Current Affairs - November 2, 2025 Current Affairs

Rohan Bopanna, one of India’s greatest tennis players, retired in 2025 after a distinguished two-decade-long career. Known for his powerful serves and exceptional doubles play, Bopanna achieved historic milestones, including winning two Grand Slam titles — the 2017 French Open mixed doubles and the 2024 Australian Open men’s doubles. He became the oldest player to reach World No. 1 in doubles at age 43. His famous partnership with Pakistan’s Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi, dubbed the “Indo-Pak Express,” symbolised sportsmanship and unity. Bopanna’s legacy extends beyond trophies, as he inspired future Indian tennis players through perseverance and excellence on the global stage.

Karthik Narain, a seasoned technology leader and former Accenture Chief Technology Officer, has been appointed as the Chief Product and Business Officer at Google Cloud. With over 25 years of experience in cloud, AI, and enterprise transformation, Narain brings deep industry expertise to one of the world’s most competitive cloud ecosystems. In his new role, he will oversee product, engineering, and go-to-market strategies, helping Google Cloud expand its global presence and AI-driven enterprise offerings. His appointment strengthens Thomas Kurian’s leadership team and reinforces Google’s strategic push to accelerate innovation and compete effectively with AWS and Microsoft Azure in the enterprise cloud market.

China launched the Shenzhou-21 mission to its Tiangong Space Station, marking another milestone in its rapidly advancing space programme. The mission carried three astronauts — including 32-year-old Wu Fei, the nation’s youngest astronaut — and four lab mice for biological experiments in microgravity. Conducted from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre using a Long March-2F rocket, the mission aims to expand research on space-based biology, maintenance operations, and spacewalks. This achievement aligns with China’s long-term goal of landing humans on the Moon by 2030 and reinforces its position as a key global player in space exploration and scientific innovation.

Catherine Connolly, an independent left-wing politician from Galway, was elected as Ireland’s 10th President with around 63% of the first-preference votes, defeating her main rival Heather Humphreys. Her victory marks a significant moment in Irish politics, being both a rebuke to the centre-right establishment and a sign of public support for progressive and inclusive values. Connolly, who has served as a Teachta Dála since 2016 and was Deputy Speaker of Parliament, campaigned on themes of social justice, neutrality in foreign policy, and equality, promising to be “a president for all” Irish citizens.

Dame Sarah Mullally has made history as the first woman appointed Archbishop of Canterbury, the highest office in the Church of England. Formerly the NHS Chief Nursing Officer for England, she transitioned to the priesthood in 2006 and became the Bishop of London in 2018. Her appointment marks a major milestone for gender equality in the Anglican Church, reflecting its ongoing journey toward inclusivity and reform. Approved by King Charles III after nomination by Prime Minister Keir Starmer, she will officially take office in January 2026. Her priorities include safeguarding reforms, rebuilding trust, and promoting compassion and inclusivity in the Church’s mission.

Chef Sanjeev Kapoor, a celebrated Indian chef and Padma Shri awardee, was honoured by the World Food Prize Foundation as one of its 2025 Top Agri-Food Pioneers. He earned this global recognition for integrating culinary innovation with nutrition advocacy, sustainable sourcing, and agricultural transformation. Kapoor’s initiatives, such as Nutri Pathshala, have connected schools, farmers, and nutrition programmes, helping deliver over 2.5 million nutrient-rich meals to children. His promotion of bio-fortified crops like iron-rich pearl millet and zinc-rich wheat has advanced both food security and community health. This recognition highlights how chefs can drive real change in agriculture and nutrition policy.

Pravaig, a Bengaluru-based company, has launched VEER, India’s first indigenous electric vehicle developed for defence applications. Built under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative, the Pravaig VEER EV offers stealth capabilities, high terrain mobility, and quick field-repair readiness, making it ideal for modern military missions. The vehicle recently received the iDEX (Innovation for Defence Excellence) award, recognizing its contribution to indigenous defence innovation. By combining sustainability, tactical efficiency, and technological advancement, the VEER strengthens India’s self-reliance in defence manufacturing and positions the nation as a potential leader in electric military vehicle technology on the global stage.

SITAA, which stands for Scheme for Innovation and Technology Association with Aadhaar, is a new initiative launched by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI). The programme aims to strengthen Aadhaar’s technological foundation by encouraging innovation and research in areas like artificial intelligence, biometric authentication, and data security. In collaboration with MeitY Startup Hub and NASSCOM, SITAA will nurture startups and researchers to develop homegrown solutions for a secure and inclusive digital identity ecosystem. It also aligns with national missions such as Digital Public Infrastructure and Atmanirbhar Bharat, fostering self-reliance and trust in India’s digital framework.

India’s Goods and Services Tax (GST) revenue grew by 4.6% year-on-year in October 2025, reaching ₹1.96 lakh crore — the highest in five months but marking the slowest growth in over four years. Despite the moderation, revenues remained above ₹1.8 lakh crore for the tenth straight month, reflecting consistent economic activity and strong tax compliance. The slowdown was partly due to the government’s restructuring of GST slabs, which simplified the tax system by reducing higher-rate categories. This reform is expected to stimulate consumption and investment over time, helping sustain fiscal stability and support India’s long-term economic growth trajectory.

India won their maiden ICC Women’s ODI World Cup title in 2025 by defeating South Africa by 52 runs in the final held at the DY Patil Sports Academy, Navi Mumbai. India posted a strong total of 298/7, powered by Shafali Verma’s 87 and Deepti Sharma’s all-round brilliance, including a fifty and five wickets. South Africa’s Laura Wolvaardt scored a valiant 101, but India’s bowlers sealed the victory. This triumph marked India’s first-ever Women’s ODI World Cup title, making it a historic achievement for Indian cricket and a defining moment for women’s sports in the country.