Daily Current Affairs (25 – Nov – 25)

Daily Current Affairs (25 – Nov – 25)

1. Punjab Declares Three Historic Sikh Sites as Holy Cities –

• Punjab has passed a resolution to declare the Amritsar Walled City, Anandpur Sahib, and Talwandi Sabo as holy cities, marking a major cultural and governance decision aligned with the 350th martyrdom anniversary of Guru Tegh Bahadur.
• The decision bans the sale and consumption of liquor, meat, tobacco, and other intoxicants in the designated holy areas. These places also hold religious significance in Sikh history, hosting three of the five Takhts.
• Takhts: A Takht, which means a throne, is a seat of temporal authority for Sikhs. There are five Sikh Takhts, three in Punjab and one each in Maharashtra and Bihar.
• Akal Takht in Amritsar, Punjab: Established in 1606 by Guru Hargobind, is the highest seat of Sikh authority and represents the union of miri (temporal power) and piri (spiritual authority).
• Takht Sri Keshgarh Sahib (Anandpur Sahib, Punjab): Site where the Khalsa was created in 1699.
• Takht Sri Damdama Sahib (Talwandi Sabo, Punjab):Where Guru Gobind Singh finalised Sikh scripture.
• Takhat Sri Harimandir Ji Patna Sahib (Patna, Bihar): Birthplace of Guru Gobind Singh.
• Takhat Sachkhand Sri Hazoor Sahib (Nanded, Maharashtra): Site of Guru Gobind Singh final days and cremation in 1708.

2. India, Brazil, and South Africa (IBSA) Forum-

• On the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Johannesburg, India’s Prime Minister met with the Brazilian and South African President to discuss strengthening the IBSA (India-Brazil-South Africa) forum. 
• The meeting focused on climate-resilient agriculture, digital innovation, UN reforms, terrorism, and Global South initiatives.

What is the IBSA Forum?

• About: IBSA is a unique forum of India, Brazil, and South Africa, three large democracies and major economies from three continents facing similar challenges.
• Formalized as the IBSA Dialogue Forum on 6 June 2003 in Brasilia, issuing the Brasilia Declaration. South Africa is the current IBSA Chair.
• IBSA does not have a headquarters or a permanent secretariat.
• Areas of Cooperation: Cooperation in IBSA is on 3 fronts:
• Political consultation: Coordination on global and regional political issues.
• Trilateral collaboration: Joint projects through working groups and People-to-People Forums.
• Assistance to other developing countries: Projects implemented through the IBSA Fund.
• IBSA Trust Fund: Established in 2004, operational from 2006 for poverty and hunger alleviation.
• Allocated USD 53.27 million to 46 South-South development projects in 34 partner countries, mostly Least Developed Countries (LDCs).
• IBSAMAR:Joint multinational maritime exercise among India, Brazil, and South Africa navies. 8th edition held in October 2024 off the coast of South Africa.
• Initiatives Proposed in 2025:India’s PM proposed a National Security Advisers-level Dialogue for regular security and counter-terrorism consultations among the three countries.
• He also suggested an IBSA Fund for Climate-Resilient Agriculture and a Digital Innovation Alliance to share UPI, CoWIN, and cybersecurity frameworks.

3. Andhra Pradesh to Get 3 New Districts; Total Rises to 29 –

• The government of Andhra Pradesh has approved the creation of three additional districts, increasing the total number of districts in the state from 26 to 29. The decision — cleared by N. Chandrababu Naidu on behalf of the state — also includes the formation of five new revenue divisions and a new mandal, reshaping the administrative map for better governance and local access to civic services.

