24th October 2025

1. PSA Ajay Kumar Sood released three publications under the AI for India 2030 Initiative
2. Indian Army Signed Rs 2,700 Crore Deal to Procure 4.25 Lakh Indigenous Carbines
3. MoHFW Launches Training Modules on Chemical Emergency Management in New Delhi, Delhi
4. Indian-origin historian Sunil Amrith wins British Academy Book Prize
5. Indian Olympic Gold Medalist Abhinav Bindra Appointed as Torchbearer for Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics
6. Padma Bhushan Awardee, Veteran Space Scientist Eknath Vasanth Chitnis Passed Away
7. Former Union Minister & Congress Leader Yogendra Makwana Passed Away
8. Defense Minister Rajnath Singh Released Lt Gen Raj Shukla’s Book on “Civil-Military fusion”
9. International Snow Leopard Day 2025 – October 23
10. National Cybersecurity Awareness Month 2025 – October
11. Sevilla Forum on Debt launched
12. World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Congress calls for accelerated implementation of Early Warnings for All (EW4All)
13. Transforming Small Businesses: An AI Playbook for India’s SMEs Released
14. State of Global Air (SoGA) 2025 report released by the Health Effects Institute (HEI) and the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), United States
15. Google’s Willow quantum chip demonstrated the first-ever algorithm, called ‘Quantum Echoes algorithm
16. Iran ratifies International Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism
17. CAQM invokes Stage-II of Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) in entire NCR
18. Chandrayaan-2 lunar orbiter has made first-ever observation of effects of Sun’s Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) on Moon
19. New Strategic EU-India Agenda
20. Supreme Court ordered to notify a new wildlife sanctuary in Saranda
21. Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser (OPSA) released ‘Future Farming in India: AI Playbook for Agriculture’
22. Adani’s Godda Power Plant Approved for National Grid Connection
23. UPI Introduces ‘Pay With Mutual Fund’ for Instant Transactions
24. NPCI Launches AI-Based ‘UPI Help’ for Payment Query Support
25. New Nomination Rules in Banking To Take Effect From November 1
26. Tuvalu Becomes 90th Member of IUCN Amid Climate Crisis
27. Piyush Pandey, Padma Shri Recipient and Indian Advertising Legend, Passes Away
28. Kerala to Build First Underwater Tunnel Linking Vypin and Fort Kochi
29. ITBP Raising Day 2025: October 24
30. World Development Information Day 2025: October 24
31. World Polio Day 2025: October 24
32. United Nations Day 2025: October 24

National News

1. AI for India 2030 Initiative Unveils Three Strategic Publications

• What:
  • Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood, Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India, released three AI-related publications under the AI for India 2030 initiative led by Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (C4IR) India and the World Economic Forum.
• Why:
  • The release aims to promote responsible, inclusive, and large-scale AI adoption in India by providing actionable strategies for agriculture, small businesses, and AI sandbox ecosystems.
• Tell me more:
  • The three publications are: Future Farming in India: AI Playbook for Agriculture, Transforming Small Businesses: An AI Playbook for India’s SMEs, and Shaping the AI Sandbox Ecosystem for the Intelligent Age: White Paper.
  • The IMPACT AI framework is central to both agriculture and SME playbooks, guiding collaboration between government, industry, and on-ground actors.
  • A unified monitoring system will track AI adoption, productivity gains, cost reduction, credit access, and market improvements across sectors.
  • OPSA’s Science and Technology Clusters will support capacity building and knowledge sharing for AI implementation.
  • A dedicated knowledge platform will share best practices and success stories to scale effective AI solutions nationwide.

Source: PIB WEF

3. Union Government Launches Chemical Incident Training Modules

• What:
  • The Union government launched training modules to equip public health professionals for managing chemical incidents effectively and timely.
• Why:
  • To enhance preparedness for chemical emergencies which pose risks to public health, environment, and societal stability amid growing industrial activity.
• Tell me more:
  • The training modules were launched by the Secretary of Health and Family Welfare with senior officials from various ministries at Nirman Bhawan, New Delhi.
  • Developed by the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, in collaboration with the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and with WHO India’s technical support.
  • The modules are divided into three parts: preparedness and response, pre-hospital management including hazard assessment and decontamination, and medical management including hospital patient care.

