November 2025

Awards & Honours 

 

National Awards & Recognitions (India) 

• Manohar Parrikar Yuva Scientist Award 2025: Dr. Sai Gautam Gopalakrishnan, Associate Professor at IISc Bengaluru, was conferred this prestigious award carrying ₹5 lakh for path-breaking research in computational materials science. 

• CII Quality Ratna Award 2025: TVS Motor Chairman Emeritus Venu Srinivasan was honoured with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Quality Ratna Award for driving quality excellence across Indian industry. 

• 5th National Water Awards: The Ministry of Jal Shakti awarded Maharashtra first place in the ‘Best State’ category, while Navi Mumbai bagged the top spot for ‘Best Urban Local Body’. 

• National Gopal Ratna Awards 2025: Announced by the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying on National Milk Day (Nov 26) to celebrate exemplary dairy farmers and milk cooperatives. 

• Chevalier de L’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres: Acclaimed Indian art director and production designer Thota Tharani was bestowed with the Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters by the French government. 

• Maulana Abul Kalam Azad National Award 2025: Conferred upon Mohammed Lateef Khan, Founder-Chairman of MS Education Academy, recognizing his exceptional service in education and cultural development. 

• 10th ATAL Shastra MARKENOMY Lifetime Achievement Award: Veteran fine artist, art conservator, and museologist Sonali S Jeet Iyengar received the honour in Mumbai for her lifetime dedication to fine arts. 

• Moolathva World Award 2025: Bengaluru-based Nele Foundation received this distinguished recognition for providing holistic rehabilitation, education, and shelter to underprivileged and orphan children. 

International Honours & Global Recognitions 

• 2025 Booker Prize: British-Hungarian author David Szalay clinched the coveted 2025 Booker Prize at London’s Old Billingsgate for his masterful sixth novel, ‘Flesh’. 

• British Knighthood (Knight Bachelor): Former England football captain and global icon David Beckham was formally knighted by King Charles III at Windsor Castle for his services to football and international charity. 

• World Leader for Peace and Security Award 2025: Spiritual leader Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar was honoured by the Boston Global Forum (BGF) and AI World Society (AIWS) at Harvard University for advancing global harmony. 

• Australia’s Don Award 2025: McLaren Formula One driver Oscar Piastri was presented the Don Award—Australia’s highest annual sporting honour—by the Sport Australia Hall of Fame. 

• Honorary Academy Award (Governors Awards 2025): Hollywood veteran Tom Cruise received an honorary Oscar from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in Los Angeles for stellar lifetime cinematic contributions. 

• 53rd International Emmy Awards: BBC’s comedy thriller ‘Ludwig’ won Best Comedy Series, British series ‘Rivals’ clinched Best Drama Series, and Anna Maxwell Martin won Best Performance by an Actress. 

• Guinness & Limca Book of Records Entry: Renowned playback singer Palak Muchhal was officially inducted into the Guinness and Limca records for personally financing life-saving heart surgeries for thousands of needy children. 

• 56th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) Golden Peacock: Director Ashleigh Mayfair’s drama ‘Skin of Youth’ won the prestigious Golden Peacock Award for Best Feature Film at the 2025 festival in Goa. 

Appointments & Persons in News 

National Appointments (India) 

• Chief Justice of India (53rd CJI): Justice Surya Kant was sworn in as the 53rd Chief Justice of India, succeeding Justice B.R. Gavai upon his retirement on November 23, 2025. 

• Governor of Manipur: Senior bureaucrat and administrator K. Sanjay Murthy was officially appointed by the President as the new Governor of Manipur. 

• Chairman of Indian Banks’ Association (IBA): State Bank of India (SBI) Chairman C.S. Setty was unanimously elected as the new Chairman of the Indian Banks’ Association for the 2025–26 tenure. 

• Director General of Border Security Force (BSF): Senior IPS officer Amrit Mohan Prasad took charge as the Director General of the Border Security Force (BSF), overseeing border vigilance and security operations. 

• President of FICCI (2025–26): Industrialist Harsha Vardhan Agarwal took over as the President of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) at its 98th Annual Convention. 

• Whole-Time Member of SEBI: Financial regulator and market specialist Manoj Govil assumed charge as a Whole-Time Member (WTM) of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI). 

• Director General of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF): IPS officer Vitul Kumar was appointed as the new Director General of the CRPF to lead internal security and anti-naxal operations across India. 

