UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 1 November 2025
Kartavya Desk Staff
UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 1 November 2025 covers important current affairs of the day, their backward linkages, their relevance for Prelims exam and MCQs on main articles
InstaLinks : Insta Links help you think beyond the current affairs issue and help you think multidimensionally to develop depth in your understanding of these issues. These linkages provided in this ‘hint’ format help you frame possible questions in your mind that might arise(or an examiner might imagine) from each current event. InstaLinks also connect every issue to their static or theoretical background.
Table of Contents
GS Paper 2 : (UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 1 November (2025)
• UN at 80 – Decline of Global Governance and Rise of New Multilateralism
UN at 80 – Decline of Global Governance and Rise of New Multilateralism
GS Paper 3:
• Setting Up an Early Warning System (EWS) for the Himalayas
Setting Up an Early Warning System (EWS) for the Himalayas
Content for Mains Enrichment (CME):
• Bengaluru’s Unique Garbage Dumping Festival
Bengaluru’s Unique Garbage Dumping Festival
Facts for Prelims (FFP):
• Marine Fisheries Census 2025
Marine Fisheries Census 2025
• UIDAI launches Aadhaar Vision 2032 Framework
UIDAI launches Aadhaar Vision 2032 Framework
• Kendriya Grihmantri Dakshata Padak
Kendriya Grihmantri Dakshata Padak
• Exercise MILAN 2026
Exercise MILAN 2026
• Framework for the U.S.–India Major Defence Partnership
Framework for the U.S.–India Major Defence Partnership
• Aabhar Online Store
Aabhar Online Store
Mapping:
• Tanzania
Tanzania
UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 1 November 2025
#### GS Paper 2:
UN at 80 – Decline of Global Governance and Rise of New Multilateralism
- •Syllabus: International Relations*
- •Source: IE*
Context: As the United Nations turns 80, concerns grow over its diminishing relevance in maintaining peace and security. While Ban Ki-Moon calls for urgent reform, thinkers like argue that the UN’s original purpose has eroded, and that a new multilateralism is essential for a multipolar world order.
Background
Founded in 1945 after World War II to prevent future wars, the UN began with 51 members and now has 193, symbolising near-universal membership. Yet its dual structure—“one nation, one vote” coupled with the P-5 veto—has created an enduring imbalance between democratic equality and power privilege.
Major Successes of the UN
• Peacekeeping and conflict resolution – Over 70 peacekeeping missions since 1948 reduced conflict in Bosnia (1990s), Cambodia (1992) and Mozambique (1994). Eg: The UN Transitional Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC) restored democracy and oversaw successful elections in 1993.
• Humanitarian and development assistance – Bodies like WFP, WHO, UNICEF and UNHCR deliver vital food, health and refugee support. Eg: During the 2023 Sudan crisis, WFP fed nearly 6 million displaced people amid famine risk.
• Global norm-building – Key instruments like UDHR (1948), Paris Climate Agreement (2015) and SDGs (2015) established shared frameworks for rights and sustainability. Eg: India’s National SDG Index (NITI Aayog) tracks local implementation of global goals.
• Nuclear non-proliferation – The UN facilitated NPT (1968), CTBT (1996) and mediated the North Korea nuclear freeze (1994). Eg: IAEA monitoring under UN auspices has slowed Iran’s weaponisation efforts.
• Diplomatic platform for small nations – Provides equal visibility to smaller or developing states. Eg: Small island states like Fiji and Tuvalu used UN platforms to push climate-loss compensation at COP-28.
Persistent Challenges and Failures
• Veto paralysis – The P-5 veto obstructs consensus; Russia (161 vetoes) and the US (95) block accountability on crises. Eg: In 2024, Russia vetoed a Security Council resolution calling for a Gaza ceasefire.
• Selective human-rights enforcement – States with poor rights records often head UN committees, reducing credibility. Eg: In 2023, Iran chaired a UN Human Rights Social Forum even amid domestic crackdowns.
