Govt's New Electronics Policy: India News (November 21, 2025)
India News Today (Nov 21, 2025): Tejas pilot Wg Cdr Syal killed in Dubai crash. Sensex tanks 400 pts, Rupee hits record low of 89.65.
Friday closes on a somber note as the IAF loses Wing Commander Namansh Syal in a tragic Tejas crash during the Dubai Air Show, while equity markets bleed with the Sensex shedding over 400 points.
In a historic first, Eli Lilly breaches the $1 trillion market cap, even as Cyclone Senyar triggers Red Alerts across the Andaman Islands.
Meanwhile, the cricketing world buzzes with Smriti Mandhana’s vibrant Haldi ceremony and a heartbreaking Super Over loss for India A against Bangladesh.
FRIDAY CHRONICLE: Tejas Pilot Martyred in Dubai; Sensex Bleeds Red; Cyclone Senyar Threatens East Coast
Comprehensive Daily News Dossier | Friday, 21 November 2025
1. DAILY SNAPSHOT: TRADER’S DASHBOARD
Status: MARKET CLOSED (Data Verified as of 16:00 IST, Nov 21, 2025)
The Indian equity markets snapped their two-day winning streak today, succumbing to weak global cues and a sharp sell-off in metal stocks.
The Rupee touched a historic low, breaching the 89.60 mark against the dollar, driven by foreign fund outflows and strengthening US bond yields.
| Instrument | Price / Value | Change | Status | Verified Time (IST) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NIFTY 50 | 26,068.15 | ▼ -124.00 (-0.47%) | Close | 15:30 Today |
| SENSEX | 85,231.92 | ▼ -400.76 (-0.47%) | Close | 15:30 Today |
| NIFTY BANK | 56,120.40 | ▼ -310.55 (-0.55%) | Close | 15:30 Today |
| INDIA VIX | 14.22 | ▲ +2.45% | Volatility | 15:30 Today |
| USD / INR | ₹89.65 | ▲ +0.18% | Record Low | 16:00 Today |
| Gold (24k, 10g) | ₹124,480 | ▲ +₹220 (+0.18%) | MCX | 16:15 Today |
| Silver (1kg) | ₹152,040 | ▼ -₹2,111 (-1.37%) | MCX | 16:15 Today |
| Brent Crude | $61.23 | ▼ -1.51% | Global | 15:45 Today |
| 10Y G-Sec Yield | 7.14% | ▲ +3 bps | Bond Mkt | 15:30 Today |
| SBI FD (1 Yr) | 6.80% | N/A | Savings | Nov 2025 |
Top Nifty Losers: JSW Steel (-2.91%), Hindalco (-2.81%), Tata Steel (-2.59%). Top Nifty Gainers: Maruti Suzuki (+1.32%), Tata Consumer (+0.90%), Max Healthcare (+0.87%).
2. TOP STORIES: NATION IN MOURNING & NATURE’S FURY
Tragedy at Dubai Air Show: Wing Commander Namansh Syal Killed in Tejas Crash
Key Highlights:
- Pilot: Wing Commander Namansh Syal (37), hailed from Kangra, Himachal Pradesh.
- Incident: LCA Tejas Mk-1 crashed during an aerial display at Al Maktoum International Airport.
- Outcome: Pilot sustained fatal injuries; Court of Inquiry ordered by IAF.
In a devastating blow to the Indian Air Force and the nation, Wing Commander Namansh Syal lost his life today when his Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas crashed during a high-stakes aerial demonstration at the prestigious Dubai Air Show.
The incident occurred at approximately 14:10 IST (12:40 Local Time), casting a pall of gloom over the final day of the international aviation event.
Eyewitness reports indicate the aircraft was performing a vertical maneuver when it appeared to lose control, nosediving into a deserted sector of the airfield. Despite the rapid response of emergency fire tenders, Wing Commander Syal could not be saved.
Official Reactions: Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu was among the first to react, posting a heartfelt tribute on X (formerly Twitter): *“The news of the demise of Himachal Pradesh’s Kangra district’s brave son, Namansh Syal Ji, in the Tejas aircraft accident at the Dubai Air Show is extremely heartbreaking.
The nation has lost a brave, dutiful, and courageous pilot.”*
The Indian Air Force issued a brief statement: *“IAF deeply regrets the loss of life and stands firmly with the bereaved family in this time of grief.
A Court of Inquiry has been constituted to ascertain the cause of the accident.”*
Our Analysis: This is the second major incident involving the Tejas platform, and while it is a setback, military analysts urge against premature judgments on the aircraft’s reliability. The timing, however, is critical.
With India aggressively pitching the Tejas Mk-1A for export to nations like Argentina and Egypt, this crash could temporarily dampen international confidence.