• Executive Director at Reserve Bank of India (RBI): Aviral Jain was appointed as Executive Director of the RBI, taking charge of the Financial Inclusion and Development Department. 

International Appointments & World Leaders 

• President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC): The IOC executive council confirmed Kirsty Coventry to prepare for her official induction as IOC President, following historic milestone elections. 

• Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO): Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala was officially confirmed and re-appointed for a second four-year term as the Director-General of the World Trade Organization. 

• President of the Asian Development Bank (ADB): Former Japanese Vice Finance Minister Masato Kanda officially assumed office as the 11th President of the Asian Development Bank. 

• Prime Minister of Mauritius: Dr. Navin Ramgoolam was sworn in as the Prime Minister of Mauritius following a landslide victory of the Alliance du Changement coalition. 

• President of INTERPOL: Senior Brazilian police commissioner Valdecy Urquiza officially assumed office as the new President of INTERPOL, becoming the first South American to head the organisation. 

• Permanent Representative of the UK to the United Nations: Veteran diplomat Dame Barbara Woodward concluded her diplomatic stint and passed leadership to newly designated envoy Peter Westmacott in Geneva and New York. 

Persons in News & Notable Demises 

• Bhartruhari Mahtab in News: Senior parliamentarian Bhartruhari Mahtab was appointed Chairperson of the high-level Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance. 

• Deepinder Goyal in News: Zomato Founder Deepinder Goyal made headlines after being named into the prestigious global Forbes Billionaires Leadership Circle for disruptive tech entrepreneurship. 

• Passing of Sharda Sinha: Legendary folk singer and Padma Bhushan recipient Sharda Sinha, affectionately known as ‘Bihar Kokila’, passed away at the age of 72, leaving an unmatched cultural legacy. 

• Passing of Dr. B.M. Hegde: Renowned cardiologist, medical reformer, author, and Padma Bhushan awardee Dr. Belle Monappa Hegde passed away, mourned widely across the international medical community. 

Government Schemes, Policies & Welfare Initiatives 

Central Government Schemes & National Policies 

• Expansion of Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY: The Union Cabinet officially rolled out the universal health coverage expansion under PM-JAY, providing ₹5 lakh annual health cover to all senior citizens aged 70 and above, regardless of income. 

• PM-Vidyalaxmi Scheme Operationalized: The Central Government approved financial support for higher education, offering collateral-free education loans up to ₹10 lakh with full interest subvention for students admitted to top NIRF-ranked institutions. 

• Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan (DAJGUA): Launched nationwide on Janjatiya Gaurav Divas (Nov 15) with an outlay of ₹79,156 crore to bridge critical infrastructure and socio-economic gaps across 63,843 tribal villages. 

• PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana Milestone: The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy announced that over 1.5 million residential rooftop solar installations were successfully completed under the scheme, offering up to 300 units of free power monthly. 

• Mission Mausam Implementation: The Ministry of Earth Sciences initiated high-performance computing acquisitions and dense radar network setups under the ₹2,000 crore Mission Mausam to enhance climate prediction and monsoon forecasting accuracy. 

• Extension of PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY): The Central Government reviewed the ongoing pan-India distribution framework ensuring 5 kg of free foodgrains monthly to over 81.35 crore beneficiaries under the National Food Security Act. 

State Government Welfare Initiatives 

• Mukhyamantri Maiyan Samman Yojana (Jharkhand): The state government cleared a progressive hike in monthly financial aid to eligible women aged 18 to 50 years from ₹1,000 to ₹2,500, aiming to foster direct financial empowerment. 

• Ladki Bahin Yojana Milestone (Maharashtra): The Maharashtra government disbursed monthly direct benefit transfers (DBT) of ₹1,500 to over 2.3 crore eligible women, strengthening socio-economic resilience among underprivileged families. 

• Kalaignar Magalir Urimai Thittam Expansion (Tamil Nadu): The Tamil Nadu government widened the verification ambit of its flagship monthly basic income entitlement scheme of ₹1,000 to cover more marginalized women heads of families. 

• Nijut Moina Scheme (Assam): Assam expanded scholarship payouts to curb child marriage and encourage girl child higher education, granting monthly stipends ranging from ₹1,000 to ₹2,500 for higher secondary, graduate, and post-graduate students. 

• Deepam 2.0 Scheme (Andhra Pradesh): The Andhra Pradesh government launched the implementation of the Deepam 2.0 welfare scheme, providing three free LPG cylinders annually to low-income rural and urban households. 

