UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 12 November 2025

UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 12 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 3 : (UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 12 November (2025)

• White Collar Terrorism

White Collar Terrorism

• Exploited Workers, a Labour Policy’s Empty Promises

Exploited Workers, a Labour Policy’s Empty Promises

Content for Mains Enrichment (CME):

• PM India–Bhutan Visit Outcomes

PM India–Bhutan Visit Outcomes

Facts for Prelims (FFP):

• Himalayan Black Bear

Himalayan Black Bear

• Lab-Grown Milk

Lab-Grown Milk

• The Great Indian Bustard

The Great Indian Bustard

• The Rare Earth Hypothesis

The Rare Earth Hypothesis

• India’s First MWh-Scale Vanadium Flow Battery at NTPC NETRA

India’s First MWh-Scale Vanadium Flow Battery at NTPC NETRA

• First Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari (JSJB) Awards

First Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari (JSJB) Awards

Mapping:

UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 12 November 2025

#### GS Paper 3:

White Collar Terrorism

Source: NDTV

Subject: Terrorism

Context: The Faridabad terror module bust — involving the arrest of doctors and engineers with 3,000 kg of explosives — has exposed a new wave of “white-collar terrorism.”

About White Collar Terrorism:

What is White-Collar Terrorism?

• White-collar terrorism refers to acts of violent extremism or radical activity planned and executed by educated, skilled professionals such as doctors, engineers, or academics.

• Unlike traditional terrorists, these individuals exploit their intellectual and technical expertise to design sophisticated attacks, spread ideology, and evade detection — blending seamlessly into mainstream society while advancing extremist agendas.

Key Features:

• Educated Radicalism: Involvement of highly educated professionals from urban or middle-class backgrounds.

• Ideological Motivation: Radicalisation driven by perceived moral or ideological injustice rather than poverty or illiteracy.

• Technological Sophistication: Use of advanced knowledge in engineering, IT, or medicine for terror logistics and propaganda.

• Digital Radicalisation: Recruitment and networking through online echo chambers and encrypted platforms.

• Societal Camouflage: Ability to integrate within normal institutions, making intelligence detection difficult.

• Moral Justification: Violence rationalised as a “moral” or “spiritual duty” rather than crime.

What Is the Issue?

• Educated radicals in terror ranks: Extremist groups now attract skilled professionals from urban middle-class families.

Eg: ISIS chief Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi (PhD) and Al-Qaeda’s Ayman al-Zawahiri (surgeon) exemplify this trend.

• Ideological alienation and humiliation: Radicalisation stems from moral anger and a quest for higher purpose, not poverty.

Eg: Psychologist Fathali Moghaddam shows educated minds turn violent when dignity feels attacked.

• Digital echo-chambers: Online networks create validation loops that normalise extremist ideas among professionals.

Eg: The Hamburg Cell of 9/11 hijackers bonded through university chat forums in Germany.

• Moral inversion of intellect: Educated extremists justify violence as ethical duty or spiritual service.

Eg: Faridabad suspects claimed their bomb-making was a “moral act” for religious justice.

• Global and cross-ideological spread: Educated radicals have emerged across nationalist, religious, and separatist causes.

Eg: The LTTE in Sri Lanka and IRA in Ireland both relied on university-educated cadres.

Its Implications:

• Collapse of professional trust: Terror involvement by doctors or engineers erodes faith in elite professions.

Eg: The Faridabad case deeply shook India’s medical community and public confidence.

• Technological sophistication in terror: Educated extremists enhance planning, bomb-making, and online propaganda.

Eg: The 9/11 hijackers used aviation and architectural expertise for coordinated attacks.

• Intelligence detection difficulty: White-collar terrorists blend easily into society, evading traditional profiling.

Eg: Urban professionals with spotless records rarely appear in security databases.

• Moral polarisation in society: Their ideological arrogance deepens mistrust and glorifies violence as virtue.

Eg: The Pulwama attacker’s affluent family celebrated him as a martyr, not a criminal.

• International terror linkages: Educated recruits exploit global academic and financial networks for coordination.

Eg: UK-trained Sudanese doctors joined ISIS hospitals, merging skill with ideology.

How to Tackle the Situation?

