Current Affairs – November 08, 2025

{GS1 – IS} Two Mobile Applications for Census 2027

• Context (TH): The Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India has launched two mobile applications, Digital Layout Map (DLM) and Census 2027-Houselist, for Census 2027.

• A self-enumeration portal has also been launched for testing to let citizens submit census details online before physical verification.
• DLM: It allows enumerators to geo-tag every building with latitude-longitude coordinates and Houselisting Block (HLB) details on a Geographic Information System (GIS) map.
• Census 2027-Houselist: It digitally collects data on housing conditions and amenities during the Houselisting and Housing Operations phase, ensuring faster and more accurate data processing.

Read More > Census 2027 and Disability Inclusion | Census 2027: Significance & Concerns Associated

{GS2 – MNRE} International Conference on Green Hydrogen

• Context (DDN): The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) will host the third edition of the International Conference on Green Hydrogen (ICGH 2025) at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.

• Objective: Bring together global stakeholders to discuss increasing green hydrogen production, developing infrastructure, and creating markets under India’s National Green Hydrogen Mission (NGHM).
• Participation: Government officials, industry leaders, researchers, students, and delegations from IRENA and the Port of Rotterdam Authority will attend the ICGH 2025.
• Inception: India launched the ICGH in 2023 to advance the green hydrogen ecosystem and support global decarbonization efforts.

{GS2 – Polity} Right to Vote and Freedom of Voting **

• Context (TH): The Centre told the SC that the right to vote is only a statutory right under the RPA 1951, while the freedom of voting is a fundamental right under Article 19(1)(a) as a form of expression.

About the Issue

• Section 53(2), RPA 1951: If candidates = seats, Returning Officer declares them elected without poll.
• Petitioners’ Claim: This violates citizens’ freedom of expression under Article 19(1)(a) by denying them the right to cast NOTA (None of the Above) and register dissent.

• Centre’s Argument:
  • Right to vote is purely statutory under Section 62 of the RP Act 1951, subject to legal limits.
  • Freedom of voting is a free speech protected by Article 19(1)(a), realised only when a poll occurs.
  • Casting a vote is an expression of opinion, but the legal right arises from statute, not the Constitution. (PUCL v. Union 2003)
  • In the Anoop Baranwal case, the Supreme Court reaffirmed that the right to vote is purely statutory.
  • Under Section 79(b), NOTA lacks legal personality to demand a poll; it is only an option or expression.
• Election Commission’s Stand: Agrees with the Centre; making NOTA a “candidate” requires legislative amendment to the 1951 Act and 1961 Rules.

{GS2 – Polity} Contempt of Court in India **

• Context (TH): Following alleged derogatory remarks against the Chief Justice of India and the Supreme Court, questions have been raised about what legally amounts to contempt of court.

About the Contempt of Court in India

• Purpose: Protect judicial authority, ensure public confidence, and preserve the sanctity of justice delivery.
• Constitutional Basis: Articles 129 and Article 215 empower the Supreme Court and High Courts as Courts of Record with inherent authority to punish for contempt. The term “contempt of court” appears in Article 19(2) as a ground to restrict freedom of speech.
• Statutory Framework: Contempt of Courts Act, 1971 (H.N. Sanyal Committee Recommendation).
  • Civil Contempt (Section 2(b)): wilful disobedience to any judgment, decree, direction, order, writ or other process of a court or wilful breach of an undertaking given to a court.
  • Criminal Contempt (Section 2(c)): Publication or act that Scandalises the authority of a court, Prejudices with judicial proceedings, Obstructs the administration of justice in any manner.
• Contempt of Courts (Amendment) Act, 2006: It specified that punishment for contempt can be imposed only if the act substantially interferes or is likely to interfere with the administration of justice.
• Initiation of Proceedings: Courts may act suo motu, or any person may file a petition with the consent of the Attorney General (SC) or Advocate General (HC).
• Punishment: simple imprisonment up to 6 months or fine up to ₹2,000, or both, and it is waived if the court accepts a genuine apology.

