Daily Current Affairs and GK | 1 December 2025

Topic: Personality in News

1. Death anniversary of Mahatma Jyotiba Phule: 28 November

• Union Home Minister Amit Shah paid tribute to Mahatma Jyotiba Phule on his death anniversary.
• Death anniversary of Mahatma Jyotiba Phule, who passed away on 28 November 1890, is observed on 28 November.
• He was born on 11 April 1827. He was a great social reformer, visionary thinker and educationist.
• He worked for social equality, women empowerment and boosting education.
• Mahatma Jyotiba Phule founded the Satyashodhak Samaj in 1873.
• He opened the first school for girls in 1848 in Pune.
• He worked for the eradication of untouchability and the caste system in India.
• In 1888, social activist Vitthalrao Krishnaji Vandekar honored him with the title of ‘Mahatma’.

Topic: Personality in News

2. Renowned Bharatanatyam legend Kumari Kamala passed away at the age of 91.

• Renowned Bharatanatyam artist Kamala Lakshminarayanan, fondly known as Baby Kamala and later Kumari Kamala, passed away in California.
• She was one of the last links in those transformative decades when Sadir was reborn as Bharatanatyam and re-established as a classical art form on the public stage.
• Along with her guru, Vazhuvoor Ramaiah Pillai, Kamala defined the elegant, poetic Vazhuvoor bani for over half a century.
• Born in 1934, she built a career spanning classical stage performances and cinema.
• Prestigious honours, including the Padma Bhushan (1970) and the U.S. National Heritage Fellowship, acknowledged her as a defining figure of modern Bharatanatyam.

Topic: Defence

3. The indigenous Hansa-3 NG trainer aircraft has been unveiled by India.

• On 29 November, the production version of the indigenous Hansa-3 NG trainer aircraft was launched by Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh CSIR–National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL) in Bengaluru.
• The development progress of the 19-seater SARAS Mk-2 aircraft was reviewed by the Minister during his visit.
• New aerospace facilities aimed at boosting India’s civil and defence aviation ecosystem were inaugurated at CSIR-NAL.
• The Hansa-3 NG, designed as India’s first all-composite two-seat trainer, has been created to meet the rising demand for pilot training.
• India is projected to need nearly 30,000 pilots over the next two decades.
• A ₹150-crore manufacturing facility is being set up in Kuppam, Andhra Pradesh, by industry partner Pioneer Clean Amps, with a capacity to produce up to 100 aircraft annually.
• The aircraft is expected to reduce dependence on imported trainers and support domestic aviation training institutions.
• The SARAS Mk-2, a light transport aircraft for civil and military use, is being developed with features such as a pressurised cabin and digital avionics.
• An Iron Bird facility for full-system integration and ground testing was inaugurated to support SARAS Mk-2 trials.
• A manufacturing unit for solar-powered High Altitude Platforms was launched, with the first full-scale flight planned for 2027.
• CSIR-NAL also partnered with Solar Defence & Aerospace Ltd. to develop a 150-kg loitering munition UAV powered by an indigenous Wankel engine.

Topic: MoUs/Agreements

4. The loan agreements worth over $800 million signed between India and ADB.

• Three loan agreements worth over 800 million US dollars have been signed by the Government and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for projects in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat.
• The agreements were formalised by Deputy Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs, Saurabh Singh and ADB Country Director Mio Oka.
• A 500-million-dollar loan has been approved for the Maharashtra Power Distribution Enhancement Program for Agricultural Solarization.
• The programme aims to enhance distributed renewable energy generation and improve agricultural productivity.
• Over 190 million dollars will support the construction of an 8.62-km underground metro line in Indore with seven stations.
• The new metro line will connect congested parts of the city to the airport to ease mobility.
• A 110-million-dollar agreement has been approved for Gujarat’s Skill Development Programme.
• The programme aims to equip the workforce with advanced, industry-aligned skills in high-growth sectors.
• Additionally, a $1 million technical assistance grant was also signed to help implement the upcoming Sustainable Wetlands and Integrated Fisheries Transformation Project in Assam.

Topic: International News

5. India has been re-elected to the UNESCO Executive Board for the 2025–29 tenure.

• The announcement was made by the Permanent Delegation of India to UNESCO through a social media post.
• India’s re-election was described as a reflection of global confidence in its commitment to multilateralism.
• The message highlighted India’s continued support for UNESCO’s work in education, culture, science and communication.
• India’s presence on the Board indicates increasing international support for its human-centric developmental vision.
• The Government stated that it will continue promoting cooperation among nations through UNESCO platforms.
• India expressed gratitude to partner countries for extending their trust in the election.
• The country reaffirmed its commitment to contributing constructively to UNESCO’s objectives in the coming years.