• Failure to prevent conflicts – Inability to stop wars in Rwanda (1994), Iraq (2003), Syria (2011-), and Ukraine (2022-) exposes core weakness. Eg: UN peacekeepers’ passive role during Rwanda’s genocide led to 800,000 deaths despite prior warnings.
• Reform fatigue and apathy – Declining global engagement, with only 43 heads of government attending UNGA-2025. Eg: Neither Xi Jinping nor Vladimir Putin has attended the UNGA more than once in the last decade.
• Unrealistic reform models – Expansion of permanent members or abolition of veto lacks consensus among major blocs. Eg: The G-4 proposal (India, Germany, Japan, Brazil) remains stalled for 20 years.
Rise of a New Multilateralism
• Shift to multipolarity – Power diffusion across Asia, Africa and Latin America challenges Western-centric governance. Eg: India-Brazil-South Africa (IBSA) and BRICS+ reflect growing southern coalitions.
• Issue-based coalitions – Flexible forums like G-20, Quad, and BRICS address climate, health, and trade where UN stagnates. Eg: The G-20 Delhi Declaration (2023) reached consensus on digital public infrastructure and debt relief, unlike UN forums.
• Networked global governance – Multilayered cooperation among regional and functional institutions replaces UN centrality. Eg: ASEAN’s Regional Forum and AU’s Peace and Security Council now manage local crises more effectively than the UN.
India’s Vision and Role
• Reformed multilateralism – India advocates a democratic and representative UN, echoing its G-20 Presidency (2023) call for “One Earth, One Family, One Future.”
• Developmental diplomacy – Initiatives like International Solar Alliance, CDRI, and Vaccine Maitri link technology and humanitarianism.
• Voice of the Global South – Hosted the Global South Summit (2023) to shape equitable global decision-making.
• Strategic autonomy and norm-setting – Balances relations across blocs while promoting human-centric globalisation.
Way Forward
• Pragmatic reform – Prioritise transparency, financial accountability, and restraint on veto use rather than mere expansion. Eg: The France-Mexico proposal (2015) for voluntary veto suspension in mass-atrocity cases can be revived.
• Regional empowerment – Strengthen AU, ASEAN, SAARC-plus and other regional security frameworks for faster conflict response.
• Functional multilateralism – Build coalitions around specific issues like climate finance, pandemic preparedness, and AI governance.
• Inclusive global governance – Rebalance power toward the Global South; integrate Agenda 2030 goals into trade and finance regimes.
• Leadership for a new charter – Like Roosevelt-Churchill’s Atlantic Charter (1941) birthed the UN, new visionary statesmen must design a framework for the 21st century’s multipolar order.
Conclusion
The UN today mirrors the League of Nations’ decay in the 1930s. Rather than clinging to obsolete structures, nations must reimagine multilateralism anchored in accountability, inclusivity, and shared responsibility. The call is not to abandon global governance but to reinvent it—transforming the UN’s legacy into a new cooperative order suited for today’s realities.
#### UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 1 November 2025 GS Paper 3:
Setting Up an Early Warning System (EWS) for the Himalayas
Syllabus: Climate & Geography
Source: TH
Context: The Himalayas are witnessing an alarming rise in climate-induced disasters—from floods and landslides to glacial lake bursts—prompting scientists to call for robust early warning systems (EWS) across the fragile mountain range to reduce loss of life and property.
About Setting Up an Early Warning System (EWS) for the Himalayas
Rising Disaster Trend in the Himalayas:
• Between 1900–2022, India faced 687 disasters, of which 240 occurred in the Himalayan belt (DTE 2024).
• The number of disasters rose sharply—only 5 incidents before 1962, but 68 between 2013–2022, accounting for 44% of India’s total disasters.
• NASA data (2007–2017) recorded 1,121 landslide events, reflecting growing instability.
• The region is warming at 0.15°C–0.60°C per decade, faster than the global average, intensifying snowmelt and flash floods.
