20th November 2025

1. MoSPI Organises Culmination Ceremony of 75th Anniversary of the NSS at Udaipur; Releases NSE 2025
2. AP Secures Investments Worth Rs.13.25 Lakh Crore at CII Partnership Summit Held in Visakhapatnam, AP
3. DAE Unveils ‘ColloNoX’ Wound Dressing
4. ‘BARC–B1401’ Rare-Earth Reference Material was unveiled
5. Cambridge Dictionary Names ‘Parasocial’ as 2025 Word of the Year
6. BoB Signs MoU with SIDBI to Boost Credit Flow to MSMEs
7. PayGlocal Receives Final RBI Approval for Cross-Border Payment Aggregator
8. ICRA Projects India’s GDP Growth at 7% for Q2FY26
9. President Droupadi Murmu Conferred 6th National Water Awards, Inaugural JSIB Awards in New Delhi
10. SAIF Partners Sells 1.86% Stake in One97 Communications for Rs.1,556 Crores
11. World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims 2025 – November 16
12. CAG’s New Centre of Excellence in Hyderabad
13. Michelle Bachelet Awarded Indira Gandhi Peace Prize
14. Nitish Kumar Set to Take Oath as Bihar CM for a Historic 10th Term
15. India Drops 13 Places in Global Climate Change Performance Index 2026
16. UK Named Country Partner for Hornbill Festival 2025
17. Venu Srinivasan Wins CII Quality Ratna Award 2025
18. Indira Gandhi’s 108th Birth Anniversary

National News

1. MoSPI Marks 75 Years of NSS

• What:
  • The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) organised the Culmination Ceremony of the 75th Anniversary of the National Sample Survey (NSS) along with World Statistics Day in Udaipur on 18 November 2025.
• Tell me more:
  • Hon’ble Minister Rao Inderjit Singh attended as Chief Guest, and MoSPI Secretary Dr. Saurabh Garg highlighted digital tools like e-SIGMA, chatbots and CAPI, and the work of 10,000+ field staff.
  • Key releases included the Coffee Table Book “From Inception to Innovation,” “Stories Behind Numbers – Journal of FOD,” a Sarvekshana Supplement, and the updated National Industrial Classification (NIC) 2025.
  • A Data Innovation Lab Portal and the Anthem of the National Statistics Office were launched, with cultural performances and a panel discussion on “Stories of Data Collection in NSS Surveys.”

Source: PIB

State News

1. Andhra Pradesh Secures Major Textile Investments at CII Summit

• What:
  • The Handlooms and Textiles Department of Andhra Pradesh secured investments worth ₹4,381 crore during the CII Partnership Summit in Visakhapatnam.
• Why:
  • To support the 2024–29 Textiles Policy goal of attracting ₹10,000 crore investments over five years.
• Tell me more:
  • The investments are expected to create 6,460 jobs in the textiles sector.
  • The ₹4,381 crore investment marks 43% of the policy’s target and was mobilised through eight Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs).
  • These MoUs will help set up new textile industries in Visakhapatnam, Chittoor, Guntur, Sri Satya Sai and Anakapalli districts.
  • Overall proposals worth ₹13.26 lakh crore were received at the Summit, reflecting investor confidence in the State government led by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu.
  • The eight MoUs form a major step toward meeting the five-year investment target under the Textiles Policy.

Source: IE

2. Centre of Excellence for Financial Audit Launched by CAG

• What:
  • The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India is launching a Centre of Excellence for Financial Audit in Hyderabad to reform public audits using data, AI, and uniform methods.
• Why:
  • The aim is to standardize audit methods and use technology for clearer, comparable financial reports and stronger fiscal oversight in the public sector.
• Tell me more:
  • The centre will develop specialized skills and audit templates to reduce inconsistencies caused by autonomous bodies using varied methods.
  • It will act as a hub for innovation, research, and professional development in financial auditing.
  • The CAG is shifting from sample-based audits to full dataset analysis using AI tools like the indigenously built CAG-LLM for anomaly detection and risk assessment.
  • Integrating environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria into audit planning is a focus for enhancing sustainability.
  • The CAG aims to bridge audit and accounts departments to fully leverage financial data such as vouchers and sanctions.

Source: LM

3. UK Partners with Nagaland for Hornbill Festival 2025

• What:
  • The Government of Nagaland has announced the United Kingdom as the country partner for the Hornbill Festival 2025.
• Tell me more:
  • The festival will be held from 1 to 10 December at Kisama, Kohima.
  • A formal agreement was signed by Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio and British Council Country Director India, Alison Barrett in New Delhi.
  • The British Council, with the British Deputy High Commission in Kolkata, will curate festival programs and bring an artist from the UK.
  • Air India Express was named the Official Travel Partner for the festival and will introduce a Boeing 737-8 aircraft with livery inspired by the Ao Naga tribe’s warrior shawl.
  • Air India Express will offer a 15% flight discount to and from Nagaland starting November 20, and the special aircraft will be received by the Chief Minister at Dimapur Airport on November 22.

