UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 18 November 2025
Kartavya Desk Staff
UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 18 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 – 18 November (2025)
• Indian Lower Judiciary
Indian Lower Judiciary
• India Africa Bilateral Relations
India Africa Bilateral Relations
Content for Mains Enrichment (CME):
• Chatbot Initiative for Animal Healthcare
Chatbot Initiative for Animal Healthcare
Facts for Prelims (FFP):
• African Swine Fever
African Swine Fever
• Rudra Brigade
Rudra Brigade
• India’s first-ever major LPG import deal with the US
India’s first-ever major LPG import deal with the US
• National Gopal Ratna Awards 2025
National Gopal Ratna Awards 2025
• Global Big Cats Summit
Global Big Cats Summit
• Military Exercises in News
Military Exercises in News
Mapping:
• Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia
UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 18 November 2025
#### GS Paper 2:
Indian Lower Judiciary
Source: TH
Subject: Judiciary
Context: A Supreme Court Constitution Bench recently linked stagnation in the subordinate judiciary to massive pendency and procedural inefficiencies, with 4.69 crore cases pending in district courts.
About Indian Lower Judiciary:
Governance Structure:
• Constitutional Basis: Articles 233–237 assign recruitment, appointment, control, and administrative supervision of the subordinate judiciary jointly to High Courts and State Governments, ensuring federal balance in judicial governance.
• Three-Tier Subordinate Court System: District & Sessions Courts exercise both civil and criminal jurisdiction, functioning as the highest trial courts in a district under a District Judge who supervises all subordinate judicial work. Senior Civil Judge / Chief Judicial Magistrate courts handle mid-level civil disputes and serious criminal cases, forming the backbone of intermediate adjudication. Civil Judge (Junior Division) / Judicial Magistrate First Class deal with lower-value civil suits and routine criminal cases, forming the first point of contact for most litigants.
• District & Sessions Courts exercise both civil and criminal jurisdiction, functioning as the highest trial courts in a district under a District Judge who supervises all subordinate judicial work.
• Senior Civil Judge / Chief Judicial Magistrate courts handle mid-level civil disputes and serious criminal cases, forming the backbone of intermediate adjudication.
• Civil Judge (Junior Division) / Judicial Magistrate First Class deal with lower-value civil suits and routine criminal cases, forming the first point of contact for most litigants.
• Administrative Control: High Courts oversee inspections, postings, promotions, discipline and ensure uniform judicial standards across districts. State Governments manage court buildings, financial outlays, personnel support, and help conduct judicial service exams through PSCs.
• High Courts oversee inspections, postings, promotions, discipline and ensure uniform judicial standards across districts.
• State Governments manage court buildings, financial outlays, personnel support, and help conduct judicial service exams through PSCs.
• Recruitment Pathways: Lower Judicial Service recruits fresh law graduates (0–7 years’ experience) who start as Civil Judges and grow through departmental exams. Higher Judicial Service recruits experienced advocates (7+ years at the bar) directly as District Judges to infuse professional experience into higher trial courts.
• Lower Judicial Service recruits fresh law graduates (0–7 years’ experience) who start as Civil Judges and grow through departmental exams.
• Higher Judicial Service recruits experienced advocates (7+ years at the bar) directly as District Judges to infuse professional experience into higher trial courts.
Trends in the Lower Judiciary:
• Massive Pendency: With 69 crore cases pending, the district judiciary handles nearly 90% of India’s total caseload, creating structural stress on disposal capacity.
• With 69 crore cases pending, the district judiciary handles nearly 90% of India’s total caseload, creating structural stress on disposal capacity.
• Vacancies & Capacity Gap: Against a sanctioned strength of 25,843 judges, only 21,122 are working, leaving a persistent 3% vacancy that cripples disposal rates. India has only 21 judges per million people despite the Law Commission’s recommendation of 50 per million—one of the lowest ratios globally.
• Against a sanctioned strength of 25,843 judges, only 21,122 are working, leaving a persistent 3% vacancy that cripples disposal rates.
• India has only 21 judges per million people despite the Law Commission’s recommendation of 50 per million—one of the lowest ratios globally.
