CURRENT AFFAIRS 20 November, 2025

CURRENT AFFAIRS 20 November, 2025

1. INDIA PUSHES BIG CAT CONSERVATION AT COP30 –

• India, at the High-Level Ministerial Segment on the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) during United Nations Climate Change Conference (UNFCCC) Conference of Parties (CoP30) in Belém, Brazil called for stronger global cooperation to protect big cats.

India will host the Global Big Cats Summit in New Delhi in 2026.

• India also released ‘One Earth, One Family, One Future: A Decade of Climate Action’, summarising progress in mitigation, adaptation and climate finance, and outlining the pathway to a Viksit and Sustainable Bharat 2047.

Why are Big Cats Important for Climate and Biodiversity?

• Apex Predators: They regulate prey populations and maintain ecological balance across forests and grasslands.
• Healthy predator–prey dynamics improve ecosystem resilience to climate change, droughts and habitat degradation.
• Ecosystem Health Indicators: Thriving big cat populations reflect healthy forests, regenerating grasslands and functioning watershed systems.
• Nature-Based Climate Solutions: Big cat landscapes store carbon, support natural regeneration and strengthen long-term climate mitigation efforts, making them important Nature-Based Climate Solutions.
• Conserving big cats safeguards carbon sinks, water security, biodiversity and soil stability, which are the key components of climate and ecological health.

2. INDEX OF EIGHT CORE INDUSTRIES OCTOBER 2025 –

• The combined Index of Eight Core Industries (ICI) stayed unchanged at 162.4 in October 2025, the same as October 2024.
• Index of Eight Core Industries (ICI): The ICI is a production-volume index that measures the combined and individual performance of production of eight core industries viz. Coal, Crude Oil, Natural Gas, Refinery Products, Fertilizers, Steel, Cement and Electricity.
• It is compiled by the Office of the Economic Adviser under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
• The index now uses 2011–12 as the base year, aligned with the Index of Industrial Production (IIP), and these eight sectors together carry a 40.27% weight in the IIP.
• ICI Weightage: Fertilizers (lowest) < Cement < Natural Gas < Crude Oil < Coal < Steel < Electricity < Refinery Products (highest)
• Index of Industrial Production (IIP): It is one of the key indicators used to track the pace of industrial activity in the country.

3. TURKEY TO HOST COP31 CLIMATE SUMMIT AFTER COMPROMISE WITH AUSTRALIA –

• In a major development in international climate diplomacy, Turkey has been confirmed as the host of COP31, the 2026 UN Climate Change Conference, following a diplomatic compromise with Australia. This agreement, reached during discussions at COP30 in Brazil, ends a prolonged hosting dispute and ensures continued momentum in global climate negotiations.

Background: The Hosting Bid Dispute

• The Conference of the Parties (COP) is the most important annual gathering under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Both Turkey and Australia had submitted formal bids in 2022 to host COP31, resulting in a stalemate as neither nation was willing to withdraw.
• The impasse raised concerns about leadership and coordination during a crucial phase for climate action, especially as the world intensifies focus on climate financing, adaptation mechanisms, and emission reductions.

4. INDIA TO RAISE TERRORISM CONCERNS AT JOHANNESBURG G20 SUMMIT –

• India has confirmed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend the G20 Leaders’ Summit in Johannesburg from 21 to 23 November, where he will speak in all three sessions. New Delhi is preparing to firmly present its concerns on terrorism, seeking strong language in the Joint Declaration alongside broader discussions on global economic recovery and sustainability.

Focus on Counterterrorism in the Joint Declaration

• India is expected to advocate for clearer commitments on countering terrorism, including global action against states supporting extremist networks. Officials emphasised that terrorism remains a central national priority, even as the G20 primarily focuses on economic issues. India aims to ensure that concerns of the Global South, including security challenges, find substantial mention in the final document.

5. WHICH INDIAN STATE HAS THE HIGHEST FEMALE POPULATION ? –

• India is one of the most populated countries in the world, with a large number of men and women living in different states. Some states have a higher female population than others due to factors like birth rates, healthcare and migration. Understanding which state has the highest number of women helps in studying population growth, gender balance and the impact of government policies on women’s welfare.

Indian States and Union Territories

• India has 28 states and 8 Union Territories. States have their own governments, while Union Territories are governed by the central government. Each state and Union Territory has its own capital, culture and languages. Some well-known states are Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu, while Delhi and Chandigarh are Union Territories.

Indian State with the Highest Female Population

• Kerala has the largest female population in India, and its sex ratio has been high for many years. In the 2011 Census, the state recorded 1,084 women for every 1,000 men, showing that females outnumber males. This positive balance is mainly due to Kerala’s strong healthcare system, better education, and overall social progress, which help improve the well-being of women across the state.

What is the Sex Ratio?

• The sex ratio is the number of females for every 1,000 males in a population. A higher sex ratio means more women, while a lower sex ratio means fewer women.
• In 2022, India’s overall sex ratio was 1,020 females per 1,000 males.
• In rural areas, the sex ratio was 1,037, while in urban areas, it was 985.

MCQ QUIZ

Q1.  In news, Abhinav Bindra has been selected as a torchbearer for the 2026 Winter Olympics. In which country will the 2026 Winter Olympics be held ?

1. a) Italy
2. b) Japan
3. c) France
4. d) Canada

Q2.  The eighth edition of the India–UK Joint Military Exercise AJEYA WARRIOR-25 began on 17 November 2025. Where is this exercise being conducted ?

1. a) Babina Field Firing Ranges
2. b) Auli Training Area
3. c) Mahajan Field Firing Ranges
4. d) Shillong Cantonment

Q3.  Under which Article of the Indian Constitution is the Finance Commission, including the Sixteenth Finance Commission (XVIFC), constituted ?

1. a) Article 280
2. b) Article 275
3. c) Article 289
4. d) Article 282

Q4.  Consider the following regarding the National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013:

1. NFSA coverage is based on Census 2011, under which 75% of rural and 50% of urban population are entitled to be covered.
2. Under Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY), each member of a household is entitled to 35 kg of food grains per month.
3. One of the concerns raised about recent deletions is the possibility of wrongful exclusion of households lacking proper documentation or living in remote regions.

         Which of the above statements 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: NFSA explicitly uses Census 2011 population figures to determine coverage—75% rural and 50% urban, totaling about 813.5 million people.
• Statement 2 – Incorrect: Under AAY, the entitlement is 35 kg per family, not per individual. It is a family-wise allocation irrespective of family size.
• Statement 3 – Correct: Experts and activists have highlighted concerns about wrongful exclusion, particularly among tribal communities, migrants, and households lacking documentation, especially during large-scale deletions.

Q5.  Consider the following statements regarding the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS):

1. It legally guarantees at least 100 days of wage employment per year to every rural household.
2. Workers are entitled to unemployment allowance if work is not provided within 15 days of demanding employment.
3. MGNREGS is a supply-driven programme.

         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 is correct: Under the MGNREGA Act, 2005, every rural household is legally guaranteed at least 100 days of wage employment each year.
• Statement 2 is correct: If employment is not provided within 15 days of a worker demanding work, he/she is entitled to an unemployment allowance, making the scheme rights-based.
• Statement 3 is incorrect: MGNREGS is demand-driven, not supply-driven

Answer Key