NATIONAL NEWS

Telangana’s Bathukamma Festival Sets Two Guinness World Records

Telangana’s Bathukamma Festival achieved two Guinness World Records for the largest floral arrangement and the most synchronized female dance participants, showcasing the festival’s cultural richness and collective spirit.
The record-breaking floral structure was created by around 300 artisans using metal, bamboo, and thousands of flowers, taking 72 hours to complete and highlighting Bathukamma’s floral heritage.

The synchronized dance event featured thousands of women performing traditional steps in concentric circles, reflecting coordination and cultural unity among Telangana’s women.

Bathukamma, meaning “Mother Goddess Come Alive,” is a floral festival celebrated mainly in Telangana, dedicated to Goddess Gauri and symbolizing feminine energy, fertility, and prosperity.

Key rituals include creating flower stacks with seasonal blooms like gunuka, marigold, chrysanthemum, arranged in temple-shaped patterns, offered with prayers, and placed in ponds or water bodies on the final day.

The dual Guinness records have enhanced Telangana’s cultural pride, provided national and international visibility, and support initiatives to promote state festivals globally, boost cultural tourism, and encourage youth participation in heritage preservation.

 

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

NASA Launches Interstellar Mapping And Acceleration Probe

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has launched the Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe (IMAP) to study how solar particles are energised and protect Earth.

The goal of IMAP is to map the heliosphere’s boundary, trace energetic particles, and improve space weather forecasting.

IMAP will explore and map the boundaries of the heliosphere, a bubble created by the Sun’s wind that encapsulates the entire solar system.

The mission will employ 10 scientific instruments to provide a comprehensive picture of space activity.

IMAP will operate from the Sun-Earth Lagrange Point 1 (L1), about 1.6 million km from Earth, offering a stable vantage point for continuous observation.

 

BANKING

Tata Capital To Launch Rs 15,511 Crore Initial Public Offering

Tata Capital is launching a Rs 15,511 crore initial public offering (IPO), the largest-ever IPO by the Tata Group and any NBFC, opening on October 6, 2025.

The IPO values Tata Capital at Rs 1,31,591 – 1,38,383 crore, with a price band of Rs 310-326 per share.

MUFG Intime India Pvt Ltd is appointed as the IPO registrar, while ICICI Bank and HDFC Bank are the sponsor banks.

This is the Tata Group’s second public listing in recent years, after Tata Technologies in November 2023.

Tata Capital was designated as an upper-layer NBFC in September 2022, and the IPO is being conducted per RBI’s listing mandate requiring upper-layer NBFCs to list within three years of classification.

Tata Sons currently holds 88.6% stake, and IFC holds 1.8%.

IPO proceeds will be used to strengthen Tata Capital’s Tier-1 capital base, supporting future capital requirements and onward lending.

AU Small Finance Bank Partners with Kiwi

AU Small Finance Bank (AU SFB) has launched the AU KOSMO Credit Card in collaboration with Kiwi, a Credit on UPI platform, to promote digital-first credit access.

The AU KOSMO Credit Card is built on the RuPay network and enables credit payments via UPI at both online and offline merchants, enhancing cashless transactions.

The card specifically targets first-time credit users, including young professionals and tech-savvy consumers, and supports fully digital onboarding.

It offers benefits such as rewards on UPI payments, 1% fuel surcharge waiver, and the ability to pay using any UPI-enabled QR code without needing a physical card.

The card comes with no annual or renewal fees, making it affordable and accessible for a wider customer base.

The initiative aligns with AU SFB’s mission to enhance financial inclusion across urban, semi-urban, and rural regions through innovative digital credit solutions.

National Stock Exchange Surpasses 120 Million Active Investors, Marking A Key Milestone In India’s Capital Market Expansion

The National Stock Exchange (NSE) has crossed 120 million active investors as of September 23, 2025, marking a major milestone in India’s capital market growth.

The latest 10 million investors were added in just eight months, reflecting the rapid expansion of retail participation in equity markets.

