1 16-year-old Ilamparthi AR from Chennai became India’s 90th chess Grandmaster
Ilamparthi AR, a 16-year-old chess player from Tamil Nadu , has become India’s 90th Grandmaster after achieving his final Grandmaster norm at the Bijeljina Open in Bosnia . Born in 2009, he has been passionate about chess since childhood and trains under Grandmaster Shyam Sundar M. A student of Velammal School, Ilamparthi has won several international tournaments and is known for his sharp strategies and consistent performances on the global stage. Ilamparthi earned his first GM norm at the Ha Noi tournament in Vietnam in December 2023, followed by his second GM norm at the Singapore International Open in 2024. He then surpassed the 2500 Elo rating mark during the Rilton Cup (2024-25), and his final norm in Bosnia confirmed his Grandmaster status—the highest title in chess. Ilamparthi trains under Grandmaster Shyam Sundar M and receives support from several chess development programs. He is a student of the Velammal School, a renowned institution that has produced many of India’s top chess talents, including D. Gukesh and R. Praggnanandhaa. Even before achieving the Grandmaster title, Ilamparthi’s potential had been recognized internationally. In 2022, Dutch Grandmaster Anish Giri donated his death match prize money to Ilamparthi’s chess training—a move that highlighted the young player’s growing reputation in the global chess community.
2 PM Modi launches Rs 1 lakh crore RDI fund
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Emerging Science and Technology Innovation Conclave (ESTIC) 2025 at the Bharat Mandapam on Monday . During the event, he launched the ₹ 1 lakh crore Research, Development, and Innovation (RDI) Fund . This scheme aims to promote private sector-driven research and development in the country. The Emerging Science, Technology, and Innovation Conclave (ESTIC) 2025 is being held from November 3-5, 2025. The conference will attract over 3,000 participants from academia, research institutions, industry, and government, as well as Nobel laureates, eminent scientists, innovators, and policymakers. The deliberations will focus on 11 key thematic areas: advanced materials and manufacturing, artificial intelligence, biomanufacturing, the ocean economy, digital communications, electronics and semiconductor manufacturing, emerging agricultural technologies, energy, environment and climate, health and medical technologies, quantum science and technology, and space technologies.
3 IAS officer Sanjay Garg takes charge as Director General of Bureau of Indian Standards
Sanjay Garg, a 1994 batch IAS officer of Kerala cadre, has assumed charge as Director General of the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) from November 1. Before joining BIS as Director General, he had served as Secretary, Indian Council of Agricultural Research and Additional Secretary, Department of Agriculture, Research and Education. The Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution informed that as Director General of BIS, Mr. Garg will also serve as Chairman of India’s National Committee on the International Electrotechnical Commission.
4 sacred ‘Jode Sahib’ enshrined at Patna Sahib, including the right foot paduka of Guru Gobind Singh and the left foot paduka of Mata Sahib Kaur
On November 1st, amid reverence and spiritual fervor , the sacred ‘Jode Sahib’, associated with the holy feet of the Tenth Guru, Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji Maharaj, and Mata Sahib Kaur Ji, was formally consecrated at Takht Sri Harmandir Ji Patna Sahib . Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri and a large congregation graced the momentous occasion. The sacred ‘Jode Sahib’ comprises the right foot paduka of Sri Guru Gobind Singh and the left foot paduka of Mata Sahib Kaur. The formal consecration of the sacred ‘Jode Sahib’ at Takht Sri Harmandir Ji Patna Sahib marks the successful completion of the nine-day ‘Guru Charan Yatra’, during which the sacred ‘Jode Sahib’ was brought to Patna from Delhi via Haryana and Uttar Pradesh with utmost reverence and respect.
5 Union Minister Scindia laid the foundation stone for projects worth Rs 635 crore in Assam
Union Minister for Communications and Development of North Eastern Region, Jyotiraditya Scindia, described Assam as the heartbeat of the growing North East, saying it is emerging as the innovation and connectivity hub of the ” developed Northeast .” Scindia inaugurated the North-Eastern Science and Technology (NEST) Cluster at IIT Guwahati and laid the foundation stone for transformative development projects worth ₹635 crore in Assam. The NEST Cluster, established with an investment of ₹22.98 crore, will serve as the hub of the North East’s innovation ecosystem, transforming local knowledge into global solutions. The cluster will focus on four verticals: grassroots innovation, semiconductors and AI, bamboo-based technologies, and biodegradable plastics.
