NATIONAL UPDATES:
1. NITI Aayog Launches “AI for Inclusive Societal
Development” Roadmap to Empower India’s 490 Million Informal Workers: NITI Aayog launched
the “AI for Inclusive Societal Development” roadmap, a first-of-its-kind
national initiative aimed at leveraging AI and frontier technologies to improve
the lives and livelihoods of India’s 490 million informal workers.The roadmap,
developed in partnership with Deloitte, focuses on the informal sector—which
contributes nearly half of India’s GDP—addressing challenges such as financial
insecurity, limited market access, and lack of skills and social protection.The
initiative emphasizes collaboration between government, industry, academia, and
civil society, highlighting that empowering informal workers is essential for
achieving India’s $30 trillion Viksit Bharat 2047 vision and ensuring
sustainable economic growth.
2. Delhi Government Launches Collateral-Free Loan Scheme
to Empower Small Businesses and Women Entrepreneurs: The Delhi
government has launched a collateral-free loan
scheme to support small businesses and women entrepreneurs, aiming to
enhance the city’s economic growth and improve access to credit without
requiring personal or business assets as security.The scheme, with
an initial allocation of ₹5 crore in FY26 and a phased ₹50 crore
contribution in partnership with Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for Micro and Small
Enterprises (CGTMSE), provides guarantee coverage of up to 95% to reduce
lenders’ risk.Under the initiative, loans up to ₹10 crore are available for
small and women-led enterprises, with higher coverage for women entrepreneurs,
Agniveer-promoted MSMEs, and micro units, supporting sectors like
manufacturing, services, retail, and education.
3. Three Major Indian Ports Recognised as Green Hydrogen
Hubs Under National Mission: The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has
officially recognised Deendayal Port (Gujarat), V.O. Chidambaranar Port
(Tamil Nadu), and Paradip Port (Odisha) as Green Hydrogen Hubs under the
National Green Hydrogen Mission, advancing India’s clean energy transition.Ports,
Shipping and Waterways Minister Sarbananda Sonowal called it a defining moment
in India’s maritime journey and emphasised the government’s push for
sustainable development and achieving net zero by 2070.The National Green
Hydrogen Mission aims to make India a global hub for production, utilisation,
and export of green hydrogen and its derivatives, promoting large-scale
hydrogen hubs as key centres for production and consumption.
4. Tamil Nadu Allocates ₹1 Crore for Four
Endangered Species: Tamil Nadu
government allocated ₹1 crore for conserving four lesser-known endangered
species. The move aims to protect the lion-tailed macaque, Madras hedgehog, striped hyena, and hump-headed mahseer.
This initiative broadens conservation focus beyond popular animals like
elephants and tigers. It marks the ecological importance of these species and
the need for targeted protection. The lion-tailed macaque received ₹48.5 lakh. This primate is endemic to
the Western Ghats and survives in fragmented
rainforest patches. The Madras hedgehog, a nocturnal mammal found in semi-arid
areas of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Kerala, was allotted ₹20.5 lakh. The striped hyena, a
near-threatened scavenger declining in places like Mudumalai Tiger Reserve, got
₹14 lakh. The critically endangered hump-headed mahseer, affected by dams,
overfishing, and pollution in the Moyar River, was supported with ₹17 lakh.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1. International Purple Fest 2025 in Goa Showcases
India’s Commitment to Inclusion and Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities: The third edition of
the International Purple Fest – Purple Fair 2025 was inaugurated
in Goa, celebrating the talent, resilience, and entrepreneurship of
persons with disabilities and promoting an inclusive and accessible society.Leaders,
including Goa CM Dr. Pramod Sawant, Union Minister Dr. Virendra Kumar, and MoS
Ramdas Athawale, emphasised that persons with disabilities are empowered
individuals contributing actively to the nation’s growth, not merely
beneficiaries.The event, jointly organised by the Government of India and the
Goa government, saw participation from international organizations and
activists, with DEPwD Secretary Rajesh Aggarwal highlighting initiatives like
resolving 50,000 complaints and CSR projects worth ₹50 crore.
2. India Becomes Second-Highest Contributor in THE World
University Rankings 2026; IISc Bangalore Leads National List: The Indian Institute
of Science (IISc), Bangalore, has been ranked as India’s top university in
the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2026, securing
a spot in the 201–250 rank band.India has achieved a major milestone by
becoming the country with the second-highest number of ranked universities, trailing
only the United States.Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences
(Chennai) improved its ranking to the 351–400 band, while Jamia Millia Islamia
(Delhi) and Shoolini University (Himachal Pradesh) were placed in the 401–500
category.Prestigious institutions like BHU, IIT Indore, KIIT University, Lovely
Professional University, Mahatma Gandhi University, and UPES Dehradun are
ranked in the 501–600 range.Several universities including AMU, Amity, IIT
Patna, NIT Rourkela, University of Delhi, and VIT Vellore feature in the
601–800 rank band, reflecting India’s broad representation across multiple
categories.Globally, the University of Oxford retained the No. 1 spot for
the 10th consecutive year, while Princeton University reached joint 3rd
place, and China and Hong Kong strengthened their presence with 13 and 6
universities, respectively, in the top 200.
3. World Bank and SEWA Launch BETI Project to Empower
Women Entrepreneurs in Gujarat with Digital Tools: The World Bank’s
BETI (Business Enterprise Technology for Indian women) project,
in collaboration with SEWA, has trained micro-level women
entrepreneurs in Gujarat to use digital tools and financial management skills
to build and manage their businesses.The initiative extends the ‘Beti
Bachao, Beti Padhao’ campaign by adding a focus on economic empowerment
— termed ‘Beti Kamao’ — helping women become entrepreneurs and job
creators.The pilot, implemented in Mehsana, Ahmedabad, Anand, and Bodeli,
equipped women with mobile-based tools to improve bookkeeping, inventory
management, debt tracking, and product cataloguing for sales.
