Daily GK Update- 7th Oct, 2025

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. SECL Inaugurates First Fully Women-Operated Central Store Unit in Korba under Special Campaign 5.0: South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL), a subsidiary of Coal India Limited (CIL), inaugurated its first fully women-operated central store unit at the Korba workshop.The initiative is part of the Government of India’s Special Campaign 5.0, promoting women empowerment in the coal sector.The new unit, managed by eight women officers, will oversee spare parts supply and inventory management, reflecting SECL’s commitment to “nari shakti se rashtra shakti.”

 

2. Electronics Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw Approves ‘NaMo Semiconductor Laboratory’ at IIT Bhubaneswar: Electronics and IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw approved the establishment of the ‘NaMo Semiconductor Laboratory’ at IIT Bhubaneswar with an estimated cost of ₹4.95 crore.The lab will be equipped with essential tools and software for semiconductor training, design, and fabrication, aiming to develop a skilled, industry-ready workforce.It will support India’s chip manufacturing and packaging units and act as a catalyst for the growing semiconductor ecosystem, boosting ‘Make in India’ and ‘Design in India’ initiatives.

 

3. PM Modi Launches ₹62,000 Crore Youth-Centric Initiatives: Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled youth-focused initiatives worth over ₹62,000 crore at the Kaushal Deekshant Samaroh in New Delhi, aimed at boosting education, skilling, and entrepreneurship across India.

He launched the Pradhan Mantri Skilling and Employability Transformation through Upgraded ITIs (PM-SETU), which will modernize over 1,000 Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) and align youth skills with global demand.PM Modi also inaugurated 1,200 Vocational Skill Labs in 400 Navodaya Vidyalayas and 200 Eklavya Model Residential Schools, emphasising that ITIs are vital for building an Aatmanirbhar Bharat.The Prime Minister launched Bihar’s revamped Mukhyamantri Nishchay Swayam Sahayata Bhatta Yojana, providing ₹1,000 monthly allowance and free skill training to nearly 5 lakh graduate youth annually, and felicitated 46 All India ITI toppers.

 

4. Andhra Pradesh Launches ‘Auto Driverla Sevalo’ Scheme: Andhra Pradesh CM N. Chandrababu Naidu launched the ‘Auto Driverla Sevalo’ scheme, providing ₹15,000 annual financial assistance to over 2.9 lakh auto, cab, and maxi cab drivers affected by the state’s Stree Shakti free bus travel initiative.For the financial year 2025–26, the state government will disburse ₹436 crore directly into beneficiaries’ bank accounts, reaffirming its commitment to driver welfare and livelihood support.Naidu announced plans to convert all public transport vehicles to electric, assured no harassment of drivers, and highlighted ongoing road repairs worth ₹3,400 crore to improve conditions across 23,000 km of roads.

 

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Navi Mumbai International Airport to Be Renamed ‘Loknete D. B. Patil Navi Mumbai International Airport’: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced that Navi Mumbai International Airport will be named after late Loknete D. B. Patil, with approval from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.The state government has also proposed renaming Pune Airport after Jagadguru Sant Tukaram and Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar Airport after Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, with approvals expected soon under the new central naming policy.Fadnavis stated that cases registered against protestors during the airport naming agitation will be withdrawn to ensure they do not hinder employment opportunities at the airport.

 

2. Former DR Congo President Joseph Kabila Sentenced to Death in Absentia for War Crimes and Treason: Former DR Congo President Joseph Kabila has been sentenced to death in absentia for war crimes, crimes against humanity, and treason, including murder, sexual assault, torture, and insurrection.The charges relate to allegations that Kabila supported the M23 rebel group, which has caused devastation in eastern DR Congo, though he denied the accusations and did not appear in court.The military court also ordered Kabila to pay a fine of $33 billion (£25 billion); his allies have criticized the trial as politically motivated and “theatrical.”Kabila, who ruled DR Congo for 18 years, went into self-imposed exile in 2023 after falling out with President Félix Tshisekedi, while conflict in the mineral-rich east continues despite a ceasefire deal reached in July.

 

3. Kronotsky Volcano in Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula Erupts: Kronotsky volcano on Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula erupted, sending an ash plume 9.2 km above sea level and stretching about 85 km to the south and southeast.A red aviation alert has been issued due to the high hazard posed to both local and international air traffic, according to the Kamchatka Volcanic Eruption Response Team.

