defence framework, marking a new phase in their strategic cooperation aimed at “advancing peace, security, and stability in the Indo-Pacific”.
• The “Framework for the U.S.-India Major Defence Partnership” was signed by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth on the sidelines of the 12th ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The development came amid strained ties due to Washington’s slapping of 50% tariffs on Indian goods.
• According to the Ministry of Defence, both sides appreciated the continuing momentum in bilateral defence cooperation and reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening the partnership.
• They reviewed ongoing defence engagements, addressed emerging challenges, and discussed progress in defence industry and technology collaborations, the Ministry said.
• Building on the 2013 Joint Principles for Defence Cooperation and the 2016 recognition of India as a Major Defence Partner (MDP), the new framework charts a 10-year road map to deepen collaboration across all defence domains — land, maritime, air, space, and cyberspace, a senior Defence Ministry.
• The framework focuses on maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific, enhancing interoperability, and strengthening maritime security to ensure the free flow of commerce. It also seeks to expand cooperation with like-minded partners through mechanisms such as the Quad, prevent proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and bolster defence industrial innovation through advanced technology partnerships, the official said.
• Both sides had already launched the COMPACT initiative (Catalysing Opportunities for Military Partnership, Accelerated Commerce and Technology) to drive transformative changes in key areas of defence cooperation.
• The new framework underscores a shared intent to respond jointly to common security threats, deter conflict, and uphold the sovereignty and autonomy of regional partners, while laying the foundation for collective peace and prosperity in the region.
• The U.S. Secretary of War reiterated that India remains a priority partner for Washington in defence cooperation.
• In a post, Mr. Hegseth stated that the framework advances the bilateral defence partnership, a cornerstone for regional stability and deterrence. “We’re enhancing our coordination, info sharing, and tech cooperation. Our defense ties have never been stronger,” he wrote.
• The defence framework is expected to provide unified policy direction to transform and expand the partnership between the two countries over the next decade, the Ministry added.

• Ministry of Mines recognises IISc as CoEto expedite India’s critical mineral mission

Context: The Ministry of Mines recognised the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, as one of the Centres of Excellence (CoE) under the National Critical Minerals Mission (NCMM).

• The NCMM was launched with a budget of ₹16,300 crore, and the mission aims to strengthen India’s self-reliance in critical minerals vital for clean energy, defence, and advanced technology sectors.
• The newly established CoE at IISc will set up an Integrated Critical Minerals Research and Development Facility covering the entire value chain right from exploration and extraction to processing and recycling. It will design modular pilot-scale plants using indigenous process and equipment technologies to reduce import dependence and drive sustainable growth.

Industrial solutions

• The CoE will also collaborate with industry partners through IISc’s Foundation for Science, Innovation and Development (FSID) to translate research into scalable industrial solutions, according to the IISc.
• Under this programme, the IISc would pioneer a greener lithium-ion battery recycling process, offering a sustainable alternative to the conventional black-mass route currently exported due to inefficient recovery systems. To support India’s Green Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Mission, the IISc would also recycle platinum group elements (PGEs) from spent auto catalysts, targeting up to 90% recovery efficiency through high-throughput systems integrated with PGE separation and purification technologies.

• Given the volatility in global supply chains, India’s reliance on imported rare earths and strategic minerals highlights the urgency of indigenous R&D. From toys to satellites, critical minerals underpin modern manufacturing and innovation.

Strong capabilities

• While India has built strong capabilities in semiconductors, digital infrastructure, and mobility, sustained progress depends on developing core material technologies at home.
• Omprakash Subbarao, CEO, FSID CORE at IISc, said, “This milestone marks a decisive step toward building India’s indigenous capabilities in the critical-mineral value chain right from exploration to processing and recycling.”

• ‘Govt. committed to providing 1% quota to nomadic communities’’

Context: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said that the State government was committed to providing 1% reservation to nomadic communities as part of social justice.

• “The government will review and take action on how the reservation can be given. The government does not have any intention to cause injustice to the community, and the government intends to compensate everyone,” the Chief Minister told a delegation of the nomadic community that met him here.
• He said that the government has made efforts to provide internal reservation, and that the confusion around the issue will be sorted out.
• The government did not accept the recommendation of the one-man commission headed by retired judge H.N. Nagamohan Das that had recommended 1% reservation to 59 communities, including 49 microscopic communities, that are most backward. Instead, these communities were clubbed with backward communities of Lambani, Korama, Koracha, and Bhovi for a reservation matrix of 5%.
• However, the communities have argued that competition for reservation benefits is among unequals, and the nomadic communities may not be able to compete with relatively better off Lambanis and others.
• The community leaders petitioned the Chief Minister seeking a separate 1% reservation for their communities, whose numbers are about 5.2 lakh, a special financial package, and the setting up of a separate development corporation for the nomadic and semi nomadic communities.

• Centre allocates routes for seaplane project in Kerala

Context: The Union government has awarded 48 seaplane routes, including in Kerala, under the Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS)-UDAN.

• Speaking, a government officer said the Centre directed Kerala to prepare a detailed project report for starting seaplane services from the Idukki dam, Malampuzha dam, Banasura Sagar dam, Mattupetty/Chenkulam dam, and Bekal. “The routes will be clear once the Centre issues a detailed government order,”.

• Union Health Ministry sets3 Guinness World Records

Context: The Union Health Ministry has achieved three Guinness World Records titles under the nationwide Swasth Nari, Sashakt Parivar Abhiyaan (SNSPA) campaign, according to a release issued by the Ministry.

• The records include — the most people to register for a healthcare platform in one month (over 3.21 crore), the most people to sign up for a breast cancer screening online in one week (over 9.94 lakh), and the most people to sign up for vital signs screening online in one week at the State level (over 1.25 lakh). The campaign was launched on September 17 in conjunction with Poshan Maah.

• ‘Probe agencies cannot force lawyers to reveal client info’

Context: The CJI-led Bench of the SC records that lawyers were not at the beck-and-call of probe agencies; it says their ability to protect their clients without fear was part of their fundamental rights.

• The Supreme Court in a judgment on Friday held that investigating agencies cannot summon lawyers and coerce them to disclose any professional communication made in confidence with their clients.
• A three-judge Bench headed by Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai said compelling a lawyer to prejudice his or her own client, without the latter’s consent or knowledge, amounted to an “outrageous” infringement of the client’s constitutional right against self-incrimination under Article 20(3) of the Constitution.
• “The facts and circumstances of a crime committed, or an FIR registered, is not to be elicited from the advocate who represents the accused, which again is a reflection of the abject failure of the investigating agency.
• It is for the investigator to obtain independent evidence of the culpability of the accused. The position of trust the advocate occupies vis-à-vis his client cannot be put to test by an attempt to breach the professional confidence, conferred with a solemn privilege under Section 132; which has reflections of the constitutional protection against self-incrimination,” Justice K. Vinod Chandran, who authored the judgment for the Bench also comprising Justice N.V. Anjaria, observed.

Lawyer-client privilege

• The judgment recorded that lawyers were not at the beck-and-call of probe agencies. Their ability to protect their clients without fear was part of their fundamental rights under Article 19(1)(g) and Article 21 of the Constitution, coupled with the provisions of the Advocates Act, 1961.
• The court said lawyer-client privilege was protected in Section 132 of the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA) of 2023, which mandates that an advocate cannot be coerced into revealing any information with respect to the client he represents or the cause he is engaged to prosecute or defend. The exceptions to this rule are clear. The confidentiality of the lawyer-client communication can be waived only with the consent of the client or if it was in furtherance of an illegal purpose or a if a crime or fraud is committed as a result.

• The judgment was based on a suo motu case registered by the Supreme Court after two senior advocates were summoned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for legal advice they gave their clients. The Bar had risen up in unison against the ED, which had quickly withdrawn the summons. In fact, even the Attorney-General and the Solicitor-General had highlighted that the such summons by investigative agencies affect a large body of advocates in the country “whose voice is the voice of the victim, the accused, the marginalised and the downtrodden”.
• The court held that investigating or prosecuting agencies or the police cannot directly summon a lawyer to elicit the details of the case, unless there was something the investigating officer had knowledge of, which fell under the exceptions [of Section 132]. In such cases, the exception had to be specifically mentioned in the summons.
• The court made it clear that summons issued against a lawyer by a probe officer should be approved by a superior officer not below the rank of a Superintendent of Police, whose satisfaction has to be recorded in writing.

• ‘Navy monitors every Chinese ship entering Indian Ocean Region’

Context: The Indian Navy is keeping a close and continuous watch on every Chinese vessel that enters the Indian Ocean Region, including naval and research ships, Vice-Chief of the Naval Staff Vice-Admiral Sanjay Vatsayan.

• “We are aware of what they are doing, when they come in, and when they go out,” he said, underscoring the Navy’s continuous surveillance of extra-regional powers operating in the region.
• In September, reports emerged of the Chinese tracking vessel Yuan Wang-5 operating in the Indian Ocean Region. The officer emphasised that the Navy remains fully alert and operationally prepared to meet any contingency.
• “At any given point of time, there are between 40 and 50 foreign ships operating in the Indian Ocean. We are aware of what they are doing, what they are likely to do, when do they come in, when they go out, etc. Challenges remain but the bottom line remains that the Indian Ocean is the main source of transit of goods and oil as far as the world is concerned,” he said.
• Vice-Admiral Vatsayan was speaking at a curtain raiser for three major international maritime events — the International Fleet Review 2026, Exercise MILAN 2026, and the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium Conclave of Chiefs — to be held at Visakhapatnam from February 17 to 25.
• He said 55 countries, including the U.S. and Russia, have confirmed their attendance, making it one of the largest maritime gatherings in the region. “These events align with the MAHASAGAR vision of inclusive maritime growth,” he noted.
• He said the Navy continues to operate under Operation Sindoor and maintains flexible deployment based on threat assessment and operational needs.

