National News
Law Ministry Increases Notary Limits in Four States
- The Ministry of Law and Justice has amended the Notaries Rules, 1956, increasing the maximum number of notaries in Gujarat (2,900 to 6,000), Tamil Nadu (2,500 to 3,500), Rajasthan (2,000 to 3,000), and Nagaland (200 to 400) to address rising demand driven by population growth and administrative expansion.
- The Notaries (Amendment) Rules, 2025 came into effect on October 17, 2025, enhancing legal service access in these states.
International News
Trump, Albanese Sign Critical Minerals Deal to Counter China
- The U.S. and Australia have signed a landmark $8.5 billion critical minerals agreement to reduce dependence on China and strengthen Western supply chains.
- Both countries pledged $1 billion each over six months to boost mining and processing of vital minerals like lithium, nickel, and rare earth elements essential for defense, clean energy, and technology sectors.
- The deal includes market price floors, permitting reforms, geological mapping, recycling initiatives, and protections against foreign acquisitions—especially Chinese.
Brazil, India Form Strategic Alliance for Trade and Tech
- Brazilian President Lula has announced a strategic alliance with India to enhance political, economic, and technological cooperation, following Vice President Alckmin’s visit to New Delhi.
- Lula highlighted India’s exceptional market potential and emphasized that the partnership aims to mutually boost both Brazilian and Indian economies, with Alckmin noting the countries’ collaboration is complementary, not competitive.
Sanae Takaichi Becomes Japan’s First Woman Prime Minister
- Sanae Takaichi has been elected as Japan’s first female prime minister, marking a historic breakthrough for gender equality and a sharp political shift to the right.
- Backed by the ruling LDP and Japan Innovation Party, her leadership is expected to revive Abenomics-style stimulus, sparking optimism in equity markets, but raising concerns over debt and inflation.
- A hardline conservative and admirer of Margaret Thatcher, Takaichi now faces the challenge of securing broader support in a divided parliament to govern effectively.
State News
Bathou Religion Gets Separate Census Code in Assam
- The Bathou religion of the Bodo community in Assam has been officially granted a separate code in the upcoming census, marking a historic step toward national recognition. Promod Boro, leader of UPPL, thanked Union Home Minister Amit Shah for acknowledging the religion, which centers around the five elements—fire, air, earth, sky, and water.
- The Registrar General of India has directed census enumerators to record respondents’ religions faithfully, ensuring accurate representation of Bathou beliefs.
Awards News
Masako Nozawa Becomes First Voice Actor Honored by Japan
- Masako Nozawa, the legendary voice actor best known for voicing Son Goku in the Dragon Ball franchise, has made history by becoming the first voice actor to receive the prestigious Japanese Persons of Cultural Merit honor.
- Announced by Nippon TV on October 20, 2025, the award recognizes her decades-long contribution to Japanese culture and anime.
- Nozawa, now 88 years old, has voiced Goku for over three decades and also holds Guinness World Records for her long-standing work in video game voice acting.
- The Persons of Cultural Merit award, established in 1951, includes a lifetime annual pension of 3.5 million yen and honors individuals who have significantly advanced Japanese culture.
Defense News
Rajnath Singh Inaugurates Titanium Plant for Defence in Lucknow
- Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated the Titanium and Superalloy Materials Plant in Lucknow, a ₹1,000 crore facility producing aviation-grade titanium and superalloys to boost India’s self-reliance in defence and aerospace materials.
- The plant, part of the Uttar Pradesh Defence Industrial Corridor, supports the “Aatmanirbhar Bharat” vision by enabling domestic production for fighter jets, missiles, and satellites, while generating employment and fostering MSMEs.
- A joint venture between PTC Industries and Bharat Dynamics Limited was also signed to develop propulsion systems for missiles and UAVs.
Ranks & Reports News
India Launches First-Ever State Mining Readiness Index
- In a landmark step to reform mineral governance, the Ministry of Mines has launched the first-ever State Mining Readiness Index (SMRI) and State Rankings 2025, focusing on non-coal minerals like lithium, rare earths, and iron ore.
- Designed to assess States on auction transparency, mine operationalisation, exploration, and sustainability, the SMRI promotes healthy competition, transparency, and climate-aligned mining practices. Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Gujarat led among mineral-rich States, while Goa, Punjab, and Tripura excelled in their respective categories.
- The index aims to align States with India’s Vision 2047 for sustainable resource management.
