Current Affairs

Back-To-Back PSLV Rocket Setbacks For ISRO, 16 Satellites Lost In Space

India's Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) mission on Monday encountered an anomaly after launch, with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) confirming that a deviation was observed during the rocket's third stage.

ISRO Chairman Dr V Narayanan said the data is being analysed and that the space agency will share details at the earliest, stopping short of declaring the mission either a success or a failure.

The 64th mission of PSLV, PSLV-C62 carrying EOS-N1, lifted off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota at 10:18 am, marking a crucial flight for the launch vehicle after its failure in 2025.



India and Germany deepen strategic partnership with wide-ranging agreements across defence, trade & technology

India and Germany today deepened their strategic partnership following high-level delegation talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Gandhinagar. The visit, marking the 25th anniversary of the bilateral strategic partnership, resulted in the exchange of 19 MoUs and eight key announcements across defence, technology, and clean energy. Prime Minister Modi and Chancellor Merz reiterated their support for the conclusion of the India-EU Free Trade Agreement as a key outcome of the upcoming EU-India Summit. The German Chancellor indicated that the European Union and India may conclude a free trade agreement by the end of this month.

The visit witnessed the signing of several joint declarations of intent between the two countries, ranging from sectors like semiconductors, Critical Minerals cooperation, telecommunications and the Defence Industrial Cooperation Roadmap, focusing on the co-development and co-production of military hardware. Both countries placed special focus on talent mobility and skills cooperation. A major highlight of the visit is the announcement of a visa-free transit facility for Indian passport holders transiting through Germany.



Kerala Launches ERONET System To Ease NRI Voter Document Submission

Kerala’s Chief Electoral Officer Dr. Rathan U Kelkar has said that the ERONET system, in connection with the Special Intensive Revision is now operational to facilitate NRI voters for submitting the necessary documents for hearing. He said that this facility will enable NRI voters to submit documents without the need to appear personally for the hearing.



Google launches UCP, a new protocol to facilitate selling and shopping in AI era

Arming retailers with the power of Agentic AI, Google has launched the Universal Commerce Protocol (UCP), which allows retailers to set up relevant offers to feature in their campaign settings. Google will use AI to determine when an offer is relevant to display.

UCP will also introduce a new checkout feature for eligible Google product listings in AI Mode in Search and the Gemini app, allowing shoppers to check out from selected retailers as they research on Google. Some of the features are currently available in the US.

The new open standard for agentic commerce works across the entire shopping journey – from discovery and buying to post-purchase support.



DRDO successfully Flight-Tests Third-Generation MPATGM with top attack capability

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully flight-tested the third-generation Fire & Forget Man Portable Anti-Tank Guided Missile, or MPATGM, with top attack capability against a moving target. The test was conducted yesterday at the KK Ranges in Ahilya Nagar, Maharashtra. The fire-and-forget missile, developed indigenously by DRDO, is equipped with state-of-the-art indigenous technologies, including an Imaging Infrared homing seeker, tandem warhead, all-electric control actuation system, fire control system, propulsion system and a high-performance sighting system.

The missile is capable of day and night combat operations and can effectively defeat modern main battle tanks. It can be launched from a tripod as well as a military vehicle launcher.



Navi Mumbai International Airport to be named after D B Patil

The Navi Mumbai International Airport will be named after the people's leader, late D B Patil, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said, asserting that the facility will play a key role in the region's economic expansion.

Addressing a public meeting in Airoli during the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation election campaign, Fadnavis said, "The international airport started in Navi Mumbai will be named after the people's leader late D B Patil," and added that the project would strengthen growth in multiple sectors.



India May Join Pax Silica Next Month

India is poised to become a full member of the US-led strategic group Pax Silica, with a formal invitation expected next month, US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor revealed during his visit to New Delhi.

The move strengthens India-US cooperation in tech areas such as critical minerals, semiconductors, and artificial intelligence to create a safe and strong global silicon and technology ecosystem.



This Is the Only City in India Where You Can Drink Water Directly From the Tap

Contaminated water is one of the most pressing social and healthcare issues in India today. The recent deaths of more than 15 people in India, considered the cleanest in India, after drinking contaminated water, have led to a lot of questions regarding what people are drinking, despite access to safe water being a right. While most Indian cities have unsafe tap water for consumption, Puri, in Odisha, has become the first city where you can consume tap water directly, without any side effects.

According to the city’s management, the water here meets all standards that have been set by the Bureau of Indian Standards, or the BIS, marking a significant achievement in terms of both public health and safety, along with environmental sustainability.



India joins G7 critical minerals talks in Washington as US widens China supply-chain push

India has entered high-level discussions on critical minerals in Washington, signaling a deeper alignment with the US and G7 economies as they seek to reduce dependence on China-dominated supply chains.

Minister for Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw arrived in Washington DC on Sunday to participate in a critical minerals ministerial meeting hosted by US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.

The meeting is being held on the sidelines of a gathering of finance ministers from the Group of Seven, which includes Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK and the US, along with the European Union. India and Australia have also been invited.

“Arrived in Washington, DC. Will participate in the Critical Minerals Ministerial Meeting tomorrow. Secure critical mineral supply chains are vital for our goal of Viksit Bharat,” Vaishnaw said in a social media post.



Indian-origin mathematician Nalini Joshi named 2025 NSW Scientist of the Year

Professor Nalini Joshi AO, an Indian-origin mathematician, has been named the 2025 New South Wales (NSW) Scientist of the Year.

This marks the first time a mathematician has claimed the state's highest scientific honour, presented at Government House in Sydney on November 19, 2025 as part of the NSW Premier's Prizes for Science.

Joshi, the Payne-Scott Professor and Chair of Applied Mathematics at the University of Sydney, is renowned for her pioneering work in integrable systems. Her research delves into complex mathematical patterns that define phenomena from climate science to fibre optics.