National Migration Survey 2026

• MoSPI will launch a year-long national migration survey from July 2026, the first full migration survey since 2007–08.

• As per the most recent migration data collected by the statistics ministry part of its Periodic Labour Force Survey (2020-2021), India’s percentage of migrants in the population was 28.9%.

Significance of the Migration Survey

• Labour Mapping: Tracks work-driven mobility; E.g., 67% male migration for jobs (PLFS 2021).
• Gender Trends: Captures female patterns; E.g., 48% rural women are migrant’s vs 5.9% men.
• Crisis Insight: Builds post-COVID understanding for planning. E.g. 11 million reverse migrants (IGC).
• Regional Equity: Shows source–destination imbalances; E.g. UP–Bihar has the highest out-migration.
• Skill Policy: Enables skill–mobility corridor design; E.g. Kerala migration–skills model.

Key Changes to be made in the 2026 Survey

• Revised Short-Term Definition: Short-term migration now means staying away 15 days–6 months (earlier 1–6 months), improving capture of gig, festival-season, and circular workers across sectors.
• Removal of Household Migration: Eliminates the “entire household migrated” category as its share has been consistently below 1%, sharpening the survey’s focus on individual mobility.
• Addition of Impact Indicators: Adds questions on income change, healthcare access, safety, and basic amenities, allowing a clearer assessment of welfare outcomes associated with migration.
• Capturing Migration Intent: Introduces a module on whether migrants plan to move again, enabling forward-looking analysis and better prediction of future mobility flows.
• Exclusion of Hard-to-Reach Areas: Leaves out remote A&N Island villages due to severe access constraints, while maintaining national-level representativeness and operational feasibility.
• Expanded Reason Categories: Broadens reasons for migration into work, search-work, education, marriage, and distress, providing a more accurate and behaviour-sensitive classification.

Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC)

Iceland has declared the potential collapse of AMOC as a national security threat.

AMOC

• AMOC is a system of ocean currents that circulates water within the Atlantic Ocean, bringing warm water north and cold water south.
• It is powered by the differences in water temperature and salinity and distributes heat and nutrients throughout the world’s ocean basins. 
• Its weakening and collapse can lead to:
• Cool Europe and change precipitation patterns in parts of Europe, South America, and Africa.
• Affect the timing of the Indian monsoon.
• Tropical rain belt to shift southward, resulting in droughts over the African Sahel.

Draft Shram Shakti Niti 2025

• The Ministry of Labour and Employment released the Draft Shram Shakti Niti 2025 to modernise labour governance and accelerate the government’s shift toward labour facilitation.
• Draft Shram Shakti Niti 2025 is India’s first comprehensive National Labour and Employment Policy aimed at creating a fair, inclusive and technology‑enabled labour ecosystem.
• Social Security: It proposes a Universal Social Security Account (USSA) that integrates EPFO, ESIC, PM‑JAY, e‑SHRAM and state welfare boards to ensure lifelong and portable worker benefits.
• Workplace Safety: The framework commits to enforcing the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Code 2020 using AI‑based risk inspections to achieve near-zero workplace fatalities by 2047.
• Future Workforce: To build a skilled and adaptable workforce, the policy converges Skill India and PMKVY with an upgraded National Career Service platform for more accurate job matching.
• Digital Backbone: The Labour and Employment Stack will integrate worker identities, enterprise databases and social security entitlements through a unified digital architecture.
  • DPI: It will link with the National Career Service to function as a Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) for Employment.
• Women’s Participation: It aims to raise female labour force participation to 35% by 2030 through flexible working arrangements, safer workplaces and expanded childcare support.
• Compliance Ease: A single‑window digital portal will simplify labour administration by enabling self‑certification and conducting transparent, risk‑based inspections.
• Governance Reform: A new Labour & Employment Policy Evaluation Index will assess implementation progress and provide real‑time performance monitoring across states and ministries.