Source: ET

3. European Council Approves New EU-India Strategic Agenda

• What:
  • The European Council approved conclusions on the ‘New Strategic EU-India Agenda’ to strengthen relations and push for a free trade agreement by the end of 2025.
• Why:
  • To deepen EU-India cooperation in prosperity, sustainability, technology, security, connectivity, and global challenges.
• Tell me more:
  • The Council supports concluding a balanced and ambitious India-EU free trade agreement with enhanced market access and sustainable development provisions.
  • It highlights closer EU-India collaboration on security and defence, including plans for a partnership that may include defence industrial cooperation.
  • The EU will continue engagement with India on issues including Russia’s war against Ukraine and upholding multilateralism and international law.
  • This follows the EU Commissioners’ visit to India in February 2025, marking a new chapter in bilateral relations.

Source: TH

State News

1. CAQM Invokes Stage-II of Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) in NCR

• What:
  • Delhi recorded a daily average Air Quality Index (AQI) of 296 (Poor), rising to 302 (Very Poor) by 7 PM, leading to a prompt meeting by the Sub-Committee on the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) to review air quality.
• Why:
  • To prevent further deterioration of air quality in the National Capital Region (NCR) by implementing Stage-II of the GRAP action plan immediately.
• Tell me more:
  • The Committee decided to apply a 12-point Stage-II action plan across NCR, in addition to Stage-I measures already in place, involving intensified road sweeping, water sprinkling, and dust suppression.
  • GRAP (Graded Response Action Plan) has multiple stages based on air quality, with Stage-II triggered at AQI 301-400 (Very Poor).
  • DG sets are power generators with specified emission regulations based on capacity and fuel type, with exceptions for emergency services listed.
  • The air quality and GRAP conditions are monitored by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) and Pollution Control Boards.
  • The extant GRAP schedule is available publicly on the CAQM’s official website (caqm.nic.in).

Source: PIB

2. Supreme Court Orders Sanctuary Notification in Saranda Forest, Jharkhand

• What:
  • The Supreme Court directed the Jharkhand government to give an undertaking to notify a 314 sq km area in Saranda as a wildlife sanctuary to protect one of India’s finest Sal forests.
• Tell me more:
  • The Supreme Court took note of Saranda’s ecological importance, home to elephants, four-horned antelope, and sloth bears, along with three crucial elephant corridors.
  • Saranda Forest in West Singhbhum district covers about 856 sq km, with 816 sq km as reserved forest.
  • The area accounts for 26% of India’s total iron ore reserves, making it a high-interest zone for mining operations.

Source: IE

3. Adani Power Gets Nod for Jharkhand Transmission Line

• What:
  • Adani Power shares rose up to 7% after receiving central approval to lay an overhead transmission line connecting its Godda Ultra Super Critical Thermal Power Plant with the Indian grid.
• Tell me more:
  • The new transmission line will travel through 56 villages in Jharkhand’s Godda and Poreyahat tehsils, backed by powers granted under the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885.
  • Adani Power and Druk Green Power Corporation (Bhutan) also formed a joint venture for a 570 MW hydroelectric project in Bhutan with a 49:51 shareholding pattern.
  • Adani Power is India’s largest private coal-based independent power producer, currently operating 18.15 GW, and plans to expand to 41.9 GW by FY32.

Source: ET

4. Kerala to Build Its First Underwater Tunnel Between Vypin and Fort Kochi

• What:
  • Kerala will construct its first underwater tunnel connecting Vypin and Fort Kochi, cutting the current 16 km distance to 3 km.
• Why:
  • The tunnel will reduce travel time by up to two hours and save passengers nearly Rs 1,500 per month, improving commute efficiency.
• Tell me more:
  • The Rs 2,672 crore project includes twin-tube tunnels costing Rs 1,225 crore and Rs 500 crore for land acquisition.
  • Kerala Rail Development Corporation Limited (KRDCL) has been directed to invite Expressions of Interest (EOI) to move forward with the project.
  • Construction is expected to take 30 months with 18 months for land acquisition, aiming for completion by September 2027 if work starts in April 2025.

Source: N18

International News

1. Sevilla Forum on Debt launched to tackle global debt crisis

• What:
  • The Sevilla Forum on Debt was launched at the 16th UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD16) in Geneva to address the growing global debt challenges.
• Why:
  • The forum aims to create an open and inclusive platform for dialogue among all stakeholders to find fair, sustainable debt solutions and uphold responsible borrowing and lending principles.
• Tell me more:
  • It is a Spanish-led initiative supported by UNCTAD and UN DESA, and one of the outcomes of the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4).
  • The forum is part of the Sevilla Platform for Action and complements the Sevilla Commitment, which lays out a roadmap to strengthen development financing.
  • The forum will bring together developed and developing countries, finance ministers, creditors, academia, and civil society to share knowledge and coordinate efforts on debt governance.
  • Global public debt reached $102 trillion in 2024, with developing countries holding $31 trillion and paying $921 billion in interest last year.
  • Over 3.4 billion people live in countries where debt servicing costs exceed spending on health or education, highlighting the urgent need for systemic reform.

