The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has officially announced that the Mangalyaan-2 mission is scheduled to launch in 2030. Mangalyaan-2 aims to land on Mars using an orbiter and a lander. Twelve years after India made history with the launch of Mangalyaan, the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has officially announced that the country will attempt to land on Mars for the first time. The ambitious Mangalyaan-2 mission is scheduled to launch in 2030, ISRO Chairman Dr. V. Narayanan confirmed during an address. It is part of India’s growing participation in deep space missions around the world, following the success of other international missions such as Chandrayaan-3, Aditya-L1, and NISAR. The Mangalyaan-2 mission is set to explore Mars and will carry four payloads to study various aspects of the Red Planet.
2 PM Modi arrives in Bhutan on a two-day visit; will attend the 70th birth anniversary celebrations of the Fourth King.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has arrived in Bhutan to participate in the 70th birthday celebrations of the Fourth King of Bhutan, Jigme Singye Wangchuck . He was warmly welcomed by Bhutanese Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay at Paro International Airport . The visit aims to further strengthen the special friendship and cooperative ties with Bhutan. Prime Minister Modi and Bhutanese King Druk Gyalpo inaugurated the 1020 MW Punatsangchhu-II Hydroelectric Project, a project jointly developed by India and Bhutan. The sacred Piprahwa relic of Lord Buddha has been placed on behalf of India at the ongoing Global Peace Prayer Festival in Thimphu. Prime Minister Modi will participate in the festival and offer prayers to the sacred relic.
3 India joins Global MedSafetyWeek campaign, promoting safe use of medicines
The National Coordination Centre for Pharmacovigilance Programme of India (NCC-PVPI) , Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC), along with 130 partner organizations from around the world , participated in the tenth Global MedSafetyWeek campaign, held from November 3-9, 2025. MedSafetyWeek campaign aims to educate the public on why, how, and where to report suspected side effects . It was first launched in 2016. This year marks its tenth anniversary. It is the largest such event to date. 130 organizations from 117 countries shared messages in over 60 languages. The main message of this year’s campaign was: “Everyone has a role in drug safety. By reporting suspected side effects, you and I can help make medicines safer for everyone.” The initiative aimed to raise awareness among patients, families, and healthcare professionals about the importance of reporting suspected side effects of medications.
4 India and Sri Lanka agree to extend HICDP by five years with Indian assistance
India and Sri Lanka have agreed to extend the framework for the implementation of High Impact Community Development Projects (HICDP) in Sri Lanka through Indian grant assistance for another five years . The MoU was signed by Santosh Jha, High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka in Colombo, and Dr. Harshana Suriyapperuma, Secretary, Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development. The HICDP framework supports small but high-impact projects in line with Sri Lanka’s development priorities, with each project cost limited to 600 million Sri Lankan rupees and a total portfolio of 10 billion Sri Lankan rupees. Since its inception in 2005, more than 50 projects have been completed, including the renovation of the Duraiappah Stadium in Jaffna, the establishment of the Rabindranath Tagore Memorial Auditorium at the University of Ruhuna, and the upgrading of 70 estate-sector creches.
5 Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh and Vietnam’s Deputy Chief of General Staff Phung Sy Tan presided over the opening ceremony of the 6th India-Vietnam Army Exercise Vinbex in Hanoi
Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh and Vietnam ‘s Vice Chief of General Staff Phung Sy Tan presided over the opening ceremony of the 6th India-Vietnam Army Exercise Vinbex in Hanoi . Vinbex is a bilateral military exercise between India and Vietnam aimed at enhancing interoperability and sharing best practices in UN peacekeeping operations. The sixth edition aims to enhance interoperability and share key practices in UN peacekeeping operations and strengthen defence cooperation.
6 British author David Szalay will be awarded the Booker Prize this year.
Hungarian-born British author David Szalay has been shortlisted for this year’s Booker Prize for his novel, “Flesh .” The announcement was made at a ceremony in London. Mr. Szalay was previously shortlisted for the Booker Prize in 2016 for his novel, “All That Man Is.” The story of “Flesh” ranges from the housing estates of Hungary to the mansions of London’s wealthy class. It depicts the life journey of an emotionally detached and melancholic man who crumbles under the pressures of circumstances. This is Szalay’s sixth work. He is also the author of the novels “Spring” and “The Innocent,” as well as the short story collection “Turbulence.”
7 Shri Manohar Lal inaugurates India’s first megawatt-hour scale vanadium flow battery at NTPC Netra
Power and Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Shri Manohar Lal inaugurated India’s largest and first 3 MW-hour Vanadium Redox Flow Battery (VRFB) system . This landmark project marks a major step forward for the country in developing long-duration energy storage (LDES) solutions that enhance renewable energy integration and grid resilience. The Minister inaugurated the system during his visit to NETRA, NTPC ‘s Research and Development Centre in Greater Noida . Vanadium redox flow batteries are a contemporary technology that has the potential to emerge as an alternative to conventional lithium-ion-based batteries. The development of this advanced battery system will increase the reserves of elements used in the manufacturing of battery systems.
