Current Affairs Quiz – November 2025

Notes:
The Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary in Chengalpattu District, Tamil Nadu, has come alive with thousands of migratory birds marking the start of the season. It is one of the oldest bird-protected areas in India and Tamil Nadu. The sanctuary is a freshwater wetland protected by local communities. It is recognized internationally as an Important Bird and Biodiversity Area (IBA) on the Coromandel Coast.

Notes:
Recently, a scintillometer was installed at the Tamil Nadu Rice Research Institute (TRRI) in Aduthurai, Tamil Nadu. It is an optical instrument used to measure heat and moisture exchange between the land surface and the atmosphere. The device transmits a light beam between two fixed points to collect data. Turbulent air causes minute fluctuations in the beam, called scintillations, which are analysed to estimate heat transfer. It was installed as part of the TRRI Critical Zone Observatory (CZO) to enhance climate and crop research.

Notes:
Recently, researchers discovered four new lichen species in the Western Ghats, adding to India’s biodiversity records. The new species are Parmotrema sahyadricum from Wayanad, Solenopsora rhizomorpha from Eravikulam and Mathikettanshola National Parks, Buelloa ghattensis from Mathikettanshola National Park, and Pyxine janakiae from the same park. These discoveries were published in international scientific journals.

Notes:
In November 2025, Indian Naval Ship (INS) Sahyadri reached Guam in the Northern Pacific to join the multilateral Exercise Malabar-2025. The participation reaffirms India’s strong partnership and commitment to regional security and maritime cooperation. INS Sahyadri is an indigenously built Guided Missile Stealth Frigate, symbolising the ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ vision. The 29th edition of the Malabar Naval Exercise began on November 10, 2025, at Guam, a key United States (US) military base in the western Pacific Ocean. The exercise involves the navies of India, the United States, Japan, and Australia.

Notes:
In November 2025, Gujarat announced 2025 as “Tribal Pride Year” to mark the 150th birth anniversary of Bhagwan Birsa Munda. The initiative aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s efforts to promote tribal heritage through Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas and sustainable development. Gujarat became India’s first state to launch a large-scale genome sequencing project focused on tribal communities. Led by Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre (GBRC) under the Genome India initiative, it studies genetic disorders caused by limited diversity and endogamy. It targets diseases like sickle cell anaemia, thalassemia, and G6PD deficiency through early diagnosis and precision medicine.

Notes:
The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) launched the UN-endorsed “Integrity Matters Checklist” to help companies align their climate disclosures with UN standards for credible net-zero commitments. It was developed by GRI in partnership with the United Nations, based on the UN High-Level Expert Group (HLEG) recommendations on Net Zero Commitments. The checklist ensures transparent, science-based, and verifiable climate actions aligned with the Paris Agreement and 2030 Agenda goals. It integrates with GRI 102: Climate Change 2025 Standard, promoting consistency in sustainability reporting. It urges companies to phase out fossil fuels, adopt just transition pathways, and strengthen climate accountability globally.

Notes:
Shri Manohar Lal, Minister of Power and Housing & Urban Affairs, inaugurated India’s first and largest Vanadium Redox Flow Battery (VRFB) system. The VRFB has a capacity of 3 Megawatt-hour (MWh) at NTPC’s NETRA Research & Development Centre in Greater Noida. This milestone advances India’s long-duration energy storage (LDES) solutions and strengthens renewable energy integration and national grid resilience. Vanadium Redox Flow Battery (VRFB) is a modern technology offering an alternative to lithium-ion batteries, expanding the pool of usable elements for battery systems.

Notes:
India’s unemployment rate declined to 5.2 per cent in the second quarter of 2025, down from 5.4 per cent in the first quarter. The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) reported this based on monthly labour force and unemployment data. Rural unemployment rate stood at 4.4 per cent during July to September 2025. Urban unemployment rate was higher at 6.9 per cent in the same period. Female participation in the labour force rose to 33.7 per cent from 33.4 per cent. Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) in Current Weekly Status (CWS) increased marginally to 55.1 per cent from 55 per cent. The data reflects gradual improvement in employment and workforce engagement in India.

Notes:
The Directorate of Information Technology (DIT), Tripura, with Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In), Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Government of India, organized the National Cybersecurity Exercise “Cyber Bharat Setu: Bridging States, Securing Bharat.” The two-day workshop was held on 11th and 12th November 2025 at Pragna Bhavan, Agartala. It aimed to strengthen cyber awareness, readiness, and response capabilities of Tripura. The initiative focuses on building a cyber-resilient Bharat through capacity building, intelligence sharing, and proactive defence strategies. This reflects India’s recent efforts to strengthen digital infrastructure and national security through state-level cyber preparedness.

Notes:
Kovalam beach in Chengalpattu district, Tamil Nadu, received the International Blue Flag certification for the fifth consecutive year in 2025-26. The certification is awarded by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE), Denmark, and promotes sustainable tourism and responsible coastal management. Blue Flag recognition is based on 33 criteria, including water quality, environmental education, safety, waste management, cleanliness, and eco-friendly infrastructure. Kovalam beach first received the certification on September 21, 2021, becoming Tamil Nadu’s first Blue Flag beach.