Daily Current Affairs Quiz
2&3 November, 2025
National Affairs
1. Government Launches Employee’s Enrolment Scheme 2025
Source: Mint
Context:
The Ministry of Labour and Employment has launched the Employee’s Enrolment Scheme 2025 under the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO). The scheme provides a one-time opportunity for employers to voluntarily enrol eligible employees who were previously left out of EPF coverage.
About the Scheme:
- Objective:
- Extend social security coverage to all eligible employees under the EPF Act, 1952.
- Encourage voluntary compliance by employers and build trust between businesses and regulators.
- Promote formalisation of the workforce and ensure financial protection for unregistered employees.
- Operational Period:
- Six months: 1 November 2025 to 30 April 2026.
- Eligibility:
- Employees employed between 1 July 2017 and 31 October 2025 who were not previously covered under EPF.
- Key Features:
- Employers can enrol eligible employees voluntarily.
- Employee’s contribution waiver if it was not deducted earlier.
- Employer’s share plus a nominal ₹100 penalty required for compliance.
- Applicable even to establishments under inquiry under Section 7A or Paragraph 26B of the EPF Act.
- EPFO will not take suo motu action for past omissions once voluntary compliance is made.
2. Real-Time e-DAR System
Source: IE
Context:
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) will release black spot data for 2023 and 2024 using the Electronic Detailed Accident Report (e-DAR)/Integrated Road Accident Database (iRAD) system to improve road safety planning.
About the System:
- e-DAR/iRAD: Captures real-time accident data via an app used by first responders (police), with geo-tagging of incidents.
- Black Spot Definition: A 500-metre stretch on National Highways is considered a black spot if there are ≥5 accidents with fatalities or grievous injuries, or 10 deaths in 3 years.
Significance:
- Enables data-driven road safety measures.
- Helps authorities plan targeted interventions to prevent accidents and fatalities.
- Improves alignment between state police reporting and central database, reducing discrepancies in accident statistics.
3. India Achieves Historic Medal Tally at Asian Youth Games 2025
Source: News on Air
Context:
The Prime Minister of India congratulated Indian athletes for their record-breaking performance at the Asian Youth Games (AYG) 2025, held in Manama, Bahrain, from 22–31 October 2025. India secured 48 medals, marking its best-ever medal tally in the history of the Games.
About the Asian Youth Games:
- A continental multi-sport event organised by the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) for athletes aged 14–17 years, aimed at nurturing young sporting talent in Asia.
- Origin: First held in Singapore (2009) as a feeder event for the Asian Games.
- History:
- 1st Edition: 2009, Singapore
- 2nd Edition: 2013, Nanjing, China
- 2017 & 2021 editions cancelled; 2025 edition in Bahrain marks the third edition after a 12-year gap.
- India’s Performance (Bahrain 2025):
- Medal Tally: 48 medals (13 Gold, 18 Silver, 17 Bronze)
4. Kerala Declared Free from Extreme Poverty on Kerala Piravi Day
Source: TH
Context:
On Kerala Piravi Day, the Chief Minister of Kerala announced that the state has been declared free from extreme poverty, marking India’s first state-level success in achieving this milestone. The achievement comes after the successful implementation of the four-year Extreme Poverty Eradication Programme (EPEP).
Understanding Extreme Poverty:
- As per the World Bank (2025 revision), individuals living on less than $3 per day (2021 PPP) are classified under extreme poverty.
- Kerala’s Local Criteria: Kerala adopted four indicators for identifying extreme poverty:
- Food insecurity
- Poor access to healthcare
- Lack of housing
- Absence of stable income
- The state’s approach emphasized human deprivation rather than just income metrics, differentiating it from the World Bank or NITI Aayog’s Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI).
Implementation Measures:
- Comprehensive Identification:
- Extensive surveys conducted by local bodies with support from 4 lakh trained officials and volunteers.
- Initially, ~1.18 lakh families were identified; post-verification, 59,000 families were confirmed as extremely poor.
- Household-Level Micro-Plans:
- Tailored interventions addressing gaps in food, shelter, health, and education.
- Food and Nutrition Security:
- Over 20,600 families received regular meals through Kudumbashree community kitchens.
- Housing Initiatives:
- 4,005 out of 4,677 homeless families were provided homes under the LIFE Mission scheme.