Source: UN

2. Global Push to Speed Up Early Weather Warnings

• What:
  • A high-level event at the Extraordinary World Meteorological Congress endorsed a Call to Action to fast-track universal life-saving early warnings against dangerous weather.
• Why:
  • To save lives and reduce economic losses caused by extreme weather by ensuring timely and effective early warning systems worldwide.
• Tell me more:
  • The initiative “Early Warnings for All” aims to create complete early warning systems covering hazard detection, risk assessment, alert dissemination, and community response.
  • Every dollar invested in early warnings can save up to 15 dollars by reducing disaster impacts.
  • Over 2 million lives were lost and economic losses surged due to weather-related disasters in the last 50 years, mostly in developing countries.
  • As of 2024, 108 countries have some capacity for multi-hazard early warning systems, more than double the number in 2015, but significant gaps remain in some vulnerable countries.
  • The initiative was launched by the UN Secretary-General in 2022 and is led by WMO and other UN and international organizations.

Source: WMO

3. Iran Joins UN Convention Against Terror Financing

• What:
  • Iran ratified a law to join the United Nations’ International Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism (CFT) to boost global banking access and ease economic pressures from sanctions.
• Why:
  • The aim is to align with Financial Action Task Force (FATF) standards, reconnect with global banking systems, and stabilise Iran’s sanctions-hit economy.
• Tell me more:
  • Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian signed the law on October 22, 2025, after heated debates between reformists and ultra-conservatives.
  • Iran was blacklisted by FATF in 2020, isolating its financial sector and restricting access to international banking.

Source: TH

4. Tuvalu Joins IUCN as 90th State Member for Conservation

• What:
  • Tuvalu officially became the 90th State Member of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), with its Ministry of Environment serving as the liaison.
• Why:
  • The membership strengthens Tuvalu’s commitment to biodiversity conservation and sustainable development amid urgent threats from climate change and environmental challenges.
• Tell me more:
  • As an IUCN member, Tuvalu can collaborate globally to enhance conservation, resilience, and raise its voice in international environmental policies.
  • The announcement was made during the IUCN World Conservation Congress in Abu Dhabi.
  • The membership helps Tuvalu engage with global initiatives like the Green Climate Fund and Global Environment Facility to support nature protection and well-being.
  • Tuvalu is the 11th State Member from the Oceania region in IUCN.

Source: IUCN

Banking and Economy

1. Google Achieves Verifiable Quantum Advantage with ‘Quantum Echoes’

• What:
  • Google announced that its new Quantum Echoes algorithm has outperformed the world’s fastest supercomputers by running 13,000 times faster on its Willow quantum chip.
• Why:
  • To prove the world’s first verifiable quantum advantage and move quantum technology closer to real-world applications in medicine, materials science, and energy.
• Tell me more:
  • The Quantum Echoes algorithm works like a quantum ‘echo’, where scientists send a signal into the system, disturb it slightly, and reverse it to detect the returning echo.
  • It helps measure minute quantum effects that traditional computers cannot capture.
  • The algorithm’s success comes from the advanced Willow quantum chip, which had earlier shown strength through Random Circuit Sampling tests.
  • The experiment was led by Google Quantum AI’s Founder and Lead Hartmut Neven and Director Vadim Smelyanskiy.

Source: BS

2. UPI ‘Pay with Mutual Fund’ Feature Launched

• What:
  • Investors can now use their liquid mutual funds for making UPI payments directly by redeeming units instantly, thanks to the new “Pay with Mutual Fund” feature.
• Why:
  • The feature aims to provide instant liquidity, convenience, and potentially better returns than savings accounts for short-term cash management.
• Tell me more:
  • ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund and Bajaj Finserv AMC have launched this feature in partnership with Curie Money, enabling UPI payments from liquid funds.

Source: MoC

3. NPCI Launches AI Assistant ‘UPI Help’ for Digital Payments

• What:
  • National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) launched an AI-powered assistant called ‘UPI Help’ to resolve UPI payment issues, manage transaction mandates, and handle grievances.
• Why:
  • The feature is designed to make digital payment experiences smoother by quickly answering queries, resolving transaction problems, and managing UPI complaints.
• Tell me more:
  • ‘UPI Help’ will assist users with payment-related problems, understanding features, and guidelines during UPI transactions.
  • Users can check UPI transaction status, log or track complaints, and manage all active mandates (Autopay) in a unified view.
  • The assistant will help banks in faster dispute resolution for incomplete or pending transactions handled under the UDIR framework.
  • It will be available through bank websites, chatbots, DigiSaathi, and later through UPI apps as integration expands.

