Current Affairs One - Liner : 16th & 17th November 2025

National:

• On 14 Nov 2025, Intellipaat partnered with the IndiaAI Mission (MeitY) to launch ‘YUVAi for ALL’. The program offers free AI and Generative AI training with workshops and tool demonstrations. It aims to empower 10 million citizens by Jan 2026 with government-recognized certification.

• On 16–17 Nov 2025, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman visited Nagaland for development and outreach programs. She launched initiatives for financial inclusion, digital banking, and fintech awareness in rural areas. New skill centres, women SHG schemes, and PMGSY infrastructure projects were inaugurated. The programs aim to boost youth empowerment, women entrepreneurship, and inclusive growth in the Northeast.
• On 15 November 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of development projects worth more than ₹9,700 crore in Dediapada, Narmada district, Gujarat, during Janjatiya Gaurav Divas celebrations marking the 150th birth anniversary of tribal leader Bhagwan Birsa Munda.

Banking:

• State Bank of India (SBI) will discontinue the mCASH facility from 1 December 2025 on OnlineSBI and YONO Lite. mCASH allowed instant fund transfers via email ID or mobile number without needing account details. The service is being phased out to strengthen digital security and streamline modern payment systems.

MoUs:

• On 12 Nov 2025 in Gaborone, India and Botswana signed two MoUs during President Droupadi Murmu’s visit. The first was on Pharmacopoeial Cooperation, making Botswana the 18th country to recognize Indian Pharmacopoeia. The second MoU was for the supply of Antiretroviral (ARV) drugs to aid Botswana’s HIV/AIDS treatment.
• The Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya (GSV) and DRDO signed a strategic MoU on 17 November 2025 in New Delhi to develop smart technological solutions for national security. Witnessed by Dr. Samir V. Kamat, the agreement focuses on logistics management, chip design, hardware security, and next-generation encryption. It aims to support the deployment of indigenous defence systems and strengthen India’s security ecosystem.

Science & Technology:

• Godrej Aerospace delivered the first human-rated L110 stage Vikas engine to ISRO on 13 November 2025, marking a major milestone for India’s Gaganyaan project. This engine will power the human-rated LVM-3 (Launch Vehicle Mark-3), designed to carry astronauts safely into low Earth orbit. The mission plans an uncrewed test flight in 2026, followed by India’s first crewed spaceflight in 2027.

Apps & Portals:

• The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) launched a Multilingual Module on the e-Cinepramaan portal on 14 November 2025. It allows filmmakers to apply for certification of films in multiple languages through a single application. Each film will receive a multilingual certificate listing all approved languages, reducing duplication.

Important Days:

• World Usability Day 2025 was observed on 13 November with the theme “Emerging Technologies and the Human Experience.” Established in 2005 by the Usability Professionals Association (UXPA), it is celebrated every year on the second Thursday of November. The day highlights the importance of user-centered design, accessibility, and universal usability in technology.

Appointments:

• The Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions (MoPP&P) has extended Mallika Srinivasan’s tenure as Chairperson of the Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB) until November 2026. She is the first private sector leader to head PESB, breaking the tradition of retired bureaucrats. Mallika Srinivasan is also the Chairperson & MD of Tractors and Farm Equipment Limited (TAFE).

Awards & Honours:

• On 13 Nov 2025, renowned art director Thota Tharani was conferred France’s Chevalier Award. The ceremony was held at Alliance Française, Chennai, alongside his art exhibition. He is a Padma Shri awardee, with two National Film Awards and several state honors. The award recognizes his outstanding contribution to cinema, theatre, and visual arts, strengthening India–France cultural ties.

Questions:

Q.1 Which Indian art director received France’s Chevalier Award on 13 November 2025?
a) Sabu Cyril
b) Thota Tharani
c) Maniratnam
d) Shyam Benegal

Answer: b) Thota Tharani was honored for his outstanding contributions to cinema, theatre, and visual arts.

Q.2 Which company delivered the first human-rated L110 stage Vikas engine for ISRO’s Gaganyaan mission?
a) HAL
b) L&T
c) BHEL
d) Godrej Aerospace

Answer: d) Godrej Aerospace supplied the human-rated engine for LVM-3, a key step for the upcoming crewed mission.