• 11 Nov 2025

Artificial Lake at Sirhaul

Why in News? 

The Haryana government approved a 12-acre artificial lake at Sirhaul, near Gurugram, to store monsoon runoff and recharge groundwater.

Key Points

• The artificial lake will be developed on land owned by the Haryana Tourism Department at Sirhaul border, aimed at flood-mitigation and water-conservation.
  • Sirhaul is a border village located along NH-48 at the junction between Gurugram and Delhi.
• The lake will not only address urban flooding but also enhance the city’s eco-infrastructure, reflecting a broader push for sustainable urban development in Gurugram.

Uttar Pradesh to Create its 76th District

Why in News? 

The Government of Uttar Pradesh has announced the process to form the state’s 76th district, to be named Kalyan Singh Nagar, as a tribute to the late former Chief Minister Kalyan Singh.

• The proposed district will be carved out of parts of Aligarh and Bulandshahr.

Key Points

• Kalyan Singh (1932–2021):
  • He was born on 5th January, 1932 in Atrauli, Aligarh (Uttar Pradesh).
  • He served twice as the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, first from 1991 to 1992 and again from 1997 to 1999.
  • He also held the posts of Governor of Rajasthan and Himachal Pradesh.
  • On March 28, 2022, President Ram Nath Kovind honoured Kalyan Singh with Padma Vibhushan (posthumously). In the same year, the Government of India also released a postal stamp in his honour.

Bajrang Setu

Why in News?

The Uttarakhand Government is building the Bajrang Setu in Rishikesh to replace the historic Lakshman Jhula. The new bridge is designed for greater safety, better traffic flow, and a major boost to tourism.

Key Points

• Bajrang Setu:
  • It will be India’s first cable suspension bridge with glass walkways over a river.
  • The structure is three-laned, featuring a central steel deck for two-wheelers and separate, wide glass walkways for pedestrians on both sides. Its entrance towers are reportedly inspired by the sacred Kedarnath Temple.
• Lakshman Jhula:
  • It is a famous suspension bridge over the Ganga that connected the Tapovan area (Tehri Garhwal) with Jonk (Pauri Garhwal).
  • It was completed in 1929 and named after Lord Lakshman. The bridge stands at the site where, according to Hindu legend, Lakshman once crossed the Ganga using a makeshift bridge of jute ropes.
    The bridge was closed to all traffic in 2019 due to severe structural deterioration and safety risks.

18th Urban Mobility India (UMI)

Why in News? 

The 18th Urban Mobility India (UMI) Conference & Exhibition 2025 concluded in Gurugram, Haryana, highlighting innovations in sustainable urban transport. 

Key Points

• Urban Mobility India (UMI) Conference:
  • It has been organised annually since 2008 under the National Urban Transport Policy (NUTP), Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.
  • It aims to promote sustainable urban mobility through knowledge sharing, capacity building, and policy dialogue.
• About the 18th Edition:
  • It was organised in Gurugram, Haryana with the theme of “Urban Development and Mobility Nexus” focusing on cleaner transport, innovative financing, and inclusivity in public transit.
  • Award Winners:

Category	Winner	Organisation
Best Public Transport System	Chennai	Metropolitan Transport Corporation (Chennai) Ltd.
Best Non-Motorized Transport System	Udaipur	Udaipur Smart City Ltd.
Most Innovative Financing Mechanism	Pimpri Chinchwad	Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation
Best Green Transport Initiative	Hyderabad	Telangana Renewable Energy Development Corporation Ltd.
Best Multimodal Integration (Metro Rail)	Chennai	Chennai Metro Rail Ltd.
Best Passenger Services (Metro Rail)	Delhi	Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Ltd.
Special Award – Traffic Management System	Aizawl	Town & Country Planning Dept., Mizoram

Mumbai Ranked Asia’s Happiest City

Why in News?

Mumbai has been ranked the happiest city in Asia for 2025 according to the Time Out City Life Index, which surveyed over 18,000 residents across major Asian cities.

Key Points

• Mumbai’s Ranking:
  • Mumbai outperformed cities like Beijing (Rank 2), Shanghai (Rank 3), and Chiang Mai (Rank 4).
  • The city scored highest on parameters such as joy, community bonding, lifestyle, street-food culture, and nightlife.
  • The survey credited Mumbai’s happiness to its Bollywood culture, diverse communities, vibrant social life, and iconic street foods such as vada pav.
• Time Out City Life Index:
  • It is an annual global survey conducted by Time Out, a UK-based media and lifestyle organization.
  • It evaluates cities on aspects such as happiness, culture, food, affordability, nightlife, sustainability, and community connection.

National Education Day 2025

Why in News? 

India celebrates National Education Day on 11th November, to mark the 137th birth anniversary of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, the first Education Minister of independent India and a key architect of the nation’s modern education system.

Key Points

• National Education Day:
  • It is observed every year on 11th November to commemorate the birth anniversary of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad (1888–1958)
  • The observance was first announced in 2008 by the then Ministry of Human Resource Development (now the Ministry of Education).
• Maulana Abul Kalam Azad: 
  • He was born on 11th November 1888, in Mecca and later settled in Calcutta (Kolkata), where he emerged as a leading scholar and nationalist.
  • He served as India’s first Minister of Education (1947–1958) and introduced major reforms to strengthen scientific, technical, and cultural education.
  • He was instrumental in establishing the University Grants Commission (UGC), Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), and Indian Institute of Science (IISc), as well as cultural bodies like the Sahitya Akademi, Lalit Kala Akademi, and Sangeet Natak Akademi.
  • In recognition of his immense contributions, he was posthumously awarded the Bharat Ratna in 1992.