Daily Current Affairs 3rd October 2025, Important News Headlines (Daily GK Update)

National News

Union Cabinet Approves “Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses”

• The Union Cabinet has approved the “Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses”, a six-year ₹11,440 crore initiative (2025-31) aimed at achieving self-sufficiency in pulses by boosting production to 350 lakh tonnes, expanding cultivation to 310 lakh hectares, and supporting around 2 crore farmers.
• Key components include distribution of high-quality seeds, area expansion, 1,000 processing units (with ₹25 lakh subsidy each), cluster-based implementation, and 100% assured MSP procurement of Tur, Urad, and Masoor for four years.
• The mission aims to reduce imports, enhance farmer incomes, improve nutrition, and promote climate-resilient agriculture, while challenges remain in adoption, logistics, and sustained procurement.

Minister Launches MY Bharat Mobile App for Youth Empowerment

Union Minister Inaugurated NIELIT Digital University Platform

• Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw will inaugurate the NIELIT Digital University (NDU) Platform in New Delhi today, aimed at democratizing access to quality digital education. Alongside, he will virtually open five new NIELIT centres across India.
• The event includes a panel discussion on AI’s role in education digitization, a felicitation ceremony for top students, and signing an MoU with industry partners to boost industry-academia collaboration.
• The platform focuses on cutting-edge fields like AI, Cybersecurity, Data Science, and Semiconductors to empower youth with future-ready skills.

UPSC Turns 100: A Century of Merit, Integrity, and Nation-Building

• The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) marked its 100th anniversary on October 1, celebrating a century of merit-based recruitment, integrity, and fairness in India’s civil services.
• Established during the colonial era in 1926, UPSC has evolved into a symbol of transparency and equal opportunity, conducting the world’s largest competitive exams that attract millions of candidates nationwide.
• The UPSC continues to uphold trust through impartial evaluation and adapts to modern challenges using digital tools and AI, ensuring it remains central to India’s nation-building efforts.

India’s First Dugong Conservation Reserve Gets IUCN Recognition

• India’s first Dugong Conservation Reserve in Palk Bay, Tamil Nadu has been officially recognized by the IUCN during the 2025 World Conservation Congress.
• Established in September 2022, the reserve spans 448.34 sq. km and protects over 12,250 hectares of seagrass meadows, critical habitats for dugongs (Dugong dugon).
• Dugongs, also known as “sea cows”, are herbivorous marine mammals listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and are protected under Schedule I of India’s Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.

State News

Bathukamma Festival Sets Two Guinness World Records

• The Bathukamma festival in Telangana set two Guinness World Records for the largest floral arrangement and the most synchronized female dance participants, celebrating Goddess Gauri and the harvest season.
• The festival, meaning “Mother Goddess Come Alive,” involves women creating intricate flower stacks and dancing, coinciding with Navratri to honor life and the triumph of good over evil.

International News

India Re-Elected to ICAO Council’s Part II Category

• India has been re-elected to Part II of the ICAO Council, recognizing its major contribution to international civil air navigation.
• The election took place during the 42nd ICAO Assembly in Montreal, Canada, reaffirming India’s commitment to aviation safety, security, and sustainability.
• Civil Aviation Minister Rammohan Naidu also held bilateral meetings, highlighting India’s appeal to global aviation stakeholders in component manufacturing and skill development, as one of the world’s fastest-growing aviation markets.

India–EFTA TEPA Enters into Force with $100 B Investment Pledge

• The India–EFTA Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA) officially came into force at the Prosperity Summit in New Delhi, aiming to attract USD 100 billion investment over 15 years and create 1 million direct jobs in India.
• Touted as India’s first trade pact with firm investment commitments, TEPA covers goods, services, and sectoral cooperation with Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein, opening up wide opportunities in clean energy, AI, life sciences, education, tourism, maritime, and advanced manufacturing.

Banking News

RBI Sets Up Payments Regulatory Board

• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has set up a six-member Payments Regulatory Board (PRB) under the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007, replacing the earlier BPSS.
• Chaired by RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra, the board includes senior RBI officials and three Central Government nominees, including former Telecom Secretary Aruna Sundararajan.
• The PRB will regulate and supervise all payment systems—electronic, non-electronic, domestic, and cross-border, with support from the Department of Payment and Settlement Systems (DPSS).

Asheesh Pandey, Kalyan Kumar Appointed Bank CEOs for 3 Years

• The government has appointed Asheesh Pandey as MD & CEO of Union Bank of India and Kalyan Kumar as MD & CEO of Central Bank of India for a three-year term, following recommendations from the Financial Services Institutions Bureau (FSIB), with approvals by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet headed by the Prime Minister.

