18th-20th October 2025

1. Overview of PM Narendra Modi’s Visit to AP on October 16, 2025
2. Overview of Mongolian President Uknaagliin Khurelsukh’s Visit to India from 13 to 16 October 2025
3. MoD Signed Rs 659.47 Crore Contract for Advanced Night Sight for SIG716 Assault Rifle
4. Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal Launched 8 Maritime Projects to Commemorate Golden Jubilee of NMPA
5. Indian Navy Signs MoU With IIT Delhi to Strengthen Shipboard QoL
6. 391 million hectares of world’s tropical forest at high risk of loss: UN report
7. India Elected Co-chair of UN-GGIM Asia-Pacific Committee
8. Getepay partners with ESAF SFB to deploy payment switch “VEGA”
9. Lxme launches India’s first women UPI “Lxmepay”
10. Allianz Appointed Ritu Arora as Country Head for India Effective Immediately
11. Australian Olympic Champion Ariarne Titmus Announces Retirement from Swimming
12. India Wins Bid to Host 2030 Commonwealth Games by HM Amit Shah
13. Khelo India University Games 2025 To Be Held in Rajasthan
14. Malayalam Poet Harinarayanan Releases ‘Sivam Subham: The Biography… of a Couple’
15. Booker Prize 2025 shortlist includes Kiran Desai
16. International Day of the Intangible Cultural Heritage 2025 – October 17
17. World Food Day 2025 – October 16
18. IndiGo partners with Digi Yatra to offer a Smooth and Seamless Travel Experience
19. WDMMA 2025 Rankings: IAF Surpasses China to Become the World’s 3rd Most Powerful Air Force
20. India and EU Conduct First Joint Counterterrorism Training in Haryana
21. HSBC Collaborates with Juspay to Launch a Unified Payments Platform
22. Abusupyan Kharkharov Honoured with BRICS International Award 2025
23. ACC Grants Extension to Ravi A Robert Jerard as CMD of BSNL and MTNL
24. Union Minister Rajnath Singh Unveils HAL’s First Tejas LCA Mk1A in Nashik, Maharashtra
25. India’s U-17 Women’s Football Team Qualifies for AFC Women’s Asian Cup for First time
26. Jharkhand Unveils Logo, Mascot, Anthem for SAAF Senior Championships 2025
27. Japan’s former PM Tomiichi Murayama Passed Away
28. World Trauma Day 2025 – October 17
29. Masako Nozawa Becomes First Voice Actor Honored by Japan

National News

1. Rajnath Singh meets Mongolian President in New Delhi

• What:
  • Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh met the President of Mongolia, Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh, in New Delhi, to strengthen the India-Mongolia strategic partnership.
• Why:
  • The meeting aimed to enhance cooperation between the two democracies and diversify their relationship into new areas of collaboration.
• Tell me more:
  • Defence remains a key pillar of India-Mongolia relations, with expanded engagements such as Joint Working Group meetings, training programmes, and bilateral exercises.
  • The Mongolian President appreciated India’s support in cyber security and strengthening the Mongolian Armed Forces.
  • He recalled the groundbreaking ceremony of the Oil Refinery Project, initiated by Rajnath Singh during his tenure as Home Minister.
  • The President invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Rajnath Singh to Mongolia for the refinery’s inauguration.

Source: PIB

State News

1. Foundation Stone Laid for ₹13,430 Crore Projects in Andhra Pradesh

• What:
  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone, inaugurated, and dedicated to the nation development projects worth ₹13,430 crore in Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh, covering roads, railways, power, and industry sectors.
• Why:
  • The projects aim to boost connectivity, industrial growth, employment generation, and self-reliance under the vision of a developed India by 2047.
• Tell me more:
  • Andhra Pradesh is emerging as a key contributor to India’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat vision.
  • The Advanced Night Vision Factory at Nimmaluru, set up with ₹360 crore by Bharat Electronics Limited, enhances defence manufacturing capabilities.
  • Orvakal and Kopparthy are being developed as new industrial identities of Andhra Pradesh.

