Daily Insights November 14, 2025
Contents
Daily Insights November 14, 2025
1. Supreme Court Directs Centre to Revisit Electric Vehicle Policy Amid Air Pollution Crisis
Source: The Hindu, Economic Times
Key Points:
Supreme Court directed the Centre to update the 2020 National Electric Mobility Mission Plan (NEMMP), observing significant technological and policy changes over the past five years
Bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi suggested implementing the revised policy through a pilot project in a metropolitan city before nationwide rollout
Court suggested banning high-end luxury vehicles powered by petrol and diesel as a starting point for India’s transition to electric mobility
An inter-ministerial group comprising 13 central ministries is currently assessing the feasibility and scope of the policy, including incentives, procurement norms, and charging infrastructure
PIL filed by Centre for Public Interest Litigation seeks enforcement of NEMMP 2020 to safeguard citizens’ fundamental rights to clean air and pollution-free environment
2. Global Carbon Project Report: India’s Carbon Emissions Growth Slows to 1.4% in 2025
Source: Indian Express, India Today
Key Points:
India’s carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel sources expected to increase by just 1.4% in 2025, significantly lower than 4% growth in 2024
India’s fossil fuel-related emissions in 2024 were 3.19 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent, estimated to reach 3.22 billion tonnes in 2025
An early monsoon reduced cooling requirements in the hottest months; combined with strong growth in renewables, this led to very low growth in coal consumption
Global fossil fuel emissions projected to rise by 1.1% in 2025, reaching record high of 38.1 billion tonnes
US emissions expected to rise by 1.9%, the highest percentage increase among major emitters
Remaining carbon budget for keeping warming within 1.5°C will be exhausted in about four years at current emission rates
3. Draft Seeds Bill 2025 Released for Public Consultation
Source: PIB, Business Standard
Key Points:
Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare released draft Seeds Bill 2025 to replace Seeds Act 1966 and Seeds (Control) Order 1983
Bill proposes mandatory QR Code-based digital traceability through Centralized Seed Traceability Portal
Introduces Central Accreditation System for multi-state seed companies to promote ease of doing business
Establishes graded penalties: Trivial, Minor, and Major violations; decriminalizes minor offences while retaining stringent penalties (up to 3 years imprisonment and/or fines up to ₹30 lakh) for major violations
Protects farmers’ right to grow, sow, save, use, exchange, share, or sell their farm seeds except when selling under a brand name
Critics note the Bill is silent on compensation for farmers in case of underperformance of seeds
Public comments invited till December 11, 2025
4. Supreme Court Directs Jharkhand to Declare Saranda Forest as Wildlife Sanctuary
Source: The Hindu, Times of India
Key Points:
Supreme Court directed Jharkhand government to notify 31,468.25 hectares (approximately 314 sq km) of Saranda forest area as a wildlife sanctuary within three months
Bench of CJI B R Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran based the order on a 1968 Bihar government notification declaring the area as Saranda Game Sanctuary
Court reaffirmed that no mining activity can take place within the sanctuary or within one-kilometre eco-sensitive zone around it, as per April 2023 judgment
Six forest compartments excluded from sanctuary limits for sustainable mining; Steel Authority of India Limited’s existing mining operations allowed to continue
Court clarified that individual and community rights of tribals and forest dwellers will be protected under Sections 3 and 4 of Forest Rights Act
Saranda forest is home to some of the world’s finest Sal trees and rich array of wildlife
First sanctuary in India to be notified on the direction of Supreme Court
5. Kerala Government Claims Union Government Freezes Funds for PM SHRI Scheme
Source: The New Indian Express, Times of India
Key Points:
Kerala government formally communicated to Centre to freeze implementation of PM SHRI (PM Schools for Rising India) scheme following opposition from coalition partner CPI
