DEFENCE NEWS
- India and Nepal began the 19th edition of Exercise Surya Kiran 2025 on 25 November in Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand, to enhance counter-terrorism skills, jungle/mountain warfare, and joint operational interoperability.
- The Surya Kiran 2025 exercise runs from 25 November to 8 December 2025, with 334 troops each from the Indian Army’s ASSAM Regiment and Nepal Army’s DEVI DATTA Regiment.
- BEL and France’s Safran Electronics & Defence signed a Joint Venture Cooperation Agreement in New Delhi to manufacture HAMMER smart precision-guided air-to ground weapons in India.
- The BEL–Safran JV will operate with 50:50 shareholding, targeting up to 60% indigenisation, supporting Rafale and LCA Tejas weapon integration.
- Indian Army conducted “Op Drishti” eye-care outreach, screening over 2,000 people and performing 400 advanced surgeries at Command Hospital, Udhampur under Brig. S.K. Mishra.
- INS Mahe, the first indigenous Mahe-class Anti-Submarine Warfare vessel, was commissioned on 24 November 2025 in Mumbai, featuring advanced sonar and 80% indigenous content, built by Cochin Shipyard.
- Exercise Surya Kiran XIX included training in UN-mandated sub-conventional operations, drone-based ISR, disaster relief, and close-quarter battle drills.
- Indian Army hosted CDD 2025 (Chiefs of Defence Doctrine/Transformation event) unveiling a long-term transformation roadmap for a future-ready, digitised military by 2047.
NATIONAL NEWS
- PM Narendra Modi visited Puttaparthi, Andhra Pradesh and paid tribute at the Mahasamadhi of Sri Sathya Sai Baba during the Centenary Celebrations.
- PM Modi released a ₹100 commemorative coin and stamps in honour of Sri Sathya Sai Baba.
- India launched its first indigenous CRISPR-based gene therapy, BIRSA 101, for Sickle Cell Disease, announced by Dr. Jitendra Singh.
- MHA abolished sign-on, sign-off and Shore Leave Passes for crew of Indian-flag vessels operating within Indian waters. GoI established four Quantum Fabrication & Central Facilities under NQM at IIT Bombay, IISc Bengaluru, IIT Delhi, and IIT Kanpur.
- India inaugurated its first Liquid Helium Facility and showcased QMagPI and QDM at IIT Bombay.
- MeitY launched the Cyber Security Innovation Challenge (CSIC) 1.0 under the ISEA Project in New Delhi.
- NCW launched 24×7 short-code women’s helpline ‘14490’ for nationwide emergency assistance.
- PM Modi visited Kurukshetra, Haryana, for the International Gita Mahotsav 2025 and Guru Tegh Bahadur’s 350th Shaheedi Diwas.
- PM Modi inaugurated ‘Panchjanya’, a 5.5-tonne, 5-metre conch at the Mahabharata Experience Centre.
- PM Modi visited Mahabharata Anubhav Kendra, built under Swadesh Darshan at a cost of ₹200 crore.
- PM Modi performed Darshan–Pooja at Brahma Sarovar during Gita Mahotsav.
- PM Modi addressed the 350th Shaheedi Diwas of Guru Tegh Bahadur and released a ₹350 silver coin and ₹5 stamp. GoI released the coffee-table book on Guru Tegh Bahadur published by Haryana Government.
- MoAFW released 3rd advance estimates of horticulture production, recording 369.05 MT, 4% higher than 2023–24.
- GoI designated CISF as nodal safety and security regulator for ~250 seaports in India.
- MNRE Minister Pralhad Joshi inaugurated a 240 TPD biomass pellet plant and laid foundation stone for a bio ethanol plant in Rewari.
- India Post released a commemorative cover for Dr. Ramdas Pai on his 90th birthday at MAHE Convocation.
- Cabinet approved Pune Metro Phase-2 (Lines 4 & 4A) covering 31.636 km, costing ₹9,857.85 crore. A Skill India Centre was inaugurated in Baraut, Uttar Pradesh, by Ministers Ashwini Vaishnaw and Jayant Chaudhary.
- Commonwealth Games 2030 awarded to Ahmedabad, Gujarat, defeating Abuja in the CGF vote.
- Kashi Tamil Sangamam 4.0 scheduled from December 2 10, 2025, in Varanasi with 1,400 delegates.