• Rising Litigation Load: Each district judge handles nearly 1,000–1,500 new filings annually, apart from a large backlog, overwhelming their working bandwidth. With 77% of India’s total pendency lying in subordinate courts, systemic pressure remains concentrated at the foundational tier.
• Each district judge handles nearly 1,000–1,500 new filings annually, apart from a large backlog, overwhelming their working bandwidth.
• With 77% of India’s total pendency lying in subordinate courts, systemic pressure remains concentrated at the foundational tier.
• Digital Trends: Digitisation of 506 crore pages and 65 crore VC hearings show progress, but uneven adoption limits full transformation. Only 21 Virtual Courts across 17 States indicate slow scaling of technology-driven adjudication.
• Digitisation of 506 crore pages and 65 crore VC hearings show progress, but uneven adoption limits full transformation.
• Only 21 Virtual Courts across 17 States indicate slow scaling of technology-driven adjudication.
• Case Disposal Time: Civil disputes take 5–10 years on average, while land cases stretch to 20–30 years, eroding public faith in justice. Criminal trials suffer from 42% adjournment rates, delaying convictions and enabling systemic abuse.
• Civil disputes take 5–10 years on average, while land cases stretch to 20–30 years, eroding public faith in justice.
• Criminal trials suffer from 42% adjournment rates, delaying convictions and enabling systemic abuse.
Initiatives Taken:
• National Mission for Justice Delivery & Legal Reforms: Aims at reducing arrears through coordinated procedural reforms, improved infrastructure, and enhanced accountability across judicial tiers.
• Judicial Infrastructure Expansion: Court halls increased to 22,372 and residential units to 19,851, funded by over ₹12,101 crore under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme.
• e-Courts Mission Mode Project (Phase III): Enabled IT upgradation in 18,735 courts, WAN connectivity, AI-driven tools, and 1,814 e-Sewa Kendras to enhance citizen access.
• Fast Track Courts & Special Mechanisms: 865 FTCs and 725 FTSC/POCSO courts handled over 3.34 lakh cases, prioritising crimes against women, children, and vulnerable groups.
• Legislative Reforms: Amendments to NI Act, Commercial Courts Act, Arbitration Act, and the Mediation Act streamline pre-trial stages and promote faster settlements.
Key Problems in Subordinate Courts:
• Structural & Procedural Overload: Judges spend nearly two hours daily on clerical work like calling cases and processing summons, reducing effective time for trials and judgments.
• Inexperienced Judicial Officers: Many new judges enter without courtroom exposure, producing weak orders; SC observed “lack of basic knowledge” among some recruits.
• Archaic CPC & Procedural Bottlenecks: Multi-stage decrees, 106 rules under Order XXI, and mandatory pre-suit mediation create avoidable delays and are exploited by litigants.
• Infrastructure & Human Resource Gaps: Persistent judge vacancies, lack of stenographers, outdated record rooms, and unstable connectivity hinder efficient case handling.
• Legislative Ambiguities Increasing Litigation: New Rent Act ambiguities and unavoidable cooling-off periods in mutual divorce petitions cause unnecessary filings and procedural congestion.
• Execution Delays: Since 70% of civil cases are delayed in execution, decrees take 3–7 years to materialise, making justice ineffective despite judgments.
Way Ahead:
• Dedicated “Ministerial Courts”: A specialised process court in each district can handle filings, summons, and ex-parte evidence, freeing core courts for substantive hearings.
• Mandatory Apprenticeship for New Judges: A 6–12-month High Court attachment will train new judges in drafting, order-writing, and courtroom culture before independent posting.
• Deep Reforms in CPC Execution: Merging decree stages, compulsory asset disclosure, and digital execution portals can cut years of procedural delay.
• AI-Based Case Triage & Listing: AI can prioritise old cases, track adjournment misuse, create smart cause lists, and significantly reduce human-driven inefficiencies.
• Human Resource Expansion: India urgently requires 10,000+ additional judges to meet even minimum ratios and ensure timely case disposal at the district level.
• Legislative Simplification: Removing mandatory mediation timelines, rationalising cooling-off periods, and clarifying rent laws can unclog courts at the entry stage.
