Daily Current Affairs - 29th November 2025
- TPP
- 1 day ago
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Comprehensive UPSC Current Affairs Summary | CGWB Groundwater Quality Report 2025, Multi-Factor Indus Valley Decline Study, Cyclone Ditwah & Operation Sagar Bandhu, ELVEs, Asia Power Index 2025 , India–US MH-60R , Italy Criminalises Femicide, India’s First IIT in West Africa and more.
If you missed Monthly Current Affairs Pointers (CAP) | Sept - Oct 2025, read it here.
Table of Content
POLITY & GOVERNANCE
SECURITY / DEFENCE
India Re-elected to the Council of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) for 2026-27
India has been re-elected to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Council for 2026–27 with the highest votes.
India has been elected under Category B, which includes countries with the largest interest in international seaborne trade.
The IMO Council consists of 40 elected members divided into three categories (A, B, and C).
The IMO Council functions as the executive body of the IMO, preparing the work plan and supervising activities.
The IMO is a United Nations specialized agency responsible for ensuring the safety and security of shipping.
The IMO is headquartered in London, UK. The IMO was created in 1948 as the Inter-Governmental Maritime Consultative Organization (IMCO).
Its name was changed to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in 1982.
The core role of the IMO is to create a fair, effective, universally adopted and implemented regulatory framework for the global shipping industry.
The MARPOL Convention is a key IMO treaty aimed at preventing and reducing pollution from ships, including oil, garbage, and air pollution.
The Ballast Water Management Convention seeks to prevent the spread of invasive aquatic species through ship ballast water.
The SOLAS Convention sets minimum safety standards for ships, covering fire protection, navigation, and emergency equipment.
The STCW Convention establishes global standards for training, certification, and watchkeeping for seafarers.
The 2023 IMO Strategy on Reduction of GHG Emissions from Ships aims to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 from global shipping.
India’s First IIT Campus in West Africa: IIT Nigeria
Nigeria is set to host the first Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) campus in West Africa
The first academic batch is expected to begin in 2026, with a focus on engineering, technology, and research.
The initiative aligns with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which encourages Indian universities to expand globally and build international campuses.
The IIT Nigeria campus will follow the IIT Madras–Zanzibar model, which represents India’s first offshore IIT.
The IIT Madras–Zanzibar campus, launched in 2023, currently hosts students from across Africa.
The Maldives campus provides a template for cross-border academic collaboration through joint degrees, shared faculty, and research partnerships.
The new Nigeria campus will adopt a similar model of curriculum alignment, joint governance, and international faculty integration as used in Zanzibar.
India has already expanded globally through the IIT Delhi–Abu Dhabi campus, which opened in 2024.
The IIT Delhi–Abu Dhabi campus offers industry-relevant courses tailored to local economic and technological needs.
Collectively, IIT campuses in Zanzibar, Abu Dhabi, and now Nigeria reflect India’s push to build a global educational footprint and strengthen South-South cooperation.
Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs): SEBI’s New Classification and Key Concepts
SEBI has reclassified Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) as equity instruments to increase participation by mutual funds and Social Impact Funds (SIFs).
SEBI has retained Infrastructure Investment Trusts (InvITs) under the hybrid category.
An equity instrument refers to a financial security that gives its holder ownership rights in a company.
A hybrid security is a financial instrument that combines features of both debt and equity in a single asset.
A Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) is a company that owns, operates, or finances income-generating real estate.
A REIT raises capital by selling shares to investors similar to how companies raise funds through public equity.
REITs provide an alternative investment option for individuals who cannot afford to directly purchase real estate.
REITs allow small investors to earn returns from commercial real estate through rental income or capital appreciation without owning physical property.
Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) India
BARC India has appointed an independent agency to investigate allegations that one of its employees manipulated Television Rating Points (TRPs) in exchange for bribes.
BARC India is a Joint Industry Body created by organisations representing Broadcasters, Advertisers, and Advertising and Media Agencies.
BARC India is responsible for owning and managing a transparent, accurate, and inclusive TV audience measurement system.
BARC’s mandate is strictly limited to measuring TV viewership after it occurs, based on recorded watching behaviour.
BARC does not analyse or determine how or why viewers choose a particular channel, as that lies outside its measurement role.
Italy Recognizes Crime of Femicide and Punishes it with Life in Prison
The Italian Parliament has approved a law that formally recognises femicide as a distinct criminal offence.
Femicide, also called feminicide in some contexts, is defined as the intentional killing of a woman or girl with a gender-related motivation.
Femicide is regarded as one of the most severe forms of crimes targeting women, reflecting deep-rooted gender violence.
