Current Affairs | National | International | SSC | UPSC 6th November 2025

1. Telangana Artificial Intelligence Innovation Hub has been launched by Telangana to strengthen AI research and development.

• Telangana Artificial Intelligence Innovation Hub aims to place Telangana among the top 20 global AI hubs by 2035.
• Telangana Artificial Intelligence Innovation Hub will serve as a central platform for AI-driven innovation.
• It will also support research and collaboration across multiple sectors.
• The state government wants Telangana to become a leading destination for AI research and technology in India.
• The government has formed partnerships with leading academic and research institutions, including IIIT, BITS Pilani, ISB, NALSAR, IIT Hyderabad, and C-DAC.
• It has also partnered with global technology companies like Google, Microsoft, Infosys, and Amazon.

2. The International Conference on Green Hydrogen (ICGH 2025) will be held in New Delhi.

• The International Conference on Green Hydrogen (ICGH 2025) will be hosted by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy on 11–12 November at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.
• Senior Union Ministers, including Pralhad Joshi, Hardeep Singh Puri and Dr Jitendra Singh, will participate.
• The event will bring together government officials, industry representatives, experts, students, media and international organisations.
• Discussions will focus on the development and applications of green hydrogen across sectors.
• The conference supports the implementation of the National Green Hydrogen Mission.
• Sessions will include thematic dialogues and round-table interactions for scaling production and building demand.
• Financing, certification, port readiness and skill development are among the key discussion themes.
• The event aims to align government, industry and research priorities for coordinated progress.
• Delegations from IRENA, Hydrogen Europe, H2 Global Foundation, Korea Hydrogen Alliance and the Port of Rotterdam will participate.

3. Maharashtra became the first state to partner with Starlink for satellite-based internet services.

• On 5 November, Maharashtra became the first Indian state to partner with Elon Musk’s Starlink for satellite-based internet services.
• A Letter of Intent was signed by the state government with Starlink Satellite Communications Private Limited.
• High-speed satellite internet was planned to be expanded to rural and remote regions under this agreement.
• Government institutions and underserved districts like Gadchiroli, Nandurbar, Dharashiv and Washim were included in the deployment plan.
• The initiative is part of the Digital Maharashtra mission to strengthen digital connectivity.
• Starlink is preparing for a full commercial launch in India by early 2026.
• Starlink is building at least nine satellite gateway stations across India, including in Mumbai, Noida, Kolkata, Chandigarh and Lucknow.
• Starlink will compete with Jio Satellite and Eutelsat OneWeb in India’s satellite broadband market.
• With over 6,000 low-Earth orbit satellites already operating globally, Starlink aims to bring fast and reliable internet to the remotest corners of India.

4. Jannik Sinner won the Paris Masters title and regained the world No. 1 ranking.

• Italian star Jannik Sinner won his first Paris Masters title, beating Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-4, 7-6(4) at the La Defense Arena on November 2.
• Sinner regained the world No. 1 ranking from Carlos Alcaraz.
• His unbeaten run on indoor courts was extended to 26 matches.
• With a stellar performance in Paris, Sinner became the first player to win a Masters 1000 title without dropping a set since Alcaraz at Indian Wells in 2023.
• In the doubles final, Britain's Henry Patten and Finland's Harri Heliovaara defeated British pair Julian Cash and Lloyd Glasspool 6–3, 6–4 to win their first ATP Masters 1000 title.

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

• Zohran Mamdani on Tuesday 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 accordability 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. Highest turnout “New York, tonight you have delivered a mandate — for a new kind of politics, for a city we can afford, and for a government that delivers exactly that,” Mr. Mamdani said. “Years from now, may our only regret be that this day took so long to come.”
• 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 an independent, won 41.6%. Mr. Sliwa won 7.1%. Message to Trump During his speech, Mr. Mamdani addressed U.S. President Donald Trump, who had repeatedly threatened to cut federal funding to New York if he won.
• “If anyone can show a nation betrayed by Donald Trump how to defeat him, it is the city that gave rise to him,” he said. “So hear me, President Trump — since I know you’re watching — I have four words for you: turn the volume up.”
• He was later joined by his wife, Rama Duwaji; mother, filmmaker Mira Nair; and father, political theorist Mahmood Mamdani, before walking on the stage to a famous Bollywood track — “Dhoom machale” as the crowd erupted in uproar.