• Indian Railways to patronise ‘Aabhar’ online store in a bid to encourage local artisans

Context: In a bid to promote local talent, the Indian Railways will patronise the newly launched ‘Aabhar’ online store that will showcase a range of exquisite gift items manufactured by indigenous tribes, handloom weavers and others coming under the ambit of One District One Product (ODOP) and Geographical Indication (GI) products.

• The online store hosted by the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) sources gift items exclusively from the Central Cottage Industries Emporium (CCIE), Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC), and various Central and State Handicraft and Handloom Emporiums.
• Promoted with the ‘Vocal for Local’ campaign, the store would offer a variety of articles and hampers that could be used in official events, ceremonies, and functions. The objective is to promote social inclusion and encourage local artisans and traditional industries.

Promote rich heritage

• Sharing details of the website and liaison officers to facilitate the purchase, the Railway Board referred to a note issued by the Chief Executive Officer, GeM, which stated that the purpose of the initiative was also to promote India’s rich heritage through handlooms, handicrafts, artisanal goods, etc., by providing market access to local artisans, rural entrepreneurs and women-led enterprises. The GeM is aimed at supporting a sustainable and inclusive economic development.
• To provide a market for local/ indigenous products and create additional income opportunities for the marginalised sections of society, the railways launched ‘One Station One Product’ (OSOP) scheme over its network a few years ago where articles, like artefacts made by indigenous tribes, handlooms by local weavers, and handicrafts like chikankari were showcased.

• After 3 month outflows, FPIs net buy ₹14,610-cr. equities

Context: While FPIs’ equity buying was a marginal increase compared with the overall selling in the calendar year, they bought debt securities worth ₹3,507 crore in the month of October.

• Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs) net bought equities worth ₹14,610 crore in October after three consecutive months of selling, the strongest inflow since July this year.
• As of October 31, FPIs sold Indian equities worth ₹1.39 lakh crore, the worst number in three years. FPIs sold about ₹1.68 lakh crore in the 10-month period in calendar year (CY) 2022. The current year continues to be worse than CY2024, when global funds still net bought a marginal ₹6,593 crore. On a year-on-year basis, however, October 2025, is better than the same month last year when FPIs sold record ₹94,017 crore.
• While FPIs’ equity buying was a marginal rise vis a vis overall selling in the calendar year, they bought debt securities worth ₹3,507 crore in October, making it the third consecutive month of buying.
• “The pressure on India dedicated flows continues from long-only funds, which saw a euphoric rise in flows and AUM in 2023-24. This week, long-only funds saw outflows of $260 million and ETFs inflows of $98 million,” said Sunil Jain, VP, Elara Capital.

• ‘H1 fiscal deficit stands at 36.5% of full-year goal’

Context: The Centre’s fiscal deficit stood at 36.5% of the full-year target at the end of the first half of FY26, according to data released by the Controller General of Accounts (CGA).

• The fiscal deficit was 29% of the Budget Estimates (BE) of 2024-25 in the first six months of the previous financial year.
• In absolute terms, the fiscal deficit, or gap between the government’s expenditure and revenue, was ₹5,73,123 crore in the April-September period of 2025-26. The Centre estimates the fiscal deficit during 2025-26 at 4.4% of GDP, or ₹15.69 lakh crore.
• The government has received ₹17.3 lakh crore, or 49.5% of the corresponding BE 2025-26, of total receipts up to September.
• According to the CGA data, more than ₹6.31 lakh crore has been transferred to State governments as devolution of share of taxes by the Central government during the period. The total expenditure incurred by the Central government stood at about ₹23 lakh crore (45.5% of the corresponding BE 2025-26).

Spike in capex

• Aditi Nayar, chief economist at Icra, said a welcome 40% spike in capital expenditure widened the Government of India’s fiscal deficit to ₹5.7 lakh crore or about 37% of the BE during the first half of the fiscal from ₹4.7 lakh crore in the year-ago period.

Current Affairs: 30th & 31st October 2025

• U.S. is doing a trade deal with India, says Trump

Context: U.S. President Donald Trump said Washington is “doing a trade deal with India”, and emphasised that he has “a great relationship” with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as both sides continue negotiations on a proposed pact.

• “If you look at India and Pakistan… so, I’m doing a trade deal with India and I have great respect and love, as you know, for Prime Minister Modi. We have a great relationship,” Mr. Trump said at the APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation) CEO Summit in Gyeongju, South Korea.
• He landed in South Korea from Japan as part of a three-nation tour of Asia.
• Mr. Trump, who did not elaborate on trade talks, reiterated his claim that he used trade to resolve the war between India and Pakistan in May.

‘Under strain’       

• The U.S. President’s comment came at a time when the relations between New Delhi and Washington have been reeling under severe strain after Mr. Trump imposed 50% tariffs on India, including an additional 25% levies for its procurement of Russian crude oil.

• FTA talks with EU crossed halfway mark: Piyush Goyal

Context: The negotiations between India and the European Union on a free trade agreement have crossed the halfway mark, with 10 out of 20 chapters of the agreement having been finalised, and several other chapters nearing completion, Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal said.

• “We have made significant progress in the three-day discussion between European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security Maros Sefcovic and his team and our team on several areas,” Mr. Goyal said at a press briefing.
• The Minister has returned from a three-nation tour over the last week or so, having visited Geneva for the 16th session of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), Berlin for the Berlin Global Dialogues, and Brussels to “further our negotiations with the European Union” for an FTA.
• He further said that, on an increasing number of issues, the two teams are moving towards convergence. The team from the EU is set to visit New Delhi next week for the next round of negotiations, and Mr. Sefcovic will visit the capital at the end of November or in December, the Minister said.

• ‘Swiss firms have shown interest in Quantum City’

Context: Swiss companies and key research institutions in the quantum technology sector have responded positively to partnership opportunities in the proposed Quantum City in Bengaluru, said N.S. Boseraju, Minister for Minor Irrigation, Science and Technology.

• The Karnataka government is implementing several programmes aimed at establishing Bengaluru as the “global focal point for the quantum sector”. Following the announcement at the country’s first Quantum Conference, the State government has already allocated land for the Quantum City.
• Discussions concerning the city’s development were held with representatives from leading global quantum research institutions, including ETH Zurich and CERN. The Minister noted that Karnataka, in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), has initiated courses to develop skilled quantum human resources. He emphasised the availability of expert talent and a conducive environment for new research in the State.
• Karnataka participated in the “Swissnex Quantum Summit”, where the delegation provided information on investment opportunities to representatives of major global quantum companies. A demonstration of the proposed Quantum City was also showcased.
• The delegation visited ETH Zurich, the institution famously associated with Albert Einstein’s research. The Minister extended an invitation to world-renowned directors of the ETH Zurich Quantum Center — Andreas Wallraff, Jonathan Home, and Klaus Ensslin — pioneers in superconducting qubits and trapped ion systems research for over 20 years, to attend the upcoming Quantum India Conference.
• During the visit to Zurich Instruments, information was gathered on the manufacture of essential instrumentation required for Quantum Computing development. The Minister announced that this institution has agreed to provide training to research students from Karnataka.

• Kerala puts PM SHRI scheme on hold, sets up review panel

Context: Education Minister Sivankutty will chair the committee; move comes after ruling front ally CPI raises concerns over mandatory inclusion in the scheme to receive Central funds for education.

• Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan announced a seven-member Cabinet subcommittee to study the CPI’s concerns on the PM SHRI scheme.
• The key ruling front ally publicly denounced the signing of MoU by the State government, as the “reactionary” National Education Policy-linked PM SHRI scheme, which the BJP-led Central government had set as an obligatory condition for releasing statutory federal grants estimated at ₹1,446 crore for school education.
• Mr. Vijayan said the government had frozen further procedures concerning the scheme until the panel submitted its report to the government.

• According to a survey of 25 countries, Indians are least aware of AI

• Indian maritime sector has seen historic progress: Modi

Context: PM launches initiatives worth ₹2.2 lakh crore for shipping and shipbuilding sectors at Maritime Leaders’ Conclave; amid global tensions, India represents autonomy and inclusive growth.

• The progress in India’s maritime domain has been historic and the capability of major ports has doubled, Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
• “Cargo movement has increased 700% in inland areas. Today, India’s ports are considered among the best in the developing world,” he added.
• Mr. Modi was speaking at the Maritime Leaders’ Conclave held at the NESCO Ground to mark ‘India Maritime Week’.
• During the event, Mr. Modi launched initiatives worth ₹2.2 lakh crore for the shipping and shipbuilding sectors, including acquisition of 437 vessels. Several memoranda of understanding (MoUs) for port-led industrialisation, sustainability, and shipbuilding, among others, were signed.

Sign of confidence

• “In 2016, the maiden India Maritime Week was held in Mumbai. Today, it has become a global summit. Eighty-five countries participate in it today. This itself sends a very big message,” Mr. Modi said.
• “The MoUs signed here show the confidence of the world in India’s maritime capabilities.”

• “This [2025] is a crucial year for the country’s maritime capabilities. The Vizhinjam deep water transit hub has been operational. It is a matter of pride for every Indian. Kandla port and the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) have shown great capabilities. The JNPT’s handling capability has doubled, making it India’s biggest container port,” he added.

• Modern and futuristic laws have been implemented and old laws scrapped. They strengthen sustainability and enhance digitisation in ports. The safety of our ports has increased and ease of business has improved.”

Logistics performance

• Praising logistics performance of Indian ports, Mr. Modi said, “In the Logistics Performance Index of the World Bank, India had performed better.”
• “Shipbuilding is our top priority too. India is making great strides in shipbuilding,” he said, adding, “New alternatives for finance and easy credit will be offered.”
• “We welcome your ideas, innovation and investment. Public-Private Partnerships [PPP] have been increasing. We are giving incentives to States to attract investment,” he told the attendees at the conclave.

• India, China hold fresh round of talks on border peace

Context: The Indian and Chinese militaries held a fresh round of high-level talks aimed at maintaining peace and security along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh.