One in every four investors is a woman, indicating a rising trend of female participation in financial markets.

The NSE had earlier crossed the 110 million investor mark in January 2025, showing consistent growth.

The total number of investor accounts registered with NSE stood at 235 million as of September 23, 2025.

As of August 31, 2025, three states recorded over one crore unique registered investors — Maharashtra (1.9 crore), Uttar Pradesh (1.4 crore), and Gujarat (1.03 crore).

Maharashtra leads the nation in investor participation, followed by Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat, highlighting regional diversification in market access.

HSBC Unveils World’s First Empirical Proof Of Quantum Computing’s Potential In Algorithmic Bond Trading

HSBC announced the world’s first empirical evidence demonstrating the potential of quantum computers in solving real-world problems related to algorithmic bond trading.

The pilot project achieved a 34% improvement in predicting whether a bond trade would be filled at a quoted price, giving HSBC a competitive advantage over classical computing

Quantum computing uses quantum physics principles to perform complex calculations faster than traditional computers, though its practical applications are still limited.

According to McKinsey, the quantum technology market could expand to $100 billion within a decade, up from $4 billion in revenue last year.

BRICS-Backed New Development Bank to Launch First Rupee-Denominated Bond

The New Development Bank (NDB), backed by BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa), plans to issue its first rupee-denominated bond in the domestic market before March 2026.

The bank is in advanced talks with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to finalize its debut rupee issuance.

NDB aims to raise $400–500 million through 3–5 year bonds in the first tranche.

Previously, the NDB has raised funds in Chinese yuan and South African rand, showing its preference for local currency financing.

Multilateral agencies, such as the World Bank’s International Finance Corporation (IFC), have earlier issued rupee-denominated bonds, which received strong investor demand.

Founded in 2015, the NDB has raised about one-third of its $11 billion bond issues in local currencies, mainly in yuan and rand, and now plans to expand into other BRICS currencies.

As per its 2022–26 strategy, the NDB has set a goal to provide 30% of its total financing commitments in member countries’ national currencies, supporting financial stability and currency diversification.

 

APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

Managing Director of Life Insurance Corporation of India

The Financial Services Institutions Bureau (FSIB) has recommended Ramakrishnan Chander as Managing Director (MD) of Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC).

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) will take the final decision on the FSIB recommendation.

Ramakrishnan Chander was appointed Chief Investment Officer (CIO) of LIC in June 2025.

LIC’s top management comprises four MDs in addition to the MD and CEO.

Currently, R Doraiswamy is the MD and CEO of LIC, while Dinesh Pant, Ratnakar Patnaik, and Sat Pal Bhanoo serve as other MDs.

 

BOOKS & AUTHORS

Veteran Journalist Harinder Baweja’s Memoir “They Will Shoot You, Madam: My Life Through Conflict” Launched in New Delhi

Veteran journalist Harinder Baweja launched her memoir titled “They Will Shoot You, Madam: My Life Through Conflict” in New Delhi.

The memoir chronicles over four decades of her reporting career across India and global conflict zones.

The book covers major historical events including Operation Blue Star (1984) and the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks (2008).

The memoir reflects Baweja’s courage, integrity, and dedication to ground reporting in volatile regions such as Kashmir, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Malaysia.

Former Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh attended the launch event and recalled saving Baweja during Operation Blue Star.

The book highlights the importance of independent journalism in a democracy and discusses the ethical and moral challenges journalists face while covering conflict.

 

IMPORTANT DAYS

Indian Air Force Day

The Indian Air Force Day is celebrated on the 8th of October of every year in India.

The Indian Air Force Day is observed in order to increase awareness about the role of the Indian Air Force which is dedicated to enhancing national security.

The Indian Air Force was first established on the 8th October of 1932, so the Indian Air Force Day is celebrated on the 8th of October of every year.

The first flight of the Indian Air Force came into being on 1 April 1933.

During the Waziristan war against the tribal, the Indian Air Force went into the brave action for the first time.

This day is celebrated to raise awareness about the Indian Air Force which works for national security.