- Rights and Civic Access:
- Avakasam Athivegam (Rights Fast) ensured all identified families received civic documents, pensions, electricity, and LPG connections.
5. UNESCO ‘Creative City of Gastronomy’
Source: TH
Context:
Lucknow has officially been declared a UNESCO ‘Creative City of Gastronomy’ during the 43rd Session of the UNESCO General Conference, currently under way in Uzbekistan.
About UCCN:
- Established: 2004 by UNESCO to encourage international cooperation among cities investing in culture and creativity.
- Objective: Foster cultural innovation, sustainable urban growth, and support the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities.
Key Features:
- Encompasses 350+ cities worldwide across 7 creative fields: Gastronomy, Literature, Music, Film, Design, Crafts & Folk Arts, and Media Arts.
- Encourages cultural exchange, knowledge sharing, and capacity-building among cities.
- Supports creative economy growth, sustainable tourism, and inclusive urban planning.
- Protects intangible cultural heritage while aligning with UNESCO’s global cultural agenda.
- Cities commit to collaborative international projects and periodic progress reporting to maintain their designation.
Indian Cities Recognized under UCCN:
| City | Field of Recognition | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Jaipur | Crafts and Folk Arts | 2015 |
| Varanasi | Music | 2015 |
| Chennai | Music | 2017 |
| Mumbai | Film | 2019 |
| Hyderabad | Gastronomy | 2019 |
| Srinagar | Crafts and Folk Arts | 2021 |
| Kozhikode | Literature | 2023 |
| Gwalior | Music | 2023 |
| Lucknow | Gastronomy | 2025 |
6. ISRO Launches India’s Heaviest Communication Satellite CMS-03 (GSAT-7R)
Source: TOI
Context:
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched CMS-03 (GSAT-7R), India’s heaviest communication satellite to date, aboard the LVM3-M5 rocket from Sriharikota, strengthening India’s strategic and high-throughput communication capabilities.
About CMS-03 (GSAT-7R):
- Type: Next-generation multi-band communication satellite.
- Purpose: Provide secure, high-capacity communication links for government, defence, maritime, and disaster management operations.
- Payload: Multi-band coverage including C, Ku, and Ka bands for versatile applications.
- Coverage: Indian mainland and wide oceanic regions, supporting maritime connectivity.
- Mission Life: 15 years with high-throughput transponders for broadband and satellite internet services.
- Significance: Replaces ageing GSAT-7 series, integrating advanced technology for secure defence communications and potential 5G applications.
About LVM3-M5 Launch Vehicle:
- Type: Launch Vehicle Mark-III (LVM3), nicknamed “Baahubali”.
- Purpose: Heavy-lift rocket capable of placing 4-tonne satellites into Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO).
- Configuration: Three-stage rocket — two S200 solid boosters, one L110 liquid stage, and C25 cryogenic upper stage.
- Track Record: Eight consecutive successful missions, including Chandrayaan-3 (2023), establishing it as India’s heavy-lift workhorse and a future launcher for Gaganyaan crewed missions.
7. India Wins Maiden ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025
Context:
India created history by winning its first ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup, defeating South Africa by 52 runs in the final held at Dr. DY Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai. The victory marks a major milestone in Indian women’s cricket, showcasing the rising strength of the sport in the country.
About ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup:
- Organizer: International Cricket Council (ICC)
- Format: One Day International (ODI), 50 overs per team
- Origin: First held in 1973 in England, organized by the International Women’s Cricket Council until 2005
About Tournament
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Host Nation | India and Sri Lanka |
| Venue (Final) | Dr. DY Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai |
| Winner | India (1st title) |
| Runner-up | South Africa |
| Margin of Victory | 52 runs |
| Player of the Match | Shafali Verma |
| Player of the Series | Deepti Sharma |
| Captain (India) | Harmanpreet Kaur |
| Captain (South Africa) | Laura Wolvaardt |
Banking/Finance
1. India’s Household Debt Growing Faster than Assets: RBI Data 2024–25
Source: TH
Context:
Recent data from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) indicate that Indian households are accumulating debt at a pace significantly higher than the growth of financial assets. This trend points to changing consumption patterns, rising leverage, and evolving financial behaviour among households.
Key Highlights:
- Asset Growth Lagging Behind Liabilities:
- Household financial assets increased from ₹24.1 lakh crore in 2019–20 to ₹35.6 lakh crore in 2024–25, a 48% rise.
