1. Free Online Coaching for Marginalized Aspirants

On 7th November 2025, the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with a private online educational institute to offer free online coaching for 15,000 aspirants belonging to Scheduled Castes, Other Backward Classes, and beneficiaries of the PM CARES Children Scheme.

• The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment formalized the collaboration in New Delhi today, aiming to enhance access to quality education for aspirants from underprivileged and marginalized communities across India.
• Under the MoU, 15,000 candidates from Scheduled Castes, Other Backward Classes, and PM CARES Children Scheme beneficiaries will receive free digital coaching for competitive examinations such as UPSC, SSC, and Banking.
• The partnership intends to provide comprehensive learning support through live and recorded lectures, allowing students to learn flexibly according to their pace and schedule, particularly benefiting those in remote or economically weaker regions.
• In addition to lectures, the programme will include structured test series designed to simulate real exam environments, enabling students to assess their preparation levels and identify areas for improvement effectively.

2. NASA Confirms Strongest Geomagnetic Storm of 2025

In November 2025, NASA has confirmed that Earth is experiencing the strongest geomagnetic storm of the year — a rare G5-level event powerful enough to make auroras visible far beyond the polar zones.

Key Points

• Cause of the Storm: According to NASA and NOAA, multiple Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) launched in quick succession from the Sun merged into a giant solar plasma wave before colliding with Earth’s magnetosphere.
• Scientific Observations: Researchers noted a steep drop in the Dst (Disturbance Storm Time) index and an unusually strong southward interplanetary magnetic field, allowing solar particles to penetrate deeper into Earth’s magnetic shield and fuel auroral activity.
• Auroras Visible at Lower Latitudes: The geomagnetic storm pushed the aurora borealis and aurora australis far beyond their usual zones.
• Impact on Technology: The storm disrupted satellite communications and prompted airlines to reroute polar flights due to radiation concerns.
• Future Risks: Scientists warn that as the Sun approaches its solar maximum in its 11-year cycle, more frequent and stronger CMEs are likely.

3. Shaping the Deep-Tech Revolution in Agriculture

On 7th November 2025, the World Economic Forum (WEF) released a landmark report titled “Shaping the Deep-Tech Revolution in Agriculture”, outlining seven breakthrough technologies poised to transform global farming systems.

• The report arrives as agriculture faces mounting challenges — with one-third of the world’s soil degraded, 71% of aquifers depleting, and the average age of farmers nearing 60.

Key Points

• Rising Food Demand: According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), global food production must rise by 70% by 2050 to meet population growth, underscoring the need for innovation-driven agriculture.
• Seven Frontier Technologies:
  1. Generative AI: Enables predictive and data-driven decisions for pest management and crop planning.
  2. Computer Vision: Facilitates real-time crop monitoring and automated produce sorting.
  3. Edge IoT: Supports automation of irrigation, fertilization, and pest control even in low-connectivity zones.
  4. Satellite-Enabled Remote Sensing: Provides insights on soil health, crop conditions, and weather trends for precision farming.
  5. Robotics and Drones: Automates tasks like planting and harvesting to boost efficiency and reduce costs.
  6. CRISPR Gene Editing: Accelerates the creation of climate-resilient and nutrient-rich crop varieties.
  7. Nanotechnology: Delivers fertilizers and pesticides in targeted ways to reduce waste and environmental harm.
• Emerging Use Cases: Deep-tech convergence is enabling new agricultural models such as swarm robotics for weeding and harvesting, agentic AI systems for supply chain oversight, and precision irrigation integrating AI, IoT, and satellite data.

4. Sustainable Harnessing of Fisheries in the EEZ Rules, 2025

On 4th November 2025, the Government of India notified the Sustainable Harnessing of Fisheries in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) Rules, 2025, marking a major milestone in advancing sustainable deep-sea fishing and supporting coastal livelihoods.

Key Points

• Empowering Small Fishers: The rules prioritize small fishers’ cooperatives and Fish Farmer Producer Organizations (FFPOs), granting them access to deep-sea fishing operations, training, and affordable credit through schemes such as the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) and the Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF).
• Modernization of Marine Fisheries: The new framework promotes modernization through value addition, certification, traceability, and the adoption of “mother-and-child” vessel models allowing mid-sea transhipment under Reserve Bank of India regulations.
• Island Focus: Special emphasis is placed on the Andaman & Nicobar and Lakshadweep Islands, which together account for nearly 50% of India’s EEZ.
• Sustainability Measures: The rules prohibit harmful practices like LED light fishing, pair trawling, and bull trawling.
• Digital Governance: A fully digital “Access Pass” system for mechanized and large motorized vessels will be launched via the ReALCRaft portal.
• Curbing IUU Fishing: The government will frame a National Plan of Action to curb Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing, safeguarding marine ecosystems and small fishers’ interests.
• Enhanced Security and Tracking: The rules mandate transponders and QR-coded ID cards for fishers and vessels.

5. Gundadhur and Maharaja Pravir Chandra Samman

On 7th November 2025, Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan conferred the prestigious Gundadhur Samman on international weightlifter Gyaneshwari Yadav and the Maharaja Pravir Chandra Bhanj Deo Samman on archer Chandani Sahu during the State Alankaran Samaroh, celebrating Chhattisgarh’s sporting talent.

• Gyaneshwari Yadav, aged 22 and a resident of Bhodiya village in Rajnandgaon district, was honoured with the Gundadhur Samman for her outstanding performance in international weightlifting competitions representing India.
• Gyaneshwari represented the country at the World Weightlifting Championship held in Manama, Bahrain, in December 2024, where she secured an impressive fifth position, earning widespread acclaim for her strength and consistency.
• The Gundadhur Samman, instituted by the Chhattisgarh Department of Sports and Youth Welfare, is presented annually to an athlete who has achieved national or international success within the past year in disciplines recognized by the Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.

6. Buddha Relics to Visit Bhutan for Peace Festival

From November 8 to 18 2025, the sacred relics of Lord Buddha from the National Museum in New Delhi will be taken to Bhutan for public exposition during the Global Peace Prayer Festival in Thimphu, coinciding with the 70th birth anniversary of Bhutan’s fourth king, Jigme Singye Wangchuk.

• The sacred relics of Lord Buddha will be displayed at the Kuenrey Hall of Tashichho Dzong, one of Bhutan’s most revered administrative and monastic centres, for public viewing during the Global Peace Prayer Festival.
• This marks the second occasion that the relics are being taken to Bhutan, the first being in 2011 during the wedding celebrations of King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, symbolizing the enduring spiritual and cultural ties between India and Bhutan.