National News
FAO, India Mark 80 Years of Partnership on World Food Day
- On World Food Day 2025, marking FAO’s 80 years of partnership with India, Agriculture Secretary Dr. Devesh Chaturvedi highlighted India’s remarkable journey from food deficiency to self-sufficiency, driven by visionary policies, scientific innovation, and sustainable agriculture.
- He emphasized the importance of nutrition-sensitive agriculture, support for smallholder farmers, and initiatives like AgriStack for empowering farmers.
- The event celebrated India’s role as a global agricultural leader and reaffirmed the need for global cooperation to achieve food security and the SDGs.
‘We Rise’ Initiative Launched BY NITI AAYOG
- NITI Aayog’s Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP) and DP World have launched the ‘We Rise’ initiative, a public–private partnership aimed at making women-led MSMEs export-ready.
- Under WEP’s Award to Reward (ATR) framework, the program will mentor 100 women entrepreneurs to enhance global trade participation through capacity-building, mentorship, and access to international markets, including showcasing products at Bharat Mart (Dubai).
- Leveraging DP World’s global logistics expertise and WEP’s network of 90,000+ women entrepreneurs, the initiative supports inclusive growth, aligning with the Government’s women-led development vision and Viksit Bharat @2047 goals.
Centre Launches ₹600 Cr Kapas Kranti Cotton Mission
- The Centre has launched the ₹600 crore Kapas Kranti Mission to boost long-staple cotton cultivation using High-Density Plantation (HDP) techniques, digital tools like the Kapas Kisan App, and farmer training.
- Announced by Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy in Hyderabad, the mission aims to improve cotton productivity and income security, especially in Telangana where over 24 lakh farmers grow cotton.
- Inspired by Maharashtra’s successful HDP model in Akola, the initiative includes farmer exposure visits, seed distribution, and tech-enabled procurement aligned with CCI and MSP policies, driving innovation and self-reliance in cotton farming India.
All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA) Celebrates 9th Foundation Day
- The All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA) celebrated its 9th Foundation Day at its New Delhi campus, highlighting its emergence as a Centre of Excellence in Ayurvedic education, research, and patient care.
- Over nine years, AIIA has treated over 30 lakh patients, launched seven Health & Wellness Centres, and signed 73 national & international MoUs to promote global Ayurveda collaboration.
World Menopause Day 2025: Ayurveda Empowers Women to Embrace Menopause
- World Menopause Day 2025, observed on 18th October, focused on holistic, preventive, and restorative care for women during menopause.
- The Ministry of Ayush, through CCRAS, emphasized Ayurveda’s natural approach to managing menopausal symptoms like hot flushes, mood swings, and hormonal imbalance.
- Recognizing menopause as a natural transition (Rajonivritti Janya Lakshana Samucchaya), Ayurveda promotes emotional resilience, healthy aging, and improved quality of life through evidence-based practices integrated with modern healthcare.
UIDAI Launches Aadhaar Mascot Design Contest — Win ₹1 Lakh
- UIDAI has launched a mascot design contest inviting creative individuals to design a mascot for Aadhaar, with a prize of up to ₹1 lakh and a certificate. Hosted on the MyGov portal, the contest is open until 31st October 2025.
- The mascot will act as a visual ambassador for UIDAI, aiming to enhance public engagement and represent Aadhaar’s values of trust, inclusivity, empowerment, and digital innovation. Entries can be submitted individually or in teams.
11th India International Science Festival to Be Held in Chandigarh
- The 11th India International Science Festival (IISF 2025) will be held in Chandigarh from 6–9 December, with the theme “Vigyan se Samruddhi: For Atma Nirbhar Bharat”.
- The festival will highlight five key focus areas, including Science and Technology in the North-West Himalayan Region, Science for Society, and Education for Self-Reliant India.
- At the curtain raiser, Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister for Earth Sciences, emphasized the Anusandhan National Research Foundation initiative to democratize research funding and integrate traditional knowledge with modern science.
- IISF 2025 aims to celebrate science by uniting students, startups, entrepreneurs, and researchers.
