November 11, 2025

Quick Overview

This edition of GK Current Affairs (11 November 2025) highlights key developments across governance, culture, and legal affairs in India. The topics include the ICFT–UNESCO Gandhi Medal at IFFI 2025 promoting Gandhian ideals through cinema, the landmark Shah Bano Case and debates on the Uniform Civil Code, reforms in Legal Aid Delivery in India, and the newly inaugurated Co-Op Kumbh 2025 focused on the cooperative banking sector. The session also covers the Rules for Sustainable Harnessing of Fisheries in India’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), marking a step towards sustainable resource management under the Blue Economy vision.

1. ICFT–UNESCO Gandhi Medal at IFFI 2025

The 56th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) continues its legacy by awarding the ICFT–UNESCO Gandhi Medal, which honours films promoting peace, tolerance, and non-violence — core values of Mahatma Gandhi.
Instituted in 2015 in collaboration with the International Council for Film, Television and Audiovisual Communication (ICFT), the medal recognizes cinematic works that uphold ethical reflection and global harmony.
It aligns with India’s cultural diplomacy goals and enhances its role in UNESCO’s global cultural framework.
The IFFI, Asia’s oldest film festival established in 1952 and permanently hosted in Goa since 2004, symbolizes India’s growing influence in global cinema.

2. Shah Bano Case (1985) and the Debate on UCC

The Shah Bano case remains one of India’s most debated legal judgments on women’s rights and secularism. In 1985, the Supreme Court upheld Shah Bano’s right to maintenance under Section 125 of the CrPC, reinforcing equality before law irrespective of religion.
However, the government’s subsequent Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Divorce) Act, 1986 diluted the judgment, leading to decades of debate over the Uniform Civil Code (Article 44).
Later judgments — including Daniel Latifi (2001) and Mohd. Abdul Samad (2024) — reaffirmed women’s rights under both personal and secular laws.
The case remains central to India’s legal discourse on balancing religious freedom with gender justice and constitutional morality.

3. Legal Aid and Access to Justice in India

The Chief Justice of India recently emphasized that “legal aid is not charity but governance”, marking National Legal Services Day (9 November) and the enactment of the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987.
The Act operationalises Article 39A of the Constitution, ensuring that justice is not denied due to economic constraints.
Through NALSA, SLSAs, and DLSAs, over 44 lakh people received free legal aid between 2022 and 2025.
Key schemes include DISHA (2021–26) and the Legal Aid Defence Counsel System (LADCS), ensuring representation for the poor and marginalized.
However, challenges such as poor policy continuity, inadequate lawyer remuneration, and low awareness persist. Reforms focusing on institutional stability, performance metrics, and deepened legal literacy are essential for inclusive justice delivery.

4. Co-Op Kumbh 2025 and the Delhi Declaration

The ‘Co-Op Kumbh 2025’ conference on urban cooperative banking launched the Delhi Declaration 2025, setting a five-year roadmap for sectoral expansion.
Key outcomes include digitalization through Sahkar Digi-Pay and Sahkar Digi-Loan, and the establishment of Urban Cooperative Banks (UCBs) in all cities with populations above two lakhs.
The initiative also highlights India’s cooperative success stories — Amul and IFFCO, ranked first and second globally by the International Cooperative Alliance.
This reflects India’s growing recognition of cooperatives as vehicles for inclusive finance, digital empowerment, and community development.

5. Rules for Sustainable Harnessing of Fisheries in India’s EEZ

India has notified the Rules for Sustainable Harnessing of Fisheries in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), a crucial reform under the Blue Economy framework.
These rules promote cooperative-led deep-sea fishing, prohibit unsustainable practices like pair trawling and LED-light fishing, and encourage mariculture (seaweed and cage farming).
A new Digital Access Pass through the ReALCRaft portal will regulate vessel movement, ensuring traceability and marine security.
Integration with MPEDA and EIC will improve certification and export efficiency.
By empowering coastal cooperatives and enforcing biodiversity safeguards, India strengthens its maritime governance and global seafood competitiveness.

Conclusion

The developments of November 2025 reflect India’s broader pursuit of justice, sustainability, and cultural diplomacy. From empowering vulnerable citizens through legal aid to advancing marine governance and cooperative banking, these measures represent a progressive shift towards inclusive and ethical governance. Simultaneously, debates like Shah Bano and reforms like the ICFT–UNESCO Gandhi Medal underline India’s balance between tradition, modernity, and constitutional principles.

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