UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 5 November 2025
Kartavya Desk Staff
UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 5 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 – 5 November (2025)
• BRICS is Challenging SWIFT: Building a Multipolar Financial Architecture
BRICS is Challenging SWIFT: Building a Multipolar Financial Architecture
GS Paper 3:
• The Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Scheme
The Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Scheme
Content for Mains Enrichment (CME):
• Pravasi Parichay 2025
Pravasi Parichay 2025
Facts for Prelims (FFP):
• APEDA Facilitates First Export of Fortified Rice Kernel
APEDA Facilitates First Export of Fortified Rice Kernel
• ICA World Cooperative Monitor 2025
ICA World Cooperative Monitor 2025
• QS Asia University Rankings 2026
QS Asia University Rankings 2026
• 2nd World Summit for Social Development
2nd World Summit for Social Development
• Gold coins from the Vijayanagara-era unearthed
Gold coins from the Vijayanagara-era unearthed
• Black Hole Morsels
Black Hole Morsels
Mapping:
• Umngot River
Umngot River
UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 5 November 2025
#### GS Paper 2:
BRICS is Challenging SWIFT: Building a Multipolar Financial Architecture
Syllabus: Multilateral Institution
Source: TH
Context: At the 16th BRICS Summit in Kazan (2024), member nations unveiled the BRICS Cross-Border Payments Initiative — “BRICS Pay”, signalling an intent to reduce dependence on the U.S.-controlled SWIFT system.
About BRICS is Challenging SWIFT: Building a Multipolar Financial Architecture
Context and Background:
• Western dominance in global finance: For decades, global financial flows have been controlled by Western-led institutions and the SWIFT network, which connects over 11,000 banks in 200+ countries, enabling secure international money transfers under U.S.–EU influence.
• Exposure to geopolitical sanctions: The 2022 exclusion of Russia from SWIFT after its Ukraine invasion exposed the vulnerability of developing economies to Western financial sanctions and unilateral decisions, prompting calls for alternative systems.
• BRICS’ strategic response: In response, BRICS nations (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa)—later joined by Iran and other BRICS+ partners—initiated steps to create parallel financial infrastructures that safeguard monetary autonomy.
• Institutional groundwork (2014 Fortaleza Summit): The formation of the New Development Bank (NDB) and the Contingent Reserve Arrangement (CRA) in 2014 marked the first effort by developing nations to establish independent financial institutions outside Western control.
• Advancing monetary multipolarity (Kazan Declaration 2024): The 16th BRICS Summit in Kazan (2024) formally advanced this agenda by operationalising BRICS Pay, underscoring a collective drive toward monetary multipolarity, digital sovereignty, and reduced dollar dependence.
Understanding BRICS Pay:
• What is BRICS Pay? BRICS Pay is a decentralised, interoperable digital payment platform developed under the BRICS Business Council, designed to enable fast, secure, and low-cost cross-border transactions among BRICS+ nations.
• BRICS Pay is a decentralised, interoperable digital payment platform developed under the BRICS Business Council, designed to enable fast, secure, and low-cost cross-border transactions among BRICS+ nations.
• Core Architecture
• Interoperable systems: Connects national platforms such as India’s UPI, China’s CIPS, Russia’s SPFS, and Brazil’s Pix, ensuring cross-compatibility and scalability. Decentralised Messaging System (DCMS): Offers a secure alternative to SWIFT’s centralised messaging, minimising vulnerabilities and single-point failures. Multi-currency support: Enables direct settlements in local currencies, reducing foreign exchange risks and dollar dependency. DAO Governance Model: Decentralised and transparent decision-making, allowing all members equitable participation. Regulatory alignment: Fully compliant with KYC/AML norms, ensuring global legitimacy and financial transparency.
• Interoperable systems: Connects national platforms such as India’s UPI, China’s CIPS, Russia’s SPFS, and Brazil’s Pix, ensuring cross-compatibility and scalability.
• Decentralised Messaging System (DCMS): Offers a secure alternative to SWIFT’s centralised messaging, minimising vulnerabilities and single-point failures.
