NATIONAL AFFAIRS

DAY-NRLM Mobilizes Over 10 Crore Rural Women into Self-Help Groups

The Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihood Mission (DAY-NRLM), a flagship poverty alleviation program under the Ministry of Rural Development, reached a major milestone by mobilizing 10.05 crore rural women households into more than 90.90 lakh Self-Help Groups (SHGs) across 28 states and 6 Union Territories.

• Background: Launched in 2010 by restructuring the Swarnajayanti Grameen Swarojgar Yojana (SGSY), the program was rebranded as DAY-NRLM in 2016.
• Top Performing States: Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Andhra Pradesh lead in total SHG formation and household mobilization.
• Financial Disbursals: Uttar Pradesh and Bihar lead in direct capitalization support to SHGs, while Andhra Pradesh secured the highest volume of bank loans for its groups.
• Sectoral Leadership: Maharashtra leads the nation in bringing 'Mahila Kisans' (women farmers) under Agro-Ecological Practices, while Assam leads in promoting non-farm micro-enterprises.

Kerala Partners with Central Government for PM SHRI Schools Scheme

The Government of Kerala signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Education to formally implement the Prime Minister’s Schools for Rising India (PM SHRI) scheme. This move secures an estimated ₹1,446 crore for the state to modernize its state-run education infrastructure.

• About PM SHRI: Launched on September 7, 2022, this centrally sponsored scheme aims to upgrade over 14,500 schools across India to showcase the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
• Management: The upgraded institutes operate under the collective management of Central, State, and UT governments, alongside local bodies, Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS), and Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti (NVS).

Defence Ministry Releases DPM 2025; DAC Approves ₹79,000 Crore Proposals

Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh released the Defence Procurement Manual (DPM) 2025 in New Delhi, replacing the older DPM 2009 framework. The new manual streamlines administrative and revenue procurement workflows for the armed forces. It introduces relaxed Liquidated Damages (LD) policies for delayed deliveries, keeping the absolute maximum cap unchanged at 10%. All Requests for Proposals (RFPs) issued on or after November 1, 2025, fall under the new guidelines.

Concurrently, the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) granted Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for capital procurement proposals valued at ₹79,000 crore.

DPIIT Signs MoUs with Kotak Mahindra Bank and Primus Partners

The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) signed two strategic agreements to expand the scope of the Startup India initiative.

• Kotak Mahindra Bank: The bank will provide DPIIT-recognized startups with tailor-made financial products, including zero-balance current accounts, credit options, digital payment systems, API-based integrations, financial literacy workshops, and mentorship.
• Primus Partners India: This partnership focus centers on capacity building, regulatory/policy awareness, market access, and tech integration for early and growth-stage enterprises.

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

India Re-elected as Vice-Chairperson of UNESCO ICADS COP10 Bureau

During the 10th Session of the Conference of Parties (COP10) to the International Convention against Doping in Sport (ICADS) held at the UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, India was re-elected as the Vice-Chairperson of the Bureau for the Asia-Pacific region (Group IV) for the 2025–2027 term.

• Leadership Structure: Azerbaijan was elected as the Chairperson of the COP10 Bureau. The remaining Vice-Chair positions went to Brazil (Latin America/Caribbean), Zambia (Africa), and Saudi Arabia (Arab States).
• India’s Input: The Indian delegation, led by Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports Secretary Hari Ranjan Rao and NADA Director General Anant Kumar, advocated for expanding global anti-doping training via the Values Education through Sport (VETS) framework.

India and Nigeria Collaborate to Launch First IIT Campus in West Africa

The Government of India partnered with Nigeria to set up the first Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) campus in Nigeria. This initiative follows the launch of the IIT Madras-Zanzibar campus in Tanzania in 2023, making it the second official IIT setup on the African continent.

