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Monday, Nov 17

Daily Current Affairs: 17 November 2025

Your consolidated report for 17 November 2025

Headline: Goa Police's 1930 Cloud-Based Cyber Fraud Call Centre: Key Features and Achievements

Bullet Points:

  • Goa police has become the first state police force in India to achieve a 100% response rate in cyber fraud calls.
  • The initiative is a '1930 cloud-based call centre' which was launched last month and inaugurated by Union home minister Amit Shah.
  • The call centre ensures 100% accessibility by successfully responding to all calls, including missed calls.
  • Nine police personnel of the cyber police station attend to calls round the clock.
  • The system automatically records calls for quality assurance, allows staff to review conversations, supports conference calling, and enables real-time supervision by senior officers.
  • The objective of the call centre is to reduce the time taken to report cyber fraud incidents, allowing officers to act faster and helping save substantial amounts of citizens’ money.

Similar Headlines

CAG pushes nationwide digital audits: AI/ML tools already expose fraud in states (End of September) ▼
  • Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) K Sanjay Murthy stated that artificial intelligence and machine learning tools have already helped expose a large number of fraudulent cases in several states.
  • Digitisation of auditing processes is now the CAG’s top priority to ensure remote audits, timely reporting and broader coverage including 100 per cent checks of GST and IT databases.
  • CAG has successfully conducted remote audits of GST, stamp and registration, e-procurement, works audit and DBT schemes in some states and plans to roll out such audits across all departments with digitised records.
UN Launches Global Mechanism for Cyberspace; India Poised to Lead (End of August) ▼
  • The UN recently launched the Global Mechanism (GM) for Cyberspace.
  • It is a new, permanent international forum to advance responsible state behaviour in cyberspace.
  • The GM is built on the July 11 Open-Ended Working Group (OEWG) consensus.
  • Its focus areas include norms, international law, capacity building, and confidence-building measures.
  • The Group of Governmental Experts (GGE) process dominated cyber diplomacy from 2004 to 2017.
  • The more inclusive OEWG process, initiated in 2018, allowed all UN member-states to participate.
  • India is uniquely positioned to shape the GM's trajectory and can lead capacity-building efforts.
National Cybersecurity Exercise “Cyber Bharat Setu” Inaugurated in Tripura; State Launches New Cyber Security Policy and Awareness Campaign (Mid of November) ▼
  • **Cyber Bharat Setu:** A National Cybersecurity Exercise organized by the Directorate of Information Technology (DIT), Government of Tripura, in collaboration with the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In), Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).
  • **Objective of Cyber Bharat Setu:** Aims to strengthen cyber awareness, readiness, and response capabilities of the State, envisioning a Cyber Resilient Bharat by bridging regional cybersecurity capabilities, fostering innovation, and promoting proactive defence and response strategies.
  • **Key Features of Cyber Bharat Setu:** The two-day workshop focuses on strengthening cyber resilience through expert-led training, hands-on drills, and simulated scenario-based exercises, incorporating advanced sessions and simulation-based components.
  • **Tripura Cyber Security Policy, 2025 (TCSP 2.0):** A forward-looking and transformative policy launched by Shri. S. Krishnan, Secretary, MeitY, Government of India, during the event.
  • **Objective of TCSP 2.0:** Formulated to build a resilient, adaptive, and citizen-centric cyber ecosystem, serving as a guiding framework for securing the State’s IT and ICT systems, strengthening institutional mechanisms, and promoting collaborative actions.
  • **Tripura Cyber Security Awareness Month 2025 (TCSAM, 2025):** A month-long campaign launched with the theme “Cyber Jagrit Tripura” and an unveiled mascot named “Raksha Mitra”.
  • **Objective of TCSAM 2025:** Aims to strengthen cyber hygiene and awareness among citizens, students, and the government workforce, observed across the State by the Directorate of IT, Govt. of Tripura.

Headline: New filter-feeding pterosaur species Bakiribu waridza identified inside fossilised dinosaur vomit in Brazil

Bullet Points:

  • Discovery: New filter-feeding pterosaur species Bakiribu waridza identified from bones preserved in fossilised regurgitate (regurgitalite).
  • Institution: Specimen stored at Museu Camara Cascudo, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil.
  • Key features: Long jaws with dense, brush-like rows of teeth; belongs to Ctenochasmatidae family; first filter-feeding pterosaur known from the tropics.
  • Associated fauna: Fossil contained bones of two B. waridza individuals plus four fossil fish.
  • Predator inference: Arrangement suggests predator ate pterosaurs then fish and later regurgitated mixed material; likely candidates are spinosaurid dinosaurs or ornithocheiriform pterosaurs.

Similar Headlines

Spain Beaches Closed After Rare Venomous Blue Dragon Sea Slugs Appear (Start of September) ▼
  • Several beaches in Spain were closed after venomous blue dragon sea slugs (Glaucus atlanticus) were spotted on shores.
  • The blue dragon sea slugs appeared along parts of the Costa Blanca.
  • Marine experts believe that shifting ocean currents and rising sea temperatures, possibly linked to climate change, may be responsible for these unusual appearances.
  • These tiny, venomous sea slugs are 3–4 cm long, with striking blue bodies and silvery undersides.
  • Contact with humans can cause intense pain, skin burns, nausea, or vomiting, often requiring urgent medical care.
  • The first time these deadly sea creatures were spotted was around August 20, 2025, on Guardamar beaches.
  • Playa Ortigues, La Mata (Torrevieja), and Vivers Beach also reported the presence of blue dragons.
  • Some beaches in Mallorca have also spotted blue dragons, an occurrence noted as happening after almost 300 years.
University of Hawai‘i researcher names new deep-sea coral species Iridogorgia chewbacca (End of September) ▼
  • Discovery: new species formally named Iridogorgia chewbacca, distinguished by "shaggy, flexible branches" unique within the otherwise rigid-branched Iridogorgia genus.
  • Researcher/Institution: discovered by University of Hawai‘i professor emeritus Les Watling; specimen collected off Molokai in 2006.
  • Key feature: flexibility attributed to lack of calcium carbonate, the compound that forms coral "bones".
  • Habitat: prefers "the upper part of the deep sea," with the Molokai specimen found "about 600 meters deep."
  • Known distribution: only two specimens collected—one off Molokai (2006) and one near the Mariana Trench (2016), illustrating the wide Indo-Pacific biogeographic range.
New Coelacanth Species, Whiteia anniae, Discovered in Early Triassic of China (End of October) ▼
  • A new species of coelacanth, *Whiteia anniae* sp. nov., has been discovered.
  • The discovery is based on two specimens (Holotype CHU 2016 and Paratype CHU 2017) from the late Smithian (~249 Ma) marine deposits in Maoshankou, He County, Anhui Province, China.
  • The new coelacanth is the oldest species of the genus *Whiteia* documented in Asia, predating the previously oldest record of whiteiids on this continent by nine million years.
  • With an estimated total length of at least 420 mm, *Whiteia anniae* represents the largest whiteiid named so far from the Early Triassic.
  • The new coelacanth is the best-preserved from the Early Triassic of China, featuring a discernible calcified lung.
  • Diagnostic features of *Whiteia anniae* include the presence of coronoid fangs and scale ornamentation consisting of about 20 elongate ridges converging midline posteriorly.
  • Phylogenetic analysis recovers *Whiteia anniae* as sister to *Whiteia woodwardi* within the Whiteiidae among the Coelacanthiformes.
Malabar gliding frog builds foam nest above water instead of laying eggs in water (Mid of November) ▼
  • Species: Malabar gliding frog (Rhacophorus malabaricus) – "Known as the Malabar gliding frog, this vivid green amphibian"
  • Location: Western Ghats, India – "High in the misty forests of the Western Ghats in India"
  • Key behaviour: Constructs foam nest above ponds/streams – "the female selects a tree branch or leaf positioned directly above a pond or slow-moving stream"
  • Nest details: White frothy foam up to ~3 inches diameter, holds ~200 eggs – "This nest can reach around three inches in diameter" and "the female deposits up to 200 eggs"
  • Ecological role: Indicator of clean water and balanced habitat – "Frogs are indicators of environmental health; their presence suggests clean water and a balanced habitat"

Headline: India imposes anti-dumping duty on hot rolled flat steel from Vietnam

Bullet Points:

  • India has imposed an anti-dumping duty of USD 121.55 per tonne on imports of hot rolled flat steel products from Vietnam for five years.
  • Steel imports stood at 4.90 million tonnes in April-September FY26, with Vietnam contributing 13 per cent.
  • Imports from Vietnam were 0.64 million tonnes, 17 per cent higher year-on-year.

Similar Headlines

Temporary Removal of Cotton Import Duty and AIDC till September 30, 2025 (End of August) ▼
  • Policy: Government of India has eliminated the 11 per cent basic customs duty and the Agriculture Infrastructure and Development Cess (AIDC) on cotton imports.
  • Effective Period: The notification is effective from August 19, 2025 and remains valid up to and inclusive of September 30, 2025.
  • Objective: The Finance Ministry stated that the removal of duty and cess “is necessary in the public interest” to help the textile sector remain competitive amid steep US tariffs.
  • Implementing Authority: The change has been notified by the Finance Ministry of the Government of India.
India's coal imports rise 1.5% to 76.4 MT in Q1FY26 despite domestic push (End of August) ▼
  • India's coal import rose 1.5 per cent to 76.40 million tonnes in the April-June period of the current fiscal, compared to 75.26 MT in the year-ago period.
  • Non-coking coal imports during April-June were at 49.08 MT, almost flat compared to 49.12 MT imported during the same period in the previous fiscal.
  • Coking coal import was at 16.37 MT during April-June 2025, up against 15.45 MT recorded for April-June 2024.
  • State-owned CIL's coal production dropped by 8.5 per cent to 57.8 million tonnes in June from 63.1 MT in the corresponding month of the previous fiscal.
GTRI Recommends India Halt Sanctioned Oil Imports and Seek Tariff Relief from US (Start of November) ▼
  • The Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI) outlined a three-step plan for India to protect its trade interests under the ongoing bilateral trade agreement negotiation with America.
  • On October 24, government officials stated that India and the US are "very near" to finalising the first tranche of the ambitious Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA).
  • Washington imposed sanctions on Rosneft and Lukoil on October 22, which together account for 57 per cent of Russia's crude output.
  • Since the introduction of the 25 per cent "Russian oil" tariff on July 31, total duties on Indian goods have doubled to 50 per cent.
  • The introduction of the "Russian oil" tariff led to a 37 per cent fall in Indian exports between May and September.
  • GTRI argues that removing the "Russian oil" tariff would halve India's US duty burden from 50 per cent back to 25 per cent.
  • GTRI suggests India seek average industrial tariffs of around 15 per cent and duty-free access for select export sectors, including textiles, gems and jewellery, and pharmaceuticals, to achieve parity with major partners like the European Union.

Headline: Indian Navy to commission first indigenous ASW-SWC 'Mahe' built by CSL

Bullet Points:

  • Defence equipment: Anti-submarine warfare shallow-water craft 'Mahe' – first of eight ASW-SWC being built by Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL), Kochi
  • Commissioning venue: Naval Dockyard, Mumbai
  • Key capabilities: equipped with torpedoes, multi-functional anti-submarine rockets, advanced radars and sonars; designed for submarine hunting, coastal patrol and securing maritime approaches
  • Indigenous content: more than 80 per cent indigenous; showcases India's mastery in warship design, construction and integration under Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative

Similar Headlines

Watershed Mission: Revival of 150-Year-Old Waterbody in Andhra Pradesh (Mid of November) ▼
  • Scheme Name: Watershed Mission (under Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana); Implementing Ministry: Department of Land Resources, Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India
  • Objective: “Conservation of both water and soil” and “save water and ensure water security for future generations”
  • Key Features: 21-acre tank revived at cost of Rs 1.20 crore; 5-acre plantation with 250 coconut trees, walking track, open-air theatre, open gym for multipurpose community use
PM Vishwakarma Scheme: Support for Artisans and Craftspeople (End of August) ▼
  • The Hon’ble Prime Minister launched the PM Vishwakarma scheme on September 17, 2023.
  • The scheme provides recognition through a certificate and ID card, and offers skill upgradation.
  • It includes toolkit incentives and access to collateral-free credit for beneficiaries.
  • The scheme also offers incentives for digital transactions and marketing support to beneficiaries.
India’s First Overseas Defence Plant Inaugurated in Morocco (End of September) ▼
  • First Indian overseas defence manufacturing facility – Tata Advanced Systems Maroc’s Wheeled Armoured Platform 8x8 plant – to be inaugurated by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh at Berrechid, Casablanca province.
  • Facility operational within next 12 months; first vehicles expected in 2027.
  • Bilateral MoU on defence cooperation to be signed, covering exchanges, training and industrial linkages.
Bharat Forge partners with Windracers to deploy ULTRA autonomous cargo UAV in India (Mid of September) ▼
  • Technology: Windracers ULTRA autonomous cargo UAV with industry-leading payload capacity and proven multi-mission resilience in Antarctic research missions.
  • Partners: Bharat Forge (India) and Windracers Limited (UK) signed MoU at DSEI UK 2025 in London for deployment, localisation and application across India.
  • Key objectives: Enable safe and efficient transport over hazardous and inaccessible terrain; support tri-service needs for naval, air and land domains.
  • Defence alignment: Fits Indian Ministry of Defence 15-year roadmap prioritising unmanned logistics, naval operations, high-altitude supply chains and dual-use technologies.
  • Commercial scope: Initial two-year term for joint trials, localisation and shaping a definitive agreement; leverages UK-India FTA and India-UK Vision 2035 goals.

