Current Affairs | National | International | SSC | UPSC 4th November 2025

1. Avani Lekhara won the gold medal at the 2025 Para Shooting World Cup in Al Ain, Dubai.

• She won goled in the Women’s 10m Air Rifle Standing SH1 event.
• Avani overtook Sweden’s Anna Besnon to win the title.
• Thailand’s Wannipa Leungvilai stood at third place and won the bronze medal.
• India also pergormed well in the Mixed 50m Pistol SH1 category.
• In this category, Indian shooters won both gold and silver in the individual final.
• In the individual final, Shooter Akash, with a final score of 223.1, won the gold medal. Sandeep Kumar earned the silver medal.
• In the team event, trio of Akash, Sandeep and Rudransh Khandelwal won the team silver medal. They came just behind Iran team.

2. The nuclear submarine ‘Khabarovsk’, armed with the Poseidon drone, launched by Russia.

• Russia has launched its latest nuclear submarine, equipped with the 'Poseidon' nuclear drone.
• The 'Poseidon' is also called the 'Doomsday Missile' because it is said to be capable of causing serious damage to coastal countries.
• Russian Defence Minister Andrei Belousov launched the nuclear submarine ‘Khabarovsk’.
• The heavy nuclear-powered missile cruiser Khabarovsk was launched from the stern of the renowned Sevmash shipyard.
• The Sevmash shipyard had previously refurbished the INS Vikramaditya aircraft carrier for India.
• The submarine was developed by Rubin, the Central Design Bureau of Marine Engineering.
• The submarine is designed to secure Russia’s maritime borders and strategic interests.
• It carries underwater robotic weapon systems and modern naval technologies.

3. Cash awards announced for Indian Medallists at Asian Youth Games.

• Cash awards for Indian medallists at the 3rd Asian Youth Games in Bahrain have been announced by the Indian Olympic Association (IOA).
• The Indian contingent was congratulated for their outstanding performance at the 2025 Asian Youth Games in Manama, Bahrain, which is India's best ever performance at the Asian Youth Games.
• A total of 48 medals were secured by the athletes, including 13 gold, 18 silver, and 17 bronze, surpassing its previous tallies from 2009 and 2013.
• A special felicitation ceremony will be conducted soon to honour the medallists, coaches, and fourth-place finishers.
• Gold medallists will be awarded ₹5,00,000, silver medallists ₹3,00,000, and bronze medallists ₹2,00,000 each.
• Athletes who finished fourth will receive ₹50,000 each as recognition of their effort.
• Coaches of medal-winning athletes will be honoured with ₹1,00,000 each.
• Both boys’ and girls’ kabaddi teams will receive ₹10,00,000 each for their strong performances. 
• The IOA highlighted that the achievement reflects the expanding depth and discipline of India’s youth sports ecosystem.
• IOA President P.T. Usha stated that the athletes’ success showcases the promising future of Indian sports and assured continued support for nurturing young talent.

4. Over Rs 444 crore released to Odisha under 15th Finance Commission grants.

• The Fifteenth Finance Commission (XV FC) Grants for Rural Local Bodies in Odisha during the Financial Year 2025–26 has been released by the Union Government.
• The grant includes the second installment of untied grant amount of Rs 342.5964 crore for 20 eligible district panchayats (Zila Parishads), 296 eligible block panchayats (Panchayat Samitis) and 6,734 eligible gram panchayats of the state.
• Additionally, ₹101.7815 crores of withheld funds from the first installment have also been released for the financial year 2025-26.
• The grant distribution covers 20 Zilla Parishads, 296 Panchayat Samitis, and 6,734 Gram Panchayats in the state.
• The funds may be utilized by rural local bodies/Panchayati Raj Institutions for location-specific felt needs under twenty-nine (29) subjects contained in the Eleventh Schedule of the Constitution
• Untied Grants cannot be spent on salaries or establishment costs.
• Tied grants are utilized for sanitation, waste management, maintenance of ODF status, drinking water supply, rainwater harvesting and water recycling.
• The Ministries of Panchayati Raj and Jal Shakti recommend these funds to states.
• The Ministry of Finance releases the grants in two installments every financial year.