Sectoral Policies, Labour & Social Welfare 

• National Electricity Plan (Transmission) 2032: The Central Electricity Authority released the updated transmission roadmap to evacuate 500 GW of non-fossil energy capacity by 2030 with a dedicated capital outlay exceeding ₹9.15 lakh crore. 

• Social Security for Gig and Platform Workers: The Ministry of Labour and Employment finalized framework guidelines for onboarding gig and platform workers onto the e-Shram portal to extend ESIC and accidental insurance benefits. 

• Green Hydrogen Mission Strategic Interventions (SIGHT): The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy awarded tenders for domestic electrolyzer manufacturing and green ammonia pilot production under the Strategic Interventions for Green Hydrogen Transition scheme. 

Sports & Games

Cricket 

• Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024–25 Kickoff: India commenced the prestigious 5-match Test series against Australia at Perth, registering a dominant 295-run victory in the opening Test under stand-in captain Jasprit Bumrah. 

• IPL 2025 Mega Auction Record: Rishabh Pant emerged as the most expensive player in Indian Premier League history after being acquired by Lucknow Super Giants for a staggering ₹27 crore in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. 

• Shreyas Iyer Sets Mega Auction Benchmark: Punjab Kings secured star batter Shreyas Iyer for ₹26.75 crore, making him the second-most expensive player in IPL history at the Jeddah auction. 

• ICC Women’s Under-19 T20 World Cup Warm-Up: The International Cricket Council finalized schedules and match fixtures for the upcoming Women’s U-19 T20 World Cup, highlighting expanding global grassroots pathways. 

Hockey & Football 

• Women’s Asian Champions Trophy 2024: The Indian women’s hockey team clinched the Asian Champions Trophy title in Rajgir, Bihar, defeating Olympic silver medallists China 1-0 in a thrilling final. 

• Deepika Crowned Tournament Top Scorer: Indian striker Deepika finished as the top goal-scorer of the Women’s Asian Champions Trophy with 11 goals, steering India to its third continental title. 

• FIFA Men’s World Cup 2026 Asian Qualifiers: Key Asian powerhouses Japan, Iran, and South Korea maintained unbeaten streaks during Matchday 5 and 6 fixtures in round three of the qualifiers. 

• UEFA Nations League Quarter-Finalists Decided: European giants Germany, Spain, France, and Portugal officially sealed their spots in the final eight knockout stage of the UEFA Nations League 2024–25. 

Chess, Badminton & Tennis

• World Chess Championship 2024 Commences: The historic World Chess Championship match between defending champion Ding Liren and Indian challenger D. Gukesh began at Resorts World Sentosa in Singapore. 

• Syed Modi India International 2024: Indian shuttlers dominated podium finishes at the BWF World Tour Super 300 tournament held at the Babu Banarasi Das Indoor Stadium in Lucknow. 

• ATP Finals 2024 (Turin): World No. 1 Jannik Sinner won his maiden ATP Finals title in Turin, Italy, defeating Taylor Fritz in straight sets without dropping a single set across the entire tournament. 

• Davis Cup 2024 Finals: Italy successfully retained the prestigious Davis Cup trophy in Malaga, Spain, led by stellar singles and doubles performances against the Netherlands. 

Formula 1, Shooting & Multi-Sport Events 

• Las Vegas Grand Prix 2024: Mercedes driver George Russell triumphed at the Las Vegas GP, while Max Verstappen secured his fourth consecutive Formula 1 World Drivers’ Championship title. 

• ISSF World Cup Final & Shooting Accolades: Indian shooters wrapped up their annual competitive calendar with podium finishes across rifle and pistol disciplines, cementing top continental rankings. 

• 2026 Commonwealth Games Restructuring: The Commonwealth Games Federation officially unveiled the condensed 10-sport programme for Glasgow 2026, confirming the exclusion of wrestling, shooting, and badminton. 

Science, Space & Technology 

Space Exploration & Satellite Missions 

• ISRO’s Proba-3 Launch Preparations: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) completed the final integration of ESA’s Proba-3 satellites aboard the PSLV-C59 launch vehicle for high-precision solar coronagraphy. 

• SpaceX GSAT-N2 (GSAT-20) Commercial Launch: ISRO’s commercial arm NewSpace India Limited (NSIL) successfully launched the 4,700-kg high-throughput communications satellite GSAT-N2 aboard SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral. 

