Current Affairs Quiz – November 2025

Notes:
The 2025 National Conference of State Public Service Commission (PSC) Chairpersons is hosted by Telangana PSC on December 19–20 to discuss systemic issues affecting recruitment. State PSC exams often face controversies and court cases, causing delays and creating a trust deficit among aspirants. PSCs originated during the freedom struggle; first Public Service Commission was created in 1926, and Government of India Act 1935 established PSCs for provinces — continued in the Constitution. UPSC works in a politically neutral environment, with highly experienced and merit-based members from all regions; appointments usually above age 55.

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Indonesia officially ended the polio type 2 outbreak after years of low vaccination. Nearly 60 million extra polio vaccine doses were given to children during the response. No poliovirus detected since June 2024 in children or the environment. WHO declared the outbreak closed on 19 November 2025. First case appeared in Aceh in October 2022 and later spread to multiple provinces. Two rounds of nationwide campaigns using novel Oral Polio Vaccine 2 (nOPV2) were conducted. Inactivated Polio Vaccine (IPV) coverage increased from 63 percent in 2023 to 73 percent in 2024. Indonesia introduced hexavalent vaccine combining DPT HB Hib and IPV to protect against six diseases in one shot

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Department of Telecommunications (DoT) reported that Sanchar Saathi enabled recovery of 50,000+ lost/stolen mobiles in October 2025, with total recoveries crossing 7 lakh. Karnataka and Telangana crossed 1 lakh recoveries each; Maharashtra exceeded 80,000. Monthly recoveries rose 47% from June to October 2025, with one handset recovered every minute. The platform uses indigenous automated workflows and real-time device tracking, preventing misuse of blocked phones. Sanchar Saathi is a digital safety initiative of the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), which operates under the Ministry of Communications.

Notes:
Uttarakhand inaugurated its first Grey Smart Toilet in Prem Nagar, Dehradun, designed for senior citizens and people with disabilities. The facility features sensor-based automated functions, wheelchair-friendly ramps, supportive grab bars, anti-skid flooring, and low-height fixtures for safety and comfort. It includes IoT-based monitoring, automatic flushing, water-level sensors, and an app-linked dashboard for maintenance alerts, reducing manual supervision. The initiative promotes dignified, accessible sanitation and will be replicated across pilgrim and tourist circuits like Char Dham routes.

Notes:
The Hawfinch was recently recorded at Jim Corbett National Park in Uttarakhand. It is native to Europe, North Africa, and East Asia. Its scientific name is Coccothraustes coccothraustes. It lives in forests, orchards, parks, and near streams. It is about 18 centimetres long with a wingspan of 29 to 33 centimetres. Its conservation status is Least Concern under the IUCN Red List.

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The Finn’s Weaver is silently disappearing from the marshy lowlands of the Terai region in India. Its scientific name is Ploceus megarhynchus and it is also called Finn’s baya or yellow weaver. It is named after Frank Finn, a British officer and bird expert. It is native to the Ganga and Brahmaputra river valleys in India and Nepal. It lives near dams, reservoirs, marshy soil, tall grass, semal and shisham trees. It builds nests on tall grass and trees and feeds mainly on seeds and insects. Its status is Vulnerable as per the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List.

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The World Telecommunication Development Conference 2025 (WTDC-25) was held in Baku, Azerbaijan and concluded on 28 November 2025. It was organized by International Telecommunication Union – Development Sector (ITU-D). The conference sets global telecom development strategies. Around 2,300 delegates attended, including over 65 ministers and heads of agencies. India held leadership roles, influenced key resolutions on digital transformation, ICT security, spectrum management, disaster management, environment, and inclusion, and promoted C-DOT indigenous technologies.

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ICAR–Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute launched a stock enhancement programme for short-neck clam (Paphia malabarica) in Ashtamudi Lake showing early signs of recovery. Short-neck clam is a valuable bivalve mollusk and India’s first Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certified species. It is the major fishery resource of brackish water Ashtamudi Lake.

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A new species of damselfly named Protosticta sooryaprakashi has been discovered in the Western Ghats of India. It is also called the Kodagu Shadowdamsel and was found in Kodagu district of Karnataka. The species is named in honour of Dr. Sooryaprakash Shenoy, a famous botanist. It has bright sky-blue markings and a very slender body, making it the thinnest in its group. It lives in cool, shaded, low-light areas and needs a clean environment to breed. Its presence shows a healthy and low-pollution ecosystem.

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Visakhapatnam Metropolitan Region Development Authority (VMRDA) opened India’s longest cantilever glass skywalk at Kailasagiri hilltop park, Visakhapatnam. The skywalk is at a height of 862 feet (about 262 metres) and offers views of the city and Bay of Bengal. It can withstand wind speeds up to 250 kilometres per hour (km/h). It is built with high-strength toughened glass for maximum safety. Though it can hold over 100 people, only 40 visitors are allowed at a time.