Current Affairs Quiz – November 2025

Notes:
The recent kumbabishekam (consecration) of the Adi Kumbeswarar Temple in Tamil Nadu highlighted its unique stone nagaswaram, a rare ancient wind instrument. The temple is located in Kumbakonam, Thanjavur district, Tamil Nadu, and is dedicated to Lord Shiva as Adi Kumbeswarar in lingam form. It is a major example of Dravidian architecture. It was originally built during the Chola period (9th century CE) and later renovated by the Nayak rulers. It is one of the 12 Shiva temples linked to the Mahamaham festival, held every 12 years.

Notes:
The Rajasthan High Court recently sought a detailed conservation plan from the state government due to rising ecological threats to Gadisar Lake in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan. Gadisar Lake is a 14th-century artificial reservoir originally built by Raja Rawal Jaisal and later renovated by Maharawal Gadsi Singh, giving it its present name. It historically served as Jaisalmer’s main water source through an efficient rainwater harvesting system in the desert. Encroachment, urban pressure, siltation and pollution have reduced its catchment area and damaged ecological balance. The lake supports local biodiversity and migratory birds, making it a vital urban-wetland ecosystem.

Notes:
Cambridge Dictionary named ‘parasocial’ as the Word of the Year 2025 due to rising one-sided emotional bonds with celebrities, influencers and Artificial Intelligence (AI) chatbots. More than 6,000 new words were added in 2025, including ‘delulu’, ‘slop’, ‘skibidi’ and ‘tradwife’. The term ‘parasocial’ first appeared in 1956 when sociologists studied TV viewers’ emotional ties with on-screen personalities. In 2025, parasocial bonds grew with YouTubers, influencers and AI bots, reshaping online trust, fandom and digital behaviour.

Notes:
The Assam Government recently banned inter-district movement of live pigs to stop the spread of African Swine Fever (ASF), a rising concern in the region. African Swine Fever (ASF) is a highly contagious and deadly viral disease affecting pigs and wild boar, with mortality up to 90–100%. It is not zoonotic, meaning it does not infect humans or other livestock. First found in sub-Saharan Africa, ASF is now present across Europe, Asia and Africa, with India reporting its first cases in 2020 in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.

Notes:
India recently addressed the Leadership Group for Industry Transition (LeadIT) Roundtable at UNFCCC COP30 in Belém, Brazil, highlighting global efforts on industrial decarbonisation. LeadIT was launched in 2019 by India and Sweden with support from the World Economic Forum. It is the first global high-level initiative targeting net-zero emissions from heavy industries by 2050. It brings together countries and companies to promote public-private partnerships, finance, and best-practice sharing for an inclusive, just transition. LeadIT 2.0 (2024-26), launched at COP28, focuses on inclusive transition, low-carbon technology transfer and financial support to emerging economies. Its secretariat is hosted by the Stockholm Environment Institute, with 18 member countries and 27 companies.

Notes:
Universal Children’s Day is observed every year on 20 November to promote the rights and well-being of children worldwide. The day highlights every child’s right to protection, education, health care, and a safe environment. It reminds the world to safeguard children’s dignity and ensure their voices are heard. The 2025 theme is “Investing in our children is investing in our future,” stressing that child welfare is key to global progress. The day encourages governments, communities, and families to work together for a safer and brighter future for all children

Notes:
A wild tiger has returned to Gujarat after decades, establishing a permanent presence in Ratanmahal Wildlife Sanctuary. Ratanmahal Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Gujarat on the Gujarat–Madhya Pradesh border and was declared a sanctuary in March 1982. It is also called Ratanmahal Sloth Bear Sanctuary because it has the highest sloth bear population in Gujarat. The sanctuary forms the catchment of the Panam River in Central Gujarat.

Notes:
NABARD (National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development) and IAMAI (Internet and Mobile Association of India) recently organized the first Earth Summit 2025-26 in Hyderabad on 20–21 November with the theme Empowering Rural Innovation for Global Change. The second edition is scheduled for Gandhinagar on 5–6 December 2025, and the third for New Delhi in February 2026. The summit served as a global platform to drive policy outcomes, investments, and collaborations for rural transformation.

Notes:
The first India-born cheetah named Mukhi has recently given birth to five cubs at Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh, showing successful cheetah conservation efforts. Kuno National Park is located in the Sheopur district of Madhya Pradesh near the Vindhyan Hills. It was originally established as Kuno Wildlife Sanctuary in 1981 and upgraded to National Park in 2018. The park covers 750 square kilometres and is named after the Kuno River, a tributary of the Chambal River.

Notes:
Turkiye will host the COP31 (Conference of the Parties 31) UN climate summit in Antalya next year, after an agreement with Australia ended a long dispute over the venue. Australia will now lead pre-COP negotiations with Pacific nations for the 2026 UN climate meeting, while Turkiye will assume the presidency of COP31. The announcement comes as COP30 in Belem, Brazil is closing, with Australia earlier pushing to host COP31 as a Pacific COP for climate-vulnerable island nations. Turkiye insisted on hosting COP31 to represent emerging economies and encourage solidarity between rich and poor countries on climate action.