Challenges Associated with the Draft Policy

• Funding Gap: The policy lacks a clear financing formula for the USSA, creating uncertainty about long-term social security for informal and gig workers.
• Digital Divide: Heavy reliance on digital platforms risks excluding rural workers, women, and older workers who have limited digital literacy.
• Regulatory Shift: Transitioning the government into a facilitator role may dilute oversight and weaken enforcement.
• Informal Sector: The policy does not adequately address the protection of rights and dispute resolution mechanisms for informal and gig workers.
• Dialogue Weakening: Absence of a formal tripartite negotiation system restricts the role of trade unions and weakens participatory labour governance.
• AI Risks: AI-based labour platforms can embed caste, gender, or regional biases without robust safeguards and stringent data protection rules.

Way Forward

• Co-Funded Security: Introduce a tripartite contribution model for the USSA with fixed funding rules and offline enrolment centres
• Safety Mission: Establish a National Workplace Safety Mission with a dedicated OSH inspectorate financed by a high‑risk industry cess.
• Childcare Fund: A National Childcare Infrastructure Fund, utilising earmarked CSR allocations, can expand workplace creches and neighbourhood childcare facilities.
• AI Oversight: Set up a statutory Labour AI Audit Body to assess job‑matching and monitoring algorithms and enforce strict data‑protection safeguards.
• Transition Support: Launch a Just Transition Income Support programme that offers temporary income and reskilling supports to workers in sunset sectors.

Hepatitis A

Hepatitis A has been a growing cause of acute liver failure in India.

• It is an inflammation of the liver that can cause mild to severe illness.
• Transmitted through: Ingestion of contaminated food and water or through direct sexual contact with an infectious person.
• Recovery: Almost everyone recovers fully from hepatitis A with a lifelong immunity. 
• However, a very small proportion of people infected with hepatitis A could die from fulminant hepatitis.
• Unlike hepatitis B and C, hepatitis A does not cause chronic liver disease.
• Vaccine is available for Hepatitis A and B but is not available for hepatitis C.

India Launches Biomass-Based Hydrogen Pilot Initiative

• At the 3^rd International Conference on Green Hydrogen (ICGH 2025), the Ministry for New & Renewable Energy announced a new ₹100 crore initiative under the National Green Hydrogen Mission (NGHM).

Key Highlights of the Announcement

• The National Green Hydrogen Mission (NGHM), launched in 2023 with an outlay of ₹19,744 crore, aims to decarbonise hard-to-abate sectors.
• A new ₹100 crore Call for Proposals will fund pilot projects that use biomass and waste materials to produce green hydrogen.
• The scheme will be implemented through BIRAC (Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council).
• Another ₹100 crore has already been allocated for startups under NGHM.
• The Ministry also announced that 43 hydrogen-related skill qualifications have been approved.
• Frameworks such as the Green Hydrogen Standard (2023) and the Certification Scheme (2025) are now operational.

Progress under NGHM.

• Incentives under the Strategic Interventions for Green Hydrogen Transition (SIGHT) programme have been awarded for:
• 3,000 MW per annum of domestic electrolyser manufacturing and;
• 8.62 lakh metric tonnes per annum of green hydrogen production.
• India now records the world’s lowest green ammonia price at ₹49.75/kg for a production capacity of 7.24 lakh MTPA.

SC Flags Declining Representation of Women in Parliament

• The Supreme Court raised concern over the delay in implementing the Women’s Reservation Law (Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam / 106th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2023).
• A petition was filed seeking immediate enforcement of 33% reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies.

Key Observations by the Supreme Court

• Justice B.V. Nagarathna (the only woman judge on the SC Bench) highlighted that despite forming 48.44% of India’s population, women remain significantly under-represented in legislatures.
• She described women as the “largest minority” in the political space and questioned why representation should wait for procedural conditions to be met.
• Constitutional Basis: Article 15(3) permits the State to take affirmative action and make special provisions for women.
• The Bench underlined that political justice is as essential as social & economic justice in a democracy.
• Reason for Implementation Delay:
• The law becomes operational only after the next national census, and;
• Delimitation (redrawing constituencies based on updated population figures).
• The Union government has not specified any timeline for either exercise.

