India’s First Modern River Terminal — Guwahati, Assam
India’s first modern river terminal, named Guwahati Gateway Terminal, has been constructed in Guwahati, Assam, located on the banks of the Brahmaputra River. The terminal was inaugurated by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
Project Launch Date: 13 May 2022
Developed by: Assam Inland Water Transport Development Society
Purpose: Facilitates both passenger and freight transportation
First in 2025 – Important Milestones
| Achievement | First in 2025 |
|---|---|
| First UAE bank to enter GIFT City | Mashreq Bank |
| India’s first private satellite to launch internet | Anant Tech |
| First State/UT to integrate TB screening in Family Adoption Programme | Puducherry |
| First country to officially recognise Taliban govt. | Russia |
Space & Technology Updates
?? ISRO – Gaganyaan Mission Update
ISRO successfully tested the main parachute of the Gaganyaan crew module at the Babina Field Firing Range, Jhansi (Uttar Pradesh).
Test was part of Integrated Main Parachute Airdrop Tests (IMAT)
Parachute dropped from 2.5 km height with 5-ton payload
Gaganyaan to send 3 astronauts for 3 days into space
First uncrewed launch planned for January 2026
Other Space Developments
NASA discovered Uranus’ 29th moon using the James Webb Telescope
NASA has developed ‘Sun-AI’ to study the Sun
Russia to send Venera-D mission to Venus by 2036
NASA aims to install nuclear reactors on the Moon by 2030
Environment & Climate
37th Montreal Protocol Meeting (MOP-37) — Nairobi, Kenya
The 37th Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol was held in Nairobi, Kenya, focusing on controlling ozone-depleting substances.
Celebrated 40 years of the Vienna Convention (2025)
Discussed positive recovery of the ozone layer
About Montreal Protocol (1987):
Aim: Protect the ozone layer
Regulates nearly 100 harmful chemicals
Ozone Layer Facts:
Found in Stratosphere (15–35 km)
Protects Earth from UV-B & UV-C rays
Discovered in 1913 by Charles Fabry & Henri Buisson
World Ozone Day – 16 September
National Defence
?? Indian Navy — New Appointment
Rear Admiral Sathish Vasudev has been appointed Chief Staff Officer (Operations) of the Western Naval Command (HQ — Mumbai).
He has previously commanded warships like INS Gomati and INS Tarkash.
Indian Navy – Quick Facts:
Reconstituted: 26 January 1950
HQ: New Delhi
Current Chief of Naval Staff: Admiral Dinesh Kumar Tripathi
Navy Day: 4 December
Three Major Naval Commands:
| Command | Location |
|---|---|
| Western | Mumbai |
| Eastern | Visakhapatnam |
| Southern | Kochi |
Environment Innovation – Earthshot Prize 2025
The Earthshot Prize 2025 ceremony was held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, for the first time in Latin America. The prize was established by Prince William in 2020 to encourage solutions for climate and environmental challenges.
Prize amount: £1 million (~₹10 crore) per winner
Earthshot Prize – Winners of 2025
| Category | Winner | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Protect & Restore Nature | re.green | Restoration of Atlantic Forest (South America) |
| Clean Our Air | City of Bogota | Reduce air pollution in Colombia |
| Revive Our Oceans | High Seas Treaty | Global marine life protection treaty |
| Build a Waste-Free World | Lagos Fashion Week | Promote sustainable fashion in Africa |
| Fix Our Climate | Friendship (Bangladesh) | Climate resilience initiatives |
Strategic Security – Colombo Security Conclave 2025
Event Dates: 19–20 November 2025
Chaired By: Ajit Doval (India’s NSA)
Member Countries: India, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Mauritius, Bangladesh
Objective: Strengthening regional security & cooperation
Major Conferences of 2025:
Semicon India 2025 – New Delhi
World Economic Forum (WEF) – Davos, Switzerland
World Government Summit – Dubai
Global Technology Summit – New Delhi
New GI Tag – Ambaji Marble (Gujarat)
The high-quality white marble of Ambaji, a major pilgrimage site in Banaskantha district, Gujarat, has received a Geographical Indication (GI) tag.
Quarry age: 1,200–1,500 years old
Uses: Temples, sculptures & construction
Also known as “Ambaji White Marble”
India’s First Digital Privacy Law Enforced
DPDP Rules 2025 (Digital Personal Data Protection Rules) came into force on 14 November 2025, bringing the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 into full effect.
Citizens can now view, correct, or request deletion of their digital data
Consent is mandatory for companies to use personal data
Parental permission required for minors
Applies to social media, e-commerce & digital payments
Cultural Festival – Raulane Festival
Location: Kinnaur, Himachal Pradesh
Purpose: Farewell to winter fairies, believed to protect villagers during winter
Venue: Nagin Narayan Temple
Men wear traditional masks and costumes to dance during the celebration
World’s First Tower Named After an Actor – Dubai
A premium commercial tower named “Shahrukhz by Danube” is being built on Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai — the first-ever building in the world named after an actor.
Developer: Danube Properties
Height: 55–56 floors
Expected completion: by 2029