• Ethics-based education reform: Include moral reasoning and civic empathy in all levels of schooling.

Eg: NEP 2020 promotes value-based and multidisciplinary ethical learning.

• Community and family vigilance: Encourage early detection of radical behaviour through social counselling.

Eg: Kerala’s Operation Pigeon integrates family awareness with digital monitoring.

• Targeted de-radicalisation therapy: Use psychological counselling and social reintegration to counter extremist pull.

Eg: The UK Prevent Strategy combines mentorship and behavioural therapy.

• Digital monitoring with safeguards: Employ AI tools to flag extremist content while protecting privacy rights.

Eg: Europol’s IRU tracks online radical propaganda across Europe.

• Strengthen professional accountability: Enforce strict ethical codes and disciplinary oversight in high-risk sectors.

Eg: The National Medical Commission 2023 introduced mandatory ethics modules for doctors.

• Promote civic dialogue and inclusion: Provide legitimate forums for dissent to prevent ideological isolation.

Eg: District-level youth councils in J&K reduced radicalisation through debate spaces.

Conclusion:

White-collar terrorism shows that conviction, not ignorance, fuels extremism. India needs to counter it through ethical education, digital vigilance, and civic inclusion to neutralise both bombs and beliefs.

Why have terrorist networks in India continued to survive despite decades of countermeasures? Examine the institutional weaknesses in the security apparatus. Discuss the role of external support and radical narratives in sustaining terrorism. Suggest a comprehensive reform strategy.

Exploited Workers, a Labour Policy’s Empty Promises

Source: TH

Subject: Economics

Context: The ongoing debate around the draft Shram Shakti Niti 2025 has intensified concerns over weak social protection and enforcement.

• Critics argue that despite its “future-ready” vision, the policy fails to address the systemic rights violations and precarious conditions faced by millions of informal workers.

About Exploited Workers, a Labour Policy’s Empty Promises:

What is Labour exploitation?

• Labour exploitation refers to the unjust or coercive treatment of workers, where individuals are denied fair wages, safe working conditions, and legal rights.

• It often involves forced labour, excessive hours, or contract manipulation, leaving workers trapped in dependency or debt.

• Fundamentally, it violates the principles of dignity, equality, and freedom enshrined in labour and human rights laws.

Key Observations on Worker Exploitation:

• Modern Slavery Scale: India is home to over 11 million forced labourers, the highest in the world, reflecting the chronic vulnerability of workers deprived of contractual and legal protection mechanisms.

• Informal Workforce Dominance: Nearly 90% of the workforce remains outside formal employment, excluded from provident fund, health insurance, or pension coverage, exposing the fragility of India’s labour system.

• Systemic Rights Violations: The arbitrary reclassification of employees as “daily wagers” enables wage theft and denial of benefits, violating Articles 14 (Equality), 16 (Equal Opportunity), and 23 (Prohibition of Forced Labour) of the Constitution.

• Union Decline: The growing dependence on contractors and casual labour has weakened trade unions, eroding collective bargaining and diminishing the workers’ capacity to negotiate fair conditions.

• ILO Non-Compliance: India’s weak adherence to ILO Conventions 29 and 155 on forced labour and occupational safety undermines global commitments and moral credibility in labour governance.

Key Features of draft Shram Shakti Niti 2025:

• Unified Vision and Mission: Envisions a world of work where every labourer enjoys dignity, safety, and opportunity through seven core objectives — universal social security, occupational safety, gender and youth empowerment, future-readiness, and green jobs.

• Digital Public Infrastructure for Employment: The National Career Service (NCS) will evolve into India’s Employment DPI, offering transparent, AI-driven job matching, credential verification, and career guidance across Tier-II and Tier-III cities.

• Universal Social Security: Establishment of a Universal Social Security Account integrating EPFO, ESIC, PM-JAY, and e-Shram, ensuring portable and lifelong protection for every worker.

• Women and Youth Empowerment: Targets 35% female workforce participation by 2030, while promoting flexible work models, childcare, entrepreneurship, and vocational pathways for youth.

• Ease of Compliance and Formalisation: Launch of a single-window digital compliance portal with risk-based self-certification to reduce paperwork and enhance trust-based governance.