5. Sanjay Garg assumed charge as Director General of Bureau of Indian Standards.

• Charge as the Director General of the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has been assumed by Sanjay Garg, IAS (1994 batch).
• The appointment came into effect from November 1.
• BIS acts as the National Standards Body of India.
• Garg has more than three decades of administrative experience in various developmental and industrial sectors.
• He has earlier served as Additional Secretary in the Department of Agriculture Research and Education (DARE).
• He also functioned as Secretary of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).
• He led digital transformation efforts in agricultural research administration and services.
• The Kisan Sarathi Portal was expanded during his leadership to connect farmers with agricultural experts.
• His experience includes work in World Bank projects, defence industry promotion, and industrial sector reforms.
• As DG BIS, he will also serve as the President of India’s national committee in the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC).

6. Samia Suluhu Hassan sworn in for a second term as President of Tanzania.

• On 3rd November, the ceremony was conducted under tight security in the capital, Dodoma.
• She was declared the winner with 98% of the vote.
• Several opposition leaders were detained or prevented from participating in the election.
• Violent protests were reported, with the opposition rejecting the election results.
• International observers have raised questions about the transparency of the electoral process.
• Reports indicated that many civilians were killed or injured during the unrest.
• The UN Human Rights Office confirmed credible reports of at least 10 deaths across three cities.

7. Eight cheetahs from Botswana will reach India next month.

• They will be brought under Project Cheetah. Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav made this announcement.
• Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav said cheetahs from Botswana will be kept under quarantine at Kuno National Park, MP.
• Environment Minister also talked about the upcoming COP 30 meeting in Belem, Brazil.
• The upcoming COP 30 meeting will mark ten years since the Paris Agreement.
• The minister said developing countries are still affected by funding gaps continue to affect .
• Project Cheetah was launched in September 2022. The initiative aims to reintroduce the cheetah in India.
• COP 29 was held in Baku, Azerbaijan from November 11–22, 2024.

8. Indian delegation to the Second World Summit for Social Development is being led by Labour and Employment Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya.

• Second World Summit for Social Development is being held in Doha, Qatar.
• The summit is taking place from 4 November until the 6th November.
• At the summit, Dr. Mandaviya will talk about India’s commitment to growth.
• India’s Vision of Inclusive and Equitable Growth at the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Ministerial Dialogue on Global Coalition for Social Justice will also be represented by Dr Mandaviya.
• Dr. Mandaviya will also join a High-Level Round Table on strengthening the three pillars of Social Development.
• The minister will also hold several bilateral meetings with leaders from Qatar, Romania, and Mauritius.
• Dr. Mandaviya will attend a session on the National Career Service (NCS) Portal.
• The NCS session is being co-hosted by the Ministry of Labour & Employment and the Indian Business and Professionals Council.

9. Hockey India's centenay celebration will begin on November 7 at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium in New Delhi.

• This marks 100-year of Indian hockey. It will be held in association with the Sports Authority of India.
• The event marks 100 years since Indian Hockey Federation was formed.
• Indian Hockey Federation was formed on November 7, 1925 and was the governing body for field hockey from 1925 to 2008. Hockey India replaced it in 2009
• Union Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya said that more than 1,400 hockey tournaments will be held across the country to celebrate 100 years of Indian hockey.
• These tournaments will be organised in over 550 districts.
• The nationwide program aims to honor hockey’s legacy and inspire young athletes and strengthen India’s sporting culture.
• A special 30-minute exhibition match will also be organised between the Union Minister’s XI and Hockey India’s Mixed XI.

10. 42nd Antarctic expedition has been launched by China and this marks the start of its first-ever scientific drilling in subglacial lakes.

• The aim of 42nd Antarctic expedition is to study Antarctica’s geological evolution, history of ice sheets and the continent’s natural resources.
• Advanced drilling technology and domestically developed hot-water and thermal-melting drills will be used by researchers.
• With the help of drills, researchers will sample ice layers more than 3,000 meters thick.
• Long-term climate and sediment samples will be collected by team from areas like Amundsen Sea and the Ross Sea.
• Five research stations are now being opearted by China in Antarctica. Its fifth major base was inaugurated last year.
• 29 nations are having 70 permanent research stations on the continent.
• These include two active research stations, Maitri and Bharti, from India.