{GS2 – Social Sector – Health – Issues} Advancing Breast Cancer Care

• Context (TH): Recently, oncologists have noted a shift in cancer treatment, moving from intravenous (IV) infusions to subcutaneous (under-the-skin) injections for HER2-positive breast cancer patients.

About the Treatment Shift

• Traditional treatment for HER2-positive breast cancer involves IV administration of drugs like trastuzumab and pertuzumab through a chemoport.
  • The process can take several hours and requires extended hospital stays.
• The new subcutaneous (SC) formulation allows the same drugs to be injected under the skin in 2-5 minutes, offering equal efficacy and safety.

Scientific Basis of the Treatment

• Subcutaneous trastuzumab uses recombinant human hyaluronidase (rHuPH20), an enzyme that helps absorb large molecules through the skin.
• Key clinical trials, HannaH, FeDeriCa, and ADEPT, confirmed that SC formulations match IV infusions in terms of safety, drug absorption, and therapeutic outcomes.

{GS2 – Governance} Feeding Stray Dogs Prohibited in Office Premises

• Context (TH): The Supreme Court of India stated that government employees feeding stray dogs within office premises violate its earlier directives and aggravate the institutional menace.

• Court Observation: The Court reaffirmed that feeding stray dogs in public areas is prohibited, except in officially designated feeding zones.
  • Mandate: Municipal authorities must identify, notify and maintain dedicated feeding zones for stray dogs in every municipal ward.
• Legal Basis: These directives, issued under Article 142, ensure humane treatment of animals while maintaining public and workplace safety.

Read More > Supreme Court’s Directions on Stray Dog Management

{GS2 – Governance} Humane Justice System for Women Prisoners **

• Context (TT): At the National Human Rights Commission’s Foundation Day (Oct 16) conference, experts stressed the need for a national policy on custodial justice for women.

• With 21,510 women inmates and 1,492 infants in Indian prisons (NCRB, Dec 2023), the call for gender-sensitive reforms has become urgent.

Issues Faced by Women Prisoners

• Undertrial Majority: Over 80% of female inmates are undertrials, showing mechanical arrests. It violates SC’s Joginder Kumar Case (1994) against unnecessary arrests.
• Infant Detention: 1,318 women housed with infants; 1,049 among them undertrials. (NCRB 2023).
• Gender-Blind Sentencing: Women are subjected to the same correctional norms as men.
• Incidental Criminality: Over 60% of women offenders commit crimes under economic or familial stress.
• Custodial Trauma: Average confinement 16–18 hours/day in overcrowded, unhygienic barracks. E.g. Prison occupancy rate touches 130% in many states (MHA Prison Statistics 2023).
• Mental Depression: Around 70% of female inmates are isolated due to family desertion. (NCRB 2023).
• Bail Oversight: Less than 15% of eligible women get bail or probation. (NCRB 2023).
• Economic Hardship: Over 75% of inmates are from poor or unskilled backgrounds. E.g. No inclusion under DBT or PM-Jan Dhan for inmates (NCRB socioeconomic profile 2023).

Way Forward (Schemes / Reforms / Best Practices)

• Gender Policy: Frame a National Policy on Women’s Custodial Justice, ensuring dignity and rehabilitation. E.g. NHRC 2025 recommendation for gender-responsive prison standards.
• Non-Custodial Sentences: Prioritise community service and probation over imprisonment. E.g. Adopt the UN Bangkok Rules (2010) for women offenders.
• Mandatory Bail: Introduce automatic bail for undertrial mothers and pregnant women. Follow Justice Krishna Iyer’s (1987) recommendations.
• Prison Architecture: Design female-centric facilities near home districts. E.g. Women’s enclosures proposed in each district jail under the MHA Model Manual 2023.
• Psychological Care: Provide counselling, skill training, and peer support. E.g. Tihar’s “Ujjwala Project”.