The focus now shifts to the Court of Inquiry—was it a technical snag in the Fly-by-Wire system or a ‘G-LOC’ (G-force induced Loss Of Consciousness) incident? The findings will be crucial for the program’s future.
Cyclone Senyar: IMD Issues ‘Orange Alert’ for Andamans
Key Highlights:
- System Name: Cyclone ‘Senyar’ (Named by UAE).
- Location: Southeast Bay of Bengal.
- Forecast: Heavy rainfall (7-20 cm) in Nicobar Islands; potential landfall in Andhra/Odisha next week.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has officially sounded the alarm for Cyclone Senyar. A deep depression over the Southeast Bay of Bengal is rapidly intensifying and is expected to evolve into a severe cyclonic storm within the next 24 hours.
IMD Director General Dr. Mrutyunjay Mohapatra stated in a press briefing at 13:00 IST today: “The system is moving west-northwestwards. We have issued an Orange Alert for the Andaman and Nicobar Islands for November 21 and 22. Fishermen are advised not to venture into the Andaman Sea. Sea conditions will remain rough to very rough.”
Authorities in Port Blair have hoisted Local Cautionary Signal-3, and inter-island ferry services have been suspended as a precautionary measure.
While the immediate threat is to the archipelago, long-range models suggest the system could recurve towards the Andhra Pradesh-Odisha coast by November 27, potentially impacting cities like Visakhapatnam and Puri.
3. NATIONAL POLITICS & GOVERNANCE
”My Recent Past is Proof”: Ex-VP Dhankhar’s Cryptic Remark Sparks Speculation
Key Highlights:
- Event: Book launch of RSS functionary Manmohan Vaidya in Bhopal.
- Speaker: Former Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar.
- Quote: “I can’t skip my duty for catching a flight… my recent past is proof of it.”
Making his first public appearance since his surprising resignation in July 2025, former Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar delivered a speech in Bhopal that has set political corridors buzzing.
While addressing the audience at the launch of the book ‘Hum Aur Yah Vishva’, he checked his watch and remarked on the need to catch a flight to Delhi.
However, he immediately followed up with a cryptic statement: “I can’t skip my duty for catching a flight, and friends, my recent past is proof of it.” The remark, delivered with a wry smile, elicited laughter from the audience but has triggered intense speculation about the circumstances of his exit from the second-highest office in the land.
Was this a veiled reference to the pressure he faced during his tenure as Rajya Sabha Chairman?
Our Analysis: Dhankhar’s comment is classic political theatre. By alluding to his “recent past,” he is signaling that his silence should not be mistaken for retirement.
This veiled assertion of “duty over convenience” might be a subtle message to the current BJP leadership that he remains a loyal soldier who took a “bullet” (resignation) for the greater strategic good of the party, possibly hinting at a desire for a new active role, perhaps a governorship or a key committee position.
CJI Gavai Unwavering on Quota: “IAS Officer’s Son ≠ Labourer’s Son”
Key Highlights:
- Judge: Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai (retiring soon).
- Context: Speech at “India and the Living Constitution” event in Amaravati.
- Core Argument: Creamy layer exclusion must apply to Scheduled Castes (SC).
Outgoing Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai, who is set to retire in days, doubled down on his controversial stance regarding the “creamy layer” in SC/ST reservations.
Speaking in Amaravati today, Justice Gavai reiterated that the children of privileged bureaucrats cannot be equated with the children of daily wage labourers.
“If a person from the SC community becomes a Chief Secretary, his children get the best education in international schools. Can you compare them to the child of a village farmhand? Real equality demands that the benefits trickle down to the weakest,” CJI Gavai argued.
Our Analysis: Justice Gavai’s persistence on this issue, even in his final days in office, ensures that the “Creamy Layer in SC/ST” debate will remain a judicial and political hot potato for his successor, Justice Surya Kant.
This statement effectively challenges the political consensus that opposes sub-categorization, forcing the government to confront the growing class divide within reserved categories.
4. ECONOMY & BUSINESS
Historic Milestone: Eli Lilly Becomes First Pharma Major to Hit $1 Trillion M-Cap
Key Highlights:
- Company: Eli Lilly & Co. (NYSE: LLY).
- Valuation: Crossed $1 Trillion mark at 10:30 AM EST (21:00 IST).
- Driver: Unprecedented demand for obesity drugs Mounjaro and Zepbound.
In a watershed moment for the global pharmaceutical industry, US-based giant Eli Lilly today became the first drugmaker in history to join the exclusive $1 Trillion Market Cap club.
The stock surged 1.7% in early trade on Wall Street, hitting a record high of $1,061.17.
