IMPORTANT DAYS
National Legal Services Day 2025 observed on November 9.
• National Legal Services Day is observed every year on 9 November, marking the implementation of the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987, which began functioning in 1995.
• The day focuses on spreading legal awareness and ensuring equal access to justice, especially for vulnerable and economically weaker groups.
• NALSA leads the legal aid framework in India, operating under the Legal Services Authorities Act, with the Chief Justice of India as its executive head.
• State Legal Services Authorities (SLSAs), supervised by the Chief Justices of High Courts, handle legal aid activities across states.
• District Legal Services Authorities (DLSAs), chaired by District Judges, work at the local level to provide free legal support, counselling, and representation.
• The system is financially supported through National, State, and District Legal Aid Funds, ensuring resources for legal aid services nationwide.
• Several initiatives—Lok Adalats, LADCS, Fast Track/Special Courts, Gram Nyayalayas, and Nari Adalats—operate together to strengthen dispute resolution and expand access to justice at the grassroots.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Bangladesh Joins U.N. Water Convention
• Bangladesh created history in 2025 by becoming the first South Asian country to join the U.N. Water Convention.
• The move aims to strengthen cooperation on shared water resources and improve long-term water security.
• The country is highly vulnerable, with half its population living in drought-prone regions and nearly 60% exposed to frequent floods.
• Bangladesh’s major rivers are shrinking due to climate change and rising population pressure, worsening water scarcity.
• The U.N. Water Convention—formally known as the Helsinki Water Convention—was adopted in 1992 and came into effect in 1996.
• Originally limited to Europe, the treaty became open to all UN member states in 2016, promoting global cooperation on transboundary waters.
• India has opted out of the Convention, continuing instead with bilateral and basin-based agreements such as the Indus Waters Treaty (1960) and the Ganga Water Sharing Treaty (1996).
AWARDS
World Leader for Peace and Security Award 2025
• Sri Sri Ravi Shankar received the 2025 World Leader for Peace and Security Award, recognising his global peace-building efforts.
• The honour was conferred jointly by the Boston Global Forum (BGF) and the AI World Society (AIWS).
• He was selected for his long-standing work in humanitarian service, conflict resolution, and promoting reconciliation worldwide.
• The award, instituted in 2015, celebrates leaders who demonstrate ethical governance, compassion, and moral courage in international affairs.
• Previous recipients include notable figures such as Shinzo Abe, Angela Merkel, Ban Ki-moon, Sauli Niinistö, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and Emmanuel Macron.
• His mediation efforts span multiple conflict zones including Colombia, Iraq, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Venezuela, and Kashmir.
• The Art of Living Foundation, founded by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, continues to work globally as a major volunteer-driven educational and humanitarian organisation.
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel RRU National K9 Bravery Award 2025
• BSF’s tracker dog Babita has been honoured with the National K9 Bravery Award 2025 for her outstanding courage and service.
• The recognition was conferred during a national ceremony in Hyderabad, celebrating exceptional K9 contributions.
• Babita, deployed in the Amritsar Sector (Punjab), also received a medal and commendation certificate for her dedication.
• Her alertness proved vital during an anti-smuggling operation in September 2025, where her skills made a decisive difference.
• By following a suspicious scent trail, Babita led BSF teams directly to a targeted house involved in illegal activities.
• Her precise tracking helped security forces apprehend three smugglers, showcasing the crucial role of trained K9 units in border security.
STATE NEWS
Assam Cabinet Clears Bill to Ban Polygamy
• Assam has approved “The Assam Prohibition of Polygamy Bill, 2025,” with CM Himanta Biswa Sarma announcing the decision on 9 November.
• The bill, scheduled for introduction in the Assembly on 25 November, proposes up to seven years of rigorous imprisonment for convicted offenders.
• It bars individuals from entering a second marriage while the first spouse is alive, unless they are legally separated or the first marriage is dissolved by a court.
• Polygamy is designated as a cognisable offence, meaning the accused cannot obtain immediate bail.
• The government says the new law aims to curb exploitative marital practices and promote lawful and equitable family structures.
• The bill includes exemptions for Scheduled Tribe communities and for Muslim residents of Scheduled Areas who have been living there since before 2005, respecting traditional customs.
• Assam will also establish a victim compensation fund to support women affected by polygamy, ensuring they do not suffer financial hardship.
Uttarakhand Silver Jubilee: Major Projects & Key Highlights
• PM Modi marked 25 years of Uttarakhand’s statehood by launching development works worth over ₹8,000 crore in Dehradun across sectors like power, irrigation, education, and urban infrastructure.
• More than 28,000 farmers received ₹62 crore directly in their bank accounts under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, boosting agricultural support.
• A special postage stamp commemorating Uttarakhand’s Silver Jubilee was released to honour the state’s journey since its formation in 2000.
• In his address, the Prime Minister highlighted the significant progress Uttarakhand has made in the last 25 years, becoming a rapidly developing Himalayan state.
• Before the main event, Modi visited an exhibition, engaging with professionals from various fields who showcased innovations and achievements.
