Current Affairs Quiz 10th November 2025 Quiz

Exp. Serena Williams Honoured with 2025 Princess of Asturias Award for Sports

Serena Williams was honoured with the 2025 Princess of Asturias Award for Sports in Spain, receiving the accolade from King Felipe VI, Queen Letizia, and Princess Leonor, recognising her exceptional contributions to global sport, leadership, and advocacy for equality.

The award celebrates Serena’s legendary career as a 23-time Grand Slam singles champion, joining a prestigious list of past recipients including Lindsey Vonn and Pau Gasol, highlighting her influence both on and off the court.

Exp. Sai Gautam Gopalakrishnan Wins Third Edition of Manohar Parrikar Yuva Scientist Award 2025

Sai Gautam Gopalakrishnan, an associate professor of materials engineering at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, has been announced as the recipient of the third edition of the Manohar Parrikar Yuva Scientist Award 2025, leading research in computational materials science.

The award carries a citation and a cash prize of Rs 5 lakh, the highest in science and technology awards in India, selected from 50 applications with 10 candidates shortlisted for interviews.

Gopalakrishnan was chosen after rigorous evaluation by an expert committee chaired by Anil Kakodkar, and the award will be presented at the Manohar Parrikar Vigyan Mahotsav in December 2025.

Exp. PSEB Recommends Deepak Gupta as Next CMD of GAIL India

The Public Enterprise Selection Board (PSEB) has recommended Deepak Gupta, Director (Projects) at GAIL India, as the next Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of the Maharatna company, succeeding Sandeep Kumar Gupta upon his retirement in February next year.

Deepak Gupta brings over 35 years of experience in the oil and gas sector, with expertise in project and construction management and business development across the hydrocarbon value chain.

Recent Appointments

• DG of Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) – Sanjay Garg
• Full-time Member Secretary of the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) in NCR – Tarun Kumar Pithode
• Chairperson of the WIPO Advisory Board of Judges for the 2025–2027 – Delhi HC Justice Prathiba M. Singh
• President of FICCI for 2025-26 – Anant Goenka (replace Harsha Vardhan Agarwal
• Secretary in Department of Commerce – Rajesh Agrawal (replace Sunil Barthwal)

Exp. HAL Signs $1 Billion Deal with GE for 113 Engines to Power 97 LCA Mk1A Fighters

HAL signs $1 billion contract with GE Aerospace for the supply of 113 F404-GE-IN20 engines and support packages to power the next batch of 97 LCA Mk1A fighters, boosting India’s indigenous fighter jet programme and self-reliance in defence production.

The total F404 engines ordered for the LCA Mk1A programme rises to 212, with deliveries under the latest contract scheduled from 2027 to 2032, aligning with HAL’s production timeline and the Indian Air Force’s requirement for 97 aircraft.

The new LCA Mk1A aircraft will feature over 64% indigenous content, including UTTAM AESA Radar, Swayam Raksha Kavach electronic warfare suite, and indigenous actuators, reinforcing India’s ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ initiative.

Exp. ReNew Energy Secures $477 Million ADB Funding for India’s First Round-the-Clock Peak Renewable Energy Project in Andhra Pradesh

ReNew Energy Global has secured a $477 million financing package from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to develop a large-scale wind-solar hybrid clean energy project with battery storage in Andhra Pradesh.

The project will integrate 837 MWp of wind and solar capacity with a 415 MWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), delivering 300 MW of peak power to enhance grid stability and support India’s low-carbon energy transition.

This marks ADB’s first financing of a round-the-clock peak renewable energy project, reinforcing ReNew’s partnership with ADB and aligning with the UNFCCC COP28 MoU to accelerate India’s clean energy and grid transformation goals.

Exp. Bartronics India Empaneled by Bank of Maharashtra as Corporate Business Correspondent Vendor for Five Years

Bartronics India has been empaneled by Bank of Maharashtra as a Corporate Business Correspondent (CBC) Vendor for a period of five years, currently operating across 1,800 villages and serving over 15 million people.

Under the new engagement, the company aims to expand its banking network from 1,800 to 3,000 touchpoints within 6–9 months, focusing on Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Karnataka, and establishing 1,200 new Customer Service Points (CSPs).

