31st October 2025

1. NTPC Green Energy Limited Upgraded to Schedule ‘A’ CPSE by GoI
2. India Commenced Tri-Services Exercise ‘Ex Trishul’ in Coordination with IAF & IN
3. NCA and DoT Signs MoU with IIMC to Boost Telecom Sector Development
4. SBI Foundation & ICRISAT Launch “SMART-CROP” Project to Support Smallholder Farmers
5. ADB Approved USD 460 Million Loan for Agricultural Solarization in Maharashtra
6. IA Fintech Received IFSCA In-Principle Approval to Operate as PSP at GIFT-IFSC
7. BPCL and OIL Signs MoU to Build Greenfield Refinery in AP
8. South Korea Confers ‘Grand Order of Mugunghwa’ on USA President Donald Trump
9. Punjab’s Namitbir Singh Walia Achieves International Master Title in Chess
10. World Savings Day 2025 – October 31
11. India Launches Global Solar Initiatives at ISA 2025
12. Dharwad’s Veteran Archaeologist Ravindra Korisettar Chosen for Rajyotsava Award
13. Andhra’s Coastal Dreams: Vizag Port Signs Big at IMW 2025
14. India, U.S. Sign 10-Year Defence Framework Pact
15. AmazonFACE Experiment Recreates Future Atmosphere to Study Forest Response
16. World Cities Day 2025 – 31st October
17. CMS-03 ISRO’s Heaviest Satellite
18. PM Modi Launches Coin & Stamp for Sardar Patel
19. India Stun Australia to Enter Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 Final

National News

1. India Launches Four Global Solar Energy Initiatives at ISA

• What:
  • India launched four global solar initiatives — SUNRISE, OSOWOG, Global Capability Centre, and SIDS Procurement Platform — during the 8th session of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) in New Delhi.
• Why:
  • These initiatives aim to accelerate the global shift towards clean, equitable, and circular solar energy systems and strengthen India’s leadership in sustainable solar solutions.
• Tell me more:
  • SUNRISE (Solar Upcycling Network for Recycling, Innovation & Stakeholder Engagement) focuses on recycling solar waste into new green industry opportunities.
  • The One Sun One World One Grid (OSOWOG) initiative will promote cross-border solar grid interconnections between Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and Africa.
  • The Global Capability Centre (GCC) will serve as a “Silicon Valley for Solar” to support innovation, research, and training through the Solar Technology Application Resource Centre (STAR-C) model and ISA Academy.
  • The SIDS Procurement Platform, developed with the World Bank, will facilitate joint procurement and capacity building for Small Island Developing States.
  • President Droupadi Murmu emphasized inclusivity, women’s empowerment, and measuring solar progress through improved lives and livelihoods.

Source: DTE

2. PM Inaugurates ₹1219 Crore Development Projects in Kevadia

• What:
  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated and laid the foundation stones for development projects worth ₹1219 crore in Kevadia on the eve of Sardar Patel’s 150th Jayanti.
• Why:
  • The projects aim to strengthen Kevadia’s infrastructure, promote sustainable tourism, and honour the legacy of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and Bhagwan Birsa Munda.
• Tell me more:
  • The projects include the Birsa Munda Bhavan dedicated to Bhagwan Birsa Munda, a residential complex for GSEC and SSNNL employees, the first phase of a hospitality district, and a Bonsai Garden.
  • The Prime Minister flagged off a fleet of electric buses to provide eco-friendly transport for visitors in Kevadia.
  • A special commemorative coin and postage stamp were released to mark Sardar Patel’s 150th birth anniversary.
  • The Prime Minister met Sardar Patel’s family members and attended a cultural programme showcasing the leader’s life and role in India’s freedom and integration.
  • The celebrations highlighted Sardar Patel’s vision and contribution to uniting India after independence.

Source: PIB

State News

1. ADB Approves $460 Million Loan for Maharashtra Solarization

• What:
  • The Asian Development Bank (ADB) approved a $460 million results-based loan to modernize rural power infrastructure and promote solar energy for agriculture in Maharashtra.
• Why:
  • The program aims to provide reliable daytime solar electricity for irrigation, improve agricultural productivity, and support renewable energy adoption in rural areas.
• Tell me more:
  • The project is called the Maharashtra Power Distribution Enhancement Program for Agricultural Solarization.
  • It aligns with the state’s Power Sector Vision 2030 to strengthen energy access and sector sustainability.
  • An additional $40 million concessional loan from the Clean Technology Fund, administered by ADB, will support the program.
  • By 2028, it will provide daytime solar power to 900,000 agricultural consumers and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by over 3 million tons annually.
  • The project includes grid upgrades, solar feeder installation, battery energy storage, and green job creation, especially for women.