- Indian Railways crossed 1,020 MT freight loading in FY 2025-26, with coal contributing 505 MT.
- Justice Surya Kant sworn in as 53rd Chief Justice of India, with tenure till February 2027.
- Government proposed Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill to bring Chandigarh under Article 240 framework. India debuted at WorldSkills Asia with a 23-member squad across 21 skill categories.
- NCW launched the toll-free helpline 14490 for women’s safety and cybercrime support.
- Tribal Affairs Ministry’s budget rose to ₹15,000 crore, expanding EMRS network to 728 schools.
- BIRSA 101 became India’s first indigenous CRISPR therapy for Sickle Cell Disease.
- Indian Army to honour 1,171 Operation Pawan martyrs on November 26, after 38 years.
- Assam passed the Prohibition of Polygamy Bill 2025, criminalising polygamy except in Sixth Schedule and ST areas. Election Commission completed 99.07% enumeration with 47.35% digitisation of electoral rolls.
- India celebrated National Milk Day with 239.3 MT milk production in 2023-24, 25% of global supply.
- NCC celebrated its 78th Raising Day with 20 lakh cadets and new training modules in drones and cybersecurity.
- PM Modi inaugurated Safran Aircraft Engine Services India (SAESI) MRO facility in Hyderabad worth ₹1,300 crore.
- Cabinet approved ₹7,280 crore scheme for Rare Earth Permanent Magnet (REPM) manufacturing capacity.
- CCEA approved ₹2,781 crore for railway multitracking, including Okha-Kanalus doubling and Badlapur-Karjat lines.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
- US President Donald Trump designated Saudi Arabia as a Major Non-NATO Ally, making it the 20th country to receive MNNA status.
- WHO declared Indonesia free from Type-2 cVDPV poliovirus, with no cases reported since June 2024.
- India championed climate justice at COP30 in Brazil, demanding stronger finance commitments and opposing unilateral carbon border taxes.
- India, Australia, and Canada launched the ACITI Partnership, focusing on AI, clean energy, and critical minerals, with roadmap talks planned for early 2026.
- G20 Johannesburg Summit adopted a 39-page consensus declaration on climate action, multilateralism, debt relief, and digital inclusion, with AU participating as a full member. PM Modi unveiled six global initiatives at G20, including the Traditional Knowledge Repository, Africa Skills Program, Global Health Response Team, and satellite data sharing for development.
- Dormant Hayli Gubbi volcano in Ethiopia erupted after 12,000 years, sending ash 14 km high, leading DGCA to advise Indian airlines to modify routes.
- Gavi and UNICEF secured malaria vaccine R21/Matrix-M price at USD 2.99 per dose, saving USD 90 million and enabling 30 million extra doses.
- USA celebrated Thanksgiving on November 27, 2025, continuing the tradition based on the 1621 Pilgrims Wampanoag harvest feast.
APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS
- Chitra Talwar was appointed Part-Time Chairperson of Jana Small Finance Bank, with her term effective from 8 February 2026, strengthening the bank’s board leadership.
- Jay Shah announced former India captain Rohit Sharma as the Tournament Ambassador for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, highlighting his global cricketing influence.
- President Droupadi Murmu appointed Justice Vikram Nath as the new Executive Chairman of NALSA, effective 24 November 2025, as per the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987.
AWARDS & HONOURS
- Mathura Zari Poshak and Meerut Bugle from Uttar Pradesh received GI tags in November 2025, recognising their cultural heritage, craftsmanship, and economic significance.
- IIM Ranchi earned the prestigious AMBA accreditation, placing it among the top 2% global B-schools, and secured 4 Palmes of Excellence in the Eduniversal Rankings.
- Veteran Telugu author Velamala Simmanna was selected for the Lok Nayak Foundation Literary Award 2025, carrying a ₹2 lakh prize, to be presented on 18 January 2026 in Visakhapatnam.
- Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar will assume the Chairship of International IDEA (35-nation body) on 3 December 2025, building on India’s training support to 3,169 officials from 142 countries.
- IITF 2025 concluded by honouring states such as Rajasthan, Jharkhand, and Odisha for excellence in innovation, sustainable practices, and exhibition quality.