• Extreme weather events—including cloudbursts, avalanches, and GLOFs—are increasing in both frequency and scale.
Cruciality of Early Warning Systems (EWS):
• Life-saving Mechanism: Early alerts allow timely evacuation and response, preventing large-scale loss of life in flood and landslide-prone Himalayan valleys.
• Disaster Preparedness: EWS facilitates real-time detection and forecasting of hazards like GLOFs, cloudbursts, and avalanches for rapid action.
• Scientific Data Backbone: Creates a continuous, data-driven record for risk modelling, helping design safer infrastructure and mitigation plans.
• Community Resilience: Engaging locals in EWS operations builds awareness, accountability, and faster ground-level response during crises.
• Proven Success: Successes in Switzerland and China show that early warning and community coordination can avert glacier-related disasters.
Successful International and Domestic Examples:
• Switzerland: Local early alerts and community coordination averted glacier-collapse disasters.
• China (Cirenmaco Lake): EWS based on satellite-fed glacial lake monitoring using unmanned boats.
• India: Environment Ministry-funded project to develop AI-based hailstorm EWS for apple farmers in the Himalayas.
Role of Artificial Intelligence and Technology:
• AI-aided models can process live data into predictive warnings with sub-kilometre accuracy.
• Satellite links and unmanned monitoring boats can track lake levels and glacier movement (as used by Chinese Academy of Sciences, 2022).
• Drone surveillance helps in localized assessments but remains limited by scale, weather, and cost.
• AI-integrated EWS prototypes are being tested for hailstorm and cloudburst predictions in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh.
Challenges to Installing EWS in the Himalayas:
• Rugged Terrain: The Himalayas’ steep, remote landscapes make sensor installation, calibration, and year-round maintenance difficult.
• Poor Connectivity: Many valleys lack telecom and internet access, hindering the real-time transmission of hazard data to control centres.
• High Cost and Technology Gaps: The absence of affordable, weather-proof indigenous EWS technology limits large-scale deployment.
• Fragmented Governance: Weak inter-agency coordination and overlapping mandates delay decision-making and operational execution.
• Lack of Community Involvement: Without local training and ownership, systems remain underused and fail to trigger timely evacuation.
Way Ahead:
• Develop Indigenous Systems: Create AI-integrated, solar-powered, and low-cost EWS prototypes designed for Himalayan geography.
• Valley-Level Coverage: Deploy EWS networks in every major Himalayan valley, ensuring coordination across borders and watersheds.
• Integrate AI and Satellite Data: Use AI forecasting models and satellite imaging to enhance real-time hazard mapping and accuracy.
• Empower Local Communities: Train village task forces and youth groups to manage and act on EWS signals independently.
• Institutional Reform: Establish a National Himalayan Early Warning Mission (NDMA) to unify research, deployment, and response under one command.
Conclusion:
The Himalayas stand at the frontline of the climate crisis, yet remain poorly equipped with disaster alert systems. Building an integrated, community-driven, and technology-powered early warning network is vital for saving lives and ecosystems. Safeguarding the “third pole” must now be treated as a national climate-security priority.
#### UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 1 November 2025 Content for Mains Enrichment (CME)
Bengaluru’s Unique Garbage Dumping Festival
Context: The Greater Bengaluru Authority launched a unique awareness campaign called the ‘Garbage Dumping Festival’ to tackle the city’s growing problem of improper waste disposal.
About Bengaluru’s Unique Garbage Dumping Festival:
• What it is? The ‘Garbage Dumping Festival’ is an innovative civic awareness campaign initiated by the Greater Bengaluru Authority and BSWML to highlight poor waste disposal habits among residents and enforce accountability for urban cleanliness.
• The ‘Garbage Dumping Festival’ is an innovative civic awareness campaign initiated by the Greater Bengaluru Authority and BSWML to highlight poor waste disposal habits among residents and enforce accountability for urban cleanliness.
