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Daily Current Affairs 20th November 2025 Daily GK Update
Current Affairs Quiz 2025, Daily gk updates and Current affairs play a major role in any competitive exam. so here we are providing the current affairs quiz daily for Bank, SSC, Railway and Other Government Competitive Examinations.
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National News
Supreme Court Orders Jharkhand to Declare 31,468 Hectares of Saranda Forest as Wildlife Sanctuary
- The Supreme Court has ordered the Jharkhand government to declare 31,468.25 hectares of Saranda forest as a wildlife sanctuary within three months, upholding the 1968 Bihar notification.
- Saranda is one of the world’s most pristine sal forests, home to critically endangered species like the sal forest tortoise, four-horned antelope, Asian palm civet, and wild elephants, and inhabited by indigenous Adivasi communities.
- Despite the region holding 26% of India’s iron ore reserves, the court ruled that the designated 126 compartments do not host mining, ensuring biodiversity protection without halting ongoing mining activities.
- The court instructed the State to widely publicise that tribal and forest dwellers’ individual and community rights will not be affected, reiterating that mining is prohibited inside and within 1 km of wildlife sanctuaries.
Intellipaat Partners with IndiaAI Mission to Launch Nationwide ‘YUVAi for ALL’ Free AI Literacy Program
- Intellipaat has partnered with the IndiaAI Mission (MeitY) to launch the ‘YUVAi for ALL’ program, aiming to democratize AI education and make India future-ready.
- Under this collaboration, students, teachers, and working professionals will receive free training in Artificial Intelligence and Generative AI, supporting the government’s goal of empowering 10 million citizens by January 2026.
- Participants will get Government-recognised certification, while Intellipaat will conduct AI awareness workshops, GenAI tool demos, community learning drives, and offer foundation-level AI e-learning videos.
Education Minister Launches First-of-its-Kind AI Innovation and Incubation Centre at DPS RK Puram
- Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan inaugurated a first-of-its-kind AI innovation and incubation centre at DPS RK Puram, designed to integrate AI, cloud computing and applied research into school education.
- Developed with VVDN Technologies and Google Cloud, the centre will support neighbouring and government schools by providing access to Vertex AI, Gemini Enterprise, mentorship, and hands-on AI tools for inclusive learning.
- Students will get practical experience in robotics, AR/VR, IoT kits, Raspberry Pi systems, aligning with the new national four-level AI curriculum for Classes 6 onwards, covering foundational to advanced generative AI concepts.
Indian Army Sets Up Three New Garrisons Near Bangladesh Border to Strengthen Eastern Frontier Security
- Indian Army Sets Up Three New Garrisons Near Bangladesh Border to Strengthen Eastern Frontier SecurityThe Indian Army has established three new garrisons — Lachit Borphukan Military Station in Assam (Dhubri) and forward bases in Kishanganj (Bihar) and Chopra (West Bengal) — to enhance security amid regional shifts in Bangladesh and rising Chinese activity near the Siliguri Corridor.
- The new bases will boost surveillance and operational readiness in the sensitive corridor, improve coordination with the Border Security Force (BSF), and support the Tri-Shakti Corps, which already fields key assets like Rafale jets, BrahMos missiles, and advanced air-defence systems.
Government Proposes ₹30,000 Crore Outlay to Expand UDAN Regional Air Connectivity Scheme Beyond 2027
- The government has proposed a ₹30,000 crore outlay for the modified UDAN scheme to extend it beyond April 2027, with ₹18,000 crore for new airports and ₹12,000 crore for viability gap funding (VGF).
- The revised scheme aims to boost regional air connectivity, address earlier challenges, attract private participation, and expand access to remote and underserved areas.
- The new version targets 120 additional destinations and plans to facilitate travel for 4 crore passengers over the next decade, including support for heliports and airports in hilly and North-Eastern regions.
- Since its launch in 2016, UDAN has operationalised 649 routes, connecting 93 underserved airports, and has received over ₹4,300 crore in VGF and ₹4,638 crore for airport development.
