CURRENT AFFAIRS 22 November, 2025

CURRENT AFFAIRS 22 November, 2025

1. FOUR LABOUR CODES –

• The Government of India has announced that the four Labour Codes are being made effective from 21st November 2025, rationalising 29 existing labour laws.
• The second National Commission on Labour had recommended that the existing Labour Laws should be broadly grouped into four/ five Labour Codes on functional basis
• The four Labour Codes were enacted after the deliberations held in the tripartite meeting of the Government, employers’, industry representatives and various trade unions during 2015 to 2019.
• The Code on Wages, 2019 was notified on 8th August, 2019 and the remaining three Codes were notified on 29th September, 2020.

The four Labour Codes  includes

• The Code on Wages, 2019
• The Industrial Relations Code, 2020
• The Code on Social Security, 2020
• The Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020

2. SUPREME COURT’S RESPONSES TO PRESIDENT’S 14 QUESTIONS –

• Recently, a five-judge Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court delivered an advisory opinion in the 16th Presidential Reference since the Court’s establishment.
• The President referred 14 questions, but the Court answered 11
• 3 were declared irrelevant because they dealt with issues unrelated to the functional nature of the reference such as procedural technicalities or broader constitutional interpretations not arising from the present controversy.

Background

• State of Tamil Nadu vs The Governor of Tamil Nadu case: On April 8, 2025, the Supreme Court ruled that the President must decide within three months on Bills reserved for her consideration by Governors.
• There is no Constitutional provision regarding the time limit for President’s Consideration on State’s Bill.
• Impact on Governor’s Role: The verdict nullified Tamil Nadu Governor R N Ravi’s decision to withhold assent to 10 Bills, reinforcing that indefinite delays in legislative assent are unconstitutional.
• Extension to Presidential Office: In a significant move, the SC extended the three-month timeline to the President, allowing states to seek a writ of mandamus if no decision is made, raising questions about judicial scrutiny of the President’s discretionary powers.
• Reference under Article 143(1): President Droupadi Murmu invoked Article 143(1) to seek the Supreme Court’s advice after controversy arose over delays by Governors and the President in acting on state Bills.
• The President referred 14 questions related to constitutional processes and discretionary roles, especially questioning whether timelines can be imposed in the absence of explicit constitutional provisions.

3. MALAYSIA TO BAN SOCIAL MEDIA FOR USERS UNDER 16 –

• Malaysia will implement a nationwide restriction prohibiting users under 16 from accessing social media platforms starting next year, becoming part of a growing global movement to regulate children’s online activity. The decision aims to curb cyberbullying, scams and exploitation amid rising concerns over digital safety.

Government’s Rationale for Age Restrictions

• Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil confirmed that Malaysia is studying international models, including those in Australia, to enforce strict age limits. Authorities emphasise the need to protect minors from online risks such as harassment, financial fraud and child sexual abuse. The government expects platforms to comply with the new age requirement by next year.

Global Trends in Child Online Safety

• Several countries are tightening controls on youth access to digital platforms. Australia will begin disabling accounts belonging to users under 16, while multiple European nations — including France, Spain, Italy, Denmark and Greece — are jointly testing an age verification framework. The trend reflects broad concern over the mental health impact of social media on teenagers.

4. REVISED GRAP MEASURES ACTIVATED AS DELHI’S AQI STAYS ‘VERY POOR’ –

• Delhi continued to grapple with hazardous air quality as authorities implemented stricter pollution-control measures in response to persistent ‘very poor’ conditions. With the city’s Air Quality Index hovering around 360, the Commission for Air Quality Management revised the Graded Response Action Plan for the entire NCR, advancing several higher-stage measures to address the deteriorating situation.

