Daily Insights November 11, 2025

Daily Insights November 11, 2025

1. National Green Hydrogen Mission Logo Launch

Source: https://pib.gov.in

Key Points:

• 3rd International Conference on Green Hydrogen (ICGH 2025) held on November 11-12, 2025 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi

• National Green Hydrogen Mission logo launched by Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Shri Pralhad Joshi

• Target to develop 5 MMT (Million Metric Tonne) green hydrogen production capacity by 2030 with 125 GW renewable energy

• Budget allocation: ₹19,744 Cr till 2029-30

• Expected outcomes: 6 lakh jobs creation, ₹8 lakh crore investments, ₹1 lakh crore reduction in fossil fuel imports, 50 MMT greenhouse gas emissions abatement annually

• Global participation from IRENA, Hydrogen Europe, H2 Global Foundation, Korea Hydrogen Alliance, Port of Rotterdam Authority

• Focus: Green hydrogen for refineries, fertilizers, steel, chemicals, aviation, and shipping sectors

• National Green Hydrogen Mission

UPSC Relevance: GS3 – Renewable Energy; Clean technology; Climate action; Green economy; India’s energy security; Sustainable development

2. Corneal Transplantation Rules Simplified for Expanded Access

Source: https://pib.gov.in (10 November 2025)

Key Points:

• Ministry of Health & Family Welfare notified Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues (Amendment) Rules, 2025 on 6 November 2025

• Clinical Specular Microscopy equipment mandatory requirement removed from corneal transplantation centres

• Aims to ease infrastructure and operational challenges in rural and semi-urban areas

• Strengthens National Organ Transplant Programme (NOTP)

• Expansion of eye donation and corneal transplantation services across the country

• Progressive measure to build robust cornea donation ecosystem

• Expert recommendations and stakeholder consultations guided the amendment

UPSC Relevance: GS2 – Health & Public Health; Organ transplantation policy; Equity and accessibility; Rural healthcare; Policy implementation

3. Exercise Mitra Shakti-XI: India-Sri Lanka Military Cooperation

Source: https://pib.gov.in (10 November 2025)

Key Points:

• 11th edition of Exercise Mitra Shakti commenced on 10 November 2025 at Foreign Training Node, Belagavi, Karnataka

• Duration: 10-23 November 2025

• Indian contingent: 170 personnel (RAJPUT Regiment) + 20 Indian Air Force personnel

• Sri Lankan contingent: 135 personnel (GAJABA Regiment) + 10 Sri Lankan Air Force personnel

• Focus: Sub-conventional operations under UN Chapter VII mandate

• Training includes: counter-terrorism drills, raid/search-destroy missions, heliborne operations, drone & counter-UAS operations

• Additional activities: Army Martial Arts Routine (AMAR), combat reflex shooting, yoga

• Objectives: Interoperability enhancement, casualty evacuation drills, shared best practices, strengthened defence cooperation

UPSC Relevance: GS2 – International Relations; Defence cooperation; Regional security; UN peacekeeping; India-South Asia relations

4. COP30: Brazil’s Amazon Deforestation Hits 11-Year Low

Source: Multiple sources​

Key Points:

• Deforestation in Legal Amazon fell 11% in 12 months to July 2025 — lowest since 2014

• Total forest loss: 5,796 sq km (down from 6,518 sq km previous year)

• Brazil’s Cerrado ecosystem: deforestation fell 11.5% to 7,235 sq km — 6-year low

• Achievement attributed to President Lula’s strengthened enforcement, funding, and policy clarity

• Major concern: Fire now accounts for 60% of forest loss (2.78 million hectares in 2024 from burning)

• Burned forest areas dropped 45% year-on-year to 21,543 sq km

• New threats: BR-319 highway expansion through intact forest zones, gold mining, policy uncertainty on soy moratorium

• Tropical Forests Forever Facility (TFFF) — proposed $125 billion fund to generate $4 billion annually for 70+ tropical forest nations

UPSC Relevance: GS3 – Environment; Biodiversity; Climate change; Forest conservation; COP processes; Sustainable development; Amazon ecosystem

5. Pakistan’s 27th Constitutional Amendment: Army Chief as Supreme Commander

Source: Multiple sources​

Key Points:

