Current Affairs [Top Questions]

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India is set to strengthen counter-drone warfare as the Army and Indian Air Force plan to procure 16 indigenous Integrated Drone Detection and Interdiction System (Mark-2) units. The Mark-2 is developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), led by its lab CHESS – Centre for High Energy Systems & Sciences with the Armed Forces. It detects, tracks and neutralises hostile drones using sensors, jammers and high-energy laser weapons.

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The Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development 2024 was awarded to Michelle Bachelet, the first and only woman President of Chile and former UN (United Nations) High Commissioner for Human Rights. Bachelet served two presidential terms in Chile (2006–2010, 2014–2018) and led major education, tax, human rights, and gender equality reforms. It is awarded annually to any person or organisation regardless of nationality, race, or religion. It honours efforts promoting international peace, disarmament, racial equality, goodwill, and harmony. It recognises work supporting global economic cooperation and a new international economic order.

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World Television Day is observed every year on 21 November, based on a 1996 United Nations General Assembly Resolution. The day recognises television as a vital medium for informing, educating, shaping public opinion and promoting global understanding. In India, the observance is led by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) along with Prasar Bharati, the national public broadcaster. Doordarshan and All India Radio conduct special programmes to highlight television’s role in public service communication and national integration. India has over 230 million television households reaching nearly 900 million viewers, showing TV’s massive influence in awareness creation and participatory governance.

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Recently, a large mock drill named “Vishanu Sankraman Pratirodh Abhyas” was held in Khandwa, Madhya Pradesh under the National One Health Mission (NOHM) in November, 2025. The drill tested India’s pandemic preparedness and intersectoral coordination against zoonotic disease outbreaks. It simulated an outbreak of Crimean Congo Haemorrhagic Fever affecting both humans and animals to assess investigation, pathogen identification and containment in real time. The exercise was led by the National Joint Outbreak Response Team (NJORT) with experts from human health, veterinary and wildlife sectors.

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Ahmedabad has been formally awarded the hosting rights of the 2030 Commonwealth Games. The decision was approved by delegates from 74 Commonwealth nations at the General Assembly in Glasgow, United Kingdom. This will be the second time India hosts the Games, after New Delhi in 2010, and supports India’s ambition to host the Olympics in 2036. Ahmedabad has upgraded sports infrastructure and the 2030 Games will feature 15–17 sports, celebrating Commonwealth sporting tradition.

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The famous Karthigai Deepam festival began at Sri Arunachaleshwar Temple in Tiruvannamalai. The ten-day festival is held during the Tamil month of Karthigai and attracts huge public participation. Karthigai Deepam festival is primarily celebrated in Tamil Nadu.

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Russia has joined the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) as its 19th member, strengthening India-led global efforts to protect endangered big cats. International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) was launched in April 2023 during the 50th anniversary of Project Tiger. It is a treaty-based inter-governmental organisation focused on conserving seven big cat species: tiger, lion, leopard, snow leopard, cheetah, jaguar, and puma. The alliance aims to facilitate collaboration and synergy among stakeholders, consolidating successful conservation practices and expertise for global big cat protection.

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India’s resolution on “Strengthening the Global Management of Wildfires” was adopted at the 7th Session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-7) in Nairobi, Kenya. The resolution received wide support from UN Member States, emphasizing global recognition of wildfire threats. India highlighted that wildfires are a pressing global environmental challenge, increasing in number, scale, and intensity beyond seasonal patterns. The resolution aims to enhance international cooperation and coordinated action for wildfire management. India referenced UNEP’s report “Spreading Like Wildfire”, warning wildfires could rise by 14% by 2030, 30% by 2050, and 50% by 2100 if trends continue.

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India won its first-ever Squash World Cup title in 2025 by defeating top seeds Hong Kong China at Express Avenue Mall, Chennai. India improved from a bronze medal in the 2023 edition to gold in 2025. The Indian team, seeded second, did not lose a single match throughout the tournament. India became the fourth nation after Australia, England, and Egypt to win the Squash World Cup. Squash will debut at the Olympic Games in Los Angeles 2028.

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University of Patanjali has been designated a Cluster Center under the Gyan Bharatam Mission, Ministry of Culture, Government of India. University of Patanjali is the first yoga and Ayurveda-based university to receive this distinction. The university has preserved 50,000+ ancient texts, digitized 42 lakh+ pages, and republished 40 manuscripts. As a Cluster Center, it will mentor 20 associated institutions and strengthen nationwide cultural preservation efforts. The university will support research, education, and dissemination of Yoga and Ayurveda manuscripts, linking traditional wisdom with contemporary scholarship.