Daily GK Update- 13th Oct, 2025

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Karnataka Becomes First State to Implement Menstrual Leave Policy for Both Government and Private Sectors: Karnataka State Cabinet approved the Karnataka Menstrual Leave Policy-2025, granting one day of paid leave per month for women employees across both government and private sectors, making Karnataka the first state in India to cover all sectors.The policy follows recommendations from a Labour Department committee advocating paid menstrual leave and is applicable to all sectors employing women, aiming to support employee well-being and inclusion.

 

2. India to launch ‘Red List’ survey to assess extinction risks to plants and animals: India has launched the National Red List Assessment of Indian Flora and Fauna, a first-of-its-kind initiative to evaluate the extinction risk of nearly 11,000 species of plants and animals by 2030, following the IUCN Red List methodology.The project aims to create a science-based, nationally coordinated red-listing system and publish National Red Data Books on flora and fauna, supported by a user-friendly online database and a team of 300 certified assessors for future assessments.The initiative, led by the Ministry of Environment, involves key organisations like the Botanical Survey of India (BSI), Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), IUCN India, and the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI), aligning with India’s commitments under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KM-GBF).The ₹95 crore project, primarily funded by BSI and ZSI, seeks to strengthen conservation planning and policy-making amid alarming global biodiversity loss, as highlighted in the Living Planet Report 2024, which recorded a 73% decline in vertebrate species since 1970.

 

3. Sonali Sen Gupta Appointed as New Executive Director of RBI: Sonali Sen Gupta appointed as Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Executive Director with effect from October 9, 2025.She has over three decades of experience at RBI, previously serving as Regional Director for Karnataka, and has worked in departments like Financial Inclusion, HR Management, Banking Regulation, and Supervision.As Executive Director, she will oversee Consumer Education & Protection, Financial Inclusion & Development, and Inspection Departments; she holds an MBA in Banking & Finance and is a Certified Associate of IIBF.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. PM Modi Inaugurates Global Fintech Fest 2025 in Mumbai, Showcasing AI and Innovation in Finance: Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi addressed the Global Fintech Fest 2025 in Mumbai, Maharashtra, highlighting the role of technology in transforming the financial ecosystem.The event brought together over 100,000 participants from 75+ countries, including 7,500 companies, 800 speakers, 400 exhibitors, and 70 regulators, making it one of the world’s largest fintech gatherings.The fest’s theme, ‘Empowering Finance for a Better World’ – Powered by AI, Augmented Intelligence, Innovation, and Inclusion, emphasized the convergence of technology and human insight in creating an ethical and sustainable financial future, with participation from global regulators like MAS (Singapore), Deutsche Bundesbank (Germany), Banque de France, and FINMA (Switzerland).

 

2. Former UK PM Rishi Sunak Joins Microsoft and AI Startup Anthropic as Senior Adviser on Global Strategy: Former British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has joined Microsoft and AI startup Anthropic as a senior adviser, focusing on global strategy, macroeconomic, and geopolitical trends.Sunak, who stepped down as Conservative Party leader after the July general election defeat, continues to serve as a Member of Parliament in the UK.His part-time advisory role with Anthropic is fully compliant with ACoBA regulations, restricting him from engaging with UK government officials on behalf of the company.

 

3. 11 October – World Migratory Bird Day: World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD) is observed on 11 October every year to raise awareness about the conservation of migratory birds and their habitats.Theme 2025 – Shared Spaces: Creating Bird-Friendly Cities and CommunitiesThe day highlights the threats migratory birds face, including habitat loss, climate change, hunting, and pollution, emphasising the need for global cooperation.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

DEFENCE

 

1. Indian Army to Deploy Indigenous ‘Saksham’ CUAS Grid System for Real-Time Drone Threat Neutralisation and Airspace Security: The Indian Army has initiated procurement of the indigenously developed ‘Saksham’ Counter-Unmanned Aerial System (CUAS) Grid System, designed to detect, track, identify, and neutralise hostile drones and unmanned aerial systems in real time across the Tactical Battlefield Space (TBS).Developed in collaboration with Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), Saksham integrates AI-driven analytics, CUAS sensors, weapons systems, and the Army Data Network (ADN) to create a real-time Recognised UAS Picture (RUASP) for commanders, enabling automated decision support and 3D battlefield visualisation.