• Location: The chosen site is the Federal Government Academy (FGA) in Suleja, Niger State (also known as the Nigerian Academy for the Gifted).
• Operational Model: The hub mirrors the Zanzibar framework where Indian institutions provide the curriculum, faculty, and academic guidelines, while Nigeria provides infrastructure and foundational administrative backing.

IAF Joins Spanish Air Force for Exercise ‘Ocean Sky 2025’

The Indian Air Force (IAF) deployed its Su-30MKI fighter aircraft to participate in 'Ocean Sky 2025', a multinational air combat exercise hosted by the Spanish Air Force at the Gando Air Base in the Canary Islands, Spain.

Significantly, India participated as the first non-NATO country to join this advanced air defense drill, focusing on Defensive Counter-Air (DCA) and Offensive Counter-Air (OCA) operations alongside more than 50 international aircraft.

AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS

Stanford University List Places Dr. Ashokkumar Among Top 2% Scientists

Dr. Ashokkumar Veeramuthu, a scientist hailing from the Nilgiris in Tamil Nadu, has been named in the World’s Top 2% Scientists list for the third consecutive year. The prestigious global database is curated annually by Stanford University in collaboration with Elsevier Publishers.

• The Data: The global study evaluated nearly 236,000 researchers based on an objective composite c-score tracking citation metrics across 22 scientific streams.
• Indian Representation: The list includes 6,239 Indian faculty members under the single-year category, with the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) contributing the highest share of 755 researchers, followed by NITs (330) and IISc Bengaluru (117).

ACQUISITIONS & MERGERS

• Blackstone and Federal Bank Deal: US-based alternative asset manager Blackstone Inc. finalized plans to buy a 9.99% minority stake in Federal Bank Limited for ₹6,196.51 crore. The transaction proceeds through its affiliate, Asia II Topco XIII Private Limited, via the preferential allotment of 27.29 crore warrants priced at ₹227 each. Blackstone secures a non-executive board seat once its converted equity capital crosses the 5% threshold, subject to RBI and CCI clearances.
• PNB Stake Divestment: Punjab National Bank (PNB) sold a 10% equity stake (representing approximately 9.5 crore shares) in Canara HSBC Life Insurance Company Limited. Executed via an Offer for Sale (OFS) during the company’s Initial Public Offering (IPO), the deal fetched ₹1,007 crore at an average price of ₹106 per share. PNB’s residual holding in the joint venture drops from 23% to 13%.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Cochin Shipyard Delivers First ASW Shallow Water Craft ‘INS Mahe’

Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) delivered 'INS Mahe', the first of eight planned Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Crafts (ASW SWCs), to the Indian Navy. This delivery stems from a 2019 Ministry of Defence contract dividing 16 specialized shallow-water vessels equally between CSL and GRSE.

• Design & Performance: Built with over 90% indigenous components under Det Norske Veritas (DNV) classification rules, the 78-meter, 900-tonne vessel features a unique Diesel Engine–Waterjet propulsion setup. It hits top speeds of 25 knots with an operational endurance of 1,800 nautical miles.
• Weapons Fit: Optimized for coastal defense, tracking littoral threats, and low-intensity operations, it features hull-mounted sonar arrays, torpedo launchers, rocket depth charge systems, and 30 mm close-in guns.

Aerospace Giants Announce Strategic European Satellite Merger

Airbus SE, Leonardo SPA, and Thales SA signed a tripartite MoU to combine their respective satellite manufacturing and space-systems divisions into a unified European Joint Venture scheduled to go live by 2027. Airbus will command a 35% stake, while Leonardo and Thales will retain 32.5% each. The consolidated space entity is projected to manage an elite workforce of 25,000 personnel with an annual revenue footprint of roughly 6.5 billion Euros.

ENVIRONMENT

Botanists Uncover Four New Plant Species in the Western Ghats

A research team from Davangere University discovered three new plant species and recorded a fourth for the first time inside Karnataka's Western Ghats. All species belong to the Melastomataceae family and the Sonerila genus.