• It was the first such interaction between the two militaries after the Special Representatives’ talks in August between National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.
• According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the 23rd round of India-China Corps Commander-level meeting was held on October 25 at the Chushul-Moldo border meeting point.
• This was the first meeting of the General Level Mechanism in the Western Sector since the 24th round of Special Representatives’ talks held on August 19. The discussions, the Ministry said, were held in a “friendly and cordial atmosphere”.
• The Ministry added that both sides had reviewed the progress since the 22nd round of Corps Commander-level Meeting held in October 2024 and shared the view that peace and tranquillity have been maintained in the border areas. The two sides agreed to continue using existing mechanisms to resolve any issues on the ground and to maintain stability along the LAC.
• The Chinese Ministry of National Defence also confirmed the talks, stating that “the two sides engaged in active and in-depth communication on the management of the western section of the China-India border”.
• The latest round of talks comes amid ongoing efforts by both nations to sustain dialogue and prevent incidents along the contested frontier, where disengagement efforts have been under way since 2020.

• Japan’s new PM calls Modi, discusses Quad, economic and security issues

Context: India and Japan would like to open a “golden chapter” in their ties, said Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, who held her first conversation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a week after she took office. The conversation, which lasted about 25 minutes, focused on the Quad, economic and defence cooperation, and the mobility of professionals, both sides said.

• In a post, Mr. Modi said he had discussed their “shared vision for advancing the India-Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership, indicating India and Japan will move forward with the initiatives and agreements signed during Mr. Modi’s visit to Japan in August. Mr. Modi had then met with Ms. Takaichi’s predecessor Shigeru Ishiba, who subsequently had to resign from office.
• The Japanese Prime Minister’s office said that Ms. Takaichi stated that India and Japan share “fundamental values and strategic interests”.
• “Japan intends to continue to work together toward realizing a Free and Open Indo-Pacific, including through Japan-Australia-India-U.S.,” it said in statement, adding that Japan will continue its cooperation with India on security, economy, investment, innovation, and people-to-people exchanges. In a post responding to Mr. Modi on social media, Ms. Takaichi said that she would like to open a “new golden chapter in the Japan-India Special Strategic and Global Partnership”, along with Mr. Modi.
• The new Japanese Prime Minister has met many of her Asian and Indo-Pacific counterparts already, as she attended the ASEAN summit in Kuala Lumpur last week, that Mr. Modi pulled out of. Ms. Takaichi will be in Gyeongju in South Korea for the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit.
• When asked about whether she will meet Chinese President Xi Jinping, who will hold a summit with U.S. President Donald Trump morning, Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara said that her schedule is still being finalised.
• The conversation between the two Prime Ministers came a day after Mr. Trump’s visit to Japan, when Ms. Takaichi had also referenced the Quad.

• Developing nations need 12 times more funds to fight climate crisis

Context: To adapt to climate change, developing countries will require anywhere from $310-365 billion (at least ₹27 lakh crore) annually by 2035, according to a United Nations analysis. This is nearly 12 times more than the money that currently flows from the developed to the developing world for this purpose.

• The analysis, underlining the huge gap between the demand and supply of funds needed to protect developing nations from climate change impacts, appears in Running on Empty, an annual report on the shortfall released, ahead of the 30th edition of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference of Parties (COP-30) to be held in Belem, Brazil next month.
• International public adaptation finance flows to developing countries stood at $26 billion (about ₹2.2 lakh crore) in 2023, down from $28 billion the previous year. If these trends continue, a target agreed upon by countries at the COP-26 in Glasgow, to double adaptation finance to $40 billion by 2025 will be “missed”, the report added.

Disappointing target

• Finance is a significant issue in climate negotiations, as developing countries insist that developed countries pay the costs of adaptation (to deal with climate change impacts) and mitigation (to move away from fossil fuels), as well as compensation for losses and damages already occurring. This total bill is collectively called “climate finance”.
• At COP-29 in Baku, Azerbaijan last year, developing countries, which were demanding nearly $1.3 trillion annually by 2035, were disappointed when the developed world agreed to only $300 billion, called the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) on climate finance.
• Tuesday’s UN report underlines this criticism. “…it is far too evident that the financial resources needed to enable adaptation action in developing countries at the scale necessary to meet the growing challenges of current and future climate risks is woefully inadequate. It will take nothing less than a global collective effort to increase climate finance to the levels articulated in the Baku to Belém Roadmap to 1.3 trillion,” it notes.
• The report also raises concerns that whatever money has been made available at present is primarily classified as ‘debt.’ Although 70% of international public adaptation finance was concessional in 2022-23, it is “worrisome” that debt instruments continue to dominate these overall flows, comprising 58% on average in that financial year, the report said.

• SEBI favours ‘simpler’ mutual fund rules

Context: Regulator proposes to do away with old rules, simplify language,and rationalise fee structure; changes aimed at reducing investor costs.

• The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has proposed major changes to mutual fund regulations to reduce investor costs and to make them simpler.
• The markets regulator said that the proposals contained provisions to do away with old rules, simplify the language, and rationalise fee structures.
• “Numerous amendments over the last 29 years have contributed to the MF regulations becoming considerably voluminous and complex. Hence, SEBI has undertaken an exercise to comprehensively review the MF regulations,” according to a consultation paper.
• As part of the efforts to make MF schemes cheaper for the investor, SEBI has done away with the additional expense of 0.05% charged by AMCs over exit load. “In 2012, mutual funds were mandated to credit exit load to the scheme and AMCs were allowed to charge 20 bps more as additional expenses to the scheme. A basis point is one-hundredth of a percentage. The said additional charge, was reduced from 20 bps to 5 bps in 2018,” SEBI said.
• “The provision for additional expense of 5 bps allowed to the AMCs to charge the mutual fund schemes, was transitory in nature..with an objective to rationalise cost for unit holder, this expense charged to the scheme has been removed from the draft MF regulations,” SEBI said.
• To lighten the impact of the removal of additional expense on exit load, SEBI proposed that the first two slabs of the expense ratio of open-ended active schemes be revised upwards by 5 bps. It also proposed to exclude all statutory levy like STT, GST, CTT, and stamp duty from the expense ratio limits along with the present permissible expenses for brokerage, exchange and regulatory fees. SEBI also proposed to reduce brokerage charges to 0.02% from 0.12% in cash market and 0.01% from 0.05% in the derivatives market.

• India mulls $12-bn plan to bail out debt-laden State power discoms

Context: India is considering a bailout exceeding ₹1 trillion ($12 billion) for debt-laden state-run power distribution companies.

• To receive the bailout funds, the States will be required to privatise their electric utilities and transfer managerial control or keep control but list them on a stock exchange, according to three government officials and a document outlining the plan prepared by the Union Ministry of Power.
• The plan marks Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s toughest reform push yet to overhaul the chronically inefficient state-run electricity distribution companies, seen as the weakest link in India’s energy chain. The Power Ministry and the Ministry of Finance are discussing the final details of the bailout, with an announcement expected in the February budget, said two government sources.
• Under the proposal, at least 20% of the state’s total power consumption must be met by private companies and the States must assume part of the retailer’s debt, according to the Power Ministry presentation.
• To do so the States can choose to privatise their distribution operations for access to loans to pay off existing debt under two options. First, the States can create a new distribution company, divest 51% of the equity, which will enable them to access a 50-year interest-free loan for the privatised company’s debt, along with access to low-interest federal loans for five years, the presentation showed.
• The second option would let States privatise up to 26% of the equity of an existing State-owned power distribution company in exchange for access to low-interest loans from the federal government for five years, it showed.
• Alternatively, States that do not decide to transfer managerial control through privatisation must list their utilities on a recognised stock exchange within three years.
• States that choose to list would receive low-interest loans from the federal government for infrastructure management, the presentation showed.
• The State power retailers have accumulated losses of ₹7.08 trillion ($80.6 billion) and outstanding debt of ₹7.42 trillion ($84.4 billion) as of March 2024, the documents showed.
• Private companies such as Adani Power, ReliancePower, Tata Power, CESC and Torrent Power are expected to benefit from the reforms as they are likely to gain stakes in the State companies.

• Sugar sector concerned over reduction in ethanol sourcing

Context: The sugar sector is concerned over the cut in ethanol sourcing in the 2025-2026 ethanol supply year.

• The Indian Sugar & Bio-Energy Manufacturers Association (ISMA) said only 289 crore litre ethanol had been allocated from sugar-based feedstock or 28% of the total need. The industry invested almost ₹40,000 crore with a capacity to supply 650 crore litre of ethanol a year. It supplied 330 crore litre last ethanol supply year.
• The sector expects almost 345 lakh tonne sugar output between October 1 and September 30, 2026. Of this, local consumption will be just 284 lakh tonne and sugar diversion for ethanol 34 lakh tonne leading to excess sugar stocks.
• While the Fair and Remunerative Price of sugarcane rose 16.5% to ₹355 a quintal since 2022–23, ethanol procurement prices from sugarcane juice and B-heavy molasses was static at ₹60.73 and ₹65.61 a litre respectively. Ethanol’s cost of production was ₹66.09 a litre from B-heavy molasses and ₹70.70 a litre from cane juice.
• The minimum selling price (MSP) of sugar has been ₹31 a kg since February 2019 with output cost at ₹40.24/kg. The Centre must ensure 50% ethanol is sourced from sugar sector, raise MSP, announce sugar export policy and increase ethanol procurement prices, ISMA said.

• What is China’s complaint against India at WTO?

Context: China has filed a complaint with the World Trade Organization (WTO) against India. It alleges that India is providing subsidies, as part of the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme, for the development of advanced chemistry cell (ACC) batteries; for boosting the auto sector; and for facilitating the production of Electric Vehicles, in contravention of WTO law.

What is the PLI scheme?

• India launched the PLI scheme in 2020 to give a fillip to Indian manufacturing. This scheme provides financial incentives based on incremental sales to strategic industries; aims to bolster India’s position in global value chains; and integrates medium and small-scale industries into the industrial production process through backward linkages.
• The three specific PLI schemes that China has challenged are — the PLI scheme which aims to incentivise the establishment of giga-scale manufacturing capabilities of ACC batteries in India; the scheme for the auto industry, which seeks to buttress the manufacturing of Advanced Automotive Technology (AAT) products in India, encompassing both vehicles and their components; and third, a scheme to promote EV manufacturing by attracting global EV manufacturers to the country.