U.S. Government Shutdown Ended

• US President Donald Trump signed a government funding bill on 12 November 2025, formally ending a record 43-day government shutdown.
• Record Length: The shutdown, beginning on 1 October 2025, became the longest in US history by lasting 43 days.
• Past Record: The longest shutdown lasted 35 days during Donald Trump’s first presidency between December 2018 and January 2019.

World Health Organisation (WHO) releases the Global Tuberculosis (TB) Report 2025

The report highlights TB to among top 10 causes of death worldwide and leading cause of death from a single infectious agent.

Other Key Findings

• TB Burden: In 2024, 87% of world’s TB patients were concentrated in 30 countries, with the highest rates found in India (25%). 
• Global TB Incidence Rate: Net reduction of 12% from 2015-2024. 
• Global TB Deaths: Net reduction of 29% from 2015-2024. 
• Multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB): Remained a public health crisis and a health security threat.

Tuberculosis (TB)

• It is a contagious airborne disease caused by a bacterium called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It is preventable and curable. 
• Two Types: 
• Pulmonary TB: Most common form affecting the lungs, and is contagious spreading through airborne droplets through coughing or sneezing. 
• Extrapulmonary TB: Occurs outside the lungs, affecting organs like lymph nodes, bones, brain, kidneys, or the pleura, less contagious and spreads within the body from lungs.
• Treatment: Treated with special antibiotics,  most common being rifampicin; isoniazid; pyrazinamide; and ethambutol.
• MDR-TB: Form of TB that do not respond to rifampicin and isoniazid, the two most effective first-line TB drugs. 

India-Canada 7^th Ministerial Dialogue

• India and Canada recently held the 7th Ministerial Dialogue on Trade and Investment (MDTI) in New Delhi.

Key Highlights of the Dialogue

• The meeting aimed to reinvigorate trade and investment ties and advance cooperation under the Joint Statement on Renewing Momentum towards a Stronger Partnership (October 2025).
• Both sides reaffirmed their relationship based on shared democratic values, cultural diversity, and economic complementarities.
• The Indian diaspora (2.9 million) and over 4.27 lakh Indian students in Canada were recognised as vital links strengthening bilateral relations.
• Trade Figures: Bilateral trade in goods and services reached USD 18.38 billion in 2023, reflecting steady growth.

India-Nepal Connectivity Pact

• India and Nepal signed a Letter of Exchange (LoE) amending the Treaty of Transit to expand rail-based connectivity and enhance trade.

• Rail Connectivity: The LoE facilitates the movement of containerised and bulk cargo between Jogbani (India) and Biratnagar (Nepal).
• Trade Corridors: It liberalises movement along the Kolkata–Jogbani, Kolkata–Nautanwa (Sunauli), and Visakhapatnam–Nautanwa (Sunauli) corridors, facilitating Nepal’s third‑country trade.
• Significance: The amendment strengthens regional connectivity, supports India’s Neighbourhood First policy, and promotes economic integration in South Asia.

India–Nepal Relations

• Trade: India is Nepal’s largest trading partner and leading source of FDI, making up almost two-thirds of Nepal’s merchandise trade.
• Connectivity: Key initiatives include the Motihari–Amlekhgunj petroleum pipeline, Integrated Check Posts (ICPs) at border crossings, and various cross-border railway links.
• Defence: Both nations coordinate on border management, counter-terrorism and hold the annual military exercise, Surya Kiran.
• Energy: India has committed to importing 10,000 MW of electricity from Nepal over the next decade, with recent agreements prioritising cross-border transmission lines.
• Cultural: Sister-city agreements (“twinning arrangements“) link Kathmandu–Varanasi, Lumbini–Bodhgaya, and Janakpur–Ayodhya to enhance people-to-people relations.

The Land Gap Report 2025 highlights reliance of governments’ climate pledges on Land-Based Carbon Removal (LBCR)

Present government climate pledges propose using approximately 1.01 billion ha of land for Land Based Carbon Removal.

