Categories: Current Affairs

Daily Current Affairs 14th October 2025, Important News Headlines (Daily GK Update)

National News

India Unveils $77 Billion Hydro Plan Amid China’s Dam Push

India has unveiled a ₹6.4 trillion ($77 billion) hydroelectric transmission plan to harness over 76 GW of power from the Brahmaputra basin by 2047, addressing rising electricity demand and strategic concerns over China’s upstream dam on the river.
The plan, led by the Central Electricity Authority, includes 208 large hydro projects in northeastern states, with significant untapped potential in Arunachal Pradesh.
Split into two phases (₹1.91 trillion by 2035 and ₹4.52 trillion thereafter), it involves central PSUs like NHPC and NEEPCO, supporting India’s targets of 500 GW non-fossil energy by 2030 and net-zero emissions by 2070.

Vaishnaw Endorses Mappls as India’s Answer to Google Maps

In a major push for digital self-reliance, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw endorsed Mappls, a navigation app by MapmyIndia, positioning it as a strong Indian alternative to Google Maps.
The endorsement led to a tenfold spike in downloads, pushing the app to #2 on Apple’s App Store and surpassing 1 crore downloads on Google Play.
Key India-specific features like 3D junction views, traffic signal countdowns, speed alerts, and support for 12+ Indian languages set it apart.
Backed by tech leaders like Sridhar Vembu, Mappls is also eyeing pre-installation on PLI smartphones, while Indian Railways plans an MoU, reinforcing the government’s Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative.

International News

Maldives First to End Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV, Hep B, Syphilis

Maldives has become the first country in the world to achieve triple elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV, Hepatitis B, and Syphilis, as officially validated by the World Health Organization (WHO).
WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus praised the milestone, calling it a global model for maternal and child health.
With over 95% of pregnant women in Maldives receiving antenatal care and nearly universal testing for the three infections, the country has set a new standard.

Banking News

RBI Eases Rupee Lending to Boost Trade with Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka

The RBI has allowed Indian banks and their overseas branches to lend in Indian Rupees to residents and banks in Bhutan, Nepal, and Sri Lanka to boost cross-border trade.
It amended foreign exchange rules to facilitate this and extended the repatriation period for unutilised balances in foreign currency accounts held at banks in the IFSC, India, from one month to three months, easing trade and payment processes.

Economy News

India’s Net Direct Tax Collection Rises 6.33% to ₹11.89 Lakh Crore

India’s net direct tax collection rose by 6.33% to over ₹11.89 lakh crore till October 12, driven by strong corporate tax collections and a 16% decline in refund payouts.
Gross direct tax collections increased to ₹13.92 lakh crore, with corporate tax receipts at ₹5.02 lakh crore and non-corporate collections at ₹6.56 lakh crore.
The government targets a 12.7% increase in direct tax revenue for the full fiscal year 2025-26, aiming for ₹25.20 lakh crore, alongside raising ₹78,000 crore from Securities Transaction Tax (STT).

Retail Inflation Falls to 1.54% in September, 8-Year Low

India’s retail inflation dropped to an eight-year low of 1.54% in September 2025, down from 2.07% in August, marking the lowest rate since June 2017, according to the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation.
Inflation eased to 1.07% in rural and 2.04% in urban areas. Notably, food inflation remained in deflation at -2.28%, the fourth consecutive month of decline, driven by falling prices of vegetables, oil, fruits, pulses, and cereals.
This moderation is mainly due to a favorable base effect and overall easing food prices.

Awards News

Kaziranga Director Sonali Ghosh Wins Global Sustainability Award

Sonali Ghosh, Director of Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve, has become the first Indian to receive the prestigious Kenton R. Miller Award for innovation in protected area sustainability.
Presented by the World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA) of the IUCN, the award was conferred in Abu Dhabi on October 10, alongside Ecuador’s Roque Simón Sevilla Larrea.
Dr. Ghosh was honoured for her community-driven conservation model, which effectively blends traditional ecological knowledge with modern science, significantly benefiting landscapes like Kaziranga and Manas in Assam.

Israel to Award Trump Top Civilian Honor for Gaza Ceasefire

Israel will award US President Donald Trump its highest civilian honor, the Israeli Presidential Medal of Honor, for his pivotal role in brokering a Gaza ceasefire and securing the release of Israeli hostages.
The medal will be presented by President Isaac Herzog amid the recent handover of seven Israeli captives to the International Committee of the Red Cross.
Herzog praised Trump’s efforts for bringing hostages home and fostering a new era of security, cooperation, and peace in the Middle East.
This prestigious award has also been given to leaders like Barack Obama in 2013.

