November 2025

In short: India's science, environment and technology this month — distilled for SI/Constable Prelims.

Current Affairs — India › Science, Environment & Technology · 24 min read · Free to read · English & Telugu

Bilingual study notes for the Andhra Pradesh Police SI & Constable exams (SLPRB AP) by AP Police Hub, a product of Anvil Academy.

COP30 in Belém adopted the 'Belém Package', a new tribal-relocation conservation framework was released for India's tiger reserves, ISRO launched GSAT-7R on the LVM3, the Navy commissioned INS Mahe and INS Ikshak, and a 30-term science glossary spanned Leprosy to the Perseverance rover.

NASA's Perseverance rover selfie on Mars, with the Ingenuity helicopter visible in the distance — NASA's Perseverance rover on Mars, with the Ingenuity helicopter in the background — Perseverance detected electrical activity in the Martian atmosphere for the first time this November · NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS (Public Domain)

November 2025 — At a Glance

November brought a major climate summit, a landmark tribal-rights conservation policy, a heavy Navy commissioning schedule, and a dense 30-term science glossary. COP30 in Belém marked the Paris Agreement's 10th anniversary; India's Tribal Affairs Ministry released a new framework balancing tiger-reserve conservation with forest-dweller rights; and ISRO, the Navy and MeitY all had milestone months.

Six biggest headlines

COP30 in Belém, Brazil adopted the 'Belém Package' (29 decisions); a binding fossil-fuel phase-out was dropped after India, China, Russia, Saudi Arabia and South Africa opposed it; India joined the Tropical Forest Forever Facility as an observer.
Ministry of Tribal Affairs released a new National Framework for Community-Centered Conservation and Relocation (NFCCR) to standardise rights-based relocation from India's tiger reserves.
ISRO launched the Navy's GSAT-7R (CMS-03) military communication satellite on the LVM3 (~4,400 kg, India's heaviest satellite from Indian soil); Solaras S-2, India's first authorised nano-satellite mission, launched from Brazil.
Indian Navy commissioned INS Mahe (1st Mahe-class ASW ship) and INS Ikshak (survey vessel); China commissioned its 3rd carrier, Fujian.
UNEP Emissions Gap Report 2025: current pledges point to 2.3-2.5°C warming by 2100; a new Ramsar site was added and a Global Methane Status Report flagged rising emissions.
A 30-term Science & Technology glossary ran from Leprosy and Melatonin to Project Suncatcher and the Perseverance rover's first detection of Martian electrical activity.

1. Climate Diplomacy & Conservation

COP30 — the 'Belém Package'

What — The 30th UN Climate Conference in Belém, Brazil adopted the 'Belém Package' — 29 decisions by all 195 Parties, marking the 10th anniversary of the Paris Agreement.
Key gap — A binding fossil-fuel phase-out clause was dropped after India, China, Russia, Saudi Arabia and South Africa opposed it; a broad 'transition away from fossil fuels' commitment survived, with no timeline.
TFFF — Brazil launched the Tropical Forest Forever Facility (TFFF) — a $125-billion fund rewarding developing countries for conserving tropical forests; India joined as an observer.
India's stand — With BASIC + LMDC groups, India demanded predictable, grant-based climate finance (not loans), full implementation of Article 9.1, and opposed the EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) as a discriminatory trade barrier.
Future hosts — COP31 (2026): Türkiye; COP32 (2027): Ethiopia; India has submitted a bid for COP33 (2028).

New policy framework for relocating tribals from tiger reserves

What — Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs released 'Reconciling Conservation and Community Rights' — a policy framework standardising relocation of forest-dwelling Scheduled Tribes from tiger reserves, ensuring it is voluntary, a last resort, and FRA-compliant.
Key tools — A National Database on Conservation-Community Interface (NDCCI); mandatory independent audits; Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) before notifying a Critical Tiger Habitat.
Compensation — Voluntary relocation compensation must match current guidelines (₹15 lakh), with transparency and long-term livelihood restoration.