• How it Works?
• Waste was deliberately dumped outside homes of citizens repeatedly ignoring garbage collection norms.
• Authorities imposed fines worth ₹2.8 lakh on 218 households for non-compliance.
• The campaign was led by Kare Gowda, CEO of Bengaluru Solid Waste Management
• Future plans include setting up 65 waste kiosks across the city to facilitate segregated waste collection and community participation.
• Implications:
• Encourages behavioural change through social accountability and deterrence.
• Promotes segregation at source and aligns with Swachh Bharat Mission’s urban cleanliness goals.
• Demonstrates a participatory and punitive approach to urban waste management.
• Can serve as a replicable model for other Indian cities struggling with municipal waste.
Relevance in UPSC Exam Syllabus:
• GS Paper II (Governance): Innovative models of urban governance, behavioural regulation, and citizen participation.
• GS Paper III (Environment): Solid waste management, sustainable urbanisation, and challenges of municipal governance.
• Essay / Ethics: Example of nudge-based governance, civic responsibility, and public accountability mechanisms in environmental ethics.
#### UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 1 November 2025 Facts for Prelims (FFP)
Marine Fisheries Census 2025
Source: DD News
Context: The Government of India has launched the Marine Fisheries Census (MFC) 2025, marking the country’s first fully digital and geo-referenced fisheries census, powered by VYAS mobile applications developed by ICAR–CMFRI.
About Marine Fisheries Census 2025:
What it is?
• The Marine Fisheries Census 2025 is a nationwide digital enumeration of India’s marine fishing communities, designed to gather socio-economic and infrastructural data for informed policy planning.
Conducted by: The census is fully funded by the Department of Fisheries, Government of India, and implemented by the ICAR–Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) with operational support from the Fishery Survey of India (FSI).
Aim: To establish a real-time, evidence-based database on marine fisher households, infrastructure, and socio-economic indicators to strengthen sustainable fisheries management and welfare delivery.
Key Features:
• Fully Digital Process: First-ever paperless, geo-referenced enumeration replacing traditional manual surveys.
• Comprehensive Coverage: Targets 1.2 million fisher households in 5,000 marine fishing villages across 13 coastal States and UTs.
• Socio-Economic Insights: Captures data on income, debt, insurance, and welfare scheme coverage including PMMSY and PM-MKSSY.
• Drone-Based Support: Incorporates aerial enumeration of fishing crafts using drones for accuracy and transparency.
About VYAS Apps Suite:
What it is?
• The VYAS (Vessel and Yield Assessment System) app ecosystem is a set of digital tools enabling end-to-end data collection, validation, and monitoring of the Marine Fisheries Census 2025.
Developed by: The apps were created by the ICAR–CMFRI as part of the digital modernisation of India’s marine fisheries enumeration process.
Aim: To ensure real-time, error-free, and transparent census operations, improving data quality and coordination among field teams, supervisors, and policymakers.
Key Features:
• Three Dedicated Apps: VYAS–NAV: For validation of fishing villages and harbours. VYAS–BHARAT: For household and infrastructure enumeration. VYAS–SUTRA: For real-time supervision and monitoring via dashboards.
• VYAS–NAV: For validation of fishing villages and harbours.
• VYAS–BHARAT: For household and infrastructure enumeration.
• VYAS–SUTRA: For real-time supervision and monitoring via dashboards.
• Geo-Referenced Data: Enables GPS-tagged entries for precise spatial mapping.
• Multilingual Interface: Supports multiple Indian languages for inclusive participation.
• Real-Time Dashboards: Provides live progress tracking and analytics for administrators.
• Enhanced Transparency: Ensures data accuracy and accountability through digital verification and cloud storage.
UIDAI launches Aadhaar Vision 2032 Framework
Source: IE
Context: The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has launched the ‘Aadhaar Vision 2032’ framework — a decade-long strategic roadmap to modernize India’s digital identity system using AI, Blockchain, Quantum Computing, and Advanced Encryption.