Source: N18

4. New Bank Nomination Rules Allow Up to Four Nominees

• What:
  • From November 1, 2025, bank customers can add up to four nominees to their bank accounts as per provisions in the Banking Laws (Amendment) Act, 2025.
• Why:
  • The rules aim to standardise and streamline claim settlements and provide more flexibility and clarity for depositors and their nominees.
• Tell me more:
  • Up to four nominees can be appointed simultaneously or in succession; shares or percentages must total 100 percent to ensure proper distribution.
  • The Banking Companies (Nomination) Rules, 2025 will provide procedures and forms for making, cancelling, or designating multiple nominations.
  • The act covers changes across five major banking legislations, including the RBI Act and Banking Regulation Act.
  • The Banking Laws (Amendment) Act, 2025 was notified on April 15, 2025.

Source: TOI

Reports and Indices

1. State of Global Air (SoGA) 2025 Report

• What:
  • The State of Global Air (SoGA) 2025 report revealed that 2 million lives were lost in India in 2023 due to air pollution-related diseases, mainly from non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like heart disease, lung cancer, diabetes, and dementia.
• Why:
  • To highlight the growing public health crisis caused by air pollution and the urgent need for integrated action to control pollution and reduce related disease burden.
• Tell me more:
  • The report was released by the Health Effects Institute (HEI) and the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), United States.
  • India’s air pollution death rate is over 10 times higher than in high-income countries, with several states reporting more than 100,000 deaths each in 2023.
  • Air pollution is responsible for major proportions of chronic diseases such as COPD, lung cancer, heart disease, and diabetes related deaths.
  • Dementia has been identified as a new serious health risk linked to air pollution, causing over 626,000 deaths globally in 2023, with India reporting over 54,000 deaths.
  • More than two-thirds of India’s population lives in areas exceeding the WHO air quality target for PM2.5.
  • Deaths due to household air pollution have decreased, but those due to ambient PM2.5 and ozone pollution have increased significantly.

Source: DTE

Defence News

1. Indian Army Signs Rs 2,700 Crore Contract for 4.25 Lakh Close-Quarter Carbines

• What:
  • The Indian Army signed a Rs 2,700 crore contract to buy 4.25 lakh close-quarter carbines from Bharat Forge and AdPLR Systems to replace old rifles.
• Why:
  • To enhance troop capabilities with modern carbines firing 5.56 mm bullets, addressing shortages and updating weapons for the next 20-30 years.
• Tell me more:
  • Of the 4.25 lakh carbines, 2.5 lakh will be supplied by Bharat Forge and the rest by AdPLR Systems.
  • Indian Army has already shifted to 7.62 mm American Sig Sauer and Russian-origin AK-203 assault rifles for infantry.
  • The new carbines will replace vintage carbines phased out long ago supporting “shoot to kill” operational motto.

Source: ET

Science and Technology

1. Chandrayaan-2 Observes Solar Impact on Moon’s Atmosphere

• What:
  • ISRO announced that the Chandrayaan-2 Orbiter made the first-ever observation of the effect of solar Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) on the Moon using its CHACE-2 instrument.
• Why:
  • The observation aims to help understand the lunar exosphere and the effect of space weather on the Moon’s surface.
• Tell me more:
  • Chandrayaan-2 was launched on 22 July 2019 from Sriharikota using the GSLV-MkIII-M1 rocket and entered lunar orbit on 20 August 2019.
  • Although contact with the Vikram lander was lost on 7 September 2019, the Orbiter remains fully functional in a 100 km x 100 km orbit.
  • The CHACE-2 payload recorded an increase in the number of neutral atoms and molecules after the CMEs hit the Moon on 10 May 2024.
  • The findings confirmed theoretical predictions about how solar activity affects the lunar environment and were published in Geophysical Research Letters on 16 August.
  • These results will aid in designing future lunar missions and possible human habitats on the Moon.

Source: NOA

Awards

1. Indian-Origin Historian Sunil Amrith Wins British Academy Book Prize

• What:
  • Indian-origin historian Sunil Amrith won the British Academy Book Prize 2025 for his book The Burning Earth: An Environmental History of the Last 500 Years.
• Why:
  • The award honours non-fiction books that deepen understanding of the world and recognises Amrith’s contribution to the history of climate and human-environment interactions.
• Tell me more:
  • The £25,000 prize was presented at the British Academy in London, with judges calling the book essential reading on the climate crisis.
  • Sunil Amrith, a Yale University professor, was born in Kenya, raised in Singapore, and graduated from the University of Cambridge.
  • Other shortlisted works included books by William Dalrymple, Lucy Ash, Bronwen Everill, Sophie Harman, and Graeme Lawson.