• Uttarakhand, created on 9 November 2000, shares borders with Himachal Pradesh, China, Nepal, and Uttar Pradesh; Dehradun is the capital, with Gurmit Singh as Governor and Pushkar Singh Dhami as Chief Minister.
SPORTS
Anish Bhanwala Creates History at ISSF World Championships 2025
• Anish Bhanwala secured a silver medal in the men’s 25m rapid fire pistol event at the 2025 ISSF World Championships held in Cairo, marking a historic milestone for India.
• With this performance, he became the first Indian pistol shooter to claim an individual medal in an Olympic shooting category at the World Championships.
• Anish recorded 28 hits out of 40, finishing just behind France’s Clement Bessaguet, who topped the event with 31 points.
• The bronze medal was won by Maksym Horodynets of Ukraine, who ended the final with 25 points.
• His win raised India’s overall medal count at the Cairo event to five, consisting of 1 gold, 2 silver, and 2 bronze.
• The 23-year-old shooter from Sonipat, Haryana, is part of a strong 40-member Indian contingent competing at the championship.
• The ISSF World Championship 2025, organised by the International Shooting Sport Federation, is being held from 6 to 18 November 2025.
India’s Historic Triumph at the 2025 KogniVera International Polo Cup
• India registered a nail-biting 10–9 win against top-ranked Argentina in the KogniVera International Polo Cup 2025 final.
• The championship match took place at the Jaipur Polo Ground, marking a major achievement in India’s polo journey.
• Sawai Padmanabh Singh and Captain Simran Singh Shergill led the Indian side with strong strategic play and leadership.
• Although India has a deep-rooted polo legacy, the sport continues to battle issues such as limited facilities, high costs, and minimal sponsorship.
• The victory highlights India’s heritage in polo while boosting the sport’s visibility for the next generation.
• The national squad featured Simran Shergill, Shamsheer Ali, Padmanabh Singh, and Siddhant Sharma, who delivered an impressive performance.
• This win is expected to generate new opportunities for young polo players and revive support for the game across the country.
DEFENCE
Indian Air Force Hosts First Full-Scale Air Show in Guwahati
• The Eastern Air Command organised Guwahati’s first full-fledged air show on 9 November to commemorate the 93rd anniversary of the Indian Air Force.
• The display featured over 75 aircraft and helicopters, showcased through more than 25 coordinated aerial formations over the Brahmaputra at Lachit Ghat.
• This year’s theme, “Infallible, Impervious and Precise,” highlighted the IAF’s operational strength, accuracy, and preparedness.
• Top dignitaries—including Assam Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, and Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh—graced the occasion.
• Rafale, Sukhoi, Apache, MiG, Jaguar, Mirage, C-17, C-130, AN-32, IL-78 refueller, and the Surya Kiran aerobatic team performed, operating from seven air bases across the region.
• A special tribute to Assamese singer Zubeen Garg was offered through his popular song “Mayabini Ratir Bukut,” adding a cultural touch to the event.
• The celebration aligned with the IAF’s wider 93rd-anniversary activities, reaffirming its origins on 8 October 1932, under the leadership of Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh and with the President as the Supreme Commander.
INS Sahyadri Participates in Multinational Exercise Malabar-2025
• INS Sahyadri, an Indian-made stealth missile frigate, is currently stationed at Guam in the North Pacific for the Malabar-2025 naval exercise.
• The deployment highlights India’s progress in indigenous warship design and advanced naval engineering.
• The exercise begins with a Harbour Phase, featuring planning meetings, coordination drills, and friendly sporting interactions among participating navies.
• Following this, the forces will shift to the Sea Phase, which includes high-intensity naval manoeuvres and joint operational exercises.
• Exercise Malabar is a major multinational drill involving India, the U.S., Japan, and Australia.
• The exercise originally started in 1992 as a bilateral India–U.S. drill, later expanding with Japan joining in 2015 and Australia in 2020.
• INS Sahyadri’s participation underlines India’s commitment to strengthening maritime cooperation and securing Indo-Pacific waters alongside key partner nations.
SUMMIT AND CONFERENCE
COP30 in Belém
• COP30 opened in Belém, Brazil, on 10 November 2025, and will run until 21 November, with a strong focus on climate action under the Paris Agreement.
• The conference is being seen as a major moment for the Global South, highlighting its priorities and leadership in climate negotiations.
• A core agenda of the summit includes advancing Paris Agreement commitments, boosting climate finance, and scaling up adaptation measures.
• This session is historic as it marks the first full implementation cycle of the Paris Agreement’s policy framework.
• India will present its clean-energy achievements, notably reaching 50% non-fossil electricity capacity ahead of schedule, and will advocate for clear and actionable adaptation metrics.
• Brazil has called on all countries to shift from discussions to real delivery, pushing for concrete climate outcomes rather than prolonged negotiations.
• A new initiative, the Tropical Forests Forever Facility, was launched to reward long-term forest protection, with India joining as an observer, amid growing warnings that the 1.5°C warming threshold could be breached temporarily.