 

2. Indian Army to Host UN Troop Contributing Countries Conclave in New Delhi from October 14: The Indian Army will host the Conclave of Chiefs of United Nations Troop Contributing Countries (UNTCC) in New Delhi from October 14, bringing together representatives from 32 UN troop-contributing nations, including 15 Chiefs and 17 Vice Chiefs.The three-day conclave aims to discuss operational challenges, evolving threats, best practices, and future peacekeeping strategies, reflecting the spirit of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam and India’s strong commitment to UN peace missions.

 

 

 

 

SPORTS

 

1. Rohit Sharma, Joe Root Shine at CEAT Cricket Rating Awards 2025: The 27th CEAT Cricket Rating Awards were held in Mumbai, honouring global cricket talents, with Rohit Sharma receiving a special memento for leading India to two ICC titles in 2024.Joe Root was named Best Male International Cricketer of the Year, while Brian Lara and Bhagwat Chandrasekhar were honoured with Lifetime Achievement Awards.Sri Lankan left-arm spinner Prabath Jayasuriya won the Men’s Test Bowler of the Year award, highlighting outstanding international cricket performances.

 

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

 

1. DoT and ITU Host ‘AI for Good – Impact India’ Summit at IMC 2025 to Promote Responsible and Inclusive AI Innovation: The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) co-hosted the “AI for Good – Impact India” Conference 2025 at IMC 2025 in New Delhi, inaugurated by Dr. Neeraj Mittal and Mr. Bilel Jamoussi.The summit gathered global AI leaders, policymakers, industry experts, start-ups, and academia to discuss how AI can drive sustainable and inclusive development across sectors.ITU, founded in 1865, is a UN specialised agency for ICTs, responsible for setting global telecom standards, managing radio spectrum and satellite orbits, and promoting digital inclusion worldwide.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. RBI Issues ‘Letter of Caution’ to Axis Bank Over KYC Norms Non-Compliance: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) issued a ‘Letter of Caution’ to Axis Bank for non-compliance with Know-Your-Customer (KYC) norms, urging the bank to exercise extreme caution and diligence.RBI acknowledged the remedial actions and system improvements already undertaken by Axis Bank but emphasised the need for strict adherence to KYC regulations in the future.Axis Bank stated that it has initiated corrective measures and does not expect any material impact on its financial, operational, or other activities due to the cautionary letter.

 

2. HDFC Bank Unveils India’s First “My Business QR” Powered by Vyaparify to Digitally Empower Bharat’s SMEs’ : HDFC Bank has launched India’s first “My Business QR”, powered by Vyaparify, aimed at giving small and medium enterprises (SMEs) their first digital commerce identity and unifying payments, communication, and business visibility.The My Business QR serves as a single smart QR solution, integrating payments, identity, engagement, and commerce, thereby helping entrepreneurs manage and grow their businesses more efficiently.Vyaparify, the tech platform behind the innovation, enables businesses to create a digital identity, showcase products, collect payments, and connect via WhatsApp, serving as a commerce playbook for Bharat’s SMEs.

 

3. Razorpay, NPCI, and OpenAI Launch India’s First AI-Powered Agentic Payments on ChatGPT: Razorpay, NPCI, and OpenAI have collaborated to launch Agentic Payments on ChatGPT, enabling users in India to shop and pay within a single AI chat environment without leaving the platform.

The system leverages UPI innovations like UPI Circle and UPI Reserve Pay, backed by Axis Bank and Airtel Payments Bank, providing a seamless, secure, and real-time transactional experience for AI-powered shopping.BigBasket is among the first merchants to participate, allowing ChatGPT users to browse products, select items, and complete purchases via AI agents, with features like instant tracking, revocation, and user-controlled checkout, marking India’s first UPI-integrated conversational payment experience.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Delhi Government Triples Prize Money for State Handicraft Awards: The Delhi government has tripled the award money under the State Handicraft Awards Scheme to promote “Vocal for Local”, “Atmanirbhar Bharat”, and “Make in India” initiatives.The prize for the Rajya Shilpkaar Puraskar (State Award) has been increased from ₹30,000 to ₹1,00,000, and the Rajya Dakshata Puraskar (State Merit Award) from ₹20,000 to ₹75,000. The number of awards has also been doubled to six Shilpkaar Puraskars (including one reserved for women) and 18 Dakshata Puraskars across diverse craft forms.This marks the first major revision in 12 years, reflecting the government’s intent to value traditional craftsmanship and inspire artisans to innovate and preserve Delhi’s craft heritage.New categories have been introduced for startups, young artisans, women, and specially-abled craftsmen to ensure inclusivity and wider recognition.