Conclusion:
India’s lower judiciary is the backbone of justice delivery, yet it remains overburdened by archaic procedures, staffing shortages, and structural inefficiencies. Without deep procedural reform, modern digital management, and a professionalised subordinate bench, pendency cannot decline. A data-driven, technology-enabled model is now essential to restore public trust and ensure timely justice at the grassroots.
“The subordinate judiciary is the backbone of India’s justice system, yet it suffers from chronic backlog”. Identify the systemic reasons behind pendency in lower courts. Evaluate its impact on justice delivery at the grassroots level. What measures can be undertaken to address this backlog effectively?
India Africa Bilateral Relations
Source: TH
Subject: International Relations
Context: India’s renewed diplomatic push towards Africa has triggered debate after experts highlighted the need to “connect, build and revive” India–Africa ties ahead of the next India–Africa Forum Summit (IAFS-IV).
About India Africa Bilateral Relations:
Historical Evolution of India–Africa Ties:
• Civilisational Links: Centuries-old Indian Ocean trade in gold, spices and textiles built deep sociocultural links, reinforced by Gujarati merchant networks and shared experiences of colonial exploitation.
• Political Solidarity: India championed African liberation movements through NAM, supported anti-apartheid struggles, and coordinated decolonisation diplomacy at the UN throughout the Cold War.
• Post-1990s Phase: Economic reforms shifted India’s Africa policy toward investments, ITEC-driven capacity building, and joint positions in WTO, climate negotiations and UN Security Council reform efforts.
• Contemporary Phase (2015–2025): IAFS-III united all 54 African nations; India opened 17 new embassies, scaled digital and development partnerships, and secured AU’s permanent membership in the G20 in 2023.
Key Areas of Cooperation:
• Trade & Investment: Growing Economic Ties: India–Africa trade crossed $100 billion (2024–25), making India the continent’s 3rd-largest trading partner, though still far behind China’s $280+ billion trade footprint. Indian Investments: India’s cumulative FDI in Africa stands at $75 billion, focusing on telecom, hydrocarbons, pharma, infrastructure and digital services aligned with Africa’s growth priorities. Duty-Free Tariff Preference: India’s DFTP scheme grants 98.2% tariff-free access to 38 African LDCs, significantly boosting African exports in textiles, agro-products and minerals.
• Growing Economic Ties: India–Africa trade crossed $100 billion (2024–25), making India the continent’s 3rd-largest trading partner, though still far behind China’s $280+ billion trade footprint.
• Indian Investments: India’s cumulative FDI in Africa stands at $75 billion, focusing on telecom, hydrocarbons, pharma, infrastructure and digital services aligned with Africa’s growth priorities.
• Duty-Free Tariff Preference: India’s DFTP scheme grants 98.2% tariff-free access to 38 African LDCs, significantly boosting African exports in textiles, agro-products and minerals.
• Development Partnership: Lines of Credit (LoCs): India’s $10 billion LoC commitment supports 189 projects in 42 countries across power generation, irrigation, drinking water, rail connectivity and rural electrification. Digital Tele-Education & Tele-Medicine: The e-VBAB platform provides digital classrooms and medical consultations across Africa, reducing learning and healthcare gaps in remote regions.
• Lines of Credit (LoCs): India’s $10 billion LoC commitment supports 189 projects in 42 countries across power generation, irrigation, drinking water, rail connectivity and rural electrification.
• Digital Tele-Education & Tele-Medicine: The e-VBAB platform provides digital classrooms and medical consultations across Africa, reducing learning and healthcare gaps in remote regions.
• Capacity Building: Training & Human Capital: 40,000+ Africans trained under ITEC, ICCR and the Pan-African e-Network now serve as ministers, policymakers and entrepreneurs, forming an enduring human bridge. IIT-M Zanzibar Campus: India’s first overseas IIT campus in Zanzibar (2023) symbolises co-creation in higher education, offering advanced programmes in data science and AI.
• Training & Human Capital: 40,000+ Africans trained under ITEC, ICCR and the Pan-African e-Network now serve as ministers, policymakers and entrepreneurs, forming an enduring human bridge.
• IIT-M Zanzibar Campus: India’s first overseas IIT campus in Zanzibar (2023) symbolises co-creation in higher education, offering advanced programmes in data science and AI.
