🇮🇳 National News
Prime Minister Narendra Modi officially launched NexCAR19, India’s first domestically developed CAR T-cell therapy, representing a major leap forward in cancer treatment and a landmark in India’s pursuit of healthcare self-reliance.
- Co-developed by ImmunoACT, IIT Bombay, and Tata Memorial Hospital.
- Supported by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) and BIRAC.
- Designed for patients suffering from B-cell blood cancers like Leukemia and Lymphoma who have not responded effectively to chemotherapy or radiation.
NexCAR19 employs Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T-cell technology:
- Patient’s T-cells are extracted
- Genetically modified to recognize specific cancer cell markers
- Multiplied in laboratories
- Reintroduced into the patient’s body to target and destroy cancer cells
On November 6, 2025, INS Ikshak — the third vessel in the Survey Vessel (Large) [SVL] class — was officially commissioned into the Indian Navy at the Naval Base in Kochi.
The commissioning ceremony was led by Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi, Chief of the Naval Staff.
- Built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata
- Displacement: Approximately 3,400 tonnes
- Length: 110 metres
- Dual functionality: Serves as a hydrographic survey vessel and as a platform for Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) or hospital operations when required
The first BIMSTEC-India Marine Research Network (BIMReN) Conference was organized in Kochi from November 4–6, 2025, reinforcing India’s leadership in Blue Economy initiatives across the Bay of Bengal region.
- Launched in 2024 by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
- Facilitates institutional partnerships through joint research grants and split-site PhD programs between Indian and BIMSTEC nations’ academic bodies.
- Originally introduced by PM Narendra Modi during the 2022 Colombo BIMSTEC Summit.
- Aligns with India’s Neighbourhood First, Act East, Indo-Pacific, and MAHASAGAR strategies.
The 18th Urban Mobility India (UMI) Conference & Exhibition 2025 commenced in Gurugram, Haryana, inaugurated by Union Minister Manohar Lal, who also oversees the Housing & Urban Affairs and Power ministries.
- Theme: “Urban Development and Mobility Nexus”
- Joint effort between MoHUA, the Government of Haryana, Institute of Urban Transport (India), and Gurugram Metro Rail Limited (GMRL).
- Rollout of 10,000 electric buses under the PM e-Bus Sewa initiative, including 100 e-buses dedicated to Gurugram.
- India’s metro network has extended to 1,100 km, making it the third-largest worldwide.
- Emphasis on boosting last-mile connectivity to improve ridership and accessibility.
Manika Vishwakarma, a 22-year-old from Sri Ganganagar, Rajasthan, will represent India at the Miss Universe 2025 pageant scheduled to be held in Thailand.
- She was crowned Miss Universe India 2025 during a grand finale event in Jaipur.
- Earned recognition for her confidence, intellect, and eloquence.
- Currently pursuing her final year in Political Science and Economics at Delhi University.
- Her journey began with her title as Miss Universe Rajasthan, steadily advancing through the national beauty circuit to secure the crown.
Sheetal Devi, an 18-year-old para-archer from Jammu and Kashmir, has made history as the first Indian para-athlete selected to compete in an able-bodied national archery team.
She will represent India in the Asia Cup 2025 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, this December in the compound women’s team category.
Born with phocomelia — a rare congenital condition causing the absence of arms — Sheetal mastered archery using her legs and shoulders, becoming a symbol of resilience and innovation.
- 2 Gold Medals — 2023 Asian Para Games
- Silver Medal — 2023 World Archery Championships
- Bronze Medal — 2024 Paris Paralympics (Mixed Team) at age 17, making her India’s youngest Paralympic medalist
- Gold Medal — 2025 World Archery Para Championships (Gwangju) in the individual event
The national selection trials for the women’s compound team were conducted from November 3–6, 2025, at SAI National Centre of Excellence, Sonipat. Sheetal secured third place with a score of 703, earning her spot alongside Tejal Rajendra Salve and Vaidehi Hirachandra Jadhav.
