Daily Current Affairs News: 20th November, 2025

National News

UNICEF and IFFI 2025 Showcase Five Global Films Celebrating Childhood

• The 56th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa (Nov 20–28, 2025) features the UNICEF × IFFI showcase, “Five Films, One Universal Story,” highlighting child rights, resilience, and imagination through films from India, Kosovo, South Korea, and Egypt.
• This collaboration, running since 2022, presents stories addressing mental health, equity, education, and post-conflict healing, emphasizing cinema as a tool for advocacy and global solidarity while celebrating the voices and experiences of children across cultures.

India Post Goes Trendy: New Gen Z–Focused Campus Outlet at IIT Delhi

• India Post launched its first Gen Z-themed campus post office at IIT Delhi, featuring smart services, digital-first engagement, student-designed interiors, QR-based parcel booking, and a student franchise model to promote entrepreneurship.
• This initiative, part of a national plan to revamp 46 campus post offices by Dec 2025, aims to make postal services youth-centric, tech-enabled, and relevant to Gen Z, supporting Digital India, Skill India, and sustainable operations.

CAG’s New Centre of Excellence in Hyderabad

• The CAG of India has announced a new Centre of Excellence for Financial Audit in Hyderabad (Nov 19, 2025), aimed at modernising India’s audit ecosystem by adopting global best practices, strengthening research and professional development, and standardising high-quality audit methodologies.
• The centre will integrate AI-based data analytics, shifting audits from sample-based checks to full-dataset analysis, and will also embed ESG criteria into audit frameworks.
• This marks a major institutional shift toward more evidence-driven, technologically advanced, and sustainability-aligned financial auditing in India.

International News

India’s Basmati Rice GI Protection Faces Global Legal Hurdle

• India’s attempt to secure Basmati rice as a Geographical Indication (GI) under the WTO TRIPS framework faced a setback as New Zealand and Kenya rejected the plea, citing domestic law precedence.
• The case, filed by APEDA (Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority), argued that TRIPS’ Article 22 mandates protection against misleading labeling of Basmati rice, grown in India’s Indo-Gangetic plains.
• However, the New Zealand High Court and Kenya Court of Appeal ruled that TRIPS is not self-executing and must be applied through national legislation like New Zealand’s Fair Trading Act 1986 and Kenya’s Trade Marks Act.
• The ruling implies potential brand dilution, loss of market exclusivity, and challenges in preventing non-Indian Basmati labeling, highlighting the complex global legal landscape for GI protection.

Saudi Arabia Named Major Non-NATO Ally by US

• Saudi Arabia has been designated a Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA) by the United States in November 2025, granting it privileged access to advanced defense cooperation, including the sale of F-35 fighter jets, nearly 300 US tanks, and expanded joint military manufacturing.
• The two nations also signed strategic agreements in civil nuclear energy, artificial intelligence (AI), and critical minerals, strengthening ties and reshaping the Middle East’s strategic balance.
• MNNA status provides Saudi Arabia with enhanced military, economic, and technological privileges, though without a formal mutual defense guarantee.

Banking News

HDFC Bank Reclaims Top Spot as India’s Most Valuable Brand in 2025

• HDFC Bank has reclaimed its position as India’s most valuable brand in 2025, topping the Kantar BrandZ list with a $44.9 billion brand value, driven by post-merger strength, digital innovation, and high consumer trust
• While TCS slips to second due to slower growth, Zomato emerges as the fastest-rising brand for the second year, doubling its value through diversification and strong youth engagement.
• New entrants like UltraTech Cement, Westside, and Zudio highlight the shifting dynamics of India’s brand landscape.

Business News

India’s First Tesla Centre to Open in Gurugram

• Tesla will open its first Tesla Centre in India on November 26, 2025, in Gurugram, marking a major step after launching the Model Y and setting up experience centres in Mumbai and Delhi.
• As India becomes Tesla’s 50th global market, the new centre will serve as a full-service hub for sales, delivery, and repairs.
• Led by Sharad Agarwal, Tesla aims to deepen its presence in India’s premium EV segment despite high import duties and pricing challenges, with future expansion likely in Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Pune.

Economy News

Demat Accounts Surpass 21 Crore as IPO Frenzy Hits India

• India’s retail equity markets hit a historic milestone in October 2025, as total demat accounts crossed 21 crore, driven by a record IPO season (Tata Capital, LG Electronics, WeWork India), bullish market indices (Sensex +3%, BSE MidCap +4%), and first-time investors using digital platforms.
• The surge reflects a shift toward direct equity participation, especially among Millennials and Gen Z, though active engagement remains moderate, highlighting the need for financial literacy and cautious investing.

Appointments News

Dell India Appoints Anurag Arora as Senior Director and General Manager

• Dell Technologies has appointed Anurag Arora as Senior Director & GM for its India consumer segment, responsible for growth strategy, omnichannel sales, and customer engagement.
• With 28+ years of experience in technology and consumer sectors, Arora has expertise in product management, retail strategy, digital platforms, and e-commerce.
• Since joining Dell in July 2020, he has strengthened Dell.com India and integrated online-offline experiences.