• Multi-currency support: Enables direct settlements in local currencies, reducing foreign exchange risks and dollar dependency.
• DAO Governance Model: Decentralised and transparent decision-making, allowing all members equitable participation.
• Regulatory alignment: Fully compliant with KYC/AML norms, ensuring global legitimacy and financial transparency.
Goals and Mission
• Promote financial sovereignty without isolation.
• Ensure inclusive growth by lowering transaction costs and enabling SME participation.
• Support UN SDGs (1, 8, 9, 10) — financial inclusion, innovation, and poverty reduction.
• Foster a resilient alternative architecture, not to replace SWIFT but to diversify and democratise global finance.
Comparative Analysis: SWIFT vs. BRICS Pay:
Aspect | SWIFT | BRICS Pay
Control | G10 central banks (mainly U.S. and EU) | BRICS Business Council (decentralised governance)
Architecture | Centralised | Decentralised (no single point of failure)
Currency Basis | Dollar-dominated | Multi-currency, local settlements
Inclusivity | Favors Western compliance frameworks | Focused on Global South inclusion
Objective | Global interoperability for Western-led trade | Sovereign financial connectivity within BRICS+
Approach | Monopoly-oriented | Multipolar, interoperable, SDG-aligned
Opportunities Created by BRICS Pay:
• Financial Autonomy for the Global South: Enables emerging economies to transact independently, reducing exposure to sanctions or unilateral policy shifts.
• Boost to South–South Trade: Local currency settlements can lower costs and enhance intra-BRICS trade, currently valued at over $600 billion annually.
• Digital Diplomacy: Projects like UPI, Pix, and CIPS serve as instruments of soft power, promoting digital trust and shared infrastructure.
• Alignment with Sustainable Finance: By integrating with SDGs and climate-linked payments, BRICS Pay could foster green fintech ecosystems.
• Stimulus for Fintech Innovation: Encourages indigenous blockchain, cybersecurity, and cross-border fintech collaborations among BRICS start-ups.
Challenges in Realising BRICS Pay:
• Divergent National Ambitions: India, China, and Russia each seek to globalise their own payment systems (UPI, CIPS, SPFS), potentially causing strategic overlap.
• Technical Interoperability: Harmonising different digital architectures and data standards poses complex engineering challenges.
• Geopolitical Trust Deficit: Political frictions (e.g., India-China tensions) could slow down consensus on governance models.
• Regulatory and Legal Barriers: Cross-jurisdictional KYC, anti-money-laundering norms, and data localisation laws need harmonisation.
• Western Retaliation Risks: Threats of sanctions or tariffs (e.g., U.S. warning post-2024 BRICS currency discussions) may deter early adoption.
• Limited Acceptance Beyond BRICS: Global credibility will depend on cooperation with neutral partners (ASEAN, African Union, SCO) to expand user base.
The Way Forward:
• Incremental Integration: Begin with bilateral settlements (e.g., India–Russia, China–Brazil) before scaling up to full BRICS interoperability.
• Institutional Backing: Link BRICS Pay with the New Development Bank for liquidity support and risk insurance.
• Digital Diplomacy Framework: Build technical and legal harmonisation under a “BRICS Fintech Charter” to ensure common standards.
• Diversified Technology Stack: Incorporate blockchain-based auditing, AI-powered fraud detection, and cybersecurity protocols for trust building.
• Global Outreach: Extend the platform to BRICS+ members (e.g., Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt) to anchor it in global trade corridors.
• Balancing Autonomy with Inclusion: Maintain openness to Western interoperability — ensuring complementarity, not confrontation.
Conclusion:
BRICS’ pursuit of financial sovereignty through BRICS Pay is an act of diversification, not defiance. By creating a decentralised, interoperable, and compliant network, it aims to make global finance more balanced and inclusive. If implemented with technological and diplomatic prudence, BRICS Pay could usher in a multipolar monetary order where sovereignty and interdependence coexist.
#### UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 5 November 2025 GS Paper 3:
The Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Scheme
Syllabus: Environment
Source: TOI
Context: Prime Minister of India inaugurated the Emerging Science & Technology Innovation Conclave (ESTIC) 2025 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, and launched the ₹1 lakh-crore Research, Development, and Innovation (RDI) Scheme Fund to boost private investment in high-risk, high-impact R&D projects.
About India Leap in R &D:
India’s R&D Push:
• Strategic pivot: India is making a decisive shift toward an innovation-driven economy, strengthening collaboration between academia, industry, and government to pursue high-risk, high-impact technologies.
• GERD trend: The nation’s Gross Expenditure on R&D has doubled from ₹60,196.75 crore in 2010–11 to ₹1,27,380.96 crore in 2020–21, though it still remains below 0.7% of GDP, far lower than global leaders.
• Funding mix: The Central Government contributes about 43.7% of total R&D spending, with the government sector accounting for 64% and the private sector 36%, showing the need for greater corporate participation.
• Human capital: India awarded 40,813 doctorates in 2018–19, with 60% in Science and Technology, ranking third globally in S&E PhDs and highlighting strong potential for research expansion.
• Innovation output: Patent filings in India tripled from 24,326 in 2020–21 to 68,176 in 2024–25, reflecting a surge in domestic innovation and intellectual property creation.
About The Research, Development & Innovation (RDI) Scheme:
What it is?
• A landmark ₹1 lakh-crore corpus, launched on November 3, 2025, to fund and refinance private-sector research, development, and innovation (RDI) projects through long-tenure, low or zero-interest loans—promoting bold, high-risk scientific ventures.
Aim: To de-risk high-TRL and high-impact projects, attract private capital into frontier technologies, and accelerate the lab-to-market transition in areas critical to national competitiveness and self-reliance.
Features:
• Long-term capital access: Offers flexible, long-duration financing to encourage private R&D in high-risk, deep-tech sectors that usually lack commercial funding support.
• Deep-Tech Fund of Funds: Creates a dedicated fund ecosystem to back start-ups and innovation-driven enterprises working on cutting-edge technologies like AI, semiconductors, and biotechnology.
• Critical technology acquisition: Supports companies in procuring or developing strategic technologies vital for national security, energy, and digital sovereignty.
• Innovation pipeline strengthening: Provides growth and risk capital for translating prototypes into scalable, market-ready products, ensuring faster commercialisation.
• Industry–academia collaboration: Incentivises joint R&D ventures between private firms, universities, and research institutions to enhance knowledge exchange and innovation efficiency.
• Focus on sunrise sectors: Targets emerging areas such as quantum tech, green hydrogen, space, bioengineering, and next-gen communication, aligning with India’s Viksit Bharat 2047 vision.
Initiatives Taken So Far:
• ANRF (Act 2023; operational 2024): Mobilise ₹50,000 cr (2023–28); ₹14,000 cr public + non-governmental sources; tighten academia–industry links.
• National Quantum Mission (₹6,003.65 cr): Quantum computing, comms, materials—2023–31 timeline for domestic platforms.
• National Supercomputing Mission: Indigenous HPC + 5 training centres (Pune, Kharagpur, Chennai, Palakkad, Goa) to scale compute skills.
• India Semiconductor Mission (PLI ₹76,000 cr): 10 projects cleared; ₹1.60 lakh cr investments incl. first SiC fab (Odisha).
• Deep Ocean Mission (₹4,077 cr): Blue-economy tech, resource mapping, marine biodiversity for sustainable exploitation.
• IndiaAI Mission (₹10,371.92 cr): Compute scaled to 38,000 GPUs; AI innovation, governance, and skilling stack.
• AIM 2.0 (till Mar 2028; ₹2,750 cr): Extend ATLs/AICs, MSME engagement, school-to-startup innovation pipeline.
Challenges Associated:
• Low R&D intensity: GERD <0.7% of GDP vs global avg ~1.8%; constrains frontier infrastructure and long-horizon science.
• Private under-investment: ~36% private share (vs >70% in R&D leaders) due to risk aversion and long payback cycles.
• Fragmented translation: Weak university–industry collaboration slows tech transfer and productisation.
