Current Affairs | National | International | SSC | UPSC 5th November 2025

1. Maldives has become world's first country to implement generational ban on tobacco.

• Maldives implemented the world’s first generational tobacco ban with effect from November 1, 2025.
• Sale and use of tobacco products by any person born after January 1, 2007 has been prohibited by law.
• The restrictions under this law apply to both residents and visitors to the country.
• Vaping and e-cigarettes for all age groups have also been prohibited by this law.
• This ban has been enacted by Maldives through the Second Amendment to the Tobacco Control Act.
• As per the law, retailers must check buyers’ ages. In case of violations, they will face fines of 50,000 Maldivian rufiyaa.
• The fine for users of vaping devices is 5,000 rufiyaa.
• The Ministry of Health said the law supports a tobacco-free generation.
• Tobacco, a major global health issue, causes more than 7 million deaths annually.
• These include 1.6 million from second-hand smoke exposure.
• Earlier, New Zealand had planned for a similar generational ban for people born after January 1, 2009.
• However, New Zealand repealed it before implementation in February 2024.

2. India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) and Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) have signed an MoU.

• The aim of MoU is to provide doorstep Digital Life Certificate (DLC) services to pensioners under the Employees' Pension Scheme, 1995.
• The MoU was exchanged during EPFO’s 73rd Foundation Day.
• IPPB will use its network of over 1.65 lakh Post Offices and 3 lakh postal service providers.
• These service points are equipped with biometric and digital devices to help pensioners submit DLCs from home.
• The service removes the need for pensioners to visit bank branches or EPFO offices.
• The process uses Aadhaar-linked Face Authentication or Fingerprint biometric authentication. This generates JeevanPramaan certificates digitally.
• IPPB had launched the Doorstep Service of Digital Life Certificate in 2020.
• IPPB is fully owned by the Government of India.
• It was established under the Department of Posts and launched on September 1, 2018.

3. Several Indian institutions feature in the top 100 in Asia in the QS University Rankings.

• Five IITs, IISc Bengaluru and Delhi University have been placed among Asia’s top 100 institutions as per the QS Asia University Rankings 2026 announced on November 4, 2025.
• IIT-Delhi, IIT-Madras, IIT-Bombay, IIT-Kanpur and IIT-Kharagpur figured in the list along with IISc Bengaluru and Delhi University.
• The rankings were released by global higher education analysts QS Quacquarelli Symonds.
• It was stated that seven Indian institutions are in the top 100, 20 in the top 200, and 66 in the top 500 in Asia.
• Compared to last year, 36 Indian institutions improved, 16 retained the same ranking, while 105 fell.
• India was noted to rank best in Asia for “staff with PhD”.
• IIT-Delhi, ranked 59, was declared the best Indian institute for the fifth consecutive year.
• The University of Hong Kong topped the list, with Peking University ranked second.
• Institutions from Hong Kong, Mainland China, Singapore, South Korea and Malaysia dominated the top positions.
• QS Asia Rankings 2026: Top 10 Institutions

4. An MoU signed between India and Israel to expand defence cooperation.

• On 5 November, a Memorandum of Understanding wassigned between India and Israel to expand the scope of bilateral defence cooperation.
• The MoU was exchanged during the 17th meeting of the Joint Working Group (JWG) on defence cooperation held in Tel Aviv.
• The meeting was co-chaired by Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh and Israeli Defence Ministry Director-General Major General Amir Baram.
• The agreement aims to provide a unified policy direction for strengthening defence collaboration.
• It will support the sharing of advanced technology and promote co-development and co-production.
• Both sides discussed enhancing operational capabilities and collaboration in emerging defence technologies.
• The issue of terrorism and the need for continued joint commitment to counter the threat were also emphasised.

5. Gogabeel Lake in Katihar district of Bihar has been designated as a Ramsar site of international importance.

• With this addition, the total number of Ramsar sites in India has increased to 94.
• Bihar now has six Ramsar sites, placing it third after Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh.
• India continues to rank first in Asia and third in the world after the UK (176) and Mexico (144) in terms of the total number of Ramsar sites under a global convention.
• Globally, there are 2,546 Ramsar sites under the convention.
• Gogabeel Lake is Bihar’s first community reserve, conserved and managed by the local community.
• It is an oxbow wetland situated between the Ganga and Mahananda rivers, merging with them during floods.
• Wetlands are areas of land covered by water, either temporarily or permanently.
• Such areas play a vital role in the hydrological cycle, flood control, water supply, and the provision of food, fiber, and raw materials.
• Ramsar Convention:
• It is an intergovernmental treaty that provides the framework for national action and international cooperation for the conservation of wetlands.
• It was signed on 2 February 1971 in Ramsar, Iran, for the protection of wetland sites in the world.
• It is also known as the Convention on Wetlands. Therefore, every year on 2nd February, World Wetlands Day is observed.
• The convention came into force on 21 December 1975.

