Daily GK Update- 15th Oct, 2025

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Piyush Goyal Unveils ‘LEAPS 2025’ to Promote Excellence, Innovation, and Sustainability in India’s Logistics Sector: Union Minister Piyush Goyal launched the Logistics Excellence, Advancement, and Performance Shield (LEAPS) 2025 during the 4th Anniversary of PM GatiShakti at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.LEAPS 2025, an initiative of DPIIT under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, aims to benchmark logistics excellence and align with the National Logistics Policy (NLP) and PM GatiShakti vision.The initiative promotes innovation, sustainability, and ESG practices, inviting participation from air, road, rail, and sea operators, MSMEs, startups, and academia across 13 award categories.Registrations are open on the Rashtriya Puraskar Portal (awards.gov.in) until 15th November 2025, aiming to build a future-ready logistics ecosystem supporting Make in India and Viksit Bharat 2047.

 

2. Alliance Air Unveils ‘Fare Se Fursat’ – India’s First Fixed Airfare Scheme to Make Flying Affordable and Predictable: Civil Aviation Minister Rammohan Naidu Kinjarapu launched ‘Fare Se Fursat’, a first-of-its-kind fixed airfare scheme by Alliance Air, ensuring constant fares irrespective of booking dates.The pilot phase will run from October 13 to December 31, 2025, across select routes to assess operational feasibility and passenger response.The initiative aligns with the UDAN scheme’s vision of making aviation affordable for the middle and lower-middle class, eliminating stress from fluctuating ticket prices.The scheme supports Tier-2 and Tier-3 city travelers, promoting “Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik”, and could set a new model for transparent and stable regional airfares in India.

 

3. NITI Aayog Releases Report on India’s Blue Economy to Harness Deep-Sea and Offshore Fisheries: NITI Aayog launched the report “India’s Blue Economy: Strategy for Harnessing Deep-Sea and Offshore Fisheries”, highlighting the potential of India’s 2 million sq. km EEZ and 11,098 km coastline to expand deep-sea fisheries.India is the second-largest fish-producing country, supporting 30 million livelihoods and earning ₹60,523 crore in exports during FY 2023–24, with deep-sea resources largely untapped.The report proposes a science-based, technology-enabled, socially inclusive, and ecologically sustainable framework, emphasising policy reform, fleet modernisation, community participation, and investment priorities.A three-phase strategy (2025-28, 2029-32, 2033 onwards) aims to strengthen governance, boost exports, ensure ecological sustainability, and position India as a global leader in sustainable deep-sea fisheries.

 

4. Arjun Ram Meghwal Launches LIMBS Live Cases Dashboard to Enhance Government Litigation Management: Union Minister of State for Law and Justice, Arjun Ram Meghwal, inaugurated the Live Cases Dashboard of the Legal Information Management and Briefing System (LIMBS) in New Delhi to enhance transparency, accountability, and efficiency in government litigation management.The dashboard provides details of all cases scheduled in the next seven days across the Supreme Court, High Courts, and other courts involving various ministries, allowing officers and ministers to monitor and receive updates directly from their office.LIMBS presents real-time data visualisation of court cases, enabling proactive decision-making, better inter-ministerial coordination, and efficient management of around 7 lakh live cases from 53 Ministries and Departments.

 

5. 15 October – Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day: Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day is observed every year on 15 October across the world to honour babies lost through miscarriage, stillbirth, SIDS, or infant death.The day seeks to provide comfort and support to grieving parents and families while raising public awareness about the impact of pregnancy and infant loss.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. NeGD Partners with Bharat Taxi to Launch India’s First Cooperative Ride-Hailing Platform: The National e-Governance Division (NeGD) of Digital India Corporation, under MeitY, has partnered with Sahakar Taxi Cooperative Limited to support Bharat Taxi, India’s first cooperative-led national ride-hailing platform.An MoU has been signed to provide strategic advisory and technical support in areas like platform integration, cybersecurity, data privacy, compliance, and governance.Bharat Taxi is promoted by major cooperatives and financial institutions such as NCDC, IFFCO, AMUL, KRIBHCO, NAFED, NABARD, NDDB, and NCEL, reflecting the cooperative movement aligned with the Digital India vision.NeGD’s support covers platform integration with national digital systems, security and compliance, program advisory, and UI/UX enhancements, aiming for a transparent, inclusive, and citizen-centric mobility solution launching in December 2025.

