Current Affairs 20 November 2025

Content

1. SC Strikes Down Provisions of Tribunal Reforms Act; Orders Creation of National Tribunal Commission
2. Red Fort Blast Exposes Rising Threat of Digital Tradecraft in Terrorism
3. ISRO Successfully Tests Bootstrap Start of CE20 Cryogenic Engine
4. IRDAI Completes Pilot of Bima Gram API to Boost Rural Insurance Mapping
5. Climate Attribution Science Gains Importance Amid Pollution, Acid Rain, GLOFs, Cyclone Events
6. Tihar Jail Introduces Cow Therapy to Improve Inmate Mental Health and Rehabilitation
7. Lancet Flags Sharp Surge in Ultra-Processed Foods and India’s Escalating NCD Burden
8. Tiger Returns to Gujarat After Decades of Local Extinction; Confirmed in Ratanmahal Sanctuary

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SC strikes down provisions of Tribunal Reforms Act, tells govt. to set up panel

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Why is it in News?

• Supreme Court struck down key provisions of the Tribunal Reforms Act 2021.
• The law centralized control of tribunals under the Union government, affecting appointments, salaries, and functioning.
• Court emphasized that such control undermines independence, impartiality, and effective adjudication.
• Direction issued to establish a National Tribunal Commission within four months to safeguard tribunal autonomy.

Relevance:

• GS 2: Polity & Governance — tribunal independence, separation of powers, judicial review, constitutional safeguards.
• GS 2: Parliament–Judiciary Relations — limits of legislative override, institutional autonomy, rule of law.
• GS 2: Administrative Reforms — need for National Tribunal Commission, uniform standards across tribunals.
• GS 2: Rights Issues — impact on access to justice under Article 14 and 21.

Background:

• Tribunals in India: Specialized quasi-judicial bodies to adjudicate disputes in administrative, fiscal, and regulatory domains (e.g., NCLT, ITAT, CAT).
• Purpose of Tribunal Reforms Act 2021:
  • Rationalize tribunals, unify functioning, streamline appointments.
  • Enable government to set salaries and conditions of service.
• Prior Legal Context:
  • Tribunal Reforms Ordinance 2021 was struck down by SC in July 2021.
  • The 2021 Act was essentially a “repackaged version” of the Ordinance.

Key Issues Identified by the SC:

• Independence and impartiality: Executive control over appointments and tenure undermines constitutional principles.
• Tenure: Arbitrary curtailment violates security of office and institutional autonomy.
• Functioning & salaries: Government control over operational aspects breaches the spirit of separation of powers.
• Repetition of invalid law: 2021 Act mirrors Ordinance struck down earlier, showing legislative overreach.

Supreme Court Observations:

• Parliamentary reforms must align with constitutional requirements, not just administrative convenience.
• Tribunal independence is an essential structural safeguard for fair adjudication.
• Establishing a National Tribunal Commission will:
  • Ensure transparency in appointments.
  • Maintain uniformity across tribunals.
  • Protect institutional autonomy.

Implications:

• Judicial independence: Strengthens the judiciary’s oversight on executive interference in quasi-judicial bodies.
• Tribunal governance: Moves toward a transparent, uniform, and accountable tribunal system.
• Legislative caution: Parliament cannot bypass constitutional safeguards under the guise of administrative reforms.

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The threat of digital tradecraft in terrorism

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 Why is it in News?

• On November 10, 2025, a car explosion near Delhi’s Red Fort Metro Station killed at least 15 people and injured over 30.
• National Investigation Agency (NIA) investigating the incident under counter-terrorism laws.
• The probe highlights the use of advanced digital tradecraft by modern terror modules, signaling an evolution in terrorist operational methods.

Relevance:

• GS 3: Internal Security — terrorism trends, encrypted communication, digital tradecraft, operational security.
• GS 3: Cyber Security — encryption regulation, metadata gaps, self-hosted servers, digital forensics challenges.
• GS 3: Role of Technology in Terrorism — VPN use, closed communication loops, dead-drop emails.
• GS 2: Governance & Policy — legal gaps in counter-terror legislation, need for tech-diplomacy, institutional preparedness.

Background:

• Location: Gate No. 1, Red Fort Metro Station, Delhi.
• Casualties: 15+ dead, 30+ injured.
• Initial classification: Terrorist attack, not an accident.
• Key suspects: Three doctors linked to Al Falah University, Faridabad – Dr. Umar Un Nabi, Dr. Muzammil Ganaie, Dr. Shaheen Shahid.
• Possible ideological linkage: Investigation ongoing into connections with Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) or JeM-inspired module.

