1 Indian art director Thota Tharani honoured with France’s prestigious Chevalier Award
Veteran art director Thota Tharani has been awarded the Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters), a prestigious French civilian award . The honor was formally conferred by the French Ambassador to India at the Alliance Française in Chennai on November 25, 2025 , at the inauguration of Tharani’s art exhibition . This honor places him among an elite group of Indian cultural luminaries such as Kamal Haasan, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Sivaji Ganesan, and Kalki Koechlin , who have previously received this French honor for their contributions to art and literature. Born with innate artistic talent, Tharani studied at the Government Fine Arts College, Chennai, and later at the Royal College of Art, London. He began his career with the Telugu film ” Sommokadidhi Sommokadidhi ” (1978) and made his Tamil debut with ” Raja Paarvai ” (1981).
2 Gopal Ratna Awards 2025 to honour best dairy farmers
The Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, has announced the winners of the Rashtriya Gopal Ratna Awards (NGRA) 2025. NGRA is one of the highest national honors in the livestock and dairy sector. The awards will be presented by Shri Rajiv Ranjan Singh, also known as Lallan Singh, Minister of the Union Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying (MoFAHD) and Ministry of Panchayati Raj. The awards will be presented during the National Milk Day celebrations on November 26, 2025. A total of 2,081 applications were received this year, from which the awardees were selected.
1. Best Dairy Farmer Rearing Indigenous Cows/Buffaloes – Non-Northeast:
First: Shri Arvind Yashwant Patil, Kolhapur, Maharashtra.
Second: Dr. Kankanala Krishna Reddy, Hyderabad, Telangana.
Third: Shri Harshit Jhuria, Sikar, Rajasthan.
Third: Kumari Shraddha Satyawan Dhawan, Ahmednagar, Maharashtra.
Northeast/Himalayan:
Smt. Vijay Lata, Hamirpur, Himachal Pradesh.
Mr. Pradeep Pangaria, Champawat, Uttarakhand.
2. Best Dairy Cooperative Society/Milk Producer Company/Dairy Farmer Producer Organization Non-Northeast:
First: Meenan Gadi Ksheerolapadaka Sahakarana Sangham Limited, Wayanad, Kerala.
Second: Kunnamkattupati Ksheerolapadaka Sahakarana Sangham, Palakkad, Kerala.
Second: Ghinoi Milk Producers Cooperative Society, Jaipur, Rajasthan.
Third: TYSPL 37 Sendurai Milk Producers Cooperative Society Limited, Ariyalur, Tamil Nadu.
Northeast/Himalayan:
Kulha Milk Producers Cooperative Society, Udham Singh Nagar, Uttarakhand.
3. Best Artificial Insemination Technician (AIT) – Northeast-NER:
First: Mr. Dilip Kumar Pradhan, Angul, Odisha.
Second: Mr. Vikas Kumar, Hanumangarh, Rajasthan.
Third: Mrs. Anuradha Chakali, Nandyal, Andhra Pradesh.
Northeast/Himalayan:
Mr. Deluwar Hasan, Barpeta, Assam.
3 The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has approved the first leopard birth control program in Maharashtra.
Seventeen months after the Maharashtra government submitted a proposal for a leopard birth control program , the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) approved it on November 17, 2025, making it the first such initiative in the country . The region is surrounded by sugarcane fields and human settlements, making leopard movement a frequent challenge, making their capture a challenge. The program will be implemented in phases. “In the first phase, the birth control experiment will be conducted on five female leopards,” said Ashish Thackeray, Chief Conservator of Forests, Pune Range. The estimated leopard population in Pune district is approximately 1,300. Maharashtra has been witnessing a sharp increase in conflict incidents for nearly a decade, with the last five years being particularly severe. Encounters between leopards and humans have resulted in frequent attacks on encircled villages, massive livestock losses, and a surge in rescue and rehabilitation efforts. Five villagers have lost their lives in leopard attacks in Pune district since April 2025, the last of which was a 13-year-old boy killed by a leopard in Pimperkhed village of Shirur tehsil on November 1, triggering strong reactions from locals.
