Current Affairs 12 November 2025

PIB Current Affairs

Prime Minister’s Visit to Bhutan

During the Prime Minister’s official visit to Bhutan, several key bilateral outcomes were announced, strengthening India–Bhutan cooperation in energy, connectivity, finance, health, and institutional partnerships.

Major Outcomes:

• Inauguration of the 1020 MW Punatsangchhu-II Hydroelectric Project, a major India-assisted power project.
• Agreement on resuming work on the main dam of the 1200 MW Punatsangchhu-I Project.
• Grant of land in Varanasi for constructing a Bhutanese Temple/Monastery and Guest House.
• Announcement of a ₹4,000 crore Line of Credit (LoC) from India to Bhutan.

6th National Water Awards

The 6th National Water Awards (2024 cycle) were announced in November 2025 with 46 winners across 10 categories.

Top performers:

• Maharashtra wins Best State
• Navi Mumbai wins Best ULB
• Dubbiganipalli (AP) wins Best Village Panchayat – Joint First

Andhra Pradesh Performance in 6th National Water Awards:

• Dubbiganipalli (Annamayya) wins Best Village Panchayat – Joint First
• Murugummi (Prakasham) wins best Village Panchayat – Joint second
• South Zone Best individual performance – Podili Rajasekhara Raju (first)

Know more details on 6th National Water Awards

Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari Awards

The Ministry of Jal Shakti announced the first Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari Awards, a flagship community-driven program under the Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain (JSA: CTR) campaign.

Best Performing States:

• Telangana
• Chattisgarh
• Rajasthan

Best Performing Districts (South Zone)

• Adilabad (Telangana)
• Nalgonda (Telangana)
• Mancherial (Telangana)

Best Performing Muncipal Corporation

• Raipur Municipal Corporation (Chattisgarh)
• Hyderabad (Telangana)
• Gorakhpur Municipal Corporation (Uttar Pradesh)

Best Performing Urban Local Bodies

• Guna, Madhya Pradesh

Know more about Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari Awards

3rd International Conference on Green Hydrogen 2025

At the 3rd International Conference on Green Hydrogen (ICGH 2025) held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi announced a ₹100 crore Call for Proposals to develop technologies for producing green hydrogen from biomass and waste. The scheme will be implemented through Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC), encouraging start-ups, industries, and research institutions.

National Green hydrogen Mission was launched in 2023 with ₹19,744 crore, this mission aims to

• Mobilise over ₹8 lakh crore investment
• Create six lakh jobs
• Save ₹1 lakh crore fossil-fuel imports annually

India’s First MWh-Scale Vanadium Flow Battery Inaugurated at NTPC NETRA

India’s first and largest MWh-scale Vanadium Redox Flow Battery (VRFB) system with 3 MWh capacity was inaugurated at NTPC NETRA (Greater Noida). This is a major advancement in long-duration energy storage (LDES), essential for increasing renewable energy integration and grid stability. The VRFB technology provides an alternative to lithium-ion batteries.

Difference between Vanadium Redox Flow Battery (VRFB) and Lithium-Ion Battery

Feature	Vanadium Redox Flow Battery (VRFB)	Lithium-Ion Battery
Energy Storage Medium	Liquid vanadium electrolytes stored in external tanks	Solid lithium-based electrodes and electrolyte
Scalability	Easily scalable by increasing tank size	Limited scalability; requires additional modules
Safety	Non-flammable, low risk	Fire risk due to thermal runaway
Life Span	15–20+ years with minimal degradation	5–10 years; faster degradation over cycles
Suitability	Grid-scale, long-duration storage	Mobility (EVs), electronics, short/medium duration
Charging/Discharging	Can fully discharge to 0% without damage	Deep discharge reduces battery life
Efficiency	High (70–85%)	Very high (90–95%)
Energy Density	Low (requires large tanks)	High (compact and lightweight)
Environmental Impact	Recyclable electrolytes; lower pollution	Mining & disposal of lithium cause environmental concerns
Cost Trend	Higher initial cost but low maintenance	Lower initial cost but higher lifecycle cost

Vanadium Redox Flow Battery (VRFB)

A Vanadium Redox Flow Battery is a type of rechargeable flow battery that stores energy in liquid electrolytes containing vanadium ions. These electrolytes are pumped through electrochemical cells to store and release electricity.

Key Features

• Uses the same element (vanadium) in both electrolytes, preventing cross-contamination.
• Stores energy in external tanks, allowing easy scaling by increasing tank size.
• Provides long-duration energy storage suitable for solar and wind integration.

Advantages

• Long life span (over 20 years)
• Non-flammable and safer than lithium-ion batteries
• High efficiency and low degradation
• Ideal for grid-scale storage rather than mobile devices

Uses

• Renewable energy storage (solar/wind)
• Grid stability and peak-load management
• Backup power systems

AP Current Affairs

Andhra Pradesh’s Data-Driven Response to Cyclone Montha

Andhra Pradesh showcased a technology-led disaster governance model during Cyclone Montha (Oct 27–30), shifting from reactive relief to proactive preparedness. Using AWARE 2.0 (forecasting system) and RTGS (Real-Time Governance Society) tools, the State predicted accurate wind speeds (80–100 kmph) and issued 72-hour early alerts, enabling evacuation of 10,000 people.

MSME Park at Pedairlapadu in Prakasam district

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister inaugurated a new MSME Park at Pedairlapadu in Prakasam district and virtually launched/founded 49 more MSME Parks across 17 districts. The government is developing 50 MSME Parks in 868 acres with ₹873 crore.

APSSDC signed MoU With Europe Careers, Germany

The Andhra Pradesh State Skill Development Corporation (APSSDC) and Overseas Manpower Company A.P. (OMCAP) signed a Letter of Intent with Europe Careers, Germany to facilitate overseas employment opportunities for skilled healthcare workers from Andhra Pradesh.

The partnership focuses on addressing labour shortages in Germany by recruiting nurses, physiotherapists, medical laboratory technicians, dialysis technicians, OT technicians, and paramedical staff.

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