4.5/5
Current Affairs 29th & 30th November 2025
1. India Ranks Third in Asia Power Index 2025
-
Attainment of 'Major Power' Status: For the first time, India has officially crossed the threshold of 40 points (scoring exactly 40.0), which elevates its classification from a 'Middle Power' to a 'Major Power' in Asia. It sits behind only the United States (1st) and China (2nd).
-
Investment Magnetism: India has overtaken China to become the second-most attractive destination for inward investment (based on cumulative 10-year flows), trailing only the US. This highlights the country's growing appeal due to supply-chain diversification and strengthening economic fundamentals.
-
Military Capability Gains: India's Military Capability score saw notable improvement, which the Index attributes partly to enhanced expert appraisals following the operational success of "Operation Sindoor" in May 2025, providing valuable recent combat experience.
-
Weakest Area: Power Gap & Defence Networks: Despite its rising resources, India's influence remains below its potential, resulting in an expanding Power Gap score.
2. India’s Forex Reserves Fall by $4.47 Billion to $688.1 Billion 
-
Magnitude and New Total: India's foreign exchange (forex) reserves fell by $4.47 billion for the week ended November 21, 2025, bringing the total reserves down to $688.1 billion.
-
Primary Driver: The main reason for the sharp decline was a steep decrease in the value of gold reserves, which fell by about $2.675 billion. This drop is primarily due to the valuation change of gold holdings, not necessarily a sale of physical gold.
-
Foreign Currency Assets (FCA) Decline: The largest component of the reserves, Foreign Currency Assets (FCAs), also saw a decrease of approximately $1.69 billion. This component includes the effect of the appreciation or depreciation of non-US currencies (like the Euro, Pound, and Yen) held in the reserves, against the US Dollar.
-
Context of Reserves: Despite the decline, the reserves remain at a robust level, and the overall total of $688.1 billion is still close to the all-time high of $705 billion recorded in September 2024. These reserves are considered sufficient to cover a significant period of India's merchandise imports.
3. HDFC Bank appoints VibhashNaik as Chief Human Resource Officer
-
New Leadership Role: HDFC Bank's Board of Directors approved the appointment of VibhashNaik as the new Chief Human Resource Officer (CHRO). This is a crucial senior management personnel (SMP) role, placing him at the head of the entire HR function for one of India's largest private sector banks.
-
Effective Date: The appointment is set to become effective on February 1, 2026. This indicates a transition period for the new CHRO to take charge and for HDFC Bank to integrate him into its senior leadership team.
-
Extensive Background (Internal Group Move):Naik brings a significant depth of experience, with over 25 years in Human Resources. Importantly, he moves to HDFC Bank from HDFC Life Insurance Company Limited, where he served as the CHRO for 14 years. This internal movement within the HDFC Group suggests a deep understanding of the group's culture and operational ethos.
-
Strategic HR Focus: His expertise includes Talent Management, Organization Development, Performance Management, and critically, HR Technology. His experience at HDFC Life involved creating a technology-enabled people ecosystem, aligning with the banking sector's increasing focus on digital transformation and enhancing the employee experience.
4. Paradip Port Authority achieves fastest ever 100 MMT cargo
-
New Time Record: PPA achieved the 100 MMT cargo milestone in a record-breaking 241 days in the current fiscal year. This is significantly faster than the previous fiscal year, where the same mark was reached in 253 days (a difference of 12 days).
-
Consecutive Milestone and Growth: This marks the ninth consecutive year that the port has crossed the 100 MMT benchmark. The port's total cargo volume reached 100.15 MMT, registering a 4.78% year-on-year (Y-o-Y) growth compared to the corresponding period last fiscal.
-
Key Performance Drivers: The achievement is attributed to faster operations, system improvements, and strong stakeholder support. Specifically, the port's focus on operational efficiency, such as improved vessel turnaround time and enhanced mechanization, was crucial.
-
Strategic Significance: The port, located in Odisha, continues to reinforce its position as one of India's leading major ports and is rapidly emerging as a crucial coastal shipping hub of the country.
5. PrabhatKiran appointed as Executive Director at Bank of Maharashtra
-
Nature of Appointment: PrabhatKiran has been appointed as an Executive Director (ED) of Bank of Maharashtra. This is a crucial senior management position and a part of a larger government-led reshuffle of leadership in Public Sector Banks (PSBs).
-
Appointing Authority and Tenure: The appointment was made by the Central Government (Ministry of Finance) and is effective from November 24, 2025. His tenure is for a period of three years from the date he assumes office or until further notice.
-
Previous Role and Experience: Prior to joining BoM, PrabhatKiran served as a Chief General Manager (CGM) at Canara Bank, where he headed the Large Corporate Wing. He brings over 30 years of banking experience, primarily focused on large corporate credit, SME lending, risk management, and international operations.
-
Strategic Focus Areas: His extensive background is expected to strengthen Bank of Maharashtra's capabilities in key business segments. The appointment is anticipated to boost the bank's focus on corporate banking, enhance risk governance, and drive sustainable, innovation-led growth.
