Current Affairs – November 13, 2025

{GS2 – Governance} Global Inequality Report 2025 **

• Context (TH | TH): The Global Inequality Report 2025 was recently commissioned by the South African Presidency of the G20.

• It was prepared by the G20 Extraordinary Committee of Independent Experts on Global Inequality, led by Nobel laureate Joseph E. Stiglitz.

Key Findings of the Report

The Scale of Inequality

• Wealth Gap: The wealthiest 1% gained 41% of all new global wealth since 2000, while the bottom half received only 1%.
• Income Divide: Around 83% of countries, covering 90% of the world’s population, face high income inequality with Gini scores above 0.4.
• Food Crisis: One in four people (2.3 billion) experience moderate or severe food insecurity, an increase of 335 million since 2019.
• Inherited Wealth: About $70 trillion will be transferred via inheritance in the next decade, continuing intergenerational inequality.

Key Drivers of the Inequality

• Capital Dominance: Since 1990, 56% of countries have seen a rise in income share for capital, while the overall labour share has declined globally.
• Concentrated Ownership: Nearly 85% of the population derives no income from capital, highlighting the extreme concentration in capital ownership.
• Wage Disparity: Between 2019 and 2024, the average CEO pay increased by 50%, while the average worker’s income rose by less than 1%.
• Public Wealth Erosion: Rapid private wealth growth outpaced public asset expansion, leading to governments with high net debt and limited investment capacity.

Consequences of High Inequality

• Democracy Collapse: High inequality makes democratic systems seven times more likely to weaken or eventually collapse.
• Health & Social Gaps: Health and social outcomes decline sharply under inequality; e.g. African American women are twice as likely to die in childbirth as white women or women in Kerala.

Key Policy Recommendations

• New Global Body: Establish an International Panel on Inequality (IPI), modelled on the IPCC, to provide authoritative and data-driven assessments on inequality.
• Global Tax Reform: Implement a global minimum tax on ultra-rich individuals and promote stronger progressive taxation on income and wealth.
• Fair Trade Rules: Revise global trade and IP laws to give developing countries better access to health and clean-energy technologies.
• Public Investment: Increase funding for universal education, healthcare, and social protection to build fair and equal opportunity systems.

Read More> Inequality in India

{GS2 – MoF} Credit Guarantee Scheme for Exporters *

• Context (DDN): The Union Cabinet approved the Credit Guarantee Scheme for Exporters (CGSE) under the Ministry of Finance to enhance India’s export sector.

• Objective: Enhance the global competitiveness of Indian exporters and promote market diversification.
• Credit Guarantee: It provides a 100% credit guarantee to Member Lending Institutions (MLI) that provide additional credit facilities to exporters.
• Credit Support: It offers up to ₹20,000 crore in collateral-free credit support to eligible exporters, including Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
• Implementation: The Department of Financial Services (DFS) will carry out the scheme through the National Credit Guarantee Trustee Company Limited (NCGTC).
• Significance: The initiative advances India’s progress toward the USD 1 trillion export target, thereby strengthening the vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat.

Read More > Initiatives for Export Promotion

{GS2 – Governance} CBSE Draft Curriculum for AI and Computational Thinking

• Context (IE): A draft curriculum for Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Computational Thinking (CT) has been created by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) for Classes III to XII.

About the Curriculum

• Objective: The curriculum aims to develop an AI-ready mindset and skill set in learners, promoting critical thinking, ethical awareness, and career readiness for a technology-driven future.
• Teacher Training: Structured, time-bound training modules under NISHTHA will be used to enhance teacher capacity for effective AI curriculum delivery.
• Implementation: By the Department of School Education and Literacy (DoSE&L), Ministry of Education, in coordination with CBSE and NCERT.
• Timeline: Classes 3–6 will adopt the new AI curriculum in 2026–27, expanding to Classes 9–10 by 2027–28, with senior-secondary electives added later.
• Significance: It is India’s first comprehensive, nationwide integrated literacy framework aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.

