National News
Siddi Tribal Community Achieves 72% Literacy Rate
- The Siddi Tribal Community is an Indo-African tribal group descended from the Bantu people of Africa, believed to have arrived in India between the 7th and 16th centuries through Arab merchants and Portuguese and British colonizers, often as slaves and laborers.
- Today, Siddis primarily reside in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Telangana.
- Recognized as a Scheduled Tribe and classified as a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) by the Government of India since 2003, they traditionally depend on agriculture, forest produce, and manual labor.
- Their languages include Konkani, Urdu, and Marathi. The community is culturally rich, known for their folk music and dances like Dhamal and Rasda. Recently, their literacy rate has surpassed 72%, a milestone appreciated by the President of India.
Revamped Sugamya Bharat App Empowers Accessibility
- The Sugamya Bharat App, revamped and relaunched by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment under the Accessible India Campaign, aims to promote accessibility for persons with disabilities (divyangjan) and the elderly.
- Developed by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD), the app enables citizen-led mapping of public spaces, offers a centralized directory of government schemes, job and education listings, and a grievance redressal module.
- Designed for inclusivity, it supports assistive technologies, is available in 10 Indian languages, and now features AI-powered chatbot support for real-time assistance.
State News
India’s First Semiconductor Innovation Museum Opens
- The Semiconductor Innovation Museum was inaugurated in Hyderabad on October 12, 2025, by the Technology Chip Innovation Program (T-Chip) to boost innovation, public awareness, and investment in India’s growing semiconductor sector.
- The museum showcases cutting-edge technologies including India’s first indigenous AI chip, AI-powered humanoid robots, and a reusable rocket engine prototype, serving as a hub for innovation, talent discovery, and industry collaboration.
International News
Palau Hosts World’s First Live Underwater Interview
- Palau’s President, Surangel Whipps Jr., made history by conducting the world’s first live underwater interview using Li-Fi technology, which transmits data via light—ideal for underwater communication.
- The interview, held beneath the Pacific Ocean with marine activist Merle Liivand, emphasized urgent issues like ocean conservation, coral bleaching, sea-level rise, and the climate threats facing small island nations like Palau.
- This innovative broadcast spotlighted the existential risks to Pacific islands and the critical need to protect marine ecosystems.
Banking News
HSBC Pledges $1 Billion for Indian Startups
- In a major boost to India’s startup ecosystem, HSBC has committed $1 billion under its Innovation Banking platform to support early and growth-stage startups with non-dilutive debt capital, such as working capital and term loans.
- This allows founders to retain equity while scaling. The initiative provides lifecycle support from seed to IPO, leverages HSBC’s global network, and marks India as the 13th market to access this service.
- It strengthens venture debt access, supports founder ownership, and aligns with India’s goal of building a $1 trillion startup economy by 2030.
Private Sector Candidates Eligible for SBI MD, PSU ED Roles
- The Indian government has opened top management roles in public sector banks (PSBs), including State Bank of India (SBI), to private sector candidates for the first time.
- One of SBI’s four Managing Director (MD) positions and select Executive Director (ED) posts in PSBs will now be accessible to private sector professionals meeting experience criteria.
- This move aims to bring fresh talent into PSBs, which traditionally promoted only internal candidates.
- Eligibility requires minimum 21 years of experience for MDs and 18 years for EDs, with significant banking and board-level exposure.
Sonali Sen Gupta Appointed RBI Executive Director
- The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has appointed Sonali Sen Gupta as its new Executive Director effective October 9, 2025.
- With over 30 years of experience, she will lead key departments including Consumer Education and Protection, Financial Inclusion and Development, and Inspection.
- Sen Gupta holds an MBA in Banking and Finance and has represented India in global forums like G20 and OECD, while also serving as RBI’s nominee director on the Indian Overseas Bank board.
RBI Launches Unified Markets Interface for Tokenized Finance
- The RBI has introduced the Unified Markets Interface (UMI), a next-generation financial infrastructure that enables tokenization of financial assets and settlements using wholesale Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC), aiming to enhance market efficiency, transparency, and financial inclusion.
- Governor Sanjay Malhotra highlighted the role of the Account Aggregator (AA) framework in securely sharing financial data, while announcing new fintech products like AI-based UPI HELP and IoT Payments with UPI to improve customer experience and data security.
Awards News
Joel Mokyr, Philippe Aghion, and Peter Howitt Win the 2025 Nobel Prize in Economics
- The 2025 Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences was awarded to Joel Mokyr, Philippe Aghion, and Peter Howitt for their groundbreaking work on innovation-driven growth and the theory of creative destruction.