Land Based Carbon Removal (LBCR)

LBCR refers to strategies that use terrestrial ecosystems primarily forests, soils, wetlands, and agricultural landscapes to absorb and store carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

Methods of LBCR

• Reforestation and Afforestation: According to the IPCC, reforestation and afforestation can mitigate 0.5–10.1 gigatonnes of CO₂ per year.
• Soil Carbon Sequestration: It refers to the process of capturing atmospheric CO₂ and storing it in soils in the form of soil organic carbon (SOC).
• Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS): In BECCS, energy crops like silvergrass are grown, which are burned as fuel for bioenergy, and the resulting CO₂ emissions are captured and stored underground. 
• Geologic Carbon Sequestration: Captured CO₂ either from direct air capture or biogenic sources is injected deep underground into porous rock formations for long-term storage. 
• Biochar: Burning biomass in an oxygen-limited environment producing more stable form of carbon, which can then be applied to soils – adding nutrients and increasing soil’s carbon stocks. 
• Enhanced Weathering: Accelerating the natural reaction between carbon dioxide and reactive sources, such as certain types of rocks, to increase carbon uptake.

Study offers a promising new method to repair spinal fractures using Stem Cells

As per the Study, stem cells extracted from adipose tissue (known as body fat) can help heal osteoporosis-related fractures seen in humans. 

• Osteoporosis is a disease which makes bones weak and fragile.  

Stem Cells

• Meaning: They are unspecialized cells that can self-renew indefinitely and can also differentiate into more mature cells with specialized functions.
• In humans, they have been identified in inner cell mass of the early embryo; in some tissues of foetus, umbilical cord, placenta; and in several adult organs. 

• Key Types: Pluripotent stem cells (embryonic stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells) and Nonembryonic/Somatic/Adult stem cells.
  • Embryonic Stem Cells (ESCs): Found in the embryo (3- 5 days post fertilization and prior to implantation) containing an inner cell mass capable of generating to all the specialized tissues of human body. 
  • Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSCs): Created through the introduction of embryonic genes into a somatic cell (For E.g. Skin Cell) causing it to revert back to a “stem cell like” state. 
• Pluripotent stem cells: Ability to differentiate into all cells of the adult body. 

• Adult Stem Cells (ASCs): Undifferentiated cells found in tissue or organ and can differentiate to yield the specialized cell types of that tissue or organ. Key Types Include: Neural Stem Cells; Skin Stem Cells, etc.

 World Bank Calls for Stronger Financial Sector Reforms in India

• The Financial Sector Assessment (FSA) Report 2025, jointly prepared under the IMF–World Bank FSAP, praised India’s advances in banking stability while urging reforms in capital mobilisation.

Why Financial Sector Reform is Crucial?

• Capital Mobilisation: India needs private investment of 30–35% of GDP to sustain high growth rates. E.g. Capital markets grew from 144% to 175% of GDP (2017–2025), but still lag behind China (>300%).
• Banking Stability: Indian banks have recovered from twin balance sheet stress due to better provisioning, yet credit expansion remains limited. E.g. MSMEs receive only 15% of total bank credit (RBI, 2024).
• Vision 2047 Goal: To achieve $30 trillion GDP, India must ensure robust financial intermediation, diversified markets, and resilient governance frameworks.

Proposal to Remove Closed Factories from the IIP Database

• The MoSPI has proposed an automatic substitution mechanism to replace closed factories with active units in the Index of Industrial Production (IIP) database.

Proposed Automatic Substitution Mechanism

• Mechanism: The proposed system will replace closed or inactive factories in the IIP sample with verified operational units drawn from updated databases.
• Objective: It will ensure that the IIP reflects current production trends and captures ongoing structural shifts across industries.
• Data Reliability: By eliminating around 8.9% inactive factories, the mechanism will minimise data gaps and enhance the overall credibility of industrial estimates.

Selection Process for Substitutes

• Selection Basis: Substitute factories will be selected from the latest Annual Survey of Industries (ASI) to ensure the reliability of the data.
• Eligibility: Only factories producing identical or comparable products to the replaced units will be selected to maintain comparability.
• Output Match: The new factory’s Gross Value Added (GVA) or Gross Value of Output (GVO) should closely match that of the outgoing unit.
• Verification: If a factory reports zero output or fails to share data for three consecutive months, its status will be reviewed before substitution.
• Continuity: The new factory must have at least 12 months of production data available before substitution to preserve time-series consistency.

