Daily Current Affairs

The Government of India has approved the integration of Adani Power’s 1,600 MW Godda Ultra Supercritical Thermal Power Plant in Jharkhand into the national electricity grid.

The approval enables the plant to supply power domestically in addition to exporting electricity to Bangladesh, as originally planned.

The coal-based power station, previously dedicated solely to exports, will connect to the grid via a Line-In Line-Out (LILO) system on the Kahalgaon–Maithon B 400 kV transmission line.

The project, sanctioned under Section 164 of the Electricity Act, 2003, will pass through 56 villages across Godda and Poreyahat tehsils.

The grid connection is valid for 25 years, pending necessary approvals from multiple authorities, including Railways, Civil Aviation, Defence, Highways, Environment, and Wildlife Departments.

India has been re-elected as Vice-Chairperson of the COP10 Bureau under the International Convention against Doping in Sport at the 10th Session held at UNESCO Headquarters, Paris.

The session commemorated the 20th anniversary of the Convention, the world’s only legally binding global treaty aimed at eliminating doping in sports.

The Indian delegation was led by Hari Ranjan Rao (Secretary, Sports) and Anant Kumar (DG, NADA), participating alongside 190+ countries and organizations like IOC, WADA, and the African Union.

India was re-elected for the Asia-Pacific region (Group IV) for the term 2025–2027, reinforcing its leadership in global anti-doping efforts.

Key discussions focused on strengthening compliance and governance mechanisms, funding for the Global Fund for the Elimination of Doping in Sport, and addressing emerging risks like gene manipulation, misuse of traditional medicines, and ethical challenges.

India also introduced the Values Education through Sport (VETS) initiative to promote ethics, integrity, fair play, and encourage youth participation in values-based learning.

India has rolled out the Online National Drug Licensing System (ONDLS) to enhance drug safety and quality control following incidents of toxic cough syrup deaths.

Developed by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO), ONDLS allows real-time monitoring of pharmaceutical solvents to ensure only verified, non-toxic ingredients are used.

The initiative follows tragic deaths in Madhya Pradesh due to diethylene glycol (DEG)-tainted cough syrups, revealing severe lapses in ingredient traceability.

The reform responds to calls from the WHO and Indian regulators for stronger oversight and accountability in pharmaceutical manufacturing.

Five beaches from Maharashtra have earned the international Blue Flag certification, recognizing their adherence to global standards of cleanliness, safety, and eco-sustainability.

The announcement was made by Aditi Tatkare, the state’s Women and Child Development Minister, highlighting Maharashtra’s commitment to eco-tourism.

The Blue Flag is an internationally recognized eco-label awarded by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE), Denmark, serving as the global benchmark for sustainable beach management.

The state of Kerala is preparing to build its first underwater tunnel, connecting Vypin and Fort Kochi as part of the Coastal Highway Development Project.

The proposed sub-sea tunnel will reduce the current 16 km commute to just 3 km, significantly enhancing travel efficiency and connectivity within Kochi, one of India’s busiest port cities.

The project will be implemented by the Kerala Rail Development Corporation Limited (KRDCL) at a projected cost of ₹2,672 crore.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has announced the launch of the fourth edition of its global hackathon, “HaRBInger 2025 – Innovation for Transformation.”

The event aims to foster innovative, secure, and user-focused financial solutions in the evolving digital banking ecosystem.

The central theme for this edition is “Secure Banking: Powered by Identity, Integrity, and Inclusivity.”

Eligible participants include individuals, teams, and entities aged 18 years and above who can legally enter into contracts.

Tuvalu has officially joined the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as its 90th State Member after formally adopting the organization’s statutes.

The Ministry of Environment of Tuvalu will serve as the nation’s liaison with the IUCN Secretariat, reinforcing its dedication to biodiversity conservation and sustainable development.

The country faces escalating climate threats, including rising sea levels, coastal erosion, and invasive species, endangering both its ecosystem and livelihoods.

As an IUCN member, Tuvalu gains access to global environmental collaboration and funding mechanisms such as the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and Global Environment Facility (GEF).

The announcement coincided with the IUCN World Conservation Congress in Abu Dhabi.

The 14th India–Bhutan Border Management and Security Meeting was convened in Thimphu from October 16–17, 2025.

The Indian delegation, led by Rajendra Kumar (Secretary, Department of Border Management), included officials from the SSB, Land Ports Authority of India, Department of Telecommunications, Narcotics Control Bureau, Survey of India, Customs, and representatives from Assam, West Bengal, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh.

The Bhutanese delegation was headed by Sonam Wangyel, Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs.

Both nations reviewed joint efforts on border management and security, addressing issues like:

• Signal spill-over across borders
• Development of Integrated Check Posts (ICPs)
• Boundary pillar maintenance
• Cross-border movement of people and goods

The previous meeting was held in 2019, making this a significant step in revitalizing bilateral cooperation.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has officially confirmed Fiji as the 26th country to eliminate trachoma as a public health concern.

This marks Fiji’s first Neglected Tropical Disease (NTD) eradication milestone, making it the 58th country globally to eliminate at least one NTD.

Trachoma, an infectious eye disease and the leading cause of preventable blindness, no longer poses a health threat in the nation.

The achievement aligns with the WHO NTD Road Map (2021–2030), which targets the elimination, control, and eradication of 20 diseases and disease groups by 2030.

Sunil Amrith, a historian of Indian origin, has been awarded the 2025 British Academy Book Prize for his work “The Burning Earth: An Environmental History of the Last 500 Years.”

The prestigious award, accompanied by a £25,000 cash prize, celebrates outstanding non-fiction works in the humanities and social sciences that contribute to a deeper understanding of global issues.

Amrith’s book weaves together environmental and historical narratives, linking empire, ecology, and human progress, and has been widely praised for its relevance to contemporary climate challenges.

Ayodhya celebrated Deepotsav 2025 with record-breaking splendour, lighting over 26 lakh oil lamps and earning two Guinness World Records.

The festival combined spiritual fervour and modern innovation, showcasing:

• Ram Leela performances depicting the life of Lord Ram
• Laser and drone light shows at Ram ki Paidi, the site believed to mark Lord Ram’s nirvana
• Fireworks and temple illuminations across the city

The Southern Command, headquartered in Pune, will conduct a Tri-Services Exercise named “Trishul” in coordination with the Indian Navy and Indian Air Force.

The exercise will feature offensive operations across desert and creek sectors, along with amphibious drills near the Saurashtra coast.

It aims to test multi-domain operational readiness, including capabilities in:

• Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR)
• Electronic Warfare (EW)
• Cyber Operations

Renowned advertising legend Piyush Pandey has passed away at the age of 70. He was one of India’s most influential figures in advertising, credited with revolutionizing the industry through his creative and culturally rooted campaigns.

A recipient of the Padma Shri, Pandey served as the face of Ogilvy India for more than four decades, profoundly shaping India’s advertising landscape.

Born in Jaipur in 1955, he initially played Ranji Trophy cricket for Rajasthan before joining Ogilvy & Mather in 1982.

Pandey transformed Indian advertising by shifting the narrative from English-dominated ads to emotionally engaging stories told in Indian languages.

In January 2024, he transitioned into an advisory role after serving as Chairman Global Creative and Executive Chairman of Ogilvy India.

Beyond advertising, his creative work extended into music, cinema, and politics – he wrote the patriotic classic “Mile Sur Mera Tumhara” (1988), co-wrote the film “Bhopal Express”, and coined the 2014 election slogan “Ab ki baar, Modi sarkar.”