Current Affairs One - Liner : 9th & 10th November 2025

National:

• On 7 November 2025, Coal India Limited (CIL) and Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) signed a ₹21,000 crore joint venture. The project will establish a 1,600 MW coal-fired power plant at Chandrapura in Jharkhand. It will consist of two ultra-supercritical units of 800 MW each, with coal supplied by CIL’s subsidiary. This JV marks a major step in boosting India’s power generation capacity and energy security.

• On 9 October 2025, Karnataka became India’s first state to grant paid menstrual leave. The policy allows one day of paid leave per month (12 days annually) for women employees. It applies across government offices, educational institutions, and private sector workplaces. This landmark move promotes gender‑sensitive labour reforms and workplace inclusivity.

Banking:

• Paytm’s parent company One97 Communications launched a new feature on November 7, 2025. It allows users to convert loyalty points into digital gold, making rewards more valuable. The scheme applies to transactions and UPI payments, turning everyday spending into gold savings.
• The Finance Ministry, through the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), has kept the transfer pricing tolerance band unchanged for Assessment Year 2025–26. The tolerance remains 1% for wholesale traders and 3% for all other taxpayers, covering cross‑border and specified domestic transactions. This ensures authenticity of Arm’s Length Price (ALP) compliance and reduces disputes in tax assessments.
• On 7 November 2025, the Bank of Maharashtra (BoM) empaneled Bartronics India Limited as a Corporate Business Correspondent (CBC) vendor. The agreement is for a five‑year term under a Service Level Agreement (SLA). It aims to expand financial inclusion by increasing Customer Service Points (CSPs) and rural banking touchpoints.

MoUs:

• On 7 November 2025 in New Delhi, the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) signed an MoU with the Indian Army’s Army Purchase Organisation (APO), Directorate General of Supply and Transport (DGST). The aim was real-time verification of Unique Document Identification Number (UDIN) through an Application Programming Interface (API).
• On 7 November 2025 in New Delhi, the Telecommunication Engineering Centre (TEC) of the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) signed an MoU with the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT Bombay). The aim was to collaborate on 6G technology, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and telecom standardization through joint studies and indigenous research.
• The National Health Authority (NHA) renewed its MoU with the Department of Health Research (DHR) and the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) on November 10, 2025, in New Delhi. The aim is to strengthen evidence-based decision-making to improve healthcare quality, cost-effectiveness, and equity under Ayushman Bharat schemes including the Digital Mission.
• India and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Cultural Cooperation on 9 November 2025 in Riyadh. The agreement was signed by Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, India’s Minister of Culture & Tourism, and Prince Badr Bin Abdullah Bin Farhan Al Saud, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Culture. Its aim is to strengthen cultural ties through collaboration in arts, heritage, literature, music, film, fashion, culinary arts, and crafts.

Science & Technology:

• In October–November 2025, researchers discovered six new butterfly species in Siang Valley, Arunachal Pradesh. The survey was led by ATREE and Litin Community Conservation Society in Simong Community Forest. Species include Litin Onyx, Narrow-banded Royal, Tibetan Duke, Tibetan Sergeant, Tibetan Junglequeen, Mountain Columbine.

Defence:

• On 7 November 2025, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) signed a USD 1 billion agreement with GE Aerospace to supply 113 F404-IN20 jet engines. These engines will power 97 Tejas Mk1A fighter aircraft, ordered by the Indian Air Force under a major contract in September 2024. Deliveries are scheduled between 2027 and 2032, ensuring timely induction of the jets.
• On 5 November 2025, the U.S. Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC) launched an unarmed LGM-30G Minuteman III ICBM from Vandenberg Space Force Base, California. The test, called Glory Trip 254, aimed to check the missile’s reliability, accuracy, and readiness. It flew about 6,700 km before landing near the Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense Test Site in the Marshall Islands, reaffirming U.S. nuclear deterrent capability.
• On 9 November 2025, the Indian Air Force (IAF) held its first full-scale air show in Guwahati. The venue was Lachit Ghat on the Brahmaputra River, marking the IAF’s 93rd anniversary. Over 75 aircraft and helicopters including Rafale, Sukhoi-30, Apache, Mirage, Jaguar, C-17, C-130 performed.

Important Days:

• World Urbanism Day 2025 was observed on 8 November 2025 across the globe. It was founded in 1949 by Prof. Carlos Maria della Paolera to promote awareness of urban planning. The 2025 theme was “With Planning We Can – Planning for Masses”, stressing sustainable and inclusive growth. The day highlighted challenges of rapid urbanization and the need for planned, resilient cities.

Appointments:

• On 7 November 2025, Justice Ashok Bhushan, former Supreme Court judge, was re-appointed as Chairman of the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT). The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet approved his tenure till 4 July 2026, when he turns 70. Justice Bhushan had earlier served as Chief Justice of Kerala High Court and joined NCLAT in 2021.

Awards & Honours:

• BSF’s tracker dog Babita received the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel RRU National K9 Bravery Award‑2025 on November 9, 2025. The award was presented during the National Security K9 conclave at Hyderabad, organised by Rashtriya Raksha University. Babita was honoured for her bravery in counter‑insurgency and anti‑smuggling operations along India’s borders.

Questions:

Q.1 What is the transfer pricing tolerance band for wholesale traders for AY 2025–26, as retained by CBDT?
a) 1%
b) 2%
c) 3%
d) 5%

Answer: a) CBDT kept the tolerance band unchanged at 1% for wholesale traders and 3% for others, aiding accurate Arm’s Length Price compliance.

Q.2 Who received the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel RRU National K9 Bravery Award 2025?
a) Dog Veer of CRPF
b) Dog Babita of BSF
c) Dog Zorro of NSG
d) Dog Maya of ITBP

Answer: b) Babita was honoured for bravery in counter-insurgency and anti‑smuggling operations along India’s borders.