Daily Current Affairs – 7 November 2025

Explore the Daily Current Affairs 7 November 2025, relevant for UPSC exam. Download quick REVISION NOTES from our telegram channel – https://t.me/CivilMentorIAS.

Context: India’s rising inequality, technological disruptions, and fragmented welfare structure make it urgent to revisit Universal Basic Income (UBI).

What is Universal Basic Income (UBI)?

A periodic, unconditional cash transfer to all citizens, regardless of income or employment. Its objective is to ensure a minimum economic floor of security, promote dignity and autonomy, and reduce administrative inefficiencies.

Value added points:

1. ~90% of India’s workforce is in the informal sector without minimum wages or social security.
2. Fiscal cost estimated at ~5% of GDP for a basic UBI.
3. After introducing UBI, Finland, Kenya, and Iran saw enhanced well-being and no fall in work participation.
4. Economic Survey of India 2016-17 has advocated the concept of Universal Basic Income (UBI) as an alternative to the various social welfare schemes in an effort to reduce poverty. It suggested for providing Rs. 7,620 per annum to 75% of India’s population.

Merits	Concerns
1. Simplifies welfare delivery by removing targeting errors and leakages. 2. Boosts consumption and provides an automatic stabilizer during economic shocks. 3, Upholds dignity and autonomy, moving away from charity-based welfare. 4. Encourages gender equality by valuing unpaid care work. 5. Can help manage automation-driven job losses.	1. Fiscal sustainability: Funding a nationwide UBI remains challenging. 2. Inflation risk if not matched by production growth. 3. Universality vs. Targeting: May waste scarce resources on the rich. 4. Behavioural dependency concerns (though global evidence is mixed). 5. Could undermine existing welfare programs if implemented poorly.

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Context: Report by EAT–Lancet Commission on sustainable food systems, highlights that food production and consumption patterns are the primary drivers of multiple environmental crises -climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution.

Use this as an example in mains answers:

1. Food systems (growing, processing, transporting, and consuming food) account for ~30% of global GHG emissions. Example:

• Livestock (methane) → large share of emissions
• Fertilizers (N₂O) → potent GHG
• Land-use change → CO₂ from deforestation

2. Animal-based foods dominate agricultural emissions, while cereal crops cause excessive nitrogen, phosphorus, and water use.

3. India’s cereal-heavy diet meets caloric needs but lacks diversity. Moving toward fruits, legumes, and nuts (as recommended) could raise prices, risking affordability, especially for low-income and importing regions.

4. Food systems alone drive five of the six breached planetary boundaries.

What are Planetary Boundaries?

The planetary boundaries framework identifies limits within which humanity can safely operate without destabilizing the Earth system.

There are nine boundaries: climate change, biodiversity loss, land-system change, freshwater use, biogeochemical flows (nitrogen & phosphorus), ocean acidification, atmospheric aerosol loading, chemical pollution, and stratospheric ozone depletion. Crossing these boundaries risks irreversible environmental damage.

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Context: Recently there are multiple instances where nominations of candidates contesting
elections are rejected over technicalities without any chance for clarification.

Major Concerns:

1. The Returning Officer (RO) has excessive discretionary powers under Sections 33–36 of the RP Act, 1951, to reject nominations for “defects of a substantial character,” but there are no clear guidelines on what counts as substantial.
2. Technical rejections: Missing signatures, late submissions, minor errors in affidavits, delayed no-dues certificates. Example:
   • RJD candidate rejected in Bihar for blank fields.
   • BSF jawan in Varanasi rejected for lacking EC certificate overnight.
3. Burden of proof: Lies on the candidate, violating the principle that the right to contest is as important as the right to vote.

Way forward:

• Shift RO role from discretion to duty; provide clear written notices of errors.
• Introduce a 48-hour correction window.
• Move to a digital-by-default nomination system for transparency and efficiency.
• Public dashboard to track nomination status in real time.

Arbitrary rejection violates candidate’s right to contest and voter’s right to choose. Thus, Streamlining nominations is essential to protect democratic principles and prevent the weaponisation of procedure.

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Features of INS Ikshak:

1. Ikshak is indigenously built, Third vessel of the Survey Vessel Large (SVL) class.
2. It is the first SVL designed with dedicated women’s accommodation, reflecting the Navy’s commitment to gender inclusivity and modernization.
3. Equipped with state-of-the-art hydrographic and oceanographic systems, as well as helicopter support, the ship offers unmatched operational versatility with a dual-role capability—serving both as a survey vessel and a platform for Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations or as a hospital ship when required.

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What is “Abraham Accords”?

The Abraham Accords are a series of agreements aimed at normalizing diplomatic relations between Israel and several Arab and Muslim-majority countries. It was Initiated in 2020, during the Trump administration in the U.S, where U.S facilitated the role as a mediator.

Member Countries

• Original signatories: UAE and Bahrain (Sept 2020).
• Later: Sudan and Morocco joined.
• New additions: Countries like Kazakhstan (symbolic but formal recognition).

Core Objectives

• Establish formal diplomatic relations (embassies, ambassadors).
• Promote economic cooperation, trade, and investment.
• Enhance security collaboration in the Middle East.
• Encourage people-to-people interactions and tourism.

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Daily Current Affairs 7 November 2025

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