2. Environment, Geography & Places in the News

Environment reports & data — November 2025
Report / Item	Key fact
UNEP Emissions Gap Report 2025	Current national pledges point to 2.3-2.5°C warming by 2100; the G20 is responsible for roughly 77% of global emissions.
New Ramsar site	A new wetland was added to India's list of Ramsar sites (internationally important wetlands), expanding wetland-conservation coverage.
Cold Wave in India & IMD criteria	IMD's criteria for declaring a 'cold wave'/'severe cold wave' were discussed amid early-onset cold conditions in parts of North India.
Global Methane Status Report 2025	Flagged rising global methane emissions from agriculture, energy and waste, despite the 2021 Global Methane Pledge.
Species in the news	A new fruit-fly species, Euphranta undulata, was discovered in the bamboo ecosystems of Ri-Bhoi district, Meghalaya.

Places, tectonics & disasters in the news — November 2025
Place	Why in the news
Hayli Gubbi volcano, Ethiopia	Erupted after nearly 10,000 years; ash cloud drifted toward India, raising air-quality/aviation concerns.
Ningaloo Reef, Australia	Nearly 70% of corals died due to Australia's most intense and prolonged marine heatwave on record.
Lake Turkana, Kenya	A Nature study found falling water levels over 6,000 years accelerated earthquake activity along the East African Rift.
Afghanistan earthquake	A magnitude-6.3 quake struck near Mazar-e-Sharif, following the deadly quakes of August 2025.
Mount Semeru, Indonesia	A volcanic eruption prompted evacuation of nearby villages on Java island.
Senkaku Islands, East China Sea	China Coast Guard patrols near the Japan-administered islands (claimed by China as Diaoyu Dao, Taiwan as Diaoyutai Lieyu) continued maritime tension.
Sirpur, Chhattisgarh	A 5th-12th century multi-religious urban site on the Mahanadi is being upgraded for a UNESCO World Heritage bid.
Vizhinjam Port, Kerala	IIT Madras deployed India's first indigenous Vessel Traffic Management System (VTMS) at this deep-draft port.
Nyoma airbase, Ladakh	The Mudh-Nyoma airbase (~13,700 ft, eastern Ladakh) was inaugurated as an all-weather forward base near the LAC.

3. Defence & Space Technology

Defence & space milestones — November 2025
Milestone	Key fact
GSAT-7R (CMS-03) launched	ISRO launched the Navy's multi-band military communication satellite on the LVM3-M5 rocket ('Bahubali') from Sriharikota — ~4,400 kg, India's heaviest satellite launched from Indian soil; supports naval network-centric warfare.
Solaras S-2 nano-satellite	Grahaa Space (Bengaluru startup) received IN-SPACe authorisation for India's 1st nano-satellite mission — launched from Brazil's Alcântara Space Center via a South Korean rocket.
INS Mahe commissioned	1st Mahe-class Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft, built by Cochin Shipyard.
INS Ikshak commissioned	3rd Survey Vessel Large (SVL), built by GRSE, Kochi — first SVL with dedicated women's accommodation.
China commissions 'Fujian'	China's first fully indigenous, 3rd aircraft carrier, fitted with an electromagnetic catapult launch system.
Indian Army's 2047 Transformation Roadmap	A long-term modernisation roadmap for force restructuring, indigenisation and technology integration by 2047.
Delhi Defence Dialogue	An annual strategic-affairs conclave bringing together defence policymakers, military leaders and experts.
AJEYA WARRIOR-25	India-UK joint military exercise focused on counter-terrorism and urban-warfare interoperability.

4. Science & Technology Glossary

November's Science & Technology section covered 30 terms across health, space, materials and cybersecurity — here are the two flagship items in full, followed by a compact glossary of the rest.

Cyber Security Innovation Challenge (CSIC) 1.0

What — MeitY launched CSIC 1.0 under the Information Security Education and Awareness (ISEA) Project to build skilled cyber professionals and homegrown, Atmanirbhar cyber-defence solutions.
Structure — Five-stage challenge from idea to Minimum Viable Product, covering 10 key domains (network, mobile, cryptography, fintech, forensics etc.) with joint MeitY-CERT-In-C-DAC-DSCI-IIT/NIT mentorship.

