Current Affairs - November 11, 2025 Current Affairs

Bangladesh became the first South Asian country to join the UN Water Convention in 2025, marking a major milestone in transboundary water governance. Officially known as the Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes, it provides a legally binding framework for the equitable and sustainable management of shared water bodies. By acceding to this treaty, Bangladesh aims to strengthen its position in addressing cross-border river issues, particularly with India, and to promote cooperative water management aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals. This move enhances Bangladesh’s global engagement on environmental diplomacy and regional water security.

Exercise Mitra Shakti 2025 is the 11ᵗʰ edition of the bilateral joint military exercise conducted between the armies of India and Sri Lanka. Held from 10 to 23 November 2025 at the Foreign Training Node in Belagavi, Karnataka, the exercise focuses on counter-terrorism, drone warfare, and UN peacekeeping operations. Indian troops from the Rajput Regiment and Sri Lankan soldiers from the Gajaba Regiment are participating in this edition. The exercise aims to strengthen interoperability, mutual trust, and coordination between the two nations, reflecting their shared commitment to regional peace, security, and defence cooperation in South Asia.

In Q2 2025, India’s unemployment rate for individuals aged 15 years and above fell to 5.2%, reflecting a modest but positive improvement in the labour market. This decline from 5.4% in Q1 2025 indicates better job creation and higher labour absorption, especially in rural areas supported by agricultural and government-led employment schemes like MGNREGA. The data, based on the Current Weekly Status (CWS) approach of MoSPI’s Periodic Labour Force Survey, also highlighted a rise in the female labour participation rate to 33.7% and a slight increase in the overall Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) to 55.1%, showing signs of gradual employment recovery.

Google introduced its 7th-generation Ironwood TPU, a cutting-edge AI processing unit designed to enhance the company’s cloud computing and machine learning capabilities. The Ironwood TPU is optimised for training and deploying large-scale AI models such as chatbots and digital assistants. Each Ironwood pod interconnects 9,216 TPUs, significantly reducing data bottlenecks and enabling seamless scaling of massive workloads. This innovation underscores Google’s commitment to advancing AI infrastructure and positioning itself as a formidable competitor to Nvidia in the field of high-performance computing and artificial intelligence development.

Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL), a public sector shipyard located in Visakhapatnam, has been granted Mini Ratna (Category-I) status by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. The recognition was presented to HSL’s CMD, Cmde Girideep Singh, during the DPSU Annual Review Meeting held in New Delhi. Established originally as the Scindia Shipyard by industrialist Walchand Hirachand under The Scindia Steam Navigation Company Ltd, HSL has played a pivotal role in shipbuilding and naval support operations, significantly contributing to India’s maritime and defence capabilities over the decades.

The Assam government has approved the Assam Prohibition of Polygamy Bill 2025, marking a historic move to criminalise the practice of multiple marriages while a first marriage is still legally valid. The Bill proposes imprisonment of up to seven years for offenders and establishes a special compensation fund to support women affected by polygamous unions. It excludes Scheduled Tribes and areas under the Sixth Schedule, as well as certain pre-2005 Muslim marriages in Scheduled Areas. The legislation reinforces gender justice, promotes uniform marriage laws, and could serve as a legislative model for other Indian states pursuing similar reforms.

Deepak Gupta, currently serving as Director (Projects) at GAIL (India) Limited, has been recommended by the Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB) to be the next Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of the Maharatna PSU under the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas. With over 35 years of experience in the oil and gas sector, he is recognised for his expertise in project and construction management, digitization, and strategic reforms. A Mechanical Engineer from DTU and a PMP-certified professional, Gupta’s leadership is expected to strengthen GAIL’s project execution and innovation initiatives.

The Ayni Airbase, located near Dushanbe in Tajikistan, was India’s only overseas military facility until its quiet withdrawal in 2022. Originally a Soviet-era base, Ayni was renovated by India’s Border Roads Organisation (BRO) in the early 2000s with an investment of around $80 million. The base featured a 3,200-metre runway, hangars, and fuel storage, and served as a key strategic outpost near Afghanistan, Pakistan, and China. India’s withdrawal followed the non-renewal of its lease by Tajikistan, reportedly under Russian and Chinese pressure, marking a significant reduction in India’s military footprint in Central Asia.

Shaikha Nasser Al Nowais from the United Arab Emirates has been appointed as the first woman to head UN Tourism, marking a historic breakthrough in global tourism leadership. Her appointment was confirmed during the 123rd UN Tourism Executive Council session in Segovia, Spain, and she will assume office in January 2026 for a four-year term. With over 16 years of experience in corporate governance and tourism development, Al Nowais has held key roles including Corporate Vice President at Rotana Hotels and Chair of the Abu Dhabi Chamber’s Tourism Working Group. Her leadership emphasises sustainability, digital innovation, and women’s empowerment in global tourism.

Engineers India Limited (EIL), a Navratna PSU under the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with NMDC Energy, a UAE-based company, to jointly undertake onshore projects in Saudi Arabia. The partnership covers a wide range of sectors, including oil and gas, refineries, petrochemicals, pipelines, storage, and energy transition. The MoU was formalised at the ADIPEC 2025 event in Abu Dhabi, marking a significant collaboration in advancing cross-border energy infrastructure initiatives.

India signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) on Mutual Submarine Search and Rescue Support with Vietnam during the 15th India–Vietnam Defence Policy Dialogue held in Hanoi in November 2025. The agreement, co-chaired by India’s Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh and Vietnam’s Deputy Defence Minister Sr Lt Gen Hoang Xuan Chien, aims to enhance cooperation in submarine rescue operations, ensure rapid assistance in emergencies, and strengthen interoperability between the two navies. Alongside, a Letter of Intent (LoI) was also signed to deepen collaboration in defence manufacturing and technology, reinforcing the India–Vietnam Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and Indo-Pacific maritime security.

National Education Day is celebrated every year on November 11 to commemorate the birth anniversary of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, India’s first Education Minister. The observance was initiated in 2008 by the Ministry of Human Resource Development, now known as the Ministry of Education. Maulana Azad played a vital role in laying the foundation of India’s modern education system and establishing key institutions such as the University Grants Commission (UGC), Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), and the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), promoting learning and cultural development across the nation.

The 2nd WHO Traditional Medicine Global Summit is scheduled to be held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, from December 17 to 19, 2025. Co-hosted by the World Health Organization (WHO) and India’s Ministry of AYUSH, the summit will bring together around 7,000 participants, including global health leaders, researchers, and traditional medicine practitioners. The event, themed “Restoring Balance: The Science and Practice of Health and Well-being,” aims to promote evidence-based traditional medicine, strengthen universal health coverage, and foster collaboration between science, innovation, and indigenous wisdom for sustainable healthcare development worldwide.