Daily Insights November 28, 2025

Daily Insights November 28, 2025

1. IMF Assigns ‘C’ Grade to India’s National Accounts Statistics

Category: ECONOMY | Source: The Hindu (Editorial), IMF Article IV Consultation

Key Points:

• IMF downgraded India’s statistical standards for national accounts to ‘C’ grade

• Concerns over quality of GDP and GVA measurement methodologies

• IMF recommends strengthening NSO (National Statistical Office) capacity

• Impacts credibility of India’s macroeconomic data releases

• India has committed to improvements in statistical quality by 2026

UPSC Relevance: Statistics; Data Quality; Government Operations; Administrative Reforms

2. Supreme Court Seeks Autonomous Regulator for Online Content Control

Category: GOVERNANCE & LAW | Source: The Hindu, Indian Express, Hindustan Times

Key Points:

• SC directed Centre to draft guidelines for regulating user-generated content (UGC) within 4 weeks

• CJI Surya Kant called for ‘neutral, autonomous’ regulatory body independent from state and industry

• Self-regulation by platforms adjudged inadequate to prevent viral harmful content

• Court rejected pre-censorship but emphasized accountability for content causing real-world harm

• Aadhaar-based age verification proposed for obscene online material

UPSC Relevance: Digital Rights; Constitutional Law; Regulation of Internet; Fundamental Rights

3. Cyclone Ditwah to Bring Intense Rainfall Till Weekend in Tamil Nadu

Category: ENVIRONMENT & DISASTER | Source: India Meteorological Department (IMD), Indian Express, DTNext

Key Points:

• Cyclonic storm Ditwah moving toward north Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, south Andhra Pradesh

• Expected landfall between Nov 29-30, 2025 with very heavy to extremely heavy rainfall

• Red alert issued for Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Mayiladuthurai (rainfall >20cm)

• Orange alert for Chennai, Tiruvallur, Kancheepuram, Ranipet, Chengalpattu (11-20cm)

• Fishermen evacuated; disaster preparedness coordinated by state governments

UPSC Relevance: Climate & Weather; Disaster Management; Natural Calamities; Indian Geography

4. India’s Food Coloring Issues and Regulatory Steps to Combat Recurring Problems

Category: FOOD SAFETY & PUBLIC HEALTH | Source: FSSAI Regulations, The Hindu, Food Research Lab

Key Points:

• Recurrent use of banned synthetic dyes (Rhodamine B, Melanil Yellow) in food products despite regulations

• FSSAI permits 8 synthetic and 11 natural food colorants with 100 ppm concentration limits

• Illegal blending of prohibited azo dyes with permitted colors widely prevalent in street food, candies

• Compliance challenges due to inadequate monitoring at small food retail outlets

• FSSAI introducing stricter labeling requirements and enforcement mechanisms

UPSC Relevance: Food Safety; Health Standards; Regulatory Framework; Consumer Protection

5. Are India’s Labour Codes Labour-Friendly? Analysis of New Framework

Category: LABOUR & SOCIAL SECURITY | Source: Indian Express, The Wire, PIB

Key Points:

• 4 Labour Codes (Wages, Industrial Relations, Social Security, Occupational Safety) replaced 29 fragmented laws

• Unified registration threshold of 10 employees; contract labour threshold raised from 20 to 50 workers

• Fixed-term employment (FTE) introduced with equal wages and benefits as permanent staff post-1 year

• Inspector-cum-Facilitator system to encourage compliance rather than penalize

• Critics argue codes prioritize ease of business over worker protections; provisions weighted toward employer interests

UPSC Relevance: Labour Law; Social Security; Workers’ Rights; Administrative Reforms

6. Centre Rejects IMF’s Claim That 50% US Tariffs Will Be ‘Indefinite’

Category: ECONOMY & INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS | Source: Business Standard, Rediff, PIB

Key Points:

• India disagreed with IMF’s baseline assumption of permanent 50% US tariffs on Indian exports

• IMF pegged India’s GDP growth at 6.6% (2025) and lowered 2026-27 projection to 6.2% based on tariff scenario

• Indian authorities confident of developing alternative export markets to mitigate tariff impact

• Emphasized upside potential from newly concluded and forthcoming Free Trade Agreements (FTAs)