{GS2 – IR} India-New Zealand Bilateral Engagement

• Context (NOA | PIB): India and New Zealand have intensified economic engagement, with the Union Commerce and Industry Minister leading a large business delegation to New Zealand.

• The visit is aligned with the 4^th round of negotiations for the India-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (FTA) being held in Auckland.

India-New Zealand Relations

• India & New Zealand formalised diplomatic ties in 1952, shortly after both nations gained independence.
• The Indian-origin population forms ~6% of New Zealand’s population, a key bridge in partnership.
• The partnership witnessed renewed momentum in 2024-25, marked by frequent high-level visits, including the New Zealand PM’s visit to India (March 2025).
  • New Zealand joined two major India-led platforms, the Indo-Pacific Oceans’ Initiative (IPOI) and the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI).
• Bilateral merchandise trade reached USD 1.3 billion in 2024-25, up 49% year on year, reflecting expanding commercial confidence.

Read More > India-New Zealand Relations

{GS3 – IE} India’s Push for World-Class Banks **

• Context (IE): Finance Minister announced that the government and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) are in discussions to create an ecosystem for developing large, globally competitive banks.

• The move follows earlier rounds of public sector bank (PSB) consolidation and aims to build financial institutions capable of supporting India’s $10-trillion economy vision by 2047.

Why India Needs Big and World-Class Banks?

• Global Financial Scale: India’s GDP is projected to cross $7 trillion by 2030 (IMF forecast); large universal banks are needed to fund major infrastructure and industrial projects.
• Credit Deepening: Total bank credit surged to ₹192.19 lakh crore (Oct 2025), double the previous year’s growth, indicating rising demand for institutional financing.
• International Competitiveness: None of India’s banks feature among the top 25 global banks by market cap; stronger balance sheets are required for international expansion.
• Support for Private Capex: With private investment recovering post-GST reforms, large banks are vital to finance big-ticket manufacturing, green, and digital projects.
• Consolidation Legacy: Earlier mergers (2017–2020) like SBI associates, Vijaya–Dena–BoB, and 10 PSBs into 4 have improved capital efficiency and governance, setting a base for scale expansion.

Read More > India’s Financial Sector

{GS3 – Envi} UNEP Emissions Gap Report 2025 **

• Context (DTE): United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) released its 16^th Emissions Gap Report of 2025 with the central theme “Off Target”.

Key Findings of the Report

Overall Progress

• Limited Progress: Climate pledges have achieved minimal real progress in keeping warming below 2°C and reaching the 1.5°C target.
• Projected Warming: Even with full NDC implementation, global temperatures may still rise by 2.3-2.5°C this century, slightly lower than 2024’s 2.6-2.8°C projection.
• Accounting Changes: Nearly one-third of this 0.3°C improvement arises from changes in calculation methods rather than genuine emission reductions.

Political and Institutional Factors

• U.S. Withdrawal: The planned U.S withdrawal from the Paris Agreement in 2026 could negate about 0.1°C of this limited temperature progress.
• NDC Submissions: As of September 2025, only 60 countries, representing 63% of global emissions, had submitted or announced updated climate targets for 2035.
• G20 Shortfall: The G20, responsible for 77% of global emissions, remains off track, with total emissions still increasing by 0.7% in 2024.

Emission Trends and Gaps

• Emission Growth: Global GHG emissions rose by 2.3% in 2024 to reach 57.7 gigatonnes CO₂ equivalent. This rate is about four times faster than the average annual growth rate of the 2010s.
• Major Emitters: India recorded the largest absolute rise in emissions in 2024, followed by China, Russia, Indonesia, and the United States.
• Emission Gap: Current pledges would cut 2035 emissions by only 15% from 2019 levels, far below the 55% reduction required for the 1.5°C target.
• 1.5°C Overshoot: The report concludes that surpassing the 1.5°C limit is now inevitable within the next decade, urging all nations to keep the overshoot as short and limited as possible.