• Technology and Green Transitions: Promotes AI-enabled workplace safety systems, digital upskilling, and creation of green and sustainable jobs in line with India’s climate goals.

• Convergence and Good Governance: Establishes a three-tier institutional structure—National, State, and District Labour Missions—with data-driven dashboards and annual Labour & Employment Policy Evaluation Index (LEPEI) for performance tracking.

• Labour and Employment Stack: Creates a unified digital backbone integrating worker identities, enterprise databases, and social-security entitlements for paperless and portable governance.

• Tripartite Dialogue & Cooperative Federalism: Ensures Centre–State coordination and dialogue among government, employers, and workers to promote participatory policy implementation.

Gaps in Shram Shakti Niti 2025:

• Funding Void: The proposed Universal Social Security Account merges existing schemes but provides no clarity on funding sources or employer contributions, risking unsustainable implementation.

• Digital Exclusion: Dependence on digital IDs and e-platforms risks excluding women, elderly, and low-literacy workers in rural areas, thereby deepening inequality and violating Article 15 on non-discrimination.

• Weak Enforcement: While targeting “zero workplace fatalities by 2047,” the absence of adequate labour inspectors, penalties, and monitoring mechanisms renders this goal aspirational rather than actionable.

• Gender Gaps: The aim of achieving 35% female labour participation by 2030 lacks mandatory quotas, childcare infrastructure, and maternity benefits, undermining substantive gender equity.

• AI and Gig Economy Risks: Integration of AI for job matching and skill mapping through the National Career Service lacks ethical guidelines or bias audits, risking caste, regional, and gender-based discrimination.

Way Ahead:

• Pilot-Based Implementation: The government must initiate pilot projects in diverse sectors to test inclusivity and administrative feasibility before national deployment of Shram Shakti Niti 2025.

• Tripartite Participation: Ensuring a governance model that involves government, employers, and unions will restore accountability and shared ownership in labour reforms.

• Offline Accessibility: Providing offline enrolment, grievance redressal, and awareness campaigns will safeguard digitally excluded workers and enhance social security outreach.

• Ethical and Algorithmic Oversight: Union-vetted audits and bias checks in AI systems must be institutionalised to prevent discrimination in digital labour governance platforms.

• Dedicated Funding and Enforcement: Establishing a legally mandated social security corpus and strengthening inspection capacity are essential to translate policy commitments into tangible protection.

Conclusion:

The Shram Shakti Niti 2025 aspires to build a resilient and equitable labour ecosystem, yet its promise falters without financial credibility, institutional oversight, and inclusivity. A rights-driven policy must prioritize workers’ dignity over administrative efficiency. India’s true labour reform will be measured not by dashboards or slogans, but by the restoration of justice, fairness, and human dignity in the world of work.

“Universal and portable social security is the cornerstone of inclusive economic growth”. In this light, examine how Shram Shakti Niti 2025 aims to integrate fragmented welfare schemes. What challenges may impede its nationwide rollout?

#### UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 12 November 2025 Content for Mains Enrichment (CME)

PM India–Bhutan Visit Outcomes

Context: Prime Minister of India visit to Bhutan strengthened India–Bhutan ties through the launch of key hydroelectric projects, new MoUs in health and renewable energy, and a ₹4,000 crore Line of Credit, reinforcing India’s “Neighbourhood First” policy.

About PM India–Bhutan Visit Outcomes:

Key Outcomes:

• Inauguration: 1020 MW Punatsangchhu-II Hydroelectric Project, a flagship symbol of Indo–Bhutan hydropower cooperation.

• Resumption of Punatsangchhu-I Project: Understanding to restart work on the 1200 MW dam, enhancing regional energy integration.

• Cultural Diplomacy: Allocation of land in Varanasi for a Bhutanese monastery and guest house to strengthen spiritual and cultural ties.

• Connectivity & Trade: Decision to establish an Immigration Check Post at Hatisar–Gelephu, improving people-to-people and trade linkages.

• Financial Cooperation: Announcement of a new ₹4,000 crore Line of Credit to support Bhutan’s development priorities.

