21 November 2025 - Daily Current Affairs Updats

GS – 3 | Economy

1. National Industrial Classification (NIC) 2025

• Subtopic: Economic Classification & Data Governance

• Value Addition:

  • Released by MoSPI marking 75 years of NSS and World Statistics Day 2025.

  • India’s official standard for classifying all economic activities — used in GDP estimation, NSSO surveys, ASI, Udyam registration, and MCA21 database.

  • Evolution: Introduced in 1962 → revised periodically (1970, 1987, 1998, 2004, 2008, 2025).

  • Global Alignment: Harmonized with UN ISIC Rev.5 for data comparability.

  • Key Updates:

    1. 6-digit classification (earlier 5-digit) → better granularity.

    2. Coverage of new-age sectors – FinTech, Cloud, Digital Platforms, Renewables.

    3. Separate codes for green economy, carbon capture, and waste recycling.

    4. Technology-agnostic categorization: classifies by function, not by mode (e.g., retail – online/offline unified).

• Subject Analysis:

  • Strengthens data-driven economic governance and sectoral GDP accuracy.

  • Helps identify emerging digital & environmental sectors.

  • Relevant for GS3 – Economy / Industrial Policy / Data Reforms.

    
    

GS – 1 | Geography

2. Curaçao

• Subtopic: World Geography & Political Status

• Value Addition:

  • Caribbean island ~60 km north of Venezuela; Constituent country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

  • Capital: Willemstad (UNESCO Heritage Site).

  • Population: ~1.56 lakh (2023 census); female-dominant society.

  • Languages: Papiamento, Dutch, English.

  • Governance: Constitutional monarchy; Dutch monarch = head of state.

  • Economy: Tourism, oil refining, logistics hub; strategic position in Lesser Antilles.

  • Recent Highlight: Smallest nation to qualify for FIFA World Cup 2026.

• Subject Analysis:

  • Case of small-island economic resilience and post-colonial autonomy.

  • Reflects blend of European and Caribbean cultural identities.

  • Relevant for GS1 – Geography / Political Geography / Island Nations.

GS – 3 | Science & Tech

3. BIRSA-101 – India’s First CRISPR Gene Therapy

• Subtopic: Biotechnology & Health Innovation

• Value Addition:

  • Developed by CSIR–IGIB; first indigenous CRISPR-Cas9 gene therapy for Sickle Cell Disease (SCD).

  • Mechanism: Edits defective gene in patient’s stem cells → re-infused to produce healthy RBCs.

  • Advantages: One-time curative therapy; cost-efficient for tribal populations.

  • SCD Facts: Autosomal recessive disorder causing rigid, sickle-shaped RBCs → anemia, pain crises, stroke.

• Subject Analysis:

  • Establishes India’s entry into gene-editing therapeutics.

  • Reduces foreign dependency; aligns with Atmanirbhar Biotech Vision.

  • Relevant for GS3 – Science & Tech / Health / Biotechnology.

GS – 3 | Environment

4. Ratanmahal Wildlife Sanctuary

• Subtopic: Biodiversity & Habitat Conservation

• Value Addition:

  • Location: Dahod district, Gujarat; along MP border; declared WLS (1982).

  • Known as Ratanmahal Sloth Bear Sanctuary (highest population in Gujarat).

  • Habitat: Dry teak & bamboo forests; Mahuda, Sadad, Timru vegetation.

  • Recent Development: Tiger sighting after decades → natural rewilding from MP’s forest corridor.

  • Ecological Role: Catchment of Panam River; supports leopards, civets, four-horned antelope, sunbirds.

• Subject Analysis:

  • Highlights successful natural carnivore dispersal and corridor connectivity.

  • Strengthens argument for landscape-level conservation.

  • Relevant for GS3 – Environment / Biodiversity / Conservation.

GS – 3 | Digital Economy

5. YUVA AI for ALL

• Subtopic: Digital Literacy & AI Democratization

• Value Addition:

  • Launched by MeitY under IndiaAI Mission (2023).

  • Goal: Train 1 crore Indians in AI basics via FutureSkills Prime & iGOT Karmayogi.

  • Course Duration: 4.5 hours; free, multilingual, self-paced.

  • Focus: AI ethics, real-life case studies, Indian applications.

  • Certification: Official Govt of India credential.

• Subject Analysis:

  • Promotes inclusive AI awareness and workforce readiness.

  • Supports Digital India & Skill India synergy.

  • Relevant for GS3 – Economy / E-Governance / Innovation.

GS – 2 | International Relations

6. Indira Gandhi Peace Prize 2024 – Michelle Bachelet

• Subtopic: Global Diplomacy & Peace Awards

• Value Addition:

  • Instituted by Indira Gandhi Memorial Trust (1986).

  • Awardee (2024): Michelle Bachelet – ex-President of Chile, ex-UN Human Rights Chief.

  • Recognises contributions to peace, disarmament, and human development.

  • Prize: ₹25 lakh + citation.

  • Past Laureates: ISRO, Kofi Annan, Angela Merkel, UNICEF, David Attenborough.

• Subject Analysis:

  • Enhances India’s moral leadership in peace diplomacy.

  • Symbol of continuity in India’s Nehruvian foreign policy tradition.

  • Relevant for GS2 – IR / International Awards / Soft Power.

GS – 3 | Defence Technology

7. NASAMS (National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System)

• Subtopic: Strategic Defence & Air Security

• Value Addition:

  • Developed by Raytheon (US) and Kongsberg (Norway).

  • Medium-range air defence system; intercepts aircraft, drones, cruise missiles.

  • Range: 30 km; tracks 70+ targets simultaneously.

  • Radar: X-band 360° phased-array; detection up to 75 km.

  • Users: 13 countries including US, Norway, Finland, Spain, Australia, Ukraine.

  • Recent News: US approved $700M sale to Taiwan.

• Subject Analysis:

  • Symbol of networked, multi-layered air defence evolution.

  • Strengthens Taiwan’s deterrence amid Indo-Pacific tensions.

  • Relevant for GS3 – Security / Defence / Geopolitics.

GS – 3 | Environment

8. Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI) 2026

• Subtopic: Climate Policy & Global Ranking

• Value Addition:

  • Published by Germanwatch, New Climate Institute, CAN International.

  • India Rank: 23rd (down from 10th).

  • Top Performers: Denmark, UK, Morocco.

  • Parameters: GHG emissions, renewables, energy use, climate policy.

  • Reason for Decline: Coal dependence; lag in renewable adoption; weak policy implementation.

• Subject Analysis:

  • Reflects policy–execution gap in India’s green transition.

  • Reinforces urgency for decarbonization and renewable scale-up.

  • Relevant for GS3 – Environment / Reports & Indices / Climate Change.

GS – 1 | Geography

9. Semeru Volcano (Indonesia)

• Subtopic: Geophysical Phenomena – Volcanism

• Value Addition:

  • Location: East Java, Indonesia (3,676 m).

  • Type: Stratovolcano; part of the Pacific Ring of Fire.

  • Active for 200+ years; erupts ash every 10–30 min.

  • 2021 Eruption: 62 deaths, villages buried under pyroclastic flow.

  • Recent activity led to alert level raised to highest (Level IV).

• Subject Analysis:

  • Demonstrates subduction-zone volcanism & tectonic risk.

  • Example of Pacific geodynamic instability relevant to UPSC map-based Qs.

  • Relevant for GS1 – Physical Geography / Natural Disasters.