Major Findings from the Investigation:

• Encrypted communication:
  • Suspects allegedly used Threema, a Swiss messaging app with no personal identifiers, end-to-end encryption, and minimal metadata retention.
  • Potential self-hosted Threema server to create a closed network for sharing maps, documents, and instructions.
• Dead-drop emails:
  • Shared email accounts used to save unsent drafts; other members accessed and updated drafts, leaving no digital footprint.
  • Classic spycraft adapted for the digital age.
• Reconnaissance & logistics:
  • Multiple recce missions in Delhi.
  • Stockpiling of ammonium nitrate explosives, possibly using familiar vehicles to avoid suspicion.
• Operational discipline:
  • Suspects reportedly cut digital links and switched off phones after arrests, indicating high operational security awareness.
• Digital sophistication:
  • Blend of encrypted apps, private servers, VPNs, and minimal online footprint demonstrates multi-domain tradecraft.

Academic & Strategic Overview:

• Aligns with counter-terrorism research: terrorists increasingly use E2EE tools, decentralized networks, and spy-style communication.
• Traditional surveillance (phone tapping, metadata collection, email intercepts) is less effective against encrypted, privacy-preserving technologies.
• Self-hosted infrastructure and VPN/proxy use highlights cross-border digital mobility of terror modules.

Policy & Strategic Implications:

1. Digital forensics enhancement:
   1. Establish specialized teams skilled in encrypted-platform analysis, server forensics, and memory dumping.
2. Regulation of private/self-hosted servers:
   1. Mandate compliance with lawful access obligations while balancing privacy rights.
3. Legal framework updates:
   1. Explicitly address encrypted/decentralized communication in counter-terrorism laws.
   1. Train investigators in detecting digital dead-drop mechanisms and shared draft mailboxes.
4. Community & institutional engagement:
   1. Early detection of radicalization in professional and academic spaces.
   1. Tailored counter-radicalization programs for highly educated recruits.
5. International cooperation:
   1. Strengthen intelligence-sharing and tech diplomacy.
   1. Collaborate with foreign governments and tech companies hosting encrypted platforms.
6. Public awareness:
   1. Inform society about evolving terror tradecraft in digital spaces.

Key Takeaways:

• Modern terror modules integrate digital tradecraft, operational discipline, and ideological motivation.
• Threats now span physical and digital domains, requiring multidisciplinary counter-terrorism approaches.
• India (and democracies globally) must adapt to counter encrypted, decentralized, and private communication networks alongside conventional security measures.

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CE20 cryogenic engine

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Why in News?

• ISRO successfully demonstrated the bootstrap mode start test of the CE20 cryogenic engine on November 7, 2025.
• This marks a major step toward enabling in-flight multiple restarts of the LVM3 (GSLV Mk-III) upper stage engine.
• Enhances mission flexibility, allowing future multi-orbit and Gaganyaan missions to optimize payload deployment and orbital insertion.

Relevance:

• GS 3: Science & Technology — cryogenic propulsion, multi-restart engines, indigenous capability.
• GS 3: Space Technology — applications to Gaganyaan, multi-orbit deployment, heavy-lift missions.

 

Background:

• ISRO: Indian Space Research Organisation, responsible for India’s space programs and launch vehicles.
• LVM3 (Launch Vehicle Mark-3): Heavy-lift launch vehicle, capable of deploying satellites to GTO/LEO and supporting human spaceflight (Gaganyaan).
• CE20 Cryogenic Engine:
  • Powers the upper stage of LVM3.
  • Uses liquid hydrogen (fuel) and liquid oxygen (oxidizer).
  • Previously qualified for single start operation at thrust 19–22 tonnes.
• Current Start System: Engine ignition uses tank head conditions, with turbo pumps started via stored gas start-up system. Each restart requires additional gas bottles, limiting operational flexibility.

Significance of Bootstrap Mode Start:

• Definition: Engine achieves steady operation without external start-up assistance.
• Advantages:
  • Eliminates dependency on additional start-up gas bottles for multiple restarts.
  • Enables multi-orbit missions or complex satellite deployments.
  • Reduces weight and system complexity on the rocket.
  • Enhances reliability and mission safety.
• Test Details:
  • Conducted in High-Altitude Test (HAT) facility, ISRO Propulsion Complex, Mahendragiri.
  • Duration: 10 seconds under vacuum conditions.
  • Demonstrated ability to reach steady operation from bootstrap mode.