Source: PIB

2. Golden Jubilee of New Mangalore Port Authority Celebrated

• What:
  • The Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, inaugurated the Curtain Raiser Ceremony of the Golden Jubilee Celebrations of the New Mangalore Port Authority (NMPA) at Bharat Mandapam and launched eight major maritime development projects.
• Why:
  • The projects aim to boost India’s port infrastructure, logistics efficiency, and sustainability while marking 50 years of NMPA’s contribution to India’s maritime trade and regional growth.
• Tell me more:
  • NMPA, India’s ninth major port, was established in 1975.
  • The port has evolved into a major hub for importers and exporters in the region.
  • Under the Sagarmala Programme, 840 projects worth ₹5.8 lakh crore are planned by 2035, with 272 completed and 217 underway.
  • Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047 aims to invest ₹80 lakh crore to create jobs and modernise the maritime sector.
  • Initiatives like Harit Sagar Guidelines, Green Tug Transition Programme, Harit Nauka Scheme, and Green Shipping Corridors support green maritime growth.

Source: ET

Banking and Economy

1. Getepay Partners with ESAF Bank for Payment Switch Vega

• What:
  • Getepay, an online payment aggregator, has partnered with ESAF Small Finance Bank for the deployment of Vega, its next-generation payment switch.
• Tell me more:
  • Vega, developed by Getepay, is a scalable, high-performance infrastructure for real-time transaction processing and automated reconciliation.
  • ESAF Bank’s collaboration with Getepay supports its goal of combining technology with purpose to empower customers.

Source: ET

2. Lxme Launches India’s First UPI for Women

• What:
  • Lxme, a financial platform for women, has launched LxmePay, India’s first Unified Payments Interface (UPI) exclusively designed for women.
• Why:
  • The initiative aims to empower women to manage money smartly by turning daily transactions into opportunities for saving, tracking, and wealth creation.
• Tell me more:
  • LxmePay helps women earn digital gold on transactions, offering long-term value instead of temporary cashbacks.
  • The app features smart expense tracking, spending insights, bill payments, and deals on women-focused brands.
  • LxmePay is part of Lxme’s mission to build financial confidence and control among women.

Source: BS

3. IndiGo and Digi Yatra Integrate Apps for Seamless Boarding

• What:
  • IndiGo and Digi Yatra have completed app-to-app integration, enabling passengers to share boarding passes directly between their mobile apps for a smoother travel experience.
• Why:
  • The integration aims to simplify the check-in and boarding process, making air travel faster, contactless, and more convenient while maintaining high data privacy standards.
• Tell me more:
  • With the new feature, IndiGo passengers can share their boarding pass with the Digi Yatra app after web check-in by clicking “Share with Digi Yatra.”
  • Digi Yatra is a Self-Sovereign Identity (SSI) based ecosystem using facial biometrics for contactless airport processing.

Source: ET

4. HSBC Partners with Juspay to Launch Global Acquiring Platform

• What:
  • HSBC and Juspay have announced a strategic partnership to launch a first-of-its-kind acquiring platform designed for digital-first, global merchants.
• Why:
  • The platform aims to provide a unified, full-stack payment solution that simplifies the payment process, enhances reliability, reduces costs, and improves success rates for merchants.
• Tell me more:
  • HSBC Holdings plc is headquartered in London and operates in 57 countries and territories.
  • Juspay, founded in 2012 and based in Bengaluru, handles over 300 million daily transactions.

Source: BS

Reports and Indices

1. UNEP Report Warns of High Risk to Tropical Forests

• What:
  • The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) reported that 391 million hectares of tropical forests, out of the world’s 1.6 billion hectares, are at high risk of loss, affecting 53 million people living near these forests.
• Why:
  • The report highlights the urgent need to protect high-risk forests to reduce carbon emissions, secure ecosystem services, and sustain livelihoods dependent on these forests.
• Tell me more:
  • High-risk forests have high carbon stocks, vital ecosystem services, and a high chance of deforestation, covering an area equal to the European Union.
  • Agricultural expansion, logging, and resource extraction have caused the loss of nearly 10 million hectares of tropical forests each year over two decades.
  • These forests recycle 10–14% of rainfall, regulate water flow, and prevent soil erosion, which helps maintain rivers and water security.
  • In the Amazon, deforestation beyond 20–40% could cause forest dieback and transform parts of it into savannah.
  • The report was named “High-risk forests, high-value returns — Co-benefits assessment for decision-makers”.