What is China’s complaint?

• China alleges that the three PLI schemes provide financial benefits or subsidies to companies operating in India contingent on Domestic Value Addition (DVA). For instance, under the PLI scheme for the auto sector, one of the conditions for eligibility to get financial benefits is that there must be a 50% DVA.
• Likewise, one of the salient features of the PLI scheme for ACC batteries is that the beneficiary must ensure a DVA of 25%. The Chinese argue that the DVA requirements under these PLI schemes incentivise companies to use domestic goods rather than imported goods, discriminating against Chinese goods in the Indian market.

What is the law on subsidies in WTO?

• While providing industrial subsidies to boost domestic industry is a sovereign right of states, WTO law ensures that these subsidies are not provided in a manner that jeopardises the international trade of other countries by ushering in unfair competition.
• Unfair competition may arise from subsidies that confer an artificial advantage on industries for exporting or competing with imported products. Consequently, the grant of industrial subsidies is regulated by the Subsidies and Countervailing Measures (SCM) agreement of the WTO. Article 1 of the SCM agreement defines a subsidy as a financial contribution by a government or a public body that confers a benefit. The subsidy should also be specific.
• The SCM agreement divides subsidies into three categories — prohibited subsidies, actionable subsidies, and non-actionable subsidies. Prohibited subsidies are forbidden by definition and are generally of two types: export subsidies and Import Substitution (IS) subsidies. Export subsidies are contingent on export performance, and IS subsidies, as defined in Article 3.1(b) of the SCM agreement, refer to subsidies contingent upon the use of domestic goods over imported goods. Thus, if a country promises a financial contribution to a specific industry on the condition that it use domestic goods or goods produced locally, rather than imported goods, it would constitute a prohibited subsidy.

Do IS subsidies violate other laws?

• An IS subsidy will also breach two other WTO legal provisions. First is the national treatment obligation, codified in Article III.4 of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), which obligates countries to ensure that their domestic laws do not treat imported products less favourably than their domestic products; and second, is Article 2.1 of the Trade Related Investment Measures (TRIMs) Agreement which states that no country shall impose any TRIM that is inconsistent with its national treatment obligations enshrined in GATT’s Article III.
• The TRIMs agreement contains a specific illustration of a prohibited trade-related investment measure. This illustration pertains to local content requirements which incentivise the use of domestically produced goods. Since an IS subsidy gives preference to domestic over foreign goods, it constitutes as a proscribed TRIM under the WTO law.
• China alleges that India’s three PLI schemes are IS subsidies. However, it is critical to note that the DVA milestones in India’s PLI scheme do not automatically translate to local content requirements. Value addition at the domestic level can occur in multiple ways, and not just through the use of domestic goods. The analysis of the DVA component in these three PLI schemes must thus consider a complex set of facts.

What happens next?

• The first step in resolving a dispute at the WTO is through consultations. Thus, India and China will try to resolve this matter amicably. If this does not occur, the dispute will proceed to adjudication by a three-member ad hoc WTO panel. The WTO’s appellate mechanism, the Appellate Body, has remained incapacitated since December 2019.
• Thus, if the WTO panel’s decision is appealed, it would mean postponing the adjudication of the dispute till the time the Appellate Body is resurrected. The practical implication is that the status quo remains, and a country can continue with its impugned measures.

• How do cyclones form and how are they measured?

Context: If you think of a cyclone as a machine, it would be an incredibly powerful entity — an engine that draws heat from the earth’s tropical waters to drive destructive winds, heavy rainfall, and storm surges. Similar storms are known variously as hurricanes in the Atlantic and eastern Pacific Oceans, and typhoons in the western Pacific Ocean.

How do cyclones form?

• A tropical cyclone begins as an area of low pressure, often associated with clusters of thunderstorms. For such a disturbance to develop into a cyclone, several atmospheric and oceanic conditions must come together.
• The most important is warm sea surface temperature, generally above 26.5°C and up to a depth of at least 50 m. When moist air near such a water surface rises, it releases its latent heat, cools, and condenses to form clouds. The released heat warms the surrounding air, causing it to rise even further and drawing in more moist air from below, setting up a self-reinforcing cycle of convection.
• A second important condition is that the atmosphere must be unstable, that is, rising air must continue to rise rather than being forced back down, and there must be a sufficient Coriolis force (a deflection of circulating air due to the earth’s rotation, causing it to curve right in the Northern Hemisphere and left in the Southern Hemisphere) to induce rotation. As the Coriolis effect is weakest at the equator, cyclones rarely form within about five degrees of latitude from it. At the same time, the vertical wind shear, which is the difference in wind speed and direction between the lower and the upper levels of the atmosphere, must be low. High wind shear can disrupt a cyclone’s organised circulation and keep it from building in strength.
• As the cyclone develops, a well-defined centre called the ‘eye’ may form. This is a calm, clear region surrounded by a ring of towering thunderstorms that produce the most intense winds and heaviest rainfall, called the eyewall.
• Air spirals in towards the low-pressure centre at the surface and rises rapidly near the eyewall, while at higher altitudes it flows outwards, completing the circulation.

How are cyclones classified?

• Since the storm draws energy from the ocean through evaporation, it can intensify as long as it remains over warm water. Cyclones are primarily classified by their maximum sustained wind speed and central pressure. Different ocean basins use slightly different classification schemes but the principle is the same. In the North Indian Ocean, the India Meteorological Department classification ranges from a ‘depression’ (31-49 km/hr) to ‘super cyclonic storm’ (>222 km/hr).
• For measurements, meteorologists use ground-based observations, aircraft reconnaissance, satellite data, and ocean buoys. Satellites play a crucial role in monitoring cyclones over remote ocean areas: infrared images help estimate the temperature of cloud tops, indicating storm intensity, while visible and microwave sensors reveal structure, rainfall distribution, and eye formation.
• In the North Atlantic, specialised aircraft called hurricane hunters fly directly into storms to measure wind speeds, pressure, humidity, and temperature. Instruments called dropsondes are released into the storm, transmitting data as they fall. In the Indian Ocean, satellites and automated buoys provide most of the data.

How well are cyclones forecast?

• Forecasting the path and intensity of cyclones remains a complex challenge. Sophisticated numerical weather models simulate atmospheric and oceanic conditions, but even small errors in initial data can lead to large uncertainties. Advances in computing power, remote sensing, and data assimilation have improved forecasts significantly over the last few decades. Today, most meteorological agencies can predict a cyclone’s track three to five days in advance with reasonable accuracy.

• India gets 6-month waiver for Iran port

Context: U.S. relief on sanctions against Chabahar in force from, says MEA; essential supplies to Afghanistan can now be sent through the port.

• India has received a waiver on the United States’ sanctions against Iran’s Chabahar port for six months, the Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal announced. Officials said that the sanctions waiver had come into effect from October 29.
• India has been associated with the Chabahar port at least since 2005, when it entered into an agreement with Iran to develop the port.
• Both sides signed an MoU in 2015 to jointly develop the Shahid Beheshti Port at Chabahar in the hope that it would emerge as a major commercial hub helping India access the markets of Afghanistan, the Central Asian states, and Russia. The port’s prospects came under a cloud due to Western sanctions against Iran, but in 2018, the first Trump administration gave a waiver to Indian operations at the Chabahar port as it was aimed at helping the development needs of the U.S.-backed Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.
• In September, the U.S. Department of State said that it would revoke the waiver for Indian operations that was offered by Donald Trump in 2018. The move exposed anyone associated with the Chabahar project to U.S. sanctions under the Iran Freedom and Counter-Proliferation Act.
• However, the latest U.S. decision means that supplies to Afghanistan, especially essential items like food grains and medical products, can still be sent through Chabahar.

• 70 persons selected for Rajyotsava award

Context: On the occasion of the Kannada Rajyotsava celebrations on November 1, the State government on Thursday announced its annual Rajyotsava awards for 70 personalities for their contributions in different fields.

• Writers including Rajendra Chenni, Rahamath Tarikere, R. Sunandamma, and H.L. Pushpa, multilingual actor Prakash Raj, actor Vijayalakshmi Singh, former IAS officer H. Siddaiah, and M.R. Jayaram of Ramaiah University are among the 70 people selected for the award for 2025.
• The award carries an amount of ₹5 lakh, a 25-gram gold medal, and a citation.

• Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will present the awards at a function to be held on Saturday. A committee headed by the Chief Minister selected persons for the award, Kannada and Culture Minister Shivaraj Tangadagi told mediapersons.

• Umashree to receive Dr. Rajkumar Award

Context: Veteran film and theatre person Umashree has been chosen for Dr. Rajkumar Award for lifetime achievement in Kannada cinema.

• The State government announced the recipients of the 2019 State Film Lifetime Achievement and Literary Awards. The awards will be presented at a ceremony in Mysuru on November 3, which will also include the presentation of the 2018 and 2019 State Film Awards.
• N.R. Nanjunde Gowda has been selected for the Puttanna Kanagal Award, which honors outstanding contributions to direction in Kannada cinema, while the Dr. Vishnuvardhan Award will go to filmmaker Richard Castelino. Each of these awards carries a cash prize of ₹5 lakh and a gold medal.
• In the literary category, the State Film Literature Award for 2019 has been conferred on senior journalist Raghunath Ch.Ha. for his book “Belli Tore – Cinema Essays,”  published by Ankita Prakashana. Both the author and the publisher will receive ₹20,000 in cash and a silver medal each.

• Sardar Patel’s vision and the meaning of national unity today

Context: Every year, on October 31, India observes Rashtriya Ekta Diwas — National Unity Day — to honour the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Independent India’s first Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister. Few figures shaped the foundations of the Republic as decisively as Patel, who brought together more than 560 princely states after 1947 to create a single political entity.