• Talent & autonomy gaps: Research careers less attractive; institutional bureaucracy and limited operational autonomy.
• Innovation depth: High patents, but domestic ownership/commercialisation and global partnerships need scaling.
Way Ahead:
• Lift GERD to 2%+ of GDP: Stage-wise targets; ring-fenced mission budgets and stable multi-year grants.
• Crowd-in private capital: Expand RDI corpus, tax credits for BERD, outcome-linked procurement, and co-funded challenge grants.
• Supercharge translation: IP acceleration funds, tech transfer offices, standard IPR/royalty norms, and sandboxed regulation.
• Talent flywheel: Tenure-track hiring, global fellowships, reverse-brain-drain chairs, and performance-based autonomy.
• Globalisation of labs: Big-science partnerships, open-data platforms, and standards leadership in AI/quantum/6G.
Conclusion:
India has built strong innovation rails and is now backing them with risk-tolerant capital via the ₹1 lakh-cr RDI Scheme. To convert scale into scientific depth, India must raise R&D intensity, crowd-in private BERD, and fast-track translation. With coherent funding, autonomy, and global linkages, India can move from islands of excellence to a continent of innovation by 2047.
#### UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 5 November 2025 Content for Mains Enrichment (CME)
Pravasi Parichay 2025
Context: The Embassy of India in Riyadh concluded the third edition of Pravasi Parichay 2025 with a grand “Gita Mahotsav – A Musical”, celebrating India’s spiritual and cultural heritage.
About Pravasi Parichay 2025:
What it is?
• Pravasi Parichay is an annual diaspora cultural festival organized by the Embassy of India in Riyadh, showcasing India’s rich artistic, linguistic, and philosophical traditions through performances, exhibitions, and thematic events by the Indian community abroad.
Host: Organized by the Embassy of India, Riyadh, in collaboration with Indian diaspora associations and cultural institutions in Saudi Arabia.
• To promote India’s civilizational and cultural identity among overseas Indians.
• To deepen emotional and cultural ties between India and its diaspora community.
• To highlight India’s unity in diversity, through art, dance, music, and philosophy.
Significance:
• Reinforces India’s soft power diplomacy through cultural engagement.
• Builds a sense of national identity and belonging among Non-Resident Indians (NRIs).
• Promotes cross-cultural understanding and people-to-people ties between India and Saudi Arabia.
• Reflects the spirit of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (“the world is one family”) by fostering global appreciation for Indian heritage.
Relevance in UPSC Exam Syllabus:
• GS Paper I (Indian Heritage & Culture): Showcases India’s cultural continuity, classical arts, and philosophical traditions like the Bhagavad Gita.
• GS Paper II (International Relations): Demonstrates India’s use of cultural diplomacy and diaspora engagement as tools of soft power.
• GS Paper IV (Ethics): The Gita Mahotsav theme aligns with moral philosophy—dharma, duty, and selfless action—central to ethical governance.
#### UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 5 November 2025 Facts for Prelims (FFP)
APEDA Facilitates First Export of Fortified Rice Kernel
Source: BW
Context: The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) facilitated the first-ever export of 12 metric tonnes of Fortified Rice Kernel (FRK) from Chhattisgarh to Costa Rica.
About APEDA Facilitates First Export of Fortified Rice Kernel:
What it is?
• Fortified Rice Kernel (FRK) is a nutritionally enhanced form of rice, made by blending rice flour with micronutrients like iron, folic acid, and vitamin B12, which are then extruded and reshaped to resemble natural rice grains.
Features:
• Micronutrient Enrichment: Each kernel provides essential vitamins and minerals vital for combating anaemia and malnutrition.
• Blending Ratio: Mixed with regular rice (usually 1:100) to ensure uniform nutrient distribution in the staple.
• Technological Innovation: Uses extrusion technology, showcasing India’s advancement in food fortification.
• Global Standards Compliance: Meets international food safety and fortification norms for export markets.
About APEDA:
What it is?
• The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) is a statutory body under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, responsible for promoting and developing the export of agricultural and processed food products.
