Daily Current Affairs- 3rd November 2025

Daily Current Affairs- 3rd November 2025

Swachh Survekshan 2025: Madurai Tops the List of India’s Dirtiest Cities

In the News: The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) released the results of Swachh Survekshan 2025, the world’s largest urban cleanliness survey. This year’s rankings revealed that Madurai topped the list of India’s dirtiest cities, highlighting critical sanitation challenges and waste management lapses in the region.

Key Points:

• Survey Overview: Swachh Survekshan 2025 covered over 4,400 cities across India, assessing cleanliness, waste segregation, public sanitation, and citizen feedback under the Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban).
• Dirtiest City Ranking: Madurai, Tamil Nadu, was ranked the dirtiest city, primarily due to poor solid waste segregation, inadequate drainage management, and low public participation in sanitation drives.
• Top Performers: On the other hand, Indore retained its record as India’s cleanest city for the eighth consecutive year, followed by Surat and Navi Mumbai.
• Evaluation Criteria: Cities were evaluated on service-level progress (40%), citizen voice (30%), and certification for garbage-free status (30%).Government Action: The ministry has directed local urban bodies to submit action plans for improving waste treatment and community-led cleanliness initiatives in low-performing cities.
• Broader Context: The 2025 edition aligns with the Swachh Bharat Mission’s next phase—“Garbage-Free Cities 2.0”, emphasizing circular economy practices and 100% waste processing by 2026.

Indian Army Conducts VAYU SAMANVAY-II in Desert Sector

In the News: The Indian Army conducted VAYU SAMANVAY-II, a large-scale joint exercise in the Desert Sector, demonstrating integrated air-land battle coordination and synergy between the Indian Army and Indian Air Force (IAF). The exercise focused on validating joint operations, air support tactics, and rapid mobility in desert warfare scenarios.

Key Points:

• Exercise Objective: VAYU SAMANVAY-II aimed to strengthen coordination between air and ground forces for seamless execution of integrated operations in semi-arid and desert terrains.
• Joint Participation: The exercise featured participation from key Army formations, frontline IAF fighter aircraft, attack helicopters, and airborne assault units.
• Operational Focus: Drills included close air support, battlefield interdiction, logistics sustenance from the air, and precision strikes on simulated enemy positions.
• Technology Integration: The exercise showcased the use of advanced surveillance systems, network-centric communication, and AI-enabled command-and-control tools for real-time decision-making.
• Strategic Importance: Conducted in the western front’s desert region, the exercise reinforced India’s readiness to counter potential threats in high-temperature, low-visibility environments.
• Outcome: VAYU SAMANVAY-II reaffirmed the Indian Armed Forces’ commitment to achieving full-spectrum joint operational capability, enhancing interoperability, and strengthening deterrence posture along India’s western borders.

How Ayushman Bharat Became the World’s No. 1 Health Scheme

In the News: India’s flagship health insurance program, Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY), was recognized as the world’s No. 1 health assurance scheme by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Bank for its scale, inclusivity, and digital transformation in public healthcare delivery.

Key Points:

• Recognition: The WHO–World Bank joint assessment ranked Ayushman Bharat as the largest fully government-funded health assurance program globally, covering over 60 crore beneficiaries across India.
• Scheme Overview: Launched in 2018, the scheme provides cashless health insurance of ₹5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary hospital care through a vast network of over 28,000 empaneled hospitals.
• Digital Transformation: Integration with the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) has enabled seamless patient data, e-health records, and portability across states — a milestone in India’s digital health ecosystem.
• Impact: Over 7.5 crore hospital admissions have been authorized since inception, saving beneficiaries an estimated ₹1.2 lakh crore in out-of-pocket expenditure.
• Inclusivity: The program ensures equitable access for women, senior citizens, and rural populations, with over 49% of beneficiaries being women.Global Recognition: International agencies hailed Ayushman Bharat as a model for universal health coverage (UHC), citing its scale, efficiency, and digital innovation as benchmarks for other developing nations.

Maldives Enforces World’s First Generational Tobacco Ban

In the News: The Maldives became the first country in the world to enforce a Generational Tobacco Ban, marking a historic step in global public health policy. The law prohibits the sale of all tobacco products to anyone born on or after January 1, 2009, effectively creating a “tobacco-free generation.”

Key Points:

• Policy Launch: The landmark legislation, passed by the Maldivian Parliament earlier in 2024, officially came into effect in November 2025 as part of the nation’s Tobacco-Free Maldives 2040 vision.
• Scope of the Ban: Under the new law, individuals born in 2009 or later will never be legally allowed to buy tobacco or related products in their lifetime, regardless of when they reach adulthood.
• Implementation Measures: The Ministry of Health has introduced strict monitoring, digital ID verification for tobacco sales, and heavy penalties for vendors violating the ban.
• Public Health Impact: The initiative is expected to drastically reduce youth smoking rates and long-term tobacco-related illnesses, aligning with WHO’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) goals.
• Global Significance: The Maldives now leads the world in generational tobacco control, serving as a model for similar legislation under consideration in countries like New Zealand and the United Kingdom.
• Domestic Support: The move has received broad support from health experts and civil society, positioning the Maldives as a global pioneer in preventive health and youth protection policy.

Kane Williamson Retires from T20Is, Ends Career with 93 Matches

In the News: New Zealand captain Kane Williamson announced his retirement from T20 Internationals, concluding an illustrious career spanning 93 matches. The decision marks the end of an era for one of cricket’s most composed and technically gifted leaders in the shortest format.

Key Points:

• Career Overview: Kane Williamson made his T20I debut in 2012 and went on to represent New Zealand in 93 matches, scoring over 2,500 runs at an average above 33, including 18 fifties.
• Leadership Legacy: Under his captaincy, New Zealand reached the T20 World Cup Final in 2021, where Williamson’s 85 off 48 balls in the final remains one of the most memorable innings in World Cup history.
• Reason for Retirement: Williamson stated that stepping away from T20Is would allow him to focus on ODIs and Test cricket, particularly with the 2027 ODI World Cup and New Zealand’s long-format commitments ahead.
• Tributes: Teammates, opponents, and fans across the cricketing world lauded his sportsmanship, calm temperament, and consistency, calling him one of New Zealand’s finest ambassadors for the game.
• Post-Retirement Role: Williamson is expected to continue mentoring young players in the New Zealand setup and remain active in global franchise leagues as a senior professional.

India Shines at 2025 Asian Youth Games with Record 48 Medals

In the News: India achieved its best-ever performance at the Asian Youth Games 2025, securing a record 48 medals, including 19 gold, 14 silver, and 15 bronze. The event, held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, highlighted India’s emerging dominance in youth sports across Asia.

Key Points:

• Historic Performance: With 48 total medals, India registered its highest-ever tally at the Asian Youth Games, surpassing its previous best of 37 medals achieved in 2017
• Top Sports: Athletics, shooting, and wrestling emerged as India’s strongest disciplines, accounting for nearly 60% of the total medals, while swimming and badminton also recorded notable breakthroughs.
• Star Performers: Sprinter Ritika Singh and shooter Aarav Mehta each won two gold medals, becoming standout athletes of the Indian contingent.
• Team Excellence: The Indian mixed relay team’s gold in athletics and a historic first-ever medal in fencing added to the nation’s growing sporting diversity.
• Coaching & Support: The Sports Authority of India (SAI) and the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) were credited for nurturing young talent through early exposure and scientific training.