SPORTS NEWS
- Max Verstappen (Red Bull Racing) won the 2025 Las Vegas Grand Prix, earning his 125th career podium in 231 races.
- Verstappen’s Las Vegas win cut Lando Norris’s championship lead to 42 points, with only two races left in the Formula 1 season.
- Indian Women’s Kabaddi Team won the 2nd Women’s Kabaddi World Cup, defeating Chinese Taipei 35–28 in the Dhaka final on 24 November 2025.
- Italy won the Davis Cup 2025, defeating Spain 2–0 in Bologna to claim their fourth title and third consecutive win (1976, 2023, 2024, 2025).
- Lakshya Sen won his third BWF Super 500 title, beating Japan’s Yushi Tanaka 21-15, 21-11 to lift the Australian Open Super 500 trophy. India won the inaugural Blind Women’s T20 World Cup, defeating Nepal by seven wickets at P Sara Oval, Colombo, chasing 115 in 12 overs.
- Italy’s Matteo Berrettini and Flavio Cobolli secured the 2025 Davis Cup victory, making Italy only the second nation after the USA to win three titles in a row.
- Rohit Sharma was appointed Ambassador for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka (Feb 7–Mar 8, 2026). India won its second consecutive Women’s Kabaddi World Cup, led by Captain Ritu Negi, Vice-Captain Pushpa Rana, and star raider Sanju Devi.
- 10-year-old Bodhana Sivanandan became UK Women’s Blitz Champion, winning 8 straight games and becoming the youngest Woman International Master, ranked among the top 50 global blitz players.
- Javokhir Sindarov (Uzbekistan) won the FIDE World Cup 2025, defeating Wei Yi in tiebreaks; Andrey Esipenko secured third place.
- India suffered its biggest Test defeat, losing to South Africa by 408 runs in Guwahati, resulting in a 2–0 series whitewash.
- Deepti Sharma became the costliest player at the WPL 2026 auction, reflecting rising investment in women’s cricket.
- 10-year-old Giovanna de Sequeira won bronze at the World Jiu-Jitsu Championship 2025, months after recovering from knee surgery.
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
- ISRO successfully demonstrated the boot-strap mode start of its CE20 cryogenic engine, a key advancement improving restart capability for future deep-space and long-duration missions.
- IIT Kharagpur unveiled a ₹5 commemorative postage stamp issued by India Post to mark the institute’s Platinum Jubilee (75 years) of academic and research excellence.
- Paras Defence & Space Technologies signed a ToT agreement with DRDO to manufacture the Driver Night Sight (DNS) system for T-90 tanks, boosting indigenous defence production.
- The 25th Summer Deaflympics 2025 were held in Tokyo (15–26 November 2025), celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Deaflympics (first held in 1924, Paris).
- Ukraine topped the 2025 Deaflympics medal tally with 100 medals (32 gold, 39 silver, 29 bronze), followed by the USA (36 medals) and Japan (51 medals).
- India achieved its best-ever Summer Deaflympics performance, finishing 6th with 20 medals — 9 gold, 7 silver, 4 bronze. Indian shooters contributed 16 out of India’s 20 medals, marking the nation’s best shooting performance at any Deaflympics.
- Mahit Sandhu emerged as India’s top performer with 4 medals (2 gold, 2 silver), while Dhanush Srikanth, Abhinav Deshwal and Pranjali Dhumal delivered record-breaking wins. Golfer Diksha Dagar won gold in Women’s Individual Golf, securing her second Deaflympics gold medal, reinforcing India’s rising global presence in deaf sports.
- India won its first-ever Deaflympics medals in Wrestling and Karate, marking historic breakthroughs in these disciplines. The 2025 Deaflympics featured 21 sports, including Athletics, Football, Shooting, Wrestling (Freestyle & Greco Roman), Karate, Golf, Taekwondo, Judo, and others.
- The Tokyo 2025 Deaflympics medals carried the theme “Spreading Our Wings”, featuring an origami crane symbolizing aspiration and excellence, paired with traditional Japanese motifs.
- Antarctic ozone layer recovery continued, with monitoring showing ozone-depleting substances reduced by one-third since 2000, reflecting successful global action under the Montreal Protocol.
- Indian researchers developed “OncoMark”, an AI-driven tool analysing 3.1 million single-cell datasets to enable highly personalised and precise cancer therapy.