About UIDAI launches Aadhaar Vision 2032 Framework:
What it is?
• ‘Aadhaar Vision 2032’ is a technological and strategic roadmap to future-proof India’s digital identity infrastructure.
• It envisions a next-generation Aadhaar ecosystem built on innovation, security, and inclusivity to sustain its role as the backbone of India’s digital governance and economy.
Launched by: the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), under the Ministry of Electronics and IT.
• Guided by a High-Level Expert Committee chaired by Neelkanth Mishra.
• To strengthen Aadhaar’s technology foundation for the next decade.
• To align with Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, 2023 and global cybersecurity standards.
Key Features of Aadhaar Vision 2032:
• AI-Enabled Authentication: Artificial Intelligence will be deployed for intelligent identity verification, anomaly detection, and fraud prevention, ensuring faster and more reliable authentication for millions of users simultaneously.
• Blockchain Integration: Blockchain technology will be used to enhance transparency, traceability, and immutability in digital transactions, creating a tamper-proof and trust-based Aadhaar data ecosystem.
• Quantum-Resilient Security: The framework will adopt quantum-safe cryptographic techniques to future-proof Aadhaar against next-generation cyber threats emerging from quantum computing advancements.
• Advanced Encryption Mechanisms: Aadhaar systems will integrate multi-layered, next-gen encryption protocols to strengthen privacy, data integrity, and compliance with global cybersecurity standards.
• Privacy-by-Design Compliance: All system upgrades will follow Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, 2023 principles, embedding consent-based data use, user control, and minimal data retention.
• Next-Generation Technology Stack: UIDAI will overhaul its tech architecture for scalability and interoperability, enabling seamless Aadhaar-linked services across governance, fintech, and welfare platforms.
Kendriya Grihmantri Dakshata Padak
Source: NIE
Context: On Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s birth anniversary (October 31, 2025), the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) announced the ‘Kendriya Grihmantri Dakshata Padak’ for 1,466 police personnel from States, Union Territories, CAPFs, and CPOs to honour excellence.
About Kendriya Grihmantri Dakshata Padak:
• What it is? The Kendriya Grihmantri Dakshata Padak is a national-level police award instituted to recognise exceptional professionalism, courage, and integrity in policing and security operations across India.
• The Kendriya Grihmantri Dakshata Padak is a national-level police award instituted to recognise exceptional professionalism, courage, and integrity in policing and security operations across India.
• Launched in: It was instituted by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) through a notification dated 1 February 2024.
• Ministry: The award is administered by the Ministry of Home Affairs.
• Aim: To promote high professional standards, motivate excellence in policing, and honour officers contributing outstandingly in the fields of Special Operations, Investigation, Intelligence, and Forensic Science.
• Features:
• Awarded annually on October 31 to commemorate Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, India’s first Home Minister.
• Open to personnel from State/UT Police, CAPFs, CPOs, Intelligence branches, and Forensic Science units.
• Recognises indomitable spirit, operational courage, investigative efficiency, and scientific innovation.
• Serves as a career motivation mechanism, promoting integrity and efficiency in policing.
• Recipients selected through a rigorous evaluation process for exceptional service contributions.
• Significance:
• Reinforces Patel’s legacy as the architect of national unity and strong internal security.
• Boosts morale, dedication, and accountability among India’s 30-lakh-strong police force.
• Encourages adoption of modern investigative and intelligence techniques in law enforcement.
Exercise MILAN 2026
Source: PIB
Context: India will host a historic maritime convergence in February 2026 at Visakhapatnam, featuring the International Fleet Review (IFR), Exercise MILAN 2026, and the IONS Conclave of Chiefs, under the MAHASAGAR vision.
About Exercise MILAN 2026:
• What it is? Exercise MILAN is a biennial multilateral naval exercise hosted by the Indian Navy since 1995, aimed at fostering naval diplomacy, interoperability, and regional maritime cooperation.