A 2022 UN framework categorised femicide into three groups based on the victim’s relationship with the perpetrator.
The first category includes intentional killings committed by intimate partners, such as spouses or romantic partners.
The second category includes killings committed by family members, including blood relatives, relatives by marriage, or relatives by adoption.
The third category includes killings committed by other perpetrators, meaning individuals who are neither partners nor family members.
Asia Power Index 2025
The Asia Power Index 2025 was recently released by the Lowy Institute, an Australia-based think tank.
The Index is an annual assessment that measures the resources and influence of states to determine their relative power in Asia.
The Index evaluates 27 countries and territories across Asia.
It assesses power using eight measures, such as Military Capability, Economic Capability, and Diplomatic and Cultural Influence.
India has secured the 3rd ranking in the 2025 Index.
India’s ranking has improved, giving it the status of a “major power.”
India still remains far behind the United States, which ranks 1st, and China, which ranks 2nd.
India’s rise in the Index is attributed to its growing economic strength.
India’s performance is also boosted by its enhanced military capability.
The Index notes that India’s increased power score is further supported by the achievements of Operation Sindoor.
MH-60R Helicopters: India–US Support Agreement
The Indian Defence Ministry has signed Letters of Offer and Acceptance (LOAs) with the United States for the maintenance and sustained support of MH-60R helicopters operated by the Indian Navy.
The agreement will enable the creation of maintenance and support facilities within India, strengthening the goal of Atmanirbhar Bharat in the defence sector.
The MH-60R is a state-of-the-art naval helicopter widely used by the US Navy and allied nations.
The MH-60R is manufactured by Lockheed Martin Corporation, a leading American aerospace and defence company.
The helicopter is designed as an all-weather platform capable of operating in diverse maritime environments.
It is equipped with advanced avionics and modern sensors that enhance its situational awareness and mission performance.
The MH-60R has strong anti-submarine warfare (ASW) capabilities.
It is also capable of conducting anti-surface warfare (ASuW) operations.
The helicopter supports maritime surveillance missions over long distances.
It is deployed for rescue and humanitarian operations, adding to naval operational flexibility.
NASA–ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) Satellite
The NISAR satellite has entered its final science operations phase after completing its earlier phases of launch, deployment, and commissioning.
NISAR is an Earth Observation Satellite (EOS) designed to monitor Earth’s surface with high precision.
The satellite operates in Low Earth Orbit (LEO), which refers to an orbit typically between 160–1000 km above Earth.
NISAR is placed in a Sun-synchronous Polar Orbit, which means it passes over the same location on Earth at the same local solar time every day.
NISAR is the first satellite jointly developed by ISRO and NASA, marking a major milestone in international space collaboration.
The satellite was launched using GSLV-F16 (Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle-F16), which is India’s medium-lift launch vehicle.
NISAR carries a dual-frequency Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) instrument, combining an L-band radar developed by NASA and an S-band radar developed by ISRO.
Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) uses the motion of the radar antenna to generate high-resolution images, even through clouds or darkness.
ELVEs: Rare Atmospheric Phenomenon
A bright red halo of light was recently observed above an Italian town due to a rare atmospheric phenomenon known as ELVEs.
ELVEs stands for Emission of Light and Very Low Frequency perturbations due to Electromagnetic pulse Sources.
ELVEs are defined as rapidly expanding rings of light that appear in the lower ionosphere, which is the atmospheric layer starting around 60–100 km above Earth.
These expanding rings can reach a size of up to 300 km across, making them one of the largest transient luminous events.
ELVEs are generated by the electromagnetic pulse (EMP) produced during lightning return strokes, which refers to the surge of current returning upward after a lightning strike.
The phenomenon was first discovered by scientist Boeck, who identified ELVEs while studying lightning-related light emissions.
ELVEs are more common over oceans, where intense lightning storms and conductive atmospheric conditions occur more frequently.
ELVEs form due to the heating of free electrons in the ionosphere, caused by the electric field of the EMP, which briefly excites atmospheric gases and produces the red glow.
Annual Groundwater Quality Report 2025
The Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) released the Annual Groundwater Quality Report 2025.
71.7% of India’s groundwater meets Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) drinking water quality standards.
Conversely, 28.3% of samples exceed limits for one or more parameters, indicating contamination.
Nitrate is the most widespread groundwater pollutant nationally.
Approximately 20% of samples exceed WHO and BIS limits for nitrate, which is 45 mg/L.
Nitrate contamination is largely attributed to anthropogenic sources, such as fertilizer use, sewage, and animal waste seeping into groundwater.