Headline: US to hold five-day military drills in Trinidad and Tobago amid tensions with Venezuela

Bullet Points:

  • The United States will hold five-day military drills in Trinidad and Tobago.
  • The drills will involve the US Marine Corps’ 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit.
  • The exercises are being held amid tensions with Venezuela and criticism from Nicolás Maduro.
  • The US Marine Corps’ 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit is stationed in the Caribbean as part of what Washington describes as a mission to “disrupt illicit drug trafficking.”
  • Trinidad and Tobago’s government said the exercises will help both forces better understand each other’s tactics and operations, while also allowing American troops to train local security personnel to respond to domestic threats such as drug crimes and gang activity.
  • Washington sent a warship, the USS Gravely, to the country’s capital last month.
  • The aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford is moving closer to Venezuelan waters.

Similar Headlines

Iran's Navy Conducts "Sustainable Power 1404" Military Drill (End of August) ▼
  • The drill is named the "Sustainable Power 1404" exercise.
  • Iran's navy conducted the exercise.
  • The drill took place on Thursday, Aug. 21, 2025.
  • The exercise was held in the Gulf of Oman and the Indian Ocean.
  • The frigate IRIS Sabalan and a smaller vessel, the IRIS Ganaveh, launched Nasir and Qadir cruise missiles at targets in the sea, striking them.
  • It is Iran's first military exercise since the end of its 12-day war with Israel, with authorities trying to project strength.
US Launches Operation SOUTHERN SPEAR in Latin America (Mid of November) ▼
  • United States Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth formally announced the launch of a US military operation called “Operation SOUTHERN SPEAR.”
  • The mission is “Led by Joint Task Force Southern Spear and @SOUTHCOM.”
  • The stated objective of the mission is to “defend our Homeland, remove narco-terrorists from our Hemisphere, and secure our Homeland from the drugs that are killing our people.”
  • SOUTHCOM’s area of responsibility “covers 31 countries through South America, Central America and the Caribbean.”
  • The USS Gerald R Ford, described as “the most advanced US aircraft carrier, is expected to arrive off the coast of Venezuela within days.”
  • Venezuela’s Ministry of Defence mobilized “almost 200,000 troops… for a two-day exercise to improve Venezuela’s readiness to respond to the “imperialist threat”.”
US, South Korea, Japan launch 'Freedom Edge' trilateral drills off Jeju Island (Mid of September) ▼
  • Exercise Name: Freedom Edge (trilateral air and naval drills)
  • Participants: United States, South Korea, Japan
  • Location: Off South Korea’s Jeju Island
  • Duration: Monday to Friday (no specific dates given)
  • Key Features: Enhanced ballistic-missile and air-defence scenarios; described by US Indo-Pacific Command as 'the most advanced demonstration of trilateral defence cooperation to date'
  • Stated Objective: Improve allies’ ability to counter North Korean nuclear and missile threats (per South Korean Defence Ministry)
South Korea And United States Begin Ulchi Freedom Shield 2025 Military Exercise (End of August) ▼
  • South Korea and United States begin Ulchi Freedom Shield 2025 Military Exercise. "South Korea And United States Begin Ulchi Freedom Shield 2025 Military Exercise To Reinforce Regional Security."
  • The exercise launched on August 18, 2025. "On August 18, 2025, South Korea and the United States launched the annual Ulchi Freedom Shield military exercise..."
  • The drills are conducted over 11 days. "Conducted over 11 days, the drills are designed to enhance combined operational readiness against potential threats, especially from North Korea."
  • The drills are designed to enhance combined operational readiness against potential threats, especially from North Korea. "Conducted over 11 days, the drills are designed to enhance combined operational readiness against potential threats, especially from North Korea."
  • This year’s exercise integrates large-scale field training, computer simulations, and civil defense mobilization. "This year’s exercise integrates large-scale field training, computer simulations, and civil defense mobilization involving hundreds of thousands of participants nationwide."
  • Nearly half of the planned 40 field training exercises have been postponed until September due to extreme heat and logistical adjustments. "although nearly half of the planned 40 field training exercises have been postponed until September due to extreme heat and logistical adjustments."

Headline: Celebrating India's Tribal Heritage: The 12th Samvad Conclave Kicks Off in Jamshedpur

Bullet Points:

  • The 12th edition of Samvad conclave is a five-day event held at Gopal Maidan from November 15 to 19.
  • The conclave coincides with Jharkhand's 25th Statehood Day and the 150th birth anniversary of Birsa Munda.
  • It brings together 2,500 participants representing 153 tribes from 26 states and Union Territories.
  • Mornings are dedicated to dialogue across multiple venues, and evenings feature cultural performances at Gopal Maidan.
  • There are 51 outlets showcasing tribal handicrafts and 30 stalls for tribal healing practices.
  • The four key elements of the conclave are 'tribal cuisine, healers, handicrafts, samuday ka sath'.

Similar Headlines

Sarpanch Samvaad National Quality Conclave: Digital Empowerment and Good Governance Challenge for Rural Development (Mid of September) ▼
  • The Sarpanch Samvaad National Quality Conclave was hosted by "The Quality Council of India (QCI) , in collaboration with the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation (DDWS), Ministry of Jal Shakti and the Ministry of Panchayati Raj".
  • The event was "centered around the theme “Viksit Gram se Viksit Bharat”".
  • The conclave marked "the successful onboarding of over 60,000 Sarpanchs from across India onto the Sarpanch Samvaad mobile application , creating the nation’s first digital community of grassroots leaders".
  • The Sarpanch Samvaad mobile application "enables sarpanchs to share solutions, exchange ideas, and collaborate digitally to accelerate rural development."
  • A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed "between QCI and DDWS , symbolizing a shared national commitment to water and sanitation-led rural development".
  • The conclave announced "the 100-Day Good Governance Challenge on the Sarpanch Samvaad mobile application".
  • The 100-Day Good Governance Challenge is "to run from September 17, 2025 (Prime Minister’s birthday) until December 25, 2025 (Good Governance Day)".
  • The challenge "will mobilize Sarpanch-led campaigns across the country, reinforcing Panchayats as catalysts of rural progress and good governance".
Digvijay Diwas observed on September 11 annually (Mid of September) ▼
  • Digvijay Diwas is observed every year on September 11.
  • It commemorates Swami Vivekananda’s historic speech at the World’s Parliament of Religions in Chicago in 1893.
  • The day celebrates India’s spiritual heritage, unity, and universal brotherhood.
  • Swami Vivekananda’s speech highlighted India’s values of tolerance, acceptance, and the vision of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” — the world as one family.
  • The purpose of celebrating Digvijay Diwas is to inspire youth with Swami Vivekananda’s teachings on tolerance, inclusivity, and spiritual strength.
Dindi Mahotsav: A Historic State-Level Celebration in Margao (Start of November) ▼
  • The Dindi Mahotsav is celebrating its 116th edition.
  • The festival was accorded the status of a state-level celebration by the government earlier this year.
  • The Dindi festival celebrates Kartiki Ekadashi, marking the end of the four-month Chaturmas period in the Hindu calendar.
  • The tradition began in 1909 when devotees of Shree Vithal Rakhumayee from Maharashtra, who settled in Goa during Portuguese rule, started the festival.
  • The festival originated because devotees were unable to undertake their pilgrimage to Pandharpur due to travel restrictions imposed by the foreign regime.
  • The main event of the festival is the procession of the deity’s palanquin from Shree Harimandir at Pajifond to Shree Vithal Mandir at Comba and returning to Shree Harimandir.
  • The Dindi is known for its sangeet maifals and bhajani baithaks.
  • Legendary performers including Bal Gandharva, Pt Bhimsen Joshi, Pt Jasraj, and Pt Jeetendra Abhisheki have graced the festival.
Grand 10th Gita Jayanti Mahotsav in Kurukshetra (Mid of November) ▼
  • The 10th Gita Jayanti Mahotsav in Kurukshetra is set to be a grand spiritual and cultural event.
  • The festival is running from November 15th to December 5th.
  • Madhya Pradesh is a partner in this international event.
  • December 1st will see massive global Gita recitations.
  • The festival aligns with the 350th martyrdom anniversary of Guru Teg Bahadur.

Headline: Noted alt-country singer-songwriter Todd Snider passes away

Bullet Points:

  • Todd Snider, a beloved figure in American roots music, died at age 59.
  • His label announced the death on Saturday, stating he had been hospitalized with pneumonia in Hendersonville, Tennessee.
  • Snider's recent tour was cancelled after he was assaulted in the Salt Lake City area and later arrested following an incident at a hospital.

Similar Headlines

Acting legend Robert Redford dies aged 89 (Mid of September) ▼
  • US acting legend Redford, best known for roles in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and The Sting, has died at the age of 89.
  • Robert Redford passed away on September 16 at his home at Sundance in the mountains of Utah - the place he loved, surrounded by those he loved.
  • Redford, also famous for founding Utah's Sundance Film Festival, won a best director Oscar in 1980 for Ordinary People.
  • He announced his retirement from performing in 2018, having said in 2016 that he was 'tired of acting'.
  • Redford was also a keen environmental campaigner.
  • He leaves behind his wife Sibylle Szaggars who he married in 2009, according to CBS News.
  • He is survived by two daughters - Shauna, an artist, and Amy, a director.
Celebrated Assamese singer Zubeen Garg passes away at 52 in Singapore (End of September) ▼
  • Celebrated Assamese singer and cultural icon Zubeen Garg has tragically passed away.
  • He was 52 and died following a scuba-diving accident in Singapore.
  • Garg gained nationwide fame with the haunting Bollywood track Ya Ali from the film Gangster (2006).
  • His versatility extended beyond playback singing — he was also a composer, actor, and philanthropist, actively involved in youth and social causes.
  • Zubeen had travelled to Singapore to participate in the North East Festival, where he was scheduled to perform.
Jaswinder Bhalla, legendary Punjabi actor-comedian, passes away at 65 (End of August) ▼
  • Jaswinder Bhalla, legendary Punjabi actor-comedian, passed away at the age of 65.
  • He passed away in a Mohali hospital on Friday morning after a short illness.
  • He was widely recognized for his performances in hit Punjabi films like 'Carry on Jatta' and 'Jatt & Juliet 2'.
  • His career spanned over three decades.
  • He was last seen on screen in the 2024 release 'Shinda Shinda No Papa'.
  • He is survived by his wife, Parmdeep Kaur, and son, Pukhraj Bhalla.

Headline: Rediscovery of 'Lost' Killifish Moema claudiae in Bolivia's Fragile Wetlands

Bullet Points:

  • A rare killifish, Moema claudiae, thought extinct for over two decades, has been rediscovered in a small Bolivian pond.
  • Moema claudiae was last recorded more than 20 years ago at its original collection site in Bolivia, which has since been destroyed and converted into agricultural land.
  • The species held a status of “Critically Endangered (Possibly Extinct)” according to IUCN criteria.
  • Researchers Heinz Arno Drawert and Thomas Otto Litz made the discovery of a surviving population.
  • The finding was published in the journal Nature Conservation.
  • The rediscovery site is located where the Amazon rainforest transitions into the Llanos de Moxos, a mosaic of wetlands, savannas, and forest patches.
  • The rediscovery site also revealed six additional species of seasonal killifish, making it the most genetically diverse assemblage of seasonal killifish ever recorded worldwide.
  • Moema claudiae was named by renowned ichthyologist Professor Wilson Costa in honour of his wife, Claudia.
  • In the last 25 years, Bolivia has lost nearly 10 million hectares of forest, including vast wetland areas essential for seasonal fish species, largely driven by expanding agriculture.
  • Seasonal killifish like Moema claudiae survive in temporary pools that dry out for months at a time, with their eggs remaining dormant in the soil until rains return, a strategy known as diapause.