8 Winners of the 6th National Water Awards announced
Union Minister for Jal Shakti, Shri C.R. Patil, announced the list of winners of the 6th National Water Awards at the Shramik Shakti Bhawan in New Delhi . The Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation (DoWR, RD&GR), Ministry of Jal Shakti, announced 46 winners, including joint winners, for the 6th National Water Awards for the year 2024. These awards will be given in 10 categories : Best State, Best District, Best Gram Panchayat, Best Urban Local Body, Best School or College, Best Industry, Best Water Users Association, Best Institution (other than a school or college), Best Civil Society, and Best Individual for Excellence in the Water Sector. Maharashtra secured first place in the Best State category , followed by Gujarat in second place, and Haryana in third. The award ceremony for the 6th National Water Awards 2024 will be held on November 18, 2025, in the Plenary Hall of Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi. President Smt. Draupadi Murmu will be the Chief Guest at the event.
9 Urban Mobility India 2025 awards announced in 8 categories
The Honorable Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs and Power presented awards in eight categories at the three-day Urban Mobility India (UMI) Conference and Expo 2025 in Gurugram , Haryana . The Honorable Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs and Power presented awards in eight categories at the three-day Urban Mobility India (UMI) Conference and Expo 2025 in Gurugram, Haryana. The logo and website of the Pradhan Mantri e-Bus Seva Yojana were also launched. He also announced that the 19th Urban Mobility India (UMI) Conference and Expo 2026 will be held in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, from October 23 to 25, 2026. The complete list of award winners is as follows: 1. City with the Best Public Transport System – Chennai. 2. Commendation – Hubli-Dharwad BRTS Company Limited. 3. City with the Best Non-Motorized Transport System – Udaipur. 4. Special Mention – Thrissur State Mission Management. 5. City with the Most Innovative Financing Mechanism – Pimpri Chinchwad. 6. City with the Best Green Transport Initiative – Hyderabad Telangana Renewable Energy Development Corporation Limited (TGREDCO) 7. Commendation – Kochi Metro Rail Limited. 8. Metro Rail with Best Multimodal Integration – Chennai Metro Rail Limited. 9. Metro Rail with Best Passenger Services and Satisfaction – Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Limited. 10. Commendation – Chennai Metro Rail Limited
10 UIDAI partners with research consultancy BIT to promote Aadhaar updation among children
According to information provided by the Ministry of Electronics and IT on Tuesday, UIDAI has partnered with research consultancy Behavioural Insights Limited (BIT) . The partnership aims to help children and youth access key services with timely biometric updates to their Aadhaar cards . According to official information, the MoU aims to promote mandatory biometric update (MBU) in Aadhaar for children between 5 and 15 years of age and address practical, logistical, and awareness barriers to ensure timely updates, and enable seamless access to Aadhaar-linked services and benefits.
11 NIPL and Benefit partner to enable real-time money transactions between India and Bahrain
International Payments Limited (NIPL) , the international arm of National Payments Corporation of India , and Benefit , a leading fintech and electronic financial transactions company in Bahrain , have entered into a partnership to enable real-time remittances between India and Bahrain . This new partnership connects India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) with Bahrain’s electronic funds transfer system, specifically through the Fawry+ service , enabling users in both countries to send and receive funds instantly and securely. This collaboration, developed under the guidance of the Reserve Bank of India and the Central Bank of Bahrain, is a significant step in strengthening financial connectivity between the two countries and promoting digital financial inclusion.
12 Simplification of regulations to promote cornea donation and transplantation
The Central Government has simplified cornea transplant rules to promote cornea donation and transplant services . In line with the Government’s vision to promote equitable access to organ and tissue transplant services , the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on November 6 notified the Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues (Amendment) Rules, 2025 under the Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act, 1994. This amendment will further strengthen the National Organ Transplant Programme (NOTP), which aims to streamline the functioning of cornea transplant centres and facilitate wider access to eye donation and transplant services across the country. Under this amendment, the mandatory requirement of clinical specular equipment in corneal transplant centres has now been removed.
13 ‘Watershed Festival’ inaugurated in Guntur, Andhra Pradesh
The Union Ministry of Rural Development launched the ‘ Watershed Festival ‘ in Guntur, Andhra Pradesh , a national celebration of community-led water restoration, improved soil health and sustainable rural transformation. Held in the presence of Union Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Minister of State for Rural Development Dr. Pemmasani Chandrasekhar, the event reaffirmed the Government of India’s commitment to empower rural communities through water conservation and environmental restoration.