Index of Industrial Production (IIP)

• The Index of Industrial Production (IIP) is a composite indicator that tracks short-term changes in the production volume of selected industrial goods.
• Nodal Agency: The index is compiled and released by the National Statistical Office (NSO) under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI).
• Base Year: The current base year is 2011-12. MoSPI is in the process of revising the base year to 2022-23 to accurately reflect the industrial output.
• Coverage: The IIP uses data from 14 source agencies, covering 407 items across three sectors: Manufacturing (77.6%), Mining (14.4%), and Electricity (8.0%).
• Core Industries: Eight key sectors (Coal, Crude Oil, Natural Gas, Refinery Products, Fertilisers, Steel, Cement, and Electricity) together account for 40.27% of the total weight.
• Use-Based Classification: Industrial output is grouped under six categories: Primary, Capital, Intermediate, Infrastructure, Consumer Durables, and Non-Durables.
• Methodology: It is calculated using the Laspeyres fixed-base formula, applying GVA-based weights to measure changes in aggregate output.
• Frequency: Quick Estimates are published monthly with a 28-day lag and are revised the following month based on updated data.

Declaration on Information Integrity on Climate Change

Global Initiative for Information Integrity on Climate Change launched the Declaration on Information Integrity on Climate Change at COP30.

• Announced at G20 Leaders Summit in 2024, the initiative is a dedicated multilateral collaboration among States and international organizations to fund research and action promoting information integrity on climate issues.
• It has also launched a Global Fund for Information Integrity on Climate Change.
• The Declaration recognises that Climate misinformation has become a climate crisis.
  • Climate misinformation refers to false, misleading, or deceptive content about climate change, its causes, impacts, or solutions.
• It commits governments to protect climate science and ensure transparent public communication.

Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare released the Draft Seeds Bill, 2025

Proposed Legislation seeks to replace the Seeds Act, 1966 and Seeds (Control) Order, 1983 aiming to ensure quality seeds, protect farmers’ rights and promote ease of doing business. 

Key Highlights of the Bill

• Mandatory Registration: No seed, except farmers’ variety and the one produced exclusively for export purpose, shall be sold unless registered. 
• Regulation of the sale of seeds: Seed varieties to conform to Indian Minimum Seed Certification Standards.
• Central Seed Committee: Constituted by the Central Government with its Headquarters in New Delhi. 
• It shall offer advice on matters relating seed programming, planning,  seed development, production, storage, processing, export and imports, etc. 
• State Seed Committees: To be constituted by State Government consisting of Chairman and not more than 15 members appointed or nominated by State Government. 
• Registration Sub-Committees: To recommend kind or variety of seeds for registration after scrutinising their claims. 
• National Register on Seed Varieties: It is a register of all Kinds or Varieties of seed kept under the control and management of the Registrar. 
• Establishment of Central and State Seed Testing Laboratories: Equipped with Seed Analysts and Inspectors. 
• Offences and Punishment: Proposes stringent penal provisions with offences in three categories, namely, trivial, minor and major, with major offences carrying a maximum penalty of Rs. 30 lakh with imprisonment. 

Himalayan Black Bears

• Climate change-induced changing weather patterns are disturbing the hibernation patterns of Himalayan Black Bears, making them unusually aggressive.
• This shift in behaviour has led to more attacks on humans and livestock, intensifying human–animal conflict in Himalayan regions.