6. The International Election Visitors’ Program 2025 launched by the Election Commission.

• The International Election Visitors’ Program 2025 has been commenced by the Election Commission at the India International Institute for Democracy and Election Management in New Delhi.
• As part of the program, a total of 14 participants are participating from seven countries including France, South Africa, Belgium, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand and Colombia.
• They will observe polling during the first phase of the Bihar Assembly Elections on the 6th November 2025.
• The program includes a two-day visit to Bihar, where participants will visit Electronic Voting Machine dispatch centres.
• The International Election Visitors Program is a flagship program of the ECI to promote international cooperation and engagement with election management bodies of other countries and international organisations.

7. IFFCO and Amul have been recognised among the world’s leading cooperatives.

• The recognition comes from the ICA World Cooperative Monitor 2025 rankings.
• The rankings were announced in Doha, Qatar. The list highlights their outstanding global performance. It is based on GDP per capita contribution.
• Amul has built a vast dairy network and represents India’s cooperative model.
• IFFCO stands out for its farmer-driven approach and promotes sustainable fertiliser production.
• Both cooperatives show India’s legacy of self-reliant growth with their work is rooted in community-based development.
• Amul or Anand Milk Union Limited is owned by Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation, a cooperative society.
• Its founder is Tribhuvandas Patel and headquarters are in Anand, Gujarat, India. It was started in 1946.
• IFFCO (Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Limited) is a multi-state cooperative society.
• It carries out work of manufacturing and marketing of fertiliser. It is headquartered in New Delhi. It was founded in 1967.

8. CBSE inaugurated its first International Sahodaya Conference in Dubai.

• It also hosted the 31st Annual Sahodaya School Complexes meet. This marked the event’s first-ever global edition.
• Over 1,000 education leaders and stakeholders attended the conference.
• The theme of conference was “Rooted in Wisdom, Rising with Vision: Reimagining Education through NEP 2020.”
• The conference was organised under the framework of India’s National Education Policy 2020.
• Key objectives included building international partnerships and advancing NEP 2020 implementation.
• CBSE Chairperson Rahul Singh announced that CBSE will introduce subjects at two levels—standard and advanced—from Class 9 onwards.
• These changes will begin in the 2026–27 academic year.
• Singh also unveiled the CBSE Global Curriculum 26, designed to align with international standards.
• The conference brought together policymakers and education regulators from across the Gulf.

9. Daya Dongre dies at the age of 85.

• She was a veteran Marathi actress. She was born in Amravati, Maharashtra.
• She received recognition after winning an All-India Radio singing competition.
• She started her career in acting as a teenager.
• She received acclaim for her performances in Marathi TV serials like Tuzhi Majhi Jodi Jamli Re, Nanda Saukhya Bhare, Yachasathi Kela Hota Atthahas, and Lekure Udand Jali.
• She started performing on the stage at the age of 16 with the play Rambha.
• She got national prominence with Doordarshan’s Gajara.
• Government of Maharashtra honoured her for her roles in 'Maaybaap' and 'Khatyal Sasu Nathal Soon'.

10. Government said that India aims to achieve 500 million tonnes of steel capacity by 2047 and 300 million tonnes by 2030.

• This was said by secretary of the Ministry of Steel, Sandeep Poundrik, while addressing the first session of the CII Steel Summit 2025 in New Delhi.
• He said India's steel capacity has nearly doubled to 200 million tonnes from about 100 million tonnes a decade ago.
• The secretary highlighted this has been supported by strong infrastructure growth and rising domestic demand.
• 8.5% growth has been recorded by the sector in the first half of this year. The demand touched 152 million tonnes in 2024-25.
• Green and hydrogen-based steel technologies are being actively promoted by the government under the National Mission on Sustainable Steel.
• The aim of National Steel Policy 2017 is to raise the per capita consumption to 160 kg by 2030.
• Steel Summit 2025 was organised by Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) with the theme “Building a Sustainable and Globally Competitive Steel Industry for Viksit Bharat”.

11. Maharashtra govt. announces ₹2.25 cr. for women cricketers

• The Maharashtra government on Tuesday announced a cash prize of ₹2.25 crore each for Maharashtra’s players in the Indian Women’s Cricket Team which won the ICC Women’s World Cup recently.
• As per the State government’s policy, Jemima Rodrigues, Smriti Mandhana and Radha Yadav will be given the cash prize and will be felicitated by the State.
• Coach Amol Muzumdar, hailing from Mumbai will get ₹22.5 lakh.
• “Today, the cabinet has passed a resolution to congratulate the women’s cricket team which won the ICC World Cup.
• Three players from Maharashtra will be honoured by the State government, will be given a cash prize as per our policy.” said Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis

12. Food systems huge violators of planetary limits: study

• 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.

