NATIONAL UPDATES:
1. India Achieves Three Guinness World Records for Swasth Nari Campaign: India has achieved global recognition by securing three Guinness World Records under the “Swasth Nari, Sashakt Parivar Abhiyaan” (SNSPA), a nationwide initiative promoting women’s health and preventive care. The campaign, launched between September 17 and October 2, 2025, has been hailed as a landmark in India’s public health outreach and women-centric healthcare policy. The Union Health Ministry announced that India set records for the most people registering on a healthcare platform in a month (3.21 crore), the most people signing up for breast cancer screening online in a week (9.94 lakh), and the most participants in online vital signs screening at the state level in one week (1.25 lakh). These achievements underline the scale and efficiency of India’s digital health infrastructure and its ability to mobilise citizens for preventive healthcare.
2. PM Modi to Inaugurate New Chhattisgarh Assembly Building: As Chhattisgarh marks its 25th foundation day on November 1, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the newly constructed Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly building in Naya Raipur. The event, coinciding with the state’s silver jubilee celebrations, will be attended by the Governor, Chief Minister, Union Ministers, and senior officials. The new Assembly complex represents a blend of Chhattisgarh’s tribal heritage and modern architectural innovation. Located in Sector 19 of Naya Raipur, the sprawling Assembly complex covers 52 acres and has been constructed at a cost of ₹324 crore. It is divided into three major sections — the Assembly House, the Assembly Secretariat, and the Central Hall. The facility incorporates green design elements, including solar panels and rainwater harvesting systems. With parking space for over 700 vehicles, the premises have been planned for both legislative functions and public accessibility. The architecture of the new Assembly draws inspiration from Chhattisgarh’s rich tribal art and regional traditions. The interiors showcase Bastar and Surguja art forms, while the grand dome pays homage to local palace architecture.
3. Mohammad Azharuddin Sworn In as Minister in Telangana Cabinet: Former Indian cricket captain Mohammad Azharuddin has been sworn in as a minister in the Telangana cabinet, becoming the first member from the minority community in Chief Minister Revanth Reddy’s council of ministers. The oath ceremony, held at Raj Bhavan, was administered by Governor Jishnu Dev Verma in the presence of top Congress leaders. With his induction, the cabinet strength has risen to 16, leaving room for two more ministers under the constitutional cap of 18. Azharuddin’s inclusion carries major political weight ahead of the Jubilee Hills by-election, which he is set to contest. The seat fell vacant after the death of BRS MLA Maganti Gopinath earlier this year. With a substantial Muslim voter base exceeding one lakh, the Congress hopes that Azharuddin’s candidature will consolidate minority support in Hyderabad and beyond. His induction also aligns with the party’s strategy to strengthen its minority outreach in view of the upcoming Bihar elections.
4. Rajnath Singh Proposes India-Asean Defence Think Tank Forum: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has called for the creation of a dedicated forum linking India and ASEAN defence think tanks to boost strategic cooperation and tackle emerging security challenges in the Indo-Pacific. The proposal was made during the ASEAN-India Defence Ministers’ Informal Meeting held in Kuala Lumpur on Friday. Singh proposed an institutionalised dialogue platform to promote collaboration among defence experts, academics, and policy researchers from India and ASEAN nations. He said the initiative would enhance mutual understanding, drive capacity-building, and stimulate innovative policy ideas for regional security. ASEAN partners were invited to nominate leading defence institutions and experts for the proposed forum. Emphasising the Indo-Pacific’s strategic significance, Singh reaffirmed India’s commitment to ASEAN’s central role in ensuring peace and stability. He said the ASEAN-India partnership would continue to act as a “strong pillar of stability” amid global uncertainties.
5. Sardar Patel’s Nation-Building Legacy: Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel shaped India’s political map and its core institutions in the turbulent years around Independence. As deputy prime minister and home minister, he fused persuasion with firmness, building a cohesive Union while laying durable administrative and statistical foundations. His realist approach to security complemented his constitutional vision. In 1947, about 40% of India lay under 565 princely states. Patel, with V P Menon, secured Instruments of Accession through tact and pressure. The Nizam of Hyderabad’s refusal triggered Operation Polo in 1948, ending secessionist ambiguity and bringing the state into the Union. Patel’s method kept disorder limited and accelerated nationwide consolidation. Scepticism surrounded retaining a central service after colonial rule. Patel argued that an impartial, merit-based cadre was essential for national cohesion. Beginning with a conference of provincial premiers in October 1946, he piloted the creation of the Indian Administrative Service and the Indian Police Service to replace the ICS. He urged young officers to serve with integrity, efficiency, and humility.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1. UNEP Adaptation Gap Report (AGR) 2025: The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Adaptation Gap Report (AGR) 2025 presents an urgent call for global cooperation to address the severe underfunding of climate adaptation, even as climate-related disasters intensify worldwide. The report underscores the widening chasm between the financial resources needed to protect vulnerable communities and ecosystems and the funds actually being mobilised. It also evaluates global progress toward adaptation targets, highlighting systemic gaps in finance, planning, and implementation, particularly across developing nations. According to the report, desertification, and sea-level rise. These escalating financial needs indicate that adaptation costs are increasing at a much faster pace than the available funding mechanisms can accommodate.