Similar Headlines

Study Uncovers Survival Mechanisms of Japan's Ghost Plants in Sunless Forests (Start of November) ▼
  • Ghost plants of Japan are unique flora found in shaded forests, thriving without sunlight.
  • These plants lack chlorophyll and do not photosynthesise, instead relying entirely on underground fungal networks for carbon and nutrients.
  • A peer-reviewed study published in Annals of Botany explains their fascinating adaptation to darkness and fully mycoheterotrophic nature.
  • The ghost plants belong to families such as Thismia, Gastrodia, and Monotropastrum, forming mycoheterotrophic relationships with fungi, often from families like Ceratobasidiaceae.
  • Their survival depends on a complex tripartite relationship involving a tree, a fungus, and the ghost plant, which is essential for their survival and the health of forest ecosystems.
  • Ghost plants challenge the understanding of plant survival by demonstrating a continuum from mixotrophy to full mycoheterotrophy, with albino individuals showing full fungal reliance.
  • These plants are indicators of healthy, undisturbed forests and are highly vulnerable, as they cannot be cultivated independently and are susceptible to habitat destruction or soil changes.
Amazon Climate Experiment: COP30 Prep, Biome Adaptation Insights (End of October) ▼
  • Deep in Brazil's Amazon, scientists have built a 'time machine' pumping carbon dioxide into the rainforest canopy to simulate atmospheric conditions predicted for the future to gauge how the biome adapts.
  • At the AmazonFACE project near Manaus, the largest city in the Amazon, six rings of steel towers loom above the jungle canopy, each surrounding groups of 50 to 70 mature trees.
  • After baseline testing, scientists will fumigate trees in three of the rings with carbon dioxide at levels simulating climate forecasts for coming decades, while the rest serve as control samples.
  • Carlos Quesada, a coordinator for the National Institute for Amazon Research INPA, which is leading the experiment alongside Universidade Estadual de Campinas.
  • FACE, short for Free-Air CO2 Enrichment, will let Quesada and his team of scientists study the effects of elevated carbon dioxide levels on the rainforest giants and surrounding plant life.
  • This is the first experiment in a natural forest of this size in the tropics.
  • The project is supported by Brazil's federal government and the United Kingdom.
  • The insights from this experiment address 'an open question to be discussed at the COP30 United Nations climate summit hosted by the country next month'.
Hundreds of Amazon Dolphins Perish in Brazil's Lake Tefé Due to Extreme Heatwave and Drought (Start of November) ▼
  • Hundreds of Amazon river dolphins, along with vast numbers of fish, perished in Brazil's Lake Tefé.
  • The lake's water surged to 41°C, described as hotter than a hot tub, during a severe drought and blistering heatwave.
  • More than 153 dolphins, including 130 pink Amazon river dolphins and 23 tucuxis, were found dead in the first week of the die-off.
  • Both the pink Amazon river dolphins and tucuxis species are already endangered.
  • Hydrologist Ayan Fleischmann of the Mamirauá Institute for Sustainable Development described the lake as feeling like a giant heated pool.
  • A study published in Science links the tragedy to a convergence of climate conditions: severe drought, intense sun exposure, low wind, and sediment-rich water.
  • Satellite records show Amazon lakes are warming faster than the global average, rising roughly 0.6°C per decade since the 1990s.
  • Scientists warn this event, driven by climate change, is a stark preview of future ecological crises.
Panama meeting: Parties fail to agree on recommendations for Convention on Biological Diversity (End of October) ▼
  • At the 27th Meeting of the Subsidiary Body for Scientific Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA-27) of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), delegates failed to produce a clear set of recommendations for COP17 in Yerevan, Armenia slated to be held from October 19-30, 2026.
  • The five-day meeting ended on October 24, 2025, in Panama.
  • It was tasked to discuss a variety of issues including the first global progress report on the Kunming Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF).
  • Despite the fact that the meeting closed late at night, around 11:02 pm, the text of recommendations remained heavily bracketed.
  • Large parts of the discussions at this meeting revolved around the first global progress report on the KMGBF’s 23 targets to be met by 2030.
  • The SBSTTA meeting is followed by the historic first meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Article 8(j) and Other Provisions of the CBD Related to Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs) (SB8j).
  • This meeting opened on October 27 in Panama and will continue till October 30.

Headline: ISRO targets 2028 for Chandrayaan-4 lunar sample-return mission and triples spacecraft output

Bullet Points:

  • ISRO Chairman V Narayanan: "the government has approved the Chandrayaan-4 mission, designed as a lunar sample-return mission"
  • Chandrayaan-4 objective: "will attempt to bring back samples from the moon — a capability currently demonstrated only by the US, Russia and China"
  • LUPEX mission: "joint lunar polar exploration programme with JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency)" aiming to "study water ice at the lunar south pole"
  • Space station plan: "first of the five modules will be placed in orbit by 2028" with full Indian Space Station targeted for completion "by 2035"
  • Human spaceflight timeline: "crewed mission was always planned for 2027" with "three uncrewed test missions" to precede it

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ISRO targets seven missions including first uncrewed Gaganyaan flight by March 2026 (Start of November) ▼
  • ISRO Chairman V Narayanan: 'We have planned seven launches to take place before the end of this financial year. It is by March 2026.'
  • First uncrewed Gaganyaan mission 'G1 Mission' scheduled before March 2026; three uncrewed missions planned before crewed flight.
  • Next launch after CMS-03 will be an LVM3 carrying 'a commercial communication satellite for a client.'
  • Three additional PSLV missions planned, one for NSIL customer satellite and one technology-development mission PSLV-N1.
  • GSLV-F17 rocket mission also slated before March 2026 as part of the seven-mission target.
National Space Day 2025 observed on 23 August: Theme “Aryabhatta to Gaganyaan: Ancient Wisdom to Infinite Possibilities” (End of August) ▼
  • National Space Day is celebrated on 23 August to mark the historic soft landing of Chandrayaan-3 on the Moon’s south pole on 23 August 2023.
  • The theme for National Space Day 2025 is “Aryabhatta to Gaganyaan: Ancient Wisdom to Infinite Possibilities.”
  • ISRO was founded under the guidance of Dr. Vikram Sarabhai, often called the father of India’s space programme.
  • India’s first satellite Aryabhata was launched in 1975.
  • Mangalyaan (2013) made India the first Asian nation to reach Mars orbit.
  • Chandrayaan-3’s landing near the Moon’s south pole made India the first country to land in that region and only the fourth to achieve a soft landing on the Moon.
Union Minister Jitendra Singh announces Bharatiya Antariksh Station by 2035 and Indian crewed Moon mission by 2040 (Mid of August) ▼
  • Target: operational Bharatiya Antariksh Station by 2035
  • Target: Indian crewed mission to the Moon by 2040
  • Department of Space and Technology technologies were used during Operation Sindoor
  • Space sector reforms under Prime Minister Narendra Modi opened the sector to private players and spurred start-ups
  • Space sector contributions are aiding the goal of Viksit Bharat by 2047
ISRO targets December 2026 completion for Kulasekarapattinam second launch complex (Start of September) ▼
  • ISRO Chairman V Narayanan states "All the work will be over by December 2026--that is our target" for the Kulasekarapattinam launch complex
  • The facility, spread over "2300 acres of land", will be India's second launch complex after Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh
  • Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) missions carrying "a payload of 500 kg up to an altitude of 400 km" will be launched from Kulasekarapattinam
  • ISRO anticipates "20-25 satellite launches" annually from the new spaceport once operational
  • Prime Minister Modi laid the foundation stone for the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle Complex (SLC) at Kulasekarapattinam in February 2024

Headline: Scientists extract ancient RNA from 39,000-year-old woolly mammoth 'Yuka'

Bullet Points:

  • Researchers led by Stockholm University paleogeneticist Love Dalén extracted RNA from the permafrost-preserved woolly mammoth named Yuka found in eastern Siberia.
  • The recovered RNA fragments, though short, were computationally verified as authentic woolly mammoth sequences, offering the first snapshot of gene activity in an extinct animal.
  • RNA from Yuka’s muscle tissue matched genes for slow-twitch muscle function and development, confirming the tissue type and showing cellular processes frozen at death.
  • Additional RNA indicated stress-related gene activity in the mammoth’s muscles, consistent with—though not exclusively proving—an attack by cave lions or another stressful event.
  • Genetic analysis of Yuka’s DNA revealed one X and one Y chromosome, contradicting the initial visual inspection that had classified the mammoth as female.

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Perseverance rover finds strongest-yet potential biosignatures in Bright Angel mudstones (Mid of September) ▼
  • Discovery: Organic carbon plus vivianite and greigite minerals detected in mudstone, forming distinctive nodules and reaction-front textures consistent with low-temperature microbial redox processes
  • Location: Bright Angel region within Jezero Crater’s ancient river/lake sedimentary deposits
  • Sample: Core named Sapphire Canyon collected by Perseverance rover and prioritized for eventual Mars Sample Return
  • Significance: Described as “strongest evidence yet” of potential past life, though abiotic formation pathways remain plausible
  • Next step: Laboratory analysis on Earth needed to test biological vs abiotic origins via isotopic and microstructural studies
Nagaland fossil leaves reveal Antarctic glaciation triggered intensified Indian monsoon 34 million years ago (Mid of September) ▼
  • Discovery: Well-preserved fossil leaves from the Laisong Formation, Nagaland, dated ~34 million years, indicating a warm, wet palaeoclimate.
  • Institutions: Study led by Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences (Lucknow) and Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology (Dehradun), DST autonomous institutes.
  • Key finding: Growth of Antarctic ice sheets shifted the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) toward the tropics, boosting rainfall and temperatures in India and spurring monsoon evolution.
  • Method: CLAMP (Climate Leaf Analysis Multivariate Program) applied to fossil-leaf size, shape, and structure for quantitative palaeoclimate reconstruction.
  • Implication: Modern Antarctic ice melt could again shift the ITCZ, potentially disrupting present-day Indian monsoon rainfall patterns.
Ice Age dragonfly Crocothemis erythraea rediscovered in high-elevation Western Ghats (Start of September) ▼
  • Species: Crocothemis erythraea, an elusive dragonfly previously misidentified as the lowland Crocothemis servilia.
  • Location: High-elevation regions (>550 m) of the southern Western Ghats, including Munnar, Wagamon, Rajakumari, Pampadum Shola, and Parambikulam.
  • Confirmation method: Specimens collected between 2019 and 2023 were analysed using morphological features (male genitalia, hamule structure) and DNA barcoding.
  • Study lead: Kalesh Sadasivan, lead author of the study published in the International Journal of Odonatology.
  • Historical context: C. erythraea colonised southern India during the Pleistocene Ice Age and survived in isolated montane habitats as the climate warmed.
Elusive Dragonfly Species Crocothemis erythraea Reconfirmed in Western Ghats (Start of September) ▼
  • The elusive dragonfly species, Crocothemis erythraea, has been reconfirmed in the high-elevation regions of the southern Western Ghats.
  • The species had previously been misidentified or overlooked in this region due to its close resemblance to the more widespread lowland species, Crocothemis servilia.
  • Crocothemis erythraea is known from high-elevation habitats in parts of Europe and Asia, including the Himalayas.
  • Kalesh Sadasivan is the lead author of the study published in the International Journal of Odonatology.
  • Field expeditions between 2019 and 2023 were conducted in high-altitude sites across the Western Ghats, including Wagamon, Rajakumari, Pampadum Shola and Parambikulam.
  • Specimens were collected and analysed using both morphological and molecular techniques, including DNA barcoding.
  • The molecular analysis showed that the high-elevation specimens from the Western Ghats match C. erythraea found in the Himalayas.
  • The study confirmed that the Western Ghats hosts C. erythraea, which is restricted to cool, high-elevation habitats (>550 m), while C. servilia is common in lowland habitats (<600 m).
  • Researchers explain that C. erythraea colonised southern India during the Pleistocene Ice Age, when cooler climatic conditions allowed temperate fauna to extend their range southward.