Source: ADB

2. Archaeologist Ravindra Korisettar Receives Rajyotsava Award

• What:
  • Veteran archaeologist from Dharwad, Professor Ravindra Korisettar, has been selected for the Rajyotsava Award.
• Why:
  • The award recognizes his outstanding contributions to the fields of archaeology, history, and education over a career spanning more than four decades.
• Tell me more:
  • Prof. Korisettar is a UGC Emeritus Fellow in the Department of History and Archaeology at Karnatak University, Dharwad.
  • Prof. Korisettar earned degrees in archaeology and quaternary archaeological studies from Poona University and INQUA, Beijing.
  • He has held overseas fellowships such as the Charles Wallace-AIIT Fellowship (University of Cambridge) and Fulbright Visiting Scholar (Smithsonian Institution, Washington DC).

Source: TH

3. Visakhapatnam Port Authority Signs MoUs Worth ₹39,216 Crore

• What:
  • Visakhapatnam Port Authority (VPA) signed Memorandums of Understanding for projects worth ₹39,216 crore during the Indian Maritime Week 2025 in Mumbai.
• Why:
  • The projects aim to boost regional economic growth, create employment in Andhra Pradesh, and support national goals like the National Logistics Policy, Maritime India Vision 2030, and Net Zero emissions by 2047.
• Tell me more:
  • VPA’s new investments are expected to attract major infrastructure development in the port and surrounding areas.
  • The development programs are designed to strengthen Andhra Pradesh’s maritime and logistics connectivity.
  • M. Angamuthu, Chairperson of VPA, announced the details of the investment.

Source: TOI

Banking and Economy

1. NTPC Green Energy Limited Becomes Schedule A CPSE

• What:
  • NTPC Green Energy Limited has been categorized as a Schedule A Central Public Sector Undertaking (CPSE) by the Government of India.
• Why:
  • The categorization aims to recognize NTPC Green Energy Limited as a major public sector enterprise with strategic importance.
• Tell me more:
  • The classification was made under Regulation 30 of the SEBI (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2015.
  • NTPC Green Energy Limited operates under the umbrella of NTPC.
  • Being a Schedule A CPSE places the company in the top category of Central Public Sector Undertakings in India.

Source: BS

2. Infibeam Avenues Gets IFSCA Nod to Operate as PSP

• What:
  • Infibeam Avenues Ltd received in-principle approval from the International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA) to operate as a Payment Service Provider (PSP) at GIFT-IFSC in Gujarat.
• Why:
  • The approval allows the company to expand its business and offer digital payment and cross-border financial services for enterprises in GIFT-IFSC and international markets.
• Tell me more:
  • The approval was granted to IA Fintech IFSC Private Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Infibeam Avenues Ltd.
  • Services will include escrow account operations, cross-border money transfers, and merchant acquisition.
  • The company’s digital PSP system aims to make cross-border payments faster, cheaper, and more transparent.

Source: BS

3. BPCL Signs Three Major Agreements for Energy Projects

• What:
  • Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) signed three agreements, including one with Oil India to build a greenfield refinery and petrochemical complex in Andhra Pradesh.
• Why:
  • The agreements aim to expand BPCL’s refining, pipeline, and green energy capacity while strengthening cooperation across energy and fertiliser sectors.
• Tell me more:
  • The refinery and petrochemical complex will be built at a cost of 1 trillion rupees and will have a capacity of 9 to 12 million tonnes per year.
  • The Ramayapatnam project will include a 1.5-million-tonne ethylene cracker and is expected to start operations by fiscal 2030.
  • A 35-billion-rupee, 700-km cross-country pipeline will be developed from Siliguri to Mughalsarai via Muzaffarpur in partnership with Numaligarh Refinery and Oil India.
  • Oil India may acquire a 10%–20% stake in the southern refinery, and BPCL is looking for additional partners.
  • BPCL also tied up with Fertilisers & Chemicals Travancore to market organic fertilisers from its Kochi biogas plant.

Source: ET

4. AmazonFACE Project Studies Climate Impact on Amazon Rainforest

• What:
  • The AmazonFACE research program in Brazil aims to study how rising CO2 levels and climate change affect the Amazon rainforest’s resilience and ecosystem.
• Why:
  • The project seeks to understand whether elevated CO2 can help the Amazon forest withstand the negative effects of global warming, droughts, and deforestation.
• Tell me more:
  • AmazonFACE involves a large-scale Free-Air CO2 Enrichment (FACE) experiment located 70 km north of Manaus, Brazil.
  • The experiment will test how forest growth and carbon storage respond to increased CO2 concentration.
  • It is divided into three phases: ecological characterization, pilot experiment with two plots, and a long-term fully replicated study over ten years.
  • The program is executed by Brazil’s National Institute for Amazonian Research (INPA) under the Ministry of Science, Technology, Innovation, and Communications (MCTIC).
  • Financial support comes from MCTIC, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), FAPEAM, CAPES, and several global institutions.

Source: TUM

Defence News

1. Tri-Service Exercise ‘Trishul’ Begins Along Pakistan Border

• What:
  • A major tri-Service military exercise named ‘Trishul’, along the western border with Pakistan, involving the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force.
• Why:
  • The exercise aims to enhance interoperability, coordination, and mission readiness among the three defence services.
• Tell me more:
  • The exercise is being held from October 30 to November 10, 2025, across Gujarat and Rajasthan.
  • The Navy is leading the opening phase, followed by the Army and the Air Force in later stages.
  • The Border Security Force and the Coast Guard are participating as supporting forces.
  • More than 20,000 troops, tanks, helicopters, missile systems, fighter jets, and warships are taking part in the drills.