 Himalayan Black Bear (Ursus thibetanus laniger)

• The Himalayan black bear is a subspecies of the Asiatic black bear native to the Himalayan region. They are called “moon bear” because of a white crescent or V-shaped mark on their chest.
• Habitat Distribution: They inhabit India, Nepal, Bhutan, China, and Pakistan across elevational zones of 1,500–3,700 meters.
• Physical Features: It has a glossy black coat, a pale chest patch, rounded ears, and an elongated snout.
• Unique Features: Longer, thicker fur than other Asiatic black bears; they hibernate for 5-7 months during peak winter.
• Diet: Himalayan black bears are omnivores, consuming nuts, fruits, honey, roots, and insects.
• Behavioural Patterns: They are skilled climbers, nocturnal, solitary, and spend much time in trees.
• Ecological Role: They are keystone species and serve as a primary seed disperser, which helps sustain the stability and regeneration of the forest ecosystem.
• Major Threats: Habitat fragmentation, human encroachment, and poaching for gall bladders (used in traditional Asian medicine).

Climate and Health Funders Coalition (CHFC)

The CHFC has committed an initial $300 million for integrated action to tackle climate change and its consequences on health. 

• It brings together institutional and individual funders operating at international, national and regional levels to improve health and save lives.
• The committed funders currently include: Bloomberg Philanthropies, Gates Foundation, etc.
• Immediate focus: Extreme heat, Air pollution, Climate sensitive infectious diseases, Critical climate and health data for decision makers. 

Global Carbon Budget 2025 report

In 2025, India''s emissions grew slower to 1.4%, due to monsoon cooling, and a growth in renewable energy, as per Global Carbon Budget 2025 report.

• The report is published by Global Carbon Project.

Key Highlights of Report

• India is the third largest emitter of carbon at 3.2 billion tonnes annually (2024), led by the U. S. (4.9 billion tonnes) and China (12 billion tonnes). 
• In per person terms, it is 2.2 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year, the second lowest of 20 of the largest economies globally. 
• Coal is the major fuel type contributing to India’s emissions.

India highlighted that climate finance is a key barrier to climate ambitions

India issued statements on behalf of the BASIC (Brazil, South Africa, India and China) and the Like-Minded Developing Countries (LMDC) group at the UNFCCC CoP30, in Belém, Brazil and highlighted the importance of climate finance. 

Key Highlights of India’s Stand

India called for:

• Definition: A clear and universally agreed definition of climate finance;
• Adaptation Finance: Strengthened and scaled-up public finance flows for adaptation;
• Adaptation Financing needs to exceed nearly fifteen times current flows.
• Strong outcome on Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA), introduced by Article 7 of 2015 Paris Agreement for enhancing adaptive capacity, strengthening resilience and reducing climate vulnerability. 
• Article 9.1: Implementation of Article 9.1 of the Paris Agreement, reaffirming the legal obligation of developed countries to provide financial resources to assist developing countries in both mitigation and adaptation. 
• Climate Technology: Strong outcome on the Technology Implementation Programme (outcome of first global stocktake of Paris Agreement), emphasizing that intellectual property and market barriers must not hinder technology transfer to developing nations.
• Narrowing Development Gap between Global North and South: UNFCCC Just Transitions Work Programme must result in action-oriented institutional arrangements, ensuring that equitable and inclusive climate transitions across economies.

Saranda Forest

Supreme Court directed the Jharkhand government to notify Saranda Forest as wildlife sanctuary and conservation reserve.

• It also prohibited any mining activity within a one-km radius of its boundary.
• Saranda, known as the "land of seven hundred hills," is a lush Sal forest in Jharkhand.
• It is a part of Chhotanagpur bio-geographic zone and the landscape merges with forests of Odisha and Chhattisgarh.
• Tribes: Ho, Munda, Uraon, Santhal etc.
• Chief rivers draining the area include Karo, Koina, Lailor etc. 
• Important for movement of Central Indian elephant population and is home to unique orchids.
• Ligarda swamp hosts rare vegetation, palms, wild bananas, ferns, and Piper species.

Mudh-Nyoma Airbase

India has operationalised Mudh-Nyoma airbase in Ladakh, enhancing its defence preparedness along the Line of Actual Control with China.

• Location: Eastern Ladakh.
• Situated at a height of nearly 13,000 feet and very close to the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
• Importance: Directly overlooks critical approaches including Depsang Plains, Pangong Tso sector, and Chushul Valley.
• Built by: Border Roads Organisation (BRO).
• Fourth major airbase in Ladakh: Complementing Leh, Kargil and Thoise.