Headline: 10th Film Preservation and Restoration Workshop India 2025 inaugurated by Waheeda Rehman in Odisha

Bullet Points:

  • The 10th Film Preservation and Restoration Workshop India 2025 was inaugurated in Bhubaneswar, Odisha.
  • Legendary actress Waheeda Rehman praised the Film Heritage Foundation's preservation efforts at the opening ceremony.
  • The Outstanding Achievement Award was presented to Robin Baker for his 35-year dedication to archival films.
  • The Champion of Film Heritage Award was conferred upon Surya Deo for documenting Odia cinema.
  • Sanjoy Patnaik received the Champion of Film Heritage Award for preserving stories of Odia cinema pioneers.
  • Rashmiranjan Mohapatra was awarded a Certificate of Appreciation for interpreting classic Odia films through Pattachitra.

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Six-day Indian cinema festival begins in Sri Lanka (Mid of August) ▼
  • A six-day film festival opened today at the Trincomalee campus of Eastern University in Sri Lanka.
  • The festival will showcase six Indian films in different languages.
  • Governor of the Eastern Province, Prof. Jayantha Lal Ratnasekera, inaugurated the event.
  • Prof. Ankuran Dutta, Director of the Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre, underlined the diversity and vibrant character of Indian cinema.
  • Indian cinema is described as 'just 111 years old' and 'one of the world’s most dynamic film industries'.
  • The festival aims to strengthen cultural bonds between India and Sri Lanka through the medium of cinema.
KIFF: Kolkata International Film Festival details (End of October) ▼
  • KIFF stands for the Kolkata International Film Festival.
  • The 31st Kolkata International Film Festival (KIFF) is set to take place from November 6 to 13.
  • KIFF 2025 will shine a special spotlight on Poland through a dedicated exhibition celebrating its cinematic legacy.
10th London East Asia Film Festival: 'Project Y' Wins Best Film Award (Start of November) ▼
  • The 10th London East Asia Film Festival (LEAFF) was held on November 2 in London.
  • 'Project Y,' a female-driven crime noir from director Lee Hwan, won Best Film at the 10th London East Asia Film Festival.
  • The film 'Project Y' stars Han So-hee and Jeon Jong-seo.
  • LEAFF also honored Kang Yoon-sung's 'Run to The' with the Future of Asia Cinema Award.
  • The sold-out closing film 'Kokuho' by Korean-Japanese director Lee Sang-il was screened at the festival.
  • Executive Director Jeon Hye-jung reflected on LEAFF's growth into a major Asian film festival in the UK.
Gyan Bharatam Portal: National Digital Repository for India’s Manuscript Heritage (Mid of September) ▼
  • Portal Name: Gyan Bharatam Portal – inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
  • Objective: "safeguarding and disseminating the wealth of Indian manuscripts" and building "a National Digital Repository".
  • Key Feature: Focuses on "digitisation and public access of India's manuscripts" and engaging "global partnerships for knowledge exchange".

Headline: Eastern Naval Command Hosts Annual Navy Education Society (NES) Conference 2025

Bullet Points:

  • Event Name: "annual Navy Education Society (NES) Conference 2025"
  • Host and Location: "The Eastern Naval Command, Visakhapatnam"
  • Dates: "from November 10 to 13"
  • Key Focus: "policy framework and operational aspects of Naval Schools amidst the transformative implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020."
  • New Participation: "Sankalp Schools - institutions dedicated to fostering education, pre-vocational training, and life-skills development for children with special needs within the Naval community"
  • Chairperson: "VAdm CR Praveen Nair, Controller Personnel Services and Chairperson of NES"

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INS Nistar Makes Maiden Port Call at Singapore to Join Exercise Pacific Reach 2025 (Mid of September) ▼
  • The Indian Navy’s latest indigenously designed and constructed Diving Support Vessel (DSV), INS Nistar, arrived at Changi, Singapore, on 14 September 2025, marking its first overseas port call since commissioning.
  • The vessel will participate in the prestigious multinational Exercise Pacific Reach 2025 (XPR 25), beginning on 15 September 2025, under the operational command of the Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Fleet.
  • Commissioned on 18 July 2025, INS Nistar represents a milestone in India’s Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative, achieving over 80% indigenisation.
  • INS Nistar is designed to serve as a mothership (MoSHIP) for the Indian Navy’s Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicles (DSRVs), which are critical for submarine rescue operations.
  • Hosted by Singapore, Exercise Pacific Reach 2025 will bring together over 40 nations, either as active participants or observers.
  • The exercise will be conducted in two distinct phases: Harbour Phase (Week-long) and Sea Phase (South China Sea).
India participates in 4th Coast Guard Global Summit in Rome, eyes 2027 presidency bid (Mid of September) ▼
  • A two-member Indian Coast Guard (ICG) delegation, led by Director General Paramesh Sivamani, is participating in the 4th Coast Guard Global Summit (CGGS).
  • The summit is being held in Rome, Italy, from September 11–12.
  • The event is hosted under the co-chairmanship of Italy and Japan.
  • The CGGS focuses on strengthening multilateral efforts in maritime safety, marine environmental protection, and maritime law enforcement.
  • India made a notable contribution with an expert lecture titled ‘Guardians Against the Blaze: ICG’s Tactical Response to Fire Emergencies’.
  • India has announced its intention to bid for the Presidency of the 5th Coast Guard Global Summit in 2027, which it hopes to host.
India-Japan Maritime Exercise JAIMEX-25 held west of Kyushu (End of October) ▼
  • Exercise name: Japan-India Maritime Exercise (JAIMEX-25); participants: Indian Navy's INS Sahyadri and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force ships Asahi, Oumi, and Submarine Jinryu
  • Sea phase location: west of Kyushu; harbour phase location: Yokosuka Port, Japan
  • Key activities: advanced anti-submarine warfare and missile defence drills, flying operations, underway replenishment, professional and cultural exchanges, joint operational planning, yoga session
CNS Admiral Tripathi visits US to strengthen maritime partnership; Exercise Malabar 2025 underway (Mid of November) ▼
  • Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, embarked on an official visit to the United States aimed at further enhancing the longstanding maritime partnership between the Indian Navy and the United States Navy.
  • During his visit, Admiral Tripathi is scheduled to hold discussions with senior officials of the US Department of War and meet top US naval leadership, including Commander of the United States Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM), Admiral Samuel J. Paparo, and Commander of the United States Pacific Fleet (USPACFLT), Admiral Stephen T. Koehler.
  • The CNS's visit coincides with the multilateral naval exercise, Exercise Malabar 2025.
  • Exercise Malabar 2025 is a major Indo-Pacific maritime drill aimed at strengthening interoperability and coordination among the four partner nations--India, the US, Japan, and Australia.
  • Exercise Malabar 2025 is held in the West Pacific training area from November 10 to 18.
  • First established as a bilateral India-US exercise in 1992, Exercise Malabar has since evolved into a key maritime activity of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad), involving Australia, Japan, India, and the United States.

Headline: Qatar successfully trials first autonomous eVTOL urban flight

Bullet Points:

  • Qatar has successfully trialed its first autonomous eVTOL air taxi, marking a milestone in smart urban mobility.
  • The AI-powered flight operated without human intervention, conducted between the Old Doha Port and Katara Cultural Village.
  • The Ministry of Transport (MoT), under the leadership of HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulla bin Mohammed Al Thani, demonstrated a safe, AI-enabled flight.
  • The trial flight leveraged a full self-control system powered by artificial intelligence and advanced air navigation technologies.
  • The MoT plans phased development, regulatory frameworks, and infrastructure upgrades to integrate safe, efficient, and eco-friendly air transport into Qatar’s future mobility network.
  • The unmanned air taxi project will advance in multiple consecutive phases, carefully considering technical, operational, and regulatory requirements.
  • The initiative supports Qatar’s broader goals under the National Development Strategy 3 (NDS3) and Qatar National Vision 2030 (QNV 2030), particularly in reducing carbon emissions and improving quality of life.

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Delhi and Oslo Forge 'DOSTI' Partnership to Drive E-mobility (End of August) ▼
  • The Delhi-Oslo Smart Transport Initiative (DOSTI) partnership has been announced between the capitals of India and Norway.
  • The collaboration aims to accelerate the adoption of urban e-mobility solutions.
  • The announcement was made by Delhi's Transport Minister, Pankaj Kumar Singh, who outlined the city's ambition to become the 'EV capital' by 2030, supported by a robust charging infrastructure.
  • Delhi stands to benefit from Oslo's global leadership in developing public charging infrastructure.
  • Oslo can learn from Delhi's remarkable progress in deploying electric buses.
  • The partnership, facilitated by the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT), will focus on cross-learning opportunities.
  • The collaboration also extends beyond road transport to include zero-emission construction machinery, an area where Oslo has made significant strides, with a 100 per cent zero-emission municipal construction target for 2025.
TCS and CEA Partner to Advance Physical AI in France (Mid of September) ▼
  • Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has signed a partnership with CEA, a French public research organisation.
  • The collaboration aims to develop and industrialise Physical AI solutions.
  • TCS and CEA’s List institute for intelligent digital systems will collaborate on the design, development, and deployment of Physical AI-powered systems for practical applications.
  • The partnership aims to deliver scalable solutions for industries including manufacturing, logistics, and automation.
  • Physical AI combines robotics, artificial intelligence, and intelligent systems to enable machines to perceive, interpret, and interact with the physical world, supporting digital transformation in industrial processes.
  • Areas of collaboration include development of adaptable robots capable of learning and performing varied tasks; human-robot interaction systems designed for industrial environments; and socially assistive robots to support and guide humans in social contexts.
  • CEA’s expertise in physical AI includes projects such as brain-controlled exoskeletons for tetraplegic patients, self-driving vehicle research, and advances in haptic telepresence and dexterous handling.
  • The organisation co-directs the French national programme in Organic Robotics and coordinates the European roadmap for AI-powered robotics.
  • The collaboration will also be supported by the TCS Pace Port research and innovation centre in Paris.
Uber Plans Fleet of 100,000 Nvidia-Powered Robotaxis (End of October) ▼
  • Uber Technologies Inc. is setting a goal to eventually have a fleet of 100,000 autonomous vehicles.
  • These autonomous vehicles will be powered by Nvidia Corp. technology.
  • The companies expect the expansion of this fleet to start in 2027.
  • The announcement builds on an earlier partnership between Uber and Nvidia struck in January.
  • Uber agreed to offer some of its driving data to help improve Nvidia’s artificial intelligence models and chip technology.
  • Nvidia’s artificial intelligence models and chip technology are designed for carmakers to use to develop autonomous vehicles.
18th Urban Mobility India (UMI) Conference and Expo 2025: Objectives and Focus Areas (Mid of November) ▼
  • The Gurugram Metro Rail Limited (GMRL) will host the 18th Urban Mobility India (UMI) Conference and Expo 2025 in Gurugram.
  • The objective of the event is sharing best practices in urban mobility at the national and global level.
  • The conference will feature technical sessions related to urban transportation, modernising public transport, e-mobility, road safety, traffic management, and sustainable development.
  • Experts, policymakers, city planners, and industry representatives from across the country and abroad will be attending the event.

Headline: Dubai to Launch World's First Urban Aerial Taxi Network in 2026

Bullet Points:

  • Dubai is set to launch the world's first comprehensive urban aerial taxi network in 2026.
  • The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has named four priority vertiport locations: Dubai International Airport (DXB), Downtown Dubai, Dubai Marina, and Palm Jumeirah.
  • The RTA, in partnership with US-based Joby Aviation, successfully completed the UAE's first crewed electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) flight.
  • This breakthrough flight saw the air taxi lift off from the Dubai Jetman Helipad in Margham and land 17 minutes later at Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC).
  • The primary vertiport hub at Dubai International Airport (DXB) is being constructed by Skyports Infrastructure, is 60% complete, and will be seamlessly connected to the Emirates Metro Station.
  • The vehicle at the heart of the service is the fully electric Joby S4 air taxi, designed to carry a pilot and four passengers.
  • The Joby S4 air taxi boasts a maximum speed of 320 km/h and has a flight range of 160 km on a single charge.
  • The trip from Dubai International Airport (DXB) to Palm Jumeirah is expected to take only 10 to 12 minutes by air, a journey that currently takes approximately 45 minutes by car.

