Current Affairs Quiz – November 2025

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:
Mohan Chandra Kandpal becomes the first person from Uttarakhand to receive the National Water Award for Best Individual in the Water Sector (North Zone). President Droupadi Murmu presented the award at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. He has worked over 36 years reviving springs, naulas and water sources in Himalayan villages. He leads the grassroots campaign “Pani Boao–Pani Uggao” (Sow Water–Grow Water). His efforts replenished water in nearly 40 villages in the Riskan river belt, combating deforestation and soil degradation.

Notes:
India’s Under-19 cricket team will start their 2026 ICC Under-19 Men’s Cricket World Cup campaign against the United States on January 15 in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. The tournament will be co-hosted by Zimbabwe and Namibia from January 15 to February 6 with 16 teams playing 41 matches. India is placed in Group A with the USA, Bangladesh, and New Zealand, playing all group matches at Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo.

Notes:
Hollywood actor Tom Cruise received the Academy Honorary Award, also known as the honorary Oscar, at the 16th Governors Awards in Hollywood, California. The 63-year-old, a four-time Oscar nominee, was honoured by filmmaker Alejandro G. Iñárritu, who is collaborating with him on a 2026 film.

Notes:
The Regional Open Digital Health Summit was recently held in New Delhi to advance interoperable and standards-based digital health systems across the Global South. It aims to build strong digital public infrastructure for transforming health systems in the South-East Asia Region. The summit is organised by the National e-Governance Division, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, with National Health Authority (NHA), WHO-SEARO (World Health Organization – South-East Asia Regional Office), and UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Fund). It focuses on accelerating adoption of open and interoperable digital health ecosystems in the region.

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:
Punjab inaugurated the first-ever dedicated courtroom under the State Scheduled Castes (SC) Commission in November 2025. The courtroom was inaugurated by Chairperson Jasvir Singh Garhi. It is designed to handle SC-related cases efficiently. The initiative aims for faster hearings and timely case disposal. A planned Online Court System will allow virtual appearances for complainants. This improves access to justice for SC communities, especially in remote areas. Punjab’s model is expected to guide other states in strengthening SC-related judicial mechanisms.

Notes:
Recently, the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) was designated as a Recognised Security Organisation (RSO) for seaports under the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code. An RSO functions as a regulator responsible for ensuring security standards at seaports. The ISPS Code is a mandatory global framework to enhance maritime security, implemented by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) through the International Convention on the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS). CISF is a Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) under the Union Home Ministry.

Notes:
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.

Notes:
No registered breeders or authorised pet shops exist in India for African grey parrots (Psittacus erithacus), yet they are widely sold in pet markets. Forest departments confirmed through Right to Information (RTI) replies that no breeder has registered with them. The species is listed under Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), requiring special permits and CITES certificates for domestic and international trade. African grey parrot is a medium-sized dusty grey bird, scientifically called Psittacus erithacus, and known as one of the most talented talking/mimicking birds. It has a lifespan of over 50 years and is listed as Endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List.