Fluoride contamination follows nitrate as a major concern.
Nationwide, 8.05% of samples exceed the fluoride limit, which is mostly geogenic, meaning naturally occurring.
Rajasthan shows the highest fluoride contamination in the country.
Uranium contamination is also a concern in groundwater.
Samples with uranium levels above the safe limit of 30 ppb were found in 6.71% of samples during Pre-Monsoon and 7.91% during Post-Monsoon.
Punjab recorded the highest uranium contamination, followed by Haryana and Delhi.
Salinity, measured as Electrical Conductivity (EC), is critical in arid and semi-arid regions.
7.23% of samples in regions like Rajasthan and Delhi exceeded salinity limits.
Lead contamination is notably high in Delhi.
Lead can impair cognitive development, increase blood pressure, affect kidney function, and is classified as a probable carcinogen.
Despite these issues, groundwater quality is largely suitable for irrigation purposes.
94.30% of samples fall into the “excellent” category for irrigation suitability.
Other trace metal and geogenic contaminations include arsenic, especially in Ganga and Brahmaputra basins.
Manganese contamination is noted in Assam, Karnataka, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal.
About CGWB (Central Ground Water Board):
The CGWB is headquartered in Faridabad, Haryana.
It was established in 1970 by renaming the Exploratory Tube Wells Organization.
The CGWB operates under the Ministry of Jal Shakti.
Its role includes management, exploration, monitoring, and regulation of groundwater resources across India.
CGWB also functions as the Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA), which was established under the Environment Protection Act, 1986.
Fiscal Fault Lines in India's Disaster Response
Disaster relief funding in India is becoming increasingly uneven, with a widening gap between assessed needs and actual funds released.
For example, the state of Kerala faced significant delays and funding shortfalls after the Wayanad landslides.
This situation raises the question of whether India’s fiscal federalism—the financial relationship between the central and state governments—is shifting from cooperative funding to a more centralised and conditional system of disaster finance.
India's Disaster Response Financing Framework
The framework was established under the Disaster Management (DM) Act, 2005, which lays down legal provisions for disaster preparedness, response, and recovery.
It operates on a two-tier structure to ensure disaster financing at both state and national levels.
State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF)
The State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) is jointly financed by the Centre and the States, typically in a 75:25 ratio.
For Himalayan and north-eastern States, the financing ratio of SDRF is 90:10, with the Centre contributing more due to higher vulnerability.
National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF)
The National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) is fully financed by the Union government.
NDRF is intended to supplement the SDRF when a calamity is officially classified as “severe,” a term not explicitly defined in the DM Act, 2005.
Key Institutional Issues in the Framework
Relief norms under the framework are outdated, for example, compensation ceilings like ₹4 lakh for each life lost have remained largely unchanged for over a decade.
The classification of disasters as “severe” is ambiguous, giving discretion to authorities to decide eligibility for NDRF assistance.
Procedural requirements slow down aid release, as the process depends on sequential approvals including a State memorandum, central assessment, and high-level sanction.
Finance Commission allocation criteria are weak, as allocations depend mainly on population and geographical area rather than actual hazard exposure.
Disaster vulnerability is often approximated using poverty levels instead of a comprehensive disaster-risk index, which would more accurately reflect potential hazards and exposure.
Way Forward for Better Disaster Response Financing
Global best practices suggest adopting automatic triggers and vulnerability-based allocations to speed up and rationalize funding.
For instance, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in the United States uses per capita damage thresholds to release funds based on estimated loss per person.
Mexico’s former FONDEN system automatically released funds when predetermined rainfall or wind limits were exceeded.
The Philippines uses rainfall and fatality indices to trigger quick-response funds for immediate relief.
Several African and Caribbean insurance facilities utilize satellite data for rapid payouts to affected regions.
Other recommendations include revising allocation criteria using a comprehensive vulnerability index and updating relief norms to reflect current realities.
Researchers Claim to Crack the Reason Behind Collapse of the Indus Valley Civilization (IVC)
A study published in the journal Communications Earth & Environment highlighted that the downfall of the Harappan civilization was not due to a single catastrophic event.
The research shows that previous beliefs suggested a singular cause, but the decline was instead driven by multiple long-term environmental and societal factors.
Key Findings of the Study
Impact of Droughts: Contrary to popular belief, the civilization did not collapse due to one catastrophic reason.
The study indicates that a series of prolonged droughts, each lasting decades, were a significant factor in the decline.
Four major drought events, each spanning over 85 years, occurred between 2425 and 1400 BCE, impacting nearly the entirety of the region.