MoUs Signed:

• Renewable Energy Cooperation: Joint work on solar, wind, biomass, energy storage, and green hydrogen between MNRE (India) and Bhutan’s Energy Ministry.

• Health and Medicine: Institutionalizing collaboration in traditional medicine, disease prevention, digital health, and capacity building.

• Mental Health Partnership: MoU between PEMA Secretariat, Bhutan and NIMHANS, India to develop local mental health training and research programs.

Relevance in UPSC Syllabus:

• GS Paper II – International Relations: India–Bhutan bilateral relations, neighbourhood diplomacy, regional cooperation.

• GS Paper III – Economy & Environment: Sustainable energy partnerships, hydropower cooperation, renewable energy development.

• GS Paper IV – Ethics: Cultural diplomacy and shared heritage as instruments of soft power in ethical foreign policy.

#### UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 12 November 2025 Facts for Prelims (FFP)

Himalayan Black Bear

Source: NIE

Subject: Species in News

Context: Himalayan black bears in Uttarakhand are turning unusually aggressive as erratic weather and delayed winter, linked to climate change, have disrupted their natural hibernation cycle—leading to a spike in human-wildlife conflict incidents.

About Himalayan Black Bear:

What it is?

• A subspecies of the Asiatic black bear, the Himalayan black bear is an omnivorous mammal found in the Himalayan ranges, known for the distinct crescent- or V-shaped white patch on its chest.

• It plays a vital role in forest ecology through seed dispersal and soil turnover.

Habitat:

• Inhabits broadleaf and coniferous forests between 1,200–3,300 m across the Himalayas — from Jammu & Kashmir to Arunachal Pradesh — and occasionally descends to agricultural areas in search of food.

• The Great Himalayan National Park (GHNP) offers a key refuge.

IUCN and Legal Status:

• IUCN Red List: Vulnerable

• Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Schedule I (Highest Protection)

• CITES: Appendix I

Distinctive Characteristics:

• Glossy black coat, tan-brown muzzle, and powder-puff ears.

• Males weigh up to 180–250 kg, females 35–170 kg.

• Arboreal and nocturnal, skilled climbers and swimmers.

• Enters winter torpor/hibernation in colder months — now disrupted due to climate change.

Ecological Significance:

• Acts as a keystone species, maintaining forest regeneration through seed dispersal.

• Controls pest populations and contributes to nutrient cycling.

• Indicator of ecosystem health and climate balance in Himalayan biomes.

Conservation Concern:

• Climate variability, habitat loss, decline in fruit-bearing vegetation, and increased human encroachment are pushing the species toward greater conflict and vulnerability

Lab-Grown Milk

Source: BS

Subject: Science & Tech

Context: Israel-based startup Remilk has announced the commercial launch of its lab-grown “cow-free” milk from January 2026, marking one of the world’s first large-scale rollouts of animal-free dairy.

About Lab-Grown Milk:

What it is?

• Lab-grown milk, or animal-free dairy, is real milk made without cows using biotechnological methods.

• Unlike plant-based milks (soy, almond, oat), it contains actual dairy proteins—casein and whey—identical to cow’s milk, making it suitable for traditional dairy uses like cheese, curd, and yogurt.

Developed by:

• Pioneered by Israeli food-tech firms such as Remilk, Imagindairy, and Wilk.

Process:

• Precision Fermentation: Milk-producing genes are inserted into microbes like yeast.

• These microbes are grown in bioreactors, where they secrete milk proteins when fed sugar.

• Proteins are then blended with fats, minerals, and carbohydrates to replicate cow’s milk—lactose-free, cholesterol-free, and hormone-free.

Features:

• Nutritionally identical to traditional milk—contains all nine essential amino acids, calcium, and similar fat/protein content.

• Customizable: Fat or lactose content can be altered; suitable for lactose-intolerant consumers.

• Ethical and sustainable: No animal use, antibiotics, or methane emissions.

• Allergen label required since proteins are identical to cow’s milk.

Significance:

• Offers a climate-friendly alternative to conventional dairy—reducing land, water, and emissions.

• Addresses animal welfare and ethical concerns.

• For India, it opens new avenues for biotech innovation but faces cultural, cost, and regulatory challenges under FSSAI.