• Patel’s realism, patience and firmness prevented the subcontinent from fracturing in the wake of Partition. Junagarh, Hyderabad, and Jammu & Kashmir might well have slipped into uncertainty but for his persuasion and resolve. The idea of unity he espoused was never uniformity; it was a federation of minds and hearts bound by shared heritage. That belief remains India’s anchor in an age of widening diversities and new aspirations.
• The decision in 2014 to commemorate Patel’s birthday as National Unity Day recognised that unity is not a settled fact but a continuous act of national renewal. Across the country, schools, civil organisations and citizens reaffirm the pledge to uphold the nation’s integrity. Events such as the ‘Run for Unity’ embody Patel’s call for collective action — reminding us that patriotism must move from sentiment to participation.
• The 150th birth anniversary that falls this year will be observed with special programmes at Ekta Nagar near the 182-metre-tall Statue of Unity — itself a monumental tribute to Patel’s nation-building legacy. Cultural parades, tableaux from States, and performances by over 900 artists will celebrate the idea that India’s strength lies in its many voices speaking as one.

Culture as a bond

• In a country where languages, faiths and folk traditions coexist in profusion, culture has long served as the most durable bond of unity. Institutions under the Ministry of Culture — from zonal cultural centres to national museums — work to democratise heritage, ensuring that no region feels isolated from the national narrative.
• Programmes such as ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat’ institutionalise this spirit by pairing States and Union Territories for exchanges in language, cuisine, and art. When students in Maharashtra learn Bihu or young performers from Assam stage Lavani in Pune, they practise Patel’s idea that knowing one another is the first step to standing together.
• Tourism, too, is an instrument of cohesion. The ‘Dekho Apna Desh’ campaign and an upgraded ‘Incredible India’ digital platform encourage citizens to explore their own land — from Punjab’s Golden Temple to Kerala’s backwaters, from Assam’s tea gardens to Rajasthan’s deserts. In 2024 alone, domestic tourism crossed 294 crore visits, reflecting a surge in curiosity and pride among Indians about India.
• Schemes such as Swadesh Darshan and PRASHAD go beyond infrastructure to create local livelihoods. When a woman in Nagaland runs a homestay for visitors from Gujarat or an artisan in Jodhpur sells crafts to travellers from Tamil Nadu, they exchange more than goods — they share experiences that knit the Republic closer.
• Unity, Patel taught, is a task renewed in every generation. It must be defended against the fragmenting impulses of indifference, ignorance and regionalism.
• The ‘Panch Pran’ — the five resolves of the ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’ — place the pledge of national solidarity at the heart of India’s journey towards 2047.
• As India marks the sesquicentennial year of Sardar Patel’s birth, the true homage to the Iron Man lies not in marble or memory, but in ensuring that every Indian feels part of the same national story. Whether through a cultural performance, a museum exhibit, or a journey across States, each act of participation strengthens the invisible threads that bind this civilisation together.
• In Sardar Patel’s words and in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s reiteration of them, unity remains both the means and the goal of India’s destiny — Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat.

• Trump-Xi bonhomie and reference to G-2 may impact India and Quad

Context: External Affairs Ministry non-committal on outcome of U.S.-China summit in South Korea; experts warn of ripple effects in region; after talks, U.S. reduced tariffs on China to 47%, making India and Brazil, at 50%, among nations with highest tariff.

• The summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Busan, South Korea, ended with several outcomes for bilateral ties between the two countries, but also sent ripple effects to India. As a result of the talks, the U.S. has reduced tariffs on China to 47%, making India and Brazil, at 50%, among the countries with the highest tariffs.

• More than the specific outcomes, including a one-year truce on trade tariffs and export restrictions on rare earth minerals, experts said the characterisation by both leaders of the U.S.-China “G-2” or grouping of the two biggest global powers, may have a bigger impact. At the meeting with Mr. Xi, Mr. Trump began by saying, “I think we are going to have a fantastic relationship for a long period of time.”
• “China and the U.S. can jointly shoulder our responsibility as major countries, and work together to accomplish more great and concrete things for the good of our two countries and the whole world,” Mr. Xi said, as per Chinese Foreign Ministry’s statement.
• When asked about the summit, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal was non-committal. “As far as the question of the latest [Trump-Xi] talks and relaxations that have happened between U.S. and China, as to how it is going to play into our domain, I will come back to you,” he told reporters on Thursday.
• The G-2 or the idea of creating an exclusive U.S.-China club to work on global issues was floated as a concept about 15 years ago around the summit between U.S. President Barack Obama and Chinese President Hu Jintao in 2009, when trade, climate change and nuclear proliferations were pressing concerns for the U.S.
• However, Mr. Obama never used the term, and subsequently as U.S.-China tensions increased, the administration dropped the idea entirely by 2011.

Impact of entente

• Another issue is the impact of any entente between the U.S. and China on the Quad and other Indo-Pacific initiatives.
• India has always been more for a multi-polar world order rather than for a shared hegemony between the top two powers. One has to wonder if this will lead to carving up of the world into “spheres of influence”, as that will challenge not only India’s stature but also the viability of the Quad.
• Speaking to reporters onboard his flight back to the U.S., Mr. Trump said he intended to visit China in April 2026, and host Mr. Xi in the U.S. later in the year. While no date has been sent for Mr. Trump’s travel to India to attend the Australia-India-Japan-U.S. Quad Summit to be hosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, reports suggested that this was unlikely to take place in 2025.
• As a result, if Mr. Trump returns to Asia next year, the question won’t just be whether he will be part of the Quad summit in India, but also that whether his new “G-2” plans with China will dilute the group’s agenda to secure a free and open Indo-Pacific.

• Justice Surya Kant to take over as 53rd Chief Justiceof India on November 24

Context: The apppointment of Justice Surya Kant as the 53rd Chief Justice of India (CJI) was notified on Thursday. He will assume charge on November 24 and will remain CJI for nearly 16 months, till February 9, 2027.

• The notification was issued by the Department of Justice in the Union Law Ministry.
• “In exercise of the powers conferred by the Constitution of India, the President is pleased to appoint Shri Justice Surya Kant, Judge of the Supreme Court as the Chief Justice of India with effect from 24th November 2025,” Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal wrote on X.
• “I convey my heartiest congratulations and best wishes to him,” he added.
• Justice Surya Kant succeeds Justice Bhushan R. Gavai, who demits office on November 23.
• According to a communique by the, Justice Surya Kant was born on February 10, 1962 in Petwar of Hisar, Haryana. He earned his Law degree from Maharishi Dayanand University, Rohtak, in 1984. He then began his practice the same year at District Courts, Hisar.
• In 1985, he shifted to the Punjab and Haryana High Court, Chandigarh, specialising in constitutional, service, and civil matters. On July 7, 2000, he earned the distinction of being appointed the youngest Advocate-General of Haryana and was also designated as a senior advocate.
• He served as the Advocate-General until his elevation as a permanent Judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court on January 9, 2004.
• As a judge, he served on the governing body of the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) from 2007 to 2011 and, later, earned a first class in his Master’s degree in Law in 2011. He was appointed the Chief Justice of the Himachal Pradesh High Court on October 5, 2018, and thereafter was elevated to the Supreme Court of India on May 24, 2019.
• Since May 14, 2025, he has been the Executive Chairman of NALSA and also serves on several committees of the Indian Law Institute.

• Fully aware of Great Nicobar project’s impact, says Centre

Context: The Centre tells the NGT that no tribal persons will be displaced, noting that the projectwill cover about 18% of the Great Nicobar area, leaving over two-thirds of its land mass as forests.

• Defending the Great Nicobar Island mega-infrastructure project at the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Thursday, the Union government argued that it was fully aware of the project’s likely impact on the biodiversity of the surrounding areas, positing that the main issue was whether the government was “alive to this or not”.
• Noting that the government considers it its duty to undertake mitigation measures, Additional Solicitor-General Aishwarya Bhati said that the Centre had mandated conservation and monitoring programmes to run for the next three decades as the project was developed. She said that the project “is going to be a national asset”.
• The submissions came in response to a batch of petitions that have challenged the environmental clearance issued for the ₹92,000-crore project, which will include a transshipment port, an international airport, a township, and a power plant to be built on more than 160 sq. km of land. Of this, about 130 sq. km is forest land inhabited by the Nicobarese and the Shompen communities, both Scheduled Tribes, with the Shompen categorised as a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group.
• One petition, submitted by activist Ashish Kothari, challenges the clearances obtained for the project, citing violations of the Island Coastal Regulation Zone (ICRZ) notification, 2019 notification and inadequacies in the environmental impact assessment.
• Making its arguments before the NGT Bench now hearing the matter, the Union government submitted that it had considered studies and research conducted over decades before mandating measures to translocate, conserve, and monitor the project activities’ impact on the biodiversity of the region.

Coral colonies

• Ms. Bhati noted that while plans had been outlined for translocating over 16,000 of the 20,668 coral colonies that are under threat from the project’s activities, there is also a plan in place to ensure the monitoring of the remaining 4,500-odd coral colonies. She submitted that there were about 51 active nests of the Nicobar megapode in the project activities’ area; though about 30 will be permanently destroyed, there were also plans in place to conserve the remaining nests.
• “There is biodiversity all around the islands, and the conclusion was that this region is the most suitable. All other nesting beaches of the leatherback turtles will be protected and conserved,” Ms. Bhati argued.
• The Centre added that no tribal persons will be displaced or dispersed, noting that the project will only cover 1.82% of the whole island’s archipelago area, which amounts to about 18% of the Great Nicobar area, still leaving GNI with over two-thirds of its land mass as forests.
• The Centre also defended the environment clearance granted for the project, which has mandated detailed measures to study and monitor the biodiversity of the region as the project is developed, calling it “an alive document” that prescribes conservation measures till 2052.

• India ready to help Afghanistan with hydel projects: MEA

Context: India is willing to support Taliban-governed Afghanistan in building “hydroelectric projects”, the official spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, Randhir Jaiswal.

