DAILY GK 29 NOV 2025

 DAILY GK 29 NOV 2025

 1.       RBI ANNOUNCES UPI -TIPS INTERLINKAGE

·         Reserve Bank of India (RBI) announced the interlinking of Unified Payment Interface (UPI) with the TARGET(Trans‑European Automated Real‑time Gross settlement Express Transfer) Instant Payment Settlement (TIPS), the instant payment system operated by the Eurosystem.

·         The RBI and NPCI International PaymentLimited (NIPL), a wholly owned subsidiary of National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), have been engaging with the European Central Bank (ECB) to connect UPI and TIPS.

·         TIPS is a market infrastructure service launched by the Eurosystem in November 2018.

·         It enables payment service providers to offer fund transfers to their customers in real time and around the clock, every day of the year.

 


2.       INDIA’S CROP PRODUCTION DATA

·         The Ministry of Agriculture and Family Welfare (MoAFW) released the third advance estimates of India’s horticulture production for 2024-25, reporting a 4%(or 14.31 million tonne, MT) increase to 369.05 million tonnes (MT), up from 354.74 MT in 2023‑24.

·         The horticultural crops, i.e. fruits and vegetables are estimated to have been covered in an area of 29.48 million hectare (mn ha) in 2024-25 crop year (July-June), marginally higher than 29.08 mn ha in the previous year.

·         India’s total foodgrain production for 2024‑25 is estimated at a record 357.732 MT, marking a significant milestone in agricultural output.

·         India’s total pulses production for 2024‑25 is estimated at 256.83 lakh tonnes, driven by strong output across key varieties.

·         Fruit production is estimated to have increased by 5.12% (5.78 MT), reaching a total of 118.76 MT in 2024‑25.

·         The production of vegetables is estimated to have increased by 4.09% (8.47 MT) to touch 215.68 MT on higher production of onion and potatoes among others.

·         Total oilseed output for 2024‑25 is estimated at a record 429.89 lakh tonnes, up 33.20 lakh tonnes from 396.69 lakh tonnes in 2023‑24.

 

3.       WORLD BANK USD 776 MILLION FUNDING FOR PUNJAB AND MAHARASHTRA

·         World Bank approved funding of USD 776 million (around Rs. 6,467 crore) for two projects in India focused on improving education in Punjab and advancing climate-resilient agriculture in Maharashtra.

·         Punjab Outcomes-Acceleration in School Education Operation (POISE), is backed by a USD 286 million loan with a 19-year maturity, including a 5-year grace period, aimed at enhancing educational outcomes in the state.

·         The project aims to set up digital infrastructure, strengthen State Council of Education Research and Training (SCERT) and Assessment Cell capacities, and provide teacher training and resources through state-level systems.

·         The project will support 59 lakh children in early childhood education, 13 lakh students in primary schools, and over 22 lakh students in secondary schools.

·         Maharashtra Project on Climate Resilient Agriculture (POCRA) Phase II, is funded with USD 490 million, featuring a 24-year maturity and a 6-year grace period, to promote climate-resilient and technology-driven agriculture in the state.

·         The project aims to improve soil health, nutrient and water management, use digital tools like Artificial Intelligence (AI) and remote sensing, promote precision farming, and increase smallholder farmers’ income by 30%.

·         The project will benefit over 20 lakh small and marginal farmers across 21 districts, including 2.9 lakh women farmers.

 

4.       NEPAL RELEASES NPR 100 CURRENCY NOTE FEATURING 3 INDIAN TERRITORIES

·         Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB), the Central Bank of Nepal, released a new Nepalese Rupee (NPR) 100 which features Nepal’s revised political map, including disputed territories like Kalapani, Lipulekh, and Limpiyadhura as part of Nepal.

·         Currently, the three territories are controlled by the Government of India (GOI) but claimed by Nepal.

·         Front features Mount (Mt) Everest on the left, revised map of Nepal in faint green colour in the background at the centre, watermark of Rhododendron, Nepal’s National flower, on the right, and security features.