- Impact on GDP Share:
- Assets as a percentage of GDP declined from 12% to 10.8%.
- Liabilities as a percentage of GDP rose from 3.9% to 4.7%.
- Household debt peaked at 6.2% of GDP in 2023–24 but moderated slightly in 2024–25, signaling tentative financial stabilization.
- Changing Savings Behaviour:
- Traditional bank deposits continue to dominate household savings.
- There is a noticeable shift toward mutual funds and market-linked instruments, reflecting growing financial literacy and diversification of investment portfolios.
Key Findings
- Faster Growth in Liabilities:
- Household annual financial liabilities have increased by 102% between 2019–20 and 2024–25.
- Slower Growth in Assets:
- In the same period, annual financial asset addition grew only by 48%.
- Decline in Asset-to-GDP Ratio:
- As a share of GDP, the annual financial asset addition in FY25 is lower than in the pre-pandemic year, indicating slower asset accumulation relative to economic growth.
- Rise in Debt-to-GDP Ratio:
- The annual liabilities added as a percentage of GDP are higher than before 2020, suggesting increased household leverage and dependence on credit.
Underlying Factors
- Post-pandemic consumption recovery driven by credit spending, particularly through personal and housing loans.
- Inflationary pressures leading households to borrow more to maintain living standards.
- Stagnant income growth amid rising costs, resulting in higher net indebtedness.
- Shift in financial behavior: Preference for short-term credit and digital lending, while savings in bank deposits and small schemes grew slower.
Implications
- Macroeconomic concern: Rapid household debt expansion could pose financial stability risks if not accompanied by proportional income and asset growth.
- Policy perspective: RBI and the government may need to monitor retail credit quality and household leverage trends closely.
- Economic signal: The data reflects uneven post-pandemic recovery, with consumption rebounding through borrowing rather than income-led growth.
Implications for the Economy:
- Reduced Savings Rate: A slower growth in household assets may limit domestic capital formation.
- Higher Financial Vulnerability: Rising debt increases household exposure to interest rate fluctuations and income shocks.
- Market Risk Exposure: While participation in market-linked instruments reflects sophistication, it also exposes households to volatility and potential market losses.
2. RBI May Rethink Banks’ Exposure to ‘Sensitive Sectors’ to Enable M&A Financing
Source: BS
Context:
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is considering a review of banks’ exposure limits to ‘sensitive sectors’ — capital markets, real estate, and commodities — to pave the way for permitting them to finance mergers and acquisitions (M&As) in India.
About Sensitive Sectors
- As per RBI, sensitive sectors include capital markets, real estate, and commodities — areas prone to asset price volatility and systemic risk.
- Exposure Limit: Banks’ exposure to these sectors in a financial year is capped at 5% of total deposits at the end of the previous financial year.
- Current Exposure:
- FY24 exposure stood at ₹46.62 trillion, accounting for 27.2% of total loans and advances — up 34.1% year-on-year.
- Within this, capital market exposure was ₹2.43 trillion (1.4%), up 31.3% over FY23.
Existing Restrictions
- Banks are not permitted to directly finance M&A transactions.
- NBFCs, however, are allowed to fund M&As and often source such credit from banks — creating an indirect exposure.
- Foreign banks can finance M&As through their offshore offices.
- Under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC), 2016, banks can fund acquisitions via CIRP, but only for repayment of lenders, not share purchases.
Regulatory Developments
- The RBI’s draft framework on Capital Market Exposure (CME) (released last week) proposes that:
- A bank’s aggregate CME should not exceed 40% of its Tier-1 capital (solo basis).
- On a consolidated basis, the limit remains 40% of consolidated Tier-1 capital.
- The draft does not explicitly address exposure to sensitive sectors, though bankers believe it will influence future reforms.
Banking Sector Concerns
- Senior bankers argue that the 5% exposure ceiling could hinder M&A financing, as such deals typically require large credit commitments.
- Even expanding the capital markets sub-limit within sensitive sectors may prove insufficient for major acquisition financing.
Significance
- A review of exposure norms could enhance credit flow for corporate restructuring and stimulate investment activity.
- Aligns with efforts to liberalize banking participation in strategic financing while maintaining prudential safeguards.
- Would help level the field with NBFCs and foreign banks, promoting efficient capital formation in India.
