Daily Current Affairs and GK | 2 and 3 November 2025

Topic: Defence

1. Three major international maritime events will be hosted by India in February 2026 at Visakhapatnam.

• These events include International Fleet Review (IFR) 2026, Exercise MILAN 2026, and Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) Conclave of Chiefs.
• This is the first time India will conduct all three major international maritime events simultaneously.
• The event advances Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s MAHASAGAR vision (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions).
• It extends India’s SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) philosophy to promote security, growth, and collective responsibility across regions.
• Navies from across world have been invited to to take part.
• The Presidential Fleet Review at Sea by Hon'ble President of India will be a feature of the event.
• This will showcase indigenous naval platforms. These include INS Vikrant, Visakhapatnam-class destroyers, Nilgiri-class stealth frigates, and Arnala-class anti-submarine corvettes.
• Exercise MILAN will have Sea and Harbour Phases.
• The focus will be on interoperability, maritime domain awareness, anti-submarine warfare, air defence, and search-and-rescue operations
• The International City Parade will feature marching contingents from foreign navies and units from the Indian Army and the Indian Air Force.
• The parade along Visakhapatnam’s RK Beach will highlight maritime diplomacy to the public.
• The IONS Conclave of Chiefs will take place with India as Chair for 2025-2027.
• It will bring together naval chiefs from 25 member nations, 9 observers, and invited countries.
• India’s IFR tradition began in 2001. It expanded with the 2016 Visakhapatnam edition.
• Exercise MILAN was launched in 1995. It is a premier multilateral naval exercise.

Topic: Agriculture and Allied Sectors 

2. The National Marine Fisheries Census 2025 was launched by Union Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Shri George Kurian.

• It is India’s first fully digitised fisheries census. It was launched at ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI).
• Its household enumeration phase has been launched. Over 1.2 million fisher households will be covered in the 45-day nationwide enumeration.
• 4,000 marine fishing villages will bw included in this phase across nine coastal states and four union territories.
• The census will continue from November 3 to December 18.
• Fishermen and fish workers must register on the National Fisheries Digital Platform (NFDP).
• Registration is required to access benefits under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah-Yojana (PM-MKSSY).
• The census uses two mobile applications: VyAS Bharat and VyAS Sutra, developed by CMFRI for real-time data capture.
• Department of Fisheries under Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) is coordinating the Census.
• CMFRI serves as the nodal agency. The Fishery Survey of India is the operational partner.

Topic: Space and IT

3. India's 'heaviest' communication satellite launched by ISRO from Sriharikota.

• On 2 November, India’s heaviest communication satellite, CMS-03, was successfully launched from Sriharikota by ISRO.
• The satellite, weighing 4,410 kg, was flown on the LVM3-M5 rocket, also known as Bahubali.
• The satellite was placed into the Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO).
• CMS-03 is a multi-band satellite designed to provide communication services over land and oceanic regions.
• It replaces the earlier GSAT-7 series launched in 2013.
• ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan confirmed that the satellite was precisely injected into orbit.
• The satellite will provide communication services for at least 15 years, supporting Aatmanirbhar Bharat.
• LVM3 has a 100% success rate, including its role in the Chandrayaan-3 mission.
• The launch highlights India’s capability to launch heavy satellites using indigenous technology.
• Earlier, the Indian space agency was using the services of the Kourou launch centre in French Guiana through Ariane rockets provided by France-based Arianespace to launch heavy satellites.
• On December 5, 2018, ISRO launched its heaviest communication satellite, GSAT-11, weighing 5,854 kg, on an Ariane-5 VA-246 rocket from French Guiana.
• LVM3-M5 is a three-stage launch vehicle with two solid motor strap-ons (S200), a liquid propellant core stage (L110) and a cryogenic stage (C25), providing ISRO complete self-reliance in launching heavy communication satellites weighing up to 4,000 kg into GTO.

Topic: Awards and Prizes

4. CEC Gyanesh Kumar honoured on IIT Kanpur Foundation Day.

• On 2 November, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar was honoured at IIT Kanpur’s 66th Foundation Day.
• Kumar is an alumnus of IIT Kanpur. He received the Distinguished Alumni Award (DAA), the highest honour for IITK alumni.
• The honour reflects his contribution to democratic governance and public service.
• Kumar expressed emotional attachment to the institute where he spent four years as a student.
• He reiterated the Election Commission’s zero tolerance towards poll-related violence.
• He assured safe, peaceful, and fair elections with strong administrative preparedness.
• He assumed charge as the 26th Chief Election Commissioner of India on 19 February 2025.