·         The Ashoka Pillar is printed near the map with the text “Lumbini, the birthplace of Lord Buddha”.

·         Back features the One-horned rhinoceros.

·         Nepal shares a border of over 1850 km with five Indian states – Sikkim, West Bengal, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand.

 

5.       IMF REPORT: INDIA’S GDP TO GROW AT 6.6% IN FY26

·         The International Monetary Fund (IMF) released its latest ‘India: 2025 Article IV Consultation’ report projecting India’s real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to grow at 6.6% in Financial Year 2025-26(FY26).

·         The report noted that India’s latest Goods and Services Tax (GST 2.0) reforms are expected to mitigate the impact of the United States of America (USA’s) 50% tariffs.

·         The report has also projected that India’s real GDP will moderate to 6.2% in FY27, compared to 6.5% in FY25 and 7.8% in the 1st quarter (Q1: April to June) of FY26.

·         The report projects India’s inflation to ease to 2.8% in FY26 from 4.6% last year, but rise to around 4% in FY27.

·         IMF has reclassified India’s ‘de facto’ exchange rate regime as ‘crawl-like arrangement’ from its previous ‘stabilized classification’.

·         Previously, India was moved from a ‘floating’ category to ‘stabilized arrangement’ in 2023.

·         A “crawl‑like arrangement” is an exchange rate system with gradual, small periodic currency adjustments.


WORLD CHILDREN’S DAY 2025 – NOVEMBER 20 

·         World Children’s Day is observed globally by the United Nations (UN) on 20 November 

·         2025 Theme: Listen to children: my day, my rights

·         World Children’s Day was originally created as Universal Children’s Day.

·         Since 1990, 20 November has been observed to mark the anniversary of the UNGA’s adoption of the Declaration of the Rights of the Child (1959) and the Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989).

·         The day is observed annually as a global movement for and by children, led by United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

·         UNICEF was established in 1946 as the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF).

·         It became a permanent part of the UN in 1953 and its name was shortened to the United Nations Children’s Fund.

·         Headquarters– New York, USA.

 

6.       WORLD TELEVISION DAY 2025 – NOVEMBER 21

·         World Television Day (WTD) is observed globally by the United Nations (UN) on November 21 to recognize the important role of television in everyday life. T

·         The first WTD was celebrated on 21 November 1997.

·         The date marks the opening of the first World Television Forum, held on 21–22 November, 1996 at the UN Headquarters in New York, USA, to discuss the increasing importance of television as a medium.

·         Television was invented in 1924 by Scottish engineer JohnLogie(JL) Baird. 

·         The first fully electronic television system was demonstrated by Philo Farnsworth in 1927.

·         In 1959, television services operated under All India Radio (AIR) before being separated and established as Doordarshan on 1 April 1976.

·         Doordarshant is a public terrestrial television broadcaster managed by PrasarBharati(PB), an autonomous body created by the Government of India(GoI).

·         India’s first colour television transmission was the live broadcast of the 36th Independence Day parade on 15 August 1982.

 

7.       WORLD FISHERIES DAY 2025 – NOVEMBER 21

·         On 21st November 1997, working fishermen and women representing the World Forum of Fish Harvesters & Fish Workers met in New Delhi and established the World Fisheries Forum (WFF).

·         The first ever World Fisheries Day was celebrated on 21st November 1998.

 

8.       WORLD PHILOSOPHY DAY 2025 – NOVEMBER 20

·         The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)’s World Philosophy Day is annually observed across the globe on the 3rd Thursday of November.

·          World Philosophy Day 2025 was observed on 20 November at UNESCO Headquarters, Paris, France.

·         UNESCO Event Theme: “The Values of Societies of the Future” and the ethics of inequality.

·         UNESCODirector-General (DG) – Khaled Ahmed El-Enany Ali Ezz.

·         Headquarters – Paris, France.

·         Established – 1945.