NATIONAL NEWS

Prime Minister Launches ₹1 Lakh Crore RDI Scheme

Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the ₹1 lakh crore Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Scheme during the Emerging Science, Technology and Innovation Conclave (ESTIC) 2025 held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.

The scheme aims to strengthen India’s research and innovation ecosystem by supporting high-risk, high-impact R&D projects, fostering private sector participation, and accelerating India’s emergence as a global leader in science and technology.

The ₹1 lakh crore allocation will provide long-term funding to support breakthrough technologies, encourage industry collaboration, facilitate prototype-to-market transitions, and simplify research processes through reformed procurement and financial norms.

PM Modi stated that the initiative will bridge the gap between “lab to market” and create a strong foundation for India’s future innovation-led growth.

The government also announced the establishment of 25,000 new Atal Tinkering Labs (ATLs) under the Atal Innovation Mission, in addition to the existing 10,000 labs that have already impacted over 1 crore school students. These labs aim to nurture creativity and problem-solving skills among students by providing hands-on exposure to robotics, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and design thinking.

To strengthen India’s research talent, 10,000 additional Prime Minister’s Research Fellowships (PMRFs) will be offered over the next five years to support young researchers and PhD scholars in emerging fields such as AI, green hydrogen, quantum computing, semiconductor technology, and deep-sea exploration.

The Prime Minister also highlighted the progress under the India AI Mission, with the government allocating ₹10,000 crore to promote ethical and inclusive AI development across various sectors, including education, logistics, and governance.

Gogabeel Lake in Bihar Designated as a Ramsar Site

Gogabeel Lake, situated in the Katihar district of Bihar, has been declared a Ramsar Site, gaining international recognition as a wetland of global importance under the Ramsar Convention, 1971.

Located in the trans-Gangetic plains, Gogabeel is an ox-bow lake formed by the meandering of rivers and lies between the River Mahananda (northeast) and River Ganga (south).

It was earlier notified as Bihar’s first Community Reserve, highlighting community involvement in its conservation.

The lake functions as an ecological and hydrological buffer, crucial for maintaining the environmental balance of the region.

The area around the lake is dominated by tropical dry deciduous forests, supporting rich flora and fauna.

Gogabeel serves as a wintering site for migratory birds and a vital stopover point along migratory flyways.

It is home to several species of global conservation concern, such as the Smooth-Coated Otter (Lutrogale perspicillata), classified as Vulnerable, and the Helicopter Catfish (Wallago attu), a threatened freshwater fish.

The lake also holds cultural and spiritual significance, with local communities celebrating festivals like Sirva, Adra, and Chhath near its banks, reflecting the Ramsar principle of “wise use”—a balance between conservation and human livelihood.

 

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

India to End Five-Year Import Freeze, Resume Approvals for Goods from China and Other Nations

India will resume approvals for importing goods from China and other countries, ending a five-year import freeze imposed after border tensions in 2020, marking a significant policy shift in trade regulation.

The move is aimed at easing supply chain disruptions, supporting domestic industries, and meeting rising consumer demand, especially after recent GST reductions.

The import freeze was imposed in mid-2020 following the Galwan Valley clashes, leading to strained bilateral relations between India and China.

During the freeze, India implemented non-tariff barriers such as mandatory certifications, delayed clearances for electronics, telecom gear, and industrial inputs, and tightened scrutiny of foreign direct investment (FDI) from neighbouring countries.

These measures impacted sectors like consumer electronics, footwear, household goods, steel, and industrial raw materials.

Under the new policy, the government will fast-track pending import proposals from Indian firms, mainly sourcing from China and other Asian suppliers.

Authorities will re-evaluate certification requirements for overseas manufacturing units to promote faster import approvals.

The plan seeks to balance domestic production needs with import flexibility, ensuring adequate supply in industries facing stock shortages and driving post-GST economic growth.

 

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

OpenAI Partners with Amazon Web Services

OpenAI has signed a $38 billion, seven-year partnership with Amazon Web Services (AWS) to access large-scale cloud computing infrastructure for advancing its AI capabilities.

The agreement provides OpenAI with hundreds of thousands of NVIDIA GPUs (including the latest GB200 and GB300 accelerators) and the ability to scale to tens of millions of CPUs to support generative, training, and agentic AI operations.

OpenAI will begin using AWS computing capacity immediately, with full capacity deployment expected by the end of 2026, and includes provisions for future expansion into 2027 and beyond.

This partnership marks a strategic shift from Microsoft’s exclusivity (which ended earlier in 2025), signalling OpenAI’s adoption of a multi-cloud strategy and reduced reliance on Microsoft Azure for all compute needs.

The deal strengthens Amazon’s position in global AI infrastructure, enabling AWS to compete directly with Microsoft Azure and Google Cloud in the AI computing race.

The agreement follows other major infrastructure tie-ups, including a separate $250 billion commitment to Microsoft Azure, a $300 billion, five-year agreement with Oracle (for the Stargate Project), and other deals, bringing OpenAI’s total infrastructure commitments to roughly $1.4 trillion as it pursues massive compute capacity.

 

BANKING

Reserve Bank of India Holds 619th Meeting of Its Central Board in Udaipur

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) held its 619th Central Board meeting in Udaipur, chaired by Governor Sanjay Malhotra.

The Central Board took the Integrity Pledge as part of Vigilance Awareness Week 2025 and the Rashtriya Ekta Diwas Pledge to mark the 150th birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.

The Board reviewed the emerging global and domestic economic scenario, considering geopolitical developments, financial market trends, and associated challenges.

It assessed the functioning of various Sub-Committees under the Central Board to ensure effective governance and policy oversight.