Key Developments

• New Districts to Be Formed,
• Polavaram
• Markapuram
• Madanapalle

New Revenue Divisions Proposed,

• Nakkapalli (Anakapalli district)
• Addanki (Prakasam)
• Pileru (Madanapalle)
• Banaganapalle (Nandyal)
• Madakasira (Sri Sathya Sai district)

New Mandal:

• Pedda Harivanam, to be formed by bifurcating Adoni mandal in Kurnool district

4. India-Nepal Joint Military Exercise SURYAKIRAN-XIX Begins in Pithoragarh –

• The 19th edition of the India–Nepal joint military exercise, Exercise SURYAKIRAN-XIX – 2025, began on November 25, 2025, in Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand. This edition of the annual bilateral exercise will continue until December 8, 2025, aiming to enhance operational coordination and strategic understanding between the two neighbouring countries.

Equal Representation from Both Armies

• This year, both India and Nepal have deployed 334 personnel each, showcasing equal participation and commitment to regional defence cooperation,
• The Indian Army is represented primarily by troops from the ASSAM Regiment.
• The Nepal Army contingent features troops from the DEVI DATTA Regiment.
• This bilateral setup reinforces the long-standing historical and military ties between the two nations.

5. Rohit Sharma Named Tournament Ambassador for ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 –

• In a move that celebrates cricketing excellence and legacy, Rohit Sharma has been named the official tournament ambassador for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. The prestigious event will be jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka from 7 February to 8 March 2026.

Why Rohit Sharma?

• Rohit’s selection as ambassador reflects his immense contribution to the shortest format of the game,
• Two-time T20 World Cup winner – part of India’s victorious campaigns in 2007 and 2024.
• Captaincy legacy – led India to the T20 World Cup title in 2024.
• T20I career record – 4,231 runs, average of 32.01, strike rate of 140.89.
• Influential presence – widely respected for his calm leadership and match-winning capabilities.

Highlights of His T20 World Cup Journey

• 2007 Debut Edition: Played a key role in India’s title win. Scored a vital 50* against South Africa and 30* in the final versus Pakistan.
• 2024 Championship: As captain, he top-scored for India with 257 runs at a strike rate of 156.70, including standout knocks against Australia and England.

MCQ Quiz

Q1. The International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women is observed every year on which date ?

1. a) 10 October
2. b) 25 November
3. c) 15 November
4. d) 8 March

Q2. How many gold medals did India win in its debut campaign at the World Boxing Cup Finals 2025 in Greater Noida ?

1. a) 5
2. b) 7
3. c) 8
4. d) 9

Q3. At which ISRO facility was the boot-strap mode start test of the CE-20 cryogenic engine successfully conducted on 7 November 2025 ?

1. a) ISRO Propulsion Complex, Mahendragiri
2. b) Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, Thiruvananthapuram
3. c) Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota
4. d) Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre, Bengaluru

Q4. With reference to the India–Brazil–South Africa (IBSA) Dialogue Forum, consider the following statements:

1. IBSA was established as a trilateral grouping in 2003 to promote South–South cooperation and democratic global governance.
2. IBSA includes three regional powers from Asia, Africa, and Latin America.
3. IBSA is a formal treaty-based organisation with a permanent secretariat in New Delhi.

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 – IBSA was formed in 2003 with a strong focus on South–South cooperation, global governance reform, and development partnerships.
• Statement 2 – It links India (Asia), Brazil (Latin America), and South Africa (Africa) — three major multi-ethnic democracies spanning three continents.
• Statement 3 – IBSA is not treaty-based, has no permanent secretariat, and operates through summits, ministerial meetings, and working groups.

Q5. Consider the following statements regarding the constitutional and procedural framework for appointing the Chief Justice of India:

1. Article 124(2) of the Constitution provides for the appointment of Supreme Court judges, including the CJI, by the President after consultation.
2. The convention of appointing the senior-most judge as the next CJI is explicitly mandated by the Constitution.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

1. a) 1 only
2. b) 2 only
3. c) Both 1 and 2
4. d) None

Explanation-

• Statement 1 – Article 124(2) gives the President authority to appoint Supreme Court judges after consultation.
• Statement 2 – The seniority rule is a convention, not a constitutional mandate.