Current Affairs - November 1, 2025 Current Affairs

A total of seven countries — Cook Islands, Madagascar, Mexico, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Turkey, and Uganda — collectively received $5.8 million from the Kunming Biodiversity Fund. The funding supports projects that integrate biodiversity into agricultural practices, empower local communities, and control invasive species. Backed by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the initiative aligns with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. By encouraging eco-friendly farming and strengthening biodiversity protection, the program promotes sustainable agriculture that benefits both ecosystems and local livelihoods across multiple regions.

Google has partnered with Reliance Industries to enhance India’s AI infrastructure and make artificial intelligence more accessible across the nation. The collaboration focuses on developing local AI computing power, promoting innovation, and supporting the “AI for All” mission. Through this alliance, Jio users aged 18 to 25 will receive 18 months of free access to Google Gemini Pro, empowering young Indians to explore AI technologies. The partnership also includes efforts to build AI models for Indian languages and establish domestic data centers powered by green energy, thereby boosting India’s digital inclusion, sustainability, and technological self-reliance.

The annual partnership meeting between India and Norway focused on reviewing the 2025 Progress Report and approving Phase IV work plans for 2025–26 under the Norway India Partnership Initiative (NIPI). This collaboration aims to enhance public health outcomes through innovation and data-driven decision-making. One of its major achievements is the Indian Public Health Standards – Open Data Kit Tool, which enables states to identify healthcare gaps and receive focused support efficiently. The partnership showcases strong bilateral cooperation in improving maternal, newborn, and child health systems across India through technology and evidence-based planning.

The FIDE Chess World Cup 2025 trophy has been renamed the Viswanathan Anand Cup to honour India’s legendary chess grandmaster and five-time World Champion. This decision celebrates Anand’s immense contributions to global chess and his role in inspiring generations of Indian players. Known as the “Tiger of Madras,” Anand’s achievements transformed chess into a mainstream sport in India. The renaming was announced during a ceremony in Goa, attended by key dignitaries, including the FIDE President and Indian officials. The tribute marks a proud recognition of Anand’s lasting legacy in the international chess community.

Shri Raj Kumar Arora, a 1990-batch officer of the Indian Defence Accounts Service (IDAS), has assumed charge as the Financial Advisor (Defence Services) on November 1, 2025. With over three decades of experience in defence finance, budgeting, audit, and policy, he brings vast expertise to one of India’s most critical financial positions. Before this role, he served as the Controller General of Defence Accounts (CGDA) and held senior posts in the UPSC, Ministry of Defence, and Ministry of Finance. His leadership is expected to enhance fiscal efficiency, transparency, and strategic financial planning in India’s defence establishment.

Sahitya Akademi, under the Ministry of Culture, launched the Hindi edition of Lithuanian author Jaroslavas Melnikas’s novel “The Last Day”, titled “Antim Din”. This initiative marks the first-ever translation of a Lithuanian fiction work into Hindi, representing a milestone in India–Lithuania literary collaboration. The novel, translated by Dr. Poonam Tiwari, was released at Rabindra Bhawan, New Delhi, in partnership with the Embassy of Lithuania. The event underscored the Akademi’s mission to promote global literature in Indian languages and foster cultural understanding through translation, making international literary masterpieces more accessible to Indian readers.

World Vegan Day 2025 will be celebrated on November 1, marking the beginning of World Vegan Month. The day is dedicated to promoting vegan living, sustainability, and compassion toward all living beings. It encourages people to adopt a plant-based lifestyle that avoids animal exploitation and supports environmental protection. Events such as awareness campaigns, vegan fairs, and cooking workshops are held globally to highlight the benefits of veganism for human health, animal welfare, and the planet. Established in 1994 by Louise Wallis of the Vegan Society UK, the day continues to inspire sustainable and ethical choices worldwide.

PayPal has partnered with OpenAI to become ChatGPT’s first integrated digital payments wallet, allowing users to make secure purchases directly within the AI platform. This collaboration enables seamless e-commerce by letting users click “Buy with PayPal” in ChatGPT for instant payments. The move strengthens PayPal’s role in the emerging field of AI-powered commerce, showcasing its commitment to innovation and user trust through secure checkout, buyer protection, and verified transactions. By aligning with OpenAI’s growing ecosystem, PayPal positions itself at the forefront of the digital payment revolution, blending convenience, safety, and artificial intelligence to shape the future of online shopping.

The United States agreed to reduce tariffs on Chinese imports from 57% to 47% following diplomatic negotiations with China in Busan, South Korea. This deal temporarily eased tensions between the two major economies, marking a one-year truce on rare earth exports. The U.S. concessions were part of a broader agreement that included China’s resumption of soybean purchases and increased action against fentanyl trafficking, reflecting efforts by both sides to stabilise trade relations and promote economic cooperation despite ongoing strategic competition.

India launched the Fully Digital Marine Fisheries Census 2025, marking a major technological leap in fisheries data collection. This initiative replaces traditional paper-based surveys with advanced multilingual Android applications — VyAS-BHARAT, VyAS-SUTRA, and VyAS-NAV — developed by ICAR-CMFRI. The census aims to comprehensively cover 1.2 million fisher households across 5,000 marine villages in 13 coastal states and union territories. By integrating real-time geo-referenced data, drone-based craft enumeration, and dashboard monitoring, India is modernizing fisheries management, improving data accuracy, and enabling informed policymaking for the sustainable development of the marine sector.