• Pakistan Senate passed 27th Constitutional Amendment on 10 November 2025; National Assembly vote scheduled 11 November

• Creates new Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) post — held by Army Chief (Gen. Asim Munir as Field Marshal)

• Abolishes position of Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC) effective 27 November 2025

• Army Chief now commands Navy, Air Force, and all three services as unified structure

• Field Marshal rank: constitutionally protected lifetime position with immunity from legal accountability

• New Commander of National Strategic Command oversees nuclear and strategic arsenal — must be Army officer appointed by PM on CDF’s recommendation

• Establishes Federal Constitutional Court — separate from Supreme Court for constitutional matters

• Government coalition (336/342 members) secured two-thirds majority; opposition boycotted proceedings

UPSC Relevance: GS2 – International Relations; Governance & constitutionalism; Military-civilian relations; South Asia; Rule of law & accountability

6. India’s Export Collapse: Trump Tariffs Trigger 37.5% Drop

Source: [Global Trade Research Initiative Report – November 2025]​

Key Points:

• India’s exports to US plunged 37.5% between May-September 2025 — steepest short-term decline in recent years

• Export value crashed from $8.8 billion (May) to $5.5 billion (September)

• Tariff progression: 10% (April) → 25% (August 7) → 50% total (late August) for Russia oil imports

• Worst-hit sectors:

  • Smartphones: -58% ($2.29B → $884.6M)

  • Gems & Jewellery: -59.5% ($500.2M → $202.8M)

  • Solar panels: -60.8% ($202.6M → $79.4M)

  • Pharmaceuticals: -15.7%

  • Tariff-free goods: -47%

• Labour-intensive sectors (textiles, chemicals, agri-food, machinery): -33% decline

• Comparative disadvantage: China faces 30% tariffs, Vietnam 20% — India’s competitiveness sharply deteriorated

• Thailand & Vietnam capturing lost US orders in gems/jewellery

UPSC Relevance: GS3 – Economy; Trade; Tariff policy; MSME impact; International trade; Global protectionism; Exports & competitiveness

7. Home-Cooked Thali Prices Ease: Food Inflation Relief

Source: [Crisil Intelligence Report – November 2025]​

Key Points:

• Vegetarian thali prices fell 17% year-on-year in October 2025

• Non-vegetarian thali prices declined 12% year-on-year

• Drivers of price decline:

  • Potatoes: -31% (3-4% Rabi 2024-25 production increase)

  • Tomatoes: -40% (higher supplies from western/southern markets)

  • Onions: -51% (ample Rabi stocks, subdued exports)

  • Pulses: -17% (surge in imports: Bengal gram +9x, yellow pea +85%, black gram +31%)

• Price increases: Vegetable oil +11% (festival demand), LPG +6%

• Broiler prices: moderate 6% decline year-on-year; 4% month-on-month drop

• Headline retail inflation (September 2025): 1.54% — lowest since June 2017

• Food inflation (September): driven by favorable base effect and decline in vegetables, oils, fruits, pulses, cereals

UPSC Relevance: GS3 – Economy; Inflation dynamics; Food security; Agricultural policy; PDS; Household economics; CPI

8. Amazon Infrastructure for COP30: Deforestation Paradox

Source: [BBC/Environmental News – November 2025]​

Key Points:

• Four-lane highway under construction through protected Amazon rainforest to accommodate 50,000+ COP30 attendees in Belém

• Length: Over 13 kilometers (8 miles) of cleared forest

• Environmental cost: Destruction of precious habitat; loss of livelihoods for local communities harvesting açaí berries

• Wetland encroachment: Heavy machinery paving over wetlands in protected zones

• Community impact: Local residents like Claudio Verequete — living 200m from site — lost income sources; no compensation received

• Irony: Deforestation for infrastructure supporting climate summit contradicts COP30’s conservation messaging

• Regional disruption: Vegetation stark contrast on both sides; timber stockpiling visible along cleared corridor

UPSC Relevance: GS3 – Environment; Infrastructure vs. conservation; Sustainable development; Indigenous communities; COP processes; Environmental justice

9. Mercury Ban in Dental Treatment: Global Environmental Health Win

Source: [EU Environment Council Decision – November 2025]​

Key Points:

• Global ban on mercury in dental amalgam treatments formally adopted by international agreement