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Dubai International Airport debuts AI-powered corridor that clears immigration in 14 seconds (Mid of August) ▼
  • Technology: AI-powered passenger corridor using facial recognition and pre-registered biometric data to verify identity
  • Capacity: Corridor can process up to 10 passengers simultaneously
  • Processing time: Immigration clearance completed in as little as 14 seconds
  • Elimination of traditional checks: Removes need for passport counters, smart gates or manual checks
  • Deployment: First rolled out in Terminal 3's First and Business Class lounges, with expansion planned across more terminals
Dubai launches One Freezone Passport allowing single license use across multiple free zones (End of August) ▼
  • The Dubai Free Zones Council (DFZC) launched the One Freezone Passport initiative on July 22, 2025.
  • The initiative enables a single license issued in one Dubai free zone to be used across multiple participating free zones.
  • The reform aligns with the Dubai Economic Agenda D33, aimed at doubling the emirate’s GDP by 2033.
13th India-UAE High Level Task Force on Investments co-chaired by Piyush Goyal and Sheikh Hamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan (End of September) ▼
  • Co-chairs: Union commerce minister Piyush Goyal and Sheikh Hamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, managing director of the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority
  • Agenda includes review of India-UAE CEPA, Double Taxation Treaty, and UAE-India Central Bank matters
  • Exploration of investment opportunities in maritime and space sectors identified as having strong growth potential
UDAN Scheme Extended Beyond April 2027: 649 Routes Operationalised (End of October) ▼
  • Scheme Name: UDAN (Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik); Launch: October 21, 2016; first flight 27 April 2017
  • Objective: Regional air connectivity; 649 routes operationalised connecting 93 unserved/underserved airports, 15 heliports, 2 water aerodromes
  • Financials: Over ₹4,300 crore disbursed as Viability Gap Funding to airlines; ₹4,638 crore invested for airport development
  • Future Plan: Scheme to continue beyond April 2027 with expanded framework targeting hilly, North-Eastern and aspirational regions and around 120 new destinations

Headline: Oman Airports First Globally to Deploy Wi-Fi 7

Bullet Points:

  • Oman Airports has become the first airport operator globally to roll out Wi‑Fi 7.
  • The upgrade was introduced in partnership with Huawei and is fully operational across the country’s airports.
  • Wi‑Fi 7 delivers ultra-high bandwidth and can support a far larger number of simultaneous users.
  • The rollout covers departure halls, check-in counters, retail spaces, and dining areas.
  • It enhances connectivity for more than 40,000 daily travellers at Muscat International Airport alone.
  • The deployment supports both passenger use and critical airport operations.
  • This initiative aligns with Oman Vision 2040, which emphasises smart infrastructure and world-class digital services.

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Yatri Sewa Diwas 2025: Pan-India Passenger Service Initiative Launched (Mid of September) ▼
  • Scheme Name: 'Yatri Sewa Diwas 2025' launched by Union Minister of Civil Aviation Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu from Hindon Airport.
  • Objective: Improve passenger experience and reaffirm commitment to seamless, dignified travel under the 'Passenger First' principle.
  • Key Features: Free medical check-ups (especially for women under 'Swastha Nari, Sashakt Parivar Abhiyan'), cultural performances, quiz/painting contests, blood donation camp, eye check-ups for taxi drivers, tree plantation under 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam', Wi-Fi enablement of all airports under Digital India Mission.
Oman aims for 1 million Indian tourists annually, holds 'Focus Oman' roadshow in Jaipur (End of August) ▼
  • Oman is actively working to attract one million Indian tourists annually.
  • Around 7 lakh tourists from India visited the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member nation last year.
  • A recent 'Focus Oman' roadshow was held in Jaipur.
  • The stress for attracting tourists will be on more weddings, MICE sector and adventure campaigns.
  • The roadshow brought together 25 Omani tourism entities and 150 Indian tour operators.
Qatar to host 'Doha Tattoo' international military music festival (Mid of November) ▼
  • Qatar will host the inaugural Doha Tattoo, an international military music and marching festival.
  • The festival will be held from December 16–20, 2025, at Katara Cultural Village.
  • The festival will feature bands from seven countries.
  • It will be held under the patronage of H.E. Sheikh Khalifa bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Qatar’s Minister of Interior and Commander of the Internal Security Force (Lekhwiya).
UIDAI onboards Starlink for Aadhaar-based customer verification (End of August) ▼
  • Starlink Satellite Communication Pvt Ltd has been appointed as a sub-authentication user agency and sub-eKYC user agency by UIDAI.
  • Starlink will use Aadhaar e-KYC to verify customers, making the onboarding process smooth, secure and very easy.
  • Aadhaar authentication will be voluntary as per existing rules.
  • Starlink is promoted by US tech billionaire Elon Musk and is described as the world’s largest space-based communication company.
  • UIDAI states the partnership demonstrates the scalability and reliability of India’s digital infrastructure.

Headline: MeitY Notifies Digital Personal Data Protection Rules, 2025, Begins Phased Rollout

Bullet Points:

  • MeitY notifies digital personal data protection Rules, 2025, beginning a phased rollout of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023.
  • The framework sets clear rules for how companies, digital platforms, and government bodies must collect, store, process, and manage the personal data of individuals (“Data Principals”).
  • The operational rules specify a phased rollout: general duties, grievance redressal provisions, and other foundational obligations under Rules 1, 2, and 17‑21 are effective immediately; the registration and governance of Consent Managers under Rule 4 will be applicable one year from notification; and the detailed notice formats, security measures, processing conditions, data retention norms, and remaining operational rules under Rules 3, 5‑16, 22‑23 will apply in full after 18 months.
  • A significant addition through the new rules is the establishment of a formal framework for Consent Managers, who must be registered with the Data Protection Board and comply with governance, transparency, and security requirements.
  • The Rules also lay down standards for encryption, masking, tokenisation, access controls, activity logging, backup systems, and business-continuity planning, making these safeguards mandatory for all fiduciaries.
  • In the event of a data breach, fiduciaries must provide immediate intimation to the Board and deliver a fuller report within 72 hours while simultaneously informing affected users about the nature of the breach, potential harm, and mitigation steps.
  • The Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act is India’s first full-scale privacy law, introducing explicit and affirmative consent for data processing and codifying a clear set of rights for individuals, including withdrawing consent, correcting or erasing data, and seeking timely grievance redressal.
  • The Act also requires mandatory breach notifications to both regulators and affected users and imposes steep penalties up to Rs 250 crore for violations.

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Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Rules Ready for Publication (End of September) ▼
  • The Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) rules are ready and will be published in the next 10 days
  • IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw confirmed the rules will be released by September 28
  • The rules followed an extensive consultation process
Draft IT Rules Amendments: Mandatory Labelling & Metadata for AI-Generated Content (End of October) ▼
  • Proposed by: Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) through draft amendments to the IT Rules, 2021
  • Objective: 'to curb user harm from AI-generated deepfakes and synthetically produced content' and ensure 'users can distinguish synthetic and authentic content'
  • Key definition introduced: 'synthetically generated information' means 'information that is artificially or algorithmically created, generated, modified or altered using a computer resource, in a manner that appears reasonably authentic or true'
  • Labelling requirement: synthetic content must carry a prominent label/identifier covering at least '10 per cent of the surface area of a visual display or, in the case of audio content, during the initial 10 per cent of its duration'
  • Metadata obligation: intermediaries offering tools that create/modify synthetic content must embed 'a permanent unique metadata or identifier' and must not 'modify, suppress, or remove such labels or identifiers'
  • Due-diligence on platforms: significant social media intermediaries (≥50 lakh users) must obtain user declaration on synthetic uploads, deploy 'reasonable and proportionate technical measures to verify such declarations', and label the content accordingly
IPPB Partners with EPFO to Offer Digital Life Certificates to Pensioners (Start of November) ▼
  • India Post Payments Bank (IPPB), a 100% government-owned entity under the Department of Posts, has signed an MoU with the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO).
  • The partnership aims to provide doorstep digital life certificate services to pensioners under the Employees' Pension Scheme, 1995.
  • IPPB will use its network of around 1.65 lakh post offices and over 3 lakh postal service providers equipped with doorstep banking devices.
  • Pensioners will be able to submit their digital life certificates from home through face authentication or fingerprint biometric verification.
  • The service will be free for pensioners as the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation will bear the entire cost.
  • The agreement was exchanged between IPPB MD & CEO R Viswesvaran and EPFO central provident fund commissioner Ramesh Krishnamurthi.
India-U.K. CETA Chapter 12: Digital Trade Gains and Sovereignty Concerns (Mid of August) ▼
  • The Commerce Ministry estimates India’s software export pipeline at $30 billion a year.
  • Close to 99% of Indian merchandise exports are expected to enter the U.K. duty-free once the agreement is implemented.
  • Textile tariffs are set to fall sharply, including from 12% to zero on key lines.
  • Employers say social-security waivers for short assignments could cut payroll costs by roughly one-fifth.
  • A formal review of the digital trade provisions is stipulated within five years.

Headline: Intellipaat partners with IndiaAI Mission to roll out nationwide AI literacy programme

Bullet Points:

  • Intellipaat has partnered with the IndiaAI Mission under MeitY to launch the 'YUVAi for ALL' programme aimed at making India AI-literate
  • The initiative will provide free training on Artificial Intelligence and Generative AI to students, teachers, and professionals
  • Participants will receive Government-recognized certification upon completion of the programme
  • The programme includes AI awareness workshops, GenAI tool demonstrations, community learning drives, and foundation AI literacy e-learning videos
  • The collaboration aligns with the Government's vision to empower 10 million citizens with essential AI skills by January 2026

Similar Headlines

Reliance Industries Unveils New AI Subsidiary, Products, and Major Green Energy Projects (Start of September) ▼
  • Reliance announced a new wholly-owned subsidiary, 'Reliance Intelligence,' aimed at accelerating India’s artificial intelligence capabilities and establishing the country as a global hub for AI innovation.
  • Reliance Intelligence's missions include building 'gigawatt-scale, AI-ready data centres, powered by green energy' and delivering 'trusted, easy-to-use AI services for consumers, small businesses, and enterprises, and solutions for sectors of national importance.'
  • The company unveiled new AI-powered products: 'JioPC,' described as a 'revolutionary product that transforms your TV, or any other screen, into a full-feature, AI‑ready computer,' and 'JioFrames,' an 'AI-powered wearable platform and ecosystem, made for India' with support for multiple Indian languages.
  • Reliance announced partnerships with Google and Meta for AI initiatives, including establishing a 'Jamnagar Cloud region' with Google and an 'India-focused AI joint venture with our close partner, Meta' to combine open models and tools.
  • Anant Ambani provided a preview of the 'Dhirubhai Ambani Giga Energy Complex' in Jamnagar, stating it 'will be unmatched globally in size, scale, and integration,' with '44 million square feet of building area – four times the Tesla Gigafactory' and '7 lakh tonnes of steel.'
  • Reliance is developing 'one of the world’s largest single-site solar projects' in Kutch, Gujarat, spanning '5,50,000 acres of arid land – three times the size of Singapore,' which 'could meet nearly 10% of India’s electricity needs within the next decade.'
  • The New Energy business is being built 'to make India self-sufficient in energy, and to resolve India's energy trilemma of security, affordability, and sustainability through world-scale giga manufacturing, through round-the-clock renewable electricity, and through green fuels and chemicals at global scale.'
  • Jio introduced 'RIYA,' a new voice-enabled search assistant for JioStar, and 'Voice Print,' a technology for immersive storytelling that uses 'AI voice cloning and lip-sync technology' to allow stars to speak in Indian languages in their own voice.
IIM Udaipur Partners to Strengthen India's Data, Monitoring, and AI Ecosystem (End of September) ▼
  • The Indian Institute of Management Udaipur (IIMU) has entered into a series of landmark collaborations with leading national institutions to advance India's data, monitoring, and artificial intelligence ecosystem.
  • IIM Udaipur signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with MoSPI's Data Informatics & Innovation Division to serve as a Knowledge Partner for the Data Innovation Lab.
  • IIM Udaipur, through its Centre for Development Policy and Management (CDPM), signed a Joint Statement of Intent (SOI) with NITI Aayog's DMEO.
  • IIM Udaipur has also become an empanelled member under Anusandhan Mitra in collaboration with Bhashini, the National Language Translation Mission.
  • The MoSPI collaboration will engage students, researchers, and faculty in solving real-world statistical challenges, fostering innovative solutions, and promoting knowledge exchange in data analytics and applied statistics.
  • The NITI Aayog partnership focuses on advancing India's monitoring and evaluation ecosystem by adapting global best practices to the Indian context, developing toolkits and curricula, and conducting training programs for policymakers, practitioners, and researchers.
  • The Bhashini initiative aims to advance AI and ML for Indian languages by creating regional hubs, strengthening datasets for under-represented languages, fostering research in speech and language technologies, and building skills among students and researchers to co-develop innovative language solutions with local communities.
IBM and AICTE establish National AI Lab at AICTE headquarters to upskill Indian talent (Start of November) ▼
  • IBM and AICTE collaborate to establish a state-of-the-art National AI Lab at AICTE Headquarters in New Delhi
  • The lab will serve as a national hub for AI research, skilling, and innovation, equipped with advanced computing infrastructure and AI software platforms
  • IBM SkillsBuild, offering over 1,000 free AI and technical courses, will be central to the initiative
  • The collaboration supports IBM’s global commitment to skill 30 million people by 2030, including 2 million in AI by 2026
  • The lab will provide training programs, in-person workshops, AI mentorship, project-based learning, and innovation challenges aligned with future skill needs in AI, cloud, and sustainability
India Leads Global Adoption of Google Gemini's AI Tutoring Tool (Start of November) ▼
  • India leads the world in adopting Google's Guided Learning feature within Gemini.
  • Over 2 million Indian students are accessing the AI tutor, with free access to Google AI Pro through a special student offer.
  • The AI-powered tutor uses Socratic questioning methods instead of providing direct answers, encouraging critical thinking skills.
  • 95% of student users in India report feeling more confident after using Gemini.
  • The platform's success is attributed to its multimodal capabilities, language flexibility, and focus on in-depth learning.
  • Gemini's AI mode is available in eight Indian languages, with plans to expand further.
  • Google has fine-tuned a specialised language model called LearnLM that powers these educational features.
  • The Guided Learning feature functions as a 24/7 personal tutor, helping students across diverse subjects including STEM, exam preparation, programming languages, and creative skills.