• Sonerila bababudangiriensis: Spotted in the Baba Budangiri hills; possesses a unique single inflorescence per plant.
• Sonerila gigantea: Found near Mallalli Falls; recognized as the largest stemless species within the genus.
• Sonerila charmadiensis: Discovered in Charmadi Ghat; identified by white foliar blotches and thick rhizomes.
• Sonerila konkanensis: Found in Kavaledurga, marking its first recorded presence in Karnataka (previously known only in South Goa).

OBITUARIES

Advertising Legend Piyush Pandey Passes Away at 70

Piyush Pandey, the former worldwide Chief Executive Officer and Executive Chairman of Ogilvy India, passed away in Mumbai at the age of 70. Popularly called the "voice of Indian advertising," Pandey moved Indian ad-copy away from Western formats to champion indigenous cultural idioms, language, and everyday humor.

He designed definitive national campaigns for Fevicol, Cadbury Dairy Milk, and Asian Paints, alongside public service works like "Mile Sur Mera Tumhara". He was awarded the Padma Shri in 2016 and received the London International Awards (LIA) Legend title in 2024.

Veteran Congress Leader and Former Union Minister Yogendra Makwana Passes Away

Former Union Minister Dr. Yogendra Makwana passed away at the age of 92 in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. Makwana served as a Rajya Sabha MP from 1973 to 1989 and held key portfolios including Home Affairs, Agriculture, Health, and Planning under Prime Ministers Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi. Notably, he played a central role in managing state stability during the 1980s by leading the complex peace negotiations with the All Assam Students Union (AASU) to resolve the Assam Agitation.

BOOKS & AUTHORS

• Book Title: "Modi’s Mission"
• Author: Berjis Desai (Renowned attorney and former journalist)
• Released By: Acharya Devvrat, Governor of Gujarat (Note: Correcting official designation from prompt context)
• Publisher: Rupa Publications India Private Limited
• Core Theme: Tracks the leadership trajectory of Prime Minister Narendra Modi from his childhood in Vadnagar, exploring how his formative years shaped his socio-economic models, welfare delivery mechanisms, and global governance philosophy.

IMPORTANT DAYS

United Nations Day: October 24

• 2025 Theme: "Education Shapes the Future"
• Significance: Marks the 80th anniversary of the UN Charter entering into force in 1945. To commemorate the milestone, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar formally released a special joint commemorative postage stamp developed by the MEA and India Post in New Delhi.

ITBP Celebrates 64th Raising Day: October 24

• Context: The Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) celebrated its 64th Raising Day. Established on October 24, 1962, following border realignments, the specialized central armed force operates under the Ministry of Home Affairs.
• Operational Mandate: Managing 3,488 kilometers of high-altitude frontiers spanning from the Karakoram Pass in Ladakh to Jachep La in Arunachal Pradesh. It maintains an active strength of 64 battalions, with personnel trained heavily in mountaineering and sub-zero survival tactics.

World Development Information Day: October 24

• History: Instituted by the UN General Assembly in 1972 via Resolution 3038 to coincide with UN Day. The day focuses on improving information systems, leveraging digital ICT infrastructures, and driving youth engagement to meet the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

International Lead Poisoning Prevention Week: October 19–25

• 2025 Campaign Focus: "No safe level: Act now to end lead exposure"
• Data & Framework: Organized by the Lead Paint Alliance (co-led by UNEP and WHO), the 13th edition highlighted heavy-metal toxicity risks. UNICEF evaluations reveal that 1 in 3 children worldwide show elevated blood lead levels at or above 5 micrograms per deciliter (µg/dl), requiring global enforcement of paint pigment bans.

STATE NEWS

Justice Sudhir Singh Named Acting Chief Justice of Patna High Court

The Ministry of Law and Justice appointed Justice Sudhir Singh as the Acting Chief Justice of the Patna High Court. The appointment follows the formal retirement of the standing Chief Justice, Pavankumar Bhimappa Bajanthri.