🇮🇳 National News
India is set to host the Asia Pacific Accident Investigation Group (APAC-AIG) Meeting and Workshop for the very first time from October 28–31, 2025.
The event will be organized by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) under the Ministry of Civil Aviation.
Approximately 90 international investigators and ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization) delegates are expected to participate in the workshop.
The inauguration will be conducted by Union Civil Aviation Minister Rammohan Naidu.
The sessions will focus on enhancing knowledge of aircraft accident investigation procedures, standardized reporting systems, and regional cooperation mechanisms.
The event aims to strengthen aviation safety infrastructure and investigative capabilities across the Asia-Pacific region.
The Central Railway has officially renamed Aurangabad Railway Station to Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Station, nearly three years after the city itself was renamed.
- New Station Code: CPSN
- Division: Nanded Division of South Central Railway
- Originally Opened: 1900 during the reign of Nizam Mir Osman Ali Khan
The renaming commemorates Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, the son of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, and replaces the earlier name associated with the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb.
The station continues to serve a city renowned for its heritage landmarks, such as the Ajanta and Ellora Caves.
Beginning December 2025, the Uttarakhand government will introduce a green tax on vehicles entering the state from other regions to safeguard the fragile Himalayan ecosystem and minimize pollution in key tourist destinations like Dehradun, Mussoorie, Nainital, and Rishikesh.
- Tax Range: ₹80 to ₹700 (depending on vehicle category)
- Collection Method: ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) cameras
- Payment: Digital deduction systems for real-time collection
The initiative supports the Clean Uttarakhand Mission, discouraging unnecessary vehicular traffic and contributing to environmental conservation funds.
The automated model is expected to become a benchmark for other eco-sensitive zones across India.
Justice Surya Kant has been nominated by Chief Justice of India Bhushan R. Gavai as his successor to assume the role of the 53rd Chief Justice of India (CJI) after Gavai’s retirement on November 23, 2025.
- Current Position: Senior-most judge of the Supreme Court
- Tenure: Until February 9, 2027 (~14 months)
- Elevated to SC: May 2019
- Historic First: First Chief Justice from the state of Haryana
CJI Gavai expressed faith in Justice Kant’s ability to guide the judiciary with integrity, insight, and compassion.
The Central Government has extended the LC75 and BLC investment options under the National Pension System (NPS) and the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS) to Central Government employees.
This move addresses the long-standing demand for greater flexibility and customization in retirement planning.
These investment options feature:
- Glide path mechanism for age-based asset allocation
- Broader auto-choice frameworks
- Tools for smarter corpus management
This empowers employees to align investments with personal financial goals.
💼 Business & Economy
Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) and Meta Platforms have established a joint venture worth ₹855 crore, titled Reliance Enterprise Intelligence Limited (REIL).
The collaboration will focus on developing enterprise-grade AI solutions for the Indian market and selected international regions.
- Automation systems
- Predictive analytics platforms
- Customer service chatbots
- Customized generative AI models tailored to Indian business environments
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has introduced its fourth global hackathon, titled HaRBInger 2025 – Innovation for Transformation, themed around “Secure Banking through Identity, Integrity, and Inclusivity.”
Participants will compete to create innovative, technology-driven financial solutions, focusing on areas such as:
- Tokenized KYC systems
- Offline Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC)
- Trust enhancement in digital banking
The registration process for the event commenced on October 23, 2025, inviting global participation from innovators and fintech developers.
🌐 International News
East Timor (Timor-Leste), Asia’s youngest democracy, has officially joined the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) as its 11th member state.
This fulfills a long-cherished aspiration of President José Ramos-Horta and the nation’s people.
- Population: 1.4 million
- Economy: ~$2 billion
- Independence: 2002 (after Portuguese rule and Indonesian occupation)
- Wait for ASEAN membership: 14 years
The official induction took place during the ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur, marking a landmark achievement for the country.
Leaders hailed the development as both a symbolic milestone and a new chapter of growth and cooperation within Southeast Asia.