Perseverance rover detects Martian electrical activity

What — NASA's Perseverance ('Percy') rover detected electrical activity in Mars' atmosphere for the first time.
About the rover — Centrepiece of NASA's Mars 2020 Mission; landed in Jezero Crater (2021); built on Curiosity's design; first rover to land in an ancient river delta and produce oxygen on Mars (MOXIE instrument).
Ingenuity helicopter — A companion aircraft that made history as the first powered, controlled flight on another planet.

Science & Technology glossary — November 2025
Term	Key fact
Leprosy	A chronic bacterial disease (Mycobacterium leprae) affecting skin/nerves; India accounts for a majority of new global cases and runs an elimination programme.
Encephalomyocarditis Virus	A zoonotic virus causing heart/brain inflammation in animals, occasionally infecting humans — flagged in outbreak surveillance.
Silicon Carbide	A semiconductor material used in high-power electronics/EVs for its heat and voltage tolerance — key to India's chip self-reliance push.
Melatonin	A hormone regulating the sleep-wake cycle; discussed in the news for its use in sleep-disorder treatment and supplements.
VAIBHAV Fellowship Programme	A fellowship connecting the Indian diaspora's scientists/academics with Indian institutions for collaborative research.
Project Suncatcher	A space-based solar-power/AI-computing research concept exploring orbital data-centre feasibility.
Alprazolam	A prescription benzodiazepine drug for anxiety, flagged for its abuse-potential and regulatory scrutiny.
Melanin	The pigment determining skin/hair/eye colour and providing some UV protection — discussed in dermatology/genetics research news.
Visible Emission Line Coronagraph (VELC)	The key payload on ISRO's Aditya-L1 solar mission, used to continuously image the Sun's corona.
Enshittification	A coined term for the gradual degradation of online platforms' quality as they prioritise profit over users — entered mainstream tech-policy discourse.
Batten Disease	A rare, inherited neurodegenerative disorder affecting children, discussed amid a gene-therapy research breakthrough.
Ricin	A highly toxic protein extracted from castor beans, of concern as a potential bio-terror agent.
Vanadium	A critical mineral used in steel alloys and vanadium-flow batteries for grid-scale energy storage.
National Database for Emergency Management	A centralised platform to coordinate disaster-response data across agencies and states.
Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR)	An analytical technique identifying chemical compounds via their infrared absorption spectrum, used in forensics and material science.
ESCAPADE Mission	NASA's twin-satellite mission to study how the solar wind strips Mars' atmosphere.
Man-Portable Autonomous Underwater Vehicles	Small, soldier-carried underwater drones for reconnaissance and mine detection near coasts/harbours.
RuTAG Initiative	IIT-led Rural Technology Action Group developing low-cost technology solutions for rural India's needs.
Sentinel-6B Satellite	An ESA/NASA ocean-monitoring satellite measuring global sea-level rise with high precision.
DRISHTI System	A visibility-measurement/runway-monitoring system deployed at Indian airports to improve safety in low-visibility conditions.
Ammonium Nitrate	A fertiliser compound also usable as an explosive precursor — 2.9 tonnes were seized in the Red Fort blast investigation, spotlighting its regulation.
African Swine Fever	A highly contagious, often fatal viral disease of pigs, flagged for its economic threat to India's piggery sector.
Pharmacogenomics	The study of how a person's genes affect their response to drugs — underpinning personalised-medicine research.
Vikram-I Rocket	A privately-developed (Skyroot Aerospace) small-satellite launch rocket advancing India's private-space sector.
Young Stellar Objects	Stars in the earliest stages of formation, studied by astronomers to understand stellar birth and planet formation.
Auramine O	A fluorescent dye used in diagnostic staining, including for detecting tuberculosis bacilli.
UNESCO Global Ethics Framework on Neurotechnology	A new global ethics framework restricting manipulative/deceptive use of neural data (political, medical or commercial).