Source: BS

Important Days

1. International Snow Leopard Day 2025 – October 23

• What:
  • India observed International Snow Leopard Day with the ‘#23for23’ initiative, encouraging people to engage in 23 minutes of physical activity to raise awareness about snow leopard conservation.
• Tell me more:
  • The campaign was led by the Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Shri Bhupender Yadav, involving citizens, institutions, and the Indian Army.
  • India’s snow leopard conservation programme has shown encouraging results under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi.
  • The first-ever Snow Leopard Census in India recorded 718 individual snow leopards across the Himalayas, with Ladakh alone hosting 477.
  • International Snow Leopard Day reaffirms India’s dedication to the Global Snow Leopard and Ecosystem Protection Programme (GSLEP).

Source: PIB

2. National Cybersecurity Awareness Month 2025 – October

3. ITBP Raising Day 2025 (64th Edition) – October 24

Source: NOA

4. World Development Information Day 2025 – October 24

• UN Focus: Mobilization of Public Opinion

Source: UN

5. World Polio Day 2025 – October 24

• Theme: End Polio: Every Child, Every Vaccine, Everywhere

Source: WHO

6. United Nations Day 2025 – October 24

• UN Focus: The United Nations at 80: Building our future together

Source: UN

Sports

1. Abhinav Bindra Named Torch-Bearer for Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics

• What:
  • Olympic gold medallist Abhinav Bindra has been chosen as one of the torch-bearers for the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy.
• Why:
  • To honour Bindra’s legacy as India’s first individual Olympic gold medallist and represent the Olympic spirit during the torch relay.
• Tell me more:
  • Bindra won India’s first individual Olympic gold in the 10m air rifle event at the 2008 Beijing Games.
  • The Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics will be held from February 6 to 22, 2026, across Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo in Italy.
  • The Winter Games will feature 116 medal events across 16 disciplines, an increase compared to the 2022 Winter Olympics.
  • The Olympic Torch Relay is a tradition symbolizing the continuity and values of the Olympic movement, involving athletes and notable figures carrying the flame through Italy.

Source: IT

Miscellaneous

1. Veteran Space Scientist Professor Eknath Vasant Chitnis Passes Away

• What:
  • Veteran space scientist Professor Eknath Vasant Chitnis, a pioneer of India’s space programme, passed away at the age of 100 in Pune.
• Tell me more:
  • Chitnis retired as director of the Space Application Centre in Ahmedabad and was a key figure behind the Satellite Instructional Television Experiment (SITE) in 1975-76.
  • SITE delivered educational programs via satellite to 2,400 villages, helping lay the foundation for India’s digital revolution.
  • Post-retirement, he taught at Savitribai Phule Pune University and served on the Board of Directors of Press Trust of India, twice as chairman.

Source: IE

2. Former Union Minister Yogendra Makwana Passes Away in Ahmedabad

• Former Union minister and veteran Congress leader Yogendra Makwana died at the age of 92 in Ahmedabad following a short illness.
• Makwana served in Rajya Sabha from 1973 to 1989 and was deputy chief whip and secretary of Congress Parliamentary Party in the Upper House.

Source: LM

3. ‘Civil-Military Fusion as a Metric of National Power and Comprehensive Security’ Book by Lt Gen Raj Shukla (Retd)

• Defence Minister Rajnath Singh praised Operation Sindoor for extraordinary jointness among the three Services and highlighted civil-military fusion during a book launch in New Delhi.
• The Defence Minister spoke at the launch of the book ‘Civil-Military Fusion as a Metric of National Power and Comprehensive Security’ by Lt Gen Raj Shukla (Retd).

Source: NOA

4. Piyush Pandey, Advertising Icon, Passes Away at 70

• What:
  • Piyush Pandey, the renowned Padma Shri awardee and iconic figure in Indian advertising, passed away at the age of 70.
• Tell me more:
  • He was the face of Ogilvy India for over 40 years and joined the agency in 1982 at age 27.
  • Some of his most famous campaigns include Asian Paints’ “Har Khushi Mein Rang Laye,” Cadbury’s “Kuch Khaas Hai,” and Fevicol advertising.
  • Pandey also contributed to Indian political campaigns, notably the slogan “Ab Ki Baar, Modi Sarkar.”
  • He and his brother Prasoon Pandey were the first Asians to win the Lion of St Mark at Cannes Lions in 2018, acknowledging lifetime creative achievement.

Source: ET

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