13 November 2025 Daily Current Affairs
- Shubham Mishra
- Nov 13, 2025
- 4 min read
Government reduces GI tag application fee
The Commerce and Industry Minister announced that the fee to apply for a Geographical Indication (GI) tag has been reduced from ₹5,000 to ₹1,000.
Here are the GI products mentioned in the news:
Kannadippaya (bamboo mat) – Kerala
Apatani textile – Arunachal Pradesh
Marthandam honey – Tamil Nadu
Lepcha Tungbuk – Sikkim
Bodo Aronai – Assam
Ambaji white marble – Gujarat
Bedu and Badri cow ghee – Uttarakhand
Bodo Aronai is a traditional handwoven scarf of the Bodo tribe in Assam.
In India, the Geographical Indication Registry gives GI tags, operating under the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), which is part of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
This process is governed by the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999.
Kochi among world’s top 10 trending destinations
What happened?
Booking.com, a major global travel platform, released a list of thetop 10 trending travel destinations worldwide, andKochiis theonly Indian cityto feature in it.
Why Kochi?
Located on the south-western coast of India.
Known for its long history of global trade, cultural exchange, and cosmopolitan character.
Popular for heritage sites, backwaters, cuisine, and art festivals.
G7 –
What is the G7?
The Group of Seven (G7) is an informal bloc of the world’s advanced industrial democracies.
It focuses on global economic stability, international security, climate action, development, and major geopolitical issues.
Formed in 1975 (as G6) after the oil crisis and recession.
Canada joined in 1976 → G7.
The EU participates as a non-enumerated member.
It is not a treaty-based organisation, and its decisions are non-binding, but highly influential.
G7 Members
The 7 member countries are:
United States
United Kingdom
France
Germany
Italy
Canada
Japan
+ European Union (as a participant)
Former Member
Russia joined in 1998 → G8
Suspended in 2014 after annexation of Crimea → Returned to G7.
Advocate–Client Privilege & Supreme Court Judgment
What happened?
On October 31, the Supreme Court ruled that police cannot summon a lawyer just to ask what their client told them, except in rare cases where the legal advice itself is used to commit or hide a crime.
This protects the-confidential relationship-between a lawyer and their client.
The case began when an Ahmedabad police officer summoned a defence lawyer under Section 179 of the BNSS, 2023, asking him to reveal details of a criminal case.
What are ‘Privileged Communications’?
These are private, protected conversations between people in special relationships that the law does not allow to be disclosed in court.
Examples under the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA), 2023):
Spouses (Section 128):
Communication during marriage cannot be disclosed even after divorce, unless one spouse commits a crime against the other.
State secrets (Section 129):
Unpublished official records cannot be released without approval.
Advocate–client privilege (Section 132):
Lawyers must not reveal what clients told them during professional work even after the case ends.
Why this protection?
To ensure honesty, trust, and fair representation in the justice system.
What did the Supreme Court say?
The Court said:
Lawyer–client confidentiality is essential for a fair trial and rule of law.
Police or investigating agencies cannot summon a lawyer just because they represented an accused.
Only three exceptions allow breaking confidentiality:
Client gives permission.
Communication was for an illegal purpose.
Lawyer observes a crime being committed during the engagement.
The Court linked this to Article 20(3) (protection against self-incrimination).
If a person cannot be forced to confess,the State cannot force the person’s lawyer to confess on their behalf.
Why is this important?
(a) Protects right to fair defence (Article 21)
Confidentiality ensures:
The accused gets honest legal advice.
Lawyers don’t fear being forced to act as witnesses against their own clients.
This is vital in India, where ~3.9 lakh undertrials depend on effective legal help.
(b) Stops misuse of police powers
Police cannot use BNSS Section 179 to pressure lawyers.
(c) Strengthens constitutional democracy
The SC says lawyers are “constitutional actors”—not private agents but essential protectors of citizens’ rights.
If lawyers are forced to reveal secrets:
Defence collapses.
The lawyer becomes an involuntary witness.
Equality before law (Article 14) and fair trial rights suffer.
What does the verdict mean for India today?
Prevents investigative agencies from misusing summons against lawyers, journalists, etc.
Reinforces past SC rulings (Hoskot 1978, Hussainara 1980) that legal aid is part of Article 21.
Restores checks and balances, reminding the executive that its powers have limits.
Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) –
What is Rheumatoid Arthritis?
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic autoimmune disease in which the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks its own joints.
This leads to:
Pain
Swelling
Stiffness
Gradual joint damage
It mostly starts in the hands, wrists, and feet.
Why does it happen?
Doctors still do not know the exact cause, but factors include:
Genes
Hormones (women are 3 times more affected)
Environmental triggers → smoking, infections, pollutants
The immune system becomes confused and begins attacking healthy tissues.
Who gets it?
Mostly affects people between 30–60 years.
Women >>> Men (3 times more).
About 18 million people worldwide have RA.
Symptoms
Morning stiffness (fingers feel stuck)
Pain and swelling in joints
Tiredness/fatigue
Fever
Weight loss
Small bumps under the skin (rheumatoid nodules)
RA does not only affect joints — it can also harm:
Heart
Lungs
Eyes
Skin
Because it causes chronic inflammation throughout the body.
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