Implications for ISRO Programs:

• Gaganyaan Mission: Improves engine restart capability for manned missions requiring orbital maneuvering.
• Future LVM3 Flights: Allows flexible payload deployment across multiple orbits.
• Cryogenic Engine Technology: Demonstrates ISRO’s advanced propulsion capabilities and indigenous mastery of restartable cryogenic engines.
• Strategic Significance: Positions India for advanced satellite launches, space exploration missions, and multi-orbit applications.

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Bima Gram API

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Why is it in News?

• IRDAI’s Bima Gram API successfully completed its pilot testing phase, marking a key step toward improving insurance penetration in rural India.
• Initiative integrates digital tools to streamline, authenticate, and map insurance coverage at the village level, enhancing governance and financial inclusion.

Relevance:

• GS 3: Economy (Financial Inclusion) — rural insurance penetration, digital financial services.
• GS 2: Governance — regulatory reforms, data-driven policy design, village-level service delivery.
• GS 3: Inclusive Growth — protection against rural vulnerabilities, social security deepening.

Background:

• IRDAI: Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India, regulator of insurance industry.
• Bima Gram API: Digital interface enabling real-time validation and mapping of insurance policies in rural areas.
• Pilot Testing:
  • Conducted with five insurers – 2 life, 2 general, 1 health insurer.
  • Tested functionality, integration, and accuracy.
• Objective: Facilitate digital verification of insurance policies linked to gram panchayats, reducing reliance on manual documentation.

Significance of the Initiative:

• Efficiency & Accuracy:
  • Speeds up insurance business reporting.
  • Minimizes errors in rural insurance data.
• Data Mapping:
  • Policies accurately mapped to villages, enabling granular monitoring.
• Policy Planning:
  • Generates baseline datasets for insurers to plan future products and allocate resources effectively.
• Digital Inclusion:
  • Empowers rural populations to access insurance services more transparently.
  • Supports financial literacy and awareness initiatives.

Implications:

• For Rural Insurance Penetration:
  • Streamlined coverage verification increases trust in insurers.
  • Promotes inclusive growth and social security in rural India.
• For Insurers:
  • Enhanced risk assessment and product targeting.
  • Better compliance and reporting to regulators.
• For Governance:
  • Supports government programs by providing reliable insurance data at village level.
  • Enables monitoring of insurance outreach and coverage gaps.

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Attribution science: the tricky task of linking disasters to emitters

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Why in News?

• Delhi recorded severe air pollution with AQI over 400 on November 12, 2025, prompting public protests.
• Recent environmental studies and disasters, including acid rain trends, glacial lake floods in Uttarkashi, and Cyclone Montha impacts, highlight the growing threat of climate-induced extremes.
• Climate attribution science is increasingly used to link local events to global warming, raising both scientific and policy implications.

Relevance:

• GS 3: Environment & Ecology — climate change attribution, extreme events, disaster-linked pollution.
• GS 3: Disaster Management — GLOFs, cyclone intensification, early warning systems.
• GS 3: Pollution Control — acid rain trends, urban AQI crisis, point vs non-point source emissions.

Background:

• Air Pollution in Delhi:
  • Contributing factors: vehicle emissions, crop residue burning in neighbouring states, Diwali firecrackers, seasonal wind patterns.
  • Health impacts: respiratory ailments, cardiovascular stress, public protests highlighting citizen concern.
• Acid Rain:
  • Studies (IMD & IITM, Pune) show increasing acidity in rainwater over three decades.
  • Local examples: Visakhapatnam (fossil fuel and port emissions), Dhanbad (coal mining emissions, chemical reactions forming secondary pollutants).
• Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs):
  • Uttarkashi flash floods (2025) reminiscent of 2013 Kedarnath disaster.
  • Cause: glacier melt, climate change influencing intensity of rainfall and snow melt.
• Cyclone Intensification:
  • Cyclone Montha (October 2025) impacted Andhra Pradesh, with warming seas increasing moisture and storm intensity.

Climate Attribution Science:

• Purpose: Estimates how human-induced climate change alters frequency, intensity, and probability of extreme events.
• Methodology:
  • Models simulate the world without anthropogenic greenhouse gases and compare to observed events.
  • Attribution more accurate for heat waves than extreme rainfall or floods.
  • Uses satellite observations, chemical transport modelling, and historical trends.
• Examples:
  • Kedarnath floods: increased June rainfall linked to rising greenhouse gases and aerosols.
  • Acid rain: linked to specific point sources (power plants, industrial clusters).

