Current Affairs - November 18, 2025 Current Affairs

ICRA has projected that India’s GDP growth for Q2 FY26 will moderate to 7%, reflecting a slowdown from the stronger 7.8% expansion recorded in Q1. This deceleration is linked to weaker performances in the services and agriculture sectors, despite encouraging industrial output supported by festive demand, GST rate cuts, and inventory stocking. Additional factors contributing to the easing pace include lower government expenditure, moderation in services exports, and weather-related disruptions affecting agricultural yields. Although industry remained a bright spot, the combined drag from services, agriculture, and fiscal trends indicates a softer overall growth outlook for the quarter.

The Asian Archery Championships 2025 took place in Dhaka, the capital city of Bangladesh, where India performed exceptionally well by winning a total of ten medals. These included six gold, three silver, and one bronze across various categories, particularly excelling in compound events with strong showings in both individual and team competitions. Hosting the event in Dhaka provided a competitive platform for archers from across the continent to showcase their skills. India’s success at this edition also reflected an improvement compared to its previous performance in 2023, where it had secured seven medals.

India has entered into a one-year agreement to import a substantial quantity of LPG from the United States, amounting to 2.2 million tonnes annually. The deal was finalized after officials from major Indian oil companies—IOC, BPCL, and HPCL—held detailed discussions with leading American producers along the US Gulf Coast. This arrangement strengthens India’s energy security by diversifying supply sources and reducing dependence on traditional exporters. It also reflects growing strategic and commercial ties between India and the U.S. in the energy sector, ensuring a stable supply of LPG for domestic consumption and supporting the country’s broader energy needs.

Jannik Sinner secured the ATP Finals title in Turin by defeating World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz in a highly anticipated match. Ranked World No. 2, Sinner showcased exceptional form and composure, earning an important victory in front of his home crowd in Italy. This win marked his sixth meeting with Alcaraz in the year and his second triumph against him, with the previous one coming in the Wimbledon final. The result further elevated Sinner’s stature in the tennis world, adding to his growing list of achievements, while Alcaraz continues to hold an impressive record with six Grand Slam titles.

INS Mahe is the first vessel of the indigenously developed Mahe-class Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft, designed to strengthen India’s coastal defence and underwater threat-neutralisation capabilities. The ship derives its name from the historic coastal town of Mahe, reflecting India’s maritime heritage and cultural identity. Its crest features the Urumi, a traditional flexible sword symbolising stealth, agility, and precision—qualities essential for shallow-water ASW operations. Complemented by rising waves that represent maritime vigilance, the crest highlights the Indian Navy’s fusion of combat readiness and cultural symbolism. As part of India’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat vision, the Mahe-class underscores advances in indigenous warship design, sonar systems, and coastal security preparedness.

Thota Tharani, one of India’s most distinguished art directors and production designers, received the Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres in 2025 for his exceptional contribution to cinema and visual arts. His career spans over four decades, during which he has shaped the visual identity of numerous iconic films across multiple languages. His mastery in crafting culturally immersive and historically accurate sets has elevated film aesthetics in Indian cinema. The award recognises his impact not only within India but also on the global arts landscape, placing him among other renowned Indian recipients who have enriched artistic expression through their craft.

The government implemented a 26% rise in print media advertisement rates to provide stronger financial backing to the industry. This adjustment, based on recommendations from the 9th Rate Structure Committee, updates the cost per square centimetre for black-and-white advertisements in newspapers with a circulation of one lakh copies. The revision helps the sector cope with operational challenges, sustain its revenue streams, and remain competitive in a rapidly evolving media environment.

Marco Bezzecchi delivered a landmark performance by winning the 2025 MotoGP season finale in Valencia. Riding for Aprilia, he not only secured a dominant victory but also achieved the rare feat of winning back-to-back races, something no Aprilia rider had done before. His triumph in Valencia, combined with his earlier win in Portugal, propelled him to third place in the overall championship standings—marking a historic milestone for both his career and the Aprilia team. This victory highlighted his consistent pace, strong qualifying position, and ability to withstand pressure from emerging contenders like Raul Fernandez and Fabio Di Giannantonio.

The Sixteenth Finance Commission’s report covers the five-year award period from 2026 to 2031, guiding India’s fiscal framework for this duration. During this period, the Commission’s recommendations shape how tax revenue is shared between the Union and the States, how grants-in-aid are allocated, and how disaster risk financing mechanisms are structured. It plays a central role in strengthening fiscal federalism by defining criteria for vertical and horizontal devolution, local body financing, and performance-based grants. The report, prepared after extensive consultations and expert inputs, forms the foundation for fiscal planning and resource distribution for the entire award cycle.

ColoNoX is a nitric-oxide-releasing wound dressing introduced by the Department of Atomic Energy through BARC to address diabetic foot ulcers, a condition that often requires advanced therapeutic solutions due to slow healing and high infection risk. This innovation marks a major step in integrating nuclear research with biomedical applications, enabling controlled nitric oxide release that supports antimicrobial action, improved blood flow, and enhanced tissue repair. Its development strengthens India’s medical technology capabilities and demonstrates the potential of cross-disciplinary research in creating effective healthcare interventions for chronic and complex wounds.

The National Gopal Ratna Awards 2025 include a cash reward of ₹5 lakh each for the top performers in the Best Dairy Farmer and Best Dairy Cooperative/FPO/MPC categories. These awards aim to honour those who significantly contribute to India’s livestock and dairy ecosystem through excellence in dairy farming and cooperative management. By recognizing top dairy farmers and cooperatives, the initiative encourages improved breeding practices, scientific cattle management, and innovation in milk production. The awards also reinforce the importance of these stakeholders in strengthening India’s position as the world’s largest milk producer while promoting sustainable and efficient dairy development nationwide.

The storm responsible for the widespread damage, severe flooding, and loss of life across parts of Portugal and Wales was named Claudia. It brought intense rain, strong winds, and hazardous conditions that led authorities to issue amber alerts in several Portuguese districts, including Algarve, Beja, and Setubal. In Wales, the storm’s impact was equally serious, with rivers overflowing and causing significant flooding, especially in Monmouth. Events like these highlight the increasing vulnerability of regions to extreme weather, emphasizing the need for preparedness, timely warnings, and resilient infrastructure to mitigate the effects of such natural disasters.

‘AJEYA WARRIOR-25’ is a bilateral military exercise conducted between India and the United Kingdom, reflecting the strong and historic defence ties shared by the two nations. Held at the Mahajan Field Firing Ranges in Rajasthan, the exercise brings together equal troop strength from both sides to train under a UN mandate, focusing on counter-terror operations in semi-urban terrain. This collaboration enhances interoperability through joint planning, tactical drills, and field exercises, helping both armies prepare for complex modern security challenges. The long-running series, active since 2011, continues to play a key role in strengthening mutual trust and operational synergy between India and the UK.

The Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) partnered with Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya to strengthen India’s capabilities in smart defence technologies and secure logistics systems. This collaboration focuses on areas such as operational logistics modelling, indigenous chip design, hardware security, and advanced encryption technologies, all of which are vital for national defence preparedness. By linking GSV’s expertise in transportation and logistics with DRDO’s cutting-edge defence R&D, the partnership accelerates innovation in sensitive domains. It also fosters capacity building through joint research, workshops, and conferences, helping nurture a new generation of scientists and professionals aligned with India’s Aatmanirbharta vision in defence technology.