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Current Affairs 21st November 2025
1. Mexico’s Fátima Bosch Crowned Miss Universe 2025
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Historic Win for Mexico: Fátima Bosch, a 25-year-old fashion designer from Tabasco, was crowned Miss Universe 2025 in Nonthaburi, Thailand, securing Mexico's fourth title in the pageant's history after receiving the crown from Denmark's Victoria KjærTheilvig.
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International Education in Design: Before her pageant success, Bosch built a professional foundation in fashion, studying Fashion and Apparel Design at the Universidad Iberoamericana in Mexico City, followed by specialized studies at the NuovaAccademia di Belle Arti in Milan, Italy, and the Lyndon Institute in Vermont, USA.
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Early Pageant Success: Her career in pageantry began in 2018 when she won the prestigious "Flor de Oro" (Flower of Gold) title in her home state of Tabasco, a victory that first launched her into the public eye.
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Historic National Title: In September 2025, she achieved a significant career milestone by being crowned Miss Universe Mexico 2025, making history as the first woman from the state of Tabasco to ever win the national title.
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Advocacy and Social Work: A dedicated philanthropist since age 14, she has established a strong career in social advocacy through initiatives like "CorazónMigrante" (Migrant Heart) and "RutaMonarca," focusing on supporting migrants, vulnerable children, and sustainable fashion.
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Global Reign: Her career reached its pinnacle in November 2025 when she defeated over 100 contestants to win the Miss Universe 2025 crown in Thailand, where she also gained global recognition for her leadership in standing up for contestant dignity during the competition..
2. DRDO & France’s DGA Sign Pact to Boost Defence R&D Cooperation
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Joint Research and Development: The agreement enables joint research projects between DRDO and DGA teams to design, develop, and validate cutting-edge military systems.
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Key Areas of Cooperation: The pact covers aeronautical platforms, unmanned vehicles, advanced materials, cyber security, artificial intelligence, space technologies, navigation, advanced propulsion, sensors, quantum technologies, and underwater technologies.
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Transfer of Technology: The agreement allows for the transfer of equipment, know-how, and technologies between India and France, enhancing collaboration and self-reliance in defence production.
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Training and Skill Development: The pact includes training programs, workshops, and seminars to enhance skills and knowledge in defence R&D, promoting expertise and innovation.
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Strategic Partnership: The agreement strengthens the India-France defence partnership, aligning with India's Aatmanirbhar Bharat vision and enhancing global defence technology advancements.
3. Charanjeet Singh appointed as the next Ambassador/PR of India to the UN Conference
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Appointment: Charanjeet Singh, a 1996-batch IFS officer, has been appointed as India's next Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the UN Conference on Disarmament in Geneva.
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Current Role: He is currently serving as Additional Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and will take up his new assignment, shortly.
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Experience: Singh brings over two decades of experience in foreignservice, having held key positions in India and abroad, including Deputy High Commissioner in London and Consul General in Milan.
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Diplomatic Expertise: He has managed bilateral relations, represented India in multilateral forums, and contributed significantly to India's foreign policy engagements.
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UN Conference Role: As Ambassador, he will represent India at the UN Conference on Disarmament, a key multilateral forum focused on global arms control, disarmament treaties, and international security negotiations.
4. HDFC Bank Reclaims Top Spot as India’s Most Valuable Brand in 2025
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Reclaiming the Top Spot: HDFC Bank has overtaken Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) to reclaim the number one position in the Kantar BrandZ Most Valuable Indian Brands 2025 report, a title it previously held until 2022.
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Significant Valuation Growth: The bank’s brand value surged by a remarkable 18% year-on-year, reaching approximately $45 billion, while the overall brand growth for other top Indian companies slowed down.
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Driven by Digital Innovation: The bank's rise is largely attributed to its aggressive digital transformation, including successful service innovations like the "Xpress Car Loan" which offers a 30-minute digital approval.
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Success of Brand Campaigns: HDFC Bank strengthened its customer connection through unique marketing initiatives, such as the "Vigil Aunty" persona, which effectively educated consumers on financial fraud and cybersecurity.
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Leadership in a Competitive Field: HDFC Bank now leads a highly competitive top five list, placing ahead of TCS ($44.2 billion), Airtel ($41.1 billion), Infosys ($25.5 billion), and ICICI Bank ($20.6 billion)..
5. Dr.Anju Rathi Rana appointed as Member Secretary, 23rd Law Commission of India
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Historic Appointment: Dr.Anju Rathi Rana has been appointed as the Member Secretary of the 23rd Law Commission of India, marking a significant milestone in her illustrious career.
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First Woman Law Secretary: Earlier, she made history by becoming India's first woman Law Secretary, breaking gender barriers in the country's legal administration.