Karnataka Coffee Sector Welcomes New Association Leaders

• M Salman Baseer has been elected Chairman and M C Kariappa as Vice Chairman of the Karnataka Planters Association (KPA) during its 67th AGM in Chikmagaluru (Nov 18, 2025).
• KPA, representing over 70% of India’s coffee production, advocates for policy reforms, sustainable practices, research, exports, and market access for Karnataka’s coffee growers.
• Under the new leadership, KPA aims to focus on climate-resilient cultivation, digital tools and AI-based alerts, trade policy advocacy, global export diversification, and boosting domestic coffee consumption, while the Executive Committee brings a mix of experience and innovation to strengthen the state’s coffee economy.

Awards News

Michelle Bachelet Awarded Indira Gandhi Peace Prize

• Michelle Bachelet, former President of Chile and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, was awarded the Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development 2024 on November 20, 2025, in New Delhi.
• Recognized for her lifelong work in human rights, gender equality, and global justice, Bachelet’s achievements include establishing Chile’s Ministry of Women and Gender Equality, advancing LGBT rights, and leading UN Women.
• The award, presented by Sonia Gandhi, underscores her contributions to international peace, democratic governance, and development cooperation.

Leonardo DiCaprio to Receive Desert Palm Achievement Award

• Leonardo DiCaprio will receive the Desert Palm Achievement Award (Actor) at the 2026 Palm Springs International Film Festival on January 3, 2026, for his performance in Paul Thomas Anderson’s film One Battle After Another.
• Praised for its emotional depth and intensity, this role reinforces DiCaprio’s legacy of artistic mastery in films like The Revenant and Inception.
• He will join honourees Michael B. Jordan and Adam Sandler, with the award highlighting potential Oscar success for leading actors.

Defense News

New Digital Combat Coat Secures IPR, Marking Defence Design Breakthrough

• The Indian Army has secured Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) for its New Coat Combat (Digital Print), designed by NIFT under the Army Design Bureau, marking a step in modernisation, indigenisation, and soldier comfort.
• Registered under Design Application No. 449667-001, the IPR protects both the design and camouflage pattern, preventing unauthorized use.
• The three-layered combat ensemble—outer digital-print coat, insulated inner jacket, and thermal base layer—enhances mobility, protection, and thermal regulation across terrains.
• This move reinforces innovation, self-reliance, and Atmanirbhar Bharat in defence apparel.

Summits & Conferences News

These Organizations Launch Earth Summit 2025‑26 to Empower Rural Innovation

• Hyderabad will host the inaugural Earth Summit 2025‑26, organized by NABARD and IAMAI, with the theme “Empowering Rural Innovation for Global Change” (Nov 20–21, 2025), followed by Gandhinagar (Dec 5–6, 2025) and New Delhi (Feb 2026).
• The summit aims to accelerate rural transformation by integrating technology, financial inclusion, and climate action, bringing together government bodies, AgriTech startups, FPOs, financial institutions, and NGOs.
• Key focus areas include rural finance and credit access, digital agriculture and AgriTech, climate-smart agriculture, renewable energy, circular economy, and women-led enterprises, with initiatives such as fintech lending, smart farming tools, green financing, decentralized energy models, and inclusive innovation to foster sustainable and equitable rural development.

Sports News

Curaçao to Cape Verde: Underdog Nations Rewrite History with 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualification

• Underdog nations Curaçao, Cape Verde, Haiti, and Panama have made historic breakthroughs by qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, showcasing the growing inclusivity, resilience, and diaspora-driven talent shaping modern football.
• From Curaçao becoming the smallest country ever to qualify, to Haiti’s inspiring rise amid national crisis, Cape Verde’s island success, and Panama’s return for redemption, these achievements signal a shifting global football landscape where even small nations can shine on the world stage.

Science & Technology News

India’s First Commercial PSLV Set to Launch Oceansat

• India is set for a major milestone as its first privately built PSLV, manufactured end-to-end by the HAL–L&T consortium, is ready to launch the Oceansat satellite in early 2026, marking a major shift in the country’s space production model.
• Under a 2022 NSIL contract, HAL and L&T completed the full PSLV-XL build with ISRO’s technical support, showcasing the private sector’s capability to deliver complex launch systems.
• This development strengthens India’s NewSpace ecosystem, boosts commercial launch competitiveness, and allows ISRO to focus more on R&D and advanced missions, signaling a transformative phase in India’s growing space industry.

Important Days News

World Children’s Day 2025: Celebrating Every Child’s Right to Voice, Dignity, and Hope

• World Children’s Day, observed on November 20, highlights global commitment to children’s rights, marked in 2025 by the themes “My Day, My Rights” and “For Every Child, Every Right.”
• The day commemorates the 1959 Declaration of the Rights of the Child and the 1989 UNCRC, the most widely ratified human rights treaty with 196 countries.
• Led by UNICEF, the 2025 celebration focuses on amplifying children’s voices in areas like education, health, climate, and digital safety, while calling for action against challenges such as poverty, child labour, and abuse. Unlike the global date, India marks Children’s Day on November 14.