Daily Current Affairs and GK | 21 November 2025

Topic: Important Days

1. World Fisheries Day 2025: 21 November

• World Fisheries Day is celebrated every year to raise the importance of healthy ocean ecosystems and ensure sustainable fisheries across the world.
• World Fisheries Day was first celebrated on 21 November 2015.
• Department of Fisheries under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying celebrated World Fisheries Day 2025 on 21st November 2025 at Sushma Swaraj Bhawan in New Delhi.
• This year's theme is India’s Blue Transformation: Strengthening Value Addition in Seafood Exports.
• Delegations from nearly 27 countries took part in the event.
• National Framework on Traceability in Fisheries and Aquaculture released by the Department.
• It aims to set up centralized digital traceability system for fisheries and aquaculture.
• India is the second largest fish producer. It is 2nd largest aquaculture producer.
• It is largest shrimp producer. It is 4th largest seafood exporter in the world.
• India's total fish production grew by 104% from 2013-14 to 2024-25.
• Inland fisheries have grown by 142% from 2013-14 to 2024-25.

Topic: National News

2. The 2^nd edition of the Bharatiya Kalamahotsav will be inaugurated by President Draupadi Murmu.

• On November 21, the formal inauguration of the second Bharatiya Kalamahotsav will be carried out by President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapathi Nilayam at Bollaram.
• The 10-day festival will showcase the traditions of Western India in Hyderabad, with the states of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Goa and the Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu participating in the art festival.
• The first edition had over 1 lakh visitors, and this year around 1.5 lakh visitors are expected.
• The Kalamahotsav will be a single platform for social, cultural, craft and cuisine besides literature, and visitors will be able to see a wide range of traditional handloom, handicraft and regional products.
• Visitors will experience major highlights such as Kutch Bandhani from Gujarat, Kota Doria sarees and Pattu cotton weaves from Rajasthan, Kolhapuri chappals and Paithani sarees from Maharashtra, and Goa’s Kumbi sarees.
• A curated regional food court featuring 13 specialised stalls will be one of the primary attractions.
• Public entry will begin on November 22 and continue until the end of the month at the same venue.
• The event is being organised by Rashtrapati Bhavan with support from the Ministries of Culture, Tourism and Textiles.

Topic: National News

3. India’s semiconductor ambition for 2032 highlighted by Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.

• On November 20, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnav said that India's government-backed semiconductor drive -- backed by a strong design ecosystem and a large pool of engineering talent -- is automatically attracting private investment.
• The developments were outlined by Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw at Bloomberg’s New Economy Forum in Singapore.
• India’s design ecosystem and deep engineering talent were recognised as major strengths supporting this momentum.
• It was also stated that the national effort is now inspiring confidence among global chipmakers beyond government-led initiatives.
• Vaishnaw affirmed that India aims to match major semiconductor-producing nations by 2032.
• He explained that the 2031–2032 period is expected to place India at levels currently achieved by established global manufacturing hubs.
• The minister noted that although the programme is still in early stages, government spending has been aggressively increased to attract chip designers and manufacturers.
• A USD 10-billion incentive fund has already enabled the launch of numerous assembly, packaging and testing projects.
• He highlighted that "Micron Technology has already set up a plant in Gujarat, while Tata Group is one of the 10 companies preparing to produce silicon in the country.
• Commercial production is expected to begin early next year at three semiconductor facilities in India.

Topic: Indian Economy

4. India's core sector output remained stable in October.

• India’s infrastructure output for October was recorded as remaining flat on an annual basis.
• These figures were measured by the Index of Eight Core Industries (ICI) and released by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry on 20 November.
• The final growth rate for September was revised upward to 3.3%.
• India's four main sectors, including production of fertilizers, steel, cement and petroleum refinery products, recorded positive growth last month.
• Fertilizer production registered growth of 7.4%, while steel output expanded by 6.7%.
• Cement production rose by 5.3%, and petroleum refinery products increased by 4.6% during the month.
• In contrast, coal production declined by 8.5% and electricity generation fell by 7.6%.
• Natural gas production contracted by 5%, while crude oil output dipped by 1.2%.
• The cumulative ICI growth rate for April–October of the current fiscal year was provisionally recorded at 2.5% compared to the same period last year.

Topic: Indian Polity

5. The Supreme Court's view on the timeline for the governor and the president clarified.

• On 20 November, the Supreme Court’s advisory opinion was delivered regarding whether timelines can be imposed on the President and State Governors for granting assent to Bills.
• The Supreme Court said that under the Constitution, the court cannot fix any timeline for the decisions of the President and the Governor to approve the bills.
• The opinion was issued by a Constitution Bench led by Chief Justice BR Gavai.
• The matter had been referred to the Court by President Droupadi Murmu under Article 143 of the Constitution.
• The Bench clarified that timelines cannot be mandated for the President or Governors to act on Bills passed by State Legislatures.
• Thirteen constitutional questions were examined to determine the limits of judicial intervention.
• The Court also rejected preliminary objections from opposition-ruled states including Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Kerala regarding maintainability of the Presidential Reference.
• It stated that the issues raised pertain to core constitutional machinery and therefore warranted examination.