China has unveiled the CR450, now recognized as the world’s fastest high-speed train, which achieved a top speed of 453 km/h during pre-service testing on the Shanghai–Chengdu corridor.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Top Speed (Testing) | 453 km/h |
| Commercial Speed | 400 km/h |
| Acceleration to 350 km/h | 4 min 40 sec |
| Aerodynamic Nose | 15 metres |
The train can accelerate to 350 km/h in only 4 minutes and 40 seconds, making it 100 seconds faster than the earlier CR400 Fuxing model.
It features groundbreaking innovations, including lightweight composite materials, energy-efficient propulsion systems, and advanced braking mechanisms that enhance both safety and passenger comfort.
The CR450 is expected to commence commercial operations in 2026, reaffirming China’s dominance in global high-speed rail technology.
🏆 Awards & Honours
The Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar 2025 winners were announced on October 26, 2025, recognizing outstanding achievements in science, technology, and innovation.
| Award Category | Description |
|---|---|
| Vigyan Ratna | Lifetime Achievement – Prof. Jayant Vishnu Narlikar (Physics) |
| Vigyan Shri | Excellence across Agriculture, Atomic Energy, Biology, Chemistry, Engineering, Environment, Mathematics & Computer Science, Space Science |
| Vigyan Yuva | Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award – For young scientists under 45 years |
| Vigyan Team Award | CSIR Aroma Mission (Agricultural Science) |
Covering 13 scientific domains, the awards aim to encourage innovation, research, and scientific leadership across the nation.
🎖️ Defence News
The Indian Navy’s INS Sutlej successfully concluded its 18th joint hydrographic mission in collaboration with the Mauritius Hydrographic Service.
The team surveyed approximately 35,000 square nautical miles under a bilateral MoU between India and Mauritius.
- Supported marine charting and Blue Economy initiatives
- Carried out EEZ surveillance and anti-piracy operations with Mauritius Coast Guard
- Six Mauritian officers received hands-on technical training
This successful mission reinforces the MAHASAGAR vision, emphasizing regional maritime security and sustainable ocean resource management.
The Indian Air Force (IAF) has achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first non-NATO nation to participate in Exercise Ocean Sky 2025, held from October 20–31, 2025, at Gando Air Base, Canary Islands.
The multinational air combat exercise, hosted by the Spanish Air Force, enhances India’s aerial combat readiness, pilot interoperability, and strategic defense cooperation with NATO members.
The exercise coincides with the induction of Airbus C-295 aircraft into the IAF fleet, strengthening airborne logistics, strategic mobility, and disaster relief capabilities.
The event underscores India’s deepening defense relations with Spain and its growing stature as a prominent aerospace power.
🏅 Sports News
FIFA President Gianni Infantino, in partnership with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), has announced the launch of a new football tournament titled the FIFA ASEAN Cup.
The tournament aims to boost football development and regional cooperation among ASEAN member nations.
The announcement coincided with the signing of a renewed MoU between FIFA and ASEAN at the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur, attended by ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn.
- Model: Similar to the Arab Cup
- Participants: National teams from all 11 ASEAN members, including newly inducted East Timor
- Goal: Strengthen regional unity and foster grassroots football growth
📅 Important Days
The Vigilance Awareness Week 2025 began nationwide on October 27, under the theme “Vigilance – Our Shared Responsibility.”
The campaign aims to promote ethics, transparency, and accountability in governance and public institutions.
The inaugural event included a pledge ceremony led by Central Vigilance Commissioner Praveen Kumar Srivastava and Vigilance Commissioner A. S. Rajeev in New Delhi.
Numerous government bodies, PSUs, and banks are conducting activities such as seminars, awareness drives, and integrity campaigns to combat corruption.
The observance coincides with the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, celebrated annually in the last week of October.
🕊️ Obituaries
Dr. K. Mathangi Ramakrishnan, an eminent plastic and reconstructive surgeon known for her pioneering work in burn care, passed away on October 27, 2025, in Chennai, aged 91.
She founded the first government-run comprehensive burns unit in South India, located at Government Kilpauk Medical College (KMC).
Dr. Ramakrishnan introduced several medical innovations, including an indigenous collagen membrane, which made burn treatment more affordable.
- Padma Shri (2002)
- Dr. B.C. Roy National Award
She also played a vital role in mentoring future surgeons and advancing public healthcare and medical research in India.
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