The rally is fueled by the explosive success of its GLP-1 receptor agonists, used for diabetes and weight loss.
Analysts at JPMorgan have projected that the global obesity drug market could exceed $100 billion by 2030, with Lilly and rival Novo Nordisk holding a duopoly.
Our Analysis: Lilly’s ascent marks a shift in market leadership from pure-play tech (Apple, Nvidia) to “Bio-Tech.” For Indian markets, this has a ripple effect.
Indian CDMOs (Contract Development and Manufacturing Organizations) like Divi’s Labs and Syngene, which supply intermediates for such blockbuster drugs, saw their stocks tick up 1-2% today in anticipation of trickle-down manufacturing contracts.
Tata Chemicals Approves ₹910 Crore Expansion
Key Highlights:
- Investment: ₹910 Crore.
- Focus: Soda Ash and Bicarbonate capacity expansion.
- Location: Mithapur, Gujarat.
The board of Tata Chemicals today approved a significant capital expenditure plan to expand its manufacturing capabilities in Gujarat.
The investment is aimed at meeting the rising domestic demand for soda ash, a key ingredient in glass and detergent manufacturing, and also to ramp up high-grade bicarbonate production for pharmaceutical applications.
5. SPORTS ARENA
Cricket: Heartbreak for India A in Emerging Asia Cup
Key Highlights:
- Match: Rising Stars Asia Cup 2025 Semifinal.
- Opponent: Bangladesh A.
- Result: Match Tied (194/6 vs 194/6). Bangladesh A won the Super Over.
- Villain/Hero: India A scored 0 runs in Super Over; Bangladesh won with a wide.
In a finish that defies logic, India A crashed out of the Rising Stars Asia Cup 2025 today in Doha. Chasing a target of 195, India A ended their 20 overs exactly level with Bangladesh A at 194/6.
The Super Over that followed was a disaster. India A lost two wickets (including captain Jitesh Sharma) for zero runs in just two balls delivered by Bangladesh pacer Ripon Mondol.
Bangladesh A needed just 1 run to win, which they secured via a wide ball from Suyash Sharma.
Controversy: Fans and pundits are furious that 14-year-old prodigy Vaibhav Suryavanshi, who had smashed a quickfire 38 earlier in the match, was not sent out to bat in the Super Over. Head Coach Sunil Joshi is facing severe criticism on social media for the tactical blunder.
Interview: Vidit Gujrathi Opens Up on Burnout
Indian Chess Grandmaster Vidit Gujrathi, fresh off his Olympiad success, gave a candid interview today where he admitted to suffering from “severe burnout” post-marriage. *“From 2021 to 2023, I gave everything. After the Candidates, I felt empty.
It wasn’t marriage that changed me, but the sheer exhaustion of the professional circuit,”* Vidit revealed.
6. ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE
Wedding Bells: Smriti Mandhana’s ‘Haldi’ Lights Up Social Media
Key Highlights:
- Couple: Smriti Mandhana (Cricketer) & Palash Muchhal (Music Composer).
- Event: Haldi Ceremony.
- Attendees: Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh.
The wedding festivities of Indian women’s cricket vice-captain Smriti Mandhana officially kicked off today with a vibrant Haldi ceremony in her hometown of Sangli.
Videos going viral on Instagram show Mandhana, dressed in a radiant yellow lehenga, dancing to dhol beats with teammates Shafali Verma and Jemimah Rodrigues.
The couple is set to tie the knot on Sunday, November 23, 2025. The hashtag #SmritiPalashWedding is currently trending at #1 on X in India.
Drugs Case: Shraddha Kapoor’s Brother Summoned
Key Highlights:
- Accused: Siddhanth Kapoor (Actor).
- Case: ₹252 Crore Mephedrone Seizure.
- Summons: Ordered to appear before Mumbai Police on Nov 25.
Trouble mounts for the Kapoor family as the Mumbai Police Anti-Narcotics Cell (ANC) today issued a summons to actor Siddhanth Kapoor. This is in connection with the interrogation of drug lord Salim Shaikh, who was arrested last month.
Shaikh reportedly named Siddhanth and social media influencer Orry (Orhan Awatramani) as frequent attendees of parties where the seized drugs were distributed.
Siddhanth had previously been detained in a drug raid in Bengaluru in 2022.
7. WEATHER REPORT: FORECAST FOR NOV 21-22
National Summary: IMD has issued a RED ALERT for the Nicobar Islands due to Cyclone Senyar. Northern plains (Delhi, Punjab) are seeing a dip in temperatures with AQI remaining in the ‘Very Poor’ category.