The meeting also reviewed the performance of the Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation (DICGC) and selected Central Office Departments, including the Consumer Education and Protection Department.

The meeting was attended by all Deputy Governors and Directors of the Central Board of the RBI.

BoB Halts Nainital Bank Stake Sale to Focus on Strengthening the Subsidiary

Bank of Baroda (BoB) has paused its plan to divest majority shareholding in its subsidiary Nainital Bank Limited (NBL) and decided to focus on strengthening the bank instead.

In Q2 FY26, BoB infused ₹169 crore into NBL, raising its subscribed capital to ₹165.72 crore and share premium to ₹258.12 crore, boosting the bank’s capital base.

BoB currently holds a 98.57% stake in NBL and has appointed a Chief General Manager (CGM)-rank official as NBL’s new MD and CEO, upgrading the leadership from the DGM level.

Earlier in December 2022, BoB had planned to divest its stake via a strategic partner or IPO, but the revised strategy now emphasizes capital strengthening and governance enhancement to make NBL self-reliant and growth-ready.

NPCI International Payments Limited Partners with Razorpay Curlec

NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL) has partnered with Razorpay Curlec to enable UPI-based payments in Malaysia, enhancing cross-border digital payment connectivity.

The partnership allows Indian travellers to make instant and secure payments to Malaysian merchants using UPI-enabled apps through Razorpay Curlec’s platform.

The collaboration was formalised during the Global Fintech Fest (GFF) 2025, highlighting India’s growing fintech influence.

In 2024, over one million Indian tourists visited Malaysia, reflecting a 72% increase from the previous year, indicating strong travel demand.

The initiative strengthens India’s UPI global expansion strategy, promoting UPI as a preferred international payment mode for Indian travellers abroad.

 

DEFENCE

India to Conduct Tri-Service Exercise ‘Poorvi Prachand Prahar’

‘Poorvi Prachand Prahar’ is a tri-Service military exercise involving the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force, to be held in Mechuka, Arunachal Pradesh in November 2025.

The exercise aims to integrate warfighting capability, technological adaptation, and operational synergy among the three wings of the Armed Forces.

It will focus on multi-domain integration across land, air, and maritime fronts to enhance interoperability and situational awareness.

The exercise will validate command and control structures for joint mission execution under realistic high-altitude conditions.

The highlight includes the coordinated employment of special forces, unmanned platforms, precision systems, and networked operations centres working in unison.

Revised tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) will be tested and validated to strengthen combat agility and adaptability.

‘Poorvi Prachand Prahar’ marks a major milestone in India’s tri-Service integration efforts, following Exercise ‘Bhala Prahar’ (2023) and Exercise ‘Poorvi Prahar’ (2024).

The exercise reinforces the Armed Forces’ collective resolve to ensure mission readiness and joint operational effectiveness for the defence of the nation.

 

AWARDS & PRIZES

State Bank of India Launches ‘SBI STAR’ Award

State Bank of India (SBI) has launched an annual employee excellence award titled ‘SBI STAR’ (Staff Talent Acknowledgement & Recognition) to honour employees’ achievements beyond professional performance.

The initiative recognises excellence in Arts, Literature, Sports, Culture, Social Work, and Environmental initiatives, encouraging holistic engagement and employee well-being.

SBI STAR will adopt a structured and transparent selection process, allowing self-nomination and shortlisting at the Circle/Vertical level to ensure fair recognition of talent.

Booker Prize 2025

Renowned Indian author Kiran Desai, winner of the Booker Prize for “The Inheritance of Loss”, has been shortlisted for the Booker Prize 2025 for her latest novel, The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny.

The novel explores love, displacement, and identity across India and the United States, portraying the emotional struggles of two characters—Sonia and Sunny—whose lives intersect due to a family history of attempted matchmaking.

Sonia, a literature graduate from Vermont, returns to India haunted by the emotional trauma of a past relationship, while Sunny, a journalist in New York, wrestles with family pressures and cultural alienation.

The story delves into themes of cultural alienation, generational trauma, and modern loneliness, highlighting how personal freedom often clashes with inherited family and social obligations.

Desai masterfully blends philosophical reflection, comic undertones, and emotional realism, using her signature lyrical prose to explore the human condition in a globalized world.

The novel features elements of magical realism, such as Sonia’s belief in being under a “dark spell,” symbolizing psychological and creative entrapment.

Critics praise the book for its depth, emotional intelligence, and portrayal of the Indian diaspora, calling it Desai’s most ambitious work since her Booker-winning novel.

Its inclusion in the Booker Prize 2025 shortlist reaffirms Kiran Desai’s place among the most influential contemporary voices in Indian and global literature.

 

IMPORTANT DAYS

World Tsunami Awareness Day 2025

World Tsunami Awareness Day 2025 is observed on the 5th of November 2025.

The theme for World Tsunami Awareness Day 2025 is “Be Tsunami Ready: Invest in Tsunami Preparedness.”

World Tsunami Awareness Day 2025 is celebrated because of the initiative taken by Japan.

There is a story behind World Tsunami Awareness Day celebrated on November 5. On November 5th, 1854, Hiromura a little village which is located in the western part of Japan started celebrating their Traditional Practice, the Burning of Rice Sheaves.

A farmer who lived in the village anticipated that a big Tsunami would come when he noticed the lowering of the Tide and the natural decrease in the level of Well Water which is a natural sign for a Tsunami warning.

Later the Villagers guided the entire village to the hilltop by burning rice sheaves to indicate the signs of danger.

Later from the hilltop, they witnessed the tsunami destroy their village.

They understood that the Fire actually saved them from the Tsunami.

Japan proposed this day as World Tsunami Awareness Day because of the intent to protect the precious lives of people.