Established in:
• Formed under the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority Act, 1985 (Act 2 of 1986) and operational from 13 February 1986, replacing the Processed Food Export Promotion Council (PFEPC).
Aim: To promote export-oriented production, enhance quality standards, and diversify India’s agri-export base through financial assistance, quality regulation, and market linkage.
Key Functions:
• Development and Support: Provide financial and technical assistance for industries related to scheduled export products.
• Exporter Registration: Register exporters and monitor quality standards for exports.
• Quality Control & Inspection: Oversee meat and processed food inspections to ensure global compliance.
• Packaging & Marketing: Improve packaging, branding, and global market access for Indian products.
• Data and Training: Collect export statistics, publish trade data, and conduct training in agri-export management.
• Promotion of Value Addition: Encourage fortification, organic certification, and GI-based exports for higher global competitiveness.
ICA World Cooperative Monitor 2025
Source: LM’
Context: The Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF), which markets dairy products under the Amul brand, has been ranked No. 1 cooperative in the world in the ICA World Cooperative Monitor 2025, based on GDP per capita performance.
About ICA World Cooperative Monitor 2025:
What it is?
• The World Cooperative Monitor (WCM) is an annual research report that analyses the economic and social impact of the world’s largest cooperatives and mutuals, highlighting their contributions to inclusive and sustainable development across sectors.
Published by: Jointly published by the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA), headquartered in Brussels, in partnership with the European Research Institute on Cooperative and Social Enterprises (EURICSE).
First Edition: Launched in 2012, the Monitor has been compiled annually since then, providing a decade-long comparative dataset on cooperative performance worldwide.
• To measure the economic and social footprint of cooperatives globally.
• To demonstrate the cooperative model’s contribution to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
• To promote transparency, data reliability, and international benchmarking in the cooperative sector.
Key Features:
• Top 300 Cooperative Ranking: Lists the world’s 300 largest cooperatives based on turnover and GDP per capita ratios.
• Sectoral Analysis: Covers sectors such as agriculture, insurance, retail, industry, and health.
• Global Reach: Represents cooperatives from more than 50 countries, showing their socioeconomic impact.
• SDG Alignment: Tracks cooperatives’ contributions to poverty reduction, gender equality, and sustainable communities.
• Research Integrity: Recognized by the UN General Assembly as an authentic global reference for cooperative impact.
Top Ranking (2025):
• Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd (Amul) — Rank 1 globally.
• Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Ltd (IFFCO) — Rank 2 globally. → Both Indian cooperatives reflect the success of the “Sahkar Se Samriddhi” (Prosperity through Cooperation) vision under PM Modi’s cooperative reforms.
QS Asia University Rankings 2026
Source: ITV
Context: Prime Minister of India hailed India’s record performance in the QS Asia University Rankings 2026, where 294 Indian universities were listed — the highest ever.
About QS Asia University Rankings 2026:
What it is?
• The QS Asia University Rankings is an annual regional assessment that evaluates Asia’s leading higher education institutions based on academic reputation, employability, research productivity, and international outlook.
Published by: Compiled by Quacquarelli Symonds (QS), a UK-based higher education analytics firm, known globally for its QS World University Rankings.
• To benchmark Asian universities using globally comparable indicators.
• To highlight academic excellence, innovation, and research impact in the region.
• To promote quality, global competitiveness, and collaboration in Asian higher education.
Criteria Used (11 Indicators):
• Academic Reputation (30%) – Based on global survey of academics.
• Employer Reputation (20%) – Assesses employability of graduates.
• Faculty/Student Ratio (10%) – Reflects quality of academic engagement.
• International Research Network (10%) – Evaluates global research partnerships.
• Citations per Paper (10%) – Measures impact of published research.
• Papers per Faculty (5%) – Indicates research productivity.
• Staff with PhD (5%) – Represents academic qualifications.
• International Faculty Ratio (2.5%)
• International Student Ratio (2.5%)
• Inbound Exchange Students (2.5%)
• Outbound Exchange Students (2.5%) – Reflect internationalisation and student mobility.
Key Features (2026 Edition):
• Covers 900+ universities across Asia.
