CURRENT AFFAIRS 13 November, 2025

CURRENT AFFAIRS 13 November, 2025

1. INDIA’S PRIME MINISTER UNDERTOOK A STATE VISIT TO BHUTAN TO ATTEND THE 70TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS OF BHUTAN’S 4TH KING (DRUK GYALPO), JIGME SINGYE WANGCHUCK, FATHER OF THE CURRENT MONARCH –

What are the Key Highlights of India’s State Visit to Bhutan?

• Economic and Developmental Assistance: India reaffirmed its support for Bhutan’s 13th Five Year Plan and Economic Stimulus Programme, and announced backing for the Gelephu Mindfulness City project and an Immigration Check Post at Hatisar, Assam.
• India and Bhutan signed 3 New MoUs on renewable energy, health, and mental health.
• Hydropower Diplomacy: India and Bhutan inaugurated the 1020 MW Punatsangchhu-II Project and resumed work on the 1200 MW Punatsangchhu-I Project, strengthening their hydroelectric partnership.
• India also extended a Line of Credit of Rs 40 billion for new energy projects in Bhutan.
• Connectivity and Infrastructure: Both sides reaffirmed commitment to strengthen cross-border connectivity and infrastructure, building on initiatives like the Darranga Check Post and Jogigopha Multimodal Terminal.
• They acknowledged progress on the Cross-Border Rail Links connecting Gelephu–Kokrajhar and Samtse–Banarhat.
• Trade and Agriculture Cooperation: India institutionalised the supply of essential commodities and fertilisers to Bhutan, with the first consignment ensuring uninterrupted agricultural inputs.

2. INDIA HAS INAUGURATED ITS NEWEST AND HIGHEST FIGHTER-CAPABLE AIRBASE AT NYOMA IN LADAKH, BUILT BY THE BORDER ROADS ORGANISATION (BRO), MARKING A MAJOR BOOST TO THE COUNTRY’S AIR POWER ALONG THE NORTHERN FRONT –

• Nyoma Airbase: Nyoma lies at 13,700 feet, making it one of the world’s highest fighter-capable airbases.
• Located only 35 km from the Line of Actual Control (LAC), it gives India rapid-response capability against China.
• It strengthens India’s forward military posture after the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) troop buildup in eastern Ladakh (2020).
• The base will significantly boost air infrastructure in Ladakh and enhance the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) ability to respond quickly to any aerial threats along the northern frontier.
• Key Capabilities of the Nyoma Base: It supports fighter jet operations, unlike the earlier limited-use airstrip. Enhances surveillance, mobility, and logistics in a strategically sensitive region.

3. GODREJ DELIVERS HUMAN-RATED VIKAS ENGINE FOR GAGANYAAN –

• India’s human spaceflight programme gained momentum as Godrej Aerospace delivered the first human-rated L110 stage Vikas engine to the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). The engine will power the LVM-3 launch vehicle that will carry Indian astronauts under the Gaganyaan mission, marking a major milestone in the country’s space capabilities.

Significance of the Human-Rated Vikas Engine

• The human-rated L110 Vikas engine is engineered to meet stringent safety and reliability standards required for crewed missions. It forms a crucial part of the LVM-3’s core stage, ensuring stable propulsion during ascent. This delivery marks an essential step towards meeting ISRO’s timelines for upcoming uncrewed and crewed flight tests.

4. MOODY’S PROJECTS INDIA AS G-20’S FASTEST-GROWING ECONOMY –

• India is set to maintain its position as the fastest-growing economy in the G-20, according to Moody’s latest global outlook. The agency expects strong domestic demand, stable monetary conditions and resilient exports to support growth through 2027.

India’s Growth Path Through 2025–27

• Moody’s forecasts India’s GDP to rise 7 per cent in 2025, followed by 6.4 per cent in 2026 and 6.5 per cent in 2027. The momentum is driven by sustained consumption, increased infrastructure spending and continued diversification of export markets.

Resilience Amid Global Headwinds

• The rating agency noted India’s ability to navigate international pressures, including higher US tariffs on selected products. Exporters successfully redirected shipments, helping overall exports grow despite a decline in goods sent to the United States.

5. INDIA RECORDS SHARP FALL IN TB CASES BUT REMAINS GLOBAL EPICENTRE –

• India has registered a notable reduction in tuberculosis incidence, marking a 21% decline over the past decade. Despite this progress, the country continues to account for a quarter of all new global TB cases, underscoring both the scale of the challenge and the intensity of national efforts to eliminate the disease.

Steep decline outpaces global progress

• According to recent estimates, India’s TB incidence dropped from 237 per lakh population in 2015 to 187 per lakh in 2024. This reduction is nearly double the rate of decline reported globally, positioning India among high-burden nations achieving the fastest improvements. Yet the country still represented 25% of worldwide new infections, reflecting its large population and historically high caseload.

MCQ QUIZ

Q1.  Which state secured first position in the Best State category of the 6th National Water Awards for 2024 ?

1. a) Gujarat
2. b) Maharashtra
3. c) Kerala
4. d) Tamil Nadu

Q2.  Where was the Bharat-Sri Lanka Sanskrit Mahotsav 2025 organized ?

1. a) New Delhi, India
2. b) Kandy, Sri Lanka
3. c) Chandigarh, India
4. d) Colombo, Sri Lanka

Q3.  Who won the 2025 Booker Prize ?

1. a) Salman Rushdie
2. b) David Szalay
3. c) Arundhati Roy
4. d) Margaret Atwood

Q4.  With reference to the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) implemented in Delhi-NCR, consider the following statements:

1. GRAP Stage III is activated when the Air Quality Index (AQI) exceeds 400, falling under the “Severe” category.
2. Under Stage III, BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel vehicles are prohibited from operating in Delhi-NCR.
3. Essential services vehicles and those used by physically challenged persons are exempted from GRAP Stage III restrictions.

         Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

1. a) 1 and 2 only
2. b) 2 only
3. c) 2 and 3 only
4. d) 1, 2, and 3

Explanation-

• Statement 1 – Correct: GRAP Stage III is implemented when the Air Quality Index (AQI) exceeds 401, marking the “Severe” category. It involves strict emergency measures to control pollution spikes.
• Statement 2 – Correct: In GRAP Stage III , BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel vehicles be banned from operating in Delhi-NCR. Only CNG, electric, and BS-VI diesel vehicles are permitted.
• Statement 3 – Correct: Exemptions apply to vehicles used by physically challenged persons, emergency services (like ambulances, police, and fire services), and government/utility vehicles engaged in essential services.

Q5.  With reference to Tribunals in India, consider the following statements:

1. Tribunals were introduced through the 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1976, under Articles 323A and 323B of the Constitution.
2. Article 323A empowers both Parliament and State Legislatures to establish tribunals for service matters.
3. Article 323B enables the establishment of tribunals dealing with matters such as taxation, industrial disputes, and land reforms.

         Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

1. a) 1 and 2 only
2. b) 1 and 3 only
3. c) 2 and 3 only
4. d) 1, 2, and 3

Explanation-

• Statement 1 – Correct: The 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1976 introduced Articles 323A and 323B, providing the constitutional foundation for setting up tribunals in India to reduce the burden on regular courts.
• Statement 2 – Incorrect: Article 323A empowers only Parliament, not State Legislatures, to establish Administrative Tribunals dealing with service matters of public servants.
• Statement 3 – Correct: Article 323B empowers both Parliament and State Legislatures to establish tribunals for specific matters such as taxation, industrial disputes, land reforms, elections, and consumer protection.

Answer Key