• Addressing the weekly MEA press conference, Mr. Jaiswal said that the two sides can build on a “history of cooperation” on water-related matters and reiterated that India remains “committed” to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Afghanistan.
• The Taliban side welcomed Mr. Jaiswal’s remarks about cooperation in hydroelectric projects.
• “As emphasised in the recently adopted India-Afghanistan Joint Statement, India stands ready to support Afghanistan in its efforts to manage water resources sustainably, including with hydroelectric projects,” Mr. Jaiswal said.
• The Taliban spokesperson for international media, Suhail Shaheen, welcomed the announcement and said, “There are a lot of opportunities for cooperation between the two countries.”
• “The need is to send delegates from various Ministries to explore the opportunities and areas of cooperation. Hydel power is one of them,” Mr. Shaheen. Sources here indicated that India would consider sending delegates if the Taliban made appropriate requests.
• Cooperation to build hydel power projects was part of a joint statement issued during a visit by the Taliban’s Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi on October 10.
• Referring to Pakistani attacks against Afghan positions along the Durand Line earlier this month and also on the capital Kabul, Mr. Jaiswal said, “Pakistan is infuriated with Afghanistan exercising sovereignty over its own territories.”

• ‘Over 600 MoUs worth ₹12 lakh crore signed at the Maritime Week’

Context: Agreements were in diverse sectors such as port development, indigenous ship building and container manufacturing: Sonowal.

• More than 600 memorandum of understanding (MoUs) worth over ₹12 lakh crore were signed at the Indian Maritime Week 2025, Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal said.
• Mr. Sonowal said the MoUs were in diverse sectors such as ship building, port development, indigenous ship building and container manufacturing.
• “In the last 11 years, whatever transformative journey we could create, we did. Also, in the transformative policy programmes whatever changes we could create, we did. This will ultimately make India globally, the most desirable, favourable investment destination,” he said.
• Secretary in the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways Vijay Kumar said that of the MoUs signed, 30% were for port development and port modernisation, 20% for sustainable green shipping and green ports, 20% for shipping and ship building, 20% with regard to port-led industrialisation and 10% for trade, business and skilling.
• “Maritime sector projects have long gestation periods. Investment comes in, it takes time to get invested. Already 60% of the MoUs entered into at the last summit have been grounded, meaning, the money [has been committed] and has started coming in,” he said.
• During the event, 11 global CEOs met with the PM. “They represented different divisions of maritime sectors including, ports, port modernisation, port operators, dredging operators and ship building. In almost all the areas, they promised and committed to invest,” Mr. Kumar said.
• The event witnessed the participation of about one lakh people and delegates from 85 countries.

• India expected to add 6 GW of new wind energy capacity: Joshi

Context: Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) Pralhad Joshi on Thursday said 6 gigawatts (GW) of new wind capacity is expected to be added by the end of financial year 2025-2026, the highest-ever annual addition, up from last year’s 4 GW.

• “[In] this financial year, so far, over 3 GW of new wind capacity has been added,” he said in a media interaction on the sidelines of the 7th edition of Windergy India 2025 conference in Chennai.
• “India is moving with clear determination towards the goal of achieving 500 GW of renewable energy by 2030, and wind power will play a major part — contributing 100 GW or more. With 54 GW of installed wind energy and another 30 GW under implementation, we are well on track to meet our 2030 target, Mr. Joshi said.
• Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh together contribute almost half of India’s total wind capacity of 54 GW, he said.
• “India’s wind industry already has 70% local content, showing strong domestic capability. Under the Atmanirbhar Wind Mission, our goal is to increase this to 85% by 2030,” Mr. Joshi said.
• “The GST on wind equipment has been reduced from 12% to 5%, helping reduce turbine cost by over ₹25 lakh per MW,” Mr. Joshi said.
• “With the approved list of models and manufacturers (ALMM) – wind framework and related initiatives, India can soon meet 10% of global wind demand by 2030 and up to 20% by 2040 and emerge as a global manufacturing hub for turbines and components,” he said.
• “A study by the National Institute of Wind Energy (NIWE) shows a potential of 1,164 GW at 150 metres hub height across India. To unlock new areas, the government has launched a viability gap funding (VGF) scheme for offshore wind projects, targeting 1 GW in the first phase — 500 MW each off Gujarat and Tamil Nadu,” Mr. Joshi said.
• MNRE Secretary Santosh Kumar Sarangi said the tender for the Tamil Nadu offshore wind project is expected to be floated by February.
• Earlier speaking at the inaugural of the conference, Mr. Joshi said India’s total installed capacity was nearing 500 GW, with non-fossil sources contributing over 257 GW.

Current Affairs: 29th October 2025

• Cyclone Montha makes landfall;rain batters several parts of A.P.

Context: The severe cyclonic storm Montha began its landfall near Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh around 7 p.m. on Tuesday, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.

• The storm triggered very heavy rain in the State as well as Odisha.
• In Andhra Pradesh, Ulavapadu in SPSR Nellore district recorded the day’s maximum rain of 167 mm.Kakinada received only light showers till 7 p.m.
• The IMD withdrew red alerts issued for a few districts, and issued orange alerts for the districts of Srikakulam, Parvathipuram Manyam, Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam, Alluri Sitharama Raju, Anakapalli, Eluru, NTR, Krishna, Guntur, Palnadu, Bapatla, and Nandyal.
• Two days of heavy rain left crops on over 43,000 hectares submerged and affected 83,000 farmers, as per the initial assessment by the agricultural department. Paddy and cotton were the worst-hit.
• The estimated loss to the power sector crossed ₹2,200 crore, with massive damage to substations, transformers, and power lines.
• The Kakinada district administration opened 401 relief camps. At least 35,000 people have been evacuated so far.
• “The number of people to be evacuated is expected to rise as 67 villages and five towns and Kakinada city are falling in the cyclone-affected area,” said Kakinada District Collector S. Shan Mohan. Nearly 1,600 school bus services have been deployed to evacuate people.
• Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu directed the NDRF and SDRF teams to be deployed in and around Kakinada.
• Twenty trains, 10 originating in Visakhapatnam, and 11 operating from various divisions of South Central Railway (SCR) in Andhra and one from Bhubaneswar, passing through Visakhapatnam, were cancelled due to heavy rain and gales.
• A total of 32 flights from Visakhapatnam were cancelled. The Vijayawada airport cancelled 16 flights, while four flights from Tirupati were cancelled on Tuesday.

• Crops, power sector bear cyclone’s brunt

Context: Paddy and cotton are the worst hit, together accounting for more than 80% of the total damaged area in Andhra Pradesh; power sector records losses worth around ₹2,200 crore; restoration work under progress; Chandrababu Naidu orders round-the-clock monitoring in vulnerable districts

• Cyclone Montha has inflicted extensive damage on agriculture and power infrastructure across Andhra Pradesh.
• The preliminary assessment by the Agriculture Department reveal that over 43,000 hectares of crops have been submerged, affecting nearly 83,000 farmers across 292 mandals and 1,712 villages.
• According to the three power distribution companies in the State — APEPDCL, APCPDCL, and APSPDCL — the total estimated loss to the power sector would be around ₹2,200 crore, with large-scale damage done to power substations, transformers, poles, and power lines.

Worst- hit crops

• According to the Agriculture department’s data, paddy and cotton are the worst hit, together accounting for more than 80% of the total damaged area.
• Paddy fields in 31,267 hectares were inundated, while cotton crops over 15,680 hectares suffered extensive damage due to continuous rainfall and flooding.
• Among the districts, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Konaseema reported the highest crop damage with 10,099 hectares being submerged.
• In addition to paddy and cotton, maize over 4,393 hectares and blackgram in 3,004 hectares were damaged, while bajra, redgram, and soybean suffered partial losses. The report noted that 53 hectares of nurseries were affected in several regions, compounding the impact on farmers’ livelihoods.
• The officials said that restoration work of power infrastructure was progressing rapidly, despite heavy rains and flooding in several coastal areas.
• With teams working round-the-clock and power being restored in a phased manner, the authorities hope that supply to all urban centres and essential installations would be normalised within the next 24 hours.

• ‘Rising sea surface temperatures leading to more cyclones’

Context: Since 2010, Andhra Pradesh has borne the brunt of at least 10 major tropical cyclones, some of them categorised as severe and very severe cyclonic storms. Tamil Nadu and Odisha have also been affected by these storms.

• Meteorologists have identified a common element in these storms — the high intensity of the storms and the trails of destruction they left — and they blame the rapid rise in sea surface temperature (SST) over the last few decades.

Rising SST

• According to Prof. S.S.V.S. Ramakrishna, former Head of Department (HoD) of Oceanography and Meteorology, Andhra University, the Bay of Bengal has recorded a consistent rise in the SST.
• Sea temperatures have regularly exceeded the 20°C to 30°C mark, creating an ideal environment for the formation of tropical cyclones.
• “As the water gets warmer, latent heat energy increases, increasing the possibility of cyclones. In the last 50 years, studies conducted by IITM Pune have indicated that the SST in Bay of Bengal has gone up by 0.5°C to 1°C,” he said.
• Prof. O.S.R.U. Bhanu Kumar, former HoD, from the same department, attributed the changing factor to global warming and climate change. The warming of the atmosphere increases the capacity of air to hold moisture, leading to heavier rainfall during cyclones.
• In recent times, positive Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) and La Niña have contributed to more favourable conditions for cyclonic formations over the Bay of Bengal, he said.
• Both experts cautioned that deforestation and degradation of coastal ecosystems like mangroves and wetlands, have reduced the natural buffers, amplifying the damage caused by cyclones.

• Centre approves terms of 8th Central Pay Commission

Context: The panel, headed by Justice Ranjana Desai (retd.), will make its recommendations within 18 months of its constitution; it will propose changes in salaries of Union government employees.

• The Union Cabinet has approved the Terms of Reference of the eighth Central Pay Commission (CPC), the body in charge of deciding the pay structure and retirement benefits of Union government employees, the government announced.
• The government had announced the formation of the CPC in January this year to examine and recommend changes in the salaries and other benefits of Central government employees.