13. India’s National Beekeeping & Honey Mission Drives ‘Sweet Revolution’

• The National Beekeeping and Honey Mission (NBHM) is a Central Sector Scheme launched to promote scientific beekeeping and achieve the vision of a “Sweet Revolution” in India, ensuring the holistic growth of the beekeeping sector.
• The mission has a budget outlay of ₹500 crore and is being implemented by the National Bee Board (NBB) for the period FY 2020-21 to FY 2025-26, covering all major aspects of honey production and marketing.
• NBHM operates through three Mini Missions focused on productivity enhancement, post-harvest management, and research & technology development, promoting innovation and value addition in beekeeping.
• In FY 2023-24, India produced around 1.4 lakh MT of natural honey and exported 1.07 lakh MT worth USD 177.55 million, becoming the second-largest exporter of honey globally, aided by digital initiatives like the Madhukranti Portal for online registration and traceability.

14. PM Modi to Attend International Gita Festival and 350th Martyrdom Anniversary of Guru Tegh Bahadur in Kurukshetra on November 25

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend the International Gita Festival and the state-level commemorative event for the 350th martyrdom anniversary of Guru Tegh Bahadur on November 25 in Kurukshetra, Haryana.
• The 10th International Gita Mahotsav will feature spiritual seminars, global participation, cultural programmes, and a Maha Aarti at Brahma Sarovar. The main events will take place from November 24 to December 1, with Madhya Pradesh as the partner state.
• Since 2016, the festival has gained international recognition, with editions held in Mauritius, Britain, Canada, Sri Lanka, Australia, Indonesia, and Japan, aiming to connect the world with the eternal message of the Bhagavad Gita and India’s spiritual heritage.

15. PM Modi Inaugurates Emerging Science and Technology Innovation Conclave (ESTIC) 2025

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Emerging Science and Technology Innovation Conclave (ESTIC) 2025 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, bringing together over 3,000 participants including Nobel Laureates, scientists, and innovators to discuss 11 key areas of emerging technologies.
• The Prime Minister launched the ₹1 lakh crore Research Development and Innovation (RDI) Scheme Fund, aimed at promoting a private sector-driven R&D ecosystem. The scheme offers long-term, low or zero-interest loans and equity investments, with ₹20,000 crore allocated for FY 2025–26 from the Consolidated Fund of India.

16. Vishvajit Sahay Assumes Charge as Controller General of Defence Accounts (CGDA)

• Vishvajit Sahay, a 1990-batch officer of the Indian Defence Accounts Service (IDAS), assumed charge as the Controller General of Defence Accounts (CGDA), bringing over three decades of experience in defence finance and public administration.
• An alumnus of St. Stephen’s College, University of Delhi, he has served in several senior roles, including Additional Secretary and Financial Adviser in the Department of Science and Technology, and Joint Secretary in the Department of Heavy Industry.
• He has also represented India at international training forums, including Cambridge University (UK) and the George C. Marshall Center (Germany), reflecting his expertise in global defence finance and administration.

17. Vice Admiral B. Sivakumar Assumes Charge as 40th Chief of Materiel, Indian Navy

• Vice Admiral B. Sivakumar, AVSM, VSM, has taken charge as the 40th Chief of Materiel of the Indian Navy, succeeding Vice Admiral Kiran Deshmukh.
• An alumnus of the 70th Course of the National Defence Academy, he was commissioned as an Electrical Officer in the Indian Navy on July 1, 1987, and has served in key roles across Naval Headquarters, Dockyards, and warships like INS Ranjit, Kirpan, and Akshay.
• Over a distinguished 38-year career, he has commanded the premier Electrical Training Base INS Valsura and made significant contributions to the Navy’s operational and technical capabilities. Recent Appointments in Defence Sector
• DG of the National Cadet Corps (NCC) – Lieutenant General Virendra Vats (replace Gurbirpal Singh)
• Director General of Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) – Praveen Kumar (replace Rahul Rasgotra)
• Director General of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) – Praveer Ranjan (replace Rajwinder Singh Bhatti)
• Deputy National Security Advisor (NSA) – Anish Dayal Singh

18. 4 November 2025 – Melbourne Cup Day

• The Melbourne Cup Day is celebrated on the first Tuesday of November every year at Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne — this year it is being celebrated on 4th November 2025.
• Started in 1861, the race covers a distance of 3,200 metres and is considered one of the most prestigious horse racing events in the world.
• The Melbourne Cup is not only about racing but also about fashion, entertainment, and tradition, showcasing Australia’s rich sporting and cultural spirit.