Source: NOA

Banking and Economy

1. PayGlocal Gets RBI Nod for Cross-Border Payments

• What:
  • PayGlocal received final authorisation from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to operate as a Payment Aggregator – Cross Border – Inward & Outward (PA-CB-I&O), allowing it to facilitate both incoming and outgoing online cross-border payments.
• Why:
  • To enable smoother cross-border payment flows and support businesses and individuals in sending and receiving international payments for global trade, services and online transactions.
• Tell me more:
  • The approval allows Indian exporters, freelancers and global-service businesses to continue receiving payments from abroad.
  • International companies can now accept payments from Indian customers through UPI, cards and other payment methods.
  • This licence follows PayGlocal’s Payment Aggregator – Online (PA-O) licence received in September 2024.
  • The PA-CB licence will strengthen PayGlocal’s cross-border payments stack for businesses operating across multiple markets.

Source: CNBC

2. SAIF Partners Sells Stake in Paytm and Kaynes Technology

• What:
  • SAIF Partners sold a 1.86 per cent stake in One97 Communications (parent company of Paytm) for ₹1,556 crore, and Motilal Oswal Mutual Fund sold a 1.22 per cent stake in Kaynes Technology India for ₹490 crore.
• Why:
  • The stake sales were conducted to reduce holdings in One97 Communications (Paytm) and Kaynes Technology India through open market transactions.
• Tell me more:
  • SAIF Partners’ holding in Paytm has decreased from 15.33 per cent to 13.47 per cent after selling over 1.19 crore shares via open market deals.
  • The Paytm (One97 Communications) shares were sold by SAIF Partners affiliates at an average price of ₹1,305 each.
  • Societe Generale bought 0.51 per cent stake in Paytm (One97 Communications) for ₹423.46 crore at the same rate.
  • Motilal Oswal Mutual Fund sold over 8.17 lakh equity shares of Kaynes Technology India across the BSE and NSE, paring its holding to 4.62 per cent from 5.84 per cent.
  • Shares of One97 Communications fell 3 per cent to close at ₹1,292.90 on NSE; Kaynes Technology India shares dropped over 5.5 per cent on both exchanges.

Source: HBL

Reports and Indices

1. Climate Change Performance Index 2026

• What:
  • India slipped 13 ranks to 23rd position in the 2026 Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI).
• Why:
  • India’s ranking fell due to rising greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, increasing energy consumption, and lack of a clear coal phase-out plan.
• Tell me more:
  • India was among the top 10 in CCPI from 2019 to 2024 but dropped due to emission trends and climate policy issues.
  • Renewables now account for nearly 14% of India’s energy mix (2015-2023) and over half of its power capacity (256 GW).
  • Jan Burck of Germanwatch noted India ranks last in emission trends but has a promising renewable energy trajectory.
  • Denmark, the UK and Morocco took the lead in this year’s CCPI as fourth, fifth and sixth rankers. The top three ranks remain vacant due to no perfect scores.
  • Major G20 countries like China, Russia, US, and Saudi Arabia ranked low, with Russia, US, and Saudi Arabia among the worst performers.

Source: TOI

GDP Forecasts

1. ICRA Projects India’s Q2 FY26 GDP Growth at 7%

• What:
  • Rating agency ICRA projected India’s GDP growth to moderate to 7% in Q2 FY26 from 7.8% in the previous quarter.
• Why:
  • The projection was made to assess expected quarterly economic performance, and it reflects how lower government spending and slower services and agriculture growth may reduce overall momentum.
• Tell me more:
  • India’s economy had grown 5.6% in Q2 FY25 and 7.8% in Q1 FY26.
  • The National Statistics Office (NSO) will release official Q2 FY26 GDP data on November 28.
  • ICRA chief economist Aditi Nayar said lower year-on-year government spending may slow GDP and GVA growth in Q2 FY26.

Source: BS

Science and Technology

1. DAE Announces Two Major Scientific Innovations

• What:
  • The Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) launched ColoNoX, India’s first nitric-oxide-releasing wound dressing for diabetic foot ulcers (DFU), and released a Certified Reference Material (CRM) named Ferrocarbonatite (FC) – BARC B140 for rare-earth research.
• Why:
  • To provide affordable treatment for diabetic patients and to strengthen India’s analytical and research capability in Rare Earth Elements (REEs).
• Tell me more:
  • ColoNoX was developed by Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), clinically validated through Phase II and III trials, and received Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) approval for commercial manufacturing.
  • BARC B140 was created jointly by BARC’s National Centre for Compositional Characterisation of Materials (NCCCM) and the Atomic Minerals Directorate (AMD), Hyderabad.
  • BARC B140 provides certified values for thirteen rare-earth elements and six major elements to support rare-earth research.
  • DAE Secretary and Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) Chairman Dr. Ajit Kumar Mohanty said the CRM will strengthen India’s analytical capability in strategic sectors.
  • Officials noted that BARC B140 is the first CRM of its kind developed in India and only the fourth worldwide.

