Current Affairs 25 November 2025
It was the first ever G20 Summit held on African soil, with the theme Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability.
- The G20 declaration was adopted by world leaders despite the US boycott.
- Key Highlights of Declaration
- Disaster Resilience & Debt Sustainability: People-centred disaster response, support for debt-burdened countries, and emphasis on sustainable industrialisation and jobs.
- Climate & Energy Transition: Push to expand renewables, endorsed the G 20 Critical Minerals Framework (voluntary), and reaffirmed the Paris 1.5°C and global biodiversity goals.
- Institutional Reform: Call for UNSC reform and stronger multilateral cooperation rooted in the spirit of Ubuntu (Emphasizing interconnectedness and shared humanity).
- Reaffirmed commitment on empowerment of women and girls and condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.
Bharat New Car Assessment Programme (Bharat NCAP)
- Launched: In October 2023 for crashworthiness ratings, and valid till 2027
- Purpose: Provides safety ratings for vehicles based on crash testing and evaluation criteria.
- The programme is voluntary in nature.
- Designated Agency for Issuing Rating: Central Institute of Road Transport (CIRT) in Pune
- Tests conducted: As per Automotive Industry Standard (AIS)-197
Sangai Festival
- It is an annual 10-day cultural festival of Manipur (21–30 November) named after Sangai deer.
- Sangai deer also known as the brow-antlered deer is a rare species found only in India’s Keibul Lamjao National Park (World’s only floating national park).
- Keibul Lamjao National Park is Located in Loktak Lake, Manipur.
- It showcases Manipur’s traditions through dance, music, handlooms, handicrafts, food, and adventure activities.
Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) signed MoUs to boost cargo movement, passenger transport and river-based tourism in the Northeast.
- Genesis: Established in 1986, it is the nodal agency under the Union Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, mandated to develop and regulate National Waterways (NWs) in India.
- Headquarters: Noida, Uttar Pradesh.
- Mandate & Functions
- Development and regulation of inland waterways for shipping and navigation.
- Infrastructure development such as dredging, river training, terminal construction, and navigation aids.
- Ensuring safe and efficient movement of cargo and passengers through inland water transport (IWT).
- Development of National Waterways: After the National Waterways Act, 2016, a total of 111 waterways came under IWAI for development.
UNFCCC’s Conference of the Parties (COP)
- About: COP is the supreme decision-making body of the UNFCCC. Its member countries meet annually to review climate progress, negotiate agreements, and update commitments such as NDCs.
- The UNFCCC was adopted at the 1992 Rio Earth Summit to prevent dangerous human interference with the climate system, and was later strengthened by the Kyoto Protocol (1997) and the Paris Agreement (2015).
- COP 1 was held in Berlin in 1995, and by COP30, participation has grown to 198 countries, making it one of the largest multilateral platforms under the UN.
- COP is supported by the Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI) and the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA),
- COP also serves as the CMP for the Kyoto Protocol and the CMA for the Paris Agreement.
- Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (CMP) oversees the implementation of the Kyoto Protocol.
- Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement (CMA) oversees the implementation of the Paris Agreement.
Seychelles
- Seychelles is a sovereign island nation and archipelagic state of 155 islands, located in the western Indian Ocean, northeast of Madagascar and off the east coast of mainland Africa.
- The islands of Seychelles are situated on the Mascarene Plateau, an extensive submarine plateau in the Indian Ocean.
- It is Africa’s smallest and least populated country.
- Capital: Victoria (on Mahé Island).
- Strategic Importance for India: It sits along crucial maritime trade routes in the Indian Ocean and plays a key role in anti-piracy operations, maritime security, and the Blue Economy.
- Seychelles is a vital partner in India’s SAGAR vision and Indian Ocean diplomacy.
Guru Teg Bahadur
- About: He was the 9th Sikh Guru, revered for his teachings, bravery, and martyrdom.
- Early Life and Lineage: He was born on 21st April, 1621, in Amritsar to the 6th Sikh Guru, Guru Hargobind, and Mata Nanki. He was originally named Tyag Mal, reflecting his ascetic nature.
- Education and Martial Training: He received a holistic education, trained in scriptures by the renowned Bhai Gurdas and in martial arts by Baba Budha.
- Contributions and Leadership: As Guru, he contributed 116 hymns to the Guru Granth Sahib, travelled extensively to spread Sikh teachings, and founded the town of Chak-Nanki, which later enlarged into the city of Shri Anandpur Sahib.
- Martyrdom and Legacy: In 1675, he was executed in Delhi on the orders of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb for his fearless defence of religious freedom and his stand against forced conversions.
- This supreme sacrifice earned him the eternal title of “Hind di Chadar” or “Shield of India.”
Womaniya Initiative
- About: Launched in 2019, the Womaniya initiative on GeM supports women entrepreneurship by helping women-led MSEs, SHGs, artisans, and marginalized women sell directly to the government.
- Objective: Addresses the triple challenge faced by women entrepreneurs-access to markets, access to finance, and access to value-addition.
- It also supports the goal of reserving 3% of government procurement for women-owned businesses.
- Scale & Impact: According to the Udyam Registration Portal, women-owned MSMEs make up 20.5% of all MSMEs, contribute 18.73% to employment, and account for 11.15% of total investment.
