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GK Update

Thu 13 Nov, 2025

National News

Approval of Export Credit Guarantee Scheme (CGSE)

  • The Union Cabinet has approved the Export Credit Guarantee Scheme (CGSE) for exporters.
  • Under this scheme, eligible exporters, including MSMEs, will receive collateral-free loans of up to ₹20,000 crore.
  • It provides 100% credit guarantee coverage through the National Credit Guarantee Trustee Company Limited (NCGTC).

Export Credit Guarantee Scheme (CGSE):

  • Implementing Agency: Export Credit Guarantee Corporation (ECGC)
  • Beneficiaries: Commercial banks and financial institutions providing loans to exporters
  • Coverage: The scheme covers pre-shipment (before shipment) and post-shipment (after shipment) export credits extended by banks to exporters.

Approval of the Export Promotion Mission (EPM)

  • The Union Cabinet has approved the Export Promotion Mission (EPM).
  • This mission will be implemented for a six-year period from FY 2025–26 to FY 2030–31, with a total outlay of ₹25,060 crore.

Export Promotion Mission (EPM):

  • Objective: To boost India's exports, especially strengthening the competitiveness of MSMEs, first-time exporters, and labor-intensive sectors.
  • Operating Agency: Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), under the Department of Commerce.

Two Sub-Schemes:

  • Export Promotion: Outlay - ₹10,401 crore (focused on financial assistance)
  • Export Direction: Outlay - ₹14,659 crore (focused on non-financial assistance)
  • Priority Sectors: Textiles, Leather, Gems and Jewellery, Engineering Goods, Marine Products

“Operation Bullion Blaze”

  • The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) uncovered an organized syndicate involved in gold smuggling, melting in secret furnaces, and illegally selling refined gold in the grey market under “Operation Bullion Blaze” in Mumbai.
  • The DRI seized 11.88 kg of 24-carat gold worth ₹15.05 crore and 8.72 kg of silver worth ₹13.17 lakh under the provisions of the Customs Act, 1962.

MoU between CSIR and NICDC

  • The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Industrial Corridor Development Corporation (NICDC).
  • The objective of this MoU is to establish a framework to enhance CSIR’s research and development (R&D) capabilities and expertise.

Approval of the Firozpur–Patti Rail Link Project

  • The Government has approved the Firozpur–Patti Rail Link Project in Punjab.

Key Facts:

  • The project involves the construction of a new 25.72 km railway line with an estimated cost of ₹764.19 crore.
  • An amount of ₹166 crore has been allocated for land acquisition, which will be borne by the Railways itself.
  • This new rail line will reduce the distance between Firozpur and Amritsar from 196 km to approximately 100 km.

International News

Outcomes of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Visit to Bhutan

  • At the invitation of His Majesty King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, Prime Minister Narendra Modi undertook a two-day State Visit to Bhutan from 11–12 November 2025.

Key Highlights and Outcomes:

  • Inauguration of Punatsangchhu-II Project: A 1,020 MW bilateral hydropower project was inaugurated, increasing Bhutan’s power generation capacity by around 40%.
  • Punatsangchhu-I Project: Agreement to resume work on the 1,200 MW Punatsangchhu-I Hydropower Project.
  • 13th Five-Year Plan: India reaffirmed its full support for Bhutan’s economic plan and development agenda.
  • ₹4,000 Crore Concessional Loan: India extended financial assistance to Bhutan for development projects.

44th Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF)

  • The 44th Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF) is being held from 5 to 16 November 2025 at the Expo Centre Sharjah, UAE.

Key Facts:

  • The fair features participation from over 2,350 publishers representing 118 countries.
  • India’s first National Pavilion is one of the major highlights of the event.
  • The pavilion, set up by the National Book Trust (NBT) under the Ministry of Education, Government of India, showcases works from over 100 Indian publishers in English, Hindi, Urdu, and several regional languages.

Walk to Mars Campaign Launched

  • The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has launched a nationwide campaign called “Walk to Mars” on the occasion of its 54th National Day.
  • Under this initiative, participants are encouraged to walk, cycle, or swim a total distance equivalent to that between Earth and Mars — approximately 54 million kilometers.

United Arab Emirates (UAE):

Capital: Abu Dhabi Currency: UAE Dirham

Honors and Awards

Presentation of “Plant Genome Saviour Awards”

  • Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, presented the “Plant Genome Saviour Awards” to farmers on 12 November 2025 in New Delhi.
  • The award ceremony was organized to mark the 21st Foundation Day of the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Authority (PPVFRA) and the Silver Jubilee of the PPVFRA Act, 2001.