• IMF warned of geoeconomic fragmentation, higher input costs, and lower FDI if tariffs persist

UPSC Relevance: International Trade; Economic Policy; India-US Relations; Economic Growth

7. India-Indonesia Defence Dialogue: BrahMos Missile Deal Inches Closer

Category: DEFENCE & INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS | Source: Indian Express, Mathrubhumi, News18

Key Points:

• 3rd India-Indonesia Defence Ministers’ Dialogue concluded with significant progress on BrahMos procurement

• Discussions on financial terms and phased procurement plan; estimated deal value ~USD 450 million

• If finalized, Indonesia becomes 2nd international buyer after Philippines (which procured 3 batteries in 2022)

• BrahMos range upgrade underway from 290 km to 500 km for land attacks; 400 km for ship attacks

• Expanded cooperation in maritime domain awareness, cyber resilience, and Indo-Pacific security

UPSC Relevance: Defence Exports; India-Indonesia Relations; Indo-Pacific Strategy; Strategic Partnership

8. Cabinet Approves ₹2,781 Crore Railway Multitracking Projects in Gujarat and Maharashtra

Category: INFRASTRUCTURE & TRANSPORT | Source: PIB, Deccan Chronicle, AffairsCloud

Key Points:

• Cabinet approved 224 km multitracking projects under PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan

• 141 km doubling of Devbhumi Dwarka (Okha)-Kanalus track in Gujarat

• 32 km addition of 3rd & 4th lines to Badlapur-Karjat corridor in Maharashtra

• Projects will handle additional 18 million tonnes freight annually; benefit 32 lakh people across 585 villages

• Environmental benefit: 3 crore litres oil import reduction, 16 crore kg CO2 emission reduction (equivalent to planting 64 lakh trees)

UPSC Relevance: Railway Infrastructure; Logistics; Green Transport; Regional Development

9. RBI’s Rupee Depreciation and Forex Interventions Surge to $26 Billion

Category: ECONOMY & MONETARY POLICY | Source: The Hindu Business Line, ThePrint, India IPO

Key Points:

• RBI’s forex interventions totaled $26.31 billion from Sep-Nov 2025 to stabilize weakening rupee

• Indian rupee depreciated 6.5% since May 2025 amid US-China trade tensions and tariff uncertainties

• IMF previously reclassified India’s exchange rate regime from ‘floating’ to ‘stabilised arrangement’ (Dec 2023)

• Central bank managing currency through spot and forwards markets to maintain competitiveness

• Experts expect rupee to appreciate in 2026 as India’s economic fundamentals remain strong

UPSC Relevance: Monetary Policy; Exchange Rate Management; Forex Reserves; Economic Stability

10. PM Modi Unveils Skyroot’s Vikram-I: India’s First Private Orbital Rocket

Category: SPACE & TECHNOLOGY | Source: India Today, NDTV, PIB

Key Points:

• PM Modi inaugurated Skyroot Aerospace’s Infinity Campus in Hyderabad and unveiled Vikram-I orbital rocket

• India’s first privately developed orbital launch vehicle; can carry 300 kg to Low Earth Orbit (LEO)

• 200,000 sq ft facility with capacity to produce 1 orbital rocket monthly

• Vikram-I equipped with all-carbon-fiber body; can place multiple satellites into orbit simultaneously

• Named after Dr. Vikram Sarabhai (founder of Indian space program); targets $77 billion small-satellite market by 2030

UPSC Relevance: Space Technology; Private Sector Innovation; Make in India; Entrepreneurship

11. India Unveils Quantum Microscope and Cryogenic Facility at IIT Bombay

Category: SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY | Source: Digital Health News, AffairsCloud, Shiksha

Key Points:

• India’s first Quantum Diamond Microscope (QDM) and Liquid Helium Cryogenic Facility inaugurated at IIT Bombay

• QDM developed under National Quantum Mission; uses nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centres in diamond for nanoscale imaging

• Applications in cancer diagnostics, biomedical imaging, neuroscience, materials research, semiconductor diagnostics

• Cryogenic facility supports quantum computing, cryo-electron microscopy, superconductivity studies

• ₹720 crore announced for quantum fabrication facilities at IIT Bombay, IIT Kanpur, IIT Delhi, IISc Bengaluru

UPSC Relevance: Quantum Technology; Scientific Infrastructure; Healthcare Innovation; Research & Development

