CURRENT AFFAIRS 28 November, 2025

CURRENT AFFAIRS 28 November, 2025

1. AADHAAR WILL NO LONGER BE ACCEPTED AS PROOF OF BIRTH IN UTTAR PRADESH AND MAHARASHTRA –

• Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra have issued new directives declaring that Aadhaar can no longer be used as a standalone document to establish date of birth. The orders, issued by the Planning and Revenue Departments respectively, aim to enforce stricter verification norms for birth records and correct certificates issued solely on the basis of Aadhaar.

New Verification Rules in Uttar Pradesh

• Uttar Pradesh has clarified that Aadhaar lacks any embedded birth certificate and therefore cannot be treated as proof of date of birth. All departments have been instructed to discontinue its use for this purpose. The directive emphasises that Aadhaar is only an identity document based on biometric enrolment and does not validate birth details.

Action Taken by Maharashtra Government

• Maharashtra has similarly ruled that Aadhaar cannot be used to issue delayed birth certificates. Birth certificates created solely through Aadhaar verification after the 2023 amendment to the Births and Deaths Registration Act will be cancelled. The government has initiated action against officials involved in issuing such certificates and ordered a review of past approvals at the level of competent authorities and district collectors.

2. INDIA TO HOST 60TH DGP–IGP CONFERENCE –

• India will convene its 60th Director General of Police and Inspector General of Police Conference in Nava Raipur from 28 to 30 November, with top national leaders overseeing deliberations. The annual meet will centre on strategies to eliminate the remaining pockets of Naxal activity and assess the nation’s internal security preparedness.

Final Push Toward Eliminating Left-Wing Extremism

• The conference will prioritise the government’s target of completely eradicating Naxalism by 31 March 2026. With the deadline approaching, senior police chiefs and central force heads will review ground-level feedback, evaluate operational progress and address gaps in the final phase of counter-insurgency efforts. The presence of the Prime Minister, Home Minister and National Security Advisor underscores the strategic significance attached to this national security objective.

3. PUNJAB LAUNCHES ‘EASY REGISTRY’ SYSTEM TO SIMPLIFY PROPERTY REGISTRATION –

• Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann has introduced a new “easy registry” initiative aimed at removing long-standing hurdles in the state’s property registration process. The system is designed to curb delays, reduce corruption and streamline procedures for citizens across all districts.

Simplifying A Traditionally Complex Process

• For decades, property buyers and sellers in Punjab have faced repeated visits to Sub-Registrar offices, jurisdiction-linked restrictions and procedural delays. The new initiative seeks to eliminate these obstacles by allowing any Sub-Registrar office within a district to register properties located anywhere in that district. This flexibility reduces travel burdens and speeds up transactions for residents.

Key Features Of The Easy Registry System

• Under the new framework, citizens can draft sale deeds online or through Sewa Kendras by paying a nominal fee of Rs 500. All required documents can be submitted digitally within 48 hours. If objections arise, they will be immediately forwarded to the concerned Deputy Commissioner for verification. The system includes status updates through WhatsApp, offering real-time tracking of each stage of the registration.

4. JAKARTA BECOMES WORLD’S MOST POPULOUS CITY IN 2025 –

• Jakarta has overtaken Tokyo to become the world’s most populous urban agglomeration, marking a major shift in global demographic patterns. A new UN-backed assessment places the Indonesian capital and its surrounding metropolitan region at 42 million residents, illustrating the accelerating scale of Asian urbanisation.

Asia Dominates Global Urban Rankings

• The latest rankings show that nine of the world’s ten most populated cities are now in Asia. Following Jakarta are Dhaka at 37 million and Tokyo at 33 million. Other major Asian centres in the top tier include New Delhi, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Cairo, Manila, Kolkata and Seoul. This concentration reflects rapid economic growth, high-density settlements and long-term demographic momentum across South and Southeast Asia.

Drivers Behind Megacity Expansion

• Urban specialists attribute the rise of these megacities to sustained rural-to-urban migration, expanding employment opportunities, and natural population increase. South Asia and Southeast Asia, in particular, are witnessing record urbanisation rates. Indian cities such as New Delhi and Kolkata continue to absorb millions seeking jobs, services and social mobility, putting their infrastructure under persistent strain.

5. CAMIKARA INDIAN RUM WINS GLOBAL BRAND OF THE YEAR –

• Indian premium rum brand Camikara has secured a landmark victory by winning the ‘Rum Brand of the Year’ title at The Spirits Business Awards 2025 in London. The achievement signals a growing global recognition of India’s craft spirits sector and underlines the brand’s emergence as a strong international contender.

Breakthrough Recognition at Global Awards

• The Spirits Business Awards is regarded as one of the most respected competitions in the global spirits industry. Camikara’s win is historic as it is the first time an Indian rum has claimed the top award, surpassing rivals from traditional rum-producing regions such as the Caribbean and Latin America. Judges praised the brand as a pioneer that has elevated India’s rum-making standards.

Production Rooted in Pure Cane Juice

• Camikara is produced by Piccadily Agro Industries Ltd and is positioned as India’s first pure cane-juice aged rum. It is distilled from fresh sugarcane juice and matured in American oak barrels under the climatic conditions of North India. The brand highlights that no added colour, flavour, or sugar is used during production, reinforcing its authenticity and craft approach.

MCQ QUIZ

Q1.  The Bnei Menashe community is primarily found in which states ?

1. a) Mizoram and Manipur
2. b) Gujarat and Rajasthan
3. c) Nagaland and Tripura
4. d) Bihar and Jharkhand

Q2.  Finn’s Weaver, that was recently seen in news, is naturally found in which region ?

1. a) Western Ghats
2. b) Deccan Plateau
3. c) Ganga and Brahmaputra river valleys
4. d) Aravalli Range

Q3.  Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakram (PMJVK) is implemented by which ministry ?

1. a) Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment
2. b) Ministry of Minority Affairs
3. c) Ministry of Panchayati Raj
4. d) Ministry of Rural Development

Q4.  Which of the following statements about the National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) is/are correct ?

1. The NJAC was established by the 99th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2014.
2. The NJAC included the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha as one of its members.
3. The NJAC was struck down by the Supreme Court for violating the basic structure of the Constitution.

         Select the correct answer:

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 NJAC was created through the 99th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2014, which added Article 124A, 124B, and 124C to establish a new system for appointing judges to the Supreme Court and High Courts.
• Statement 2: Incorrect: The NJAC composition was:

1. Chief Justice of India (Chairperson)
2. Two senior-most SC judges
3. Union Law Minister

• Two eminent persons (chosen by a committee of PM, CJI, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha)

         The Leader of Opposition was not a member of NJAC; he/she was only part of the selection committee for the eminent persons.

• Statement 3: Correct: In Supreme Court Advocates-on-Record Association vs Union of India (2015), the Constitution Bench declared the 99th Amendment and NJAC Act unconstitutional, stating it violated the basic structure, particularly judicial independence.

Q5.  Which of the following statements about the 2025 G20 Summit are correct ?

1. The 2025 G20 Summit was the first time the G20 Leaders’ Summit was held on African soil.
2. The Presidency of G20 in 2025 was held by South Africa.
3. The theme of the 2025 Summit was “Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability”.

         Select the correct answer:

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 2025 Summit, formally the 20th Leaders’ Summit of G20, was held in Johannesburg (South Africa), making it the first time a summit was hosted on the African continent.
• Statement 2: Correct. South Africa held the G20 Presidency for the period including the 2025 Summit.
• Statement 3: Correct. The official theme of the 2025 Summit was “Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability”.

Answer Key