• Exercise MILAN is a biennial multilateral naval exercise hosted by the Indian Navy since 1995, aimed at fostering naval diplomacy, interoperability, and regional maritime cooperation.
• Nations Involved: It began with four navies at Port Blair and has grown into a premier global event, with participation from over 40 friendly foreign navies including those from the Indo-Pacific, Africa, Europe, and ASEAN regions.
• Aim: The exercise aims to enhance maritime domain awareness, anti-submarine warfare capabilities, air defence coordination, and search-and-rescue preparedness, reinforcing a rules-based maritime order.
• Key Features of MILAN 2026:
• Dual-Phase Structure: The exercise will comprise Harbour and Sea phases, focusing on both operational drills and strategic-level exchanges.
• Advanced Naval Drills: Includes anti-submarine warfare, air defence, maritime domain awareness, and search-and-rescue operations, enhancing multi-navy interoperability.
• International City Parade: A grand parade at RK Beach, Visakhapatnam, featuring contingents from participating navies, the Indian Army, and Indian Air Force, showcasing maritime diplomacy to the public.
• Showcase of Indigenous Capability: India will display INS Vikrant, Visakhapatnam-class destroyers, and Nilgiri-class frigates, reflecting its evolution into a Builder’s Navy.
• Significance of MILAN 2026:
• Strengthening Maritime Diplomacy: Positions India as a regional convenor for maritime cooperation, advancing the MAHASAGAR vision of collective security and growth.
• Enhancing Naval Interoperability: Builds trust, communication, and tactical synergy among participating navies for coordinated multilateral operations.
• Supporting the Indo-Pacific Vision: Reinforces India’s role in ensuring a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific, aligned with Act East and IPOI initiatives.
Framework for the U.S.–India Major Defence Partnership:
Source: TH
Context: India and the United States have unveiled a 10-year Defence Partnership Framework, marking a new phase in their strategic cooperation to advance peace, security, and stability in the Indo-Pacific.
About Framework for the U.S.–India Major Defence Partnership
• A comprehensive 10-year framework to deepen collaboration across all defence domains — land, maritime, air, space, and cyberspace.
• Signed in Kuala Lumpur on the sidelines of the 12th ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus) by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth.
• Builds on the 2013 Joint Principles for Defence Cooperation and the 2016 recognition of India as a Major Defence Partner (MDP).
• Provides policy direction to transform and expand the India–U.S. defence partnership over the next decade.
Objectives and Key Features:
• Free, Open, and Rules-Based Indo-Pacific: Ensures an open and rules-bound Indo-Pacific region, safeguarding maritime security and free flow of commerce. Reaffirms commitment to regional peace, sovereignty, and stability.
• Reaffirms commitment to regional peace, sovereignty, and stability.
• Enhanced Interoperability and Coordination: Strengthens joint readiness, information sharing, and coordination across all domains. Aims for joint response to common security threats and deterrence against regional instability.
• Aims for joint response to common security threats and deterrence against regional instability.
• Defence Industry and Technology Collaboration: Promotes industrial innovation, R&D, and co-production through advanced technology partnerships. Builds upon the COMPACT initiative (Catalyzing Opportunities for Military Partnership, Accelerated Commerce and Technology) to drive transformative defence cooperation.
• Builds upon the COMPACT initiative (Catalyzing Opportunities for Military Partnership, Accelerated Commerce and Technology) to drive transformative defence cooperation.
• Strategic and Regional Cooperation: Expands coordination with like-minded partners through the Quad and other mechanisms. Focuses on strengthening collective security architecture in the Indo-Pacific.
• Focuses on strengthening collective security architecture in the Indo-Pacific.
• Unified Policy Direction: Provides a long-term roadmap for policy coherence and institutional alignment in bilateral defence cooperation. Lays the foundation for collective peace, prosperity, and deterrence in the region.
• Lays the foundation for collective peace, prosperity, and deterrence in the region.