💼 Business & Economy
The State Bank of India (SBI) has reached a historic double milestone, becoming the first Indian bank to achieve both a market capitalization exceeding $100 billion and a total business surpassing ₹100 trillion.
- Crossed the $100 billion threshold following a strong performance in Q2 FY26.
- Places SBI among global banking leaders and major Indian corporations such as Reliance Industries and TCS.
- Reflects growing investor trust and a solid foundation in retail, SME, and corporate lending.
- The bank’s total business — a combination of deposits and advances — went beyond ₹100 trillion for the first time in Indian banking history.
- Total advances: ₹44.2 lakh crore
- Deposits: ₹55.9 lakh crore
Showcases SBI’s extensive national reach and dominance in financial services.
🌐 International News
In a landmark move, Bangladesh became the first country in South Asia to join the United Nations Water Convention in 2025, aiming to improve transboundary water management and ensure sustainable use of shared water resources.
- Nearly half of its population residing in drought-prone regions
- 60% exposed to floods
- Major rivers facing depletion due to climate change and population growth
- Formally known as the Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes.
- Initially adopted in Helsinki in 1992 and came into force in 1996.
- Originally limited to Europe but was opened to all UN members in 2016.
India has not joined the Convention, preferring to manage transboundary water issues through bilateral and basin-specific agreements like the Indus Waters Treaty (1960) and the Ganga Water Sharing Treaty (1996).
China officially commissioned its third aircraft carrier, Fujian, signifying a pivotal advancement in its naval modernization efforts and expansion of maritime strength.
The induction event took place at Sanya Port in Hainan Province and was attended by President Xi Jinping under stringent security measures.
- Hailed as China’s most technologically sophisticated carrier to date.
- China’s first carrier with a flat flight deck, enabling more efficient aircraft take-off and landing.
- Improves operational capacity and sortie frequency.
- Highlights the nation’s growing prowess in naval engineering.
The United States carried out a routine test of an unarmed Minuteman III Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM), designated GT-254, from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on November 5, 2025.
- The re-entry vehicle successfully landed near the Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense Test Site at Kwajalein Atoll in the central Pacific Ocean.
- The test also included validation of the Airborne Launch Control System (ALCS), which allowed launch control from an E-6B aircraft.
- Ensures backup communication and command procedures for nuclear deterrence.
- The exercise served to assess the missile system’s reliability, accuracy, and readiness.
🔬 Science & Technology
The Pharmacology Laboratory of the All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA) in New Delhi earned IS/ISO 9001:2015, 14001:2015, and 45001:2018 certifications from the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS).
- ISO 9001:2015 — Quality Management
- ISO 14001:2015 — Environmental Management
- ISO 45001:2018 — Occupational Health & Safety Management
- This milestone establishes AIIA as a leader in standard-driven Ayurvedic research by aligning with internationally recognized operational frameworks.
- Through an Integrated Management System (IMS), AIIA enhanced process consistency, ethical integrity, and research efficiency.
- Holds NAAC A++ and NABH accreditations.
- Features a 200-bed hospital housing 45 specialty clinics.
📅 Important Days
The World Science Day for Peace and Development 2025 was observed globally on November 10, 2025.
“Trust, transformation, and tomorrow: The science we need for 2050.”
- The day celebrates the valuable contributions of science to humanity and emphasizes the need to enhance public understanding of the role of science and technology in society.
- The first World Conference on Science was convened in 1999 by UNESCO and the International Council for Science in Hungary, where participants agreed on dedicating a special day to promote science education and awareness worldwide.
🕊️ Obituaries
Renowned molecular biologist James D. Watson, co-discoverer of the DNA double helix structure, passed away at the age of 97 in East Northport, New York.
- Watson played a pivotal role in the Human Genome Project, which successfully mapped over 3 billion DNA base pairs and emphasized the ethical dimensions of genetic research.
- As Director of the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory from 1968 to 1994, Watson transformed it into a premier center for genetics and cancer research.
- Contributed immensely to scientific education and biomedical innovation.
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