News Summary · 6 minutes read
Stay ahead in your UPSC CSE preparation with our daily News Summary. Designed to save time, it highlights key national and international events from leading newspapers and government websites.
Cyclone Ditwah
- Originated as a depression over the southwest Bay of Bengal and intensified into Cyclone near Sri Lanka’s east coast.
- Affected regions: Sri Lanka (severely) and India (Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Andhra Pradesh).
- Named by Yemen → refers to Detwah Lagoon on Yemen’s Socotra Island.
- Sri Lanka declared a state of emergency to expedite rescue and relief efforts.
- Operation Sagar Bandhu: launched by India to help Sri Lanka.
11th session of Governing Body (GB11) of International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA)
- Held in Lima, Peru, from 24 to 29 November 2025 → co-hosted by Peru and Switzerland.
- Main issues discussed: reforming Multilateral System (MLS), expanding Annex I crop list handling Digital Sequence Information (DSI), improving benefit-sharing rules, strengthening Farmers’ Rights, updating conservation and information systems (GLIS), etc.
GB-11 outcomes
- Adopted the 1st global assessment of Farmers’ Rights implementation.
- Approved A Capacity Development Strategy (2026–2029).
- No agreement on major reforms related to the MLS, Annex I crop list, and DSI, etc.
International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA)
- Adopted during the 31st session of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Conference → entered into force in 2004.
- Only legally binding international agreement focused exclusively on the management of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture.
- Governing Body: composed of all contracting parties → currently, ITPGRFA has 155 contracting parties, including India.
- Evolution of Treaty
- 1983: establishment of the Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, and adoption of the voluntary International Undertaking on Plant Genetic Resources.
- 1996: adoption of the Global Plan of Action at the Leipzig International Technical Conference on Plant Genetic Resources.
- 2001: adoption of ITPGRFA.
- Key provisions
- Multilateral System (MLS): Creates a global pool of 64 major food crops (Annex I). which account for over 80% of plant-derived food, that member countries can freely access for research, breeding, and training.
- Access & Benefit-Sharing (ABS): Allows ratifying countries controlled access to MLS genetic resources without permitting IPR claims on received materials, while ensuring that users share the derived benefits.
- Farmers’ Rights: Recognises farmers as custodians of crop diversity and protects their traditional knowledge, participation, and share in benefits.
- Sustainable Use: Promotes diversified farming systems and the improved use of all crops, not only the 4 major staples (rice, wheat, maize, potatoes), to strengthen long-term food and nutrition security.
CSIR-NAL unveils production version of Hansa-3(NG)
- Earlier, CSIR-NAL had signed a technology transfer agreement with Pioneer Clean AMPS Pvt Limited to manufacture HANSA-3 NG in India → 1st indigenously designed/developed civil aircraft transferred to an industry partner for manufacturing.
- Now, Pioneer has reportedly commenced manufacturing at a facility in Kuppam, Andhra Pradesh.
HANSA-3 (NG)
- Indigenously designed/developed by CSIR-NAL → 2-seater trainer aircraft (civil) → latest version of HANSA planes (made by CSIR-NAL since 1998).
- Made from composite materials (advanced non-metal materials) that provide weight savings, enhanced strength, and corrosion resistance.
Iron Bird Facility for Saras Mk2
It is a platform for full-system integration, ground testing, and validation of major aircraft subsystems → recently inaugurated in Bengaluru by Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh.
Saras Mk2
- A 19-seater Light Transport Aircraft for both civilian and military roles.
- Designed by the CSIR-NAL.
- Aims to improve regional connectivity within India, reducing dependence on foreign aircraft for short-haul transport.
- 1st test flight expected in 2027.
New labour codes implemented
- Central govt announced the implementation of the 4 new Labour Codes on 21 November 2025 to consolidate 29 earlier laws.
- Acts such as the Factories Act, 1948, Minimum Wages Act, 1948, Trade Unions Act, 1926, and the Maternity Benefit Act, 1961, are repealed.
- Implementation was delayed because Labour is a Concurrent List subject, requiring both the Centre and States to frame Rules.
4 new Labour Codes
- Code on Wages (2019)
- Industrial Relations Code (2020)
- Code on Social Security (2020)
- Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions (OSHWC) Code, 2020
Key features
- Formalisation push: Mandatory appointment letters for all workers.
- Universalisation of minimum wages: Statutory right to minimum wages + introduction of a national floor wage.
- Expanded social security: PF, ESIC coverage extended to gig and platform workers.
- Women’s workforce participation: Permission for women to work at night and in all establishments.
- Gender-neutral safeguards: Equal pay, non-discrimination, explicit inclusion of transgender persons.
- Ease of compliance: Digital filings, simplified definitions, and lower litigation.
India signs loan agreements with Asian Development Bank (ADB)
These loan agreements are for:
- Maharashtra Power Distribution Enhancement Programme for Agricultural Solarization
- Indore Metro Rail Project
- Gujarat Skills Development Programme
Airbus A320 planes
Thousands of Airbus A320 aeroplanes around the world are undergoing an urgent software fix.
Reason for software fix
- Recently, a JetBlue Airbus A320 plane suddenly dropped altitude on its own during a flight, without the pilots’ command.
- Investigation revealed that a computer inside the plane (called ELAC, which helps control the plane’s wings and tail) was corrupted by solar/cosmic radiation.
- Airbus told all airlines using A320 planes to update the software to avoid any problem.
How cosmic radiation affects electronics?
- Cosmic rays are usually harmless to electronics because Earth’s atmosphere weakens them, and electronic devices are built to withstand small amounts of radiation.
- But planes fly at high altitude, where the atmosphere is thinner, exposing them to intense radiation.
- Sometimes, a cosmic ray hits a computer chip and flips a “1” to “0” — or vice versa. This is called a Single Event Upset (SEU) → can cause a computer to momentarily miscalculate.
Who owns Airbus?
- No single entity holds a majority of the shares in Airbus.
- Apart from Retail and Institutional investors, its Major shareholders are: France, Germany, and Spain.
Quick Picks for Prelims and Mains (QPPM)
- Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary, Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary, Bhagwan Mahavir National Park, Netravali Wildlife Sanctuary, and Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary are located in Goa.
- Bhimgad Wildlife Sanctuary and Kali Tiger Reserve (Anshi Dandeli TR) are located in Karnataka → both form tiger corridors between Karnataka and Goa forests.
- Namansh Syal: Indian Air Force (IAF) pilot who recently died in a crash of a Tejas Mk-1 Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) at Dubai Air Show.
- Vivek Chaturvedi: appointed as the Chairman of the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC).
- Shipping Corporation of India (SCI): established in 1961 by amalgamating Eastern and Western Shipping Corporations → HQ: Mumbai.
- Indonesia has declared a state of emergency due to hydro-meteorological disasters (floods + landslides) → regions like Aceh and Sumatra are worst hit.
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