General Education Secretary K Vasuki sent the letter on November 12, 2025, after seeking legal opinion from Advocate General
Seven-member Cabinet sub-committee headed by Education Minister V Sivankutty constituted to review the scheme
CPI alleged that decision to sign MoU was taken without taking LDF and Cabinet on board; argues scheme promotes RSS agenda in education sector
PM SHRI scheme, launched in 2022, aims to transform around 14,500 schools into model institutions under National Education Policy (NEP) 2020
Kerala expected to receive ₹1,446 crore for infrastructure and improvements under the scheme
Centre released first installment of Samagra Shiksha Kerala funds that were previously withheld
6. Greenpeace Report on MSC Elsa 3 Shipwreck: Kerala Fisheries Under Threat
Source: Greenpeace South Asia, The New Indian Express
Key Points:
Greenpeace South Asia released investigative report ‘Below Deck: The Truth Beneath What You Sea’ on MSC Elsa 3 shipwreck
MSC Elsa 3 sank on May 25, 2025, approximately 14.6 nautical miles off Kerala coast carrying 643 containers including hazardous chemicals
Ship carried calcium carbide, hydrazine, over 450 tonnes of diesel and furnace oil, and more than 60 containers of plastic nurdles
Disaster has significantly affected over 10 lakh fisherfolk in Kerala; plastic nurdles washed up along 120 km coastal stretch
Report documents severe income loss, rising debts, equipment damage, and collapse in market confidence among fishing communities
Greenpeace urges MSC to comply with Kerala High Court’s order directing company to pay ₹1,227 crore as compensation security deposit
Report highlights MSC’s practices of using ageing vessels, exploiting regulatory loopholes, and flag-of-convenience practices
CMLRE study confirmed significant ecological disruption in southeastern Arabian Sea affecting water quality, marine plankton, benthic organisms, fish eggs, and larvae
7. Government Releases Draft Shram Shakti Niti 2025: National Labour & Employment Policy
Source: PIB, Ministry of Labour & Employment
Key Points:
Ministry of Labour and Employment released Draft National Labour & Employment Policy – Shram Shakti Niti 2025 for public consultation
India’s first integrated national labour and employment policy aligning with vision of Viksit Bharat @2047
Policy rooted in India’s civilisational ethos of śrama dharma (dignity and moral value of work)
Seven core strategic objectives: Universal Social Security, Occupational Safety and Health, Employment and Future Readiness, Women and Youth Empowerment, Ease of Compliance and Formalisation, Technology and Green Transitions, Convergence and Good Governance
National Career Service (NCS) platform to serve as India’s Digital Public Infrastructure for Employment
Proposes creation of Universal Social Security Account (USSA) integrating EPFO, ESIC, PM-JAY, and e-Shram database
Targets 35% female labour participation by 2030 through safe workplaces, flexible work arrangements, and skilling initiatives
Implementation in three phases: Phase I (2025-27), Phase II (2027-30), Phase III (2030-47)
Minister for Labour & Employment Dr Mansukh Mandaviya chaired tripartite consultation on November 13, 2025
8. Hepatitis A Cases in India: Rising Concerns in Kerala and Other States
Source: Business Standard, Gavi
Key Points:
Kerala witnessing steep rise in Hepatitis A infections with 3,227 confirmed cases and 16 deaths recorded by April 16, 2025
Sharp increase from 7,943 cases and 81 deaths in 2024; over 50 hepatitis cases reported in May 2025 alone
Most affected districts: Ernakulam, Malappuram, Kozhikode, and Thrissur
Primary cause: contaminated water supply; water storage tanks identified as source of infection in several villages
Authorities deploying super-chlorinators in affected areas and implementing stricter hygiene norms for restaurants
Mandatory health cards for food handlers and boiled water usage enforced
Hepatitis A cases doubling in Pune during 2025 monsoon season (57 cases between March-June 2025 vs 26 cases in 2024)
Experts attribute surge to heavy rainfall, pipe leakages, waterlogging, and sewage mixing with drinking water
Hepatitis A primarily transmitted through fecal-oral route via contaminated food and water
People with co-morbidities at higher risk; vaccination recommended for prevention
9. Consumer Price Index Falls to Record Low of 0.25% in October 2025
Key Points:
Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation dropped to 0.25% in October 2025, lowest year-on-year inflation in current CPI series (base year 2012)
Headline inflation decreased by 119 basis points from September’s 1.44%
Food inflation fell to -5.02% in October compared to -2.33% in September, remaining in negative territory for fifth consecutive month
Rural food inflation: -4.85%; Urban food inflation: -5.18%
Decline attributed to full-month impact of GST reduction, favorable base effect, and lower prices across categories including oils and fats, vegetables, fruits, eggs, cereals, footwear, and transport & communication
Ninth consecutive month that inflation rate remained below RBI’s 4% target
Third consecutive month below 2% lower tolerance band, prompting calls for more rate cuts
Rural headline inflation: -0.25%; Urban headline inflation: 0.88%
Highest inflation recorded in Kerala (8.56%), followed by Jammu and Kashmir (2.95%)
Inflation negative in several states including Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Delhi, and Uttar Pradesh
10. WHO Global Antibiotic Resistance Surveillance Report 2025 (GLASS)
Source: WHO, Fleming Fund
Key Points:
WHO released Global Antibiotic Resistance Surveillance Report 2025 (GLASS) revealing one in six bacterial infections worldwide in 2023 were resistant to antibiotics
Report draws on data from over 23 million confirmed infections reported by 104 countries in 2023
Country participation in GLASS increased four-fold from 25 countries in 2016 to 104 countries in 2023
Antibiotic resistance rose in over 40% of pathogen-antibiotic combinations monitored between 2018 and 2023, with average relative annual increase of 5-15%
Gram-negative bacteria show rapidly increasing resistance, especially to carbapenems and fluoroquinolones
AMR disproportionately affects low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) with weak health systems
Around 41% of bloodstream infection reports came from China, India, and Pakistan combined
AMR most frequent in South-East Asia and Eastern Mediterranean regions, followed by African Region
WHO urges all countries to report complete, high-quality data to GLASS by 2030
Report calls for urgent, coordinated international action to protect antimicrobial effectiveness for future generations
11. Botswana Gifts India Eight Cheetahs for Next Phase of Project Cheetah
Source: PIB, News on AIR
Key Points:
President Droupadi Murmu and Botswana President Duma Gideon Boko witnessed symbolic release of eight cheetahs at Mokolodi Nature Reserve, Botswana on November 13, 2025
Cheetahs originating from Ghanzi region released into quarantine facility by experts from India and Botswana
Event marks beginning of new chapter in India-Botswana cooperation in wildlife conservation
Cheetahs will remain in quarantine facility before being translocated to India
Botswana hosts one of world’s largest wild cheetah populations (approximately 1,700 individuals, accounting for 25% of world’s remaining wild cheetahs)
This is Putin’s first visit since the start of Ukraine invasion in 2022
Pact aims to expand genetic diversity of India’s cheetah population under Project Cheetah
India and Botswana agreed to further cooperate in areas including trade, education, health, digital technologies, agriculture, and renewable energy
MoU on healthcare and pharmaceuticals signed; India announced supply of ARV medicines to Botswana to support HIV treatment efforts
12. US Government Shutdown Ends After Record 43 Days
Key Points:
US federal government shutdown ended on November 12, 2025, after President Donald Trump signed funding package passed by House
Longest government shutdown in US history, lasting 43 days (October 1 to November 12, 2025)
Senate passed agreement by 60-40 vote on November 10; House voted 222-209 on November 12
Shutdown began after Republican-controlled House advanced continuing resolution that Senate rejected 14 times
Deal funds government at existing spending levels until January 30, 2026
Includes full-year appropriations for military construction and veterans affairs, legislative branch, and Department of Agriculture
Shutdown likely led to loss of 60,000 private-sector jobs; federal workers went weeks without paychecks
SNAP benefits distribution was suspended in November; at least nine states issued benefits independently
Over 1,000 flights canceled on November 13 due to air traffic controller staffing issues
