Daily Current Affairs – 19-11-2025
International News
Google Launches Gemini-3 with India-Focused Data Localization Commitment
Google unveiled Gemini-3, its latest foundational AI model, with a key commitment that all data generated by Indian users on the platform will remain within India’s borders, aligning with the country's regulatory requirements. A company spokesperson referenced a November 11 statement by Saurabh Tiwary, Vice-President and General Manager, Google Cloud AI, confirming that Google will launch its most powerful Gemini models in India with full data residency support. This development comes as OpenAI’s ChatGPT began partial data localization in India from May 7, initially for business users. Google is undertaking local storage of AI usage data and models to comply with Indian regulatory norms, including pressure from sectoral regulators such as the Reserve Bank of India to localize sensitive information. Koray Kavukcuoglu, Chief AI Architect, stated that Gemini-3 enhances contextual understanding across text, image, audio, and video inputs, and is now available across Google Search, the Gemini app, AI Studio, and Vertex AI for enterprise AI agent development. Google also introduced Anti-gravity, a coding assistant with sector-specific AI agents, and reported early enterprise adoption from companies such as Tata Consultancy Services, Reliance Industries, Apollo Hospitals, MakeMyTrip, Myntra, and Glance. The launch follows the rollout of OpenAI’s GPT-5.1 on November 13, marking increased competition in the global AI ecosystem.
Microsoft and Nvidia Commit to Invest $15 Billion in Anthropic
Microsoft Corp. and Nvidia Corp. have jointly committed to invest up to $15 billion in the artificial intelligence company Anthropic PBC, strengthening their strategic partnerships in the global AI sector. As part of the arrangement, Anthropic has agreed to purchase $30 billion worth of computing capacity from Microsoft Azure, aligning with the increasing trend of collaboration between major cloud service providers, chip manufacturers, and leading AI developers. The development comes as investors raise concerns over such “circular AI deals”, where AI firms use the services of the same companies investing in them. Microsoft, which has invested over $13 billion in OpenAI, continues to expand its AI ecosystem even as competition between Microsoft and OpenAI has become more open in recent months. With this new partnership, Microsoft will use Anthropic’s AI models, while Anthropic will rely on Microsoft’s infrastructure, marking a deeper technological and commercial alignment between the firms.
Saudi Arabia Announces Plans for a New Budget Airline Under Vision 2030
Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) announced plans to introduce a new budget airline based in Medina, with the tender expected in the coming months, as part of the Kingdom’s aviation expansion under Vision 2030. The announcement was made by Ali Rajab, Executive Vice-President of GACA, at the Dubai Airshow 2025. The Kingdom recently launched its flagship carrier Riyadh Air, which began operations last month with daily flights between Riyadh and London, and earlier announced that Air Arabia will operate a low-cost airline from Dammam with 45 aircraft by 2030. Saudi Arabia plans to connect to 250 destinations and aims to triple passenger numbers while developing into a cargo and logistics hub. To meet these goals, the Kingdom will facilitate over USD 100 billion in public and private investments, and its airlines currently have more than 500 aircraft on order, reflecting the rapid growth of the low-cost aviation segment.
Sports News
India’s Raghu Prasad Named FIH Male Umpire of the Year 2025
The International Hockey Federation (FIH) has named Raghu Prasad of India as the FIH Male Umpire of the Year 2025, recognising his professionalism and extensive officiating experience. Prasad has officiated in 198 international matches and served as a video umpire in 33 games, with involvement in major events including the FIH Hockey Pro League, Commonwealth Games, Junior World Cups, three Asian Games, multiple Asia Cups, and Asian Champions Trophies. His selection highlights India’s continued presence in global hockey officiating.
India Wins Gold and Silver in Mixed Team Shooting at the Deaflympics
At the Deaflympics in Japan, Indian shooters won both gold and silver in the 10m Air Rifle Mixed Team category. The Indian pair Dhanush Srikanth and Manish Sindhu secured the gold medal by defeating South Korea’s Jin Ji-yeon Yuyan and Kim Hui-m with a score of 17-7, after taking an early 4-0 lead and maintaining their advantage throughout the final. In the match for the silver medal, the Indian duo Mohammed Mutaasa Walia and Komal Milind Waskar defeated Ukraine’s Violetta Lykova and Oleksandr Kostyk with a score of 16-12, recovering from a brief deficit after the initial 4-4 tie. All four Indian shooters achieved their second medal of the competition, having already won medals in individual events. India’s overall tally at the Deaflympics has reached 9 medals, comprising 3 gold, 4 silver, and 2 bronze.