6. The year-long commemoration of 150 years of “Vande Mataram” will be inaugurated by PM Narendra Modi on 7 November 2025.

• The Ministry of Culture will organise the inaugural ceremony at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi.
• The celebration will run from 7th November 2025 to 7th November 2026.
• It is believed that Bankim Chandra Chatterjee composed the national song 'Vande Mataram' on the auspicious occasion of Akshaya Navami on 7 November 1875.
• Vande Mataram was first published serially in the literary magazine Bangadarshan, in his novel Anandamath, and later as a standalone book in 1882.
• The song gives poetic expression to India's awakened sense of unity and self-respect, describing the motherland as a symbol of strength, prosperity and divinity.
• On January 24, 1950, the President of the Constituent Assembly, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, announced that 'Vande Mataram', which played a historic role in the freedom struggle, would be given the same respect as the national anthem, 'Jana Gana Mana'.
• It was first sung at the Indian National Congress session in 1896.

7. Third Maritime Information Sharing Workshop was held in Gurugram.

• Total 57 delegates participated in the event, representing 30 different nations.
• The workshop was organized by the Information Fusion Centre–Indian Ocean Region.
• The theme of workshop was Enhancing Real-Time Coordination and Information Sharing Across the Indian Ocean Region.
• The Ministry of Defence said the workshop aimed to boost interoperability and enhance situational awareness through targeted discussions.
• A simulation exercise was held during the workshop. It used the indigenously developed Maritime Analytical Tool for Regional Awareness.
• A Maritime Security Seminar was also conducted as part of workshop.
• Information Fusion Centre–Indian Ocean Region was launched in December 2018.
• It is a regional maritime security centre hosted by the Indian Navy.

8. Jemimah Rodrigues and Deepti Sharma achieved notable improvements in the latest ICC Women’s ODI rankings.

• The improvements have come after India’s World Cup victory over South Africa in Mumbai.
• Jemimah entered the top 10 batters list for the first time.
• Jemimah scored a decisive century in the semifinal match against Australia.
• Deepti Sharma rose to fourth among all-rounders.
• Crowned Player of the Tournament, Deepti contributed seven wickets and crucial runs to India’s title run.
• Smriti Mandhana dropped to second place as South Africa’s Laura Wolvaardt seized the top ranking.
• Indian pacer Shree Charani advanced seven spots to reach 23rd position in the global rankings.

9. India-born Ghazala Hashmi has created history by getting elected as Virginia’s first South Asian American and Indian-origin woman Lieutenant Governor.

• The Democrat won the election against Republican candidate John Reid.
• Six years ago, Hashmi had also made history by becoming the first Muslim woman to serve in the Virginia State Senate.
• Hashmi will now take over from Republican Winsome Earle-Sears.
• Earle-Sears was the first woman to hold the position of Lieutenant Governor.
• Hashmi was born Malakpet area of Hyderabad and moved to the United States when she was four years old.

10. Typhoon Kalmaegi, one of the most powerful storms of the year, has caused at least 66 deaths across the Philippines.

• Many residents have been forced to evacuate. The typhoon brought destructive winds and heavy rainfall.
• Although it has weakened since making landfall, Kalmaegi remains dangerous.
• Kalmaegi is known locally as Tino. It still produced gusts of more than 130 km/h.
• 49 deaths occurred in Cebu, a province of the Philippines.
• Most of these were caused by flooding, landslides, and falling debris.
• As per Meteorologists, the storm will move toward Vietnam next.
• Typhoon Kalmaegi is an active tropical cyclone. It is 25th named storm and 12th typhoon of the 2025 Pacific typhoon season.

