Daily PIB Highlights (5th & 6th NOVEMBER)

Topic 1: MOIL registers record manganese ore production and exploration performance

GS Paper 3: Economy | Industry & Infrastructure | Minerals & Mining Sector

Context:

MOIL (Manganese Ore India Limited), under the Ministry of Steel, achieved its highest-ever October production of manganese ore in October 2025, marking a strong operational performance and continued growth momentum in the mining sector.

Key Highlights

1. Record Production

• • 1.60 lakh tonnes manganese ore produced in October 2025
    → Highest ever October production since inception.
  • Growth: +9.1% compared to corresponding period last year (CPLY).

2. Strong Year-to-Date Performance

• • 11.04 lakh tonnes production recorded during April–October 2025 (first 7 months of FY 2025–26).
  • Represents an 8.5% increase over the same period last year.

3. Highest Exploratory Drilling Achieved

• • 57,275 meters of exploratory core drilling completed in April–October 2025.
  • Highest-ever drilling achievement, demonstrating:
    • increased mining readiness,
    • resource identification, and
    • long-term production planning.

Strategic Significance

Dimension	Impact
Supports domestic steel industry	Manganese is critical for steelmaking (deoxidizer & alloying agent).
Atmanirbhar Bharat in mineral resources	Reduces import dependence for manganese ore.
Exploration-led growth	Record drilling prepares future reserves and ensures sustainable supply.
Boosts industrial output & economic growth	Strengthens core sector performance in mining.

Topic 2: PM to inaugurate year-long commemoration of 150 years of “Vande Mataram”

GS Paper 1: Modern Indian History | GS Paper 2: Governance | Culture & National Symbols

Context:

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will inaugurate the year-long national celebration of the 150th anniversary of India’s National Song Vande Mataram.

Key Highlights

• • PM will release a Commemorative Stamp and a Commemorative Coin.
  • Formal start of a nationwide year-long celebration (7 Nov 2025 – 7 Nov 2026).
  • Mass singing of the full version of Vande Mataram across the country at 9:50 AM.
  • Citizens, schools, colleges, institutions and public places will participate simultaneously.
  • Aim: Inspire national unity, pride, and cultural consciousness.

Historical Background

• • Written by Bankimchandra Chatterji.
  • Date of composition: 7 November 1875, on the day of Akshaya Navami.
  • First appeared in the literary journal Bangadarshan.
  • Later included in his famous novel Anandamath.
  • The song invokes the Motherland as the embodiment of strength, prosperity, purity, and divinity.

Role in the Indian Freedom Movement

• • Became a powerful expression of nationalism and collective identity.
  • Used as a rallying cry during:
    • The Swadeshi Movement (1905)
    • Public protests, nationalist gatherings, and freedom struggle activities
  • Inspired revolutionaries and awakened patriotic fervor across India.

Significance of the Commemoration

• • Honors 150 years of a symbol that united India emotionally and ideologically.
  • Revives cultural and patriotic values among youth and citizens.
  • Pays tribute to Bankimchandra Chatterji’s role in shaping national consciousness.
  • Reinforces the vision of “Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat” and Viksit Bharat @2047.

Conclusion:

The 150-year commemoration of Vande Mataram celebrates not just a song, but the spirit of freedom, unity, and devotion to the Motherland.

Topic 3: India Deepens Trade Engagement with Latin America

GS Paper 2: International Relations | GS Paper 3: Economy – Trade Agreements & Global Partnerships

Context:

India has completed two major rounds of trade negotiations with Latin American partners —the 9th round of the India–Peru Trade Agreement and the 3rd round of India–Chile Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).

India–Peru Trade Agreement: During the negotiations held in Lima, substantial progress was made across multiple components of the proposed agreement. Both sides focused on removing trade barriers and expanding market access in goods and services.

Key areas where progress was achieved:

• • Trade in goods and services
  • Rules of Origin (ensuring products genuinely originate from the partner country)
  • Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) and Customs Procedures
  • Dispute settlement mechanisms
  • Inclusion of critical minerals cooperation

Senior dignitaries, including Peru’s Foreign Trade Minister and India’s Ambassador to Peru, participated in the closing ceremony. Peru emphasized the complementarity and mutual economic benefits of the agreement, while India highlighted opportunities for collaboration in sectors such as automobiles, pharmaceuticals, textiles, food processing, and minerals.

India–Chile CEPA:

India and Chile continued negotiations to upgrade their existing trade framework into a deeper CEPA. The discussions touched on multiple cooperation pillars, with emphasis on supply chain integration.

Negotiation themes included:

• • Trade in goods and services
  • Investment promotion
  • Intellectual property rights
  • Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) measures
  • Rules of Origin
  • Economic cooperation, including critical minerals

Both countries reaffirmed a shared commitment to conclude the negotiations expeditiously.

Strategic Importance:

India’s deeper engagement with Peru and Chile is part of a larger strategy to:

• • Diversify trade partnerships beyond traditional markets (e.g., US, EU, ASEAN)
  • Access critical minerals like lithium and copper, vital for electric vehicles, batteries, and renewable energy value chains.
  • Strengthen India’s participation in global value chains.
  • Expand market access for Indian goods and services.

Conclusion:

India’s trade negotiations with Peru and Chile mark a significant step towards broadening India’s economic footprint in Latin America.

Spread the Word