International News
Parasocial Chosen as Cambridge Dictionary’s Word of the Year 2025
- Cambridge Dictionary selected “Parasocial” as the Word of the Year 2025 due to a sharp rise in online searches and its shift from an academic term to a widely used word on social media.
- The term reflects the 2025 zeitgeist, as public fascination with celebrities, influencers, and even AI has made one-sided relationships a major topic of discussion.
- Parasocial means a one-sided connection someone feels with a celebrity, fictional character, or AI personality, despite having no real-life interaction with them.
India Secures 4th Spot Globally in QS Sustainability Rankings 2026 with 103 Universities Featured
- India ranks 4th globally with 103 universities featured in the QS World University Rankings for Sustainability 2026, behind the S., China, and the U.K., in a list covering nearly 2,000 institutions worldwide.
- IIT Delhi emerged as the best-performing Indian institution, placed at rank 205, with India having 12 universities in the global top 500, matching countries like China and the Netherlands.
- Environmental education showed the strongest improvement among Indian institutions, with nine universities—including IIT Delhi, IIT Bombay, IIT Madras, IIT Kanpur, JNU, BHU, and IISc—scoring above 84 in this category.
- At the indicator level, IIT Delhi (93rd) and IIT Kharagpur (96th) were in the global top 100 for Employability & Outcomes, while University of Delhi (94th) made the top 100 in Knowledge Exchange, and IIT Bombay ranked 100th for Environmental Impact.
- Despite strong gains in environmental sustainability, Indian universities performed relatively lower in social impact indicators such as equality and education impact; for instance, IITs recorded equality scores ranging widely from 21.5 (IIT Ropar) to 69.8 (IIT Kanpur).
Banking & Financial News
BoB inks pact with SIDBI for small biz credit
- Bank of Baroda and SIDBI have partnered to enhance credit flow to small businesses and startups, enabling joint financing support for MSMEs.
- Under the MoU, both institutions will operationalise BoB’s working capital platform for SIDBI-sanctioned borrowers and collaborate on export promotion initiatives.
Recent MoUs Signed in Banking Sector
- Ageas Federal Life Insurance Partners with Muthoot Microfin to Expand Life Insurance Reach in Underserved India
- India Post Payments Bank & EPFO Join Hands to Offer Free Doorstep Digital Life Certificate Services for Pensioners
- NPCI Partners with PayPal to Integrate UPI with PayPal World for Seamless Global Payments
- TATA AIG Joins Hands with Equitas Small Finance Bank to Expand Insurance Reach in Rural and Urban India
- Bank of Baroda and IIFL Finance Join Hands in Co-Lending Partnership to Expand Gold Loans in Rural India
Appointments
Keerthy Suresh Appointed as UNICEF India’s New Celebrity Advocate for Child Rights
- Keerthy Suresh has been appointed UNICEF India’s new Celebrity Advocate, where she will support the promotion and protection of child rights across the country.
- The National Award-winning actor, known for strong women-centric roles, will work to raise awareness on children’s mental health, well-being, gender equality, and other key child rights priorities.
- UNICEF India Representative Cynthia McCaffrey stated that Keerthy’s strong connection with audiences will help create a powerful platform for inspiring action and awareness for every child.
Sports
Curaçao Becomes Smallest Nation Ever to Qualify for the FIFA World Cup 2026
- Curaçao created history by becoming the smallest nation by population (1.58 lakh) to qualify for the FIFA World Cup, securing a spot in the 2026 tournament after a tense 0–0 draw against Jamaica, surpassing Iceland’s 2018 record.
- The Caribbean island, part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, completed an unbeaten qualifying campaign with 12 points, finishing at the top of Group B under veteran Dutch coach Dick Advocaat.
- Their qualification run featured a massive 7–0 win over Bermuda, the biggest victory by any team in the round—crucial in helping them edge Jamaica by just one point to secure their historic World Cup berth.
Oscar Piastri Wins Australia’s Prestigious Don Award, the Nation’s Highest Sporting Honour
- Oscar Piastri, a nine-time Grand Prix winner, has received Australia’s highest sporting honour — the Don Award, recognising the athlete who most inspired the nation in the past year.