4 International Gita Festival-2025 begins in Haryana
Haryana Governor Asim Kumar Ghosh inaugurated the Saras and Crafts Mela in Kurukshetra , marking the beginning of the 21-day 10th International Gita Mahotsav-2025 . He paid his respects by laying flowers on a copy of the Bhagavad Gita and toured the Saras and Crafts Mela on the banks of the Brahma Sarovar. England has been declared the partner country for the International Gita Mahotsav 2025, and Madhya Pradesh is the partner state for the International Gita Mahotsav 2025. Ghosh informed that the International Gita Mahotsav-2025 will run from November 15th to December 5th, with the main events spanning eight days from November 24th to December 1st. It will be primarily celebrated in Kurukshetra, Haryana. It is believed that Lord Krishna gave the Bhagavad Gita to Arjuna in Kurukshetra. The Bhagavad Gita has been a philosophical guide and spiritual guru for Hindus since its inception. In the Gita, Lord Krishna imparts numerous teachings to Arjuna, which are considered the ideal way to live life.
5 Two new Consulates General of India opened in Russia
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Wednesday inaugurated two new Indian Consulates General in Russia , stating that these will further strengthen trade, cultural ties, and people-to-people contacts between the two countries. These new consulates have been opened in Yekaterinburg and Kazan . Jaishankar stated that work on establishing these embassies had been ongoing for the past few months. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko, Indian Ambassador to Russia Vinay Kumar, administrative officials from both regions, and members of the Indian community were present at the event. Yekaterinburg is known as Russia’s “third capital” due to its economic importance. The region is known for heavy engineering, gemstone processing, defense production, metallurgy, nuclear fuel, chemicals, and medical equipment. Kazan is one of Russia’s most visited cities and serves as a cultural bridge between Russia and Asia. Kazan is also an important center for oil production, fertilizers, automobiles, defense production, pharmaceuticals, and electrical equipment.
6 The Supreme Court declared the Tribunal Reforms Act, 2021, unconstitutional.
The Supreme Court on Wednesday delivered a significant judgment regarding the Tribunal Reforms Act 2021. The court declared key provisions of the Act unconstitutional . These provisions related to the appointment, service conditions, and tenure of members of various tribunals. A bench comprising Chief Justice B.R. Gavai and Justice K. Vinod Chandran stated that the Tribunal Reforms Act 2021 grossly violates the principles of separation of powers and the independence of the judiciary. Expressing displeasure with the central government, the court stated that reinstating previously repealed provisions with minor changes was an affront to judicial decisions. The background of the entire case dates back to 2020. In November 2020, the Supreme Court fixed the tenure of tribunal chairpersons and members at five years . However, the central government issued an ordinance in 2021, reducing this to four years . In July 2021, the court struck down this ordinance. Despite this, in August 2021, Parliament passed the Tribunal Reforms Bill, reinstating similar provisions. This law abolishes several bodies, such as the Film Certification Appellate Tribunal, and sets a minimum age of 50 years for appointments and a four-year term. The court granted an interim order that until Parliament enacts a new law, appointments to tribunals will be made in accordance with the guidelines of the MBA-4 and MBA-5 cases. Pre-2021 laws will continue to apply to important tribunals, such as the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT). The court clarified that members of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal and the Customs, Excise and Service Tax Appellate Tribunal will serve until they attain the age of 62, while their chairpersons or heads will serve until they attain the age of 65. The court directed the central government to constitute a National Tribunals Commission within three months, which will independently monitor appointments, administration, and functioning.
