National Affairs
- The Supreme Court of India struck down key provisions of the Tribunals Reforms Act, 2021, ruling that the Act’s clauses on tribunal appointments, tenure and re-appointments violate the constitutional principles of separation of powers and judicial independence. The Court directed the Union Government to set up a National Tribunals Commission within four months.
- The government added “wild animal attacks” and “paddy inundation” as additional risks covered under the Crop Insurance Scheme, expanding the ambit of coverage for farmers and enhancing ag-risk mitigation in the agriculture sector.
- Over the last 4-5 months, the government removed around 2.25 crore ineligible beneficiaries from the free-ration scheme, aiming to improve targeting and reduce fiscal leakages in the public distribution system (PDS).
- In a major anti‐terror crackdown, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrested four more people (including three medical doctors) in connection with the car‐bomb blast near Red Fort in New Delhi on 10 November that killed 10 and injured 32, marking a decisive move against urban terror networks.
- The state of Bihar witnessed the swearing-in of Nitish Kumar as Chief Minister for a record 10th term, following the NDA’s landslide victory in the recent state assembly polls.
- The government launched the new National Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance (2025‑29) under the Ministry of Health, aiming at strengthening surveillance, reducing antibiotic misuse and combating AMR in line with global commitments.
Economy & Banking
- India’s wholesale (WPI) inflation for October 2025 dropped to –1.2 % year-on-year, marking a 27-month low, indicating easing price pressures in the economy.
- Data revealed a record high trade deficit of US $ 41.68 billion in October, driven by a nearly three-fold surge in gold imports (to US $14.72 billion) on account of festival and wedding demand.
- In the April-June 2025 period, India’s Current Account Deficit (CAD) narrowed significantly to 0.2 % of GDP (US $ 2.4 billion), compared to 0.9 % a year earlier, supported by robust services exports.
- The government amended the agriculture insurance scheme to bolster farmer protection against non-traditional risks like wildlife attacks and crop flooding, reflecting enhanced coverage in ag-insurance.
- Banking and financial aspirants should note the tribunal-system overhaul via the Supreme Court judgment — implications for regulatory bodies, dispute resolution, and governance reforms in financial sector oversight.
International Relations & Defence
- The Defense Security Cooperation Agency of the United States approved a foreign military sale worth approximately US $ 93 million to India, comprising 100 FGM-148 Javelin anti-tank missile systems and 216 M982A1 Excalibur precision-guided artillery rounds. The deal reinforces the Indo-US strategic partnership and enhances India’s defence capabilities in the Indo-Pacific region.
- The 7th meeting of the Colombo Security Conclave (CSC) National Security Advisers began in New Delhi, with representatives from India, Maldives, Mauritius, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh participating — highlighting multilateral cooperation on maritime security, terrorism and regional stability.
- The 56th edition of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) commenced at Goa on 20 November with the theme “Bigger, Bolder, Brighter”, featuring films from 81 countries and focusing on capacity building and cultural diplomacy.
- At the Earth Summit 2025‑26 held in Hyderabad, organised by NABARD and IAMAI, the emphasis was on ‘Empowering Rural Innovation for Global Change’, merging finance, agriculture, climate action and digital public infrastructure to boost the rural economy.
Governance & Social Developments
- The state of Telangana launched the “MeeSeva on WhatsApp” service, enabling citizens to access government-to-citizen services directly on WhatsApp, enhancing digital delivery and ease-of-access for public services.
- The government released a ₹100 commemorative coin and new postal stamps to mark the centenary of Sri Sathya Sai Baba at Prasanthi Nilayam, reflecting the tradition of recognising humanitarian contributions.
- The Launch of the National Action Plan on AMR (2025-29) will engage health-care providers, laboratories and ecosystem stakeholders in a coordinated approach to contain antimicrobial resistance and link with global health agendas.
Sports & Others
- India’s captain Shubman Gill, injured during the first Test vs South Africa, will travel to Guwahati ahead of the second Test to undergo further monitoring; in his absence, vice-captain Rishabh Pant is likely to lead the side.
- The 56-nation edition of IFFI in Goa signifies India’s increasing cultural diplomacy and international soft-power reach in the domain of cinema and creative industries.
- The urban scheduled blast near Red Fort and subsequent arrests underline the importance of security vigilance in high-density urban areas — relevant also for sectors like banking and finance (PSBs’ urban risk exposure).
