Daily Current Affairs News: 25th November, 2025

National News

India Debuts at WorldSkills Asia 2025 with 23-Member Contingent

• For the first time, India has officially joined the WorldSkills Asia Competition, sending a 23-member contingent to Chinese Taipei on November 24, 2025.
• Coordinated by NSDC and WorldSkills India, the team will compete in 21 skill categories including mechatronics, CNC milling, web development, and cloud computing, reflecting India’s push to become the “Skill Capital of the World”.
• The initiative highlights the government’s focus on vocational excellence, global skill recognition, and future-ready workforce development, while providing Indian youth exposure to international standards and opportunities to showcase Skill India Mission achievements.

NCW Launches 14490: New 24×7 Short Helpline for Women in Distress

• The National Commission for Women (NCW) has launched a new 24×7 toll-free short helpline 14490 to provide instant support to women facing violence, harassment, or distress across India.
• The helpline connects callers to legal aid, counselling, and law enforcement, ensuring quick intervention during emergencies.
• As part of NCW’s mission to enhance women’s safety and accessibility, 14490 is easy-to-remember, operational nationwide, and supports assistance for domestic violence, sexual harassment, cybercrime, and mental health, aligning with Digital India and women-centric development initiatives.

Vice‑President Reviews Major Initiatives of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs

• The Vice-President reviewed the Ministry of Tribal Affairs’ key initiatives, praising the three-fold budget increase, expansion of EMRS schools, focus on higher education, and efforts to address sickle cell anaemia, while highlighting the need for better healthcare, education access, and effective implementation of schemes like PM-JANMAN, Dharti Aaba Abhiyan, and Adi Karmayogi Abhiyan for true tribal upliftment.

State News

Pralhad Joshi Inaugurates Pellet Plant, Lays Foundation of Bio-Ethanol Facility in Haryana

• Union Minister Pralhad Joshi inaugurated a pellet plant and laid the foundation for the K2 Bio-Ethanol plant in Rewari, Haryana, aiming to convert crop residue into biomass pellets and ethanol.
• The pellet plant will produce 240 tonnes per day, supporting the E20 Mission and Net Zero 2070 goals while creating rural jobs and additional farmer income.
• The initiative promotes clean energy, co-firing in thermal plants, and carbon emission reduction, reflecting the government’s focus on sustainable development and Haryana’s infrastructure transformation.

Union Ministers Inaugurate Skill India Centre in Baghpat

• On 24 November 2025, a new Skill India Centre (SIC) was inaugurated in Baraut, Uttar Pradesh by Ministers Ashwini Vaishnaw and Jayant Chaudhary, aiming to provide industry-relevant skill development to rural and semi-urban youth, especially women.
• The centre will train 600 candidates in electronics, IT-ITeS, and digital operations, operating on a hub-and-spoke model with modern labs and smart classrooms.
• Implemented by NSDC and Redington Foundation, the initiative promotes Aatmanirbhar Bharat, local employment generation, and prepares a digitally skilled, future-ready workforce, contributing to India’s broader Digital India and skilling ecosystem goals.

International News

Ethiopia’s Hayli Gubbi Volcano Erupts After 12,000 Years, Ash Drifts Towards India

• The long-dormant Hayli Gubbi volcano in Ethiopia’s Rift Valley erupted after nearly 12,000 years, sending a massive 14-km-high volcanic ash cloud drifting toward India and Pakistan, prompting urgent advisories from the DGCA and global aviation bodies.
• The ash plume, tracked by VAAC Toulouse, is expected to impact regions such as Gujarat, Rajasthan, Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, and parts of the Himalayas, posing risks to aviation safety, air quality, and public health.
• Airlines including IndiGo, Air India, SpiceJet, and Akasa Air are adjusting routes as authorities warn of reduced visibility, engine hazards, and potential flight delays while issuing safety guidelines for the public to limit ash exposure.

Banking News

India’s Growth Momentum Strengthens on Festive Demand & Resilient Consumption: RBI Bulletin

• The RBI’s November 2025 Bulletin reports that India’s economy gained momentum in October, driven by strong festive-season demand, resilient rural consumption, and recent GST rate cuts, even as global headwinds persist.
• While most indicators showed strength, some sectoral variations emerged—electricity demand fell due to weather shifts, diesel consumption dipped, and digital payments moderated.
• A major highlight was the sharp drop in headline inflation to 0.3%, with core inflation easing to ~4.3%, supported by food-price deflation and favourable base effects.
• The RBI noted that combined fiscal, monetary, and regulatory measures are fostering a virtuous cycle of investment and growth, although external risks such as high global valuations and trade uncertainty still require close monitoring.

Government Appoints New Executive Directors in Multiple Banks

• The Government of India has appointed five new Executive Directors (EDs) across major Public Sector Banks effective 24 November 2025, strengthening leadership in line with ongoing banking reforms.
• The new appointees include Sunil Kumar Chugh (Canara Bank), Amresh Prasad (Union Bank of India), Prabhat Kiran (Bank of Maharashtra), Mini TM (Indian Bank), and Amit Kumar Srivastava (Punjab National Bank).
• All will serve three-year tenures, bringing expertise in risk management, credit, operations, and compliance, with the aim of boosting strategic decision-making, governance, and digital transformation across the PSB ecosystem.