• Maritime & Security Cooperation AI-KEYME Naval Exercise: In 2025, India and nine African navies held AI-KEYME, strengthening interoperability in anti-piracy, humanitarian aid and Western Indian Ocean maritime security. Peacekeeping Collaboration: India remains a major troop contributor to UN missions in Africa, especially in Congo, Sudan and South Sudan, enhancing its credibility as a security partner.
• AI-KEYME Naval Exercise: In 2025, India and nine African navies held AI-KEYME, strengthening interoperability in anti-piracy, humanitarian aid and Western Indian Ocean maritime security.
• Peacekeeping Collaboration: India remains a major troop contributor to UN missions in Africa, especially in Congo, Sudan and South Sudan, enhancing its credibility as a security partner.
• Digital & FinTech Partnership: Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI): African countries are exploring India’s UPI, Aadhaar-like identity solutions and digital stack to modernise payments, identity verification and public service delivery.
• Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI): African countries are exploring India’s UPI, Aadhaar-like identity solutions and digital stack to modernise payments, identity verification and public service delivery.
• Energy & Climate Cooperation Solar & Green Energy: African nations partner with India under the International Solar Alliance, while collaborations in green hydrogen, EV ecosystems and blue economy corridors gain traction.
• Solar & Green Energy: African nations partner with India under the International Solar Alliance, while collaborations in green hydrogen, EV ecosystems and blue economy corridors gain traction.
Challenges In India–Africa Relations:
• Chinese Dominance: China–Africa trade exceeds $280+ billion and dominates ports, railways, mining and defence sectors, overshadowing India’s relatively smaller economic footprint.
• Slow Execution of Indian Projects: LoC-funded projects face delays due to strict tendering norms, capacity constraints in African agencies and India’s cumbersome bureaucratic processes.
• Loss of Diplomatic Momentum: No IAFS meeting since 2015 has diluted institutional continuity, while Africa increasingly engages with actors offering faster financing and delivery.
• Weak Financial Muscle of Indian Firms: Most Indian private companies lack the deep capital reserves required to match Chinese state-backed mega infrastructure investments.
• Political & Security Volatility: Conflicts in Sudan, Sahel insurgencies and instability in Horn of Africa threaten Indian investments, supply chains and diaspora security.
• Poor Connectivity: Lack of direct shipping lines, air connectivity and digital corridors elevates logistical costs and limits deeper integration in trade and data exchange.
Way Ahead:
• Revive IAFS-IV: Institutionalise IAFS as a regular summit, create a permanent Secretariat and renew political momentum for a unified India–Africa engagement roadmap.
• Build an India–Africa Digital Corridor: Jointly develop DPI architecture—UPI–Afripay linkages, DigiLocker-style document systems and tele-health networks to serve the wider Global South.
• Co-Invest in Strategic Future Sectors: Partner with Namibia/Morocco on green hydrogen, DRC/Zambia on EV battery minerals, and Kenya–Nigeria hubs on digital startups and AI innovation.
• Accelerate LoC Delivery: Establish a single-window LoC monitoring dashboard, fix deadlines, and empower local project execution teams to reduce long-standing implementation delays.
• Strengthen Maritime Security Architecture: Make AI-KEYME annual, enhance Western Indian Ocean coordination, and sign logistics support agreements with Kenya, Mauritius and Tanzania.
• Deepen People-to-People Connect: Double ITEC and ICCR scholarships, expand India-linked institutions like IIT-M Zanzibar, and support African students and entrepreneurs in Indian ecosystems.
Conclusion:
India–Africa ties stand at a pivotal moment, driven by shared demographics, development priorities and a shifting global order. A decade after IAFS-III, the partnership now needs stronger institutions and co-created growth rather than transactional exchanges. If India can connect, build and revive key frameworks, this relationship will anchor the Global South’s rise in the 21st century.
In what ways does India’s Africa engagement support its bid for global leadership? Assess how Africa figures in India’s larger foreign policy calculus. What constraints limit this ambition?
#### UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 18 November 2025 Content for Mains Enrichment (CME)
Chatbot Initiative for Animal Healthcare
Context: Rajasthan’s Animal Husbandry Department has launched a pioneering chatbot-based veterinary service that enables livestock owners to report illnesses and receive expert medical guidance digitally.
