1. ‘Panna Ka Heera’ from Madhya Pradesh receives GI Tag
Madhya Pradesh’s world-famous ‘Panna Ka Heera’ has been officially granted the Geographical Indication (GI) Tag.
Panna is India’s only diamond-producing district, and these diamonds will now be marketed globally under the brand name “Panna Diamond.”
Key Highlights:
Known for light green hue and clear carbon lines
Expected to boost brand value and global recognition
It is Madhya Pradesh’s 21st GI-certified product
Panna is popularly known as “Diamond City”
Recently Granted GI Tags:
Ojo Feni – Goa
Sangri Bean – Rajasthan
Kannadippaya Tribal Craft – Kerala
Ringia Handloom – Meghalaya
Khasi Handloom – Meghalaya
Amalsad Chiku – Gujarat
Nolan Jaggery Sandesh – West Bengal
Saudagiri Block Print – Ahmedabad
Rignai Pachra – Tripura
Sitar & Tanpura of Miraj – Maharashtra
2. Odisha’s Sunapur Beach & Puri Golden Beach receive Blue Flag Certification
Two renowned beaches of Odisha—Sunapur Beach (Ganjam) and Puri Golden Beach—have been awarded Blue Flag Certification for 2025–26.
Certification Details:
Sunapur Beach: 3rd consecutive Blue Flag recognition
Puri Golden Beach: 7th consecutive certification
Awarded by FEE (Foundation for Environmental Education), Denmark
Beaches must meet 33 international standards, including:
Water quality
Safety & services
Cleanliness
Waste management
Environmental education
13 Indian beaches hold Blue Flag Certification in 2025–26.
Recently, Maharashtra beaches Shrivardhan, Nagaon, Parnaka, Guhagar, and Ladghar were also added to the list.
3. NCSM wins CIMUSET Award 2025 at Dubai ICOM Conference
The National Council of Science Museums (NCSM) has received the prestigious CIMUSET Award 2025 at the 27th ICOM General Conference in Dubai.
Awarded for “On The Edge” Climate Change Gallery of Kolkata Science City
CIMUSET recognizes outstanding science & technology museums
Award encourages museums to promote sustainability, equality, and peace
Presented by the CIMUSET Committee under ICOM
4. Servier India launches free biomarker testing for cancer patients
Servier India has introduced free & affordable biomarker testing services for cancer patients, focusing on:
Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) – a severe blood cancer
Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) – a rare bile duct cancer
Early molecular testing significantly improves treatment outcomes.
5. India wins historic double gold at the 24th Asian Archery Championship 2025
Indian archers Ankita Bhakat and Dheeraj Bommadevara created history by winning India’s first-ever gold medals in the:
Women’s Recurve Individual – Ankita Bhakat
Men’s Recurve Individual – Dheeraj Bommadevara
Dheeraj defeated Rahul 6–2 in the final, marking another first for India.
6. India to host South East Asia’s largest International Buddhist Event in December 2025
India will host a major international Buddhist celebration from 2–13 December 2025.
Key Highlights:
Venue: Bodh Gaya and Rajgir (Bihar)
Participation: Delegates & monks from 25+ countries
Includes mass recitation of Tipitaka (Buddhist scripture)
Theme: Preservation of Buddha’s teachings & world peace
Organized by International Buddhist Confederation (IBC) & Ministry of Culture
7. Indian Railways introduces AI-based ‘DRISHTI’ System
Indian Railways has launched DRISHTI – AI-Based Freight Wagon Locking Monitoring System, designed to:
Detect unlocked or tampered wagon doors
Reduce manual inspections
Increase security and efficiency of freight operations
8. Padma Shri environmentalist Saalumarada Thimmakka passes away at 114
Legendary environmentalist Saalumarada Thimmakka, popularly known as “Tree Mother”, passed away on 14 November 2025 in Bengaluru at the age of 114.
About Thimmakka:
Born: 30 June 1911, Tumakuru district, Karnataka
Planted 385 banyan trees over a 4.5 km stretch with husband Chikkaiya
Awards:
Padma Shri (2019)
National Citizen Award (1995)
Nadoja Award (2010)
Known as the “Banyan Tree Crusader”
9. Belgium & Netherlands to co-host FIH Hockey World Cup 2026
The 2026 Hockey World Cup will be jointly hosted by Belgium and the Netherlands.
Highlights:
First time both countries host men’s & women’s events together
16 men’s teams + 16 women’s teams
Belgium: Hosting World Cup for the first time
Netherlands: Hosting for the third time
First edition to feature ParaHockey World Cup
10. Shane Watson appointed Assistant Coach of KKR for IPL 2026
Former Australian cricketer Shane Watson has been appointed Assistant Coach of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) for IPL 2026.
KKR Coaching Setup:
Head Coach: Abhishek Nair
Mentor: Dwayne Bravo
Assistant Coach: Shane Watson
Watson has previously coached Delhi Capitals and has played 59 Tests, 190 ODIs, 58 T20Is for Australia.
IPL 2025 Recap:
Winner: Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB)
Runner-up: Punjab Kings (PBKS)
Orange Cap: Sai Sudarshan (759 runs)
Purple Cap: Prasidh Krishna (25 wickets)