 

2. India and Mongolia Sign 10 MoUs, Strengthen Strategic, Cultural, and Economic Ties: India and Mongolia signed ten MoUs covering humanitarian aid, heritage restoration, immigration, geology and mineral resources, promotion of cooperatives, and sharing of digital solutions during Mongolian President Khurelsukh Ukhnaa’s visit to New Delhi.Both leaders released commemorative stamps marking 70 years of bilateral relations. India will provide free e-visas to Mongolian citizens and sponsor annual visits of young Mongolian cultural ambassadors. Collaboration between Nalanda University and Gandan Monastery will strengthen spiritual and educational ties.India supports Mongolia’s development, including the $1.7 billion Oil Refinery Project enhancing Mongolia’s energy security. Both nations reaffirmed shared values, close partnership in international forums, and cooperation in resilient supply chains and critical minerals.A Mongolian air carrier will operate charter flights to India, boosting tourism and business. The MoU on digital cooperation marks a landmark agreement, reflecting deep-rooted friendship and laying the foundation for closer collaboration across multiple sectors.

 

3. WSFx Global Pay and Zaggle Launch Co-Branded GlobalPay Forex Card for Seamless Corporate Travel: WSFx Global Pay and Zaggle have jointly launched the GlobalPay Co-Branded Forex Card in India, catering to both corporate and individual international travel needs.The card provides global airport lounge access, airport transit hotels, doorstep visa assistance, global SIM cards, instant travel insurance, and optional privileges like golf club access, airport spas, curated food & beverage, and valet services.Zaggle’s platform supports OCR-powered receipt capture, real-time spend tracking, automated expense approvals, and seamless reconciliation, ensuring transparency, control, and compliance for corporate transactions.The partnership combines GlobalPay’s forex expertise with Zaggle’s enterprise network to offer scalable, compliant solutions for international travel expenses, benefiting businesses and regulators alike.

 

4. 15 October – Global Handwashing Day: Global Handwashing Day is observed every year on 15 October to promote the importance of hand hygiene in preventing diseases and saving lives.Theme 2025 – It Might Be Gloves. It’s Always Hand Hygiene.The day was first launched in 2008 by the Global Handwashing Partnership, a coalition of international stakeholders.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

DEFENCE

 

1. WTI Marks 25 Years of Van Rakshak Project, Honours India’s Forest Protectors: India’s forest protectors, known as Van Rakshaks, play a vital role in conserving the country’s biodiversity. A recent report by the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) commemorates 25 years of support to these frontline staff. It marks their courage, sacrifices, and the challenges they face while safeguarding India’s forests and wildlife. The WTI released a report titled Guardians of the Wild – Supporting India’s Frontline Forest Staff in Abu Dhabi. It features stories of 540 rangers killed or injured in duty. The report was launched by Kirtivardhan Singh, Union Minister of State for Environment, Forest, and Climate Change. It emphasises the critical role of Van Rakshaks in protecting over 1,100 protected areas and numerous forests. Van Rakshaks patrol forests day and night. They monitor wildlife and address human-wildlife conflicts. They combat poaching and wildlife crime. Their work often involves life-threatening risks. They also respond to emergencies like forest fires and animal rescues. These duties demand physical endurance, vigilance, and deep knowledge of the ecosystem.

 

SPORTS

 

1. Valentin Vacherot Becomes Lowest-Ranked Player to Win ATP Masters 1000 Title at 2025 Shanghai Masters: Valentin Vacherot, a 26-year-old qualifier from Monaco, won his first ATP title at the 2025 Shanghai Masters by defeating his cousin Arthur Rinderknech 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 in the final.

