1. Special Intensive Revision of Electoral Rolls Begins in Tamil Nadu
Polity and National Issues
- The Election Commission of India launched the enumeration phase of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Tamil Nadu and 11 other states/UTs, with January 1, 2026, as the qualifying date; Booth Level Officers (BLOs) will conduct door-to-door verification until December 4, issuing pre-filled forms to update voter lists ahead of 2026 elections.
- DMK organization secretary R.S. Bharathi petitioned the Supreme Court against SIR implementation in Tamil Nadu, following an all-party resolution led by Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, raising fears of disenfranchising legitimate voters due to procedural lapses and potential exclusion of marginalized groups.
- Chief Minister M.K. Stalin condemned the gang rape of a college student in Coimbatore as an “inhuman crime,” instructing police to file a chargesheet within one month and ensure maximum punishment, while highlighting the need for enhanced women’s safety measures in urban areas.
- The Tamil Nadu government scheduled consultations with political parties on November 6 to formulate a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for political meetings and rallies, addressing rising law and order concerns and aiming to balance democratic expression with public security.
- Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports announced centenary celebrations for Indian Hockey on November 7, 2025, at Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium, emphasizing the sport’s role in fostering national unity and its historical significance from ancient origins to modern Olympic successes.
- The Supreme Court will hear pleas for mandatory online disclosure of political parties’ internal rules and memorandums, pushing for greater electoral transparency and accountability to reduce opaque influences in political funding and operations.
- NITI Aayog unveiled an Agri-Tech roadmap integrating AI and IoT for farmers, targeting 20% yield improvements and cost reductions, with pilots in Tamil Nadu focused on crop monitoring, supply chain efficiency, and addressing rural economic distress.
2. India Reaffirms Commitment to Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty
International Relations
- India reiterated its adherence to the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) amid U.S. announcements on resuming nuclear tests, advocating for universal disarmament while upholding strategic autonomy in UN-led multilateral disarmament discussions.
- The third India-Norway Partnership Initiative (NIPI) meeting reviewed health and development projects, approving Phase IV plans for 2025-26; Union Health Secretary co-chaired talks on sustainable healthcare, emphasizing maternal and child health outcomes in underserved regions.
- India plans to import eight more cheetahs from Botswana by December 2025 under Project Cheetah, advancing reintroduction efforts for the species extinct since 1952, aligning with global biodiversity conservation and ecological restoration goals.
- The G20’s report on global inequality highlighted wealth concentration’s drag on aggregate demand and human capital; India called for inclusive growth strategies at the forum to mitigate elite capture and promote equitable development in emerging economies.
- Indonesian player Janice Tjen won the WTA 250 Chennai Open, rising from world No. 412 to champion, spotlighting Indo-Pacific sports diplomacy and India’s growing role in hosting international athletic events to strengthen regional ties.
- Discussions on East Timor’s ASEAN inclusion advanced at regional summits, with India endorsing the expansion for deeper Southeast Asian economic integration and collaborative security in the Indo-Pacific maritime domain.
- At the Sevilla Forum on Debt, India pushed for reformed global financial architecture to alleviate borrowing pressures on developing nations, stressing sustainable debt relief mechanisms and enhanced access to concessional financing.
3. Rare Earth Magnet Incentive Scheme Expanded to ₹7,000 Crore
Economy
- India’s rare earth magnet manufacturing incentive scheme scaled up to over ₹7,000 crore, tripling prior funding to cut import reliance and ramp up domestic production for electronics, EVs, and renewables, fostering self-sufficiency in critical minerals.
- NITI Aayog’s Agri-Tech roadmap leverages AI and IoT to boost farmer productivity by 20% and slash costs, with Tamil Nadu pilots emphasizing real-time crop analytics and market linkages to enhance rural incomes and food security.
- A Lancet report revealed PM2.5 pollution caused 1.7 million deaths in India in 2024, with economic losses of USD 339.4 billion (9.5% of GDP); it urged tighter emission controls and green investments to curb health and productivity impacts.