11. Sikh relic brought to Patna from Delhi after over 300 years 

• An important holy relic related to the Sikh faith, the sacred Jore Sahib, the foot-wear 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 kilo-metres 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 Sa-hib, 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.

12. Chinese varsities dominate QS Asia rankings; India slips

• 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 insti-tutions, 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
• This year, a total of 1,526 universities have been ranked, of which 557 are new 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.

13. Government Launches EPFO Employee Enrolment Scheme 2025 to Boost Social Security and Formalise Workforce

• The EPFO Employee Enrolment Scheme 2025 was launched by the Ministry of Labour and Employment, effective November 1, 2025, to encourage employers to voluntarily enrol employees previously left out of the EPF, boosting formal employment and social security coverage.
• Employees who joined between July 1, 2017, and October 31, 2025, and were not registered under EPF, can now enrol to gain provident fund savings, pension benefits under EPS, and insurance via EDLI, ensuring long-term financial security.
• Employers can rectify past non-compliance by paying only their EPF share plus a nominal penalty of ₹100, without being liable for employees who have already left, simplifying compliance and encouraging voluntary participation.
• The scheme formalises India’s workforce, enhances financial inclusion, supports retirement security, and aligns with potential EPFO wage ceiling expansion, strengthening trust, transparency, and social protection in the employment ecosystem.

14. Delhi Govt Launches ‘Pink Saheli Smart Card’ for Free Bus Travel of Women and Transgender Individuals to Promote Safety and Inclusivity

• Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has launched the ‘Pink Saheli Smart Card’, allowing free travel for women and transgender individuals (12 years & above) on all Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) and cluster buses.
• The scheme aims to promote public transport usage, enhance safety, and make daily commuting more affordable for women and transgender people, while also helping to reduce traffic congestion and pollution.
• Eligible passengers can register online through the Delhi Transport Department’s official portal or at designated DTC counters, after which they receive the Pink Saheli Smart Card for unlimited free rides.
• The initiative marks a progressive step toward gender equality, recognizing both women and transgender individuals in public policy and emphasizing women’s empowerment and inclusivity in Delhi’s transport system.

15. Nauradehi Sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh to Become Third Home for Cheetahs

• Nauradehi Sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh will become the third home for cheetahs in the state after Kuno National Park and Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary. Cheetahs will be brought from Namibia, Africa, and released here.
• Due to hunting and loss of habitat, the Asiatic cheetah became extinct in India in 1952.
• The Government of India launched Project Cheetah on September 17, 2022, under which African cheetahs from Namibia were reintroduced in Kuno National Park (2022) and later in Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary (2024).
• Kuno now has 25 cheetahs, including nine adults (six females and one male) and 16 cubs born in the park. Nauradehi will now serve as the third site and will be the 25th wildlife sanctuary of Madhya Pradesh.

About Madhya Pradesh 

• Capital – Bhopal
• Chief Minister – Dr Mohan Yadav (replace Shivraj Singh Chauhan)
• Deputy CM – Jagdish Devda & Rajendra Shukla
• Governor – Mangubhai C. Patel

16. Gogabeel Lake in Bihar Declared India’s 94th Ramsar Site

• Gogabeel Lake in Katihar district, Bihar, has been designated as a Ramsar site of international importance, becoming India’s 94th Ramsar site and Bihar’s 6th, after Gokul Jalashay and Udaipur Jheel.
• The oxbow-shaped wetland, located between the Ganga and Mahananda rivers, is Bihar’s first community reserve, managed and conserved by the local community, playing a vital role in flood control, water balance, and biodiversity conservation.
• With this addition, India ranks 1st in Asia and 3rd globally (after the UK – 176 and Mexico – 144 Ramsar sites), highlighting its growing commitment to wetland conservation under the 1971 Ramsar Convention.