The Great Indian Bustard

Source: TH

Subject: Species in news

Context: The Great Indian Bustard (GIB) returned to spotlight after Supreme Court Justice P.S. Narasimha observed that Western-origin environmental doctrines like “inter-generational equity” are inadequate to save critically endangered species.

About the Great Indian Bustard:

What it is?

• The Great Indian Bustard (GIB) is one of the heaviest flying birds in the world, endemic to the Indian subcontinent.

• Once widespread across India and Pakistan, it now survives in small pockets—mainly the Thar Desert (Rajasthan) and parts of Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Karnataka.

Habitat: Prefers arid and semi-arid grasslands with sparse vegetation, often sharing its habitat with blackbucks and chinkaras. It nests on open, undisturbed plains, making it highly vulnerable to human activities.

Conservation Status:

• IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered

• Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Schedule I

• CITES: Appendix I

• CMS Convention: Appendix I

• Part of the Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats (IDWH) species recovery programme

Physical Characteristics:

• Height: ~1 metre; Weight: 15–18 kg

• Distinctive black crown, white neck and underparts, and brown wings with grey and black markings

• Males have a prominent black breast band and a gular pouch that produces a booming mating call audible up to 500 m

• Diet: Omnivorous — feeds on grass seeds, insects, small reptiles, and rodents

About Intergenerational Equity:

• What it is? The principle of intergenerational equity holds that each generation acts as a trustee of the Earth, enjoying its resources while ensuring they are passed on to future generations in no worse condition. It forms the ethical and legal foundation of sustainable development.

• The principle of intergenerational equity holds that each generation acts as a trustee of the Earth, enjoying its resources while ensuring they are passed on to future generations in no worse condition.

• It forms the ethical and legal foundation of sustainable development.

• Core Principles:

• Trusteeship: Every generation must protect and preserve the planet as a shared trust. Conservation of Options: Maintain resource diversity so future generations have comparable choices. Conservation of Quality: Preserve environmental quality—air, water, soil, biodiversity—for future resilience. Conservation of Access: Use resources equitably today without denying fair access to tomorrow’s users.

• Trusteeship: Every generation must protect and preserve the planet as a shared trust.

• Conservation of Options: Maintain resource diversity so future generations have comparable choices.

• Conservation of Quality: Preserve environmental quality—air, water, soil, biodiversity—for future resilience.

• Conservation of Access: Use resources equitably today without denying fair access to tomorrow’s users.

The Rare Earth Hypothesis

Source: TH

Subject: Geography

Context: Recent data from NASA’s Kepler and James Webb Space Telescopes (JWST) suggest that while Earth-sized planets in habitable zones are common, the specific conditions required for complex life remain extremely rare, reviving interest in the Rare Earth Hypothesis.

About the Rare Earth Hypothesis:

What it is?

• The Rare Earth Hypothesis posits that while microbial life might be widespread across the universe, complex, multicellular life is exceptionally uncommon due to the need for a unique and finely tuned set of planetary, stellar, and cosmic conditions.

Propounded by:

• Proposed by Peter Ward (palaeontologist) and Donald Brownlee (astronomer) in their 2000 book “Rare Earth: Why Complex Life is Uncommon in the Universe.”

• To explain why Earth-like complex ecosystems may be an extraordinary rarity in the cosmos despite the abundance of stars and planets.

Key Features:

• Multiple Conditions Required: Complex life depends on a rare combination of factors — stable climate, plate tectonics, magnetic field, atmospheric regulation, and a protective gas giant (like Jupiter).

• Habitable Zone Constraint: Not enough to be in a “habitable zone”; the planet’s composition, orbit, and atmosphere must also remain stable over billions of years.

• Planetary System Architecture: Giant planets can either shield inner planets from impacts or destabilize them depending on mass and orbit.

• Climate Stability: Long-term carbon-silicate cycling and plate tectonics are vital to maintain a life-supporting atmosphere.

• Atmospheric Retention: Only few planets, particularly around Sun-like stars, can sustain thick atmospheres against stellar radiation.

Significance:

• Challenges the Copernican Principle (that Earth is not special) by suggesting Earth’s conditions are uniquely fine-tuned for complex life.