• NASA-ISRO NISAR Mission Progress: Engineers finalized critical thermal vacuum testing for the joint NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) satellite at ISRO Satellite Integration and Test Facility in Bengaluru. 

• SpaceX Starship Flight 6 Test: SpaceX conducted the sixth integrated flight test of Starship from Starbase, Texas, demonstrating an in-space Raptor engine relight and gathering key atmospheric reentry thermal data. 

Artificial Intelligence, Quantum & Computing 

• IndiaAI Mission Compute Capacity Expansion: The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) approved procurement of over 10,000 GPUs under the IndiaAI Mission to democratize sovereign AI infrastructure for academia and startups. 

• National Quantum Mission Hubs Notified: The Department of Science and Technology (DST) set up thematic hubs (T-Hubs) across leading IITs and IISc to spearhead indigenous quantum computing, quantum cryptography, and sensing systems. 

• OpenAI Advanced Reasoning Model Integration: OpenAI rolled out dedicated autonomous reasoning frameworks, optimizing mathematics, complex software engineering, and scientific research automation across enterprise applications. 

• Param Rudra Supercomputing Facility Scaling: Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) expanded deployment of indigenously developed ‘Param Rudra’ supercomputing systems across premier academic institutions under the National Supercomputing Mission. 

Defense Technology, Biotechnology & Health Innovations 

• Long-Range Hypersonic Missile Flight Trial: The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully carried out the maiden flight test of India’s long-range hypersonic missile from Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Island off the Odisha coast. 

• Indigenous CAR-T Cell Therapy Expansion: India’s first homegrown CAR-T cell therapy, NexCAR19, received expanded healthcare network deployment across public cancer centres, slashing therapeutic costs drastically compared to global benchmarks. 

• Sub-Doppler Laser Cooling at RRI: Raman Research Institute (RRI) researchers achieved a breakthrough in ultra-cold atomic physics by realizing sub-Doppler laser cooling of Rubidium atoms, paving the way for ultra-precise quantum clocks. 

• Green Hydrogen Electrolyzer Prototype (BHEL & CSIR): Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL), in collaboration with CSIR laboratories, successfully tested an indigenous multi-megawatt Polymer Electrolyte Membrane (PEM) electrolyzer stack for clean hydrogen generation 

Summits, Bills & International Affairs 

International Summits & Conferences 

• G20 Leaders’ Summit in Rio de Janeiro: The 19th G20 Summit convened in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, under the theme ‘Building a Just World and a Sustainable Planet’, witnessing the official launch of the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty. 

• COP29 UN Climate Summit in Baku: The 29th UN Climate Change Conference (COP29) took place in Baku, Azerbaijan, focusing primarily on establishing the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) on climate finance for developing economies. 

• 31st APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting: Hosted in Lima, Peru, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) leaders’ gathering emphasized inclusive digital trade, resilient energy transition, and sustainable supply chain growth. 

• 5th INC Session on Global Plastics Treaty (INC-5): Delegates gathered in Busan, South Korea, for the fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5) to finalize a legally binding global instrument tackling plastic pollution. 

Bills, Legislation & Parliamentary Developments 

• Winter Session of Parliament & Key Legislative Agenda: The Winter Session of the Indian Parliament commenced with priority deliberations on key economic and governance bills, including the Waqf (Amendment) Bill and civil aviation reforms. 

• Disaster Management (Amendment) Bill, 2024 Scrutiny: Parliamentary scrutiny advanced on establishing integrated national-level database frameworks and empowering urban disaster management authorities across major metropolitan cities. 

• Boilers Bill, 2024 Legislative Progress: Introduced to replace the century-old Boilers Act of 1923, focusing on enhanced safety protocols, streamlined regulatory compliance, and ease of doing business for industrial units. 

• Merchant Shipping Bill Deliberations: The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways advanced consultations on the draft bill to modernize maritime safety, seafarer welfare, and vessel registrations aligned with international maritime standards. 

International Affairs & Bilateral Agreements 

• India-Guyana Bilateral Strategic Partnerships: Prime Minister Narendra Modi undertook a historic state visit to Guyana, signing key agreements across hydrocarbon energy exploration, defense cooperation, and healthcare capacity building. 

• 2nd India-CARICOM Summit in Georgetown: India and Caribbean Community leaders held the 2nd India-CARICOM Summit, agreeing on a 7-pillar roadmap covering agriculture, renewable energy, and digital public infrastructure (DPI). 