‘Formed in quick time’

• “As you know, the in-principle approval for the formation of the eighth Central Pay Commission was granted only recently in January, and within a short span, the commission has now been formally constituted,” Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said at a press conference announcing the Union Cabinet’s decisions here.
• “This is a major step that involves extensive consultations. Several Ministries with large numbers of Central government employees, such as Defence, Home, Railways, and the Department of Personnel and Training, were part of the process,” he said.
• The Commission will comprise one chairperson, one part-time member and one member-secretary. It will make its recommendations within 18 months of the date of its constitution. Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai (retd.) will act as the chairperson.
• Professor Pulak Ghosh of the Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore, has been appointed a part-time member, while Petroleum Secretary Pankaj Jain will serve as the member-secretary.
• “There are about 50 lakh Central government employees, and consultations were also held with many State governments, most of which extended their cooperation,” Mr. Vaishnaw added.
• The government said the CPC would have to keep several factors in mind while coming up with its recommendations. These included the economic conditions in the country and the need for fiscal prudence, the need to ensure that adequate resources are available for developmental expenditure and welfare measures, the unfunded cost of non-contributory pension schemes, the impact of its recommendations on State finances, as well as the current emolument structure, benefits and working conditions of employees of Central public sector undertakings and the private sector.

• Cabinet increases fertilizer subsidyfor winter crops

Context: The Union Cabinet decided to provide ₹37,952 crore as fertilizer subsidy for the ongoing rabi crop of this winter season. The subsidy on phosphorous (P) and sulphur (S) fertilizers was increased by ₹736 crore, while the subsidy for nitrogen (N) and potash (K) will remain the same as the kharif (summer) crops.

• “The subsidy approved for 2025 rabi season is higher by about ₹14,000 crore from the previous rabi season (2024). During the last rabi season, the subsidy was about ₹24,000 crore,” Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw told presspersonjs after the Cabinet meeting.
• The subsidy for phosphate will be increased to ₹47.96 a kg from ₹43.60 a kg in the 2025 kharif season; the subsidy for sulphur will be higher at ₹2.87 a kg, up from ₹1.77 a kg (kharif); and the subsidy rate for nitrogen and potash will remain ₹43.02 a kg and ₹2.38 a kg, respectively.
• The rates will be applicable from October 1, 2025 till March 31, 2026.
• The Centre had fixed the subsidy rate considering the import price, and other factors, including nutrient requirement, subsidy burden, and maximum retail prices, Mr. Vaishnaw said.
• The Centre had provided a special package to ensure adequate availability of di-ammonium phosphate (DAP) and triple super phosphate (TSP) to farmers, he added.
• Union Minister for Agriculture Shivraj Singh Chouhan thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi on behalf of all farmers for increasing the subsidy.
• Cabinet increases fertilizer subsidyfor wThe Union Cabinet on Tuesday decided to provide ₹37,952 crore as fertilizer subsidy for the ongoing rabi crop of this winter season. The subsidy on phosphorous (P) and sulphur (S) fertilizers was increased by ₹736 crore, while the subsidy for nitrogen (N) and potash (K) will remain the same as the kharif (summer) crops.
• “The subsidy approved for 2025 rabi season is higher by about ₹14,000 crore from the previous rabi season (2024). During the last rabi season, the subsidy was about ₹24,000 crore,” Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw told presspersonjs after the Cabinet meeting.

• As SIR expands, questions on EC’s power to conduct it, check citizenship pending in SC

Context: The Election Commission’s authority to conduct the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls remains under question in the Supreme Court, even as the poll body announced the SIR’s second phase that will cover 51 crore voters in 12 States and Union Territories, including Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Kerala, and Puducherry.

• The Supreme Court, in a July 10 order, had highlighted the basic questions posed by petitioners challenging the first phase of the SIR exercise in Bihar. These primarily included whether the Election Commission (EC) has the “very powers to undertake the exercise”.
• Second, the court had flagged the petitioners’ objection to the “procedure and the manner in which the SIR exercise is being undertaken”.

Violating voters’ rights

• The court recorded the petitioners’ argument that the SIR, notified on June 24 under Section 21(3) of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, broke that law as well as the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960, apart from violating the fundamental rights of the voters.
• However, later orders of the court on the SIR had diverged into ensuring that voters were not arbitrarily excluded from the electoral rolls in Bihar.
• Though the court did not stay the Bihar SIR exercise, it made several timely interventions to infuse more transparency into the process, order the inclusion of Aadhaar as a 12th document of proof, and to ensure the publication of the draft electoral roll, among other steps.

Learning experience

• An October 9 hearing gave the first indication that a pan-India SIR had more or less become fait accompli, though the court has agreed to hear arguments on the constitutionality of SIR exercise from November 4.
• Addressing the EC’s counsel and senior advocate Rakesh Dwivedi, Justice Surya Kant, who headed the Bench, orally observed that “you [EC] have decided to carry out SIR on a pan-India basis. So, this experience [with Bihar] would have made you wiser now… The next time you introduce a SIR module, owing to what you experienced now, you would also bring some improvements.”
• The second phase of the SIR in 12 States and U.T.s has indeed introduced modifications, such as the inclusion of Aadhaar as a proof of identity and the exemption from filing documents in the enumeration stage. The onus to be included on the voters’ list, however, continues to be on the elector. The process of enumeration itself does not have the benefit of any statutory backing.
• Again, the question about the EC’s jurisdiction to delve into the citizenship claims of an already registered voter without any formal objection lodged against the person continues to remain open.
• A cardinal point raised by petitioners was whether citizenship comes under the EC’s purview when specific statutes like the Citizenship Act and the Foreigners Act address the issues of acquisition of Indian citizenship and illegal aliens, respectively.
• IIP growth dips to 3-month low of 4% as mining, consumer non-durables slip

Context: Industrial activity dipped marginally to a three-month low of 4% in September. The data also show that the growth in industrial activity during the first half of the financial year was the slowest in at least five years.

• Growth in the Index of Industrial Production (IIP), released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, stood at 3.2% in September last year. However, growth had since accelerated to 4.3% by July 2025, following which it slowed again.
• The overall index grew 3% in the April-September period, the first half of the financial year 2025-26. This is the slowest in at least five years, the period for which data are readily available.
• The index grew 24% in the first half of 2021-22, owing to the low base of the previous pandemic-affected year 2020-21. In the first half of 2022-23, the index grew 7%, which slowed to 6.3% and 4.1% in the corresponding periods of 2023-24 and 2024-25.
• In September, the slowdown in industrial growth was mainly led by the mining, primary goods, and consumer non-durables sectors. Activity in the mining sector contracted 0.45% in September 2025 from a growth of 6.6% in August 2025 and a growth of 0.2% in September 2024.
• The consumer non-durables sector continued to contract for the second consecutive month in September 2025, by 2.9%, compared with a contraction of 6.4% in August 2025, and a growth of 2.2% in September last year.
• According to Madan Sabnavis, chief economist at the Bank of Baroda, this could be due to the fact that the Goods and Services Tax (GST) rate cuts were implemented late in the month.
• “As the GST cuts have targeted this industry, it can be assumed that the real impact will be seen in October-November as dealers have been facing a challenge of selling products with the older price labels,” Mr. Sabnavis said.

• ‘Moving villagers from tiger reserves must be voluntary’

Context: The Union Tribal Affairs Ministry has mandated that the relocation of forest-dwelling communities from tiger reserves must be an “exceptional, voluntary, and evidence-based measure”.

• The Ministry’s new policy framework also spells out the mechanisms that allow communities to continue living in the forests and the procedures to be followed for obtaining their consent for relocation.
• The policy calls for a National Framework for Community-Centred Conservation and Relocation, through which the Environment Ministry and the Tribal Affairs Ministry can jointly set procedural standards, timelines, and accountability.
• It also suggests a National Database on Conservation-Community Interface to record and track relocations, compensation, and status post-relocation. It recommends annual independent audits of relocation projects by empanelled agencies that assess compliance with the Forest Rights Act, the Wildlife Protection Act, and human rights standards.
• Communities may choose to continue living in the “traditional forest habitats” while exercising their Individual Forest Rights or Community Forest Rights under the FRA, the policy says, emphasising that this must be an option for villages located within the reserves.

Serious concerns

• This brief, titled “Reconciling conservation and community rights: a policy framework for relocation and coexistence in India’s Tiger Reserves”, was sent last week to the Union Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change from the office of the Secretary, Ministry of Tribal Affairs.
• The Tribal Affairs Ministry noted that it has been receiving several representations from State governments and Gram Sabhas, flagging “serious concerns” about the non-implementation of the Forest Rights Act, 2006.
• Last year, the National Tiger Conservation Authority’s directive to States asking them to prioritise relocation of villages in core areas of tiger reserves drew protests from several Gram Sabhas and forest rights activists.There were 591 villages and 64,801 families within the core areas of tiger reserves, according to the NTCA.

• Trade talks with EU reduced ‘outstanding issues’, says Goyal

Context: India and the European Union have “significantly” reduced the gaps in their negotiating positions after three days of trade discussions in Brussels, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said.

• Mr. Goyal and his EU counterpart, Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič, held discussions to provide a political push to help get the negotiations for an India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) over the finish line.
• “The talks have significantly reduced our outstanding issues and allowed us to create the framework that will help deliver a win-win for our economies,” Mr. Goyal said on X, describing the discussions as “intense” but “very productive”.
• Mr. Goyal posted a video statement by the two Ministers, in which Mr Šefčovič characterised the talks as having occurred in an atmosphere of “full transparency and trust”. The Commissioner also said that “further work is required”. He said substantial progress had been made in a number of areas and the sides had given specific guidance to their teams on industrial tariffs.
• Mr. Šefčovič confirmed that a high-level EU trade delegation led by Director-General Sabine Weyand would be in New Delhi next week to conclude “technical tariff negotiations”. A trade delegation from the European Parliament is in New Delhi this week to better understand the challenges and opportunities presented by the trade negotiations. Some of the sticking points have included tariffs around agricultural products, a sensitive area for both sides and particularly for India. Tariffs on European automobiles being sold in India have also been under discussion in recent weeks. Regulatory issues, including the EU’s carbon tax on imports (Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism), have been contentious issues to work through.
• “The negotiations and discussions have laid the foundation for a robust and balanced agreement,” Mr. Goyal said.