6. RekhaLohani appointed as Inspector General in CRPF
-
Nature of the Appointment: Smt. RekhaLohani, an IPS officer of the 1997 batch from the Odisha cadre, has been appointed as the Inspector General (IG) in the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). The CRPF is India's largest Central Armed Police Force.
-
Deputation Status and Term: The appointment is on a Central Deputation basis, specifically a "lateral shift" from her previous central role. Her tenure in the CRPF is fixed up to January 15, 2028, or until further orders, making it a key three-year assignment.
-
Previous Central Role: Prior to this posting, she was serving as the Inspector General/Director in the Bureau of Police Research & Development (BPR&D). Her shift from BPR&D to the operational role in the CRPF is a significant move.
-
Prior Experience in Central Forces: This is not her first stint with central organizations. She has previous experience on central deputation, having served in the Intelligence Bureau (IB) and also a prior term in the CRPF from 2016 to 2019, which provides her with existing familiarity with the force's functioning.
-
Seniority and Current Status: At the time of her appointment, she was an empanelled Additional Director General (ADG)-level officer and was undergoing the 65th National Defence College (NDC) Course.
7. NBCC Wins 'Emerging India' Award at IITF 2025
-
Award and Recognition: NBCC (India) Limited, a Navratna Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE), was honored with the 'Emerging India' Award at the 44th India International Trade Fair (IITF) 2025, held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.
-
Category Specifics: The award was specifically the Bronze Medal in the 'Empowering India (Ministries & Government Departments)' category. This places it alongside the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (Gold) and the Ministry of MSME (Silver).
-
Rationale for the Award: The recognition acknowledges NBCC's continued commitment to innovation, quality, and excellence in nation-building. As a leading PSU in the construction and infrastructure sector, the award validates its role in India's development story.
-
Event Context (IITF 2025): The India International Trade Fair 2025 ran from November 14 to 27, 2025, under the theme "Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat" (One India, Great India). NBCC's participation contributed to the fair's showcasing of India's economic, cultural, and technological strengths.
8. Jay Shah Honoured with “Indian of the Year 2025”
-
Award and Category: Jay Shah, the Chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC), was conferred with the CNN-News18 Indian of the Year 2025 award in the Outstanding Achievement category.
-
Recognition for Women's Cricket Reforms: The award primarily recognizes his transformative impact on women's cricket in India during his tenure as the Honorary Secretary of the BCCI (2019-2024). This focus was highlighted by his dedication of the award to Indian women cricketers like HarmanpreetKaur, JhulanGoswami, and Mithali Raj.
-
Global and Commercial Impact: Beyond women's cricket, he was recognized for his role in modernizing cricket governance, including securing a massive media rights deal (₹50,000 croredeal) that bolstered the financial power of the BCCI, and his pioneering efforts in bringing cricket back to the Olympic stage.
-
Context and Other Honors: The award ceremony, held on November 28, 2025, also celebrated the Indian women's cricket team, who received the 'Indian of the Year' award in the Sports category following their win at the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025.
9. ICAI Sets Guinness World Record for Largest Career Advice Programme in a Single Day
-
Nature of the Record: ICAI achieved the Guinness World Record title for conducting the 'Largest careers advice lesson' in a single day. This is a testament to the institute's commitment to large-scale educational outreach and career guidance.
-
Event and Location: The record was set during the 'Career in Accounting and Finance for Youth (CAFY 4.0) & Super Mega Career Counselling Programme' held on November 28, 2025, in Mumbai at the NESCO grounds.
-
Record-Breaking Participation: While the entire event saw a gathering of more than 7,400 students, teachers, and principals in Mumbai, the official eligible count certified by Guinness World Records for setting the record was 6,166 students.
-
Pan-India Scope: Although the GWR attempt was centered in Mumbai, the overall CAFY 4.0 program had a massive reach, with the total number of participants joining sessions pan-India exceeding 1.3 lakh students.
10. International Jaguar Day observed annually on 29thNovember
-
Purpose: Raising Global Awareness: The day was established to raise awareness about the increasing threats facing the jaguar, the largest wild cat in the Americas, and to promote the critical conservation efforts necessary for its survival from Mexico to Argentina.
-
Date and Origin: It is celebrated annually on November 29th. The day was officially created in 2018 following the Jaguar 2030 Forum, a collaborative effort by 14 jaguar range countries and international partners, which led to the Jaguar 2030 Roadmap conservation strategy.
-
Ecological Significance: The jaguar is highlighted as an 'umbrella species' for biodiversity conservation. Protecting the jaguar and the vast, healthy habitats it needs (like the Amazon rainforest and Pantanal wetlands) inherently protects countless other species within that same ecosystem.
-
Conservation Focus (Corridors): A central goal is the need to conserve jaguar corridors and their habitats. These corridors are vital stretches of land that connect fragmented jaguar populations, allowing for genetic diversity and the species' long-term survival across its 18 range countries.
0 like |
0 comment