Key Observations:

• Point vs Non-Point Sources:
  • Point sources: concentrated emissions (e.g., power plants).
  • Non-point sources: dispersed emissions (vehicles, agriculture).
• Global vs Local Responsibility:
  • India’s cumulative CO2 since 1850 <6%.
  • Developed nations bear larger historical responsibility for climate change.
• Legal and Economic Implications:
  • Advances in climate economics and attribution raise the possibility of climate litigation against major fossil fuel companies.
  • Potential for monetary/injunctive relief for climate-induced damages.

Policy and Strategic Implications:

• Urban Air Quality Management:
  • Strengthen monitoring, regulate vehicular emissions, manage seasonal crop burning.
• Disaster Preparedness:
  • Early warning systems for GLOFs and cyclones.
  • Community awareness and climate-resilient infrastructure.
• Energy Transition:
  • Continue expansion of solar, wind, and battery storage to reduce future emissions.
• Climate Justice:
  • Developed countries may need to compensate developing nations for historical emissions.
• Research & Modelling:
  • Improve climate models for better event attribution, particularly for rainfall and flood events.

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Tihar Jail cow therapy initiative

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Why is it in News?

• Tihar Jail, Delhi launched a new gaushala initiative on November 19, 2025, to use cow therapy for improving mental health among inmates.
• Initiative is inspired by earlier pilots in Haryana and Sweden and aims to promote mental well-being, compassion, and rehabilitation.

Relevance:

• GS 2: Social Justice — prisoner rehabilitation, mental health interventions, behavioural reform.
• GS 2: Governance — prison management reforms, NGO collaboration, digital transparency.
• GS 1: Society — compassion-based therapy, reintegration strategies, humanisation of incarceration.

Background:

• Gaushala Concept: Shelter for indigenous cows, particularly Sahiwal breed.
• Cow Therapy: Psychological intervention using interaction with cows to reduce loneliness, promote emotional well-being, and spread kindness.
• Initiative Scope:
  • Started with 10 cows, planned to scale over time.
  • Aims to integrate therapy with vocational training, including milk production and puja material preparation.
• Previous Models:
  • Haryana and Sweden: Similar cow therapy projects showed positive results for mental health and rehabilitation.

Implementation in Tihar Jail:

• Small-scale pilot in jails 2 and 3, integrating inmates in animal care.
• Prison officials see gaushala as a centre of learning, compassion, and transparency.
• No direct visits or calls; inmates benefit through daily care and interaction.
• Initiative also part of rehabilitation and skill-building programs for inmates.

Additional Support Systems:

• Digital Integration:
  • Products from Tihar’s cow shed to be sold via Tihar’s online store (My Store).
  • Real-time tracking of essential items and NGO collaboration for rehabilitation support.
• Inventory Management System: Monitors supply of food, medicines, and essential items.
• NGO Collaboration: Registration portal for NGOs to strengthen inmate rehabilitation programs.

Impact:

• Mental Health: Reduces loneliness, promotes emotional resilience.
• Skill Development: Enables inmates to earn a livelihood and support their families post-release.
• Social Rehabilitation: Encourages responsibility, empathy, and humane treatment of animals.
• Institutional Transparency: Digital tracking and NGO oversight ensures accountability.

Experts red-flag ultra-processed food retail surge

Why in News?

• Recent Lancet series (three-paper global study) highlights the sharp rise in ultra-processed food consumption in India and its health consequences.
• Retail sales of ultra-processed foods rose from $0.9B in 2006 → ~$38B in 2019 (≈40-fold increase).
• Obesity, diabetes, and other non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are surging concurrently.
• Signals urgent need for policy action on diet, marketing, and public health.

Relevance:

• GS 2: Health — obesity, diabetes, NCD burden, dietary transition, public health policy.
• GS 3: Economy — rising healthcare expenditure, productivity loss due to lifestyle diseases.
• GS 3: Science & Tech / Food Systems — food processing industry, aggressive marketing, supply-chain expansion.

Definition

• Ultra-Processed Foods (UPFs): Foods industrially formulated from refined ingredients, preservatives, additives; high in calories, low in nutrients; examples: soft drinks, chips, chocolates, instant noodles.
• Characteristics: Convenient, long shelf-life, hyper-palatable, aggressively marketed.
• Health Concern: Associated with obesity, Type 2 diabetes, hypertension, heart, kidney, GI disorders, depressive symptoms.

Current Scenario in India

• Obesity: 28.6% adults affected (≈1 in 4).
• Diabetes: 11.4% adults (≈1 in 10).
• Prediabetes: 15.3% adults.
• Abdominal obesity: 39.5% adults.
• Childhood obesity: Increased from 2.1% (2016) → 3.4% (2019–21).
• UPF market growth: $0.9B → $38B between 2006–2019; rapid penetration into Indian diets.