• India’s representation reached an all-time high of 294 institutions, the second-highest in Asia after China.
Top 5 Indian Institutions (QS Asia University Rankings 2026):
• IIT Delhi – Rank 59 (fell from 44th in 2025)
• IISc Bengaluru – Rank 64
• IIT Madras – Rank 70
• IIT Bombay – Rank 71
• IIT Kanpur – Rank 77
Top 5 Universities in Asia (QS Asia University Rankings 2026):
• The University of Hong Kong – Rank 1
• Peking University (China) – Rank 2
• Nanyang Technological University (Singapore) – Rank 3
• National University of Singapore (NUS) – Rank 3 (joint)
• Fudan University (China) – Rank 5
2nd World Summit for Social Development
Source: DD News
Context: Union Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya represented India at the Second World Summit for Social Development (WSSD-2) held in Doha, Qatar, from 4–6 November 2025.
About 2nd World Summit for Social Development:
What it is?
• The World Summit for Social Development (WSSD-2) is a United Nations-convened high-level global forum that brings together world leaders, international organisations, civil society, and experts to reaffirm and renew global commitments to social justice, poverty eradication, and inclusive growth in line with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Organisations Involved: The Summit is organised under the auspices of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), in partnership with UN agencies.
• The 2025 edition was hosted by the State of Qatar, with participation from over 150 countries.
History:
• The first World Summit for Social Development was held in Copenhagen, Denmark, in 1995, where global leaders adopted the Copenhagen Declaration and Programme of Action.
• To accelerate global action for poverty eradication, decent work, and social inclusion.
• To renew international commitment to the principles of equity, justice, and inclusive development.
• To align social policies with the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Key Features:
• Adoption of the Doha Political Declaration – reaffirming global solidarity for inclusive growth and social justice.
• High-Level Round Tables – discussions on the “Three Pillars of Social Development”: Poverty Eradication Full and Productive Employment and Decent Work for All Social Inclusion
• Poverty Eradication
• Full and Productive Employment and Decent Work for All
• Social Inclusion
• Side Events and Ministerial Dialogues – focusing on digital inclusion, labour mobility, women’s empowerment, and youth engagement.
• Participation by India’s NITI Aayog – showcasing initiatives like Self-Help Groups, cooperative models, and National Career Service (NCS) Portal.
• Engagement with Global Coalition for Social Justice (ILO) – reinforcing multilateral collaboration on equitable employment and social protection.
Significance:
• Reaffirms global consensus on reducing inequality and ensuring no one is left behind.
• Provides a platform for developing nations, including India, to share successful models of inclusive growth, skilling, and digital empowerment.
• Strengthens cooperation on labour rights, social security, and youth employment.
Gold coins from the Vijayanagara-era unearthed
Source: TH
Context: Over 100 gold coins from the Vijayanagara era were unearthed inside an earthen pot during restoration works at a Later Chola-period Shiva temple in Kovilur, Tiruvannamalai district, Tamil Nadu.
About Gold coins from the Vijayanagara-era unearthed:
What it is?
• A total of 103 punch-marked gold coins of varying sizes and shapes were discovered during excavation near the sanctum sanctorum of the Kovilur Shiva temple atop the Jawadhu Hills.
Discovery:
• Officials from the Tamil Nadu State Archaeology Department (TNSAD) and Revenue Department secured the site and transferred the coins to the district treasury under the provisions of the Indian Treasure Trove Act, 1878.
• The coins carry the boar emblem, a symbol of Vijayanagara royal authority, and are believed to be devotional offerings minted during the reigns of rulers such as Harihara II or Krishnadevaraya (14th–16th centuries CE).
• Archaeologists estimate the coins to be approximately 5 mm in size, made of pure gold, and possibly issued as temple endowments or donations.
About Numismatics of the Vijayanagara Empire:
Origin:
• The Vijayanagara Empire (1336–1646 CE) was founded by Harihara I and Bukka I, inspired by the sage Vidyaranya, to defend Hindu kingdoms in South India.
• Its capital at Hampi became a major political, economic, and religious hub. The empire issued one of the most sophisticated monetary systems in medieval India.