Source: TH

2. India and US Sign New 10-Year Defence Framework

• What:
  • India and the United States signed a new 10-year defence framework during a meeting between Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth on the sidelines of the ASEAN meet in Kuala Lumpur.
• Why:
  • The agreement aims to deepen defence cooperation across multiple domains and strengthen strategic stability in the Indo-Pacific region.
• Tell me more:
  • The new ‘Framework for the US-India Major Defence Partnership’ replaces and expands upon the 2015 defence framework.
  • It provides a unified vision to enhance collaboration in defence-industrial cooperation, military interoperability, maritime security, and cyber and space domains.
  • The framework aligns with a renewed consensus to address regional security challenges and maintain a free and open Indo-Pacific.
  • Defence cooperation remains a major pillar of India-US bilateral relations despite recent trade tensions.
  • The US has secured over $25 billion in defence contracts from India since 2007, including orders for MQ-9B Predator drones and GE-F404 jet engines.

Source: TOI

Science and Technology

1. ISRO Launches Heaviest Communication Satellite CMS-03

• What:
  • The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) launched its heaviest communication satellite, CMS-03, using the LVM-3 rocket from Sriharikota.
• Why:
  • The satellite aims to enhance India’s maritime communication and strengthen the Indian Navy’s secure communication network under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative.
• Tell me more:
  • The 4,410 kg CMS-03, also known as GSAT-7R, was placed into a geosynchronous transfer orbit at 5:26 pm IST.
  • The mission was completed 16 minutes after launch using the LVM-3, also called the “Bahubali” rocket.
  • CMS-03 carries multi-band payloads (C, Extended C, Ku) for real-time communication across ships, submarines, aircraft, and command centers.
  • It replaces the older GSAT-7 “Rukmini,” offering higher bandwidth, better encryption, and wider Indian Ocean coverage.
  • The orbit-raising process using the onboard Liquid Apogee Motor will take about 4-7 days, followed by 4-5 weeks of commissioning.

Source: IT

Agriculture and Rural Development

1. SBI Foundation Launches SMART-CROP Project for Farmers

• What:
  • SBI Foundation, in partnership with the University of Agricultural Sciences (Raichur), ICRISAT, and Agribridge, launched the SMART-CROP project in Hyderabad to support smallholder farmers in Karnataka and Telangana.
• Why:
  • The project aims to improve crop resilience, increase productivity, and help farmers manage climate risks using advanced technologies.
• Tell me more:
  • SMART-CROP stands for Sustainable Monitoring and Real-time Tracking for Crop Resilience and Optimal Practices.
  • It is a three-year initiative under SBI Foundation’s Livelihood and Entrepreneurship Accelerator Programme (LEAP).
  • The project will benefit over 8,000 smallholder farmers across districts of Karnataka (Bidar, Kalaburagi, Raichur) and Telangana (Sangareddy, Vikarabad).
  • Technologies like satellite imaging, remote sensing, and AI/ML-driven analytics will be used for real-time crop stress monitoring.
  • The project focuses on pulse crops like chickpea and pigeonpea, using farmer-participatory and digital inclusion approaches.

Source: ICRISAT

Important Days

1. World Savings Day/ World Thrift Day 2025 – October 31

2. World Cities Day 2025 – October 31

• Theme: People-Centred Smart Cities

Source: UN

Sports

1. Punjab’s Namitbir Singh Walia Becomes International Master in Chess

• What:
  • Namitbir Singh Walia from Jalandhar, Punjab, became an International Master in Chess after securing the fourth overall position at the 3rd Annemasse International Masters Tournament in France.
• Tell me more:
  • He has won the Senior State FIDE Rating Open Chess Championship this year.
  • Namitbir is the second player from Punjab to earn the International Master title.
  • The first International Master from Punjab was Dushyant Sharma, who achieved the title in February 2022.

Source: NOA

2. India Creates World Record Run Chase to Enter Women’s ODI World Cup Final

• India defeated defending champions Australia by five wickets in the Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 semi-final, achieving the highest successful run chase in women’s ODI cricket history.
• The match was played at DY Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai.

Source: OC

Memorandum of Understanding

1. DoT’s National Communications Academy Signs MoU with IIM Calcutta

• What:
  • The National Communications Academy (NCA), Department of Telecommunications, and the Indian Institute of Management Calcutta (IIMC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at Sanchar Bhawan, New Delhi.
• Why:
  • The MoU aims to promote collaboration in capacity building, research, consulting, policy formulation, and training in new communication and technology domains.
• Tell me more:
  • The MoU was signed in the presence of Dr. Neeraj Mittal, Chairman DCC and Secretary (Telecom).
  • It was formally signed by Prof. Alok Kumar Rai, Director, IIMC, and Shri Atul Sinha, Director General, National Communications Academy – Technology (NCA-T), Ghaziabad.

Source: PIB

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