Daily Current Affairs | UPSC CSE | 6 November 2025
Prime Minister Modi will inaugurate the 150th anniversary of the national song “Vande Mataram,” which symbolizes India’s fight for freedom. Additionally, concerns over SAARC’s educational initiatives and a high-level Ethiopian delegation’s visit to learn about India’s National Rural Livelihoods Mission were highlighted on 6th November 2025.
Note: Please click here if you want to read the daily current affairs compilations of other dates.
Once you are done with the reading, you may attempt MCQs based on these topics by visiting our Daily CA MCQs page.
Daily Current Affairs 6 November 2025: Index
National Song – Vande Mataram
Why in News: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the year-long commemoration of 150 Years of the National Song “Vande Mataram” on 7 November 2025, coinciding with the date it was composed — Akshaya Navami, 1875.
He will also release a Commemorative Stamp and Coin to mark the occasion.
Historical Background
- Author: Bankim Chandra Chatterjee (1838 – 1894)
- Date of Composition: 7 November 1875 (Akshaya Navami)
- First Publication: In Bangadarshan, a literary journal founded and edited by Bankim Chandra.
- Later Inclusion: Incorporated in his novel Anandamath (1882) — a patriotic work portraying ascetic warriors (Santans) devoted to liberating the Motherland.
- Music Composition: Rabindranath Tagore later set the song to music.
Meaning and Spirit
“Vande Mataram” (I Bow to Thee, Mother) personifies the Motherland as a goddess symbolizing strength, prosperity, and divinity, inspiring India’s struggle for freedom and self-respect.
It became the rallying cry for national unity during the freedom movement.
Adoption as National Song
- 1896 – First sung at the Indian National Congress Session in Calcutta by Rabindranath Tagore.
- 1905 – Adopted for all-India occasions at the Varanasi Session of the INC.
- 1907 – Madam Bhikaji Cama unfurled the first tricolour flag with the words “Vande Mataram” in Stuttgart (Germany).
- 1950 – On 24 January 1950, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, President of the Constituent Assembly, declared that “Vande Mataram” shall have equal status with the National Anthem “Jana Gana Mana.”
- Official Recognition: Only the first two stanzas are recognized as the National Song of India.
Vande Mataram in the Freedom Movement
- Swadeshi Movement (1905):First raised as a political slogan on 7 August 1905 by students protesting the Partition of Bengal.
- Bande Mataram Sampradaya (1905): Formed in North Calcutta to spread patriotic consciousness through Prabhat Pheris singing Vande Mataram and collecting funds for the cause. Rabindranath Tagore also joined these marches.
- Barisal Conference (1906): British authorities banned the public chanting of Vande Mataram and even dissolved the conference.
- Bande Mataram Newspaper (1906): Launched in Calcutta under Bipin Chandra Pal; Sri Aurobindo later became joint editor.
- Paris–Geneva Publication (1909): Indian patriots abroad published Bande Mataram journal to sustain nationalist fervour.
- Martyrdom of Madan Lal Dhingra (1909): His last words before execution in London were “Bande Mataram.”
About the Novel – Anandamath (1882)
- Depicts a band of ascetic revolutionaries (Santans) fighting against foreign oppression for the liberation of Mother Bharat.
- Introduced the Motherland as the supreme divine ideal — a unifying symbol for national resurgence.
- Other major works of Bankim Chandra Chatterjee:
- Durgeshnandini (1865), Kapalkundala (1866), and Devi Chaudhurani (1884).
Source: PIB
Read More Such Articles on eGyanPeeth!
South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC)
Why in News: Over 300 global scholars have written to the Secretary-General of SAARC, Ambassador Md. Golam Sarwar, regarding the dismissal of Dr. Snehashish Bhattacharya, Associate Professor at South Asian University (SAU), New Delhi — an international university established under the aegis of SAARC.
This event has brought SAARC and its educational initiatives back into public discussion.
About SAARC
- Full Form: South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation
- Founded: 8 December 1985 (in Dhaka, Bangladesh)
- Headquarters: Kathmandu, Nepal
- Founding Members (7): Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka
- 8th Member: Afghanistan (joined in 2007, at the 14th SAARC Summit, New Delhi)
- Current Members: 8
Genesis and Evolution
- Origin of the Idea: Proposed in 1980 by Ziaur Rahman, the then President of Bangladesh, for promoting peace, regional stability, and cooperation in South Asia.