Headline: CBFC Introduces Multilingual Module on E-Cinepramaan Portal to Streamline Film Certification

Bullet Points:

  • The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has launched the Multilingual Module on the E-Cinepramaan portal.
  • This initiative is part of CBFC’s ongoing vision to digitize and simplify the film certification process for the Indian film industry.
  • The module is designed to streamline and simplify certification for films intended for release in multiple Indian languages.
  • Applicants can submit films in various languages through a single, unified application, significantly reducing procedural duplication.
  • Each film certified for multilingual release will receive a Multilingual Certificate, clearly listing all languages in which the film has been approved.
  • The entire application will be processed by one Regional Office, ensuring efficiency and uniformity.

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Unity Bank and BharatPe launch India's first EMI-driven credit card on RuPay network (End of August) ▼
  • The Unity Bank BharatPe Credit Card is offered on the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) RuPay network.
  • The card has a zero-fee structure with no joining charges, annual fees, processing charges, or foreclosure penalties.
  • It offers flexible EMI options of up to 12 months.
  • The card provides unlimited flat 2% rewards (Zillion Coins) on every transaction upon EMI conversion, redeemable via the BharatPe app.
NPCI International-BENEFIT pact links India’s UPI with Bahrain’s Fawri+ for instant cross-border remittances (Mid of November) ▼
  • NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL) and Bahrain’s BENEFIT signed an agreement to connect India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) with Bahrain’s Electronic Fund Transfer System (EFTS) Fawri+ service for real-time cross-border remittances.
  • The collaboration is established under the guidance of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB).
  • NPCI Bharat BillPay Limited (NBBL) and Clearcorp Dealing Systems (India) Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Clearing Corporation of India Ltd. (CCIL), launched forex services on Bharat Connect by integrating with CCIL’s FX-Retail Platform.
EPFO ties up with City Union Bank for EPF remittance facility (Start of November) ▼
  • City Union Bank (CUB) has tied up with the Employees’ Provident Fund Office (EPFO) for remittance of EPF payments.
  • The EPF payment facility was officially launched by R. Vijay Anandh, executive director, CUB, and Maneesh Agnihotri, Regional PF Commissioner, Tamil Nadu, in Chennai.
  • Many MSMEs and SMEs within CUB's network would be the primary focus for clients targeted by the bank.
  • This EPF remittance facility will enable the employers with CUB accounts to make the EPF remittance seamlessly through net banking.
NPCI International and BENEFIT Partner for India-Bahrain Cross-Border Remittances; NBBL Launches Forex on Bharat Connect (Mid of November) ▼
  • NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL) partnered with Bahrain’s BENEFIT to link India’s UPI with Bahrain’s Fawri+ for real-time cross-border remittances.
  • The collaboration is established under the guidance of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB).
  • NBBL, in collaboration with Clearcorp Dealing Systems (India) Ltd (Clearcorp), introduced the Forex category on Bharat Connect by integrating with Clearcorp’s FX-Retail Platform.

Headline: Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan inaugurates AI innovation and incubation centre at DPS RK Puram

Bullet Points:

  • The centre is developed in collaboration with VVDN Technologies and Google Cloud
  • Technologies available include Google Cloud’s Vertex AI and Gemini Enterprise platforms
  • Students will gain hands-on experience with humanoid and companion robotics (AIBO, Unitree G1), AR/VR glasses, IoT kits, and Raspberry Pi systems
  • The facility will serve as a shared innovation resource for neighbouring and government schools
  • The initiative aligns with the Union government’s four-level AI curriculum for students from Class 6 onwards, covering foundational AI to generative AI applications

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AIIMS Delhi installs da Vinci robot for robotic-assisted surgery training (Mid of September) ▼
  • AIIMS Delhi now has two surgical robots purely for training: a newly installed da Vinci Surgical Robot and an existing Hugo training robot provided by Medtronic.
  • The da Vinci robot was provided by Intuitive Surgical under a memorandum of understanding and is housed in the Skills, E-learning and Telemedicine (SET) facility.
  • The training facility supports learning across specialities including urology, gynaecology, general surgery, surgical oncology, and head and neck surgery.
  • The centre allows students, nurses, residents, healthcare professionals, and faculty to practise on manikins and simulators in stress-free sessions.
  • AIIMS Delhi Director Dr M Srinivas stated that the centre eliminates the need for surgeons to travel abroad and pay large sums for robotic surgery training.
Union Minister Scindia Launches NEST Cluster at IIT Guwahati and Development Projects in Assam (Start of November) ▼
  • The North Eastern Science and Technology Cluster (NEST Cluster) was inaugurated.
  • The inauguration took place at IIT Guwahati.
  • Union Minister Jyotiraditya M Scindia inaugurated the NEST Cluster.
  • Foundation stones were laid for development projects worth Rs 635 crore across Assam.
India-UAE Knowledge Diplomacy: IIM-A Dubai Campus & IIT-D Abu Dhabi AIC Inaugurated (Mid of September) ▼
  • IIM Ahmedabad Dubai campus inaugurated by HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, described as "another big leap towards globalisation of India’s education"
  • First-ever overseas Atal Incubation Centre (AIC) inaugurated at IIT Delhi Abu Dhabi campus to nurture Indo-UAE start-ups in deep tech, AI, clean energy, healthcare
  • Bilateral meeting between Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and UAE Acting Minister of Higher Education Dr Abdulrahman Abdulmannan Al Awar agreed to deepen cooperation in knowledge, innovation and scientific research
DPIIT signs MoUs with Pfizer and ICICI Bank to accelerate healthcare and fintech innovation (Start of September) ▼
  • DPIIT signed two MoUs—one with Pfizer Limited and another with ICICI Bank—to strengthen India’s innovation and startup landscape.
  • The ICICI Bank Startup Engagement Programme, hosted on the Startup India portal, will give selected startups access to ICICI Bank’s Mumbai-based accelerator facility, dedicated workspaces, structured mentorship, and pilot-project opportunities with the Bank’s business units.
  • Under the Pfizer INDovation program, 14 DPIIT-recognised MedTech startups will each receive grants of up to ₹60 lakh and a customised 18-month incubation program delivered by Social Alpha.
  • Pfizer’s program will provide clinical validation, regulatory guidance, go-to-market strategies, and access to Pfizer’s Research and Development facilities in Chennai.
  • The Pfizer initiative will focus on solutions in screening, diagnostics, health monitoring, treatment enablers, and priority areas such as non-communicable diseases, oncology, brain health, maternal and child health, and immunisation.

Headline: First-ever state visit by an Indian President to Botswana

Bullet Points:

  • President Droupadi Murmu's ongoing visit is the first-ever state visit by an Indian head of state to Botswana.
  • India and Botswana will mark 60 years of diplomatic relations in 2026.
  • Botswana has symbolically donated eight cheetahs to India under Project Cheetah.

Similar Headlines

Fiji PM Sitiveni Rabuka to visit India for first official trip (End of August) ▼
  • Fiji Prime Minister Sitiveni Ligamamada Rabuka will visit India.
  • The visit is scheduled from August 24 to 26.
  • He is scheduled to hold talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 25.
  • PM Rabuka will also call on President Droupadi Murmu.
  • He is expected to deliver a talk on “Ocean of Peace” at the Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA) in New Delhi.
  • He will be accompanied by a delegation including his spouse, Sulueti Rabuka, and the minister of health and medical services, Ratu Atonio Lalabalavu.
Fiji PM Sitiveni Rabuka to visit India: First official trip from August 24-26 (End of August) ▼
  • Fiji Prime Minister Sitiveni Ligamamada Rabuka will visit India.
  • The visit is scheduled from August 24 to 26.
  • He will hold talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 25.
  • PM Rabuka will also call on President Droupadi Murmu.
  • He is expected to deliver a talk on “Ocean of Peace” at the Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA) in New Delhi.
  • He will be accompanied by his spouse, Sulueti Rabuka, the minister of health and medical services, Ratu Atonio Lalabalavu, and other senior officials.
President Droupadi Murmu's State Visit to Angola (Mid of November) ▼
  • President Droupadi Murmu has commenced a historic state visit to Angola.
  • She received a ceremonial welcome in Luanda.
  • This is the first-ever visit by an Indian head of state to the country.
  • The visit marks 40 years of diplomatic relations between India and Angola.
  • Discussions will focus on deepening cooperation in areas such as energy, agriculture, trade, technology, infrastructure, defence, and investment.
  • President Murmu is scheduled to address the Angolan parliament and meet members of the Indian community.
  • She will attend Angola’s 50th Independence Day celebrations on November 11.
Mauritius PM Navinchandra Ramgoolam on 7-day India visit to deepen Enhanced Strategic Partnership (Mid of September) ▼
  • State visit by Mauritius PM Dr. Navinchandra Ramgoolam and spouse Veena Ramgoolam, 9-16 September
  • Cities covered: Mumbai, Varanasi, Ayodhya, Dehradun, Tirupati, Delhi
  • Bilateral talks scheduled with PM Narendra Modi and courtesy call on President Droupadi Murmu

Headline: Axis Bank Evolve Series in Kozhikode: MSMEs Driving India’s $10 Trillion Goal

Bullet Points:

  • Axis Bank hosted the 10th edition of its multi-city knowledge series Evolve in Kozhikode, themed “MSMEs Powering the $10 Trillion Economy.”
  • The event drew over 103 MSME promoters and founders to discuss pathways for India’s economy to expand from $4.1 trillion to $10 trillion by 2032.
  • Kerala has more than 7 lakh registered MSMEs, with nearly half led by women entrepreneurs.

