CURRENT AFFAIRS 01 November, 2025

CURRENT AFFAIRS 01 November, 2025

1. INDIA SECURES SIX-MONTH US WAIVER FOR CHABAHAR PORT –

• India has received a six-month waiver from US sanctions on Iran’s Chabahar Port, allowing continued Indian operations there until at least April 2026.

What are the Key Facts About the Chabahar Port?

• Location and Geography: Chabahar Port is situated in Iran’s Sistan-Baluchestan province on the Gulf of Oman, near the mouth of the Strait of Hormuz.
• The Chabahar Port project comprises two ports – Shahid Kalantari and Shahid Beheshti.
• It is Iran’s only oceanic and deep water port, giving direct access to the Indian Ocean.
• The Chabahar port is located about 170 km west of Pakistan’s Gwadar Port, which is being developed by China under the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
• Strategic and Economic Importance for India: Chabahar Port provides direct access to Afghanistan and Central Asia, bypassing Pakistan.
• It forms part of the International North–South Transport Corridor (INSTC) linking India with Iran–Caspian Sea–Russia–Europe and strengthens India’s maritime connectivity and energy security in the Indian Ocean Region.
• Chabahar port acts as a counterbalance to China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and Pakistan’s Gwadar Port under China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
• It serves as a linchpin of India’s “Connect Central Asia” and “Extended Neighbourhood” policies.

2. INDIA CROSSES 500 GW POWER CAPACITY MARK –

• India has achieved a significant milestone with the nation’s total installed electricity capacity surpassing 500 GW. More than 51% of this capacity now originates from non-fossil fuel sources.

Breakdown of India’s Power Capacity:

• Total Installed Capacity: 500.89 GW
• Non-fossil fuel sources: 256.09 GW (≈51%) including Solar(127.33 GW), Wind (53.12 GW), Hydro (30.29 GW) and Nuclear (45.25 GW).
• Fossil-fuel-based sources: 244.80 GW (≈49%)
• Renewables Hit Record High: India has emerged as a global renewable energy leader, ranking:
• 3rd in solar power capacity,
• 4th in wind power, and
• 4th in overall renewable energy capacity globally.
• Meeting National Targets Ahead of Time: With this progress, India has already achieved one of its major COP26 (Glasgow, 2021) Panchamrit goals — to have 50 % of installed electric power capacity from non-fossil fuel sources by 2030, five years early.

Significance:

• This shows India’s rapid pace of renewable capacity expansion and gradual decline in fossil fuel dependency.
• It was the first time over half of India’s electricity came from green sources in a single day – a symbol of the nation’s growing energy resilience and sustainability.
• This underscores India’s leadership in climate action while maintaining grid stability and energy reliability.

3. KERALA BECOMES INDIA’S FIRST STATE TO ELIMINATE EXTREME POVERTY –

• Kerala has achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first state in India to eradicate extreme poverty. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan announced the achievement in the state Assembly on November 1, 2025, coinciding with Kerala’s Formation Day. The declaration marks the culmination of a four-year initiative launched immediately after the government assumed office in 2021.

Historic Declaration in the State Assembly

• Speaking under Rule 300 in the Assembly, Chief Minister Vijayan described the occasion as a “new dawn” in Kerala’s development journey. He stated that the state’s success reflects the fulfilment of one of the government’s earliest promises — to make Kerala free from extreme poverty. He noted that this Kerala Piravi (Formation Day) holds special significance, symbolising the creation of a “Nava Kerala,” or new Kerala, built on social justice and inclusive progress.

4. INDIA ISSUES NOTAM FOR MAJOR IAF DRILLS IN NORTHEAST AMID DUAL-FRONT PREPAREDNESS –

• India has issued multiple Notices to Airmen (NOTAMs) across its northeastern airspace as the Indian Air Force (IAF) gears up for a series of large-scale operational exercises. The move comes as part of heightened border preparedness and coincides with the launch of ‘Exercise Trishul’, a major tri-service drill along the western frontier with Pakistan.

