1. Booker Prize 2025 – Winners Announced
Hungarian-British author David Szele has won the 2025 Booker Prize for his novel ‘Flesh’, which portrays a man emotionally shattered by life’s unpredictability.
He received a cash award of £50,000 (approx ₹52 lakh).
Indian author Kiran Desai was also nominated for her novel ‘The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny’. She earlier won the Booker in 2006 for ‘The Inheritance of Loss’.
The 2025 International Booker Prize went to Banu Mushtaq from Karnataka (India) for her Kannada short story collection “Heart Lamp.”
About the Booker Prize
Founded: 1969
Presented by: The Booker Prize Foundation (UK)
Language: Only novels written in English and published in the UK or Ireland qualify
Prize Money: £50,000 (approx ₹52 lakh)
Eligibility: Authors from any country
Other Major Awards (Recent):
International Booker 2025: Banu Mushtaq (India)
PEN Pinter Prize 2025: Leila Aboulela (Sudanese-Scottish writer)
PEN Translator Award 2025: Gitanjali Shree (India)
Booker 2024: Samantha Harvey
Jnanpith Award 2024 (59th): Vinod Kumar Shukla
Vyas Samman 2024 (34th): Suryabala
Saraswati Samman 2024 (34th): Sadhu Bhadreshdas
Dadasaheb Phalke Award 2023 (55th): Mohanlal
2. Deepak Gupta appointed CMD of GAIL (India) Ltd
Deepak Gupta has been appointed as the new Chairman & Managing Director (CMD) of GAIL (India) Limited, replacing Sandeep Kumar Gupta.
His tenure will be three years.
GAIL, established in August 1984, is a Maharatna PSU and India’s leading natural gas company headquartered in New Delhi.
Recent Appointments:
Rahul Dravid – Brand Ambassador, Paradeep Phosphates
Vishwajit Sahay – Controller General of Defence Accounts
Raj Kumar Arora – Financial Adviser (Defence Services)
Kartik Narayan – Chief Product Officer, Google Cloud
Sonali Sen Gupta – Executive Director, RBI
3. Exercise ‘Mitra Shakti-2025’ begins in Belagavi, Karnataka
The 11th edition of the India–Sri Lanka joint military exercise ‘Mitra Shakti’ began on 10 Nov 2025 at the Foreign Training Centre, Belagavi, and will continue till 23 Nov 2025.
The goal is to enhance joint tactical synergy in counter-terrorism operations.
India has deployed 170 soldiers, mainly from the Rajput Regiment.
The first edition of Mitra Shakti was held in 2013.
4. Samrat Rana wins Gold at ISSF World Shooting Championships 2025
Indian shooter Samrat Rana clinched gold in the men’s 10m air pistol event at the ISSF World Shooting Championships 2025 held in Cairo, Egypt.
He is now the first Indian to win the individual air pistol world title.
Varun Tomar also secured a bronze medal in the same competition.
Sports Updates:
Rohan Bopanna announced retirement from tennis.
Rahul V.S. became India’s 91st Chess Grandmaster.
India won 48 medals at the Asian Youth Games 2025.
India’s women’s cricket team won the 2025 ICC World Cup (defeating South Africa).
7 Nov 2025 marked 100 years of Indian hockey.
The FIDE Chess World Cup Trophy renamed after Viswanathan Anand.
5. Hindustan Shipyard Limited gets Mini Ratna Status
Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh conferred Mini Ratna status to Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL), located in Visakhapatnam, under the Ministry of Defence.
Founded in 1941, HSL can now make limited investments and joint ventures without prior government approval, enabling it to invest in new defence technologies.
Recently upgraded Mini Ratna Category-I companies:
Munitions India Ltd (MIL)
Armoured Vehicles Nigam Ltd (AVNL)
India Optel Ltd (IOL)
Grid-India
Central Electronics Ltd (CEL)
6. New ‘Richa Ghosh Cricket Stadium’ to be built in Siliguri, West Bengal
Announced by CM Mamata Banerjee (10 Nov 2025), the new stadium will be named after Indian cricketer Richa Ghosh—hero of India’s ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 victory.
It will be built on 27 acres of land in Chandmani area, Siliguri.
The West Bengal government has honoured her with the ‘Banga Bhushan’ award and a DSP post in the state police.
7. National Education Day 2025 observed on 11 November
Celebrated annually on the birth anniversary of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, India’s first Education Minister.
Started in 2008, the day promotes educational awareness and literacy development.
Major Days in November
3 Nov – International Day of Biosphere Reserves
7 Nov – National Cancer Awareness Day
9 Nov – Uttarakhand Foundation Day
11 Nov – National Education Day
12 Nov – National Bird Day
14 Nov – Children’s Day, World Diabetes Day
15 Nov – Janjatiya Gaurav Divas (Birsa Munda Jayanti)
16 Nov – National Press Day
26 Nov – Constitution Day
27 Nov – National Organ Donation Day
8. India–Saudi Arabia sign MoU for Cultural Cooperation
A historic MoU was signed in Riyadh (10 Nov 2025) to enhance cooperation in art, music, literature, heritage, and cultural preservation.
Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Union Minister of Culture & Tourism, represented India.
It aims to promote joint cultural events and exchange programs.
Saudi Arabia Facts:
Capital – Riyadh | King – Salman | Crown Prince & PM – Mohammed bin Salman | Currency – Saudi Riyal | Neighbours – Jordan, Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, UAE, Oman, Yemen
9. Buddha Relics Sent to Bhutan
A fragment of the Holy Piprahwa Relics of Lord Buddha from the National Museum, New Delhi has been sent to Thimphu, Bhutan for public display (8–18 Nov 2025).
This marks the 70th birthday celebration of Bhutan’s fourth king, Jigme Singye Wangchuck.
10. India’s first Electric Rocket – “Vayu Putra”
Developed by Space Kidz India (Chennai), “Vayu Putra” will be India’s first electric rocket, designed to inspire youth in space science.
Runs on electric power instead of traditional fuel
Reusable and eco-friendly (no pollution)
Launch cost: ₹25 per flight
11. Canada loses its “Measles-Free” Country Status
Granted in 1998, the WHO measles-free status has been revoked after an outbreak in New Brunswick spread across provinces and persisted for over a year.
Canada Facts:
Capital – Ottawa | PM – Mark Carney | Currency – Canadian Dollar (CAD) | 2nd largest country by area | Western region – Rocky Mountains
Quick Recap (One-Liners)
David Szele wins Booker 2025 for Flesh; Banu Mushtaq wins Intl Booker.
Deepak Gupta appointed CMD of GAIL.
Mitra Shakti-2025 military drill with Sri Lanka begins.
Samrat Rana bags gold at ISSF 2025; Varun Tomar wins bronze.
Hindustan Shipyard gets Mini Ratna status.
Richa Ghosh Stadium announced in Siliguri.
India–Saudi Arabia sign Cultural MoU.
Lord Buddha relics displayed in Bhutan.
“Vayu Putra” – India’s first electric rocket.
Canada loses measles-free status.
National Education Day celebrated on 11 November.