Similar Headlines

Axis Bank's Sparsh Week 2025: Raising the Bar in Customer Experience (Start of September) ▼
  • Axis Bank has inaugurated Sparsh Week 2025, a pivotal event connecting more than 1 lakh employees from its vast network.
  • Scheduled from September 1st to 5th, this initiative aims to bolster customer relationships and drive exceptional service quality.
  • Senior leadership, including MD & CEO Amitabh Chaudhry, will interact directly with customers across 40 cities during Sparsh Week 2025.
  • The event will feature exclusive offers and thematic engagements, including financial awareness sessions for women, tech workshops for senior citizens, and networking for startups.
Bank of Baroda Launches bob Aspire NRE Savings Account (Mid of September) ▼
  • Bank of Baroda has launched the “bob Aspire NRE Savings Account a solution designed to simplify banking for Indian citizens preparing to move overseas.
  • The bob Aspire account can be initiated in India in “inoperative mode” and becomes fully operational once the customer submits proof of an overseas address along with a passport carrying the immigration stamp confirming NRI status.
  • Snappi secures ECB license, launches neobank in Greece.
  • Mastercard taps Qlub to drive contactless payments.
  • Other Related News includes 'Behavioural biometrics and AI rise as online fraud surges across Europe', 'Sikoia, Finova partner to automate document verification with AI', and 'Ozone API teams up with Plumery to drive global open banking'.
  • Related Reports include 'Global Digital Banking Vendor & Landscape Report Q2 2025', 'NextGen WealthTech: The Trends To Shape The Future Q4 2023', 'Incentive Compensation Management Report Q2 2025', and 'Treasury & Capital Markets Systems Report Q2 2025'.
IIM Udaipur Partners to Strengthen India's Data, Monitoring, and AI Ecosystem (End of September) ▼
  • The Indian Institute of Management Udaipur (IIMU) has entered into a series of landmark collaborations with leading national institutions to advance India's data, monitoring, and artificial intelligence ecosystem.
  • IIM Udaipur signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with MoSPI's Data Informatics & Innovation Division to serve as a Knowledge Partner for the Data Innovation Lab.
  • IIM Udaipur, through its Centre for Development Policy and Management (CDPM), signed a Joint Statement of Intent (SOI) with NITI Aayog's DMEO.
  • IIM Udaipur has also become an empanelled member under Anusandhan Mitra in collaboration with Bhashini, the National Language Translation Mission.
  • The MoSPI collaboration will engage students, researchers, and faculty in solving real-world statistical challenges, fostering innovative solutions, and promoting knowledge exchange in data analytics and applied statistics.
  • The NITI Aayog partnership focuses on advancing India's monitoring and evaluation ecosystem by adapting global best practices to the Indian context, developing toolkits and curricula, and conducting training programs for policymakers, practitioners, and researchers.
  • The Bhashini initiative aims to advance AI and ML for Indian languages by creating regional hubs, strengthening datasets for under-represented languages, fostering research in speech and language technologies, and building skills among students and researchers to co-develop innovative language solutions with local communities.
Global Fintech Awards 2025 announced at Global Fintech Fest in Mumbai (End of October) ▼
  • The sixth edition of Global Fintech Fest 2025 (GFF 2025) was held in Mumbai from October 7-9.
  • The Global Fintech Awards (GFA) 2025 were instituted under GFF 2025 and announced at a gala on October 8 at Jio World Centre, Mumbai.
  • IDFC FIRST Bank won accolades under the Excellence in Banking Tech category for its Green Banking Initiative and Digital Transformation Program of the Year.
  • Yubi was named the Fintech Startup of the Year.
  • Ms. Upasana Taku, Co-founder & CFO, MobiKwik, received the Fintech Person of the Year – Female award.
  • Mr. Yashish Dahiya, Chairman, PB Fintech, received the Fintech Person of the Year – Male award.

Headline: SBI to Discontinue mCASH Service After November 30, 2025

Bullet Points:

  • State Bank of India will stop its mCASH sending and claiming facility on OnlineSBI and YONO Lite after November 30, 2025.
  • SBI advises customers to switch to UPI, IMPS, NEFT, and RTGS for future money transfers.
  • mCASH allowed SBI customers with Internet Banking to transfer funds without registering the recipient as a beneficiary.

Similar Headlines

UPI Transactions Surge in 2025: Daily Average Value Crosses ₹90,000 Crore in August, SBI Report (Mid of August) ▼
  • Average daily UPI transaction value rose from ₹75,743 crore in January to ₹80,919 crore in July, and further to ₹90,446 crore in August.
  • Average daily transaction volumes increased by 127 million, reaching 675 million in August compared to January.
  • State Bank of India handled 5.2 billion transactions as the top remitter member, nearly 3.4 times larger than the second-biggest remitter.
  • Yes Bank led as the top beneficiary member with nearly 8.0 billion transactions.
  • Maharashtra accounted for 9.8% of UPI usage in July, followed by Karnataka at 5.5% and Uttar Pradesh at 5.3%.
NPCI Increases UPI Transaction Limits for Several Categories Effective September 2025 (Start of September) ▼
  • NPCI has increased the per-transaction and 24-hour aggregate UPI limits for specific categories, effective September 15, 2025.
  • For capital markets, insurance, and government e-Market Place transactions, the per-transaction limit is now Rs 5 lakh, and the daily aggregate limit is Rs 10 lakh.
  • The per-transaction limit for credit card payments has increased from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 5 lakh, with the 24-hour limit bumped out to Rs 6 lakh.
  • Collections, including loan repayment and B2B collections, have seen their per-transaction limits increased from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 5 lakh, with a total transaction limit for 24 hours raised to Rs 10 lakh.
  • For travel, the enhanced per-transaction limit is Rs 5 lakh and the new cumulative 24-hour limit is Rs 10 lakh.
  • For jewellery, the enhanced per-transaction limit is Rs 2 lakh and the new cumulative 24-hour limit is Rs 6 lakh.
  • The P2P (Person to Person) transaction limits will remain unchanged at Rs 1 lakh per day.
  • The per-transaction limit for placing an IPO bid via UPI stays the same at Rs 5 lakh.
  • From September 15, 2025, users accessing FX-Retail via BBPS will also see their per-transaction limit and their cumulative 24-hour limit enhanced to Rs 5 lakh.
  • Per-transaction and aggregate transaction limits per 24-hour period for term deposits and initial funding for digital account openings have been increased.
SBI bags 'World's Best Consumer Bank 2025' and 'Best Bank in India 2025' from Global Finance (Start of November) ▼
  • State Bank of India received the 'World's Best Consumer Bank 2025' and 'Best Bank in India 2025' awards from Global Finance, New York.
  • SBI serves 520 million customers and adds 65,000 new customers daily.
  • The bank's home loan portfolio has crossed Rs 8.5 lakh crore.
  • As of June 2025, SBI's deposit base is over Rs 54.73 lakh crore with a CASA ratio of 39.36 per cent and advances of more than Rs 42.54 lakh crore.
  • SBI commands a market share of 27.7 per cent in home loans and 19.03 per cent in auto loans.
  • The bank has 22,980 branches and 62,200 ATMs/ADWMs, along with over 76,800 BC outlets.
  • YONO, SBI's digital platform, has more than 9.04 crore registered users and witnessed 27.4 lakh new registrations in Q1FY26.
  • During Q1 FY26, SBI disbursed pre-approved personal loans worth Rs 1,791 crores through YONO.

Headline: Art director Thota Tharani conferred France’s Chevalier Award

Bullet Points:

  • Thota Tharani has been conferred the French government’s prestigious Chevalier Award
  • He is a Padma Shri awardee and has won two National Film Awards, two Tamil Nadu State Film Awards, three Nandi Awards and a Kerala State Film Award
  • The award will be conferred by the French Ambassador at Alliance Française of Madras, Chennai

Similar Headlines

Mohanlal conferred Dadasaheb Phalke Award for 2023 (End of September) ▼
  • Mohanlal has been named the recipient of the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, the highest honour in Indian cinema.
  • The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting made the official announcement on Saturday.
  • The award is for the year 2023, as disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic delayed the National Film Awards cycle by two years.
Anuparna Roy becomes first Indian to win Best Director award in Orizzonti section at Venice Film Festival (Start of September) ▼
  • Anuparna Roy becomes first Indian to win Best Director award in Orizzonti section at Venice Film Festival.
  • She won the Best Director award in the film festival’s Orizzonti section for her film Songs of Forgotten Trees.
  • The award was announced by French filmmaker Julia Ducournau, who was the head of the Orizzonti jury.
  • Songs of Forgotten Trees revolves around two migrant women in Mumbai, Thooya (Naaz Shaikh) and Swetha (Sumi Baghel).
  • The film is produced by Bibhanshu Rai, Romil Modi, and Ranjan Singh, with Anurag Kashyap as presenter.
Mr. Sunil Kant Munjal Honoured by France with Chevalier de l'Ordre national du Merite (Start of November) ▼
  • Mr. Sunil Kant Munjal was conferred the Chevalier de l'Ordre national du Merite (Knight of the National Order of Merit) by the Ambassador of France to India, H.E. Mr Thierry Mathou.
  • He is the Chairman of Hero Enterprise and Founder of the Serendipity Arts Foundation.
  • The award recognizes his outstanding contribution to India's civil society, his commitment to education and innovation, and his vision for making art and culture accessible to all.
Sanjeev Kapoor honoured as Top Agri-Food Pioneer by World Food Prize Foundation (End of October) ▼
  • Sanjeev Kapoor — celebrated chef, author and Padma Shri awardee — recognised for transformative contribution to the global food ecosystem.
  • Award presented during the Borlaug Dialogue Week in Des Moines, Iowa.
  • Kapoor’s programmes have served millions of nutritious meals and engaged thousands of children, educators and farmers across India.

Headline: Mallika Srinivasan's Tenure as PESB Chairperson Extended Until 2026

Bullet Points:

  • Mallika Srinivasan’s tenure as PESB Chairperson has been extended.
  • Her extension will take effect from November 19, 2025, allowing her to continue leading the PSU head-hunter until November 18, 2026.
  • This marks her second consecutive extension in this role.
  • Mallika Srinivasan continues to serve as Chairperson and Managing Director of Tractors and Farm Equipment Ltd TAFE.

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PNB extends Executive Director M. Paramasivam’s tenure till March 2027 (Mid of September) ▼
  • The Department of Financial Services, Ministry of Finance, approved the extension of Paramasivam’s term beyond his existing tenure, which was set to end on November 30, 2025.
  • The extended term will continue until the date of his superannuation on March 31, 2027, or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
  • Shares of PNB ended marginally lower on Tuesday (Sept 16).
  • The stock has gained 5.6% in the year so far.
Ajay Kumar Srivastava’s tenure as IOB MD & CEO extended till October 2027 (Start of September) ▼
  • Ajay Kumar Srivastava’s tenure as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Indian Overseas Bank extended from January 01, 2026 up to October 08, 2027.
  • He has been leading IOB as MD & CEO since January 01, 2023.
  • Previously served as Executive Director of the bank from 2017.
Sebi promotes Amit Pradhan, Avneesh Pandey and Sanjay Chandrakant Purao to Executive Directors (End of August) ▼
  • Securities and Exchange Board of India elevated Amit Pradhan, Avneesh Pandey and Sanjay Chandrakant Purao to the position of executive directors.
  • Amit Pradhan will oversee legal affairs and the prosecution & settlement department.
  • Avneesh Pandey will manage the information technology department.
  • Sanjay Chandrakant Purao will handle the corporation finance investigation department, recovery and refund, and the internal investigation department.
  • Before promotion, all three were chief general managers at Sebi.
  • The promotions took effect on Friday.
PNB Signs Rs 21,000 Cr MoU with Rajasthan Govt under 'Rising Rajasthan' Initiative (Start of September) ▼
  • Punjab National Bank has signed an MoU with the Rajasthan government committing to an investment of Rs 21,000 crore under the 'Rising Rajasthan' initiative.
  • The agreement serves as a framework for financing eligible projects in Rajasthan.
  • PNB's Managing Director and CEO, Ashok Chandra, highlighted the bank's role in contributing to the socio-economic development of the state.

Headline: DRDO Unveils New-Generation Man-Portable AUVs for Mine Countermeasure Missions

Bullet Points:

  • DRDO has successfully developed a new generation of Man-portable Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (MP-AUVs).
  • The MP-AUVs are designed to strengthen India’s naval mine countermeasure capabilities.
  • The breakthrough comes from the Naval Science & Technological Laboratory (NSTL), Visakhapatnam, which led the development of the advanced underwater systems.
  • The MP-AUV system features multiple compact AUV units equipped with Side Scan Sonar and underwater cameras as primary payloads.
  • The vehicles leverage onboard deep learning-based target recognition algorithms that enable autonomous classification.
  • DRDO has integrated a robust underwater acoustic communication system that supports inter-AUV data exchange.
  • Recent field trials conducted at NSTL’s harbour facilities have validated key system parameters and mission-critical objectives.
  • The MP-AUVs are expected to be ready for production in the coming months.

