Current Affairs Quiz – November 2025

Notes:
The Indian Institute of Packaging (IIP) has recently opened its new Bengaluru Centre. IIP is an autonomous body under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India. It was established in 1966 with its headquarters in Mumbai. Its main goal is to boost exports through innovative package design and improved packaging standards. It provides testing, consultancy, R&D, and training in packaging. Training is given to artisans, weavers, exporters, and stakeholders for modern and aesthetic packaging.

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The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched the LVM3-M5 rocket from Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota at 5:35 pm. The rocket carried CMS-03, India’s heaviest communication satellite weighing 4,400 kilograms. It was the fifth operational flight of the Launch Vehicle Mark-3 (LVM3) launcher. CMS-03 was launched into a Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO). The satellite will provide multi-band communication services across India and nearby ocean regions. It will enhance secure data, voice, and video connectivity for civilian and strategic applications. The mission highlights India’s capability in heavy satellite launches and strengthens its communication network.

Notes:
On Kerala Piravi Day (November 1, 2025), Kerala declared eradication of extreme poverty, becoming India’s first state to achieve this milestone. The success came under the Extreme Poverty Eradication Programme (EPEP) launched in 2021 by the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government. The Local Self-Government Department acted as the nodal agency, with 4 lakh trained personnel including officials, volunteers, and elected representatives. 59,000 families were confirmed as extremely poor after verification based on income, health, housing, and food security.

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:
Two new species of marine amphipods named Grandidierella geetanjalae and Grandidierella khambhatensis were recently discovered by researchers from Chilika and the Gulf of Khambhat. Amphipods are small crustaceans related to crabs, lobsters, and shrimp. They are found in marine, freshwater, and even land environments across the world. The word “amphipoda” means “different-footed”, as their legs are of varied types and functions. There are over 7,000 known species, mostly under the group Gammaridea. They usually feed on tiny dead plants and animals and also act as scavengers in aquatic ecosystems.

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:
The pristine waters of River Umngot in Meghalaya are turning murky due to soil dumping and construction debris. River Umngot, also called Dawki River, flows through the West Jaintia Hills district of Meghalaya. It originates from the Eastern Shillong Peak at about 1,800 meters above sea level. The river forms a natural divide between the Jaintia Hills and Khasi Hills. It is known for its crystal-clear water and is considered the cleanest river in India. An annual boat race is held on the river during March–April. It also serves as a natural boundary between India and Bangladesh.

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:
Recently, the Union Minister of State for Science and Technology interacted with Vaishvik Bhartiya Vaigyanik (VAIBHAV) Fellows from across the world. The VAIBHAV Fellowship is awarded to outstanding Non-Resident Indians (NRI), Overseas Citizens of India (OCI), or Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) scientists working abroad. The Vaishvik Bhartiya Vaigyanik (VAIBHAV) Fellowship is an initiative of the Ministry of Science and Technology, implemented through the Department of Science and Technology (DST). The government provides funding of ₹4,00,000 per month during the fellowship period. The aim is to strengthen India’s research ecosystem and global academic collaboration.

Notes:
The President of India extended greetings to the people of Odisha on the occasion of the historic ‘Baliyatra’ festival. Baliyatra is an annual maritime festival celebrated in coastal Odisha on the day of Kartika Purnima. It commemorates the ancient maritime trade and cultural links between Odisha (ancient Kalinga) and Southeast Asian regions such as Bali, Java, and Sumatra. The festival is linked to the legend of ‘Taapoi’ and associated with rituals like ‘Bhalukuni Osha’ (also called ‘Khudurukuni Osha’) and ‘Bada Osha’. During the celebration, people float miniature boats with lamps on the Mahanadi River, symbolizing the sea voyages of Kalinga’s sailors and traders in ancient times