Dwindling Resources: Hydrological changes led to the desiccation (drying up) of rivers, lakes, and soils.
These changes likely prompted the Harappans to frequently relocate in search of more viable living conditions.
Declining Trade: Low water levels hindered trade activities that relied on river navigation.
Reduced water availability also made agriculture more challenging and forced populations to migrate.
Other Factors: The decline was compounded by diminished food supply.
Fragile governance structures further weakened the resilience of Harappan cities.
Other Major Theories of IVC Decline
Catastrophic Flooding (Raikes's Hypothesis): Evidence shows that houses in Mohenjodaro were covered with silty clay.
Rebuilding activities in these areas support the flooding theory.
Earthquakes: Earthquakes may have raised flood plain levels, blocking rivers from reaching the sea.
This blockage forced water into cities, contributing to destruction.
Changes in the Course of Rivers: The Indus River reportedly shifted about thirty miles away from Mohenjodaro.
Drying up of the River Ghaggar-Hakra in Rajasthan: This environmental change likely reduced water availability for settlements.
Barbarian Invasions: Ancient texts like the Rig Veda mention a place called Hariyupiya, probably referring to Harappa.
These texts indicate that Aryans fought a battle in this region, suggesting external conflicts.
Ecological Imbalance (Gradual Decline): Historian Fairservice emphasized that the delicate ecological balance of semi-arid areas was disturbed.
Population pressures and rapidly depleting resources contributed to long-term decline.
Climate Change (D.P. Agarwal): Gradual climatic shifts, including reduced rainfall and changing river patterns, also played a key role in the civilization’s collapse.
India’s New Earthquake Zonation Map by Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS, 2025)
India has released a revised Seismic Zonation Map under the updated Earthquake Design Code by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS, 2025).
The map is based on scientific factors including active faults, maximum likely events, attenuation (reduction in earthquake intensity with distance), tectonics, and lithology (rock and soil types).
Details of the New Zonation
Earlier, the Indian landmass was divided into four earthquake zones: Zones II, III, IV, and V.
The revised map introduces a new highest-risk Zone VI, placing the entire Himalayan arc under it for the first time.
Previously, the Himalayan region was split between Zones IV and V.
Boundary towns between zones now automatically fall in the higher-risk category.
Hazard mapping in the new zonation prioritizes geological conditions over administrative boundaries.
India’s Earthquake Vulnerability
According to the new map, 61% of India’s land now lies in moderate to high hazard zones, up from 59% earlier.
Approximately 75% of India’s population now resides in seismically active regions.
The new map has important implications, such as encouraging retrofitting of buildings in high-risk areas.
It also discourages urban expansion on soft sediments or near active faults.
The map enforces uniform building standards across Himalayan states to reduce earthquake risk.
Government Strategies and Institutional Roles
The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) is responsible for setting disaster management policies.
State Disaster Management Authorities (SDMAs) are responsible for creating and implementing state-level disaster plans.
The National Seismological Network monitors earthquake activity across the country.
It also conducts research to develop earthquake early warning systems for timely alerts.
SoLAR Phase II
SoLAR Phase II has been launched to expand climate-resilient solar irrigation systems across South Asia and East Africa.
The programme builds on Phase I, which ran from 2019 to 2024.
Phase II was officially launched in November 2025.
The programme is implemented by the International Water Management Institute (IWMI), a global research organization focused on sustainable water use in agriculture.
It is also supported by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), which funds international development projects.
SoLAR Phase II is a multi-country programme covering India, Bangladesh, Kenya, and Ethiopia.
The primary objective of the programme is to ensure equitable and sustainable access to solar-powered agricultural technologies for small and marginal farmers.
Solar irrigation systems use renewable energy from the sun to pump water for farming, reducing dependence on diesel and electricity.
The initiative promotes climate resilience, helping farmers adapt to water scarcity and climate variability while improving crop productivity.
Cyclone Ditwah and Operation Sagar Bandhu
Recently, India launched Operation Sagar Bandhu to assist Sri Lanka, which was struck by Cyclone Ditwah.
Cyclone Ditwah is a tropical cyclone that brought heavy rains to Sri Lanka and Southern India.
The name “Ditwah” was contributed by Yemen.
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) defines a tropical cyclone as a system where winds exceed Gale Force, which is a minimum of 63 kilometers per hour (kph).
Cyclones are atmospheric disturbances formed around a low-pressure area and are characterized by swift and often destructive air circulation.
In the Northern Hemisphere, cyclone air circulates inward in an anticlockwise direction.
In the Southern Hemisphere, cyclone air circulates inward in a clockwise direction.
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