About Chatbot Initiative for Animal Healthcare:
What it is?
• A digital, chatbot-enabled veterinary assistance platform through which livestock owners can report symptoms and receive real-time medical advice from certified veterinary doctors.
• To provide fast, accessible, doorstep veterinary care for livestock farmers.
• To reduce animal mortality through timely diagnosis, consultation and intervention.
• To integrate technology into animal husbandry services and strengthen the rural economy.
Key Features:
• Symptom reporting by livestock owners through chatbot interfaces (including WhatsApp).
• Instant consultation with expert veterinary doctors.
• AI-based future integration for automated disease analysis and quicker diagnosis.
• Transparent, faster service delivery, reducing delays in treatment.
• User adoption: 82,713 farmers, 65,490 animals treated in six months.
Relevance in UPSC Exam Syllabus:
• GS Paper 2 – Governance
• E-governance, digital service delivery, citizen-centric administration. Role of technology in improving public service delivery at grassroots level.
• E-governance, digital service delivery, citizen-centric administration.
• Role of technology in improving public service delivery at grassroots level.
• GS Paper 3 – Agriculture & Allied Sectors
• Livestock sector reforms, veterinary health, rural economy support. Use of AI, data and digital tools in agriculture and allied activities.
• Livestock sector reforms, veterinary health, rural economy support.
• Use of AI, data and digital tools in agriculture and allied activities.
#### UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 18 November 2025 Facts for Prelims (FFP)
African Swine Fever
Source: NIE
Subject: Miscellaneous
Context: Assam has banned inter-district movement of live pigs and prohibited pork sales in seven districts after a sharp spike in African Swine Fever (ASF) cases.
About African Swine Fever:
What it is?
• A highly contagious viral hemorrhagic disease affecting domestic and wild pigs, caused by the African Swine Fever Virus (ASFV)—a large double-stranded DNA virus of the Asfarviridae
• It has no impact on humans but is devastating to pig populations with up to 100% mortality.
Vectors & Transmission:
• Soft ticks (Ornithodoros spp.) act as biological vectors, sustaining the virus in nature.
• Transmitted via infected pigs, contaminated clothes, shoes, vehicles, feed waste, bedding, slaughter waste, and unprocessed pork products.
• Virus survives long in the environment and in pork products (ham, sausages, bacon), making human movement and trade major spreaders.
Symptoms:
• Peracute cases: sudden death within 1–3 days, extremely high fever (106–108°F).
• Acute cases: lethargy, anorexia, respiratory distress, blue-purple discoloration of ears/abdomen/legs, bloody froth from nose/mouth, bloody diarrhoea, abortions.
• Mortality rate: 90–100%.
Features of ASF:
• Notifiable disease: must be mandatorily reported.
• Highly stable virus: survives on surfaces, feed, soil, equipment, and meat products.
• Endemic cycle: maintained between wild pigs, warthogs, bushpigs, and ticks.
• First detected in India in Arunachal Pradesh & Assam in 2020.
Treatment / Control:
• No vaccine or cure currently available globally.
• Only method: strict biosecurity, mass culling, movement bans.
• Measures include: Quarantine of new pigs (30–45 days) Restriction on pig/vehicle movement Farm disinfection (2% sodium hypochlorite / potassium permanganate) Segregation of healthy and sick animals
• Quarantine of new pigs (30–45 days)
• Restriction on pig/vehicle movement
• Farm disinfection (2% sodium hypochlorite / potassium permanganate)
• Segregation of healthy and sick animals
Rudra Brigade
Source: TOI
Subject: Defence
Context: The Army successfully validated a newly raised Rudra all-arms integrated brigade during the major tri-service Trishul exercise, prompting discussions on upgrading India’s Cold Start doctrine to a “Cold Strike” doctrine.
About Rudra Brigade:
What is the Rudra Brigade?
• A Rudra Brigade is a newly conceptualised all-arms, permanently integrated combat formation combining infantry, mechanised units, armour, artillery, air defence, engineers, signals, drones, logistics and support elements under a single operational framework.
• To create self-contained, rapidly deployable integrated battle formations that can execute swift, multi-axis offensive strikes.