 

4. 6 October 2025 – World Habitat Day: World Habitat Day is observed on the first Monday of October every year to raise awareness about the state of human settlements and the right to adequate shelter. This year, it is observed on 6 October 2025.Theme 2025 – Urban crisis response

The day was established by the United Nations in 1985 to highlight the need for sustainable urban development and improved living conditions worldwide.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

DEFENCE

 

1. India and UK Begin Exercise KONKAN-2025 to Strengthen Maritime Cooperation under Vision 2035: Exercise KONKAN-2025, a bilateral naval exercise between the Indian Navy and the Royal Navy, began off India’s western coast, reaffirming the nations’ commitment to secure and open seas under the India-UK Vision 2035.The exercise, conducted in two phases (5–12 October 2025), includes professional exchanges, cross-deck visits, sports, cultural events, and advanced maritime drills in anti-air, anti-surface, and anti-submarine warfare.Key participants include the Indian Navy’s INS Vikrant carrier battle group and the UK Carrier Strike Group (UK CSG-25) led by HMS Prince of Wales, with additional assets from Norway and Japan.

 

SPORTS

 

1. Sanju Samson Appointed as Official Ambassador of English Premier League (EPL) in India: Indian cricketer Sanju Samson has been appointed as the official ambassador for the English Premier League (EPL) in India, marking the league’s effort to strengthen its presence in the Indian subcontinent.During his ambassadorial duties, Samson met former England and Liverpool striker Michael Owen at a fan engagement event in Mumbai, reflecting the EPL’s growing fan culture in India.Samson, who is also the brand ambassador for Kerala Blasters FC (ISL), aims to promote football in Kerala and inspire youth by bridging the gap between cricket and football through his dual sporting influence.

 

2. India Secures 22 Medals, Including 6 Gold, at World Para Athletics Championships in New Delhi: India concluded the World Para Athletics Championships in New Delhi with a total of 22 medals: 6 Gold, 9 Silver, and 7 Bronze.On the final day at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Simran Sharma won silver in 200m T12 and Preeti Pal secured silver in 100m T35, marking their second medals of the tournament.Paralympic champion Navdeep claimed silver in javelin throw F41, and Sandeep earned bronze in 200m T44, contributing to India’s overall medal tally.

 

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

 

1. DPIIT Signs MoU with Thermo Fisher Scientific to Boost Innovation and Support 500+ Biotech Startups in India: DPIIT signs MoU with Thermo Fisher Scientific to boost innovation in India’s biotechnology sector and support the growth of high-potential startups.The partnership aims to assist over 500 biotech startups in the next three years through strategic advisory, technology access, mentorship, and investor connections.The collaboration with Startup India and Thermo Fisher Scientific will strengthen the biotech ecosystem and create opportunities for early-stage entrepreneurs to scale their solutions and contribute to India’s bioeconomy.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. FM Nirmala Sitharaman Launches ‘Apki Poonji, Apka Adhikar’ Campaign to Help Citizens Claim ₹1.84 Trillion in Unclaimed Financial Assets: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman launched the “Apki Poonji, Apka Adhikar” (Your Money, Your Right) campaign in Gandhinagar, aiming to help citizens recover unclaimed financial assets worth ₹1.84 trillion lying with banks and regulators.The three-month campaign will focus on the “3 As – Awareness, Access, and Action,” encouraging people to identify and claim their unclaimed deposits, insurance, provident fund, and shares.Sitharaman highlighted that the RBI’s UDGAM portal enables citizens to trace and claim their unclaimed deposits easily, emphasizing the government’s role as a custodian of these funds.She urged officials and banks, including Gujarat Gramin Bank, to actively raise awareness and assist people across villages in reclaiming their rightful money.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

2. Three Scientists Win 2025 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for Discoveries on Immune System and Regulatory T Cells: Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2025 awarded to Mary Brunkow (USA), Fred Ramsdell (USA), and Shimon Sakaguchi (Japan) for uncovering key mechanisms of the human immune system, particularly regulatory T cells that prevent autoimmune attacks.Their research on peripheral immune tolerance explained how the immune system distinguishes harmful invaders from the body’s own cells, paving the way for treatments for cancer, autoimmune diseases, and improved organ transplantation.Shimon Sakaguchi discovered regulatory T cells in 1995, while Brunkow and Ramsdell identified the role of the Foxp3 gene in 2001; together, these findings established the foundation for modern immunology therapies.