Topic: Important Days

6. World AIDS Day 2025: 1 December

• Every year on 1 December, World AIDS Day is celebrated worldwide.
• It is celebrated to raise awareness and celebrate positive achievements in dealing with AIDS.
• The theme of World AIDS Day 2025 is ‘Overcoming disruption, transforming the AIDS response’.
• In 1988, the first World AIDS Day was celebrated.
• The national-level observance of World AIDS Day 2025 led by Minister of Health and Family Welfare Jagat Prakash Nadda.
• India celebrates World AIDS Day every year through nationwide awareness campaigns, community outreach activities, and renewed government commitments led by the National AIDS Control Organization (NACO).
• India’s strong policy framework is reflected in landmark measures like the HIV/AIDS (Prevention and Control) Act, 2017, which safeguards the rights of people living with HIV and prohibits discrimination.
• Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) targets the immune system and weakens people’s defence against many infections and some types of cancer.
• Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is the most advanced stage of HIV infection.

Topic: Art and Culture

7. Saras Aajeevika Food Festival 2025 inaugurated by Union Minister for Rural Development, Shivraj Singh Chouhan.

• The Union Minister inaugurated the festival at Sunder Nursery in New Delhi on 1 December.
• Union Minister for Women and Child Development, Annapurna Devi, was present on the occasion as the Guest of Honour.
• Saras Aajeevika Food Festival 2025 will run until the 9th of this month.
• As per the Ministry of Rural Development, the festival will be attended by nearly 300 Lakhpati Didis along with women from Self-Help Groups from 25 states.
• Ministry further said that a total of 62 stalls will be featured, with 50 preparing fresh dishes on-site and 12 stalls presenting natural and organic food items.
• In the food festival, states such as Haryana, Arunachal Pradesh, Maharashtra, Kerala, Assam, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Goa, and Gujarat are participating.
• Visitors will get the opportunity to taste more than 500 unique regional delicacies that reflect India’s culinary diversity.
• Saras Aajeevika Food Festival is organised by the Ministry of Rural Development.
• It is aimed at supporting  rural women entrepreneurs and celebrating Indian culture.

Topic: National News

8. India has achieved 8th place in its first appearance at the World Skills Asia Competition 2025.

• It competed with 29 participating nations and earned one silver medal, two bronze medals, and three Medallions for Excellence.
• These wins spanned both traditional and technology-oriented skill areas.
• Minister Jayant Chaudhary commended the achievement.
• He noted that each award reflects the effort of competitors and trainers.
• He added that it also shows the growing capability of India’s skills ecosystem.
• Over 500 participants took part in the event. They competed across 44 distinct skill categories.
• The competition created opportunities for learning and collaboration.
• It also supported local education, economic activity, tourism, and international exchange.

Topic: Biotechnology and Diseases

9. Indian researchers have identified major gene mutations linked to oral cancer in women.

• These findings offer new understanding of a significant health issue in India.
• The study was led by scientists from Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR), Bengaluru, and the BRIC–National Institute of Biomedical Genomics (NIBMG), Kalyani.
• Clinicians from Sri Devaraj Urs Academy of Higher Education and Research (SDUAHER) collaborated with them.
• The research focused on women who regularly chewed tobacco-infused betel quid.
• These habits are common in parts of southern and northeastern India.
• Oral cancer rates are high among women in these regions.
• However, most previous research has centered on male patients.
• The team used whole-exome sequencing to detect genetic changes and identified ten genes with notable mutations.
• CASP8 and TP53 showed the highest mutation levels.
• CASP8 appeared to act as a driver mutation specifically in women.
• The presence of both TP53 and CASP8 mutations was linked to recurrent cancer.

Topic: Important Days

10. Nagaland is celebrating 63rd Statehood Day on 01 December.

• Nagaland became India’s 16th state in 1963. Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla conveyed his greetings and reflected on the State’s journey since 1 December 1963.
• A State-level event is being held at the Civil Secretariat Plaza in Kohima. The Chief Minister addressed the gathering.
• Several new initiatives are being launched as part of the celebration.
• These projects align with the State’s long-term development vision.
• The Chief Minister also inaugurated an exhibition titled "Journey of Nagaland Down the Decades".
• This exhibition highlights Nagaland’s evolution since its formation.
• The celebrations also include special presentations that showcase the State’s rich diversity.
• Nagaland's capital is Kohima. It is one of the least populated states in India as per 2011 Census.
• Its largest city is Dimapur. It Chief Minister is Neiphiu Rio and governor is Ajay Kumar Bhalla (additional charge).