12. Chief Justice Signals Potential Review of NJAC Judgment and Judicial Reforms

Category: GOVERNANCE & JUDICIARY | Source: The Hindu, New Indian Express, LegacyIAS

Key Points:

• CJI Surya Kant indicated court may consider plea to revive NJAC and end Collegium system

• 2015 judgment (4:1) struck down NJAC over concerns of executive interference in judicial independence

• Fresh plea argues NJAC removal was ‘great wrong’ replacing Parliament’s will with 4 judges’ opinion

• Collegium criticized as opaque, unaccountable, susceptible to nepotism and favoritism

• CJI called for National Judicial Policy to harmonize judicial functioning; debate on judicial transparency vs. independence ongoing

UPSC Relevance: Judicial Reforms; Constitutional Law; Separation of Powers; Judicial Independence

13. Cabinet Approves ₹7,280 Crore Scheme for Rare Earth Permanent Magnets Manufacturing

Category: INDUSTRY & SELF-RELIANCE | Source: PIB, Business Standard, India Today

Key Points:

• Union Cabinet approved scheme to establish 6,000 MTPA integrated REPM manufacturing capacity in India

• ₹6,450 crore sales-linked incentives + ₹750 crore capital subsidy for 5 beneficiaries (max 1,200 MTPA each)

• Critical for electric vehicles, renewable energy, electronics, aerospace, defence sectors

• India currently imports ~900 tonnes annually despite holding 5th-largest rare earth reserves globally

• 7-year scheme duration (2-year gestation + 5-year incentive period); responds to China’s tightened export norms

UPSC Relevance: Make in India; Critical Minerals; Energy Transition; Industrial Policy; Atmanirbhar Bharat

14. India Inducts 16 Indigenous Laser-Based Anti-Drone Systems

Category: DEFENCE & TECHNOLOGY | Source: Indian Defence News, Current Affairs Adda247, Military Matters

Key Points:

• Indian Army and IAF to induct 16 DRDO-developed Integrated Drone Detection & Interdiction System (Mark 2)

• 10-kilowatt laser beams with 2 km engagement range (doubles previous 1 km capability)

• Demonstrates India’s capability in directed energy weapons; places India alongside US, China, Russia

• Addresses drone threats from cross-border incidents (e.g., Operation Sindoor); part of counter-UAS strategy

• DRDO also developing high-energy microwave weapons, EMP systems for multi-layered air defence (‘Star Wars’-style capabilities)

UPSC Relevance: Defence Technology; Atmanirbhar Bharat; Counter-Terrorism; Border Security; Innovation

15. CBDT Launches 2nd NUDGE Initiative for Foreign Asset Compliance

Category: TAXATION & COMPLIANCE | Source: PIB, Moneycontrol, Economic Times, Income Tax India

Key Points:

• CBDT launching 2nd NUDGE (Non-intrusive Usage of Data to Guide & Enable) campaign from Nov 28, 2025

• ~25,000 high-risk taxpayers flagged via AEOI (Automatic Exchange of Information) data for unreported foreign assets

• SMS/email advisories urging return revision by Dec 31, 2025 to avoid penalties under Foreign Assets Schedule

• 1st NUDGE (Nov 2024) prompted 24,678 taxpayers to disclose ₹29,208 crore foreign assets + ₹1,089.88 crore foreign income

• CBDT assessed ~1,080 cases till June 2025, raising ₹40,000 crore tax demand; searches in Delhi, Mumbai, Pune uncovered Dubai-linked undisclosed assets

UPSC Relevance: Taxation; Fiscal Policy; Compliance; Black Money; Financial Transparency; Voluntary Disclosure

16. 6.0 Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Alaska Near Anchorage

Category: INTERNATIONAL – NATURAL DISASTER | Source: USGS, NY Times, ABC News

Key Points:

• Strong 6.0 magnitude earthquake struck Alaska on Nov 27, 2025 near Susitna (~30 miles from Anchorage)

• Epicenter at ~9 miles west of Susitna; depth and exact magnitude being analyzed for revision

• No tsunami warning issued for the event

• Alaska seismically active zone; part of Pacific Ring of Fire

UPSC Relevance: Seismology; Natural Disasters; Geophysics; Environmental Geography

PIB

The Hindu

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