Source: DTE

2. World Directory of Modern Military Aircraft (WDMMA): India Ranked Third Most Powerful Air Force Globally

• What:
  • The World Directory of Modern Military Aircraft (WDMMA) ranked India as the third most powerful air force in the world, behind the United States and Russia, surpassing China.
• Why:
  • The ranking highlights India’s growing air power and modernization efforts, reflecting its strategic importance and evolving balance of power in Asia.
• Tell me more:
  • WDMMA assessed the air forces of 103 countries and 129 air services, including army, navy, and marine aviation branches.
  • The rankings are based on a “TruVal Rating,” which considers modernization, logistical support, attack and defense capabilities, and overall fleet quality.
  • India scored a TruVal Rating of 69.4 with a fleet of 1,716 aircraft, including 31.6% fighters, 29% helicopters, and 21.8% trainers.
  • The U.S. Air Force received the highest ratings, followed by Russia, while China fell below India in the global rankings.
  • The Indian Air Force operates aircraft sourced from multiple countries, including the U.S. and Russia.

Source: GT

Defence News

1. MoD Signs Rs 659.47 Crore Contract for Night Sights

• What:
  • The Ministry of Defence signed a contract worth Rs 659.47 crore to procure Night Sight (Image Intensifier) devices with accessories for the Indian Army’s 7.62 x 51mm SIG 716 Assault Rifles.
• Why:
  • The procurement aims to enhance soldiers’ operational efficiency, accuracy, and combat readiness during night and low-light operations while supporting India’s self-reliance in defence manufacturing.
• Tell me more:
  • The Night Sight devices will allow soldiers to engage targets up to 500 metres even under starlight conditions.
  • These advanced sights provide a major improvement over the existing Passive Night Sights in service.
  • The deal has been classified as a Buy (Indian-IDDM) case with more than 51% indigenous content.
  • The devices will improve situational awareness and ensure effective performance in night-time missions.

Source: ET

2. Rajnath Singh Inaugurates New HAL Aircraft Production Lines

• What:
  • Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh inaugurated the third production line for Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas Mk1A and the second production line for Hindustan Turbo Trainer-40 (HTT-40) at Hindustan Aeronautics Limited’s (HAL) Nashik facility.
• Why:
  • The new production lines aim to enhance India’s indigenous defence manufacturing capabilities and support the government’s vision of achieving self-reliance in defence production.
• Tell me more:
  • The event included the flag-off of the first LCA Mk1A aircraft produced at the Nashik facility.
  • The production line was operationalised in a record time of two years and can manufacture eight aircraft annually, raising HAL’s total capacity to 24 aircraft per year.
  • The HTT-40 production line will assemble fuselages, wings, and control surfaces, supporting structure assembly for trainer aircraft.
  • Around 1,000 jobs and over 40 industry partnerships have been created through this expansion, strengthening public-private collaboration.
  • The new facility also includes a joint Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) setup for both civil and military aviation.

Source: PIB

3. India and EU Hold First Counter-Terrorism Exercise

• What:
  • India and the European Union conducted their first counter-terrorism exercise focused on protecting critical infrastructure and soft targets from threats posed by unmanned aerial systems (UAS).
• Why:
  • The exercise aimed to strengthen cooperation in countering drone-related terrorism, develop standard operating procedures, and enhance protection against emerging drone threats.
• Tell me more:
  • The three-day training programme concluded and was held at the National Security Guard (NSG) headquarters in Manesar.
  • Participants included senior officers, instructors, and technical experts from India’s NSG and the EU’s High Risk Security Network (HRSN).
  • The programme was supported by the EU’s “Enhancing Security Cooperation In and With Asia and the Indo-Pacific” project.

Source: HT

Awards

1. Kiran Desai’s New Novel Shortlisted for Booker Prize 2025

• What:
  • Indian author Kiran Desai’s novel The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny has been shortlisted for the Booker Prize 2025, nearly two decades after she won the award for The Inheritance of Loss.
• Why:
  • The book was shortlisted for its powerful storytelling that interweaves themes of love, class, race, migration, and identity into an epic narrative.
• Tell me more:
  • The 2025 Booker Prize shortlist includes six novels announced in London by judges Ayọ̀bámi Adébáyọ̀, Chris Power, Kiley Reid, Roddy Doyle, and Sarah Jessica Parker.
  • The shortlist features Flesh by David Szalay, Flashlight by Susan Choi, Audition by Katie Kitamura, The Rest of Our Lives by Ben Markovits, and The Land in Winter by Andrew Miller along with Desai’s book.
  • The winner will be announced on November 14, 2025, at Old Billingsgate in London, and the prize carries £50,000.