Topic: Personality in News

5. Renowned litterateur Ramdarash Mishra passed away on 31 October.

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the death of Ramdarash Mishra, a celebrated Hindi and Bhojpuri writer.
• Mishra passed away in Delhi at the age of 101 due to age-related illness.
• PM Modi described his demise as an irreparable loss to Indian literature.
• Mishra’s works are widely admired for cultural depth and literary contribution.
• He was a Padma Shri awardee and a respected poet, author, and educationist.
• In 2025, he was awarded the Padma Shri, India’s fourth-highest civilian honour, in the field of literature and education.
• Mishra has also been honoured with major literary awards, including the Sahitya Akademi Award (2015), Saraswati Samman (2021), and Vyas Samman (2011) for his contributions to Hindi poetry.

Topic: Sports

6. India won the first-ever ICC Women’s ODI World Cup.

• On 2 November, the Indian women’s cricket team won their first-ever ICC Women’s ODI World Cup in Navi Mumbai.
• India defeated South Africa by 52 runs in a historic final.
• Shafali Verma scored 87 runs and took crucial wickets, earning Player of the Match.
• Deepti Sharma took 5 wickets for 39 in the final and was awarded Player of the Tournament.
• South Africa collapsed while chasing 299, after initially being in a strong position.
• India received a record ₹37.3 crore prize, marking a major boost for women’s cricket.
• Australia is the most successful team in the tournament, winning seven titles.
• Apart from Australia, England has won four titles, while New Zealand and India have each secured one title.

Topic: Indian Economy

7. GST revenue for October increased 4.6% year-on-year.

• GST collection for October increased to cross ₹1.95 lakh crore, even after rate reductions on 22nd September.
• In October 2024, total GST receipts of ₹1.87 lakh crore had been recorded.
• Central GST revenue during October 2025 increased to ₹36,547 crore.
• State GST collections for for the same month increased to ₹45,134 crore.
• Integrated GST collections stood at ₹1,06,443 crore.
• GST compensation cess collections stood at ₹7,812 crore.

Topic: National Appointments

8. Ankathi Raju has been appointed by DRDO as new Director of Defence Research and Development Laboratory in Hyderabad.

• Ankathi Raju assumed charge as Director of the Indian missile development laboratory.
• Raju has played a pivotal role in successful demonstration of solid fuel ducted ramjet propulsion technology.
• He contributed to the development of liquid propulsion systems for missiles like Prithvi, Agni, PAD, PDV, and Mission Shakti.
• His also contributed to reaction control systems, air defence interceptors, and axial flow compressor design and development.
• He has been the Director of the Armament Research and Development Establishment.
• He led projects like the Enhanced Rocket System, Guided Pinaka, and the Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System.
• He is a recipient of DRDO Agni Award for Excellence in Self-Reliance.
• Telangana Government has honoured him with the Best Scientist Award.

Topic: Art and Culture

9. Lucknow has been included in UNESCO’s Creative Cities list.

• This city of Uttar Pradesh city has recived recognition for exceptional and diverse culinary traditions.
• Lucknow has been recognised in the Gastronomy category.
• Lucknow has been recognised during UNESCO’s 43rd General Conference in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.
• With this recognition, Lucknow is placed among 70 gastronomy cities worldwide.
• It is the second Indian city to be recognised in the list after Hyderabad.
• 58 cities have beendesignated as new members of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) Creative Cities Network.
• UNESCO Creative Cities Network now includes 408 cities across more than 100 countries.

Topic: Sports

10. Indian tennis player Rohan Bopanna has announced his retirement.

• His professional career as tennis player lasted over two decades.
• Bopanna is a former World No. 1 in doubles. He has won 26 ATP doubles titles.
• Bopanna’s 2024 Australian Open victory with Matthew Ebden made him the oldest player ever to top the doubles rankings at 43.
• He started his career in 2003 and over the years, he earned 539 tour-level victories.
• His career highlights are two US Open finals, runner-up twice at the ATP Finals.
• Bopanna won a mixed doubles Grand Slam at Roland Garros in 2017.
• His final match was at the 2025 Rolex Paris Masters. He played his last match with partner Alexander Bublik.