• India-Brazil Bilateral Talks at G20: India and Brazil reaffirmed strong cooperation in the Global Biofuels Alliance, critical minerals supply chains, and digital transformation initiatives during bilateral engagements in Rio. 

• BIMSTEC Free Trade Agreement (FTA) Negotiations: Trade delegations met to fast-track negotiations on the BIMSTEC trade in goods agreement, strengthening regional connectivity across the Bay of Bengal littoral states. 

Books, Authors & Important Days 

Books & Authors 

• Booker Prize 2025 Winner: British author Samantha Harvey won the 2025 Booker Prize for her space-station set novel ‘Orbital’, making it the first Booker winner set in low Earth orbit. 

• ‘Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing’ Retrospective Edition: An expanded edition paying tribute to Matthew Perry’s memoir was highlighted in international literary discussions. 

• ‘The City and Its Uncertain Walls’: Haruki Murakami’s English edition gained widespread critical recognition and topped international bestseller charts. 

• ‘Patriots: The Life and Times of Alexei Navalny’: Posthumous memoir by Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny detailing his life, political resistance, and imprisonment. 

• ‘Nexus: A Brief History of Information Networks from the Stone Age to AI’: Authored by Yuval Noah Harari, exploring the evolution of information networks and the dangers of artificial intelligence. 

• ‘Why Bharat Matters’ (Global Edition): Authored by External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar, focusing on India’s strategic foreign policy, geopolitical realignment, and rising global footprint. 

• ‘Revenge of the Tipping Point’: Malcolm Gladwell’s new release examining social epidemics, viral trends, and modern cultural shifts. 

• ‘Karunanidhi: A Life in Politics’: A detailed biographical work by Sandhya Ravishankar chronicling the legacy and Dravidian politics of M. Karunanidhi. 

Important Days & Themes 

• November 1 – World Vegan Day: Celebrated globally to promote plant-based diets, ethical living, and environmental sustainability. 

• November 5 – World Tsunami Awareness Day: Observed to raise international awareness on tsunami risks, disaster reduction strategies, and resilient coastal infrastructure. 

• November 7 – National Cancer Awareness Day (India): Commemorating the birth anniversary of Marie Curie to emphasize early detection, prevention, and lifestyle management against cancer. 

• November 9 – National Legal Services Day (India): Marking the enactment of the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987, ensuring free and competent legal aid to marginalized sections. 

• November 11 – National Education Day (India): Commemorating the birth anniversary of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, India’s first Union Minister of Education, emphasizing universal access to quality education. 

• November 12 – World Pneumonia Day: Dedicated to driving action against the world’s leading infectious killer of children under five and promoting equitable immunization access. 

• November 14 – World Diabetes Day & Children’s Day (India): World Diabetes Day raised awareness on diabetes prevention and management, while Children’s Day honored the birth anniversary of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. 

• November 15 – Janjatiya Gaurav Divas: Celebrating the birth anniversary of tribal leader and freedom fighter Bhagwan Birsa Munda to honor tribal heritage and contributions. 

• November 16 – National Press Day (India): Marking the establishment of the Press Council of India and celebrating an independent, responsible free press. 

• November 19 – World Toilet Day: Raising global awareness on safe sanitation, hygiene, and working towards achieving SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation for all). 

• November 20 – World Children’s Day: Marking the anniversary of the UN Declaration and Convention on the Rights of the Child, advocating for children’s welfare and future rights. 

• November 21 – World Fisheries Day: Highlighting sustainable fish stock management, marine biodiversity, and the socio-economic welfare of artisanal fisherfolk communities. 

• November 26 – Constitution Day (Samvidhan Divas) & National Milk Day (India): Honoring the adoption of the Indian Constitution in 1949, and celebrating Dr. Verghese Kurien’s birth anniversary (the Father of the White Revolution). 

 

Miscellaneous (GI Tags, Superlatives, UNESCO Heritage & Dance Personalities) 

Geographical Indication (GI) Tags 

• Majuli Mask & Manuscript Painting (Assam): Traditional handmade masks used in Bhaona theatre and sacred manuscript paintings of Majuli gained spotlight following export facilitation drives under their GI tag recognition. 

• Risa Textile (Tripura): The signature handwoven indigenous ceremonial stole of Tripura saw state-backed cultural preservation and geographical authenticity initiatives. 