State News
Harsh Sanghavi Becomes Gujarat Deputy CM in Cabinet Shake-Up
- Harsh Sanghavi was sworn in as the new Deputy Chief Minister of Gujarat on October 17, 2025, during a major cabinet reshuffle led by Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel at Mahatma Mandir, Gandhinagar.
- The reshuffle came after the resignation of all 16 ministers (except CM Patel) ahead of the expansion. Several leaders, including Swaroopji Thakor, Rivaba Jadeja, Arjun Modhwadia, and Kanubhai Desai, also took oath.
- This move strengthens the state BJP leadership, especially after Jagdish Vishwakarma recently replaced CR Paatil as party state president.
Akkai Padmashali Becomes First Transgender Member of SC-Appointed Committee
- Trans rights activist Akkai Padmashali has been appointed to a Supreme Court panel on equal opportunity policy for transgender rights, becoming the first transgender person from Karnataka to hold such a position.
- This historic move enhances representation and inclusivity at the national policymaking level.
- The panel, headed by Justice Asha Menon, includes noted activists and scholars and aims to ensure effective implementation of landmark rulings like NALSA (2014) and the 2018 decriminalization of homosexuality, while promoting equality, justice, and broader LGBTQIA+ inclusion.
Telangana Leads India in Mobile Phone Recovery via CEIR
- Telangana has recovered over 1 lakh lost or stolen mobile phones through the Central Equipment Identity Register (CEIR) portal, ranking first in the country.
- Since its launch in Telangana in April 2023, the state has successfully traced and unblocked 1,00,020 phones, with the Hyderabad commissionerate leading at 14,965 recovered devices.
- Citizens are encouraged to report lost phones using the IMEI number on the CEIR or Telangana police portals to aid recovery and prevent misuse.
Uttarakhand Hosts AI Impact Summit Ahead of India–AI 2026
- Union Minister of State Shri Jitin Prasada inaugurated the Uttarakhand AI Impact Summit 2025 in Dehradun, a pre-summit to the upcoming India–AI Impact Summit 2026.
- Jointly organized by the Department of IT, Government of Uttarakhand and the IndiaAI Mission, MeitY, the summit focused on responsible and inclusive AI growth.
- Highlighting India’s digital strides, the Minister announced world-class computing power at under $1/hour, enabling innovation in areas like governance, education, and large-scale events like the Kumbh Mela.
International News
Uruguay Legalises Euthanasia, a First in Latin America
- Uruguay became the first Latin American country to legalize euthanasia through legislation, marking a major milestone in a predominantly Catholic region.
- The new law allows medically assisted dying for patients with incurable illnesses and unbearable suffering, provided they are mentally competent and the procedure is carried out by healthcare professionals.
- While assisted suicide remains illegal, the law sets no fixed life expectancy limit or waiting period.
India Elected Co-Chair of UN-GGIM Asia-Pacific
- India has been elected Co-Chair of the United Nations Global Geospatial Information Management for Asia and the Pacific (UN-GGIM-AP) for a three-year term till 2028.
- This body, comprising 56 countries in the Asia-Pacific region, promotes the use of geospatial information to address regional challenges and maximize economic, social, and environmental benefits.
- India’s election highlights its growing leadership in the field of geospatial governance and technology.
Appointments News
Nirmal Minda Becomes Assocham President, Chaudhry as Sr. VP
- Nirmal Kumar Minda, Executive Chairman of Uno Minda Group, has been appointed as the new President of Assocham (Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India) as of October 17, 2025.
- Amitabh Chaudhry, MD & CEO of Axis Bank, will serve as Senior Vice-President, pending RBI approval.
- Minda is recognized for his decades-long contribution to the automotive supply chain, with a focus on innovation, customer centricity, and a people-first approach.
Sports News
Cape Verde Creates History with FIFA World Cup Qualification
- Cape Verde made history as the second-smallest country ever to qualify for the FIFA World Cup, following Iceland’s 2018 feat. In contrast, India faced a heavy defeat against Singapore, missing out on the 2027 Asian Cup.
- Cape Verde, an archipelago of 10 islands located about 620 km off West Africa, has a service-driven economy focused on trade, tourism, and remittances.
- It reflects a unique blend of Portuguese and African culture, with Mindelo on São Vicente hosting its largest deepwater port.
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