Current Affairs Quiz – November 2025

Notes:
Ramdarash Mishra, renowned Hindi poet, writer, and academic, passed away in Delhi on October 31, 2025, aged 101. He was born on August 15, 1924, in Dumri village, Gorakhpur district, Uttar Pradesh. He received the Padma Shri (2025) for his outstanding contribution to Hindi literature. His career spanned over seven decades, shaping post-independence Hindi literature. His writings reflected India’s rural ethos, social transitions, and human emotions. He was admired for blending creative writing and literary criticism with equal mastery. He authored over 150 books, including 32 poetry collections, 15 novels, and 30 short-story anthologies.

Notes:
November 3 marks the International Day for Biosphere Reserves, highlighting regions where nature and people coexist sustainably. The day is designated by UNESCO to promote sustainable development, biodiversity conservation, and scientific research. Biosphere Reserves are “learning places for sustainable development”, conserving biodiversity and testing eco-friendly living models. They include terrestrial, marine, and coastal ecosystems under the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme. India has 18 Biosphere Reserves, with 13 in UNESCO’s World Network of Biosphere Reserves (WNBR).

Notes:
A 16-day Global Peace Prayer Festival (GPPF) began on November 4, 2025, in Thimphu, Bhutan, to pray for world peace and healing of humanity amid global conflicts. The festival was launched by Bhutan’s King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuk and Chief Abbot Trulku Jigme Choedra at Changlimithang ground. It is organized by the Royal Government of Bhutan with support from the Government of India. The event marks the 70th birth anniversary of the Fourth King, Jigme Singye Wangchuk, who introduced democracy in Bhutan.

Notes:
The World Justice Project (WJP) released the Rule of Law Index 2025 highlighting a global decline in justice and governance. Around 68% of countries saw a drop in rule of law, up from 57% in 2024, due to rising authoritarian trends and weak checks on power. Denmark ranked 1st, followed by Norway, Finland, and Sweden, showing Nordic leadership in governance. Venezuela (143) and Afghanistan (142) remained the weakest. India ranked 86th with a score of 0.49, falling six places. United States ranked 27th, China 92nd, and Pakistan 130th in the 2025 index.

Notes:
Aamir Khan will receive the first-ever RK Laxman Award for Excellence on November 23, 2025, at the MCA Cricket Stadium, Pune. The award, instituted by the RK Laxman family, honours creative brilliance and celebrates RK Laxman’s legacy — the creator of The Common Man. Aamir Khan was chosen for his impactful films like Lagaan, Taare Zameen Par, and Dangal, which address social issues and redefine Indian cinema. RK Laxman, one of India’s greatest cartoonists, is known for his cartoon strip “You Said It”, his work in Malgudi Days, and for receiving Padma Bhushan, Padma Vibhushan, and other honours.

Notes:
In the QS World University Rankings: Asia 2026, nine of the top 10 Indian institutions — including seven IITs — saw a decline in ranks, while universities in China, Singapore, South Korea, and Malaysia advanced. IIT Delhi remains India’s top-ranked institution at 59th, but dropped 15 places from last year’s 44th rank. IIT Bombay saw the sharpest fall, slipping 23 positions to rank 71, after leading among Indian institutions from 2021–2024. Chandigarh University was the only Indian institution to improve, rising from 120th to 109th rank. The University of Hong Kong topped the list globally, followed by Peking University (China) and National University of Singapore (NUS) and Nanyang Technological University (NTU) sharing third.

Notes:
The Industrial Transition Accelerator (ITA) launched the India Project Support Programme at COP28 to boost investment in low-carbon industrial projects. It aims to unlock $150 billion in investments and create over 200,000 jobs by advancing 65 clean industrial projects. These projects could reduce up to 175 million tonnes of CO₂ annually. India has the world’s third-largest pipeline of low-emission projects, with sectors like chemicals, steel, cement, aluminium, aviation, and shipping involved. The initiative will address challenges such as high capital costs, regulatory delays, and infrastructure issues. It will run until 2026, helping projects get ready for investment.

Notes:
In November 2025, Google announced ‘Project Suncatcher,’ a research initiative to create a solar-powered, space-based AI infrastructure system. The project aims to use Tensor Processing Units (TPUs) aboard satellites in low-Earth orbit (LEO) to explore machine learning scalability. It will use Trillium TPUs designed to withstand up to 15 krad(Si) radiation and advanced thermal radiators to manage heat. In partnership with Planet Labs, two prototype satellites will launch in 2027 to test AI performance and optical communication. Solar-powered satellites will operate in a sun-synchronous dawn-dusk orbit, generating up to 8 times the power of ground-based installations

Notes:
The International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict is observed annually on November 6 to raise awareness about the environmental damage caused by war. The day was declared by the United Nations in 2001. The day aims to highlight the importance of protecting natural resources, as conflict often leads to pollution, destruction of habitats, and depletion of resources like water and land.

Notes:
India will host the Global Artificial Intelligence (AI) Summit in February 2026 to promote inclusive, ethical, and human-centric AI. The upcoming AI Governance Framework will focus on combining innovation with safety to guide responsible AI use. Under the India AI Mission, over ₹10,000 crore is being invested to make AI beneficial for all sections of society. The initiative highlights India’s role in shaping global AI ethics and ensuring science and technology remain inclusive. It also supports innovation in biofortified crops, bio-fertilisers, genomic research, and clean energy solutions for a developed India.