• Guides astrobiology and exoplanet research, focusing on planetary systems with Earth-like stability.

India’s First MWh-Scale Vanadium Flow Battery at NTPC NETRA

Source: BW

Subject: Economy

Context: India inaugurated its first MWh-scale Vanadium Redox Flow Battery (VRFB) system of 3 MWh capacity at NTPC NETRA, Greater Noida, marking a breakthrough in long-duration energy storage (LDES) and renewable energy integration.

About India’s First MWh-Scale Vanadium Flow Battery at NTPC NETRA:

What it is?

• The Vanadium Redox Flow Battery (VRFB) is an advanced liquid-electrolyte–based energy storage system, designed as a sustainable alternative to lithium-ion batteries for grid-scale storage.

• It enables large-scale, long-duration energy retention crucial for renewable energy

Located in: NTPC NETRA (National Energy Technology Research Alliance), Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh

Organisation Involved: Developed by NTPC’s R&D Centre (NETRA) under the Ministry of Power

Aim: To strengthen India’s energy transition and grid resilience by developing indigenous, safe, and long-duration storage technologies that reduce dependence on imported lithium.

Key Features:

• Capacity: 3 MWh — India’s largest and first-of-its-kind installation

• Technology: Uses vanadium electrolyte instead of lithium; highly scalable, safe, and long-lasting

• Lifespan: 15–20 years with minimal degradation

• Applications: Supports renewable energy integration, microgrids, and industrial storage

• Eco-friendly: Enables recycling of electrolytes and non-flammable operation

Significance:

• Marks India’s entry into next-generation, non-lithium energy storage.

• Enhances renewable energy reliability by storing excess solar and wind power.

• Promotes Atmanirbhar Bharat through indigenous clean energy innovation.

• Positions NTPC as a global leader in R&D across green hydrogen, carbon capture, and LDES technologies.

First Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari (JSJB) Awards

Source: DD News

Subject: Government Scheme

Context: The Hon’ble President of India, will confer the First Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari (JSJB) Awards and the 6th National Water Awards 2025 on 18th November 2025 at Vigyan Bhawan.

About 6th National Water Awards:

• What it is? A flagship initiative of the Department of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation (DoWR, RD & GR) under the Ministry of Jal Shakti, instituted in 2018 to recognize outstanding efforts in water conservation and management.

• A flagship initiative of the Department of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation (DoWR, RD & GR) under the Ministry of Jal Shakti, instituted in 2018 to recognize outstanding efforts in water conservation and management.

• Aim: To promote community participation, awareness, and innovation in water resource management, aligning with the vision of “Jal Samridh Bharat.”

• Features:

• Awards across 10 categories, including Best State, District, Village Panchayat, Industry, NGO, and Institution. Evaluation based on field verification by CWC and CGWB. 46 winners selected out of 751 applications received via the Rashtriya Puraskar Portal.

• Awards across 10 categories, including Best State, District, Village Panchayat, Industry, NGO, and Institution.

• Evaluation based on field verification by CWC and CGWB.

• 46 winners selected out of 751 applications received via the Rashtriya Puraskar Portal.

• Rankings (Top Performers):

• Best State: Maharashtra (1st), Gujarat (2nd), Haryana (3rd) Best Districts: Rajnandgaon (Chhattisgarh), Khargone (Madhya Pradesh), Mirzapur (Uttar Pradesh), Tirunelveli (Tamil Nadu), Sepahijala (Tripura) Best Urban Local Body: Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra

• Best State: Maharashtra (1st), Gujarat (2nd), Haryana (3rd)

• Best Districts: Rajnandgaon (Chhattisgarh), Khargone (Madhya Pradesh), Mirzapur (Uttar Pradesh), Tirunelveli (Tamil Nadu), Sepahijala (Tripura)

• Best Urban Local Body: Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra

About First Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari (JSJB) Awards:

• What it is? A community-driven initiative under the Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain (JSA: CTR) campaign, launched on 6th September 2024 at Surat, Gujarat, promoting grassroots water stewardship.

• A community-driven initiative under the Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain (JSA: CTR) campaign, launched on 6th September 2024 at Surat, Gujarat, promoting grassroots water stewardship.

