APPOINTMENTS

Ankathi Raju: New DRDL Director

• DRDO has appointed Ankathi Raju as the new Director of the Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL) in Hyderabad.

• He has officially taken charge of the organisation that leads India’s advanced missile development efforts.

• Raju was instrumental in the successful testing of solid fuel ducted ramjet (SFDR) propulsion technology.

• He has made major contributions to liquid propulsion systems used in missiles such as Prithvi, Agni, PAD, PDV, and Mission Shakti.

• His work also covers reaction control systems, air-defence interceptor technologies, and axial-flow compressor design.

• Earlier, he served as the Director of the Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE), leading projects like Guided Pinaka, Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System, and Enhanced Rocket System.

• Raju has received notable honours, including the DRDO Agni Award for self-reliance and the Best Scientist Award from the Telangana Government.

Samia Suluhu Begins Second Term as Tanzania’s President

• Samia Suluhu Hassan officially took oath for her second presidential term on 3 November in Dodoma under heightened security arrangements.

• She secured a sweeping victory in the election, receiving 98% of the total votes cast.

• The electoral process faced criticism as several opposition leaders were either detained or blocked from campaigning.

• Widespread unrest erupted after the polls, with opposition groups rejecting the declared results.

• Multiple reports highlighted that civilians suffered injuries or lost their lives during the clashes.

• International monitoring teams expressed concerns regarding the fairness and transparency of the election.

• The UN Human Rights Office verified credible accounts of at least 10 deaths across three major cities during the turmoil.

SPORTS

India Creates History at the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup

• India clinched their first-ever ICC Women’s ODI World Cup title on 2 November in Navi Mumbai.

• The team defeated South Africa by 52 runs in a memorable final showdown.

• Shafali Verma delivered an outstanding all-round performance, scoring 87 and picking key wickets to earn Player of the Match.

• Deepti Sharma dominated with the ball, taking 5 for 39, and was honoured as the Player of the Tournament.

• South Africa, despite a strong start in their chase of 299, collapsed under pressure and fell short.

• India secured a record prize money of ₹37.3 crore, marking a significant moment for women’s cricket in the country.

• Traditionally, Australia leads with seven titles, followed by England (four), while New Zealand and India hold one championship each.

Jannik Sinner Clinches Paris Masters Title & Returns to World No. 1

• Italy’s Jannik Sinner captured his maiden Paris Masters trophy with a straight-set win over Canada’s Felix Auger-Aliassime (6-4, 7-6(4)).

• With this victory on November 2 at La Defense Arena, Sinner reclaimed the world No. 1 spot from Carlos Alcaraz.

• His impressive unbeaten streak on indoor courts has now stretched to 26 consecutive matches.

• Sinner’s Paris campaign stood out as he claimed the Masters 1000 title without losing a single set.

• The last player to achieve a no-set-loss Masters 1000 win was Alcaraz at Indian Wells in 2023.

• In the doubles final, Henry Patten (Great Britain) and Harri Heliovaara (Finland) lifted their maiden ATP Masters 1000 title.

• They defeated the British duo Julian Cash and Lloyd Glasspool convincingly with a 6-3, 6-4 scoreline.

STATE NEWS

UNESCO Creative Cities: Lucknow’s New Recognition

• Lucknow has earned a spot in UNESCO’s Creative Cities Network for its rich and varied food culture.

• The city received this honour in the Gastronomy category at UNESCO’s 43rd General Conference held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.

• With this achievement, Lucknow now joins a global group of 70 cities celebrated for their culinary heritage.

• It becomes the second Indian city, after Hyderabad, to gain this gastronomic distinction.

• UNESCO added 58 new cities to its Creative Cities Network in this cycle.

• The network has now expanded to 408 cities spread across 100+ countries.

• This recognition highlights Lucknow’s longstanding culinary identity and its contribution to global food traditions.

ECONOMY NEWS

India’s GST Collection Sees Strong Growth in October

• India recorded a 4.6% year-on-year rise in GST revenue for October.

• Monthly collections surpassed ₹1.95 lakh crore, despite the rate cuts introduced on 22 September.

• This marks an increase from October 2024’s ₹1.87 lakh crore GST receipt.

• Central GST (CGST) revenue rose to ₹36,547 crore during the month.

• State GST (SGST) collections also grew, reaching ₹45,134 crore.

• Integrated GST (IGST) accounted for the largest share, totalling ₹1,06,443 crore.

• The GST compensation cess contributed an additional ₹7,812 crore to the overall revenue.

AWARDS

CEC Gyanesh Kumar Felicitated at IIT Kanpur’s Foundation Day

• Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar was celebrated during IIT Kanpur’s 66th Foundation Day on 2 November.

• He received the institute’s Distinguished Alumni Award, the highest honour given to its former students.

• The award acknowledges his significant contributions to public service and strengthening India’s democratic processes.

• Kumar shared his deep emotional connection with IIT Kanpur, recalling the four formative years he spent there as a student.

• He reaffirmed the Election Commission’s strict stance against electoral violence.

• He also emphasised the Commission’s focus on ensuring peaceful, secure, and transparent elections through strong administrative measures.

• Gyanesh Kumar currently serves as India’s 26th Chief Election Commissioner, having taken office on 19 February 2025.

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

India Launches Its Heaviest Indigenous Communication Satellite

• ISRO successfully launched CMS-03, India’s heaviest domestically launched communication satellite, from Sriharikota on 2 November.

• The 4,410-kg satellite was carried by the powerful LVM3-M5 (Bahubali) rocket and inserted accurately into the Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit.

• CMS-03 is a multi-band communication satellite designed to serve both land and maritime regions and will operate for at least 15 years.

• The new satellite takes over from the GSAT-7 series launched in 2013, enhancing India’s secure communication capabilities.

• ISRO Chairperson V. Narayanan confirmed the mission’s precision, reinforcing LVM3’s 100% success record, including Chandrayaan-3.

• The launch marks India's self-reliance in deploying heavy communication satellites, reducing dependence on foreign launchers like the Ariane rockets from French Guiana.

• LVM3-M5, a three-stage vehicle with solid boosters, a liquid core, and a cryogenic upper stage, enables India to independently launch satellites weighing up to 4,000 kg into GTO.

DEFENCE

India to Host Three Major Global Maritime Events in February 2026

• Visakhapatnam will host IFR 2026, Exercise MILAN 2026, and the IONS Conclave of Chiefs together, marking the first time India is organising all three major naval events simultaneously.

• The initiative supports PM Modi’s MAHASAGAR vision, expanding the earlier SAGAR doctrine to strengthen regional security, cooperation, and shared maritime responsibility.

• Navies from around the world have been invited, with the event featuring a Presidential Fleet Review at Sea, showcasing indigenous platforms like INS Vikrant, Visakhapatnam-class destroyers, Nilgiri-class frigates, and Arnala-class corvettes.

• Exercise MILAN will include both Sea and Harbour phases, focusing on interoperability, ASW operations, air defence drills, maritime domain awareness, and search-and-rescue coordination.

• The International City Parade at RK Beach will highlight maritime diplomacy, with marching units from foreign navies and contingents of the Indian Army and Air Force.

• The IONS Conclave of Chiefs, held under India’s chairmanship for 2025–2027, will bring together naval leaders from 25 member nations, 9 observers, and other invitees.

• India’s maritime engagement legacy continues, with the IFR tradition dating back to 2001 and Exercise MILAN, launched in 1995, evolving into major global naval platforms.