Key Features

• Early Integration: Computational-thinking concepts, currently confined to mathematics, will be introduced across all subjects, for Classes 3–5.
• Phased Learning: AI awareness and foundational CT will be introduced from Classes 6–8, progressing to advanced applications in Classes 9–10.
• Elective Option: Core AI and machine learning modules will be offered as electives for Classes 11–12 to deepen conceptual understanding.
• Experiential Learning: The framework encourages practical learning through games, projects, and activities that teach the AI Project Cycle, data analysis, and model evaluation.

Read More > Introducing Artificial Intelligence in Schools

{GS2 – Social Sector} National One Health Mission

• Context (TOI): The government will soon launch the National One Health Mission with a budget of ₹383 crore to unify the human, animal, and environmental health sectors.

About the Mission

• It is a multi-ministerial initiative led by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), adopting the ‘One Health approach’ for national health security.
• Objective: To achieve integrated disease control and pandemic preparedness, strengthen R&D and address antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
• Implementation: The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) is the main implementing body, with the Department of Health Research (DHR) as the nodal department of coordination.
• Governance: A two-tiered system—comprising an Executive Committee chaired by the Union Health Minister and a Scientific Steering Committee led by the Principal Scientific Adviser.

Read More on ‘One Health’ Approach

{GS2 – IR} India–Cuba Sign Memorandum of Understanding

• Context (NOA): India and Cuba signed a MoU that includes a Treaty on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters and a Protocol on Cultural Exchange and Cooperation.

• The Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty facilitates the sharing of legal information and support between the judicial systems of both countries.
• The Cultural Exchange Protocol promotes partnerships in arts, heritage, sports, and education, strengthening people-to-people ties.

India–Cuba Relations

• Diplomatic Recognition: India was one of the first countries to recognise the new Cuban government after the 1959 Revolution.
• Strategic Solidarity: As founding members of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), both nations consistently promote collaboration among Global South countries in international forums.
• Bilateral Assistance: India has provided over $243 million in Lines of Credit to Cuba for projects in key sectors like agriculture and renewable energy. It also consistently provides humanitarian aid.
• Focus Areas: Cuba’s membership in the International Solar Alliance (ISA) strengthens bilateral energy ties; other areas include biotechnology and traditional medicine.

Read More > India and the Global South

{GS3 – IE} SEBI Warns Against Digital Gold Investments **

• Context (IE): The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has issued a public advisory cautioning investors against investing in digital gold and e-gold products.

What is Digital Gold?

• Digital gold refers to the online purchase of gold without physically possessing it.
• The value of digital gold is linked to the price of physical gold, and it is often created and traded using blockchain technology.
• It allows investors to buy, sell, and store gold electronically and even convert holdings into physical gold, such as coins, bars, or jewellery.
• Advantages: Eliminates storage and security concerns, enables investment in small denominations and offers quick liquidity during emergencies.

Why Did SEBI Issue a Warning?

• SEBI noted that several digital platforms are marketing digital gold as an investment alternative to physical gold, without regulatory oversight.
• Such products are neither classified as securities nor regulated as commodity derivatives, meaning they operate outside SEBI’s jurisdiction.

Risks Associated with Digital Gold

• Lack of Regulation: Operates outside SEBI’s framework, making redressal difficult in case of disputes or fraud.
• Counterparty Risk: Since digital gold is not traded on exchanges, investors depend entirely on the platform’s reliability. A default or insolvency can lead to a total loss.
• Operational Risk: Issues such as mismanagement, technical glitches, or fraudulent storage claims pose additional threats.
• No Transparency: Absence of standardised pricing and storage audits increases investor vulnerability.
• Market Influence: Aggressive marketing & social media promotions often obscure the associated risks.