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Extensive Experience: Dr.Rana brings over two decades of experience in legal affairs, including 18 years as a public prosecutor in Delhi and serving as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Law and Justice since 2017.
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Key Responsibilities: As Member Secretary, she will oversee legal policies, legislative drafting, and provide legal advice to the government, strengthening the country's legal framework.
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Tenure Extension: Dr. Rajiv Mani's tenure has been extended, and he'll hold additional charge of the Department of Legal Affairs until a regular incumbent is appointed.
6. Dell India appoints Anurag Arora as Senior Director & GM
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Leadership Role: AnuragArora has been appointed as Senior Director and General Manager of Dell India's consumer business, leading business growth, sales, and strategy for the consumer market.
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Experience: He brings 28 years of experience in sales, product management, channel distribution, large-format retail, e-commerce, and brand websites.
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Previous Role: Arora joined Dell in 2020 and has played a key role in shaping strategies for the India consumer business, including Dell.com and retail channels.
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Growth Focus: He will drive business growth, sales, and strategy for the consumer segment across India, focusing on omnichannel initiatives and customer experience.
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Industry Recognition: Rajkumar Rishi, Vice President and General Manager, Consumer Business, Asia Pacific and Japan, Dell Technologies, praised Arora's understanding of the omnichannel landscape and proven track record of driving growth.
7. Alameddine and Patricia Smith win National Book Awards
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Fiction Winner: RabihAlameddine won the fiction prize for "The True True Story of Raja the Gullible (and His Mother)", a novel that explores family bonds and wartime tragedy in Lebanon.
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Poetry Winner: Patricia Smith won the poetry award for "The Intentions of Thunder: New and Selected Poems", a collection that showcases her emotional depth and vivid imagery.
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Nonfiction Winner: Omar El Akkad won the nonfiction prize for "One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This", a critique of Western politics and the war in Gaza.
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Translated Literature: Gabriela CabezónCámara's "We Are Green and Trembling" won the translated literature award, translated by Robin Myers.
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Young People's Literature: Daniel Nayeri won the young people's literature award for "The Teacher of Nomad Land: A World War II Story", a novel about two children orphaned during World War II.
8. Leonardo DiCaprio Wins Desert Palm Achievement Award 2026
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Award Recognition: Leonardo DiCaprio has been honored with the Desert Palm Achievement Award (Actor) at the Palm Springs International Film Festival 2026 for his outstanding performance in Paul Thomas Anderson's film "One Battle After Another".
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Film Performance: DiCaprio's performance in the film has been described as "riveting and emotionally charged", showcasing his ability to embody complex characters.
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Career Highlights: With this award, DiCaprio joins a prestigious list of past recipients, including Riz Ahmed, Jeff Bridges, and Daniel Day-Lewis, solidifying his position as one of Hollywood's top actors.
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UpcomingProjects: DiCaprio is set to headline Michael Mann's "Heat 2" and reunite with Martin Scorsese for "What Happens at Night" alongside Jennifer Lawrence.
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Festival Details: The award ceremony will take place on January 3, 2026, at the Palm Springs Convention Center, with the festival running.
9. BHEL conferred the Platinum Award by APEX India Foundation 2025
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Award Category: BHEL received the Platinum Award under the Green Leaf Environmental Excellence Award category, recognizing its commitment to environmental sustainability and innovation.
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Previous Winners: Other notable winners of APEX India Foundation awards include JBIL Group, Hindustan Zinc, and Mangaluru International Airport, showcasing excellence in various fields.
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BHEL's Achievements: BHEL has installed over 1,000 utility sets in thermal, hydro, nuclear, and gas-based power plants, contributing 53% to India's total installed conventional power generation capacity.
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Sustainability Efforts: BHEL has signed MoUs with various organizations, including ONGC, Greenstat Hydrogen India Pvt. Ltd., and Rosoboronexport, Russia, to explore joint projects in renewable energy, green hydrogen, and defence systems.
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Recognition: This award is a testament to BHEL's dedication to sustainable growth, innovation, and responsible business practices, aligning with its vision to become a global leader in the energy and infrastructure sector.
10. World Fisheries Day 2025 observed on 21st November
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Purpose: The day aims to raise awareness about the importance of sustainable fisheries management and conservation of aquatic ecosystems.
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Theme: Each year, the day focuses on a specific theme, highlighting issues like overfishing, marine pollution, and climate change impacting fisheries.
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Significance: Fisheries play a vital role in food security, nutrition, and livelihoods, especially for coastal communities.
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Challenges: The sector faces numerous challenges, including overfishing, habitat destruction, and illegal fishing practices.
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Action Required: The day calls for collective action to promote responsible fishing practices, protect marine ecosystems, and ensure sustainable fisheries management.
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