Economy News

S&P Forecasts 6.5% GDP Growth for India in FY2025-26

• Standard & Poor’s (S&P) projects India’s economy to grow 6.5% in the current fiscal year and 6.7% in the next, citing expected tax cuts and monetary easing to support consumption-driven growth.
• India’s real GDP expanded 7.8% in Q1, the fastest in five quarters, while the RBI forecasts 6.8% growth for the year.
• S&P also noted that a potential India-US trade agreement could boost investor confidence and benefit labour-intensive sectors through improved market access and stability.

Appointments News

Justice Vikram Nath Appointed NALSA Executive Chairman

• President Droupadi Murmu has nominated Justice Vikram Nath as the new Executive Chairman of NALSA, while CJI Surya Kant has appointed Justice Jitendra Kumar Maheshwari as Chairman of the SCLSC, following the convention of seniority in the Supreme Court.
• Their appointments, effective from Monday, empower them to lead nationwide efforts in legal aid, ensuring access to justice for marginalised and economically weaker sections.
• Justice Nath and Justice Maheshwari, both Supreme Court judges since 2021, bring extensive judicial experience, having earlier served as Chief Justices of Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh High Courts respectively.

Awards News

Velamala Simmanna Selected for LNF Literary Award 2025

• Velamala Simmanna, a distinguished Telugu writer and former Head of Telugu Department at Andhra University, has been selected for the Lok Nayak Foundation (LNF) Literary Award 2025, carrying a ₹2 lakh prize, to be presented in Visakhapatnam on January 18, 2026.
• The LNF also announced Life-Time Achievement Awards for Nori Dattatreyudu, Thotakura Prasad, Vemulapalli Raghavendra Choudhary, and Aarien Uday Areti.
• Celebrated for authoring 100+ works and his contribution to Telugu language and culture, Simmanna’s recognition highlights his impact on contemporary Telugu literary discourse and cultural preservation.

Defense News

BEL and Safran Ink JV to Manufacture HAMMER Precision-Guided Weapon in India

• BEL and France’s Safran Electronics & Defence have signed a Joint Venture Cooperation Agreement (JVCA) to manufacture the HAMMER precision-guided air-to-ground weapon in India, boosting Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Make-in-India.
• The upcoming 50:50 Joint Venture Company will support the Indian Air Force and Indian Navy by locally producing, supplying, and maintaining HAMMER, with indigenisation rising to 60% and BEL leading assembly, testing, and quality assurance.
• The combat-proven HAMMER, used on platforms like Rafale and LCA Tejas, will leverage BEL’s manufacturing strength and Safran’s expertise in smart weapon systems.

India’s First Mahe-Class ASW Shallow Water Craft Joins Western Naval Command

• The Indian Navy has commissioned INS Mahe, the first Mahe-class Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC), marking a major boost to India’s coastal defence and Aatmanirbhar Bharat efforts.
• Built by Cochin Shipyard Limited with over 80% indigenous content, the vessel enhances littoral anti-submarine capabilities with advanced sonar, stealth features, and high manoeuvrability, supporting missions such as submarine hunting, coastal surveillance, and escort operations.
• Named after the historic town of Mahe, the ship blends tradition and technology, symbolising India’s growing self-reliance in defence manufacturing.

Sports News

Italy Clinches Fourth Davis Cup Title with Dominant Victory Over Spain

• Italy claimed its 4th Davis Cup title and an unprecedented third consecutive championship by defeating Spain 2-0 in the 2025 Davis Cup Final.
• Matteo Berrettini set the tone with a straight-sets win over Pablo Carreno Busta, followed by a stunning comeback from Flavio Cobolli against Jaume Munar, sealing the victory without needing the doubles match.
• With this triumph, Italy becomes only the second nation after the USA to achieve a Davis Cup hat-trick, adding to its previous wins in 1976, 2023, and 2024, and solidifying its status as a modern tennis powerhouse.

5th Khelo India University Games Begin at Jaipur’s Sawai Mansingh Stadium

• The 5th Khelo India University Games (KIUG) were inaugurated on 24 November 2025 at Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur, celebrating India’s youth sporting talent and Rajasthan’s cultural heritage.
• Opened by CM Bhajan Lal Sharma and Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, the event will see 7,000 participants, including 5,000+ athletes from 230+ universities, competing across 23 sports from November 24–December 5 in seven Rajasthan cities.
• Hosting KIUG for the first time, Rajasthan showcases a statewide sporting festival aligned with India’s vision to nurture emerging talent and strengthen the national sports ecosystem.

Science & Technology News

India Launches BIRSA 101: First Indigenous CRISPR Gene Therapy for Sickle Cell Disease

• India has launched its first indigenous CRISPR-based gene therapy, BIRSA 101, to treat Sickle Cell Disease (SCD), particularly affecting tribal communities in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Jharkhand, and Maharashtra.
• Unveiled by Science and Technology Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh, the therapy offers a potential one-time cure by correcting the genetic mutation, making treatment affordable compared to costly global alternatives.
• Developed through public-private partnerships including the Serum Institute of India, BIRSA 101 supports the National Sickle Cell Elimination Mission, aiming to screen, diagnose, and treat millions, and marks a milestone in India’s genomic medicine and tribal health initiatives.

Important Days News

International Day for Elimination of Violence Against Women 2025

• On International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women (25 November), the 2025 theme “UNiTE to End Digital Violence Against All Women and Girls” highlights rising online abuse such as cyberstalking, deepfakes, and harassment.
• India continues strengthening protection through laws like the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023, PWDVA 2005, and the Workplace Sexual Harassment Act 2013, alongside support systems under Mission Shakti, including One Stop Centres, Swadhar Greh, and helplines 181 and NCW’s 7827170170, reinforcing a nationwide push for women’s safety, justice, and empowerment.