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) signed a key agreement with a German company during the 7th Dubai Air Show 2025
At the Dubai Airshow 2025 , a significant agreement was signed between India’s Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and Germany ‘s leading company, HENSOLDT . Simply put, Germany is providing India with its most advanced LiDAR-based Obstacle Avoidance System (OAS) technology. This technology is nothing short of miraculous. Its specialized sensors will tell the pilot from a distance of 1,000 meters (1 kilometer) whether there is a thin power line, pole, or tower ahead. When the pilot is flying in dust, snow, or fog , this system creates a synthetic vision or 3D map . Its biggest advantage will be that our helicopters will be protected from CFIT , i.e., accidents involving inadvertent collisions with the ground or mountains . Initially, this system will be installed in India’s most lethal helicopters—the Prachanda (LCH) and the Dhruv (ALH).
8 Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh launched the country’s first indigenous CRISPR-based gene therapy.
Science and Technology Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh launched the country’s first indigenous CRISPR-based gene therapy for sickle cell disease . Sickle cell disease primarily affects the country’s tribal population. Called Birsa 101, the therapy is dedicated to Bhagwan Birsa Munda , whose 150th birth anniversary was celebrated on the 15th of this month . Dr. Singh stated that the country has formally embarked on its decisive journey towards becoming a sickle cell disease-free nation, marking a historic turning point in the country’s public health and genomic medicine landscape. The Union Minister noted that this achievement enables the development of cutting-edge treatments at a fraction of the global cost, potentially replacing foreign treatment costs of approximately ₹20-25 crore. Dr. Jitendra Singh also inaugurated a new advanced research and translation facility at CSIR-IGIB. A formal technology transfer and collaboration agreement was signed between CSIR-IGIB and Serum Institute of India Private Limited. This made it possible to translate IGIB’s engineered enFnCas9 CRISPR platform into scalable, affordable treatments for sickle cell disease and other serious genetic disorders.
9 Nagaland selected Switzerland and Ireland as partner countries for Hornbill Festival-2025
Nagaland has selected Switzerland and Ireland as partner countries for the Hornbill Festival 2025. The announcement of these two countries was made in New Delhi. The decision was taken during a meeting between Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio and Swiss Ambassador Maya Tissafi. The Swiss Ambassador expressed hope that this would pave the way for stronger cultural ties and future cooperation in various fields between the two countries. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Rio also met with Irish Ambassador Kevin Kelly and announced Ireland as another partner country for this prestigious festival. Speaking on the occasion, Ambassador Kelly said that this partnership reflects the growing cultural and diplomatic ties between Ireland and India. Previously, the UK was also named as a partner country for the Hornbill Festival .
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10 President Trump formally announced the designation of Saudi Arabia as a Major Non-NATO Ally.
President Donald Trump has formally designated Saudi Arabia as a major non-NATO ally . This initiative aims to strengthen defense cooperation between the United States and Saudi Arabia. The announcement came after a meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman . During the meeting, Mohammed bin Salman pledged to increase Saudi Arabia’s investment in the United States from $600 billion to $1 trillion . President Trump also confirmed plans to sell F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia. This would make Saudi Arabia the first West Asian country after Israel to acquire this advanced aircraft . Currently, the United States has 19 non-NATO allies worldwide. Taiwan has not yet received this formal status. President Trump described the decision as strengthening both countries and contributing to regional stability. He stated that the two sides have reached a historic strategic defense agreement. Curaçao became the least populated team to qualify in 2019.
The Caribbean island of Curaçao has made football history. Curaçao has become the least populous country to ever qualify for the FIFA World Cup . In the match played in Kingston, Curaçao played out a 0-0 draw against Jamaica, sparking celebrations on this island of approximately 150,000 people. With the goalless draw, the team secured top spot in Group B. The team has 12 points, one more than Jamaica. Trinidad and Tobago is in third place in this group with 9 points, while Bermuda failed to even open its account. The FIFA World Cup will be played between June and July next year, with 48 teams participating. With this achievement, Curaçao surpassed Iceland, which made history by qualifying in 2018. At that time, the country’s population was 350,000.