2. India Grants Import Licences for Rare Earth Magnets from China: The Indian government has issued the first batch of import licences to four domestic firms, including the Indian arms of global suppliers such as Hitachi and Continental India, enabling them to directly procure rare earth (RE) magnets from China. This move offers significant relief to India’s automotive sector, which has faced severe disruptions since Beijing tightened export controls on these essential materials in April. The approved licences mark a key breakthrough, representing the first official clearances since China—responsible for nearly 90% of global RE magnet production—implemented stricter export procedures. These magnets, particularly neodymium-iron-boron (NdFeB), are crucial for manufacturing electric vehicle (EV) motors, wind turbines, and a range of high-performance electronics. India’s dependence on Chinese supplies had placed its EV sector at risk, with manufacturers warning of possible production delays and cost escalations.
3. India and US Sign Landmark 10-Year Defence Framework Agreement: India and the United States have signed a landmark 10-year Defence Framework Agreement in Kuala Lumpur, marking a major step forward in deepening strategic and military cooperation between the two nations. The accord underscores their shared commitment to a free, open, and rules-based Indo-Pacific region. The agreement was exchanged between Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth during the ASEAN-India Defence Ministers’ Informal Meeting. Both leaders described the pact as a significant milestone in bilateral ties, setting the stage for enhanced coordination, information sharing, and defence technology collaboration. Hegseth said that the agreement would serve as a “cornerstone for regional stability and deterrence,” emphasising that US-India defence relations “have never been stronger.” Under the new framework, both sides aim to intensify cooperation across the entire spectrum of defence engagements, from joint exercises and defence innovation to industrial collaboration and maritime security. The framework will act as a long-term policy direction document, guiding military and strategic exchanges between New Delhi and Washington over the next decade. Singh called the agreement a “new era” in bilateral partnership, reaffirming that defence remains a central pillar of India-US relations.
OTHER UPDATES:
DEFENCE
1. India Excludes China, Pakistan and Turkiye from 2026 International Fleet Review: India has decided not to invite China, Pakistan, and Turkiye to the upcoming third International Fleet Review (IFR) scheduled in Visakhapatnam in February 2026. The major maritime event will be reviewed by President Droupadi Murmu and held alongside the Milan multilateral naval exercise and the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS). So far, 55 nations have confirmed participation, including both the United States and Russia, underscoring India’s growing naval prominence. According to Navy Vice Chief Vice Admiral Sanjay Vatsayan, the IFR will host a large number of countries, though the invite list does not include China, Pakistan, or Turkiye. A senior naval official confirmed that Turkiye was excluded for its support to Pakistan during Operation Sindoor, while Pakistan’s omission continues the long-standing policy of excluding adversarial states from Indian defence exercises. India’s cautious approach toward China stems from increasing strategic tensions and its growing presence in the Indian Ocean Region.
2. INS Gomati to Become Centrepiece of Naval Shaurya Museum in Lucknow: The decommissioned Indian Navy warship INS Gomati is set to find a new home in Lucknow as the centrepiece of Uttar Pradesh’s upcoming ‘Naval Shaurya Museum.’ The move marks a unique cultural and historical initiative by the Yogi Adityanath government, aiming to immortalise India’s naval heritage in a landlocked state. The museum project, expected to be completed by 2026, will highlight the Indian Navy’s valour and technological evolution. Commissioned in 1988, INS Gomati served the Indian Navy for over three decades before being decommissioned in May 2022. The indigenously designed guided-missile frigate played a crucial role in major operations, including Operation Cactus in 1988 and Operation Parakram in 2001–2002. Its transformation into a museum exhibit ensures that visitors will experience the ship’s operational deck, weapon systems, and control rooms, preserving the spirit of India’s naval strength. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath described the museum as a “living symbol of the Indian Navy’s indomitable courage.” Designed to resemble a ship, the structure will integrate naval aesthetics such as portholes, railings, and oceanic motifs. Sustainable features like natural lighting, eco-friendly materials, and cross-ventilation will shape its modern architecture. The museum complex will include thematic walkways, exhibition galleries, open-air memorials, and a light-and-sound arena, turning it into one of Lucknow’s landmark attractions.