- The 24-year-old Formula One driver has rapidly risen to elite status, boosting national pride as he competes to become Australia’s third F1 world champion after Jack Brabham and Alan Jones, though he currently trails teammate Lando Norris by 24 points.
- Piastri was honoured at the Sport Australia Hall of Fame ceremony in Melbourne, joining past Don Award recipients such as Ian Thorpe, Cathy Freeman, Adam Scott, Ashleigh Barty, and the Matildas, with the award named after cricket legend Sir Donald Bradman.
Awards
Aravind Yashavant Patil and Meenangadi Cooperative Win National Gopal Ratna Awards 2025
- Aravind Yashavant Patil (Kolhapur, Maharashtra) won the best dairy farmer award for rearing indigenous cattle/buffalo breeds, while Meenangadi Ksheerolpadaka Sahakarana Sangham Ltd (Wayanad, Kerala) was awarded best dairy cooperative society.
- For the North Eastern and Himalayan regions, Vijay Lata (Himachal Pradesh) and Kulha Duud Udpadhak Sahkari Samiti (Uttarakhand) were recognized.
- Second and third prizes were awarded to multiple farmers and cooperatives across India, including Kankanala Krishna Reddy (Hyderabad), Harshit Jhuria (Rajasthan), Shraddha Satyawan Dhavan (Maharashtra), and Pradeep Pangariya (Uttarakhand), along with various cooperatives from Kerala, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, and Uttarakhand.
- Winners will receive certificates, mementos, and cash prizes ranging from ₹2 lakh to ₹5 lakh, while awardees from North Eastern/Himalayan regions get ₹2 lakh. Best Artificial Insemination Technicians (AITs) were also recognized, though no cash prize is provided for this category.
Ace Art Director Thota Tharrani to Receive France’s Prestigious Chevalier Honour
- Renowned art director Thota Tharrani has been selected to receive France’s prestigious Chevalier de Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters) for his contributions to cinema and visual arts in India.
- The honour will be conferred by France’s Ambassador to India, Thierry Mathou, recognizing Tharrani as a legendary figure in Indian cinema.
- Alliance Française Madras, an Indo-French cultural and teaching centre, announced the award, highlighting its role in promoting cultural ties between India and France in Tamil Nadu.
- The Chevalier award is given to individuals who have excelled in art, culture, or literature or have significantly influenced the global arts scene; past recipients include Shah Rukh Khan, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Bharti Kher, and Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia.
Science and Tech
Godrej Delivers First Human-Rated Vikas Engine to ISRO for Gaganyaan Mission
- Godrej Aerospace has delivered the first human-rated L110 stage Vikas engine to ISRO, a crucial component for India’s first human spaceflight mission under Gaganyaan, whose first uncrewed test flight is scheduled for early next year.
- Godrej, which has been supporting India’s space programme for over 40 years, has supplied precision engines and components for major missions like Chandrayaan and NISAR, reaffirming its strong collaboration with ISRO and LPSC.
- The human-rated LVM-3 rocket will use this Vikas engine to safely carry Indian astronauts into Earth’s orbit by 2027, marking a significant step in India’s ambition to achieve human spaceflight capability.
Important Days
19th November – International Men’s Day
- International Men’s Day is observed every year on 19th November to celebrate the positive contributions of men to society, family, nation, and communities.
- Theme 2025 – Celebrating men and boys
- The day highlights key issues affecting men and boys, including mental health, suicide prevention, toxic masculinity pressures, gender equality, and fatherhood roles.
- International Men’s Day aims to promote positive male role models, improve gender relations, and create a world where men and boys can lead healthy, responsible, and fulfilling lives.
19 November 2025 – World Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Day
- World Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Day is observed every year on the 3rd Wednesday of November, and in 2025 it falls on 19th November.
- The day aims to raise global awareness about COPD, a chronic lung disease that affects breathing and is often caused by smoking, air pollution, and occupational exposure.
- World COPD Day is organised by the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) to promote early diagnosis, prevention, and better management of COPD worldwide.
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