Significance:
• Institutionalises Defence Cooperation: Establishes a structured 10-year vision for sustained strategic and military engagement.
• Strengthens Strategic Deterrence: Enhances maritime and regional security architecture to deter conflict and ensure stability.
• Deepens Defence Industrial Partnership: Encourages technology sharing and joint development, supporting defence innovation and industrial capacity.
• Reinforces Strategic Trust: Positions India as a priority defence partner for the U.S. and a pillar of regional stability.
Aabhar Online Store
Source: TH
Context: In a bid to promote local artisans, weavers, and traditional industries, the Indian Railways will patronise the newly launched ‘Aabhar’ online store, hosted on the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) platform.
About Aabhar’ online store
• The ‘Aabhar’ online store showcases a range of gift items manufactured by indigenous tribes, handloom weavers, and artisans under the One District One Product (ODOP) and Geographical Indication (GI) categories.
• The store is hosted by GeM and sources products exclusively from: Central Cottage Industries Emporium (CCIE) Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) Various Central and State Handicraft and Handloom Emporiums
• Central Cottage Industries Emporium (CCIE)
• Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC)
• Various Central and State Handicraft and Handloom Emporiums
• Promoted under the ‘Vocal for Local’ campaign.
• The gift articles and hampers will be used in official events, ceremonies, and functions of the Railways.
• The initiative aims to promote India’s rich heritage through handlooms, handicrafts, and artisanal goods, and to provide market access to local artisans, rural entrepreneurs, and women-led enterprises.
• The GeM CEO’s note highlighted that the effort supports sustainable and inclusive economic development.
Significance
• Encourages social inclusion: Provides new market avenues and income opportunities for marginalised artisans and rural entrepreneurs.
• Supports traditional industries: Promotes handloom, handicraft, and indigenous products across India.
• Aligns with earlier initiatives: Complements the ‘One Station One Product (OSOP)’ scheme that showcases local artefacts, handlooms, and handicrafts at railway stations.
• Promotes ‘Vocal for Local’: Reinforces the commitment to self-reliance and heritage-based economic growth.
#### UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 1 November 2025 Mapping:
Tanzania
Source: NIE
Context: Tanzania has seen post-election protests after opposition leaders were barred from the 2025 polls, prompting curfews, internet cuts, and government assurances of restoring order under President Samia Suluhu Hassan.
About Tanzania:
• What it is? Tanzania is an East African nation formed in 1964 through the union of Tanganyika and Zanzibar, operating as a unitary multiparty republic with a single legislative house (National Assembly).
• Tanzania is an East African nation formed in 1964 through the union of Tanganyika and Zanzibar, operating as a unitary multiparty republic with a single legislative house (National Assembly).
• Location: Situated just south of the Equator, Tanzania lies in East Africa, bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east and several major lakes including Victoria, Tanganyika, and Nyasa.
• Capital: The official capital is Dodoma (since 1974), located centrally on the mainland, while Dar es Salaam remains the largest city, port, and economic hub.
• Neighbouring Nations: Tanzania shares borders with Uganda, Kenya, Mozambique, Malawi, Zambia, Rwanda, and Burundi, and includes offshore territories such as Zanzibar, Pemba, and Mafia Islands.
• Tanzania shares borders with Uganda, Kenya, Mozambique, Malawi, Zambia, Rwanda, and Burundi, and includes offshore territories such as Zanzibar, Pemba, and Mafia Islands.
• Key Physical Features:
• Dominated by plateaus and highlands, most land lies above 600 feet (200 metres).
• Contains Mount Kilimanjaro (5,895 m), Africa’s highest peak, and Lake Tanganyika, one of the world’s deepest lakes.
• The East African Rift System divides the country into Western and Eastern Rift Valleys, forming scenic depressions and lakes.
• Rich in hydroelectric potential, fertile volcanic soils, and unique ecosystems such as the Ngorongoro Crater and Serengeti Plains, home to iconic wildlife.
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