- Objective: To accelerate economic and social development through mutual assistance, collective self-reliance, and regional collaboration among South Asian nations.
Key Facts
| Aspect | Details |
| Establishment Charter Signed On | 8 December 1985, Dhaka |
| SAARC Charter Day | Celebrated annually on 8 December |
| Official Language | English |
| Emblem Symbolism | Depicts a banyan tree — representing peace, growth, and unity |
| Headquarters | Kathmandu, Nepal |
| Secretary-General (as of 2025) | Md. Golam Sarwar (Bangladesh) |
Major Organs of SAARC
- Summit (Heads of State/Government) – Highest decision-making authority.
- Council of Ministers (Foreign Ministers) – Formulates policies and reviews cooperation.
- Standing Committee (Foreign Secretaries) – Oversees coordination and monitoring.
- Technical Committees – Implement projects in specific areas (agriculture, health, etc.).
- SAARC Secretariat – Located in Kathmandu, coordinates activities and meetings.
SAARC Summits
| Host Country | Summit Year | Venue / Note |
| 1st | 1985 | Dhaka, Bangladesh |
| 2nd | 1986 | Bengaluru, India |
| 8th | 1995 | New Delhi, India |
| 14th | 2007 | New Delhi, India (Afghanistan joined as 8th member) |
| 18th | 2014 | Kathmandu, Nepal |
| 19th | (Postponed) | Scheduled in Pakistan (2016) — cancelled due to Uri terror attack fallout |
Note: After the 2016 Uri attack, India boycotted the 19th Summit (Host: Pakistan). Afghanistan, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Maldives, and Sri Lanka also withdrew, halting SAARC’s progress since then.
South Asian University (SAU)
- Established: Through an Inter-Governmental Agreement at the 14th SAARC Summit (2007) in New Delhi.
- Operational Since: 2010
- Location: New Delhi, India
- Objective: To foster regional cooperation in higher education and research across South Asia.
- Funding: Shared by all SAARC member nations, with India providing the largest contribution (around 80%).
Challenges Faced by SAARC
- India–Pakistan Tensions: Political rivalry has repeatedly stalled summits and cooperation initiatives.
- Slow Decision-Making: Consensus-based system limits quick responses or reform.
- Overlapping Institutions: Duplication with other subregional groupings like BIMSTEC and BBIN.
- Intra-Regional Trade Barriers: Intra-SAARC trade is only ~5% of total trade in the region.
- Security and Terrorism Issues: Persistent cross-border concerns hinder trust and collaboration.
SAARC vs. BIMSTEC
| Aspect | SAARC | BIMSTEC |
| Established | 1985 | 1997 |
| Members | 8 (South Asian) | 7 (South + Southeast Asian) |
| Focus | South Asian cooperation | Bay of Bengal connectivity |
| India–Pakistan Presence | Both members | Pakistan not a member |
| Recent Activity | Dormant since 2014 | Actively functioning |
Source: Indian Express
Read More Such Articles on eGyanPeeth!
Project Cheetah
Why in News: Madhya Pradesh is preparing to host a third cheetah site under Project Cheetah — the Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary, following the successful translocation of cheetahs to Kuno National Park and Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary.
This marks the first time cheetahs will share their habitat in India with other apex predators such as tigers, leopards, wolves, wild dogs, and crocodiles, making Nauradehi a complex, multi-predator ecosystem.
About Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary
- Location: Spanning the Sagar, Damoh, and Narsinghpur districts of Madhya Pradesh.
- Geography: Located on the upper Vindhyan range, straddling the Ganga and Narmada basins.
- Area: Around 1,200 sq. km, making it Madhya Pradesh’s largest wildlife sanctuary.
- Existing Wildlife:
- ~25 tigers (reintroduced since 2018)
- ~100 mugger crocodiles
- Indian wolves, wild dogs, panthers, and herbivores like chital and sambar.
- Ecological Significance: Nauradehi serves as a natural corridor linking Panna Tiger Reserve, Satpura Tiger Reserve, and Bandhavgarh National Park, making it a promising site for expanding India’s cheetah population.
Project Cheetah
- Launch Year: 2022
- Purpose: Reintroduce cheetahs — extinct in India since 1952 — and restore their role in grassland ecosystems.
- Implementing Agency:
- National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC).
- Implemented with the Madhya Pradesh Forest Department and Wildlife Institute of India (WII).
- International Partner: Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF), Namibia — an NGO founded in 1990 for global cheetah conservation.