• HAL signs pact with Russian firm for civil aircraft production

Context: Aerospace major Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL) and the Russian company United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) have signed a memorandum of understanding for production of the civil commuter aircraft SJ-100.

• The SJ-100 is a twin-engine, narrow-body aircraft. As on date, more than 200 aircraft have been produced and are being operated by more than 16 commercial airline operators.
• HAL said the SJ-100 would be a game changer for short-haul connectivity under the UDAN scheme in India. Under this arrangement, HAL will have the rights to manufacture SJ-100 aircraft for domestic customers.

Production in India

• “This collaboration between HAL and UAC is the result of mutual trust between the organisations. This will also be the first instance wherein a complete passenger aircraft will be produced in India. The last such project was HAL’s production of AVRO HS-748, which started in 1961 and ended in 1988,” HAL said.
• It is estimated that over the next 10 years, the Indian aviation sector will require over 200 jets in this category for regional connectivity and an additional 350 aircraft for the Indian Ocean region to serve nearby international tourist destinations, it said.
• “The manufacturing of the SJ-100 aircraft marks the beginning of a new chapter in Indian aviation industry. Manufacturing will also strengthen the private sector and create direct and indirect jobs in the aviation industry,” the Bengaluru-headquartered PSU said.
• The MoU was signed in Moscow, Prabhat Ranjan from HAL and Oleg Bogomolov from UAC.

• Cloud-seeding trials done in Delhi to tackle air pollution

Context: Amid surging pollution levels, the Delhi government, in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, conducted two cloud-seeding trials to induce rain. However, negligible rainfall was observed till late in the evening. The first such trial was conducted on October 23.

• “Today, the clouds had very little moisture content. We are doing a sortie tomorrow morning and the clouds are expected to have higher moisture content than today, and there are better chances of rainfall,” Manindra Agrawal, Director, IIT-Kanpur, said.
• He said they were generating data from the trials. “We are learning a lot, as cloud seeding has never been done for pollution control in Delhi or India before this.”
• As per officials, 0.1 mm rainfall was observed in Noida and 0.2 mm in Greater Noida around 4 p.m.
• Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said more trials would be done in the coming days. He said the humidity was only 15% to 20%.

• NDRF posted teams in five States aheadof cyclone landfall

Context: Ahead of Cyclone Montha’s landfall on Tuesday night, the National Disaster Response Force deployed 25 teams across Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Puducherry, and Tamil Nadu, while another 20 teams were on standby.

• “The Director General, NDRF, has directed all formations to maintain a high level of readiness to provide immediate response for search, rescue, and relief operations,” the organisation said in a statement.
• Each team is equipped with boats, cutting equipment, communication equipment, and other specialised rescue tools to carry out evacuation, relief and restoration operations.
• Coordination meetings are being held with the National Disaster Management Authority and their State-level counterparts and district administrations. The NDRF teams are also conducting public-awareness campaigns and community-sensitisation activities in vulnerable areas through local administrations to ensure timely evacuation and adherence to safety advisories.
• Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw also reviewed the Indian Railways’ preparedness to deal with the aftermath of the cyclone. The meeting assessed readiness along the east coast, focusing on passenger safety, train regulation and coordination with local administrations.

• UN report finds countries’ emission reductions short of goal set in Paris

Context: Ahead of the Conference of Parties (COP 30) in Belem, Brazil, next month, the United Nations made public a “synthesis report” on Tuesday that finds countries are poised to reduce emissions by only 17% of 2019 levels by 2035 — well below what is required to keep earth from heating up by 1.5 degrees Celsius or even 2 degrees Celsius by the end of the century.

• To keep temperatures below these limits, countries must cut emissions by 37% and 57%, respectively, of 2019 levels by 2035.
• The synthesis is based on countries’ updated nationally determined contributions (NDC), which are promises to cut fossil fuel emissions or plant forests (to capture carbon dioxide) until 2035. Tuesday’s report is only a partial picture as only 64, out of a potential 190 countries, have submitted updated NDCs until September 30. India is among the countries that is yet to submit updated NDCs, after its last submission in August 2022.
• While conversation in the lead-up to climate COPs generally end to weigh heavily towards emissions reductions, the NDCs that have been submitted so far are also stressing two other important pillars of climate action — adaptation and resilience, with 73% of the new NDCs including an ‘adaptation’ component, the report notes. Adaptation refers to steps that must be taken by countries to adapt to ongoing and future impact from warming.
• “All NDCs go beyond mitigation to include elements, inter alia, on adaptation, finance, technology transfer, capacity building and addressing loss and damage, reflecting the comprehensive scope of the Paris Agreement,” the report notes.
• With regard to greenhouse gas emission (GHG) reductions, the total GHG emission level resulting from the implementation of Parties’ new NDCs is projected to be around 13 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent in 2035, which is 6% below what they promised in their previous NDCs (submitted from 2020-2022).

Domestic pledges

• Afforestation, reforestation and adding solar energy were identified as the options with the greater need for support. Some Parties have announced domestic pledges and projects, such as tripling global renewable energy capacity by 2030, enhancing low-carbon hydrogen production and expanding Carbon Capture Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) capacity.

• ‘Ready to share solar expertise with other parts of the world’

Context: Union Minister for Renewable Energy Pralhad Joshi said India’s experience with PM Surya Ghar and PM Kusum had been ‘excellent’ and it was ready to share its expertise and experience in the solar sector with other countries.

• New Delhi has been looking to showcase the PM-Kusum (Kisan Urja Suraksha Evam Utthan Mahabhiyan) and PM Surya Ghar Yojana to several African countries and island nations, he said at the International Solar Alliance (ISA) here on Tuesday.
• This could be of particular use for Africa, which has so far been able to tap only 4% of its arable land through irrigation due to lack of rural power. “We are ready to share our expertise and experience, and we [the government] are also supporting ISA to expand this in other parts of the world and member countries of ISA,” he said.
• Mr. Joshi informed that 10 lakh solar rooftops had been completed and 21 lakh were nearing completion under PM Surya Ghar.

• India’s diaspora diplomacy and the limits of cultural nationalism abroad

Context: The Indian diaspora has been in the spotlight in various countries in recent weeks. A section of the diaspora has attracted attention for its display of faith and culture, crossing the limits of acceptable public behaviour in developed countries. The immersion of Ganapati statues in waterbodies and the display of Deepavali fireworks in public places are examples.

• After Deepavali revellers set two houses on fire in Edmonton, Canada, an official police statement said: “Light up your home, not your neighbour’s roof.” Three men have been charged with arson. Anti-immigrant and nativist protesters in Australia have singled out Indians, and in the U.S. and Canada, nationalist campaigners have a special focus on people of Indian origin these days.
• The higher visibility of these incidents could also be because a section of Indians aggressively promotes cultural exhibitionism as a matter of community pride and right — for instance, in the use of firecrackers on Deepavali wherever they are. In the midst of all this, the Indian diaspora is being urged by some observers to advocate Indian positions in the United States.
• The Indian national movement was spread around the world in British colonies, and in the U.S. and Canada, but the first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, consciously decided to keep the new Republic aloof from PIO (person of Indian origin) politics in foreign countries. He did not want India to be seen as interfering in the domestic politics of another country through the diaspora, and he urged PIO to stay loyal to the countries that they had adopted.

Rise of Hindutva

• Issues of discrimination and racism were not narrow Indian concerns, and were raised as matters of universal human rights. This approach was consistent with the concept of territorial nationalism that guided Indian thinking then, as opposed to cultural nationalism.
• The rise of Hindutva and a parallel fresh surge in the outflow of Indians expanded a global network of cultural nationalists from the 1990s. With the ascent of Narendra Modi as Prime Minister in 2014, this approach gained further momentum. Mr. Modi addressed diaspora rallies in several countries, most notably the U.S.
• Exactly around this time, the fear of foreign interference in domestic politics became a central concern in the U.S., Canada, Australia, and several European countries. At various points in U.S. history, immigrants from specific regions or countries have been subjects of special scrutiny. In recent years, allegations of Chinese and Russian interference have dominated public discourse. Even Israel, which had a free pass as an autonomous actor in U.S. domestic politics for decades, is facing increased scrutiny and resistance. Not only left-leaning figures such as Bernie Sanders, but also Christian conservatives such as Marjorie Taylor Greene and media figure Tucker Carlson now call out Israel’s influence in U.S. domestic politics.
• It may be noted that foreign influence operations per se are not illegal in the US, as long as they are openly registered as such.
• Historically, Indian immigrants were considered a benign presence in the U.S. and diverse within, as followers of all religions and speakers of several languages. But state-sponsored attempts to turn the diaspora into active members of Indian strategy have clashed with a rising fear of foreign interference in the West. India has escaped the kind of hostility that Russia and China face, but there is enough to suggest that New Delhi is not going unnoticed on this count in the West.

Nationalist hype

• India does not allow dual citizenship, but the U.S. does. India gave partial citizenship rights to PIOs through the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2003, by adding Sections 7A–7D to the Citizenship Act, 1955. This amendment introduced the Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI), offering lifetime visa-free entry, exemption from police registration, and rights similar to those of NRIs in economic, educational, and financial fields for the community. In 2015, the technical categories of PIO and OCI were merged as OCI. India presents this arrangement as “dual citizenship in spirit, but not in law”.
• U.S. citizens can hold passports of more than one country, but some lawmakers, including Ms. Greene, are seeking more scrutiny on the issue. Fear of foreign interference in domestic politics is a universal concern of parties and state agencies in the West. Expectations from the diaspora to promote Indian interests in the U.S. or any other country must account for the reality that it is negotiating an era of heightened nationalism in host countries. Multi-alignment may not work for diaspora members always. After all, nationalist hype is not an exclusive preserve of India.