- Their research explains how technological progress and continuous innovation transform economies from stagnation to sustained prosperity, highlighting the role of scientific understanding, cultural openness, and adaptability in driving long-term economic development.
Forest Rangers Honored with 2025 International Ranger Awards
- The IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA) honored 13 forest rangers and teams from 13 countries with the 2025 International Ranger Awards for their bravery and dedication in protecting wildlife and forests.
- Attending the ceremony, India’s Minister Kirti Vardhan Singh praised rangers as unsung heroes who face dangers from wildlife and poachers, often making the ultimate sacrifice.
- The event also saw the release of the “Guardians of the Wild” report, highlighting rangers’ critical role and the global need to support their conservation efforts.
Filmfare Awards 2025: Full Winners List, Highlights & Key Moments
- The 70th Filmfare Awards 2025, held at EKA Arena, Ahmedabad, honoured the best in Hindi cinema, with Kiran Rao’s Laapataa Ladies dominating the night by winning 13 awards, including Best Film and Best Director, matching Gully Boy’s 2020 record.
- Hosted by Shah Rukh Khan, Karan Johar, and Maniesh Paul, the event featured performances by stars like Kriti Sanon and Kajol.
- Abhishek Bachchan (I Want To Talk) and Kartik Aaryan (Chandu Champion) shared Best Actor (Male), while Alia Bhatt won Best Actress (Female) for Jigra.
- The night also celebrated technical excellence in Kill, and honoured Zeenat Aman and the late Shyam Benegal with Lifetime Achievement Awards.
Defense News
India to Host UN Troop Contributing Countries Chiefs’ Conclave in Delhi
- The Indian Army will host the UN Troop Contributing Countries’ Chiefs’ Conclave in New Delhi from 14 October, bringing together senior military leaders from 32 nations involved in UN peacekeeping.
- The three-day event will focus on operational challenges, threats, and best practices in peacekeeping, with addresses from Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, External Affairs Minister Dr. Jaishankar, and UN official Jean Pierre Lacroix.
- The conclave promotes global cooperation under the spirit of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam.
India, Australia Begin Joint Exercise AUSTRAHIND 2025
- The fourth edition of India-Australia joint military exercise ‘AUSTRAHIND 2025’ begins on 13 October in Perth, Australia, with a 120-member Indian Army contingent led by a Gorkha Rifles Battalion.
- The exercise focuses on joint company-level operations, interoperability, and sub-conventional warfare in urban and semi-desert terrains, enhancing tactical coordination, integrating emerging technologies, and boosting bilateral defence cooperation.
Ranks & Reports News
Climate Change Top Threat to Natural World Heritage Sites
- The IUCN World Heritage Outlook 4 report reveals that climate change is the biggest threat to nearly 43% of natural World Heritage sites, causing a decline in their conservation status.
- Invasive species and rising wildlife diseases also pose growing risks.
- The report urges urgent climate adaptation, stronger governance, and Indigenous Peoples’ leadership to protect these vital sites, which are crucial for biodiversity, culture, and life itself.
Schemes News
PM Modi Launches ‘Pradhan Mantri Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana’
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the ‘PM Dhan Dhaanya Krishi Yojana’ (₹24,000 crore) and ‘Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses’ (₹11,440 crore) at a special event in New Delhi, aimed at enhancing agricultural productivity, promoting sustainable farming, and achieving self-reliance in pulses.
- He also inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for projects worth over ₹42,000 crore across agriculture and allied sectors.
- Also highlighted significant gains in agricultural exports, food production, and infrastructure development, urging farmers to diversify crops and support national growth.
Summits & Conferences News
Three Landmark Initiatives Unveiled at Purple Fest 2025
- At the International Purple Fest in Goa, three key initiatives were launched to boost accessibility in education and communication for persons with disabilities (PwDs).
- These include the IELTS Training Handbook by BITI for inclusive language preparation, the Certification in ISL Interpretation for SODA and CODA by ISLRTC, and the launch of a Specialized Training Programme in American and British Sign Languages.
- These efforts aim to foster inclusive learning, enhance global opportunities for PwDs, and strengthen India’s commitment to a barrier-free education ecosystem.
Important Days News
International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction 2025
- Observed on 13 October, the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction highlights global efforts to reduce vulnerability to natural hazards like earthquakes, tsunamis, and volcanic eruptions.
- While disasters can’t be completely avoided, prevention, preparedness, and resilience-building play a vital role in minimizing their impact.
- The day promotes a shift from post-disaster response to pre-disaster action, with organizations like UNESCO supporting nations in climate and disaster risk management.