Current Affairs One - Liner : 8th November 2025

National:

• On 8 November 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off four new Vande Bharat Express trains from Varanasi. The routes include Banaras–Khajuraho, Lucknow–Saharanpur, Firozpur–Delhi, and Ernakulam–Bengaluru. This expansion takes India’s total to 164 Vande Bharat services nationwide.

International:

• On 5 November 2025, Sweden became the world’s first cashless society with under 1% cash use. The transition was driven by mobile apps, debit cards, and contactless payments, led by the Swish app. Cash transactions fell sharply from ~40% in 2010 to negligible levels by 2023.
• Denmark announced on 7 November 2025 that children under 15 will be banned from using social media. The move, led by Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, allows limited parental exceptions for 13–14 year‑olds under strict checks. The decision was taken to protect youth mental health and reduce harmful online exposure.

Banking:

• On 5–6 November 2025, Mahindra & Mahindra sold its entire 3.45% stake in RBL Bank. The exit was executed via a ₹682 crore block deal managed by Kotak Securities. M&M had earlier invested ₹417 crore in July 2023 at ₹197 per share. This strategic withdrawal delivered ~64% gains, marking a profitable exit from banking investments.

MoUs:

• On 6 November 2025, India and Ecuador signed an MoU in Quito to boost diplomatic cooperation. The pact links their diplomatic training institutions for capacity building and institutional collaboration. It was signed by India’s MoS Pabitra Margherita and Ecuador’s Foreign Minister Gabriela Sommerfeld. The move, alongside India’s new Embassy in Quito, strengthens bilateral ties and South–South cooperation.
• On 4 November 2025, the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI) and the Busan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI), South Korea signed an MoU in New Delhi. The aim was to boost bilateral trade and industrial collaboration between India and South Korea. Key focus areas include manufacturing, clean energy, digital technology, electric vehicles (EVs), and maritime logistics.

Sports:

• On 8 November 2025, Raahul V.S. became India’s 91st Grandmaster after winning the 6th ASEAN Individual Championship in the Philippines. A former Asian Junior Champion, he secured his final GM norm with this victory. The achievement was recognized by the All India Chess Federation as a proud milestone for Indian chess.

Important Days:

• World Radiography Day 2025 is observed annually on November 8 to celebrate the discovery of X-rays by Wilhelm Conrad Roentgen in 1895 and to honor the vital contributions of radiographers and radiologists in modern healthcare. The 2025 theme is "Radiographers: Seeing the Unseen," highlighting how radiographers reveal hidden health conditions through advanced imaging, supporting early diagnosis and effective treatment.
• On 7 November 2025, India celebrated the 137th Birth Anniversary of Sir C.V. Raman, Nobel Laureate physicist. He discovered the Raman Effect, earning the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1930. Raman was the first Asian Nobel Laureate in science, inspiring generations of researchers. His legacy is honored annually, with National Science Day on 28 February marking his discovery.

Awards & Honours:

• On 5 November 2025, Bahrain’s Interior Minister Shaikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa was honoured by INTERPOL. He received the INTERPOL Medal of the Highest Order, the organisation’s most prestigious award. It was presented by INTERPOL President Dr. Ahmed Nasser Al Raisi during a global security conference.

Obituaries:

• On 7 November 2025, Nobel laureate James D. Watson passed away at the age of 97. He was the co‑discoverer of the DNA double helix with Francis Crick in 1953. Watson shared the 1962 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine with Crick and Maurice Wilkins. His work revolutionized genetics, though his later years were marked by controversy.

Questions:

Q.1 Which country became the world’s first cashless society in November 2025?
a) Norway
b) Sweden
c) Finland
d) Denmark

Answer: b) On 5 November 2025, Sweden officially became the first cashless society with under 1% cash usage, led by mobile payment platforms like the Swish app.

Q.2 Who received INTERPOL’s Medal of the Highest Order in November 2025?
a) Ahmed Nasser Al Raisi
b) Shaikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa
c) António Guterres
d) Tedros Adhanom

Answer: b) Shaikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, Bahrain’s Interior Minister was honoured by INTERPOL for his contributions, receiving the organization’s most prestigious award from its president.