Topic: MoUs/Agreements

6. Terms of Reference for India-Israel FTA negotiations signed.

• On 20 November, the Terms of Reference guiding negotiations for an India–Israel Free Trade Agreement were formally signed.
• The signing was carried out by Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and Israel’s Minister of Economy and Industry Nir Barkat.
• The agreement was recognised as the first critical step towards a balanced and comprehensive FTA.
• Goyal is in Israel until November 22 with a 60-member business delegation to explore ways to broaden bilateral trade.
• He stated that the objective is to diversify and enhance trade by identifying new areas of cooperation and addressing sectoral sensitivities.
• Meetings were held with Minister Barkat, Israel’s Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and several leading Israeli business heads.
• Goyal also addressed the India–Israel CEOs Forum to discuss mutually beneficial opportunities.
• Both sides expressed commitment to leveraging complementarities to achieve a fair and constructive FTA outcome.

Topic: Defence

7. Highest-ever defence production of ₹1.54 lakh crore has been recorded in India during 2024-25.

• Defence exports have been recorded at ₹23,622 crore in 2024- 25.
• Defence exports stood at less than one thousand crore rupees in 2014.
• This rise in defence production is due to continued government support during the past decade.
• Defence budget has increased to six lakh 81 thousand crore rupees in 2025-26 from two lakh 53 thousand crore rupees in 2013-14.
• This expansion reflects  government’s commitment to making the nation’s military infrastructure stronger.
• Government's aim is to achieve defence manufacturing of three lakh crore rupees.
• Government also aims to achieve 50 thousand crore rupees in defence exports by 2029,

Topic: Environment and Ecology

8. Indian-born cheetah Mukhi has delivered five cubs.

• This is the first recorded instance in recent times of a cheetah born in India successfully reproducing.
• The event is considered a major milestone for Project Cheetah.
• It reflects strong adaptation of the species to Indian ecosystems.
• The successful birth boosts confidence in creating a viable cheetah population in the country.
• The father of cubs is also believed to be of Indian origin.
• Mukhi is the only surviving cheetah cub born in India at Madhya Pradesh’s Kuno National Park.
• It was born on 29 March 2023 to Namibian cheetah Jwala.
• Its three siblings died due to severe summer heat, which is a major challenge faced in adapting cheetahs to the Indian habitat.
• As of now, 34 cheetahs, which include 10 adults and 24 cubs are present in India.
• Cheetah had been extinct in wild in India before transporting of 20 cheetahs from southern Africa in two batches in 2022 and 2023.
• Project Cheetah:

• Project Cheetah was launched on 17 September 2022. Its objective is to reintroduce cheetahs to India.
• Cheetahs had been declared extinct in 1952. First batch of eight cheetahs was brought from Namibia.
• Second batch of 12 cheetahs were brought from South Africa in February 2023.

Topic: Summits/ Conferences/ Meetings

9. Indian Navy’s Naval Innovation and Indigenisation Organisation Seminar Swavlamban 2025 will begin in New Delhi.

• The seminar is scheduled from 25 to 26 Nov 2025 at the Manekshaw Centre, Delhi.
• This will be the 4th edition of Indian Navy’s Naval Innovation and Indigenisation Organisation Seminar Swavlamban 2025.
• Curtain Raiser Press Conference for the seminar was carried out in 20 Nov 2025, under the chairmanship of VAdm Sanjay Vatsayan, Vice Chief of the Naval Staff.
• Strength and Power through Innovation and Indigenisation is the theme for Swavlamban 2025.
• Vice Admiral Sanjay Vatsayan said that the seminar will focus on the emerging and disruptive technologies to change at the same speed as India's changing security needs.
• The Defence Ministry noted that the seminar will feature specialised exhibit areas, showcasing niche equipments.
• The aim of seminar is to bring together  innovators, industry partners, academia, MSMEs and Start-ups to make the naval capabilities stronger.
• Swavlamban 2025 will include the launch of the ‘Innovathon’ and release of the Compendium of Technology Challenges and Problem Statements.
• It will also include unveiling of the Swavlamban 4.0 document and the Armament Indigenisation Compendium.

Topic: Summits/ Conferences/ Meetings

10. PM Modi is on a three-day visit to South Africa to participate in the G20 Leaders’ Summit in Johannesburg.

• This is his fourth official visit to South Africa. His earlier visits include a bilateral visit in 2016 and two other visits for BRICS summits in 2018 and 2023.
• The Johannesburg meeting is the fourth successive G20 Summit being hosted in the Global South.
• Modi said the 20th G20 Summit offers a platform to deliberate on major global challenges and also allows India to articulate its views in line with Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam.
• It is the first G20 Summit to be hosted in Africa.
• African Union became a permanent G20 member during India’s presidency in 2023.
• The theme of this year's G20 summit is Solidarity, Equality and Sustainability.
• 6th IBSA Summit is scheduled on the sidelines of the G20 Summit. IBSA is a forum that brings together India, Brazil and South Africa.
• G20:

• It was formed in 1999. It is an intergovernmental forum comprising 19 sovereign countries, the European Union (EU), and the African Union (AU).
• It works to resolve major issues related to the global economy.
• Its current chairman is Cyril Ramaphosa, President of South Africa.