• Ambaji White Marble (Gujarat): Granted GI certification recognition, protecting the distinctive fine-grained white marble historically used in famed temples like Dilwara and Somnath. 

• Banaras Metal Repousse Craft & Tharu Embroidery (UP/Bihar): Craft promotion councils advanced export networks for authentic GI-tagged brassware repousse and indigenous Tharu tribal needlework. 

Superlatives (India & World: Firsts, Largest, Highest) 

• World’s Highest Rail Bridge (Chenab Bridge): Northern Railway completed final phased operational trials, marking the world’s highest single-arch rail bridge rising 359 meters above the river bed. 

• India’s Largest Floating Solar Project: A major floating solar PV installation across the Omkareshwar reservoir in Madhya Pradesh achieved full capacity grid synchronization. 

• First Carbon-Neutral Public Transit Corridor: India operationalized its first fully renewable-powered and carbon-neutral rapid metro corridor, setting an urban sustainability milestone. 

• World’s Largest Renewable Energy Park: Accelerated construction phases were reviewed at Gujarat’s Khavda Renewable Energy Park, scaling towards its targeted 30 GW capacity. 

UNESCO & World Heritage 

• Moidams of Assam (Charaideo): Promoted actively across international heritage itineraries following their recognition as Assam’s first cultural UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

• UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN): Cultural retrospectives celebrated Gwalior (‘City of Music’) and Kozhikode (‘City of Literature’) for sustainable community-led cultural preservation. 

• Tentative List Additions: The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) advanced documentation dossiers for historic forts and sacred stepwells for India’s UNESCO tentative listing. 

• Memory of the World Regional Register: Literary archives and palm-leaf manuscripts from regional academies were processed for regional documentary heritage preservation. 

Dance Personalities & Performing Arts 

• Sangeet Natak Akademi Honors: Renowned classical exponents of Kathak, Bharatanatyam, and Odissi were honored for lifelong dedication to guru-shishya parampara and dance innovation. 

• Tributes to Classical Legends: National cultural bodies observed commemorative centenary retrospectives honoring legendary pioneers of Kathakali and Manipuri dance traditions. 

• Kalidas Samman in Classical Dance: Eminent veterans in classical dance choreography were conferred prestigious state cultural awards recognizing their contributions to classical ballet and theatre. 

• Youth Heritage Dance Festivals: National-level classical dance forums organized youth platforms across major cultural centers to encourage rising dancers in Kuchipudi and Mohiniyattam. 

 ENVIRONMENT 

• UNEP released the Global Methane Status Report 2025: Warned that current commitments remain insufficient to hit the 2030 methane target.  

• Smooth-coated otter photographed in Indravati Tiger Reserve: Elusive species spotted in Chhattisgarh reserve for the first time in 25 years.  

• IUCN World Heritage Outlook report released: Sikkim’s Khangchendzonga National Park became the only Indian natural site rated “Good”. 

• India was ranked in Global Climate Risk Index 2025: Ranked 9th globally among countries most vulnerable to extreme climate disasters. 

• Delhi enforced emergency GRAP Stage-IV curbs: Severe pollution crisis pushed Air Quality Index (AQI) levels past hazardous 450 marks.  

• Supreme Court addressed ex-post facto environmental clearances: Allowed regularisation only under exceptional infrastructure cases with heavy penalties.  

• Ethiopia was selected for UN climate summit: Addis Ababa was officially confirmed as the host venue for COP32. 

• Padma Shri conservationist Saalumarada Thimmakka passed away: Renowned centenarian environmentalist from Karnataka passed away at age 112. 

• Scientists discovered a rare wild grape species: Cyphostemma annamalaii was recorded in Tamil Nadu’s Western Ghats. 

• Ministry of Jal Shakti launched the Bhu-Neer portal: Rolled out digital monitoring system to regulate India’s groundwater extraction. 

• JSW Energy commissioned commercial green hydrogen plant: India’s largest commercial green hydrogen production unit began operations in Karnataka. 

• UAE deployed decommissioned vessels for artificial reefs: Launched massive underwater project in Arabian Gulf to rebuild fish habitats. 

• Oman gained a key UNESCO environmental seat: Elected to the International Coordinating Council of Man and Biosphere (MAB). 

• Masinta PSP Clearance: Union Ministry of Environment granted Terms of Reference (ToR) for the 1,000 MW ; Masinta Pumped Storage Project in Odisha.