Source: NOA

Awards

1. National Water Awards and JSJB Awards Announced

• What:
  • The government announced the winners of the 6th National Water Awards (NWA) 2024 and the first Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari (JSJB) Awards 2025, recognising exemplary work in water conservation across the country.
• Why:
  • The purpose is to honour outstanding water-conservation efforts and to promote the benefit of community-driven, innovative and responsible water-use practices nationwide.
• Tell me more:
  • The 6th National Water Awards (NWA) 2024 were launched on 23 October 2024, received 751 applications, and announced 46 winners across 10 categories on 18 November 2025.
  • Maharashtra ranked first under the Best State category, followed by Gujarat in second place and Haryana in third place.
  • The JSJB Awards were launched in 2024 under the Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain (JSA: CTR) campaign and recognise 100 contributors for community-driven water conservation.
  • Under the JSJB campaign, 35 lakh groundwater-recharge structures have been constructed, promoting large-scale citizen and institutional participation.
  • Best-performing states under JSJB were Telangana (1st), Chhattisgarh (2nd) and Rajasthan (3rd).

1. Michelle Bachelet Receives Indira Gandhi Prize 2024

• What:
  • Michelle Bachelet, Chile’s first female president, received the Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development for 2024.
• Why:
  • The award was given to honour Bachelet’s contributions to peace, development, and human rights advocacy globally.
• Tell me more:
  • Bachelet served two non-consecutive terms as Chile’s first woman president, focusing on social welfare, education, poverty reduction, and gender equality.
  • She was the first executive director of UN Women (2010-2013) and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (2018-2022).
  • The award was presented by Sonia Gandhi, chairperson of the Indira Gandhi Memorial Trust.
  • Indira Gandhi’s 108th birth anniversary was celebrated on 19 November.

Source: IE LM

3. Venu Srinivasan Receives CII Quality Ratna Award

• What:
  • Venu Srinivasan, Chairman Emeritus of TVS Motor Company, received the prestigious CII Quality Ratna Award.
• Why:
  • The award recognises his commitment to elevating Indian manufacturing quality and promoting customer-centric design and value.
• Tell me more:
  • The award was presented at the 33rd CII Excellence Summit organised by the CII Institute of Quality in Kolkata.
  • The summit focused on increasing India’s share of global manufacturing from 3% to 25% and creating 100 million jobs.
  • R Mukundan, President Designate of CII and MD & CEO of Tata Chemicals, highlighted the need for manufacturing excellence for Viksit Bharat 2047.
  • Soumitra Bhattacharya, Chairman of CII Institute of Quality, stressed continuous improvement, lean manufacturing, and data-driven decisions for growth.
  • The CII Institute of Quality organised the 33rd CII Excellence Summit.

Source: HBL

Important Days

1. World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims 2025 – November 16
   

Memorandum of Understanding

1. Bank of Baroda and SIDBI Sign MoU to Boost MSME Credit

• What:
  • Bank of Baroda (BOB) and the Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen credit flow, expand working capital access, and enhance financial support for MSMEs and startups.
• Why:
  • To improve timely credit availability and support business growth for MSMEs and startups, helping them scale operations, access working capital, and integrate into global value chains.
• Tell me more:
  • The MoU was signed in the presence of senior government and banking leaders, including the Secretary of the Department of Financial Services (DFS).
  • The partnership will combine SIDBI’s expertise in MSME development with Bank of Baroda’s nationwide network to expand financial inclusion.
  • Bank of Baroda’s digital Working Capital Platform will be used for SIDBI-approved borrowers for seamless, technology-driven working capital access.
  • SIDBI’s Venture Debt Programme and BOB’s Startup Banking solutions will support startup financing.

Source: IM

Appointments

1. Nitish Kumar Takes Oath as Bihar Chief Minister for 10th Time

• Nitish Kumar took oath as the Chief Minister of Bihar for a record 10th time in a ceremony attended by key National Democratic Alliance (NDA) leaders.
• Bihar Governor Arif Mohammad Khan administered the oath.
• Nitish Kumar was first elected as leader of the JD(U) Legislature Party at his official residence in Patna.

Source: DH

Miscellaneous

1. Cambridge Dictionary Selects ‘Parasocial’ as Word of the Year

• What:
  • Cambridge Dictionary declared ‘parasocial’ as the 2025 Word of the Year after a major spike in searches and rising discussions about parasocial relationships with public figures and artificial intelligence (AI).
• Why:
  • To highlight the growing public interest and concern around one-sided emotional connections with celebrities, creators, and AI, and to show how this trend is shaping digital behaviour and its effects on relationships.
• Tell me more:
  • Cambridge Dictionary defines ‘parasocial’ as a connection someone feels with a famous person, fictional character, or artificial intelligence without knowing them personally.
  • Conversations around parasocial relationships with AI chatbots increased throughout the year.
  • Last year’s (2024) Word of the Year was “manifest.”

Source: IE

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