NATIONAL NEWS

India Maritime Week 2025 Inaugurated by Amit Shah in Mumbai

Amit Shah, Union Minister for Home Affairs and Cooperation, inaugurated India Maritime Week 2025 in Mumbai, highlighting that India’s maritime vision is founded on safety, stability, and self-reliance.

He emphasised that structural reforms have enabled India to emerge as a strong maritime power.

India possesses a 7,500 km coastline, 13 coastal states and Union Territories, and an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of 23.7 lakh sq km, giving it a major maritime advantage.

Sarbananda Sonowal, Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, stated that India Maritime Week has evolved into one of the world’s leading maritime gatherings, with participation from 85 countries, 500 + exhibitors, and 40 forums, under the theme “Uniting Oceans, One Maritime Vision.”

Devendra Fadnavis, Chief Minister of Maharashtra, announced the development of Vadhavan Port as India’s largest and among the world’s top ten ports, further enhancing India’s maritime capacity.

The event underscored India’s focus on several strategic maritime sectors:

Infrastructure expansion through large-scale port development projects like Vadhavan Port.

Shipbuilding and repair ecosystem development in states such as Goa, Odisha, and Gujarat.

Blue economy and maritime trade to strengthen global connectivity and trade corridors, especially within the Indo-Pacific and Global South.

Technology and sustainability, including port modernisation, digitalisation, and environmentally responsible maritime practices.

The initiatives align with the government’s vision of making the maritime sector a key pillar of “Viksit Bharat” (Developed India) 2047.

NBA Releases ₹55 Lakh to Red Sanders Farmers

The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) has disbursed ₹55 lakh to 18 farmers/cultivators of Red Sanders (Pterocarpus santalinus) in Tamil Nadu under the Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) framework for sustainable use of biological resources.

The payment was made through the Tamil Nadu State Biodiversity Board to farmers from 8 villages — Kannabhiran Nagar, Kothur, Vembedu, Siruniyum, Goonipalayam, Ammambakkam, Alikuzhi, and Thimmaboopola Puram — all located in Tiruvallur District.

This is the first-ever benefit-sharing initiative directly rewarding farmers/cultivators, marking a historic step toward inclusive biodiversity conservation.

The initiative builds on the NBA’s earlier release of ₹48 crore to the Andhra Pradesh Forest Department, Karnataka Forest Department, and Andhra Pradesh State Biodiversity Board for Red Sanders protection and conservation.

The initiative follows the recommendations of an Expert Committee on Red Sanders (2015), which proposed the policy framework for conservation, sustainable use, and fair benefit-sharing of Red Sanders.

The initiative highlights community participation in biodiversity conservation and ensures equitable benefit distribution to those protecting natural resources.

 

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

United States and Japan Ink Major Deals on Trade and Critical Minerals

United States (US) President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi signed two major agreements on trade and critical minerals in Tokyo.

Under the first agreement, a 15% tariff will apply to Japanese exports in exchange for USD 550 billion Japanese investment in the United States.

The second agreement created a framework to secure the supply of critical and rare-earth minerals through cooperation in mining and processing.

The initiative aims to enhance supply chain resilience for materials vital to electronics and advanced technologies.

Japan is the second stop on Trump’s five-day Asia tour after Malaysia, where he attended the 47th ASEAN Summit and participated in the Cambodia–Thailand peace deal signing.

IUCN Lists Western Ghats, Manas, and Sundarbans Among Asia’s Ailing World Heritage Sites

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has listed India’s Western Ghats, Manas National Park (Assam), and Sundarbans National Park (West Bengal) among the ailing natural World Heritage sites in Asia (excluding Arab countries).

Manas and Sundarbans National Parks were given a “significant concern” conservation outlook, indicating major threats to their ecosystems.

Khangchendzonga National Park (Sikkim) was the only Indian site rated “good.”

Four Indian sites rated “good with some concerns” include — The Great Himalayan National Park, Kaziranga, Keoladeo, and Nanda Devi–Valley of Flowers.

In Asia, only 17% of sites were rated “good”, while 30% were rated “significant concern.”

Climate change has emerged as the biggest threat to natural World Heritage sites, surpassing hunting, followed by tourism and invasive alien species.

The IUCN World Heritage Outlook is the only global assessment that evaluates all natural and mixed World Heritage sites every 3–5 years.

 

BANKING

VFS Capital Pulls Back Its Application for Small Finance Bank Licence

VFS Capital, a microfinance institution, has withdrawn its Small Finance Bank (SFB) application submitted to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).

The RBI confirmed the withdrawal in a recent statement, referencing its January 1, 2025 press release, which had listed VFS Capital among SFB applicants.

With the withdrawal, VFS Capital will not pursue conversion into a Small Finance Bank under the ‘on-tap’ licensing guidelines.

According to its official website, VFS Capital operates 284 branches, primarily in Eastern India.

The company had a loan portfolio of ₹942 crore as of March 2022, reflecting its moderate microfinance operations.

Paytm Enables NRIs from 12 Countries to Make UPI Payments Using International Mobile Numbers

Paytm has launched a new service for NRIs from 12 countries, enabling them to make UPI payments in India using international mobile numbers.