Source: IE

2. Abusupyan Kharharov Honoured with BRICS International Award 2025

• What:
  • The State Duma of the Russian Federation hosted an event, where Abusupyan Kharharov received the BRICS International Award 2025, and “The Times of Russia” newspaper was relaunched.
• Why:
  • The event highlighted the promotion of international cooperation, cultural diplomacy, and journalistic excellence among BRICS+ nations.
• Tell me more:
  • The event was organized by The Times of Russia Group and the BRICS Culture Media Forum (BCMF).
  • The award recognized Abusupyan Kharharov’s exceptional contributions to spiritual education, cultural development, and maritime innovation.
  • The relaunch of The Times of Russia – Where Hearts and Thoughts Unite marked a renewed commitment to truthful and culturally enriching journalism.
  • Sergei Dvorianov, Vice President of BCMF, described the relaunch as a “renaissance of trust and dialogue.”

Source: ANI

3. Masako Nozawa Receives Japan’s Person of Cultural Merit

• What:
  • Veteran Japanese voice actor Masako Nozawa, known as the voice of Goku in Dragon Ball, has become the first voice actor to receive Japan’s prestigious Person of Cultural Merit recognition.
• Why:
  • The award honors her remarkable contribution to Japanese culture through her long and influential career in voice acting.
• Tell me more:
  • The recognition was announced by Nippon TV, with Nozawa among 21 individuals selected for the 2025 honors.
  • The Person of Cultural Merit recognition was established in 1951 to celebrate outstanding contributions in art, science, and culture.
  • Recipients receive a lifelong annual pension of 3.5 million yen.
  • The honorees are chosen by Japan’s Prime Minister, and from them, select individuals later receive the Order of Culture.
  • The official award ceremony will be held on November 3, 2025, in Tokyo.

Source: TH

Important Days

1. International Day of the Intangible Cultural Heritage 2025 – October 17

• The 42nd session of the General Conference of UNESCO in November 2023 proclaimed 17 October as the International Day of the Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Source: UN

2. World Food Day 2025 – October 16

• Theme: “Hand in Hand for Better Foods and a Better Future”

Source: FAO

3. World Trauma Day 2025 – October 17

Sports

1. Australian Swimmer Ariarne Titmus Announces Retirement

• Australian swimmer Ariarne Titmus announced her retirement from competitive swimming after a year-long break from the sport.
• Titmus, 25, is a middle-distance freestyle specialist from Tasmania.
• Titmus still holds the women’s 200m freestyle world record at 1 minute and 52.23 seconds.
• Ariarne Titmus is known as one of Australia’s most successful freestyle swimmers.

Source: OC

2. Ahmedabad to Host Commonwealth Games 2030

• What:
  • India’s bid to host the Commonwealth Games 2030 in Ahmedabad has been approved, marking a major sporting milestone for the country.
• Tell me more:
  • The Executive Board of Commonwealth Sport confirmed Ahmedabad as the proposed host city for the 2030 Centenary Commonwealth Games.
  • Ahmedabad will become the official host city once the final approval process is completed.
  • The 2030 edition will commemorate 100 years since the founding of the Commonwealth Games.
  • India previously hosted the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi in 2010.

Source: NOA

3. Rajasthan to Host 5th Khelo India University Games 2025

• What:
  • The fifth edition of the Khelo India University Games (KIUG) will be held in seven cities of Rajasthan from November 24 to December 5, 2025.
• Tell me more:
  • The games will take place across Jaipur, Ajmer, Udaipur, Jodhpur, Bikaner, Kota, and Bharatpur.
  • Over 5,000 athletes will compete in 23 medal sports and one demonstration sport (kho-kho).
  • The Khelo India Scheme is the flagship Central Sector Scheme of the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports.

