Daily Current Affairs: 13th November, 2025

National News

Inside Kalachakra: The Powerful Buddhist Ceremony Modi Attended in Bhutan

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended Bhutan’s sacred Kalachakra “Wheel of Time” Ceremony in November 2025, marking a blend of spiritual diplomacy and Indo-Bhutan relations.
• The ritual, rooted in Tibetan Vajrayana Buddhism, symbolizes peace, harmony, and impermanence through mandala creation, prayers, and empowerment rites.
• Modi’s presence alongside Bhutan’s King Jigme Khesar and Je Khenpo highlighted India’s shared Buddhist heritage and deepening ties, complemented by the launch of the Punatsangchhu-II Hydroelectric Project and broader cooperation in energy, defence, and connectivity.

India to Receive 8 Cheetahs from Botswana: A Major Step in Project Cheetah Revival

• India will receive 8 cheetahs from Botswana under Project Cheetah, marking a major step in reintroducing the species decades after its extinction in 1952.
• The move, announced during President Droupadi Murmu’s historic visit to Botswana, aims to strengthen genetic diversity, support wildlife conservation, and enhance India-Botswana ecological and diplomatic cooperation, building on earlier translocations from Namibia in 2022.

Cabinet Approves “Credit Guarantee Scheme for Exporters (CGSE)”

• The Union Cabinet has approved the Credit Guarantee Scheme for Exporters (CGSE), offering up to ₹20,000 crore in collateral-free credit to both MSME and non-MSME exporters, backed by a 100% guarantee from the National Credit Guarantee Trustee Company (NCGTC).
• Implemented by the Department of Financial Services (DFS), the scheme aims to strengthen export liquidity, boost market diversification, and enhance India’s global competitiveness.
• By reducing financial risks for exporters, CGSE supports India’s US $1 trillion export target, encourages adoption of global standards, and promotes employment and MSME growth across sectors.
• A Management Committee led by the DFS Secretary will oversee its implementation via Member Lending Institutions (MLIs).

State News

New Emblem, New Vision: Maharashtra Unveils Agriculture Logo and Motto

• Maharashtra’s Agriculture Department unveiled a new logo and slogan, “Sashwat Sheti, Samruddha Shetkari” (“Sustainable Farming, Prosperous Farmer”), after 38 years, reflecting a shift toward technology-driven, sustainable agriculture and farmer empowerment.
• Chosen via a state-wide public competition with 1,700+ entries, the initiative aims to inspire confidence, attract young agri-entrepreneurs, and blend traditional farming with modern innovation.

Banking News

India and Bahrain Just Revolutionized Cross-Border Payments—Here’s How

• India and Bahrain have launched real-time cross-border payments by linking India’s UPI with Bahrain’s Fawri+, enabling instant, low-cost money transfers between the two nations.
• Spearheaded by NPCI International and BENEFIT, under the RBI and Central Bank of Bahrain, the move boosts fintech cooperation and benefits the large Indian diaspora in Bahrain.
• This digital payment corridor strengthens bilateral trade, enhances financial inclusion, and marks a key milestone in India’s UPI internationalization strategy.

Applying for Your First Loan? Know These New CIBIL Rules in 2025

• The New CIBIL Rules 2025 have made loan access easier and fairer, especially for first-time borrowers with no prior credit history.
• Instead of relying only on CIBIL scores, lenders can now assess alternative financial data such as income records, rent, utility bills, and bank transactions.
• Major updates include credit report refreshes every 15 days, real-time credit check alerts, mandatory reasons for loan rejections, and one free credit report per year.
• These reforms promote transparency, financial inclusion, and faster credit access while encouraging borrowers to build responsible credit habits.

Economy News

India’s Q2 FY26 GDP to Rise To Nearly 7.2%

• India’s Q2 FY26 GDP is projected to grow ~7.2%, driven by strong private consumption (8%), resilient services, and healthy investment demand (7.5%).
• Growth is supported by rising real incomes, low inflation, government capex, and steady manufacturing output, though nominal GDP remains under 8%, signaling potential fiscal pressure despite robust real growth.

Awards News

Bal Sahitya Puraskar 2025: Full List of Winners Announced by Sahitya Akademi

• The Sahitya Akademi Bal Sahitya Puraskar 2025 has been announced, honoring 24 authors across Indian languages for their outstanding contributions to children’s literature.
• The awards will be presented on 14 November 2025 (Children’s Day) at Triveni Auditorium, New Delhi, in a ceremony presided over by Madhav Kaushik, with Varsha Das as Chief Guest.
• Each winner will receive a ₹50,000 cash prize and a bronze plaque.
• The event celebrates cultural diversity, regional storytelling, and the promotion of multilingual literature for young readers. An Awardees’ Meet on 15 November at Ravindra Bhawan will provide a platform for literary reflections and discussions.