The feature eliminates the need for an Indian SIM card and is linked to NRE or NRO bank accounts.

NRIs can send money, pay merchants via QR codes, and shop on Indian platforms without currency conversion or international gateways.

The service is powered by NPCI, allowing instant fund transfers to UPI IDs or mobile numbers and avoiding remittance delays and forex charges.

It is currently available in Singapore, Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Oman, Qatar, USA, Saudi Arabia, UAE, UK, France, and Malaysia, with plans for wider rollout.

The Paytm app includes additional features like UPI statements, AI-based expense tracking (Paytm Playback), payment privacy settings, and consolidated account viewing.

 

DEFENCE

Indian Navy to Commission ‘Ikshak’

Indian Navy will commission its indigenously built Survey Vessel (Large) ‘Ikshak’ at Naval Base Kochi on 6 November 2025, with Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh Kumar Tripathi presiding over the ceremony.

Ikshak is the third ship of its class, marking a step forward in the Navy’s commitment to self-reliance and advanced indigenous shipbuilding.

The vessel was built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) Ltd, Kolkata, under the supervision of the Directorate of Ship Production and the Warship Overseeing Team (Kolkata).

The ship has over 80% indigenous content, showcasing strong collaboration between GRSE and Indian MSMEs under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat

Ikshak will serve in hydrographic survey operations and has dual-role capability — functioning as a Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) platform and as a Hospital Ship during emergencies.

It is the first Survey Vessel (Large) ship with dedicated accommodation for women, reflecting the Indian Navy’s inclusive and progressive approach.

The name ‘Ikshak’ means ‘The Guide’, symbolising its mission to chart unknown waters and strengthen India’s maritime capabilities.

 

AWARDS & PRIZES

2025 Ursula K. Le Guin Prize for Fiction

Sri Lankan author Vajra Chandrasekera has been awarded the 2025 Ursula K. Le Guin Prize for Fiction for his speculative novel “Rakesfall.”

The USD 25,000 prize recognises authors whose works of imaginative fiction explore themes such as power, freedom, equity, and humanity’s place in the world.

The novel was described by the jury as “an extraordinary achievement in science fiction,” establishing Chandrasekera as one of the strongest new voices in global speculative fiction.

Vajra Chandrasekera, originally from Colombo, Sri Lanka, gained earlier recognition for his novel “The Saint of Bright Doors,” which won several literary honours.

Currently based in New York on a writing fellowship, he continues to explore themes of power, myth, memory, and social realities through speculative fiction.

The Ursula K. Le Guin Prize for Fiction, established in 2022, honours the legacy of the iconic author known for critiquing capitalism, patriarchy, and colonialism through fantasy and science fiction.

The annual prize celebrates book-length works that promote hope, non-violence, equity, and a holistic worldview, especially uplifting voices from outside mainstream literary institutions.

“Rakesfall”, published by Tordotcom Publishing in 2024, was selected from eight semi-finalist works.

 

SPORTS

European Chess Club Cup 2025

Indian chess grandmasters D Gukesh and Divya Deshmukh won individual gold medals at the European Chess Club Cup 2025, marking a major boost for India ahead of the Chess World Cup 2025 in Goa.

Playing for SuperChess, D Gukesh clinched gold on Board 1, leading his team to overall tournament victory.

This triumph is particularly significant for Gukesh, the reigning World Champion, who ended 2024 with the world title but has since faced an inconsistent run in elite tournaments.

In the women’s section, Divya Deshmukh secured gold on Board 2, helping Cercle d’échecs de Monte Carlo win the top team honors.

She is the only Indian woman participating in the upcoming World Cup, and this victory further strengthens her confidence ahead of the major event.

These twin golds by Gukesh and Divya reaffirm India’s growing dominance in world chess, setting a positive tone ahead of the Goa World Cup 2025.

 

IMPORTANT DAYS

International Animation Day

International Animation Day (IAD) is celebrated annually on October 28 across more than 50 countries to honour the art of animation.

The observance is spearheaded by ASIFA (Association Internationale du Film d’Animation).

The day commemorates the birth of projected animation, marking Émile Reynaud’s historic screening in 1892 at Théâtre Optique, Paris — regarded as the world’s first animated film presentation.

ASIFA established IAD in 2002 to promote animation as a medium of artistic and cultural expression.

It also celebrates Reynaud’s milestone, the first public performance of animated moving images, which predated traditional film screenings and laid the foundation for modern animation.

World Stroke Day

World Stroke Day is observed on the 29th of October 2025.

The campaign program has been organized by the World Stroke Organisation.

The theme for World Stroke Day 2025 is "Every Minute Counts,"

World Stroke Day takes place on 29th October every year. A stroke also called a brain attack means the blood supply to the brain will be stopped suddenly due to blockage in the blood vessels.

It can be a sudden block or burst of a blood vessel. Mostly blockage of blood vessels will take place due to several reasons over a certain period of time.

The signs of Stroke are Numbness or weakness in the face, arm, and leg. Sudden Confusion, Trouble Speaking, difficulty understanding speech, dizziness, loss of balance, and trouble walking.

The effects of Stroke will be permanent or temporary damage to part of the brain causing death or long-term disability of body parts.

 

 

 

 

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