Ranks & Report News

Shah Rukh Khan Becomes 1st Actor To Billionaire Club

Shah Rukh Khan has become the world’s first Bollywood billionaire actor, with a net worth of $1.4 billion (₹12,490 crore), surpassing global stars like Taylor Swift, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Tom Cruise.
This historic milestone, highlighted in the M3M Hurun India Rich List 2025, reflects not only his film success but also his thriving business ventures including Red Chillies Entertainment, co-ownership of the Kolkata Knight Riders IPL team, real estate, and endorsements.

Schemes News

Labour Minister Unveils “Vishwas” Scheme to End EPF Litigation

Labour Minister Mansukh Mandaviya launched the Vishwas Scheme to curb EPF litigation by introducing rationalised penal damages under the Employees’ Provident Fund and Miscellaneous Provisions Act.
Unveiled at the 238th Central Board of Trustees meeting in New Delhi, the launch also included new digital tools like an upgraded return filing module, user management system, and enhanced e-Office and SPARROW for better APAR management.
The board also approved simplified partial withdrawal norms to boost member convenience and retirement security.

PM GatiShakti Completes 4 Years of Infrastructure Integration

The PM GatiShakti National Master Plan for multi-modal connectivity celebrates its fourth anniversary today.
Launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on October 13, 2021, the plan integrates 44 Central Ministries and 36 States and Union Territories to coordinate infrastructure projects.
Its goal is to ensure seamless, efficient connectivity across transport modes, improving last-mile connectivity and reducing travel time for the movement of people, goods, and services.

Assam CM Launches “CM Flight” for Global Careers

The Assam Chief Minister has launched the “CM Flight” initiative to empower the state’s youth for global careers through world-class training, international exposure, job placements, and mentorship.
Aimed at tackling unemployment, brain drain, and skill gaps, the program focuses on technical skill development, global networking, and inclusive opportunities—especially for underprivileged youth—to make Assam a hub of globally competitive talent.

Summits & Conferences News

45th GITEX Global Opens in Dubai with 6,800+ Exhibitors

The 45th GITEX Global, the world’s largest technology and AI showcase, kicked off in Dubai with over 6,800 exhibitors and 2,000 startups from 180+ countries.
Running till October 17, the event spotlights cutting-edge tech in AI, quantum computing, biotech, and sustainable innovation, cementing the UAE’s role as a global digital hub.
With 70% of attendees being C-level leaders and policymakers, the event fosters collaboration on climate resilience, cybersecurity, and healthcare.
India’s largest-ever participation includes 237 exhibitors, showcasing its growing influence in AI, cloud, and emerging tech.

Science & Technology News

EY, Microsoft Launch Free AI Skills Training in India

EY India, in partnership with Microsoft, has launched the AI Skills Passport, a free online programme aimed at equipping students and early-career professionals (aged 16+) with job-ready AI skills.
Offered in English and Hindi, the course includes 10 hours of self-paced content, covering AI fundamentals, responsible AI, and industry-specific applications in healthcare, finance, and tech, along with career readiness modules.
Learners receive a verifiable digital badge upon completion. With support from EY Ripples, the initiative also targets underprivileged youth, aiming to bridge India’s digital skills gap and prepare a future-ready workforce.

GalaxEye to Launch World’s First Multi-Sensor EO Satellite in 2026

GalaxEye, an Indian space-tech startup, is set to launch the world’s first multi-sensor Earth Observation (EO) satellite, Mission Drishti, in early 2026.
The 160-kg satellite, India’s largest privately built, will combine Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) and high-resolution optical sensors, offering 1.5-meter resolution imagery for real-time geospatial analysis.
Designed for sectors like defense, disaster management, agriculture, and infrastructure, it will operate day and night, in all weather.
GalaxEye plans to launch 8–10 such satellites over four years, establishing a constellation to meet rising demand for AI-driven imagery intelligence, marking a major leap in India’s private space sector.

Google to Invest $15 Billion in AI Data Centre in Andhra Pradesh

In a landmark move, Google announced a $15 billion investment to set up a world-class AI Data Centre in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, marking its biggest investment in India and one of its largest AI projects outside the U.S..
The initiative, part of India’s Digital India and AI Mission Bharat vision, will create about 188,000 jobs and strengthen India’s position as a global digital innovation hub.
The project, rolling out between 2025–2030, highlights Visakhapatnam’s strategic location, skilled workforce, and growing importance in the AI and cloud computing ecosystem.

Important Days News

World Standards Day 2025 Celebrates Global Collaboration for a Better Future

Every year on October 14, the world celebrates World Standards Day to honor the vital work of experts and organizations like the IEC, ISO, and ITU who develop international standards.
These standards promote interoperability, consumer safety, international trade, innovation, and support sustainable development goals (SDGs).
The 2025 theme, “A Shared Vision for a Better World,” highlights how standards drive inclusive, sustainable, and resilient global progress in areas like climate change, digital transformation, public health, and the circular economy.