• To operationalise India’s move from Cold Start → Cold Strike, enabling faster mobilisation and decisive limited-war operations under a nuclear overhang.
Operated By:
• Operated by the Indian Army, under different regional Corps (e.g., Konark Corps on western front).
• Two Rudra brigades already deployed on the northern borders (Eastern Ladakh & Sikkim).
Key Features of Rudra Brigades:
• Fully Integrated All-Arms Formation: Combines infantry, mechanised infantry, armour, artillery, AD, engineers, signals, UAV units and logistics into one cohesive brigade during peace and war.
• Tailor-Made for Terrain: Composition changes depending on the operational theatre—deserts, plains, mountains, or LoC.
• Faster Mobilisation & Higher Readiness: Permanent integration reduces mobilisation time drastically, enabling immediate offensive action.
• Capable of Multi-Domain Operations: Equipped for operations involving land, air support, drones, sensors, precision weapons and electronic warfare.
• Built-In Force Multipliers: Includes drones, ISR systems, area-saturation artillery, attack helicopter support and rapid logistics nodes.
• Modular & Flexible Structure: Units can be added or detached based on mission requirements, enabling high adaptability.
Significance:
• Enables “Cold Strike” Doctrine: Moves beyond Cold Start by combining speed + technology + integrated logistics for deep, rapid offensives.
• Strengthens Western & Northern Borders: Enhances India’s ability to respond swiftly to Pakistan-based provocations and Chinese mobilisation.
• Reduces Response Time in Crisis: Permanent integration ensures forces are pre-aligned, trained together, and mission-ready.
India’s first-ever major LPG import deal with the US
Source: TN
Subject: International Relation
Context: India has finalised its first-ever structured LPG import deal with the US, sourcing 2.2 MTPA—about 10% of annual LPG imports—for 2026.
About India’s first-ever major LPG import deal with the US:
What the deal is?
• A one-year structured contract under which Indian PSU refiners will import 2 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) of LPG from the US Gulf Coast in 2026—India’s first formal long-term LPG sourcing contract from the US.
Nations Involved:
• India: IOC, BPCL, HPCL
• United States: US Gulf Coast producers (Chevron, Phillips 66, TotalEnergies Trading)
• To diversify LPG sourcing beyond West Asian suppliers.
• To strengthen India–US energy partnership, reduce trade imbalances, and improve energy security.
India’s LPG Import Profile:
• India imports ~60% of its LPG demand.
• Around 21 million tonnes imported in 2024.
• 90% of imports traditionally sourced from West Asia (UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait).
• India is among the world’s fastest-growing LPG markets due to Ujjwala expansion.
Key Features of the Agreement:
• Quantity: 2.2 MTPA (≈10% of India’s annual LPG imports).
• Benchmark: Based on US Mont Belvieu LPG pricing.
• Suppliers: Awarded jointly to Chevron, Phillips 66, and TotalEnergies Trading.
• Duration: Contract year 2026.
Significance:
• First structured US LPG contract, opening a new energy trade corridor.
• Reduces India’s overdependence on West Asian suppliers.
• Strengthens India–US strategic and trade ties, aiding ongoing tariff negotiations.
• Enhances energy security against supply shocks and geopolitical risks.
National Gopal Ratna Awards 2025
Source: DD news
Subject: Government Scheme
Context: The Government of India has announced the National Gopal Ratna Awards 2025, one of the highest honours in the livestock and dairy sector.
About National Gopal Ratna Awards 2025:
What it is?
• A prestigious national award recognising outstanding contributions in the livestock and dairy sector, especially those promoting indigenous cattle and scientific dairying.
Launched in: Established in 2021 under the broader framework of the Rashtriya Gokul Mission (RGM), which itself was launched in December 2014.
Organisation Involved: Conferred by the Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying (MoFAHD), Government of India.
• To encourage excellence in dairy farming, indigenous cattle conservation, cooperative dairy development, and scientific breeding services.
• To motivate stakeholders to enhance productivity and improve indigenous breeds.