Agriculture
1. Urea and Nano Urea in India
Source: IE
Context:
India’s urea consumption is set to touch 40 million tonnes (mt) in the current fiscal, due to surplus monsoon-induced demand and also the maximum retail price (MRP) of the nitrogenous fertiliser remaining unchanged for over a decade.
About Urea
- Chemical composition: CO(NH₂)₂ – a nitrogen-rich compound containing 46% nitrogen, making it the most concentrated solid nitrogen fertiliser.
- Purpose: Supplies nitrogen to plants for vegetative growth and chlorophyll formation.
- Form: White crystalline substance, highly soluble in water.
Production and Consumption in India:
- India is the second-largest consumer and third-largest producer of urea globally.
- Annual consumption exceeds 35 million tonnes, while domestic production hovers around 26–28 million tonnes, creating a supply gap met through imports.
- Key producers: IFFCO, NFL, RCF, CFCL, KRIBHCO, and new units under the revival of closed fertiliser plants (e.g., Gorakhpur, Sindri, Ramagundam).
About Nano Urea
- Nano Urea is a liquid fertiliser containing nano-sized nitrogen particles (20–50 nanometres) developed by Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative (IFFCO).
- Each 500 ml bottle is equivalent to one 45-kg bag of conventional urea.
Key Features and Benefits:
- Higher efficiency: Delivers nitrogen directly to plant leaves, reducing losses due to leaching or volatilisation.
- Cost-effective: Reduces farmers’ fertiliser expenses by up to 10–15%.
- Eco-friendly: Cuts nitrogen run-off and greenhouse gas emissions.
- Import substitution: Reduces dependence on imported urea, saving foreign exchange.
- Ease of use: Can be sprayed on crops during growth stages using drones or sprayers.
2. Agroforestry Model Offers Sustainable Farming Path
Source: BL
Context:
Smallholder farmers in India face rising climate risks, shrinking landholdings, and market volatility. The Western Ghat Agroforestry Lab has developed a model demonstrating how diversified agroforestry systems can enhance both income and ecological resilience.
Key Highlights:
- Tiered Income Approach:
- Short-term crops: Ragi, maize, sweet potato, and groundnut provide ₹45,000–55,000 annually.
- Livestock integration: Two buffaloes and two goats contribute ₹40,000–50,000 annually from milk, manure, and meat.
- Medium-term trees: Fruit trees (mango, cashew, coconut) yield ₹80,000–90,000 annually after 3–5 years.
- Long-term timber: Teak and rosewood harvested after ~15 years generate ₹5–12 lakh, serving as “biological savings.”
- Ecological Benefits:
- Improved soil structure, organic carbon, and water retention.
- Supports biodiversity and reduces chemical input through mulching, contour planting, and organic nutrient cycles.
- Potential additional income from carbon credit markets.
- Scalability & Adaptation:
- Suitable for high-rainfall regions like Western Ghats and Konkan.
- Can be adapted to drier zones with drought-tolerant species.
- Institutional support needed for credit access, training, market linkages, and timber transport regulations.
Facts To Remember
1. Nagaland to Host Senior Women’s Inter-Zonal T20 Trophy for the First Time from November 4
The Nagaland Cricket Association (NCA), under the aegis of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), is all set to host the Senior Women’s Inter-Zonal T20 Trophy from November 4 to 14.
2. ADIPEC 2025 Opens in Abu Dhabi with Over 205,000 Participants; India Showcases Strong Energy Presence
The Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (ADIPEC) 2025 opened today at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC), drawing over 205,000 participants from 172 countries.
3. NITI Aayog Launches “Reimagining Agriculture” Roadmap in Gandhinagar to Boost Agri-Tech Innovation
NITI Aayog’s Frontier Tech Hub today unveiled a major roadmap titled “Reimagining Agriculture: A Roadmap for Frontier Technology Led Transformation” in Gandhinagar.
4. Union Government Releases Over ₹444 Crore to Strengthen Rural Local Bodies in Odisha
The Union Government has released over 444 crore rupees under the 15th Finance Commission Grants to Rural Local Bodies for Odisha.
5. PM Modi Inaugurates Emerging Science & Technology Innovation Conclave 2025
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today asserted that the country is no longer just a consumer of technology, but it has now become a pioneer of technological transformation.