India Wins Gold and Silver in Mixed Team Shooting at the Deaflympics
At the Deaflympics in Japan, Indian shooters won both gold and silver in the 10m Air Rifle Mixed Team category. The Indian pair Dhanush Srikanth and Manish Sindhu secured the gold medal by defeating South Korea’s Jin Ji-yeon Yuyan and Kim Hui-m with a score of 17-7, after taking an early 4-0 lead and maintaining their advantage throughout the final. In the match for the silver medal, the Indian duo Mohammed Mutaasa Walia and Komal Milind Waskar defeated Ukraine’s Violetta Lykova and Oleksandr Kostyk with a score of 16-12, recovering from a brief deficit after the initial 4-4 tie. All four Indian shooters achieved their second medal of the competition, having already won medals in individual events. India’s overall tally at the Deaflympics has reached 9 medals, comprising 3 gold, 4 silver, and 2 bronze.
Reports and Indices
Over 100 Indian Universities Featured in QS Sustainability Rankings 2026
The QS Quacquarelli Symonds agency released the QS World University Rankings: Sustainability 2026, showing that India, with 103 universities, ranked fourth globally after the U.S., China, and the U.K. in the number of institutions featured. The sustainability rankings, introduced in 2023, evaluate universities based on environmental and social sustainability indicators such as environmental impact, social impact, governance, research, sustainability education, equality, employability, knowledge exchange, and health and wellbeing. The global list includes nearly 2,000 institutions from over 100 locations, with Lund University (Sweden) ranked first. Among Indian institutions, the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi achieved the highest position, placed at 205th, with India having 12 universities in the top 500. At the indicator level, IIT Delhi (93rd) and IIT Kharagpur (96th) were placed within the top 100 globally for Employability & Outcomes, while the University of Delhi secured 94th position globally for Knowledge Exchange. Of the 103 Indian universities ranked, 30 declined, 32 improved, and 15 remained unchanged, with several institutions such as Jadavpur University, IIT Kanpur, IIT Madras, and the Indian Institute of Science experiencing a drop in rankings.
Tamil Nadu News
Third TN Rising Conclave to Be Held in Coimbatore on November 25
The Tamil Nadu government will host the third TN Rising Conclave in Coimbatore on November 25, during which new investment agreements will be signed across key sectors such as electronics, general manufacturing, textiles, aerospace and defence. The event is part of the State’s regional investment summit series led by Industries Minister T.R.B. Rajaa, following earlier editions held in Thoothukudi and Hosur, where MoUs worth ₹32,554 crore and ₹24,307 crore respectively were signed. Coimbatore currently hosts over 25 Global Capability Centers (GCCs) and has seen rapid expansion of IT firms and start-ups, reflected in the absorption of 7 lakh sq.ft of office space from January to September 2025, with vacancy levels below 4%. Additionally, around 2 million sq.ft of new office space is under approval to meet the city’s rising demand. According to Jerry Kingsley, Head of Value and Risk Advisory-India and Head of Capital Markets-Chennai at Jones Lang LaSalle, smaller firms are also expected to develop standalone office buildings of 1–2 lakh sq.ft to bridge the current demand-supply gap.
National News
Supreme Court Recalls May 16 Verdict on Retrospective Environmental Clearances
The Supreme Court of India has recalled its May 16, 2024 judgment that had declared the Centre’s grant of ex post facto (retrospective) environmental clearances (ECs) to construction and building projects as illegal, with a 2:1 majority delivered by a Bench comprising Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai, Justice K. Vinod Chandran, and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan. The majority opinion by CJI B.R. Gavai, who retires on November 23, and Justice K. Vinod Chandran held that continuing the May 16 ruling would adversely affect several major projects, including 24 Central projects worth ₹8,293 crore and 29 State-level projects worth ₹11,168 crore, potentially causing a public exchequer loss of nearly ₹20,000 crore. However, Justice Ujjal Bhuyan, in a detailed 97-page dissent, opposed the review and maintained that retrospective environmental clearances go against established environmental jurisprudence, noting his disagreement based on the principles applied in the earlier May 16 judgment delivered by a Bench that included him and Justice A.S. Oka (now retired). With the new decision, the Supreme Court has formally set aside its earlier verdict and upheld the review petitions allowing ex post facto environmental clearances.
UGC Directs Institutions to Promote the Tele-MANAS Mental Health Scheme
The University Grants Commission (UGC) has issued instructions to higher education institutions to create awareness about the Tele-MANAS (Tele Mental Health Assistance and Networking Across States) scheme being implemented by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, highlighting its role in student mental well-being. In a circular issued by UGC Secretary Manish R. Joshi, institutions were asked to publicize the toll-free helpline numbers 14416 and 1800-891-4476, through which 24/7 mental health counselling is offered in 20 languages, benefiting over 2.3 million people so far. The UGC also directed institutions to display the Tele-MANAS app QR code at key campus locations such as libraries, hostels, websites, handbooks, and notice boards, and to screen mental-health awareness videos while encouraging teachers and students to act as mental-health ambassadors.