SEBI-Approved Avenues for Safe Gold Investment

• SEBI recommends investors opt for regulated gold investment products such as:
• Gold Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs): Traded on stock exchanges, backed by physical gold holdings, and governed by SEBI norms.
• Sovereign Gold Bonds (SGBs): Issued by the RBI on behalf of the government, offering fixed interest and capital appreciation.
• Electronic Gold Receipts (EGRs): Tradeable instruments on exchanges representing actual gold holdings.
• Commodity Derivatives (MCX/NSE): Offer exposure to gold prices with risk management, mark-to-market settlements, and clearing corporation guarantees, reducing default risks.

Read More> Stablecoins | Virtual Digital Assets

{GS3 – IS} Red Fort Car Blast Classified as a Terrorist Act

• Context (TH): The Union Cabinet classified the Red Fort car blast as a terrorist act involving an emerging white-collar terror module.

Details of the Blast

• Blast Location: A car explosion near the Red Fort in Old Delhi on 10 November 2025 killed several people and injured many others.
• Module Links: Investigations uncovered ties to Jaish-e-Mohammad and confirmed the involvement of several doctors from Al-Falah University.
• Planned Strikes: The module planned six explosions across the National Capital Region (NCR) on December 6, coinciding with the anniversary of the Babri Masjid demolition.
• Early Detonation: Officials stated the device exploded prematurely because operatives panicked during police crackdowns on associated module members.

Emerging Concerns

• Professional Involvement: The module included medical professionals, which challenged assumptions that terror recruits mainly originate from vulnerable groups.
• Urban Bases: Safehouses in Faridabad’s middle-class neighbourhoods show a shift of terror hubs from conflict regions to metropolitan interiors.
• Security Lull: The attack ended Delhi’s long period of quietness since the 2011 High Court blast, renewing concerns regarding urban security preparedness.

{GS3 – S&T} India’s First Vanadium Redox Flow Battery System *

• Context (PIB): The Union Minister of Power inaugurated India’s largest and first MWh-scale Vanadium Redox Flow Battery (VRFB) system.

• The system has been installed at NETRA, NTPC’s R&D centre in Greater Noida, with a capacity of 3 MWh.
• Developed By: NTPC’s R&D team under the Ministry of Power.
• Significance: It marks a significant step in the country’s progress towards long-duration energy storage (LDES) solutions to improve renewable energy integration and grid resilience.

About Vanadium Redox Flow Battery (VRFB)

• A VRFB is a large-scale flow battery that stores and releases energy using vanadium ions in different oxidation states.
• Key Features: It offers a scalable, safe, and long-lasting design, making it well-suited for extended, grid-level energy storage.
• Applications: To integrate renewable energy sources such as solar and wind into existing power grids.
• Li-Ion Alternative: They are increasingly replacing lithium-ion batteries in stationary grid storage due to their durability and safety.

Read More > Battery Energy Storage Systems

{GS3 – S&T} UNESCO’s Neurotechnology Ethics Framework **

• Context (TH): UNESCO released the world’s first global framework on the ethics of neurotechnology, set to enter into force on November 12, 2025, to regulate brain-related innovations.

Key Recommendations of the UNESCO Framework

• Ethical Governance: Ensure beneficence, autonomy, privacy, and accountability in neurotech R&D.
• Ban on Misuse: Prohibits using brain data for political manipulation or employment screening.
• Human Rights: Recognises freedom of thought and mental privacy as emerging “neurorights”.
• Open Science Promotion: Advocates the sharing of research data under open-access models.
• Responsible Research & Innovation (RRI): Encourages researchers to evaluate long-term impacts.
• Vulnerable Groups: Calls for safeguards for children, the elderly, and the mentally ill in neurotech testing.
• Self-Regulation: Urges companies to adopt ethics-by-design and independent ethics boards.

Global Precedents of Neurotechnology Frameworks

• Chile (2021): First country to enshrine “mental integrity” in its Constitution.
• California (2024): Passed a law protecting brain data privacy from corporate misuse.
• OECD (2019): Developed the first guidelines for responsible innovation in neurotechnology enterprises.