• Aim: To encourage Jan Bhagidari (public participation) and CSR involvement in constructing, rejuvenating, and maintaining artificial recharge and storage structures, thereby ensuring long-term water security and resilience.

• Features:

• Guided by the 3Cs mantra — Community, CSR, and Cost. Districts encouraged to build 10,000 recharge structures (3,000 for hilly/North-Eastern districts). Collaboration between Ministry of Jal Shakti and Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs for urban water recharge.

• Guided by the 3Cs mantra — Community, CSR, and Cost.

• Districts encouraged to build 10,000 recharge structures (3,000 for hilly/North-Eastern districts).

• Collaboration between Ministry of Jal Shakti and Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs for urban water recharge.

• Rankings and Recognition:

• 100 awardees selected — including States, 67 Districts, 6 Municipal Corporations, NGOs, industries, and philanthropists. Top-performing districts receive ₹2 crore (Category 1), ₹1 crore (Category 2), and ₹25 lakh (Category 3).

• 100 awardees selected — including States, 67 Districts, 6 Municipal Corporations, NGOs, industries, and philanthropists.

• Top-performing districts receive ₹2 crore (Category 1), ₹1 crore (Category 2), and ₹25 lakh (Category 3).

• Ranking: Telangana, Chhattisgarh, and Rajasthan were ranked the top three states in the JSJB Awards 2025.

#### UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 12 November 2025 Mapping:

Source: TOI

Subject: Mapping

Context: Oman has been elected as a member of the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Council for the 2025–2029 term during the 43rd UNESCO General Conference in Samarkand.

About Oman:

• What it is? Oman is a monarchy located on the southeastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula, known for its balance of traditional culture and rapid modernization under Sultan Haitham bin Tariq Al Said.

• Oman is a monarchy located on the southeastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula, known for its balance of traditional culture and rapid modernization under Sultan Haitham bin Tariq Al Said.

• Capital: Muscat

• Neighbouring Countries: Bordered by United Arab Emirates (northwest), Saudi Arabia (west), and Yemen (southwest). Maritime boundaries with the Arabian Sea and Gulf of Oman.

• Maritime boundaries with the Arabian Sea and Gulf of Oman.

• Geographical Features:

• The Al-Hajar Mountains dominate the north, with Mount Shams (2,980 m) as the highest peak. The vast Rubʿ al-Khali (Empty Quarter) desert covers much of its interior, while fertile coastal plains like Al-Batinah and Dhofar support agriculture. Oman’s coastlines, monsoon-fed Dhofar region, and ancient falaj (irrigation) systems sustain its oasis-based settlements.

• The Al-Hajar Mountains dominate the north, with Mount Shams (2,980 m) as the highest peak.

• The vast Rubʿ al-Khali (Empty Quarter) desert covers much of its interior, while fertile coastal plains like Al-Batinah and Dhofar support agriculture.

• Oman’s coastlines, monsoon-fed Dhofar region, and ancient falaj (irrigation) systems sustain its oasis-based settlements.

About UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Council:

• What it is? The Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme is UNESCO’s intergovernmental scientific initiative launched in 1971 to improve the relationship between humans and their environment.

• The Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme is UNESCO’s intergovernmental scientific initiative launched in 1971 to improve the relationship between humans and their environment.

• Aim: To promote biodiversity conservation, sustainable ecosystem management, and human–nature harmony through research, innovation, and education.

• Features:

• Governed by the International Coordinating Council (MAB-ICC) composed of 34 Member States elected by UNESCO’s General Conference. Encourages scientific research, youth empowerment, and policy innovation to address climate change and sustainability challenges. Guided by the MAB Roadmap (2015–2025), with a new 2025–2035 roadmap to be adopted at the 5th World Congress of Biosphere Reserves in Hangzhou, China (2025).

• Governed by the International Coordinating Council (MAB-ICC) composed of 34 Member States elected by UNESCO’s General Conference.

• Encourages scientific research, youth empowerment, and policy innovation to address climate change and sustainability challenges.

• Guided by the MAB Roadmap (2015–2025), with a new 2025–2035 roadmap to be adopted at the 5th World Congress of Biosphere Reserves in Hangzhou, China (2025).

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