17. Centre Releases ₹444 Crore to Odisha’s Rural Local Bodies under 15th Finance Commission Grants

• The Union Government has released over ₹444 crore to Rural Local Bodies (RLBs) in Odisha under the Fifteenth Finance Commission (XV FC) Grants for the financial year 2025–26.
• The release includes a second installment of ₹342.59 crore as Untied Grants for 20 Zilla Parishads, 296 Panchayat Samitis, and 6,734 Gram Panchayats across the state.
• Additionally, ₹101.78 crore, representing the withheld portion of the first installment, has been released for 20 Zilla Parishads, 233 Panchayat Samitis, and 649 Gram Panchayats.
• The Untied Grants can be used by Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) and RLBs for local developmental needs under the Eleventh Schedule, while Tied Grants are meant for sanitation, waste management, ODF maintenance, drinking water, and rainwater harvesting projects.

18. Hurricane Melissa Becomes First-Ever Category 5 Storm to Strike Jamaica

• Hurricane Melissa was a catastrophic Category 5 tropical cyclone that hit Jamaica, Cuba, and the Bahamas in late October 2025, rapidly intensifying from a tropical storm to a major hurricane within just 39 hours.
• Making landfall in southern Jamaica on October 28 with winds of 185 mph (298 km/h), it became the first-ever Category 5 hurricane to strike Jamaica in the nation’s history, causing over $8 billion in damages and 50 confirmed deaths by October 31.
• The storm originated from an atmospheric disturbance near western Africa in mid-October 2025, and after being named “Melissa” by NOAA and the World Meteorological Organization, it slowly moved across the Caribbean, gaining power from w
  arm ocean waters.
  

19. Sanjay Garg Assumes Charge as DG of Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS)

• Shri Sanjay Garg, IAS (1994 batch, Kerala cadre) has assumed charge as the Director General of the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), the National Standards Body of India.
• Prior to this, he served as Additional Secretary, DARE, and Secretary, ICAR, where he led major digital transformation initiatives in research management and scaled up the Kisan Sarathi portal to connect farmers directly with agricultural scientists.
• With extensive experience in World Bank projects, defence industry deregulation, and industrial promotion, Shri Garg will also serve as the President of India’s National Committee in IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission).

Recent Appointments

• Full-time Member Secretary of the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) in NCR – Tarun Kumar Pithode
• Chairperson of the WIPO Advisory Board of Judges for the 2025–2027 – Delhi HC Justice Prathiba M. Singh
• President of FICCI for 2025-26 – Anant Goenka (replace Harsha Vardhan Agarwal
• Secretary in Department of Commerce – Rajesh Agrawal (replace Sunil Barthwal)
• Director of the Botanical Survey of India (BSI) – Kanad Das Appointed; 13th

20. Indian Oil Mumbai Clinches 42nd Indian Oil Servo Surjit Hockey Trophy for Third Consecutive Year

• Indian Oil Mumbai won the 42nd Indian Oil Servo Surjit Hockey Trophy for the third consecutive year and seventh time overall, defeating Indian Railways Delhi 2–1 in the final at Olympian Surjit Hockey Stadium, Jalandhar.
• The champions received a winner’s trophy and ₹5.51 lakh cash prize, while Indian Railways bagged the runner-up trophy with ₹2.50 lakh. Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema announced ₹25 lakh for the Surjit Hockey Society.
• Talwinder Singh (Indian Oil) was named Best Player, and Olympian Harmanpreet Singh (Punjab Police) was awarded Best Scorer with a ₹51,000 cash prize.

21. India Records Best-Ever Medal Haul at 2025 Asian Youth Games in Bahrain with 48 Medals, Including 13 Gold

• India achieved its best-ever performance at the 2025 Asian Youth Games held in Manama, Bahrain, winning a total of 48 medals — 13 Gold, 18 Silver, and 17 Bronze, surpassing its previous records from 2009 and 2013.
• Key highlights included the girls’ kabaddi team clinching India’s first gold, Priteesmita Bhoi setting a world youth record in weightlifting (44kg clean and jerk), and a powerful seven-gold finish on the final day led by boxing and beach wrestling.
• India’s medal tally also served as a qualifier for the 2026 Youth Olympics in Dakar, Senegal, marking a historic milestone for the nation’s young athletes and the growth of youth sports.