{Prelims – Envi} ARISE Programme

• Context (ET): At the UNFCCC COP30 Climate Summit, Germany and Spain pledged $100 million to support a new climate change adaptation programme under the Climate Investment Funds (CIF).

About the ARISE Programme

• Full Form: Accelerating Resilience Investments and Innovations for Sustainable Economies (ARISE).
• Objective: To help developing countries integrate resilience into economic planning, strengthen adaptive capacity, and mobilise climate finance.
• Implementing Body: Climate Investment Funds (CIF), a $13 billion multilateral financing mechanism housed within the World Bank.

Read More > Agendas for the COP30 Summit 

{Prelims – Species} Humboldt Penguin (Spheniscus humboldti)

• Context (DDN): Chile’s Ministry of the Environment has reclassified the Humboldt penguin as ‘endangered’ within the country, due to a decline of over 50% in its population since the late 1990s.

About Humboldt Penguin (Spheniscus humboldti)

• The Humboldt penguin is a medium-sized seabird native to the Pacific coasts of Chile and Peru. It is named after the cold Humboldt Current.
• Habitat Preference: They inhabit rocky coastal areas and offshore islands, and nest in burrows, caves, or rock crevices.
• Distribution: Their range follows the cold, nutrient-rich Humboldt Current, with nearly 80% of the global population found along Chile’s Pacific coast.
• Behavioural Traits: Humboldt penguins are highly social and monogamous, with both parents sharing responsibilities for egg incubation and offspring care.
• Physical Features: They have black heads, white facial stripes, and pink skin patches near the bill.
• Unique Adaptation: Spines on their tongues help grip slippery fish underwater, while patches of bare skin dissipate excess heat.
• Ecological Role: As mid-level predators, they help maintain marine ecosystem balance by regulating the small schooling fish population.
• Major Threats: Fishing net entanglement, guano extraction, food competition, avian influenza, etc.
• Conservation Status: IUCN: Vulnerable; CITES: Appendix I

{Prelims – Envi} Global Climate Risk Index 2025 *

• Context (IE): At the COP 30 Summit in Belém, Germanwatch has published the Climate Risk Index (CRI) 2025, showcasing the effects of climate-related disasters (1995–2024).

Key Findings of the Report

• India ranked 9^th globally among nations worst hit by climate disasters (1995–2024)
• Over 80,000 deaths in India due to extreme weather events, which is about 9.6% of global deaths.
• Around 430 extreme events were recorded in India, including floods, droughts, cyclones, and heatwaves.
• Economic Losses for India are estimated at USD 170 billion over 30 years due to climate disasters.
• Improved Annual Rank from 10th (2023) to 15th (2024), indicating gradual progress in resilience.
• The most affected countries include Pakistan, Philippines, Bangladesh, Haiti, and Myanmar.
• The 1999 Odisha cyclone, 2013 Uttarakhand floods, Cyclone Hudhud (2014), Cyclone Amphan (2020), and the 2015 heatwave were major events.

{Prelims – S&T} Parachute System Test for Gaganyaan Mission

• Context (IE): ISRO recently conducted an Integrated Main Parachute Airdrop Test (IMAT) as part of qualification trials for the Gaganyaan mission’s parachute system.

• A test article simulating the mass of the Gaganyaan Crew Module was dropped from an Indian Air Force (IAF) IL-76 aircraft.
• The test confirmed that the crew module is capable of a stable descent even if one of the four main parachutes fails or opens late.

About Gaganyaan Mission

• The Gaganyaan Mission is India’s first human spaceflight program by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
• Objective: It aims to send a crew of three astronauts into Low Earth Orbit (LEO), about 400 km above Earth, for a three-day mission and to ensure their safe return.
• Launch Vehicle: The mission will use the human-rated LVM3 (Launch Vehicle Mark-3), India’s heaviest and most powerful operational rocket, earlier known as GSLV Mk-III.
• Launch Timeline: The first uncrewed test flight is scheduled for late 2025, with the first crewed mission planned for 2027.

Read More on Gaganyaan