Ranked 204, Vacherot became the lowest-ranked player ever to win a Masters 1000 event, including a remarkable semifinal victory over Novak Djokovic.The win propels him into the ATP top 50, earns him over $1.1 million, and was an emotional milestone, with Vacherot celebrating the victory with tears and family.

 

 

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

 

1. GalaxEye Launches India’s First Multi-Sensor Earth Observation Satellite: The Indian space-tech start-up GalaxEye announced the launch of ‘Mission Drishti’ in early 2026. This satellite is the world’s first multi-sensor Earth observation platform combining synthetic aperture radar (SAR) and high-resolution optical payloads. It marks step in India’s private space sector and global space technology. Mission Drishti weighs 160 kg and offers 1.5 metre resolution imagery. It is India’s largest privately built satellite and the highest resolution satellite developed domestically. The satellite is designed to operate in all weather conditions and at any time of day, providing continuous Earth observation capabilities. The satellite integrates multiple sensing technologies on a single platform. It carries synthetic aperture radar for imaging through clouds and darkness and high-resolution optical sensors for detailed visual data. This combination allows comprehensive geospatial analysis previously unavailable from a single satellite.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. National Household Income Survey (NHIS) 2026 to Measure Household Income Across India: NHIS 2026, the first pan-India survey on household income, will provide critical data on living conditions, income, and expenditure patterns, supporting poverty analysis, CPI rebasing, and national accounts preparation.Conducted by NSO under MoSPI, the survey builds on decades of National Sample Survey (NSS) experience capturing household welfare, consumption, employment, health, and assets.A Technical Expert Group (TEG), chaired by Dr. Surjit S. Bhalla, guided the survey design, and a pre-testing exercise was conducted across 15 Regional Offices covering urban and rural areas, affluent and non-affluent segments.Pre-testing helped refine the draft questionnaire, ensuring clarity, flow, reliability, and user-friendliness before final field deployment.The Draft Schedule and Pre-Testing Report have been uploaded on MoSPI’s website, inviting feedback from researchers, policymakers, institutions, and the public by 30th October 2025 to improve survey quality and policy relevance.

 

2. CotoPay launches India’s First e-RUPI Voucher Issuance Stack for Businesses: CotoPay has launched a platform enabling businesses to manage their expenses using the existing UPI ecosystem, bringing the convenience of UPI payments to corporate spends for both employees and businesses.Businesses can issue UPI Vouchers to employees, locked for specific purposes like meals, fuel, or general spends. Vouchers are non-transferable, redeemable only at merchant-linked accounts, and visible in existing UPI apps like Google Pay, BHIM, and bob iPay.Businesses gain full control and visibility over employee spends through CotoPay’s dashboard, tracking merchant name, time, date, and spend value, while any unutilized funds are automatically refunded to the business.

 

3. Muse Wearables Partners with NPCI to Launch India’s First Wearable Payments Ecosystem: Indian tech startup Muse Wearables has partnered with the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) to introduce India’s first wearable payments ecosystem using Muse Wallet and the RuPay network.Users can make instant, secure payments by tapping Muse’s smart ring, “Ring One,” on any NFC-enabled point-of-sale terminal, without needing a phone, card, or wallet.Muse Wallet, already operational in over 40 countries and supporting cards from nearly 600 banks, is bringing its platform to India via RuPay to provide easy and secure digital payments.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Sonali Ghosh Becomes First Indian to Win IUCN’s Kenton R. Miller Award for Innovation in National Parks: Sonali Ghosh, Director of Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve, became the first Indian to receive the Kenton R. Miller Award for innovation in national parks and protected area sustainability.She was honoured by the World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA) of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) at a ceremony held in Abu Dhabi.The Kenton R. Miller Award, established in 2006, is presented biennially by the IUCN-WCPA to individuals or teams demonstrating impactful innovations in protected area management and sustainability.The WCPA, a key technical commission of the IUCN, works globally to promote effective governance, management, and conservation of national parks, reserves, and marine protected areas.