The expansion is projected to generate ₹50 crore in additional revenue over five years and create employment for 1,200 local CSP agents, promoting rural entrepreneurship and enhancing financial inclusion in underserved areas.

Exp. Khasi Community Celebrates Shad Nongkrem Festival in Smit

The Khasi community of Meghalaya celebrated the five-day Shad Nongkrem Festival at Smit, expressing gratitude for a bountiful harvest and prosperity. This annual religious and cultural event, one of India’s most distinctive tribal celebrations, attracts both locals and visitors.

The festival honours Ka Blei Synshar, the goddess of fertility and prosperity, and is held in Smit, the traditional capital of Hima Khyrim, about 20 km from Shillong. Dr. Balajied Syiem, the Syiem (King) of Hima Khyrim, presided over the Pomblang ceremony, performing rituals and prayers to Lei Shyllong, the deity of Shillong Peak.

The highlights include the vibrant Nongkrem dance — women performing ‘Ka Shad Kynthei’ with golden Tiew Lasubon crowns symbolising purity, and men performing ‘Ka Shad Mastieh’ with swords and yak-hair whisks. The festival showcases the Khasi tribe’s matrilineal traditions, spiritual depth, and communal harmony with nature and divinity.

Exp. Kashi Tamil Sangamam 2025 to Celebrate Cultural Unity Between Tamil Nadu and Kashi

Varanasi will host the fourth edition of Kashi Tamil Sangamam (KTS 4.0) from December 2 to 15, 2025, envisioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, celebrating the deep-rooted cultural bond between Tamil Nadu and Kashi under the spirit of Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat.

The theme “Let us Learn Tamil – Karpom Tamil” highlights India’s linguistic unity, with over 1,400 delegates from Tamil Nadu across seven categories including students, teachers, writers, professionals, women, and spiritual scholars participating in cultural exchange and learning sessions.

This year’s key highlights include the valedictory ceremony at Rameswaram on December 15, along with the launch of “Tamil Karpom” (students from North India learning Tamil) and the “Agasthya Expedition” (a cultural journey from Tenkasi to Kashi showcasing Tamil Nadu’s heritage).

Continuing from the success of previous editions since 2022, KTS 4.0 aims to deepen cultural and intellectual ties; earlier editions introduced initiatives like real-time Tamil translation of the PM’s speech and celebrated Sage Agasthya’s legacy, promoting unity through shared traditions.

Exp. Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Honoured with 2025 World Leader for Peace and Security Award by Boston Global Forum

Spiritual leader Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, founder of the Art of Living Foundation, has been honoured with the 2025 World Leader for Peace and Security Award by the Boston Global Forum (BGF) and the AI World Society (AIWS).

The award recognises his global humanitarian efforts, including rehabilitating over 8 lakh prisoners, reviving 70+ rivers, and educating 1 lakh children through the Art of Living Foundation.

The award was presented by Nguyen Anh Tuan, Co-founder and CEO of the Boston Global Forum, with past recipients including Emmanuel Macron, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and Ban Ki-m

Exp. Chef Sanjeev Kapoor Named “Top Agri-Food Pioneer” By World Food Prize Foundation

Celebrated chef and Padma Shri awardee Sanjeev Kapoor has been honoured as a Top Agri-Food Pioneer by the World Food Prize Foundation in Des Moines, Iowa.

The recognition highlights his contributions to promoting sustainable and healthy eating, supporting Indian agriculture, and using local, nutrient-rich ingredients.

The award was presented during the Borlaug Dialogue Week, an annual global event focused on food security, climate resilience, and nutrition.

Exp. Veteran Archaeologist Ravindra Korisettar from Dharwad Honoured with Rajyotsava Award

Veteran archaeologist Ravindra (Ravi) Korisettar from Dharwad has been honoured with the Rajyotsava Award for his outstanding contributions to archaeology and education.

He is a UGC Emeritus Fellow in the Department of History and Archaeology at Karnatak University, Dharwad, with a research career spanning over 40 years.

Prof. Korisettar has published papers in top journals like Science (2007) and PNAS (USA), and led key projects such as the Kashmir Palaeoclimate Project and Geoarchaeology of the Middle Krishna Basin.

The 74-year-old scholar has established prehistory museums in Ballari and Dharwad and served on committees related to educational development and university upgradation initiatives in Karnataka.