Higher-Stage Curbs Now Applicable Earlier

• As part of the revised strategy, actions earlier reserved for the ‘Severe’ category under GRAP Stage IV have now been shifted to Stage III. This empowers NCR State Governments and the Delhi administration to consider operating public, private, and municipal offices at 50 per cent capacity, with the remainder working from home. A similar decision for central government offices may be taken separately. The restructuring aims to deploy stronger interventions sooner, based on pollution trends and forecasts.

5. INSURANCE BILL PROPOSES 100% FDI TO BOOST SECTOR GROWTH –

• The government has moved a significant step toward reshaping India’s insurance landscape by listing the Insurance Laws (Amendment) Bill for the upcoming winter session of Parliament. The draft legislation seeks to enhance foreign investment limits, streamline regulatory structures, and widen access to insurance services across the country.

Bill Targets Higher Foreign Investment

• A key feature of the proposed legislation is the plan to raise the foreign direct investment ceiling from 74 per cent to 100 per cent. This change, aligned with the FY26 Budget announcement, aims to attract sustained overseas capital. The enhanced limit will apply to companies that invest the entire premium in India. Existing restrictions on foreign participation are expected to be simplified, creating a more investor-friendly environment.

Broader Framework for Sector Reforms

• The bill incorporates amendments to three major laws: the Insurance Act 1928, the Life Insurance Corporation Act 1956, and the IRDAI Act 1999. These revisions aim to improve affordability and accessibility of insurance products, support industry expansion, and reduce procedural bottlenecks. The overarching objective is to encourage deeper penetration and strengthen market development.

MCQ QUIZ

Q1.  Which university secured the 1st rank in the QS World University Sustainability Rankings 2026 ?

1. a) University of Toronto, Canada
2. b) University College London, United Kingdom
3. c) Lund University, Sweden
4. d) Harvard University, USA

Q2.  In the latest Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI) 2026, what position did India secure, and what was the main reason for the drop in ranking ?

1. a) 10th, due to rising coal consumption
2. b) 18th, due to lack of renewable energy targets
3. c) 30th, due to high greenhouse gas emissions
4. d) 23rd, due to absence of a national deadline to exit coal usage

Q3.  Which country formally joined Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) as the 11th member during the 47th ASEAN Summit in 2025 at Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, Malaysia ?

1. a) Brunei
2. b) Timor-Leste
3. c) Myanmar
4. d) Cambodia

Q4.  Which of the following sectors are included in the ‘Eight Core Industries’ of India ?

1. Cement
2. Textiles
3. Natural Gas
4. Fertilizers
5. Automobile

         Select the correct answer using the code given below:

1. a) 1, 3, 4 and 5 only
2. b) 2, 3 and 5 only
3. c) 1, 2, 3 and 4 only
4. d) 1, 3 and 4 only

Explanation-

• The Eight Core Industries are: Coal, Crude Oil, Natural Gas, Refinery Products, Fertilizers, Steel, Cement, and Electricity.
• Textiles (2) and Automobile (5) are not part of the Eight Core Industries index, although they are part of the broader Index of Industrial Production (IIP).

Q5.  Consider the following statements regarding the coastal security exercise ‘Sagar Kavach’:

1. It is a biannual exercise conducted exclusively by the Indian Navy.
2. It aims to validate Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) against seaborne threats and infiltration.
3. The exercise involves the use of “Red Force” teams to simulate realistic enemy infiltration attempts.

         Which of the above statements are correct ?

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

Explanation-

• Statement 1 is incorrect: While the Indian Navy participates, the exercise is hosted and coordinated by the Indian Coast Guard. It is a multi-agency exercise involving the Navy, Coastal Police, Customs, Intelligence agencies, etc., not exclusively the Navy.
• Statement 2 is correct: The primary aim is to validate SOPs for coastal security and assess preparedness against threats like terrorism, smuggling, and sabotage.
• Statement 3 is correct: To ensure realism, the exercise employs “Red Force” teams acting as dummy intruders/terrorists to test the vigilance of the “Blue Force” (security agencies). This helps in gauging real-time vulnerabilities.

Answer Key