- New Delhi: 12°C (Min) / 26°C (Max). Hazy sunshine. AQI: 345 (Very Poor).
- Mumbai: 24°C / 33°C. Humid. Chance of light evening drizzle.
- Chennai: 25°C / 30°C. Intermittent rain showers continuing due to Northeast Monsoon.
- Bengaluru: 19°C / 27°C. Partly cloudy. Pleasant.
- Kolkata: 20°C / 29°C. Dry weather, but humidity rising ahead of Cyclone approach.
- Port Blair: WARNING. Heavy rain (15cm+) and gale winds (60-70 kmph).
8. REGIONAL FOCUS
NORTH INDIA (Delhi, Punjab, J&K)
Key Highlights:
- J&K: Security forces recovered M4 rifles and live rounds from a hideout near the LoC in Kupwara today.
- Delhi: High Court quashed a hoarding case against cricketer-turned-politician Gautam Gambhir, citing lack of evidence.
Our Analysis: The recovery of US-made M4 carbines in Kupwara signals a worrying escalation in the quality of weaponry available to militants crossing the LoC. This comes just as winter sets in, a period usually associated with lower infiltration.
The security grid will need to remain on high alert.
Meanwhile, relief for Gautam Gambhir allows the BJP MP to focus on the upcoming Delhi Assembly elections without the baggage of legal distractions.
SOUTH INDIA (Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Telangana)
Key Highlights:
- Karnataka: High Court issued notice on the plea questioning land allocation of the Jnana Bharathi campus to various institutions.
- Hyderabad: Bhadradri temple’s ‘prachara ratham’ (publicity chariot) was flagged off today to promote the upcoming Kalyanotsavam.
- Chennai: Madras HC quashed the FIR against Aadhav Arjuna for an alleged inflammatory tweet, upholding free speech rights.
Our Analysis: The Karnataka HC’s intervention in the Jnana Bharathi land case is significant. Civil society groups have long argued that the university’s land bank is being eroded by ad-hoc government allocations. A stay order here could embarrass the Siddaramaiah government.
In Tamil Nadu, the quashing of the FIR against Aadhav Arjuna is a setback for the DMK government, which has been aggressive in policing social media dissent.
EAST INDIA (Bengal, Odisha)
Key Highlights:
- West Bengal: State government convened an emergency meeting with District Magistrates to review poll preparedness for the 2026 Assembly elections.
- Odisha: An SSB Jawan was arrested in Bhubaneswar today for involvement in a ₹40 Lakh land fraud case.
Our Analysis: With the 2026 Bengal Assembly elections on the horizon, Mamata Banerjee’s administration is wasting no time.
Calling a meeting with DMs this early suggests the TMC is anticipating an early operational roll-out of welfare schemes to counter the BJP’s growing footprint.
The arrest of a paramilitary soldier in a fraud case in Odisha highlights the growing menace of land mafias in rapidly urbanizing Tier-2 cities like Bhubaneswar.
WEST INDIA (Maharashtra, Gujarat)
Key Highlights:
- Mumbai: Traffic Police launched a new AI-based signal system at Vakola to ease Western Express Highway congestion.
- Kalyan: A student’s death on a local train sparked protests today; police are probing if it was a hate crime related to a language dispute.
Our Analysis: The “language dispute” angle in the Kalyan student death is a potential powder keg. With Maharashtra politics already polarized, any confirmation of linguistic chauvinism leading to violence could trigger unrest across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.
The Shinde-Fadnavis government must act swiftly to ensure transparency in the probe to prevent opposition parties from capitalizing on Marathi vs. Non-Marathi sentiments.
9. SOCIAL MEDIA & PUBLIC SENTIMENT
Top Trending Hashtags (Nov 21, 2025):
- #TejasCrash (Negative Sentiment):
- Context: Death of Wing Commander Syal.
- Impact: outpouring of grief mixed with questions about the safety of indigenous defense platforms.
- #SmritiPalashWedding (Positive Sentiment):
- Context: Haldi ceremony photos.
- Impact: A “feel-good” distraction for the nation. Fans are celebrating the “National Crush” getting married.
- #SensexCrash (Negative Sentiment):
- Context: 400-point drop.
- Impact: Retail investors expressing frustration with the continuous foreign fund outflows (FII selling).
- #JusticeForKalyanStudent (Angry Sentiment):
- Context: Alleged murder of a student on a train.
- Impact: Growing demand for safer public transport and strict action against hate crimes.
Viral Quote of the Day: “I can’t skip my duty for catching a flight, and friends, my recent past is proof of it.” — Jagdeep Dhankhar. Sentiment: The internet interprets this as a “mic drop” moment, with memes already circulating about “Duty vs. Politics.”