Source: PIB

4. AIFF Announces Reward for India U17 Women’s Football Team

• What:
  • The All India Football Federation (AIFF) announced a cash reward of about ₹22 lakh ($25,000) for the India U17 women’s football team after their qualification for the AFC U17 Women’s Asian Cup 2025.
• Tell me more:
  • This marks India’s first qualification through the qualifiers, with the previous participation in 2005 occurring when no qualifiers were held.
  • The AFC U17 Women’s Asian Cup will be held in China next year.
  • The team benefited from AIFF’s planning and training programmes that helped them gain experience in Indian Women’s League (IWL) 2.

Source: TH

5. Jharkhand to Host 4th South Asian Athletics Championships 2025

• What:
  • Jharkhand will host the 4th South Asian Athletics Federation (SAAF) Senior Championships 2025 from October 24 to 26 at the Birsa Munda Athletics Stadium in Ranchi.
• Why:
  • The event aims to celebrate regional athletic excellence and promote Jharkhand as a growing sports hub reflecting its culture, nature, and heritage.
• Tell me more:
  • The logo highlights Jharkhand’s identity as the “Land of Sports, Tribes, Culture, and Nature” with a green palette symbolising its lush environment.
  • The mascot, Dalma, represents the state animal with tribal Sohrai and Khovar art, symbolising unity and strength.
  • The Nagpuri-language anthem combines tribal beats and modern music using traditional instruments like the Mandar, Naagara, and Flute.
  • Around 300 athletes and 150 officials from six South Asian countries will participate, including India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Maldives, and Sri Lanka.

Source: ANI

Memorandum of Understanding

1. Indian Navy Signs MoU with IIT Delhi

• What:
  • The Indian Navy signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with IIT Delhi to improve the quality of life onboard Indian Naval ships through design interventions.
• Why:
  • The MoU aims to enhance safety, efficiency, and habitability on naval ships using scientific and design-based approaches.
• Tell me more:
  • IIT Delhi will collaborate with the Directorate of Naval Architecture to create a research and design centre.
  • Researchers will study and suggest improvements for ongoing and future ship construction projects.

Source: NOA

Appointments

1. India Elected Co-Chair of UN-GGIM Asia-Pacific

• What:
  • India has been elected as the Co-Chair of the Regional Committee of the United Nations Global Geospatial Information Management for Asia and the Pacific (UN-GGIM-AP) for a three-year term till 2028.
• Tell me more:
  • UN-GGIM-AP is one of the five regional committees under the United Nations Committee of Experts on Global Geospatial Information Management.
  • It includes 56 countries from the Asia-Pacific region and focuses on promoting geospatial cooperation and benefit sharing.
  • The aim is to maximise economic, social, and environmental benefits from geospatial information through joint efforts.
  • The election took place during the fourteenth Plenary Meeting of UN-GGIM-AP held from 24th to 26th of last month, hosted by the National Geographic Information Institute in Goyang-si, Republic of Korea.

Source: NOA

2. Allianz Appoints Ritu Arora as Country Head for India

• Allianz, a global insurance and asset management company, has appointed Ritu Arora as the Country Head for India with immediate effect.
• In July 2025, Allianz and Jio Financial Services signed a 50:50 joint venture agreement for a domestic reinsurance business in India.

Source: BS

3. Ravi A Robert Jerard Gets Third Extension as BSNL CMD

• The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has granted a third extension to Ravi A Robert Jerard to continue as Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of BSNL, MTNL, and BBNL till January 14, 2026, or until a regular appointment is made.
• Jerard, an Indian Telecom Service officer with 34 years of experience, currently serves as Deputy Director General (Standards, Research & Innovation) in the DoT.

Source: IE

Miscellaneous

1. Biography ‘Sivam Subham’ Chronicles Life of M.S. Subbulakshmi and T. Sadasivam

• What:
  • Malayalam poet and lyricist B.K. Harinarayanan has written a biography titled Sivam Subham – The Biography… of a Couple, based on the life of legendary musician M.S. Subbulakshmi and her husband T. Sadasivam.
• Tell me more:
  • M.S. Subbulakshmi was the first musician to receive the Bharat Ratna.
  • T. Sadasivam co-founded Kalki magazine and played a key role in managing her career.
  • The book was originally written in Malayalam and translated into English by Harinarayanan’s brother, B.K. Parameswaran.

Source: TH

2. Japan’s former PM Tomiichi Murayama Passed Away

Source: TG

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