- Governance Mechanism: In 2023, NTCA constituted a Cheetah Project Steering Committee to supervise, evaluate, and advise implementation.
Cheetah Translocation Details
- First Batch (2022): 8 cheetahs (5 males, 3 females) from Namibia released in Kuno National Park.
- Second Batch (2023): 12 cheetahs from South Africa added to the population.
- Third Site (2025): Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary being prepared to receive the next batch.
Biological & Ecological Characteristics
- Scientific Name: Acinonyx jubatus
- Speed: Can reach up to 120 km/h, accelerating from 0–100 km/h in 3 seconds.
- Distinct Traits:
- Cheetahs do not roar; they communicate via chirps, growls, and stutter barks.
- Possess non-retractable claws aiding grip during high-speed chases.
- Diet: Purely carnivorous; prefer medium-sized ungulates like blackbuck and chital.
Conservation and Legal Protection
| Protection Mechanism | Status |
| IUCN Red List | Vulnerable |
| Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 | Schedule II |
| CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) | Appendix I – highest trade protection |
Ecological and Strategic Importance
- Reintroducing cheetahs restores India’s lost grassland predator and helps balance prey populations.
- Enhances eco-tourism potential and rural livelihoods in central India.
- Promotes scientific research, habitat restoration, and ecosystem-based wildlife management.
Source: Indian Express
Read More Such Articles on eGyanPeeth!
Typhoon Kalmaegi
Why in News: The death toll in Philippine caused by Typhoon Kalmaegi in the country’s central region has risen to at least 114 with 127 people reported missing.
“Kalmaegi” is a Korean word and the name has been given by North Korea. Locally, Typhoon Kalmaegi is called Tino in Philippines.
Location and Features: Philippines
- The island country is located in Southeast Asia (Western Pacific Ocean).
- It is surrounded by the South China Sea (west and north), Celebs Sea (south), Sulu Sea (southwest) and the Philippines Sea (east).
- Mount Apo is its highest point and Cagayan is the largest river.
Terms for Tropical Cyclones:
- Hurricane – North Atlantic, Eastern North Pacific and South Pacific Ocean.
- Cyclone – Indian Ocean.
- Typhoon – Western North Pacific Ocean.
- Willy-willy: Eastern part of the Southern Indian Ocean.
Cyclone/Typhoon: Various Stages
- The weakest tropical cyclones are called tropical depressions.
- If a depression intensifies such that its maximum sustained winds reach 39 miles per hour [63 kmph], the tropical cyclone becomes a tropical storm,” according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
- Storm systems with wind speeds of 119 kmph and above are classified as hurricanes, typhoons, or tropical cyclones.
Category of Cyclones:
The category of a tropical cyclone is determined by its sustained wind speed, as measured by the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. It is classified into five categories; 1-5. While Category 1 tropical cyclones bring winds of 119 to 153 kmph, Category 5 tropical cyclones, which are the strongest, have winds of 252 kmph or higher. Storms that reach Category 3 and higher are considered major tropical cyclones due to their potential to inflict significant damage.
Source: Indian Express
Read More Such Articles on eGyanPeeth!
National Rural Livelihoods Mission
Why in News: A high-level delegation from the Government of Ethiopia has concluded a week-long learning and exposure visit to India. The visit focused on understanding the operational model and implementation strategies of the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM).
DAY–NRLM (Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihood Mission)
- Launched: 2010 (as NRLM) — renamed in 2016
- Predecessor: Swarnajayanti Grameen Swarojgar Yojana (SGSY)
- Type: Centrally Sponsored Scheme (shared funding by Centre + States)
- Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Rural Development
- Primary Strategy: Women-led SHG-based social & financial mobilization
Four Core Components
- Social mobilization & institution building (women-led SHGs & federations)
- Financial inclusion (bank linkage, formal credit, insurance)
- Sustainable livelihoods (farm & non-farm income generation)
- Social inclusion & entitlement access (last-mile delivery of govt schemes)
SHG Women as Community Resource Persons (CRPs)
| Role | Function |
| Krishi Sakhi | Promotes sustainable agriculture → boosts farm productivity & market access |
| Bank Sakhi | Works at bank branch → enables SHGs to open accounts, access loans |
| Pashu Sakhi | Provides livestock health & advisory services → supports animal-based livelihoods |
Source: PIB
Read More Such Articles on eGyanPeeth!
Done with reading today’s notes? Now attempt MCQs based on these topics by visiting our Daily CA MCQs page.
You must be logged in to post a comment.