SPORTS
1. Olympic Hockey Legend Manuel Frederick Passes Away at 78: Former Indian hockey goalkeeper Manuel Frederick, India’s first Olympic medallist from Kerala, passed away at the age of 78. A member of the bronze medal-winning team at the 1972 Munich Olympics, Frederick was widely celebrated for his fearless goalkeeping and his pioneering contribution to Indian hockey. Born in Burnassery, Kannur, in 1947, Frederick made history as the first Keralite to win an Olympic medal. He began his sports journey in the Indian Army’s school team in Bengaluru before rising through the ranks of domestic hockey. His early career saw him represent prominent clubs such as ASC, HAL in Karnataka, Services, Uttar Pradesh, and the famed Mohun Bagan in Kolkata. Frederick joined the Indian national hockey team in 1971, marking the start of a distinguished seven-year international career. At the 1972 Munich Olympics, he played a key role as goalkeeper in helping India clinch the bronze medal. He also represented India at two Hockey World Cups — the 1973 edition in the Netherlands, where India won silver, and the 1978 tournament in Argentina.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
1. PM Modi to Inaugurate India’s First Digital Tribal Freedom Fighters Museum: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh Memorial and Tribal Freedom Fighters Museum in Chhattisgarh on the state’s 25th foundation day. The event will mark the launch of India’s first fully digital museum dedicated to tribal heroes, along with infrastructure projects worth over ₹14,260 crore. The grand celebration will take place in Naya Raipur, where the Prime Minister will also unveil a statue of Bharat Ratna Atal Bihari Vajpayee at the newly constructed Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly. Built at a cost of ₹50 crore across 10 acres, the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh Memorial and Tribal Freedom Fighters Museum will serve as a global centre for tribal culture, valor, and history. The museum features 16 thematic galleries that chronicle centuries of tribal resistance to colonial rule. Each section combines historical artefacts, documentary footage, folk art, and digital storytelling to celebrate the unsung heroes of India’s freedom struggle. Visitors will also experience the “Aadi Shourya” e-book and museum portal launched by the Prime Minister.
2. Seven-Month Fishing Ban Imposed to Protect Olive Ridley Turtles in Gahirmatha: A seven-month fishing ban has come into effect in the Gahirmatha marine sanctuary of Odisha’s Kendrapada district from November 1 to May 31 to safeguard endangered Olive Ridley sea turtles during their annual mating and nesting season. The sanctuary, part of India’s richest marine biodiversity zones, witnesses the arrival of thousands of turtles each year along its pristine coastlines. The forest department has established 14 turtle protection camps, including four offshore ones at Madali, Sasanipada, Ekakula, and Babubali islands. Four patrolling boats have been deployed to prevent illegal fishing and protect the turtles. Marine police units from Jamboo, Talachua, and Tantiapala in Kendrapada, as well as the Coast Guard in Paradip, will assist forest personnel in enforcing the ban. Authorities have prohibited marine fishing within 20 km of the sanctuary’s 1,435 sq km coastline stretching from Hukitola to Dhamra.
3. Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS Brightens Rapidly near Perihelion: Interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS brightened markedly as it swung behind the sun, with researchers and skilled amateurs using multiple spacecraft to follow its progress up to perihelion on Thursday, 29 October. Though out of direct terrestrial view while near the sun, the object’s activity was captured in coronagraph imagery and heliophysics missions designed to monitor the solar environment. Observers leveraged space-based assets to overcome the comet’s solar glare. With 3I/ATLAS hidden from ground-based telescopes, coronagraphs and wide-field imagers traced its motion across the inner heliosphere. The behind-the-sun geometry temporarily prevented visual follow-up from Earth, but spacecraft vantage points provided continuous coverage until it moved out of instrument fields of view.
BANKING AND FINANCE
1. NITI Aayog Launches Reports on India’s Services Sector Growth and Employment Trends: NITI Aayog has unveiled two landmark reports under the Services Thematic Series, marking a significant step in understanding India’s services-led economic transformation. The reports were launched by Shri B.V.R. Subrahmanyam, CEO of NITI Aayog, in the presence of Dr. Arvind Virmani, Member, NITI Aayog, and Dr. V. Anantha Nageswaran, Chief Economic Adviser, Government of India. Senior officials, industry leaders, and academics participated in the event, which highlighted the centrality of services in India’s growth and employment narrative. The first report, ““India’s Services Sector: Insights from GVA Trends and State-Level Dynamics””, provides a comprehensive assessment of services output across states. The sector contributed around 55 per cent of India’s Gross Value Added (GVA) in 2024–25, reaffirming its dominance in the national economy. The findings reveal that while inter-state disparities persist, lagging regions are gradually catching up, indicating a trend toward balanced regional development. The study calls for investments in digital infrastructure, logistics, finance, and innovation to strengthen competitiveness and inclusivity across states.
No comments:
Post a Comment