OTHER UPDATES:
DEFENCE
1. Union Minister George Kurian Commissions 250-Tonne
Slipway Cradle to Boost India’s Blue Economy and Fisheries Modernisation: Union Minister of State for
Fisheries George Kurian commissioned a 250-tonne capacity slipway
cradle, enhancing docking and maintenance capabilities for vessels ranging from
fishing boats to research ships.The slipway cradle, built by the Fishery Survey
of India (FSI) at a cost of ₹1.78 crore, is a heavy-duty steel platform
designed for the safe hauling and launching of vessels up to 250 tonnes.The
facility supports India’s vision of a sustainable Blue Economy and will
integrate transponders on fishing vessels in collaboration with ISRO for
real-time communication and access to fish-rich area forecasts.
2. DRDO Unveils Indian Radio Software
Architecture 1.0: The Defence
Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)
officially launched the Indian Radio Software Architecture (IRSA) standard
version 1.0 in October 2025. This milestone aims to enhance interoperability in
military communication across the Indian Armed Forces. IRSA sets a national
benchmark for Software Defined Radios (SDR), marking a key step towards
self-reliance in defence communication technology. IRSA was developed through
collaboration among DRDO, Integrated Defence Staff (IDS), and the Tri-Services. The
standard was formally released during a national workshop held at DRDO Bhawan,
New Delhi. The event brought together defence officials, industry
representatives, academia, and research institutions. It brought into light the
journey of IRSA from concept to reality and discussed future collaboration and
adoption plans.
3. India Marks 93rd Indian Air Force Day: The Indian Air Force (IAF) will celebrate its 93rd Air Force Day on 8
October 2025. This annual event honours the IAF’s establishment and its
enduring role in India’s defence. The 2025 theme marks the IAF’s contribution
to Operation
Sindoor, showcasing its operational
capabilities and commitment to national security. The IAF was established on 8
October 1932. It began with a modest fleet and limited personnel. The first
operational flight took place on 1 April 1933. Over the decades, the IAF has
grown into the world’s fourth-largest air force. It has played vital roles in
wars, peacekeeping, and humanitarian missions. Air Force Day commemorates the
IAF’s foundation and achievements. It honours the courage and sacrifice of its
personnel. The day serves to boost morale and public awareness of the IAF’s
role. Celebrations include parades, flypasts, and exhibitions demonstrating air
power and technology.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
1. Indian Marine Fish to Get MSC
Certification by 2026: India is on the verge of securing Marine Stewardship
Council (MSC) certification for about 10 marine and saline fish and shrimp
varieties by 2026. This move aims to enhance seafood exports and promote
sustainable fishing practices. The certification will open new markets and
increase revenue for the fisheries sector by an estimated 30%. The Union
Government is supporting this initiative under the Pradhan Mantri
Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) by subsidising
the certification process. MSC certification is a global standard for
sustainable fishing. It assures consumers that seafood is sourced responsibly,
maintaining fish stocks and protecting marine ecosystems. Certified products
often command higher prices internationally. For India, this means better
access to affluent markets such as Europe and Japan, which demand
sustainability. It also reduces dependency on traditional markets like the
United States, which may impose higher tariffs or trade restrictions.
BANKING AND FINANCE
1. Max Life Pension Fund Management Withdraws Licence: Max Life Pension Fund
Management has voluntarily surrendered its licence, and
its registration with the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development
Authority (PFRDA) has been cancelled.NPS subscribers of Max Life Pension
have been transferred to other pension funds in accordance with regulatory
guidelines, ensuring uninterrupted fund management.From April 19, 2025, all
pension assets previously managed by Max Life have been shifted to UTI Pension
Fund, and from June 21, 2025, subscribers registered through Max Life as PoP
have been moved to Axis Bank.Subscribers’ accumulated corpus continues to earn
returns under the new fund managers, and under PFRDA rules, NPS investors can
change their Pension Fund Manager (PFM) once per year for Tier-I accounts and
multiple times for Tier-II accounts.
2. NPCI And RBI Launches Biometric UPI
Authentication: India’s
digital payments landscape took step forward in 2025. The National Payments
Corporation of India (NPCI) and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) launched
biometric and wearable glass recognition authentication for Unified Payments
Interface (UPI) transactions.
This innovation aims to make payments more secure, seamless and inclusive.
Users can now authenticate UPI transactions using biometric data like
fingerprints or facial recognition. This data is linked to Aadhaar and stored securely on the user’s device. The
process eliminates the need for traditional PINs, enhancing privacy and
security. Authentication happens locally on the device, ensuring sensitive data
never leaves the phone. A new UPI Lite feature enables hands-free small-value
payments via smart glasses. Users scan a QR code and authenticate payments with
voice commands. This innovation removes the need for phones, PINs or touch
inputs during transactions, making payments swift and convenient.
AWARDS AND HONOURS
1. María Corina Machado Wins Nobel Peace Prize 2025 for Championing Democracy in Venezuela: María Corina Machado of Venezuela has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize 2025 for her relentless efforts to promote democratic rights and lead a peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy in Venezuela.Despite threats to her life and living in hiding, she continued her struggle within the country, inspiring millions and uniting Venezuela’s opposition. The announcement was made by Jørgen Watne Frydnes, Chair of the Norwegian Nobel Committee; in 2024, the prize was awarded to Nihon Hidankyo, a Japanese movement of atomic bomb survivors (Hibakusha).
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