Back pay for federal employees to begin going out between November 16-19
Media sources named shutdown as factor for several Democratic electoral victories
13. COP30 Climate Summit Opens in Belém, Brazil Amid Philippine Typhoon Crisis
Source: UN Climate Change, CNN, Democracy Now
Key Points:
30th UN Climate Change Conference (COP30) began November 10, 2025, in Belém, Brazil, known as “gateway to the Amazon”
Conference runs from November 10-21, 2025, with more than 190 countries participating
Brazilian President Lula da Silva declared Belém the “implementation COP” focusing on turning ambition into delivery
Summit opened as Philippines hit by Typhoon Fung-wong, killing at least eight people and displacing more than 1.4 million
Philippines recovering from Typhoon Kalmaegi which killed over 224 people just days earlier; country hit by 21 major storms in 2025
Countries were supposed to submit national climate plans for cutting pollution up to 2035 by February deadline; over 90% of governments missed it
Brazil proposes Climate Coalition to integrate carbon markets with border carbon adjustment to non-members
Brazil intends to launch Tropical Forest Forever Facility (TFFF), a $125 billion blended-finance investment fund
Law temporarily transferred Brazilian national capital symbolically from Brasília to Belém during conference (November 11-21)
Yeb Saño, former Chief Climate Negotiator for Philippines, emphasized that impacts of climate change have become more intense and clearer
14. Amazon Rainforest Nearing Dangerous Tipping Point: New Assessment Report
Source: Down to Earth
Key Points:
Amazon Assessment Report 2025 warns the Amazon is approaching dangerous tipping point driven by deforestation, wildfires, and illegal mining
Nearly quarter of lowland forests, rivers, and wetlands have already been affected by climate impacts
Region home to more than 47 million people and 13% of known species; plays critical role in regulating global rainfall and carbon storage
Amazon holds 50,000 plant species, 3,000 freshwater fish species, and hundreds of mammals, reptiles, and amphibians
Biodiversity under growing strain from illegal timber extraction, fire, hunting, land grabbing, and unregulated mining
Climate change compounding threats: rising deforestation, wildfires, droughts, and heatwaves increasing risk of large-scale forest dieback
Amazon River network has become increasingly fragmented with 40% rise in clipping over past decade, largely driven by dam construction
Balbina Dam alone contributed to loss of 12% of floodplain forest with 29% of areas showing signs of tree mortality
Opening of BR-319 highway in Brazilian Amazon caused 400% increase in malaria cases
Scientists say escalating human and climate pressures risk triggering irreversible ecosystem collapse unless urgent action is taken
15. Philippines Twin Typhoons Expose Funding Gap for Climate Adaptation
Source: Down to Earth, Relief Web
Key Points:
Philippines hit by two consecutive typhoons: Kalmaegi (local name Tino) on November 2 and Fung-wong (local name Uwan) on November 9, 2025
Typhoon Kalmaegi caused over 210 fatalities with over 100 still missing; affected approximately 4.1 million people with 379,000 still displaced
Super Typhoon Fung-wong made landfall with maximum sustained winds of 185 km/h; affected 2.7 million people with 1.18 million displaced
Total of 21 significant storms hit Philippines in 2025, stretching disaster response beyond capacity
155,400 houses damaged (20,500 totally destroyed) from Typhoon Kalmaegi alone
Philippines faces losses of 1.2% of GDP each year from typhoon impacts, translating to approximately $5.64 billion in 2024
Communities need financial, technological, and capacity-building resources for recovery; most haven’t been responsible for global warming
Much of rapid intensification of recent storms fueled by warmer-than-normal sea surface temperatures, consequence of global warming already around 1.3°C above pre-industrial levels
Since late September, Philippines dealt with multiple shocks including Super Typhoon Ragasa, Typhoon Bualoi, 6.9 magnitude earthquake in Cebu, 7.4 magnitude earthquake off Davao Oriental
Question of responsibility for delivering resources to affected communities needs to be answered by international community, specifically rich countries responsible for emitting most greenhouse gases