• Part of Minamata Convention implementation — binding international protocol on mercury management

• Aims to phase out mercury-based dental fillings globally

• Rationale: Mercury is neurotoxic heavy metal; poses health risks to patients and dental workers; environmental contamination through waste/cremation

• Transition timeline: Countries adopting phase-out schedules to shift to composite resin/mercury-free alternatives

• Public health benefit: Reduced cumulative mercury exposure in populations

• Environmental impact: Decreased mercury emissions from hospitals and waste streams

• Part of SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption & Production) and global health commitments

UPSC Relevance: GS3 – Health & Environment; International conventions; Minamata Convention; Hazardous substances; Environmental health

10. E-Commerce Country-of-Origin Filter Mandate: Protecting ‘Made in India’ Products

Source: https://pib.gov.in (10 November 2025)

Key Points:

• Department of Consumer Affairs issued Draft Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) (Second) Amendment Rules, 2025 on 10 November 2025

• Mandatory requirement: All e-commerce platforms must provide searchable and sortable ‘Country of Origin’ filters for packaged commodities

• New provision inserted in Rule 6(10): “Every e-commerce entity selling imported products shall provide a searchable and sortable filter for the country of origin with their product listings”

• Consumer empowerment: Enables informed purchasing decisions; reduces time to locate product origin information; enhances transparency in digital marketplaces

• Support for ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ and ‘Vocal for Local’: Makes ‘Made in India’ products easily discoverable alongside imports; ensures equal visibility and level playing field for domestic manufacturers

• Compliance monitoring: Helps authorities efficiently track regulatory compliance and identify violations without manual review

• Public consultation period: Comments from stakeholders invited until November 22, 2025

• Domestic manufacturer support: Encourages consumers to choose locally-made alternatives while maintaining e-commerce transparency and competitive ecosystem

UPSC Relevance: GS3 – Economy; Consumer protection; E-commerce regulation; ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ initiative; Trade policy; Digital marketplace governance; Supporting MSMEs

11. Iceland’s Reykjanes Volcanic Activity: Ongoing Geological Instability

Source: [Wikipedia & Iceland Travel Guides – 2025]​

Key Points:

• Sundhnúkur crater row remains most active volcanic area in Iceland (2023-2025 series)

• Eruption sequence: 9+ eruptions between December 2023-August 2025

• Most recent activity: July 16-August 5, 2025 eruption (lasted ~3 weeks)

• April 1, 2025 eruption produced 30 million m³ magma intrusion; fissure breached protective barriers north of Grindavík

• Lava flows: Reached 6+ miles underground; protective infrastructure around Grindavík and Blue Lagoon prevented major damage

• Ongoing geological instability: Continued magma accumulation beneath Svartsengi reservoir; GPS-detected uplift and deformation

• Ground deformation: Multiple fissure openings (1.2-3 km length); triggered earthquakes up to M5.3

• Public access: Eruption sites off-limits; helicopter tours available; Iceland tourism unaffected

UPSC Relevance: GS1 – Geography; Volcanology; Earthquake-volcano interactions; Geological hazards; Iceland tectonics; Natural disasters

12. South Korea’s Stricter Climate Targets Amid Regional Pollution

Source: [Anadolu Agency & Korea Herald – November 2025]​

Key Points:

• South Korea approved 53-61% greenhouse gas emissions reduction target by 2035 (baseline: 2018 levels)

• Target announced at COP30 in Belém on November 10-11, 2025

• Sector-wise reduction targets:

  • Power sector: 68.8-75.3% reduction (coal phase-out; renewable expansion)

  • Transport sector: 60.2-62.8% reduction (EV/hydrogen vehicles; fuel efficiency)

  • Manufacturing/Industrial: 24.3-31% reduction (heavy industries: steel, chemicals)

• Supporting infrastructure: 100 GW renewable energy capacity by 2030

• Regional context: South Korea combating transboundary air pollution from China; tightening domestic standards

• Climate commitment: Part of enhanced nationally determined contributions (NDCs) under Paris Agreement

• Industrial challenges: Balancing decarbonization with competitiveness in export sectors

UPSC Relevance: GS3 – Climate change; NDCs; Renewable energy; International climate commitments; Comparative governance; Pollution control

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