- The Coalition for a GM-Free India criticized gene-edited rice varieties like DRR Rice 100 for lacking yield or resilience gains in ICAR trials, calling for rigorous biotech scrutiny to safeguard farmer seed autonomy and biodiversity.
- India’s IT sector grapples with U.S. economic slowdown and client budget cuts, heightening job risks; experts recommend upskilling in AI and cloud computing to pivot towards domestic digital economy opportunities.
- The Ministry of Statistics’ Environmental Accounting on Forests 2025 valued India’s forest services at ₹1.5 lakh crore annually, promoting biodiversity credits as a tool for green financing and sustainable economic expansion.
- October 2025’s Monthly Current Affairs PDF noted festive retail surge projecting 6.8% Q4 GDP growth, propelled by agriculture recovery and services resilience, with CPI inflation data slated for November 12 to inform policy adjustments.
4. ISRO Launches Heaviest Military Satellite CMS-03
Defence
- ISRO orbited India’s heaviest military communications satellite, CMS-03 (GSAT-7R) at 4,410 kg, via LVM3-M5 from Sriharikota, bolstering secure naval and army networks across the Indian Ocean for enhanced operational coordination.
- Defence Minister urged IAEA monitoring of Pakistan’s nuclear program amid regional volatility, reinforcing India’s no-first-use doctrine and proactive stance in international non-proliferation dialogues.
- India Maritime Week 2025 (October 27-31) in Mumbai spotlighted sustainable shipping and anti-piracy, with MoPSW detailing ₹70,000 crore investments for port-led blue economy growth and maritime infrastructure upgrades.
- Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya honored Rohit Shetty, Harbhajan Singh, and Saina Nehwal as Fit India Icons at the National Fitness Conclave, tying physical wellness to national defense readiness and youth enlistment in armed forces.
- The National e-Vidhan Application streamlined digital governance in defence assemblies, facilitating paperless sessions for swift approvals on procurement, veteran welfare, and strategic infrastructure projects.
- The Monetary Policy Committee assessed inflation dynamics, aiding stable fiscal support for defence allocations amid escalating indigenous weapon system capital outlays under Atmanirbhar Bharat.
- Progress on the Chenab Rail Bridge, the world’s highest arch, advanced strategic connectivity in Jammu and Kashmir, enabling faster troop deployments and logistics in border terrains for heightened security posture.
5. Gogabeel Lake Designated as India’s 94th Ramsar Site
Environment and Science
- Union Minister Bhupendra Yadav announced the designation of Gogabeel Lake in Bihar’s Katihar district as India’s 94th Ramsar site, elevating Bihar to third in the country with six sites after Tamil Nadu (20) and Uttar Pradesh (10), highlighting wetland conservation efforts.
- The site, a perennial oxbow lake formed by the Kosi River, supports over 25,000 migratory birds and endangered species like the red-headed vulture, underscoring its role in biodiversity preservation and flood mitigation in the Himalayan foothills.
- This addition aligns with India’s commitment to the Ramsar Convention, promoting sustainable wetland management amid climate change threats, with potential for eco-tourism and community-based livelihoods in the region.
- The Reserve Bank of India launched November 2025 rounds of three key surveys—Inflation Expectations Survey of Households (IESH), Consumer Confidence Survey (CCS), and Industrial Outlook Survey (IOS)—covering 19 major cities including Chennai to gauge economic sentiments.
- IESH captures subjective inflation assessments based on household consumption baskets, aiding monetary policy formulation amid festive season dynamics and global commodity fluctuations.
- CCS monitors consumer perceptions on economic conditions, employment, and prices, providing insights into spending behavior crucial for post-monsoon recovery projections.
- IOS assesses manufacturing sector outlook on production, orders, and employment, supporting industrial policy tweaks to sustain 7%+ GDP growth targets.