Features:
• Awards given in three categories: Best Dairy Farmer (Indigenous breeds) Best Artificial Insemination Technician (AIT) Best Dairy Cooperative/FPO/MPC
• Best Dairy Farmer (Indigenous breeds)
• Best Artificial Insemination Technician (AIT)
• Best Dairy Cooperative/FPO/MPC
• Cash prizes:
• ₹5 lakh (1st), ₹3 lakh (2nd), ₹2 lakh (3rd). Special ₹2 lakh award for NER/Himalayan States.
• ₹5 lakh (1st), ₹3 lakh (2nd), ₹2 lakh (3rd).
• Special ₹2 lakh award for NER/Himalayan States.
• AIT category includes certificate & memento only.
• Recognises farmers, cooperatives, and technicians using scientific and ethical dairy practices.
Significance:
• Boosts morale of dairy farmers and enhances India’s indigenous cattle productivity.
• Strengthens rural livelihoods and contributes to India’s dairy self-reliance.
• Supports national priorities like milk quality improvement, breed conservation, and doubling farmer income.
Global Big Cats Summit
Source: DD News
Subject: Environment
Context: India announced that it will host the Global Big Cats Summit in New Delhi in 2026, reaffirming global leadership in wildlife conservation.
About Global Big Cats Summit:
• What it is? A high-level international summit dedicated to strengthening global cooperation, policy coordination, and scientific collaboration for the conservation of big cat species across continents.
• A high-level international summit dedicated to strengthening global cooperation, policy coordination, and scientific collaboration for the conservation of big cat species across continents.
• Host: India, in New Delhi.
• Key Features:
• Brings together big-cat range countries, global experts, scientists, conservation NGOs, and policy leaders. Focus on tiger recovery models, lion conservation, snow leopard landscapes, cheetah translocation lessons, and global best practices. Strengthens global partnerships to protect big-cat habitats that support carbon sequestration, watershed protection, climate resilience, and sustainable livelihoods.
• Brings together big-cat range countries, global experts, scientists, conservation NGOs, and policy leaders.
• Focus on tiger recovery models, lion conservation, snow leopard landscapes, cheetah translocation lessons, and global best practices.
• Strengthens global partnerships to protect big-cat habitats that support carbon sequestration, watershed protection, climate resilience, and sustainable livelihoods.
About International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA):
• What it is? A global, multi-country, multi-agency coalition dedicated exclusively to the conservation of the world’s seven major big cats — Tiger, Lion, Leopard, Snow Leopard, Cheetah, Jaguar, and Puma.
• A global, multi-country, multi-agency coalition dedicated exclusively to the conservation of the world’s seven major big cats — Tiger, Lion, Leopard, Snow Leopard, Cheetah, Jaguar, and Puma.
• Launched In: 9 April 2023, during 50 years of Project Tiger celebrations at Mysuru, Karnataka.
• Headquarters: India (as approved by Union Cabinet on 12 March 2024).
• To create a unified global platform to protect and recover big cat populations. To pool scientific knowledge, technology, funding, and successful practices among 95 range & non-range countries. To fill global gaps in capacity building, financing, technology, and scientific expertise for big cat conservation.
• To create a unified global platform to protect and recover big cat populations.
• To pool scientific knowledge, technology, funding, and successful practices among 95 range & non-range countries.
• To fill global gaps in capacity building, financing, technology, and scientific expertise for big cat conservation.
• Key Features:
• Global coalition of 95 countries, conservation partners, scientific institutions & corporates. Acts as a central repository of best practices, research data, and conservation models. Focus on capacity building, training, funding access, and technology transfer for big cat range countries. Addresses poaching, illegal wildlife trade, habitat loss, prey depletion, and ecological degradation.
• Global coalition of 95 countries, conservation partners, scientific institutions & corporates.
• Acts as a central repository of best practices, research data, and conservation models.
• Focus on capacity building, training, funding access, and technology transfer for big cat range countries.
• Addresses poaching, illegal wildlife trade, habitat loss, prey depletion, and ecological degradation.
Military Exercises in News
Source: ANI
Subject: Defence Exercise
Context: Two major military exercises hit headlines: Garuda-2025, a bilateral air exercise between India and France in France, and Ajeya Warrior-25, a key India–UK joint military training exercise that began in Rajasthan under a UN mandate.
About Military Exercises in News:
About Exercise Garuda-2025:
• What it is? A bilateral air combat exercise between the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the French Air & Space Force.