India-Specific Findings

• Emissions Growth: India’s GHG emissions increased by 3.6% in 2024, ranking as the second-highest among major economies after Indonesia.
• Per Capita Emissions: Despite rising totals, India’s per capita emissions (~3 tCO₂e) remain well below the global average of 6.4 tonnes of CO₂ equivalent.
• NDC Submission: India missed the September 30, 2025, deadline to submit its updated 2035 Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) under the Paris Agreement.
• 2030 Goals: India is on track to meet its 2030 commitments, including a 45% reduction in emissions intensity from 2005 levels.
• Transparency Concerns: UNEP raised concerns over unclear carbon removal plans and the lack of regular annual progress reports.

{Prelims – Species} Pilia malenadu Spider Species *

• Context (TH): Researchers have discovered a new jumping spider species, Pilia malenadu, in the Western Ghats of Chikkamagaluru district, Karnataka.

About Pilia malenadu

• Pilia malenadu is a newly identified jumping spider species belonging to the genus Pilia.
  • Etymology: The name Malenadu originates from Kannada, meaning ‘land of the rain’.
• Historical Record: This marks the first discovery of a Pilia species in 123 years, following the last record from Kerala in 1902.
  • Gender Documentation: The study is the first to document both male and female specimens of the Pilia genus.
• Habitat: The species was found exclusively on Memecylon umbellatum (Anjan/Ironwood) and Memecylon malabaricum plants.
• Appearance: The spider is under 5 mm, brown in colour, with white markings, and distinct V-shaped patterns on its abdomen.

{Prelims – S&T} Scrub Typhus

• Context (IE): A 52-year-old man was diagnosed with scrub typhus after returning to Kerala from Dubai, marking the first documented case from the Gulf region.

• It highlights the emergence of scrub typhus beyond its endemic zone in South and Southeast Asia.

About Scrub Typhus

• Caused by the bacterium Orientia tsutsugamushi, transmitted through the bite of infected larval mites (chiggers), now widely seen in southern and northeastern India
• Symptoms like High-grade fever, chills, myalgia, headache, dry cough, chest pain, and eschars (black scab-like lesions) in moist body folds like armpits or groin appear after 6–20 days of infection.
• Diagnosis confirmed through IgM ELISA antibody test for scrub typhus.
• Responds effectively to doxycycline if detected early; untreated cases have a 50% mortality rate.
• Prevention through the use of insect repellents, protective clothing, and avoidance of mite-infested areas.

{Prelims – In News} President’s State Visit to Angola and Botswana *

• Context (IE): The President to undertake a six-day state visit to Angola and Botswana, marking the first-ever visit by an Indian head of state to both countries.
• She will attend Angola’s 50^th Independence Day celebration and address the Angolan Parliament, a rare diplomatic gesture.

{Prelims – Festival} Baliyatra Festival *

• Context (NOA): President Droupadi Murmu has extended her greetings to the nation, especially to the people of Odisha, on the occasion of the historic Baliyatra festival.

About Baliyatra Festival

• The “Baliyatra” festival, meaning “Voyage to Bali,” is an annual event in Cuttack, Odisha. It takes place every year on Kartika Purnima.
• It celebrates the 2,000-year-old maritime history and trade with Southeast Asian countries.
• The festival honours the Sadhabas (Odia mariners) who sailed from ancient ports such as Tamralipti, Manikpatna, Palur, and Pithunda to trade spices and jewels.
• Boita Bandana: It is the central ritual that involves floating miniature boats (boitas) made from paper, cork, or banana bark, symbolising the farewell to sailors embarking on their voyages.
• Key Feature: Baliyatra hosts one of Asia’s largest open-air fairs, featuring thousands of stalls selling handicrafts, textiles, traditional artefacts, and Odia cuisine.
• Significance: The festival highlights Odisha’s maritime heritage and supports India’s Act East Policy, fostering regional cultural diplomacy.