Daily Current Affairs and GK | 5 November 2025

Topic: International News

1. Maldives has become world's first country to implement generational ban on tobacco.

• Maldives implemented the world’s first generational tobacco ban with effect from November 1, 2025.
• Sale and use of tobacco products by any person born after January 1, 2007 has been prohibited by law. 
• The restrictions under this law apply to both residents and visitors to the country.
• Vaping and e-cigarettes for all age groups have also been prohibited by this law.
• This ban has been enacted by Maldives through the Second Amendment to the Tobacco Control Act.
• As per the law, retailers must check buyers’ ages. In case of violations, they will face fines of 50,000 Maldivian rufiyaa.
• The fine for users of vaping devices is 5,000 rufiyaa.
• The Ministry of Health said the law supports a tobacco-free generation.
• Tobacco, a major global health issue, causes more than 7 million deaths annually.
• These include 1.6 million from second-hand smoke exposure.
• Earlier, New Zealand had planned for a similar generational ban for people born after January 1, 2009.
• However, New Zealand repealed it before implementation in February 2024.

Topic: MoUs/Agreements

2. India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) and Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) have signed an MoU.

• The aim of MoU is to provide doorstep Digital Life Certificate (DLC) services to pensioners under the Employees' Pension Scheme, 1995.
• The MoU was exchanged during EPFO’s 73rd Foundation Day.
• IPPB will use its network of over 1.65 lakh Post Offices and 3 lakh postal service providers.
• These service points are equipped with biometric and digital devices to help pensioners submit DLCs from home.
• The service removes the need for pensioners to visit bank branches or EPFO offices.
• The process uses Aadhaar-linked Face Authentication or Fingerprint biometric authentication. This generates JeevanPramaan certificates digitally.
• IPPB had launched the Doorstep Service of Digital Life Certificate in 2020.
• IPPB is fully owned by the Government of India.
• It was established under the Department of Posts and launched on September 1, 2018.

Topic: Reports and Indices

3. Several Indian institutions feature in the top 100 in Asia in the QS University Rankings.

• Five IITs, IISc Bengaluru and Delhi University have been placed among Asia’s top 100 institutions as per the QS Asia University Rankings 2026 announced on November 4, 2025.
• IIT-Delhi, IIT-Madras, IIT-Bombay, IIT-Kanpur and IIT-Kharagpur figured in the list along with IISc Bengaluru and Delhi University.
• The rankings were released by global higher education analysts QS Quacquarelli Symonds.
• It was stated that seven Indian institutions are in the top 100, 20 in the top 200, and 66 in the top 500 in Asia.
• Compared to last year, 36 Indian institutions improved, 16 retained the same ranking, while 105 fell.
• India was noted to rank best in Asia for “staff with PhD”.
• IIT-Delhi, ranked 59, was declared the best Indian institute for the fifth consecutive year.
• The University of Hong Kong topped the list, with Peking University ranked second.
• Institutions from Hong Kong, Mainland China, Singapore, South Korea and Malaysia dominated the top positions.
• QS Asia Rankings 2026: Top 10 Institutions

Topic: MoUs/Agreements

4. An MoU signed between India and Israel to expand defence cooperation.

• On 5 November, a Memorandum of Understanding wassigned between India and Israel to expand the scope of bilateral defence cooperation.
• The MoU was exchanged during the 17th meeting of the Joint Working Group (JWG) on defence cooperation held in Tel Aviv.
• The meeting was co-chaired by Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh and Israeli Defence Ministry Director-General Major General Amir Baram.
• The agreement aims to provide a unified policy direction for strengthening defence collaboration.
• It will support the sharing of advanced technology and promote co-development and co-production.
• Both sides discussed enhancing operational capabilities and collaboration in emerging defence technologies.
• The issue of terrorism and the need for continued joint commitment to counter the threat were also emphasised.

Topic: Environment and Ecology

5. Gogabeel Lake in Katihar district of Bihar has been designated as a Ramsar site of international importance.

• With this addition, the total number of Ramsar sites in India has increased to 94.
• Bihar now has six Ramsar sites, placing it third after Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh.
• India continues to rank first in Asia and third in the world after the UK (176) and Mexico (144) in terms of the total number of Ramsar sites under a global convention.
• Globally, there are 2,546 Ramsar sites under the convention.
• Gogabeel Lake is Bihar’s first community reserve, conserved and managed by the local community.
• It is an oxbow wetland situated between the Ganga and Mahananda rivers, merging with them during floods.
• Wetlands are areas of land covered by water, either temporarily or permanently.
• Such areas play a vital role in the hydrological cycle, flood control, water supply, and the provision of food, fiber, and raw materials.
• Ramsar Convention:
• It is an intergovernmental treaty that provides the framework for national action and international cooperation for the conservation of wetlands.
• It was signed on 2 February 1971 in Ramsar, Iran, for the protection of wetland sites in the world.
• It is also known as the Convention on Wetlands. Therefore, every year on 2nd February, World Wetlands Day is observed.
• The convention came into force on 21 December 1975.