Recent Awards

• Best Paper Award at ICCCNet-UK 2025 – Indian-origin scientist Balaji Krishnan (for his research on ethical AI in financial management)
• British Academy Book Prize 2025 – Indian-origin historian Sunil Amrith (for The Burning Earth: An Environmental History of the Last 500 Years)
• World’s Best Consumer Bank 2025 by Global Finance – State Bank of India (SBI)
• Best Bank in India 2025 by Global Finance – State Bank of India (SBI)
• HR Excellence Award at Fortune Leadership Awards 2025 – Telecommunications Consultants India Limited (for Outstanding People-Centric Reforms and Innovation)

Exp. Paradeep Phosphates Appoints Rahul Dravid as Brand Ambassador

Paradeep Phosphates Limited (PPL) has appointed Rahul Dravid as its brand ambassador to represent trust, discipline, reliability, and performance across its product range.

The collaboration includes two national campaigns — “Kheti ka Game Changer” for Jai Kisaan Navratna Nano Shakti Nano DAP and “NPK and Organic Fertilizers ki Winning Team” for PPL’s NPK and organic fertiliser range.

Using cricket analogies, the campaigns reflect Dravid’s mentor-like approach, encouraging farmers to select the right fertilisers for improved productivity and stronger yields.

Recent Brand Ambassador

• Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma – Fintech firm Pay10
• Sanju Samson – English Premier League (EPL) in India
• Shubhanshu Shukla – Viksit Bharat Buildathon 2025
• Mohammed Siraj – Skechers India
• Alia Bhatt- Denim brand Levi’s
• Abhinav Bindra – International Olympic Committee (IOC) Mental Health Ambassadors
• Madhuri Dixit – Odisha state’s handloom industry.

Exp. DGT Partners with Autodesk to Integrate AI and Digital Design Tools in Vocational Training under Skill India Mission

The Directorate General of Training (DGT) under the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) has signed an MoU with Autodesk, a global leader in design and make technology, to upskill trainers and educators in NSTIs and ITIs across India.

The collaboration aims to integrate advanced digital design tools and AI-powered learning into vocational training, aligning India’s workforce with industry needs in architecture, engineering, manufacturing, and construction.

Autodesk will provide its professional-grade software to educators and students in over 14,500 ITIs and 33 NSTIs, promoting large-scale adoption of digital design and manufacturing technologies.

The partnership supports the Skill India Mission through joint curriculum development, faculty training, hands-on learning, and globally recognized certification programs, preparing a future-ready skilled workforce.

Recent MoU

• IEPFA and SEBI Organise ‘Niveshak Shivir’ in Amritsar to Empower Investors and Resolve Unclaimed Dividend Issues
• L&T and US-Based GA-ASI Partner to Manufacture Advanced MALE Drones in India for Armed Forces under Atmanirbhar Bharat
• AXISCADES and France’s Cilas Join Hands to Develop Laser-Based Counter-Drone Systems for Indian Armed Forces
• TEC and IIT Hyderabad Join Hands to Advance Research in 6G, AI, and Next-Gen Telecom Technologies

Exp. Union Minister Manohar Lal Unveils ₹50 Commemorative Coin to Mark 50 Years of NHPC Limited’s Green Energy Journey

Union Minister Manohar Lal released a ₹50 commemorative coin on 6 November 2025 in New Delhi to mark 50 years of NHPC Limited in the presence of senior officials from the Ministry of Power and NHPC.

NHPC Limited, a Navratna hydropower company under the Ministry of Power, celebrates its Golden Jubilee on 7 November 2025, highlighting five decades of contributions to India’s power sector.

With an installed capacity of 8,333 MW across 30 power stations and 14 projects (9,704 MW) under construction, NHPC has diversified into solar, wind, and green hydrogen, reaffirming its commitment to 100% green energy and India’s clean power transition.

Exp. 10 November – World Science Day for Peace and Development

World Science Day for Peace and Development is observed every year on 10 November to emphasize the vital role of science in society and to promote public engagement in scientific discussions.

The day supports the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, stressing the need for strong partnerships between science, policy, and society to achieve global progress.

Historical Background: The International Week of Science and Peace was first celebrated in 1986, and the UN General Assembly formally recognized it in 1988 through Resolution 43/61.