Related Facts:

  • Plant Genome Guardian Community Award: Given to farmer groups/communities who have collectively performed outstanding conservation work {Prize amount - ₹10 lakh (to each community)}
  • Plant Genome Guardian Farmer Award: Given to individual farmers who have performed outstanding work in conserving indigenous varieties of a particular crop {₹1.5 lakh (to each farmer)}
  • Plant Genome Guardian Farmer Recognition Award: Given to individual farmers for their outstanding conservation efforts {₹1 lakh (to each farmer)}

Art and Culture

Two Traditional Lepcha Musical Instruments Receive ‘GI Tag’

  • The Government of India has granted the Geographical Indication (GI) tag to two traditional Lepcha musical instruments — Tungbuk and Pumtang Pulit.
  • The Tungbuk is a three-stringed instrument, while the Pumtang Pulit is a bamboo flute.
  • These GI tags were officially registered under the “Musical Instruments” category on 5 November 2025.

Lepcha Music:

  • Community: Lives in the Sikkim, Darjeeling, and Bhutan regions of India.

Main Lepcha Music:

  • Muring: A string instrument (like a lute) made of bamboo.
  • Phumu: A flute-like wind instrument made of bamboo.
  • Sung: A drum-like percussion instrument made of wood and animal skin.
  • Thungbu: A bell- or cymbal-like instrument played on religious occasions.

Features:

  • All instruments are made from natural materials (bamboo, wood, and animal skin).
  • They are used in folk songs, religious rituals, and cultural dances.

National Tribal Film Festival and Carnival Launches

  • The four-day National Tribal Film Festival and Carnival kicked off in Imphal as part of the Tribal Pride Year celebrations.
  • The festival will showcase 23 tribal films from nine states.

Related Facts:

  • Organizing Ministry: It is primarily organized by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India, with frequent support from the Ministries of Culture and Information and Broadcasting.
  • The festival is part of the Tribal Pride Year celebrations being observed by the Government of India, commemorating the birth anniversary of Lord Birsa Munda (November 15).

Economy and Banking

Retail Inflation in October 2025

  • India’s retail inflation declined to 0.25% in October 2025, compared to 1.44% in September 2025.

Key Highlights:

  • In rural areas, inflation turned negative, recorded at -0.25%.
  • In urban areas, the inflation rate stood at 0.88%.
  • Food inflation, based on the All-India Consumer Food Price Index (CFPI), remained negative for the fifth consecutive month, standing at -5.18% in October 2025.

Strength in India’s Economy

  • According to India Ratings and Research (Ind-Ra), India’s GDP is projected to grow at a rate of 7.2% in the second quarter (July–September) of FY 2025–26.
  • In comparison, the Indian economy had recorded a growth rate of 5.6% during the second quarter (July–September) of FY 2024–25.

Sports News

Indian Hammer Thrower Manju Bala Banned for Five Years

  • The National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA)’s Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel (ADDP) has imposed a five-year ban on Indian hammer thrower Manju Bala after she tested positive for prohibited substances.
  • Her test returned positive for Dehydrochloromethyl-Testosterone (steroid) and SARMs LGD-4033 (Ligandrol).
  • The ADDP decision was announced on 15 October 2024, and the suspension is effective from 10 July 2024.

National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA):

  • Establishment: 24 November 2005, under the Societies Registration Act, 1860
  • Administrative Control: Autonomous body under the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India
  • Headquarters: New Delhi
  • Statutory Status: Granted under the National Anti-Doping Act, 2022

Person In News

Aparajita Sarangi

  • Bharatiya Janata Party MP Aparajita Sarangi has been appointed as the chairperson of the 31-member Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) of Parliament to examine the 130th Constitutional Amendment Bill, 2025, the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Amendment Bill, 2025, and the Government of Union Territories (Amendment) Bill, 2025.

Related Facts:

  • The 31-member panel includes four members from opposition parties, 15 from the BJP, 11 from NDA allies, and one nominated member.
  • The three bills, introduced on August 20, the last day of the monsoon session, provide for the automatic removal of the Prime Minister, Chief Ministers, and Ministers from office if they are detained for 30 days on serious charges.

Reports and Indexes

Global TB Report 2025

  • The World Health Organization (WHO) released the Global TB Report 2025.

According to the report:

  • India has recorded a 21% decline in total tuberculosis (TB) cases over the past decade — nearly double the global average of 12%.
  • The TB incidence rate in India fell from 237 per lakh population in 2015 to 187 per lakh in 2024.
  • The treatment coverage for TB patients in India has significantly improved, rising from 53% in 2015 to 92% in 2024.

 

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