Topic: National News

6. The International Election Visitors’ Program 2025 launched by the Election Commission.

• The International Election Visitors’ Program 2025 has been commenced by the Election Commission at the India International Institute for Democracy and Election Management in New Delhi.
• As part of the program, a total of 14 participants are participating from seven countries including France, South Africa, Belgium, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand and Colombia.
• They will observe polling during the first phase of the Bihar Assembly Elections on the 6th November 2025.
• The program includes a two-day visit to Bihar, where participants will visit Electronic Voting Machine dispatch centres.
• The International Election Visitors Program is a flagship program of the ECI to promote international cooperation and engagement with election management bodies of other countries and international organisations.

Topic: National News

7. IFFCO and Amul have been recognised among the world’s leading cooperatives.

• The recognition comes from the ICA World Cooperative Monitor 2025 rankings.
• The rankings were announced in Doha, Qatar. The list highlights their outstanding global performance. It is based on GDP per capita contribution.
• Amul has built a vast dairy network and represents India’s cooperative model.
• IFFCO stands out for its farmer-driven approach and promotes sustainable fertiliser production.
• Both cooperatives show India’s legacy of self-reliant growth with their work is rooted in community-based development.
• Amul or Anand Milk Union Limited is owned by Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation, a cooperative society.
• Its founder is Tribhuvandas Patel and headquarters are in Anand, Gujarat, India. It was started in 1946.
• IFFCO (Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Limited) is a multi-state cooperative society.
• It carries out work of manufacturing and marketing of fertiliser. It is headquartered in New Delhi. It was founded in 1967.

Topic: Summits/ Conferences/ Meetings

8. CBSE inaugurated its first International Sahodaya Conference in Dubai.

• It also hosted the 31st Annual Sahodaya School Complexes meet. This marked the event’s first-ever global edition.
• Over 1,000 education leaders and stakeholders attended the conference.
• The theme of conference was “Rooted in Wisdom, Rising with Vision: Reimagining Education through NEP 2020.”
• The conference was organised under the framework of India’s National Education Policy 2020.
• Key objectives included building international partnerships and advancing NEP 2020 implementation.
• CBSE Chairperson Rahul Singh announced that CBSE will introduce subjects at two levels—standard and advanced—from Class 9 onwards.
• These changes will begin in the 2026–27 academic year.
• Singh also unveiled the CBSE Global Curriculum 26, designed to align with international standards.
• The conference brought together policymakers and education regulators from across the Gulf.

Topic: Personality in News

9. Daya Dongre dies at the age of 85.

• She was a veteran Marathi actress. She was born in Amravati, Maharashtra.
• She received recognition after winning an All-India Radio singing competition.
• She started her career in acting as a teenager.
• She received acclaim for her performances in Marathi TV serials like Tuzhi Majhi Jodi Jamli Re, Nanda Saukhya Bhare, Yachasathi Kela Hota Atthahas, and Lekure Udand Jali.
• She started performing on the stage at the age of 16 with the play Rambha.
• She got national prominence with Doordarshan’s Gajara.
• Government of Maharashtra honoured her for her roles in 'Maaybaap' and 'Khatyal Sasu Nathal Soon'.

Topic: Indian Economy

10. Government said that India aims to achieve 500 million tonnes of steel capacity by 2047 and 300 million tonnes by 2030.

• This was said by secretary of the Ministry of Steel, Sandeep Poundrik, while addressing the first session of the CII Steel Summit 2025 in New Delhi.
• He said India's steel capacity has nearly doubled to 200 million tonnes from about 100 million tonnes a decade ago.
• The secretary highlighted this has been supported by strong infrastructure growth and rising domestic demand.
• 8.5% growth has been recorded by the sector in the first half of this year. The demand touched 152 million tonnes in 2024-25.
• Green and hydrogen-based steel technologies are being actively promoted by the government under the National Mission on Sustainable Steel.
• The aim of National Steel Policy 2017 is to raise the per capita consumption to 160 kg by 2030. 
• Steel Summit 2025 was organised by Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) with the theme “Building a Sustainable and Globally Competitive Steel Industry for Viksit Bharat”.