• A bilateral air combat exercise between the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the French Air & Space Force.
• Nations involved: India and France.
• Host: Mont-de-Marsan Air Base, France.
• Aim: To enhance air-combat interoperability, exchange best practices, and strengthen strategic air cooperation.
• Features:
• IAF Su-30 MKI flying alongside French Rafale fighters in simulated combat. Focus on complex air operations, tactical manoeuvres, and operational synergy. Showcases long-standing Indo-French defence partnership.
• IAF Su-30 MKI flying alongside French Rafale fighters in simulated combat.
• Focus on complex air operations, tactical manoeuvres, and operational synergy.
• Showcases long-standing Indo-French defence partnership.
About Exercise Ajeya Warrior-2025:
• What it is? A biennial India–UK military exercise focusing on counter-terrorism
• A biennial India–UK military exercise focusing on counter-terrorism
• Nations involved: India and the United Kingdom.
• Host: Mahajan Field Firing Ranges, Rajasthan (Foreign Training Node).
• Aim: To enhance tactical proficiency, joint mission planning, and coordinated responses in semi-urban counter-terror settings.
• Features:
• 240 personnel (equal representation from both armies). Indian Army represented by troops of the Sikh Regiment. Brigade-level mission planning, simulation drills, and field training exercises. Conducted under a UN mandate, strengthening global peace and stability efforts. Focus on semi-urban warfare, integrated drills, and interoperability.
• 240 personnel (equal representation from both armies).
• Indian Army represented by troops of the Sikh Regiment.
• Brigade-level mission planning, simulation drills, and field training exercises.
• Conducted under a UN mandate, strengthening global peace and stability efforts.
• Focus on semi-urban warfare, integrated drills, and interoperability.
#### UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 18 November 2025 Mapping:
Saudi Arabia
Source: NDTV
Subject: Mapping
Context: A tragic bus fire near Medina, Saudi Arabia, killed 45 Umrah pilgrims from Telangana, leaving only one survivor.
About Saudi Arabia:
• What it is? Saudi Arabia is a West Asian kingdom, the largest country on the Arabian Peninsula, ruled by the Al Saud royal family.
• Saudi Arabia is a West Asian kingdom, the largest country on the Arabian Peninsula, ruled by the Al Saud royal family.
• Location: Situated in the Middle East, it occupies most of the Arabian Peninsula.
• Capital: Riyadh
• Neighbouring Nations: Borders Jordan, Iraq, Kuwait, UAE, Qatar, Oman, Yemen, Red Sea & Gulf of Aqaba.
• Geological Features:
• Dominated by vast deserts including the Rubʿ al-Khāli (Empty Quarter), the largest sand desert in the world. Western highlands (Hejaz) house Mecca & Medina, Islam’s holiest cities. Central plateau region of Najd and eastern oil-rich coastal belt along the Persian Gulf.
• Dominated by vast deserts including the Rubʿ al-Khāli (Empty Quarter), the largest sand desert in the world.
• Western highlands (Hejaz) house Mecca & Medina, Islam’s holiest cities.
• Central plateau region of Najd and eastern oil-rich coastal belt along the Persian Gulf.
About Umrah Pilgrimage:
• What it is? Umrah is the “lesser pilgrimage” to Mecca, performed anytime during the year (unlike Hajj), consisting of a set of prescribed rituals.
• Umrah is the “lesser pilgrimage” to Mecca, performed anytime during the year (unlike Hajj), consisting of a set of prescribed rituals.
• Features:
• A deeply spiritual journey for Muslims seeking purification, forgiveness, and closeness to God. Involves rituals such as Ihram, Tawaf (circumambulating Kaaba), and Sa’i (walking between Safa and Marwah). Not obligatory like Hajj but highly recommended (Sunnah) and Prophet Muhammad performed Umrah four times.
• A deeply spiritual journey for Muslims seeking purification, forgiveness, and closeness to God.
• Involves rituals such as Ihram, Tawaf (circumambulating Kaaba), and Sa’i (walking between Safa and Marwah).
• Not obligatory like Hajj but highly recommended (Sunnah) and Prophet Muhammad performed Umrah four times.
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