Science & Technology News
Chandrayaan-2 Detects Solar Impact on Moon’s Exosphere
- ISRO’s Chandrayaan-2 made a groundbreaking discovery by detecting the impact of Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) from the Sun on the Moon’s extremely thin exosphere.
- During a rare solar event on May 10, 2024, CMEs caused a dramatic increase in the density and pressure of lunar atmospheric particles, confirming long-held theoretical predictions.
- This finding, made via the CHACE-2 instrument, enhances understanding of lunar space weather and highlights challenges for future lunar habitats due to these temporary but significant environmental changes.
India Develops First Indigenous Antibiotic, Advances Gene Therapy
- India has achieved two major scientific milestones: the development of its first indigenous antibiotic, Nafithromycin, effective against drug-resistant respiratory infections, and a successful gene therapy clinical trial for Hemophilia, showing up to 70% correction with zero bleeding episodes.
- Announced by Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh, these breakthroughs highlight the power of industry-academia collaboration, driven by the Department of Biotechnology and institutions like CMC Vellore.
- The government also aims to boost genome sequencing, expand AI in healthcare, and promote public-private R&D funding through the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF), steering India towards biotech self-reliance and Viksit Bharat 2047.
Sports News
Morocco Stuns Argentina to Win Historic U-20 World Cup
- Morocco made history by winning their first-ever Under-20 World Cup, defeating Argentina 2-0 in the final in Chile. Yassir Zabiri scored both goals in the first half, securing Morocco’s victory and marking the first U20 title for an African nation since Ghana in 2009.
- Morocco’s path to the final included wins over South Korea, the USA, and France.
- Argentina, aiming for a record seventh U20 title, suffered their first tournament loss and were missing key players Claudio Echeverri and Franco Mastantuono.
- Meanwhile, Argentina’s senior team, the reigning World Cup champions, have already qualified for the 2026 World Cup.
Verstappen Wins US Grand Prix, F1 Title Race Heats Up
- Max Verstappen wins US Grand Prix, intensifying F1 title fight: Verstappen claimed his third victory in four races at the US Grand Prix, cutting the championship gap to 40 points behind leader Oscar Piastri.
- McLaren’s Lando Norris finished second, narrowing his points difference with teammate Piastri to just 14, while Piastri finished fifth, struggling to keep pace.
- Verstappen’s late-season surge has turned the title race into a thrilling three-way battle with five races remaining. Ferrari showed promise with Charles Leclerc finishing third amid internal team speculation.
Important Days News
Bandi Chhor Divas 2025 Sikh Festival of Liberation
- Bandi Chhor Divas, celebrated on 21 October 2025 alongside Diwali, honors Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji’s release from captivity along with 52 princes, symbolizing liberation, courage, and justice.
- Rooted in the 1619 Mughal era, the festival is marked by prayers, kirtan, and vibrant lights at the Golden Temple in Amritsar, emphasizing shared freedom and community service (seva).
- This day inspires Sikhs worldwide to celebrate selflessness and equality, reminding all that true freedom extends beyond oneself.
Police Commemoration Day 2025: Why it’s observed on October 21
- Police Commemoration Day is observed on October 21 each year to honor the bravery and sacrifice of police personnel, marking the 1959 ambush at Hot Springs, Ladakh, where ten policemen were martyred by Chinese troops.
- The day is commemorated at the National Police Memorial in New Delhi, which features a cenotaph, a Wall of Valour, and a museum.
- The main ceremony includes a joint parade, wreath-laying, and an address by the Union Home Minister.
- From October 22–30, Commemoration Week includes nationwide events like rallies, cultural programs, and tributes to martyrs’ families to celebrate police service and valor.
Obituaries News
Veteran Actor Asrani Dies at 84, Leaving Comic Legacy
- Govardhan Asrani, fondly remembered for his iconic comic roles, passed away at the age of 84 on October 20, 2025, after a prolonged illness. With a filmography spanning over 350 films, Asrani’s career was a testament to both longevity and adaptability in Indian cinema.
- Though he played countless characters over the decades, it was a short but unforgettable appearance in ‘Sholay’ (1975) that etched his name permanently into Bollywood history.
- His portrayal of the eccentric “British-era jailer”, modeled on Adolf Hitler, was a satirical masterstroke.
- That one scene – with the line “Hum angrezon ke zamane ke jailer hain” – immortalized him, earning him standing ovations and turning a brief role into a cultural phenomenon.