11. Manjummel Boys bags nine awards in Kerala film awards

• Manjummel Boys, the survival drama directed by Chidambaram, won big at the 55th Kerala State Film Awards 2024, garnering nine awards, including the top honours of Best Film and Best Director.
• Mammootty won his seventh Best Actor (Male) award, the most for any actor in Malayalam, for Bramayugam, while Shamla Hamza has won the Best Actor (Female) for Feminichi Fathima.
• Fasil Muhammed won the award for Best Debutant Director for Feminichi Fathima. Premalu, won the award for Best Film with Popular Appeal and Aesthetic Value.

12. COP30 to take place 6-21 November 2025 in Belém, Brazil 

• The 30th session of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP30) is scheduled for 6-21 November 2025 in Belém, Brazil.
• The host city, Belém, located in the Amazon region, was chosen to highlight forest, biodiversity and ecosystem protection as central climate priorities.
• The summit faces logistical challenges: accommodation costs have soared, hotel capacity is stretched, and some nations are considering reducing their delegation or skipping the event.
• A key agenda item is turning the findings of the Global Stocktake into action—with focus on enhanced national climate plans (NDCs), scaling climate finance, and accelerating implementation ahead of and during COP30.

13. Dr. Deepak Mittal Ambassador-Designate to UAE Assumes Charge as India’s

• Dr Deepak Mittal, a 1998-batch Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer, has assumed charge as the Ambassador-Designate of India to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), bringing with him over two decades of diplomatic experience across several key international postings.
• He has previously served in Indian missions in Egypt, Israel, and Bangladesh, and also held roles as Consul General of India in Ho Chi Minh City and Ambassador to Qatar, strengthening India’s diplomatic engagement in the Middle East and Southeast Asia.

14. L&T and US-Based GA-ASI Partner to Manufacture Advanced MALE Drones in India for Armed Forces under Atmanirbhar Bharat

• Larsen & Toubro (L&T) and General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) of the US have formed a strategic partnership to manufacture Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) in India for the Indian Armed Forces, with L&T serving as the prime bidder and GA-ASI as the technology partner for the Defence Ministry’s 87 MALE RPAS programme.
• The collaboration will enable domestic production of GA-ASI’s combat-proven MQ-series RPAS platforms, already in use globally for surveillance and strike missions, aligning with India’s Atmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India initiatives through significant technology transfer and indigenous content.

15. AXISCADES and France’s Cilas Join Hands to Develop Laser-Based Counter-Drone Systems for Indian Armed Forces

• AXISCADES Technologies Limited (India) and Cilas S.A. (France) signed an MoU to jointly develop and supply advanced counter-unmanned aerial system (C-UAS) technologies for the Indian Armed Forces, integrating Cilas’ Helma-P high-energy laser weapon into vehicle-mounted defence systems.
• Under the collaboration, AXISCADES will design the overall system architecture as per Indian Army requirements, co-developing a vehicle-mounted counter-drone solution that combines Helma-P with its command and control system, supporting the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative through local integration and manufacturing.
• The Helma-P laser, already used by NATO forces, the French Navy, and during the Paris Olympics, strengthens India-France defence cooperation in advanced military technologies; AXISCADES employs 3,000+ professionals globally, while Cilas (est. 1966) specializes in laser technologies for defence, security, and space.

16. 3 November – World Sandwich Day

• World Sandwich Day is observed every year on November 3 to celebrate one of the world’s most popular and versatile foods — the sandwich.
• The day commemorates John Montagu, the 4th Earl of Sandwich, who is credited with inventing the sandwich in the 18th century.

17. Former Indian Hockey Goalkeeper Manuel Frederick Passes Away

• Former Indian hockey goalkeeper Manuel Frederick, who won a bronze medal at the 1972 Munich Olympics, passed away at the age of 78.
• Hailing from Kannur, Kerala, he was the first athlete from the state to win an Olympic medal, a feat later matched by P.R. Sreejesh in 2021.
• Representing India from 1971 to 1978, Frederick showcased exceptional goalkeeping skills in two Hockey World Cups — winning silver in Amstelveen (1973) and competing in Buenos Aires (1978). He also played for ASC, HAL, Services, Uttar Pradesh, and Mohun Bagan during his career.
• Awarded the Dhyan Chand Lifetime Achievement Award in 2019, Frederick is remembered as one of India’s finest goalkeepers.