6 IBM and AICTE sign pact to launch AI lab in India
In a significant step towards taking technical education in India into a new era , the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has announced the establishment of a state-of-the-art Artificial Intelligence (AI) lab at its headquarters in partnership with IBM . This initiative aims to train students and faculty in AI, data science, and next-generation technologies at technical institutions across the country, strengthening India’s progress towards building a future-ready digital workforce. The lab will serve as a central node for upskilling in AI, data science, and related fields, focusing on practical learning, certification, and curriculum support for technical institutions. This aligns with nationwide efforts to build an industry-ready talent pipeline in next-generation technologies.
7 Indian Army conducts Air Coordination-II in desert area
In a strategic move towards adapting to the next-generation warfare scenario , the Indian Army conducted a major drone and counter-drone exercise named ‘ VAYU SAMANVAY-II ‘ in the forward desert areas under Southern Command during 28–29 October 2025. This comprehensive exercise marks a significant advancement in India’s operational preparedness against aerial threats and demonstrates that the Army is now rapidly moving towards technology-driven, multi-domain warfare.
8 UIDAI unveils ‘Aadhaar Vision 2032’ for future digital IDs
In a bold move towards future-proofing India’s digital identity system , the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has launched ‘ Aadhaar Vision 2032 ‘. This transformative roadmap aims to make Aadhaar more secure, intelligent, and compliant with global standards—including the use of artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, quantum computing, and next-generation encryption technologies. ‘Aadhaar Vision 2032’ is UIDAI’s comprehensive roadmap to technologically upgrade India’s Aadhaar system by the year 2032. Its key focus areas are –
- AI based smart authentication system
- Tamper-resistant verification and auditability through blockchain
- Preparing to deal with the dangers of quantum computing
- Advanced encryption system compliant with India’s Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act
It aims to develop a robust, secure and inclusive digital identity framework that can support citizens as well as the country’s growing digital economy.
9 Israeli Holocaust Memorial Center identifies 5 million Jews killed by Nazis during World War II
Yad Vashem , Israel ‘s main Holocaust memorial center , has identified the names of 5 million Jews murdered by the Nazis during World War II . This is a significant achievement in its mission to identify the names of all 6 million victims . Yad Vashem President Dani Dayan called it a significant milestone, but he said their work is not yet complete, as they still need to find the remaining 1 million names. A significant part of this effort at the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial Center relies on the Pages of Testimony, memorial forms completed by survivors and families of victims. These pages have collected more than 2.8 million names. Yad Vashem is also considering using new tools, such as artificial intelligence, to help identify more victims in the future. This global project represents a moral duty to restore the identity of every person erased during the Holocaust.
10 Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan was sworn in for a second term today.
Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan was sworn in for a second term . The presidential election was held after violent protests and opposition demonstrations. The swearing-in ceremony was held in the capital, Dodoma. Several opposition leaders were jailed and others were barred from contesting. Samia Suluhu Hassan was declared the winner on Saturday with 98 percent of the vote.
11 SBI joins India Bullion Exchange as special category customer
State Bank of India (SBI) completed its first gold trade as a Special Category Client (SCC) on the India International Bullion Exchange (IIBX) on November 1, 2025. This move will redefine the gold import and trading system in India—especially for the MSME jewellery industry, which will now benefit from better pricing and easier access. IIBX was established with the objective of making India a global bullion trading hub. It is located in GIFT City, Gujarat and provides a centralized and transparent platform for gold import and trading.
12 Indian Hockey’s ‘Centenary Celebrations’, a grand event to commemorate 100 years of Indian hockey on 7 November
Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, on Monday announced a grand celebration to mark the completion of 100 years (1925-2025) of Indian hockey . Organized in collaboration with Hockey India, the centenary celebration will be held on November 7 at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium in New Delhi , with parallel events in over 550 districts across India. This historic event will commemorate the completion of a centenary of India’s rich hockey heritage.
13 Indian Women’s League to be played in two phases: All India Football Federation
The All India Football Federation has decided that the Indian Women’s League will be played in two phases . The first phase will be held from December 20, 2025, to January 6, 2026 , while the second phase will begin on April 20 and run until May 10 of the following year . This decision was made by the federation after a meeting with all eight women’s league clubs on October 30.
14 World Jellyfish Day 2025
World Jellyfish Day, celebrated every year on November 3, marks a global celebration of jellyfish—one of Earth’s most ancient and mysterious marine creatures. These translucent, gelatinous creatures have been swimming in the oceans for 500 million years—predating the dinosaurs. Although many fear their sting, jellyfish are an essential part of the marine ecosystem and remain a subject of study for scientists due to their unique biology and resilience.