Why UPFs are Harmful ?

• High-calorie, low-nutrient → excess energy intake.
• Frequent consumption adds ≥500 extra calories/day → fat deposition, particularly visceral fat.
• Visceral obesity increases metabolic risks: Type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, hypertension.
• Aggressive marketing normalizes unhealthy diets, replacing traditional meals.

Policy and Regulatory Gaps

• India lacks precise data on UPF consumption patterns.
• Current regulations insufficient to curb marketing, especially targeting children.
• No uniform policy to manage food environment or labeling standards effectively.

Global & Scientific Context

• Lancet series authored by 43 global experts: warns of worldwide trend of UPF consumption replacing traditional diets.
• Echoes global concerns: NCD burden rising in low- and middle-income countries due to dietary transition.
• Nutrition experts stress urgent intervention to prevent “nutrition transition” from traditional healthy diets to industrialized diets.

Implications for India

• Rising healthcare burden from obesity and NCDs.
• Early onset of metabolic diseases in children.
• Genetic predisposition of Indians to visceral obesity intensifies risk.
• Need for multi-pronged interventions: public awareness, marketing restrictions, fiscal policies (taxation/subsidies), school nutrition programs.

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Declared extinct decades ago, a tiger returns to ‘new home’ — in Gujarat forest

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Why is this in News?

• Gujarat has recorded the return of a tiger after decades of local extinction, with confirmed sightings in Ratanmahal Wildlife Sanctuary .
• Tiger was repeatedly captured on camera traps since Feb 2025, establishing territorial presence.
• Marks Gujarat’s entry into states hosting three big cats (lion–tiger–leopard), and preparing for the fourth (cheetah) under Project Cheetah in Banni Grasslands.

Relevance:

• GS 3: Environment & Ecology — wildlife conservation, carnivore dispersal, habitat connectivity.
• GS 3: Biodiversity — species recovery, local extinction reversal, multi-big-cat landscape.

Basics

• Local Extinction: When a species disappears from a specific region but exists elsewhere. Tigers were declared locally extinct in Gujarat decades ago.
• Source Landscape: Tiger likely dispersed naturally from Madhya Pradesh’s Kathiawar/Chhota Udepur landscape, which has a healthy population.
• Ratanmahal Wildlife Sanctuary:
  • Location at the MP–Gujarat border
  • Rich prey base (nilgai, wild boar, monkeys; sambar/spotted deer in monsoon)
  • Dense habitat suitable for large carnivores

What Has Happened?

• First detection:
  • Large pugmarks noticed on 23 Feb 2025 during patrol.
  • Camera trap photo timestamped 22 Feb, 2:40 AM confirmed tiger presence.
• Regular sightings: Recurrent captures through multiple months prove it has established territory.
• Forest department action:
  • Increased number of camera traps
  • Ensured water availability
  • Prey augmentation measures
  • Fire prevention and habitat protection
  • Constant monitoring of tiger health and movements
• NTCA informed: Formal recognition of tiger presence in Gujarat.

Significance

• Ecological Milestone:
  • Restoration of natural carnivore range → improved ecosystem health.
  • Indicates successful habitat integrity on Gujarat–MP border.
• Conservation Success Indicator:
  • Shows connectivity corridors between MP and Gujarat are functional.
  • Natural dispersal is a strong marker of forest ecosystem recovery.
• Big Cat Diversity:
  • Gujarat already has Asiatic lions (Gir) and leopards widely spread.
  • Now adds tiger presence, becoming a multi–big-cat state.
  • Work underway to add cheetahs via reintroduction (Banni Grasslands).

Project Cheetah Link

• Gujarat preparing a 600-hectare cheetah breeding and conservation centre in Banni Grasslands, Kutch.
• Jointly funded by Centre + State.
• Will make Gujarat home to all four big cats — lion, tiger, leopard, cheetah.

Why Tigers Disappeared from Gujarat? 

• Habitat loss due to agriculture expansion and fragmentation
• Prey depletion
• Poaching and human pressure
• Lack of tiger-specific conservation efforts (state focus on lions)

Current Conservation Implications

• Need for landscape-level management for long-term tiger survival.
• Potential requirement for corridor protection between MP and Gujarat forests.
• Possible future creation of a notified Tiger Reserve if population stabilizes.
• Must manage human–tiger conflict risks as the region has village interface.

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