Large-Scale Air Operations Planned Across Northeast

• The IAF has scheduled its northeastern combat readiness drills on November 6, November 20, December 4, December 18, January 1, and January 15, 2026. These exercises will include extensive air defence manoeuvres, multi-aircraft sorties, and logistics operations across several forward air bases. The northeastern corridor, bordering China, Bhutan, Myanmar, and Bangladesh, remains one of India’s most sensitive strategic zones, making air surveillance and rapid deployment crucial to national security.

5. DELHI BANS NON-BS VI GOODS VEHICLES TO CURB AIR POLLUTION –

• The Delhi government has implemented a ban on the entry of all non-Delhi-registered commercial goods vehicles below BS-IV emission standards from November 1, 2025. The directive, issued by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), aims to reduce vehicular pollution in the National Capital Region ahead of the winter smog season.

Scope and Implementation of the Ban

• Under the new rules, Light, Medium, and Heavy Goods Vehicles (LGVs, MGVs, and HGVs) that are registered outside Delhi and fall below BS-IV standards are prohibited from entering the capital. However, BS-IV-compliant vehicles will still be allowed entry until October 31, 2026, giving transport operators time to transition to cleaner models. The ban excludes vehicles registered within Delhi and those using cleaner fuels such as CNG, LNG, or electricity.

MCQ QUIZ

Q1.   Eturnagaram Wildlife Sanctuary is located in which state ?

1. a) Telangana
2. b) Maharashtra
3. c) Gujarat
4. d) Karnataka

Q2.   Which aircraft did Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) receive exclusive rights to manufacture in India under its MoU with Russia’s PJSC-UAC in October 2025 ?

1. a) Sukhoi Superjet 100 (SJ-100)
2. b) Irkut MC-21
3. c) Boeing 737 MAX
4. d) Airbus A220

Q3.   Who has been appointed as the 53rd Chief Justice of India (CJI), effective 24 November 2025 ?

1. a) Justice DY Chandrachud
2. b) Justice BR Gavai
3. c) Justice Surya Kant
4. d) Justice NV Ramana

Q4.   Consider the following statements regarding Geographical Indications (GI) in India:

1. A GI tag is a form of Intellectual Property Right (IPR) registered under the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999.
2. The GI tag is issued by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), New Delhi.
3. The primary purpose of a GI tag is to ensure a standardized minimum support price for agricultural producers.

          How many of the above statements are correct ?

1. a) Only one
2. b) Only two
3. c) All three
4. d) None

Explanation-

• Statement 1 is correct. A GI is a form of IPR, and it is governed in India by the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999.
• Statement 2 is incorrect. While the GI Registry is under the DPIIT, the issuing authority is specifically the Geographical Indication Registry located in Chennai, not New Delhi.
• Statement 3 is incorrect. The purpose of a GI tag is not to set a Minimum Support Price (MSP). Its aim is to protect the product’s authenticity, enhance its market value by linking it to its origin, and prevent unauthorized use of the name, thereby ensuring economic benefits for the local producers, but this is achieved through market differentiation, not price-fixing.

Q5.   With reference to the functionaries involved in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) 2025, consider the following statements:

1. The District Magistrate (DM) is responsible for distributing and collecting the Enumeration Form (EF) from each household.
2. Booth Level Agents (BLAs) are government officials appointed by the ECI to assist in voter verification.
3. The Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) is the first appellate authority for individuals disagreeing with a decision made by the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO).

          How many of the above statements are correct ?

1. a) Only one
2. b) Only two
3. c) All three
4. d) None

Explanation-

• Statement 1 is incorrect. The functionary responsible for house-to-house distribution and collection of the Enumeration Form (EF) is the Booth Level Officer (BLO), not the District Magistrate (DM).
• Statement 2 is incorrect. Booth Level Agents (BLAs) are representatives of recognised political parties, not government officials. Their role is to assist in the process (like collecting forms and verifying voters) to ensure transparency from a political party perspective.
• Statement 3 is incorrect. The District Magistrate (DM) hears the first appeals against an ERO’s decision. The Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) hears the second appeals, not the first.

Answer Key