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.
India-Specific Findings
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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.
India’s Export Landscape
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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.
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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.
About the One Health Approach
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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.
Major Terror Attacks in Delhi
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{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.
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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.
About NeurotechnologyDefinition: Devices and procedures that access, assess, or act on the human neural system to restore or enhance brain function. Applications: Includes brain-computer interfaces, neuroimaging, and AI-based brain data analysis used in healthcare, rehabilitation, and human enhancement. |
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.
COP30 UNFCCC Summit
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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 9th 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.
About Germanwatch
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{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