Economy News

GST Collections Rise to ₹1.89 Lakh Crore in September 2025

• GST collections in September 2025 rose by 9.1% year-on-year to ₹1.89 lakh crore, surpassing both September 2024 and the previous month, driven by GST 2.0 reforms including rate rationalization effective from September 22, which reduced prices on 375 items and boosted demand.
• Despite a 40.1% rise in GST refunds, net GST revenue grew 5% year-on-year to ₹1.60 lakh crore.
• Experts noted no significant economic slowdown prior to rate cuts, with average monthly collections in FY26 nearing ₹2 lakh crore, reflecting continued economic resilience amid changing consumption patterns and manufacturing sector challenges.

ADB Cuts India’s FY26 Growth Forecast to 6.5%

• The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has downgraded India’s FY26 growth forecast to 6.5% from 6.7%, citing the impact of elevated U.S. tariffs (50%) on about 60% of India’s exports to the U.S., which will weigh on growth from the second half of 2025-26 and into 2026-27.
• Key export sectors like textiles, garments, jewelry, shrimp, and chemicals are expected to face challenges, while services exports remain strong.
• Despite tariff-related export slowdowns, domestic consumption is expected to grow more than previously forecast, helped by lower food prices and tax cuts.

Summits & Conferences News

11th World Green Economy Summit Begins in Dubai

• The 11th World Green Economy Summit (WGES) kicked off in Dubai, gathering over 3,300 participants from 30+ countries under the theme “Innovating for Impact: Accelerating the Future of the Green Economy.”
• Co-hosted with WETEX 2025, the summit emphasizes climate finance, policy innovation, tech integration, and the role of SMEs in achieving net-zero targets.
• Notable sessions highlighted regional climate solutions, youth engagement, and the unveiling of the Global Alliance on Green Economy (GAGE) 2024–25 initiatives.

Science & Technology News

Cabinet Approves Phase III of Biomedical Research Career Programme

• The Union Cabinet has approved Phase III of the Biomedical Research Career Programme (BRCP) (2025–31), a ₹1,500 crore initiative jointly funded by DBT (₹1,000 crore) and the Wellcome Trust, UK (₹500 crore).
• Implemented through the India Alliance SPV, this phase aims to strengthen India’s biomedical research ecosystem by supporting early to mid-career fellowships, collaborative grants, and a Research Management Programme.
• With a focus on interdisciplinary innovation, capacity building in Tier-2/3 cities, women participation, and global collaborations, it targets training of 2,000+ researchers, increased TRL-level research, and enhanced scientific excellence and public health impact aligned with Viksit Bharat goals.

Sports News

Abhishek Sharma Breaks This Record in ICC T20I Batter Rankings

• India’s left-handed opener Abhishek Sharma made history by achieving the highest-ever rating of 931 points in the ICC Men’s T20I Batter Rankings, breaking Dawid Malan’s 2020 record.
• His standout performance, including a stylish half-century in India’s Asia Cup win over Sri Lanka, earned him Player of the Tournament with 314 runs at an average of 44.85.
• Meanwhile, India’s Varun Chakravarthy maintained his top bowler ranking, and Pakistan’s Saim Ayub overtook Hardik Pandya as the top-ranked all-rounder.

India Clinches One‑Two in Men’s Javelin F44 at World Para Athletics

• India achieved a one-two finish in the Men’s Javelin Throw F44 at the World Para Athletics Championships, with Sandip Sanjay Sargar clinching gold with a personal best of 62.82m, and Sandeep Chaudhary earning silver with a season’s best of 62.67m.
• This victory raised India’s medal tally to eight, while Brazil’s Edenilson Roberto secured bronze.

Obituaries News

G G Parikh Passes Away at 100: The Last of India’s Gandhian Socialists

• Freedom fighter G G Parikh, a veteran Gandhian and socialist who turned 100 in December 2024, passed away on October 2, 2025 in Mumbai.
• Known as the “Saint of the Socialists,” Parikh was deeply committed to Gandhian values, the freedom movement, and social causes throughout his life.
• He was imprisoned during the Quit India movement and the Emergency, led student movements, contributed to the trade union and consumer cooperative movements, and helped establish the Yusuf Meherally Centre. Parikh’s legacy continues to inspire social activists across India.

Pandit Chhannulal Mishra Passes Away at 89

• Renowned Hindustani classical vocalist Pandit Chhannulal Mishra, a Padma Bhushan awardee and master of the Banaras Gharana, passed away at 89 in Mirzapur.
• Celebrated for blending folk and classical styles like thumri, kajri, and bhajan, he left an indelible mark on Indian music with soulful renditions such as “Sawan Jhar Lagela Dheere Dheere”.
• His spiritual devotion and musical genius earned tributes from leaders including PM Modi and President Murmu, marking an irreparable loss to India’s rich cultural heritage.