As UPSC aspirants gear up for their preliminary examination preparation, staying updated with current affairs becomes crucial for building a strong foundation. The weekly current affairs quiz for November 16 to November 22, 2025, covers significant developments across politics, sports, science, and governance that are essential for competitive examinations.
International Affairs and Global Developments
The G20 Summit 2025 witnessed important discussions in Johannesburg, South Africa, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi attending the three-day event. Contrary to some beliefs, the African Union actually became a member during India's presidency in 2023, not 2021. This year's summit marks the fourth consecutive G20 meeting hosted in the Global South, with the theme being 'Solidarity, Equality and Sustainability' rather than 'Building a Just World and a Sustainable Planet'.
In sports history, Curacao created a remarkable achievement by becoming the smallest nation ever to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. This autonomous republic within the Kingdom of Netherlands, located in the Southern Caribbean Sea, has a population so small that it could fit into two of India's largest cricket stadiums with thousands of seats remaining vacant.
National Security and Defense Updates
The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) has been designated as the new safety regulator for approximately 250 facilities across all major and minor Indian seaports. This central paramilitary force will handle core security functions including counter-terrorism and anti-sabotage operations, while non-core duties will be managed by private security agencies or state police forces.
In defense technology, the Tejas fighter aircraft demonstrated both capabilities and risks during the Dubai Air Show. This 4.5-generation fighter designed and built by India's HAL crashed during an aerial display, resulting in the tragic loss of the pilot. The aircraft remains one of India's most adaptable indigenous platforms capable of handling offensive air support, close combat, and ground attack missions.
Scientific and Technological Advancements
The Indian Space Research Organisation achieved a significant milestone with the successful testing of the CE-20 cryogenic engine in bootstrap mode without any auxiliary start-up system. This development is crucial for India's Gaganyaan mission and the planned Bharatiya Antariksh Station, as it enables multi-orbital and multi-restart capabilities for the engine that powers the upper stage of the LVM3 launch vehicle.
In medical innovation, Indian researchers developed Birsa-101, an indigenous CRISPR-based gene therapy named after tribal leader Birsa Munda specifically designed to treat sickle cell disease prevalent in tribal populations. The complete technology transfer to Serum Institute of India marks a significant step in making this treatment available to those in need.
Legal and Governance Developments
The Supreme Court delivered a landmark verdict regarding Article 200 of the Constitution, clarifying the Governor's role in the legislative process. The Court ruled that Governors cannot simply withhold assent to bills indefinitely and must return them to the legislature with comments for reconsideration if they choose not to grant approval.
In labor reforms, the Government of India implemented the four Labour Codes pending since 2020, creating a unified framework replacing 29 fragmented laws. The codes introduce significant provisions including legal definition of gig and platform workers for the first time, mandatory welfare contributions from aggregators, and fixed-term employment with benefits equivalent to permanent staff.
Environmental and Wildlife Concerns
The Asiatic black bear has been in the spotlight following multiple attacks in Uttarakhand, prompting the forest department to issue directions including shooting as a last resort. Listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, these bears inhabit forests at elevations between 1,200 to 3,300 meters, with their movements significantly influenced by food availability changes as they prepare for hibernation.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court recalled its earlier Vanashakti judgment that had struck down provisions allowing ex post facto environmental clearances. The majority ruling deemed the previous decision per incuriam, while the dissenting judge maintained that retrospective environmental clearances contradict fundamental environmental jurisprudence principles.
Cultural and Regional Events
Manipur celebrated the Sangai Festival, named after the rare brow-antlered deer found exclusively in the state. The ten-day annual tourism festival showcases Manipur's diverse traditions, art, music, handicrafts, and indigenous sports, though the inauguration faced protests from various civil bodies and internally displaced persons.
The Colombo Security Conclave held its 7th NSA-level meeting with participants from India, Maldives, Mauritius, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Seychelles, and Malaysia. The forum welcomed Seychelles as a full member and discussed enhanced cooperation in maritime security, counter-terrorism, trafficking prevention, and disaster relief.
Space and International Observations
NASA released new images of Comet 3I/Atlas, an interstellar object determined to be billions of years old. Unlike solar system objects, interstellar objects originate outside our solar system, are not gravitationally bound to any star, and travel in open-ended hyperbolic orbits, making their study particularly valuable for understanding cosmic phenomena beyond our immediate neighborhood.
In orbital mechanics news, NASA has enlisted Arizona-based startup Katalyst Space Technologies to rescue the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory from uncontrolled re-entry risk. The startup is building the LINK spacecraft to autonomously rendezvous with and reposition the telescope, which lacks onboard propulsion and faces 90% re-entry likelihood by late 2026 due to increased atmospheric drag from solar activity.
These current affairs developments highlight the dynamic nature of national and international events that UPSC aspirants must monitor regularly. Consistent engagement with such information through weekly quizzes helps build the comprehensive knowledge base required for success in competitive examinations.