Padma Awards 2026: From Bindra to Paes, Here Are India’s Sporting Icons in Focus

• Padma Awards 2026 spotlight India’s sporting legends with Abhinav Bindra and Leander Paes recommended for Padma Vibhushan, Neeraj Chopra and Gagan Narang for Padma Bhushan, and emerging stars like Manu Bhaker and Harmanpreet Singh for Padma Shri.
• The honours recognise Olympic medals, Grand Slam wins, and contributions to Indian sports, celebrating both excellence and leadership across disciplines.

Defense News

RUDRA Brigade Goes ‘Prachand’: Inside India’s Futuristic Desert Warfare Exercise

• India’s RUDRA Brigade led Operation Akhand Prahar in Jaisalmer, demonstrating multi-domain desert warfare readiness with drones, AI surveillance, and indigenous tech.
• As the country’s first all-arms combat formation, RUDRA showcased rapid mobility, precision strikes, and inter-service coordination, highlighting Atmanirbharta, innovation, and jointness in India’s next-generation defence strategy.

Science & Technology News

India Unveils First Quantum Diamond Microscope

• India unveiled its first Quantum Diamond Microscope (QDM) at ESTIC 2025, developed by the P-Quest Group, IIT Bombay, marking a breakthrough in quantum sensing and imaging.
• Using nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers in diamond, the QDM can map 3D magnetic fields for applications in neuroscience, semiconductor diagnostics, and materials science.
• Led by Prof. Kasturi Saha, this innovation supports the National Quantum Mission, advancing India’s path toward quantum self-reliance and earning the country its first patent in quantum magnetic imaging.

Andhra Teen Selected for 2029 Space Mission Training — India’s Rising Space Star

• Kunchala Kaivalya Reddy, a 17-year-old from Andhra Pradesh, has been selected for a 4-year US astronaut training programme (2026‑2029) with Titans Space Industries, aiming for a 2029 space mission to orbit the Earth.
• Chosen from 150 candidates across 36 countries, her journey highlights India’s rising presence in global space science and inspires youth, especially girls, to pursue astronomy, astrophysics, and aerospace careers.

Schemes News

Punjab Becomes First State to Implement Amended Bharat Net Scheme Statewide

• Punjab has become the first state in India to fully implement the amended Bharat Net Scheme, providing broadband connectivity to nearly all villages, including 43 shadow areas, with only one village remaining.
• The rollout enables live monitoring of border areas, strengthens e-governance and e-health services, and sets a replicable model for other states, bridging the digital divide in rural India under a fibre-based, high-speed network.

Sports News

ICC Player of the Month October 2025

• South Africa swept the ICC Player of the Month awards for October 2025, with Senuran Muthusamy and Laura Wolvaardt taking top honours for their stellar performances.
• Muthusamy shone in the Test series against Pakistan, taking 11 wickets in Lahore and scoring 89 runs in Rawalpindi, earning the Player of the Series title.
• Wolvaardt dominated the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 in India, scoring 470 runs in October, including a career-best 169 vs England to lead South Africa to the final. Both winners were chosen through global voting by fans and an expert panel.

Important Days News

World Kindness Day 2025: Date, History, Significance, and How to Celebrate

• World Kindness Day 2025, observed on November 13 (Thursday), celebrates the spirit of compassion, empathy, and generosity worldwide.
• Established in 1998 by the World Kindness Movement, this global observance encourages people to practice intentional acts of kindness—from helping neighbors and volunteering to spreading positivity online.
• The day reminds everyone that small gestures can reduce stress, build stronger communities, and foster peace amid global challenges.
• Celebrated in over 28 countries, World Kindness Day inspires individuals to #ChooseKindness and make the world more caring and connected.

Miscellaneous News

Beyond Music: Palak Muchhal’s Social Work Earns Guinness World Record Honour

• Singer Palak Muchhal has earned a Guinness World Record for enabling over 3,800 heart surgeries for underprivileged children through her Palash Charitable Foundation.
• Known for hits like “Kaun Tujhe,” she channels 100% of her stage earnings and personal donations into funding life-saving pediatric heart surgeries, also supporting families of Kargil martyrs and disaster victims.
• Her unique approach combines celebrity influence, sustained funding, and personal engagement, earning her recognition in both the Guinness and Limca Book of Records and national praise for turning fame into impactful humanitarian work.