Key Features of Vijayanagara Coinage:
• Metal Composition: Predominantly gold pagodas (gadyanas), half and quarter pagodas, along with silver taras and copper jitals. Gold was reserved for religious offerings and royal use.
Eg: Krishnadevaraya’s gold Balakrishna pagoda (3.3 gm) with Devanagari legend “Sri Pratapa Krishna Raya.”
• Artistic Imagery: Coins bore images of Hindu deities—Siva-Parvati (Uma-Maheshwara), Vishnu-Lakshmi, Balakrishna, or Gandaberunda (double-headed eagle)—reflecting royal devotion and temple culture.
• Legends and Language: Inscribed in Devanagari, Kannada, or Tamil, often featuring the ruler’s name and honorifics such as “Sri Pratapa” (valiant).
• Symbolism: The boar emblem (Varaha)—an avatar of Vishnu—was used as the state symbol on royal coins and seals, representing divine sanction to rule.
• Economic Role: Vijayanagara coinage served both as temple wealth and trade currency, circulating widely across South India, Sri Lanka, and the Indian Ocean trade routes.
Black Hole Morsels
Source: TH
Context: A new theoretical study proposes that tiny “black hole morsels”—micro-black holes formed in violent cosmic collisions—could produce detectable gamma-ray bursts and offer a rare test of quantum gravity via Hawking radiation.
About Black Hole Morsels:
What they are?
• These are extremely tiny black holes, much smaller than the usual ones we hear about — imagine something as massive as an asteroid, but squeezed into a point. Because they’re so small, they get very hot and shine faintly by giving off energy known as Hawking radiation.
Proposed by: Scientists Giacomo Cacciapaglia and Francesco Sannino came up with this idea in a recent study accepted in Nuclear Physics B.
How they form?
• When two huge black holes crash into each other, the collision might “pinch off” tiny blobs of space so dense that they become mini–black holes, or “morsels.” These morsels don’t last long — they slowly evaporate, disappearing in anything from a split second to a few years, depending on their size.
What makes them special?
• Because they’re small, they’re much hotter and give off stronger radiation than normal black holes.
• As they vanish, they release powerful flashes of energy—bursts of gamma rays that could be seen from Earth.
• These bursts would spread out in all directions, unlike normal gamma-ray bursts, which are usually narrow beams.
Why it matters?
• Detecting one would give scientists a real-world glimpse of quantum gravity — the link between gravity and quantum physics that’s never been observed directly.
• The team has already looked at telescope data to check for signs of these events — their first step toward testing the theory.
• These tiny black holes could act as “natural cosmic labs,” helping us study the universe at energy levels far beyond what any human-made experiment can reach.
#### UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 5 November 2025 Mapping:
Umngot River
Source: IE
Context: The Umngot River in Meghalaya — famous for its crystal-clear waters that attract thousands of tourists to Dawki and Shnongpdeng — has turned murky and brown this year, raising concerns over pollution from highway construction activities.
About Umngot River:
What it is?
• The Umngot River, also known as the Dawki River, is one of India’s cleanest and most scenic rivers, known for its transparent, emerald-green water that makes boats appear to float in air. It is a vital tourism and ecological asset for Meghalaya.
Origin: It originates from the Eastern Shillong Peak in the Khasi Hills of Meghalaya.
Flow through:
• The river flows through the West Jaintia Hills district, passing through Mawlynnong village, Dawki, and Shnongpdeng, before reaching the India–Bangladesh border, where it continues as the Shari Goyain River in Bangladesh.
Key Features:
• Acts as a natural boundary between India and Bangladesh.
• Famous for boat rides and underwater visibility, often up to several metres during winter.
• Supports local livelihoods through tourism, fishing, and eco-camping.
• Surrounded by lush forests and limestone formations, contributing to its unique turquoise hue.
Issues:
• The river has turned turbid and muddy due to construction debris, soil dumping, and hill-cutting linked to the NHIDCL Shillong–Dawki highway project.
• The Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board has flagged violations, citing dumped excavated soil sliding into the river and lack of containment measures.
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