Similar Headlines

DRDO tests Integrated Air Defence Weapon System (IADWS) under Mission Sudarshan Chakra (End of August) ▼
  • System tested: Integrated Air Defence Weapon System (IADWS) comprising indigenous Quick Reaction Surface to Air Missiles (QRSAM), Advanced Very Short Range Air Defence System (VSHORADS) missiles and a high-power laser-based Directed Energy Weapon (DEW).
  • Test location: Off the Odisha coast.
  • Mission: Part of Mission Sudarshan Chakra, a comprehensive, multi-layered, networked system aimed at protecting India and its vital installations from a range of enemy attacks across domains by 2035.
  • Key outcome: During the flight tests, three different targets—two high-speed fixed-wing Unmanned Aerial Vehicle targets and a multi-copter drone—were simultaneously engaged and destroyed completely by the QRSAM, VSHORADS and High Energy Laser weapon system at different ranges and altitudes.
DRDO develops new generation man-portable autonomous underwater vehicles (Mid of November) ▼
  • Developed by: DRDO's Naval Science and Technological Laboratory (NSTL), Visakhapatnam
  • Primary payloads: side scan sonar and underwater cameras for real-time detection of mine-like objects
  • Key capability: onboard deep learning based target recognition algorithms enable autonomous classification, reducing operator workload and mission time
DRDO’s DMRL transfers three advanced defence materials technologies to industry partners (Start of September) ▼
  • Technology 1: High-Strength Radomes — transferred to Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL), Jagdishpur; described as "protective covers designed to shield sensitive missile sensors from harsh aerodynamic, thermal, and weather conditions".
  • Technology 2: DMR-1700 Steel Sheets and Plates — transferred to Jindal Steel and Power Limited (JSPL), Angul; characterised as "an advanced steel grade offering an excellent blend of ultrahigh strength and high fracture toughness at room temperature".
  • Technology 3: DMR 249A HSLA Steel Plates — transferred to Steel Authority of India Limited’s Bhilai Steel Plant (BSP); noted as "a High-Strength Low-Alloy (HSLA) steel specifically engineered for naval applications".
  • Agency: Defence Metallurgical Research Laboratory (DMRL), a premier laboratory of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), based in Hyderabad.
  • Additional collaboration: DMRL signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) of the Ministry of Civil Aviation "to aid the AAIB in its investigative and analytical functions".
India’s TPCR-2025 outlines 15-year roadmap for nuclear deterrence and drone warfare tech (Start of September) ▼
  • Technology Perspective and Capability Roadmap (TPCR-2025) is a 15-year blueprint for military preparedness focused on nuclear deterrence and drone warfare capabilities.
  • Army requirement cited for stealth remotely piloted aircraft with ranges up to 1,500 km and operational altitude of 60,000 feet.
  • Loitering munitions with AI-enabled targeting and reusable warhead systems are specified as key future assets.
  • Adaptive jamming systems and electronic denial bubbles of 15 km radius are planned to counter hostile drone swarms.
  • Unmanned ground vehicles for CBRN (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear) reconnaissance are included to strengthen nuclear fallout protection.

Headline: India Bags 3 Gold, 2 Silver at Asian Archery Championships 2025

Bullet Points:

  • India's archers made the country proud by bagging three gold and two silver medals at the 24th Asian Archery Championships 2025 in Dhaka.
  • Jyothi Surekha Vennam won gold, defeating Prithika Pradeep by a 147 - 145 score.
  • Prithika performed well and secured a silver medal.
  • The Indian Compound Women's Team, including Deepshikha, Prithika Pradeep, and Jyothi Surekha Vennam, grabbed gold after a victory over Korea 236 - 234 in the final.
  • Abhishek Verma and Deepshikha grabbed gold in the Compound Mixed Team final, beating Bangladesh 153 -151.
  • In the men's team, Verma, Prathamesh Fuge, and Sahil Jadhav clinched silver after a close contest.
  • Jyoti Surekha Vennam, the 29-year-old Indian ace woman archer, shone with double gold in individual and team at the Asian Archery Championships in Dhaka.
  • Surekha now holds 8 Asian Championship titles, which she won between 2011 and 2025, in addition to the three individual gold medals from 2021 and 2015.
  • The Deputy Collector in the Government of Andhra Pradesh has a total of 90 international medals, including 33 gold and silver, and 24 bronze.
  • The 24th Asian Archery Championships began on 8th November 2025 and will conclude on 14th November 2025.
  • The 24th Asian Archery Championships are hosted in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
  • There is a total of 29 countries and around 207 athletes participating in the 24th Asian Archery Championships 2025.
  • The event covers both recurve and compound bow competitions across individual, team and mixed-team formats for men and women.
  • You can watch the 24th Asian Archery Championships 2025 on Archery+ and the Indian channel DD Sports.

Similar Headlines

Armless archer Sheetal Devi qualifies for Indian junior team for Asia Cup 2025 Stage 3 (Start of November) ▼
  • Sheetal Devi secured third place in the trials held in Sonepat to earn her spot in the four-member Indian junior team for Asia Cup 2025 Stage 3 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
  • She is the newly-crowned Para Archery World Champion and this will be her first international able-bodied tournament.
  • Devi scored 2103 out of 2160 points in the first round of the trials and won six of her 11 round-robin matches in the second event.
  • Earlier this year, she won the silver medal in the Khelo India NTPC National Ranking Archery event in Delhi, an able-bodied competition.
Armless Archer Sheetal Devi Qualifies for First Able-Bodied International Event (Start of November) ▼
  • Armless archer Sheetal Devi qualifies for her first international able-bodied event: ‘I have not seen myself as lesser than anybody’
  • On Thursday morning, Sheetal Devi sealed her spot in the Indian junior team for Asia Cup 2025 Stage 3 to be held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, from December 10 to 15, breaking new ground once more.
  • It would be the first time that the newly-crowned Para Archery World Champion would be playing in an able-bodied tournament.
  • Devi finished third in the trials in Sonepat behind Tejal Rajendra Salve and Vaidehi Jadhav, and forms the Indian team along with fourth-placed Dnyaneshwari Gadadhe.
  • Earlier this year, Devi had claimed the silver medal in the Khelo India NTPC National Ranking Archery event in Delhi , an able-bodied event where she lost against Ekta Rani in the final.
  • Sharma shares that they have next year’s Asian Games in sight, with plans for Devi to appear at the trials in January next year.
India's Chikitha Taniparthi Wins Gold at World Archery Youth Championships 2025 (End of August) ▼
  • Indian archer Chikitha Taniparthi etched her name into the history book by clinching the Under-21 women's compound crown at the World Archery Youth Championships 2025 in Winnipeg, Canada.
  • Chikitha's medal-winning success was India's first-ever archery gold medal in this category at the Youth World Championships.
  • In a closely contested final, she held her nerve in the gold medal clash against Park Yerin of the Republic of Korea, and prevailed with a 142-136 victory.
  • In an all-Indian women's semi-final, Prithika Pradeep edged out Surya Hamsini Madala 130-128.
  • Prithika Pradeep lost by a whisker against America's O'Donohue Savannah by 143-140 in the final to settle for silver.
  • India also settled for a silver medal in the U18 mixed compound team event, where Prithika and Mohit Dagar were overwhelmed 150-149 by the American pair of O'Donohue Savannah and Caleb Quiocho in the final.
  • India sits in third on the medals table with a total of six (three gold, two silver and a bronze).
Ram Charan named Brand Ambassador for inaugural Archery Premier League (End of September) ▼
  • The Archery Premier League (APL) is a first-of-its-kind franchise-based tournament featuring men and women recurve and compound archers from India and abroad.
  • The league will run from 2nd to 12th October 2025 at the Yamuna Sports Complex, New Delhi.
  • Six franchise teams will field 36 top Indian archers and 12 international archers, including athletes from the world’s top 10.

Headline: Padma Shri awardee and environmentalist Saalumarada Thimmakka passes away

Bullet Points:

  • Padma Shri awardee and renowned environmentalist Saalumarada Thimmakka passed away at a private hospital in Bengaluru on Friday.
  • The 114-year-old had been unwell for some time and was undergoing treatment when she breathed her last, her family sources said.
  • Thimmakka earned the title Saalumarada after planting 385 banyan trees along a 4.5-km stretch between Hulikal and Kudur in Ramanagara district.
  • She began planting and nurturing the trees, treating them as her children to cope with the void of being childless.
  • Thimmakka received 12 major awards for her work, including the Padma Shri in 2019, the Nadoja Award from Hampi University in 2010, the National Citizen Award in 1995 and the Indira Priyadarshini Vrikshamitra Award in 1997.

Similar Headlines

114-year-old environmentalist ‘Saalumarada’ Thimmakka passes away (Mid of November) ▼
  • Environmentalist 'Saalumarada' Thimmakka, who planted 385 banyan trees, has passed away at the age of 114.
  • The Padma Shri awardee, born in 1911, was recognized for her dedication to nature, treating trees as her children.
  • Thimmakka earned the title ‘Saalumarada’ for planting 385 banyan trees along a 4.5 km stretch between Hulikal and Kudur in Ramanagara, Bengaluru South district.
  • Her remarkable efforts earned her numerous accolades, including the Padma Shri in 2019, the Nadoja Award from Hampi University in 2010, the National Citizen Award in 1995, and the Indira Priyadarshini Vrikshamitra Award in 1997.
  • Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah also expressed his condolences on her passing.
Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan Awards 2025 & Wetland City Accreditation: Key Government Initiatives Under NCAP (Mid of September) ▼
  • Scheme Name: National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) – Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan 2025; Implementing Ministry: Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC)
  • Objective: Promote healthy competition among 130 NCAP cities to take expeditious actions to improve air quality through rigorous, multi-tiered evaluation
  • Key Feature: Annual survey now extended to ward-level with release of ‘Ward-Level Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan Guidelines’ for deeper impact
  • Financial Outlay: ₹20,130 crore allocated to 130 NCAP cities; ₹13,237 crore provided as air-quality-performance-linked grant; total ₹1.55 lakh crore mobilised by converging Central schemes (SBM-U, AMRUT, Smart City, SATAT, FAME-II, Nagar Van) plus State/ULB contributions
  • Portal: PRANA digital platform enables cities to track progress and ensures transparency in implementation of air-quality activities
  • Wetland City Accreditation: Indore and Udaipur recognised as Ramsar Wetland Cities under Ramsar Convention for safeguarding urban wetlands
Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan 2025 & Wetland City Accreditation: Key Achievements and Features (Mid of September) ▼
  • Scheme Name: Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan under National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change
  • Objective: Promote city-level competition to expedite air-quality improvement; annual survey now extended to ward level
  • Financial Outlay: ₹20,130 crore allocated to 130 NCAP cities; ₹13,237 crore performance-linked grant disbursed (2019-20 to date); total ₹1.55 lakh crore mobilised from Central & State schemes
  • Key Features: Awards based on rigorous multi-tier evaluation; top performers (Indore, Jabalpur, Agra, Surat, Amravati, Jhansi, Moradabad, Alwar, Dewas, Parwanoo, Angul) receive cash prizes
  • Wetland City Accreditation: Indore & Udaipur recognised under Ramsar Convention for safeguarding urban wetlands
  • Digital Platform: PRANA portal enables cities to track and transparently report air-quality improvement activities
  • Best-Practice Resource: Compendium of Best Practices under NCAP released for replication by other cities
Noted Hindi-Bhojpuri litterateur Ramdarash Mishra passes away (Start of November) ▼
  • Ramdarash Mishra, Padma Shri awardee, died in Delhi due to age-related ailments
  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi described his death as "a significant loss to Hindi and Bhojpuri literature"
  • Mishra, 101, was celebrated for his enduring literary works and influential voice

Headline: World Usability Day 2025 Theme: Emerging Technologies and the Human Experience

Bullet Points:

  • World Usability Day hosted on, November 13, 2025.
  • The theme for this year's World Usability Day is Emerging Technologies and the Human Experience.
  • The event will share practical insights on creating digital government services that are not only compliant with accessibility requirements, but usable by all.

Similar Headlines

Kerala Achieves Complete Digital Literacy Through 'Digi Keralam' Programme (End of August) ▼
  • Scheme Name: 'Digi Keralam-complete digital literacy programme' launched by the Kerala state government in 2023.
  • Objective: "taking the digital revolution to all sections of people, irrespective of their age, and help them avail its e-services".
  • Target Beneficiaries: 21 lakh digitally illiterate people identified from a survey of 83 lakh households covering 1.50 crore people.
  • Key Features: Three-module training with 15 activities including photos/videos, social media profiles, WhatsApp texts, Google Search, and use of state e-services; 2.57 lakh trained volunteers conducted the survey and training.
  • Outcome: 99.98% of the 21 lakh identified individuals, including 15,223 people over 90 years old, successfully completed the programme.
Cognizant CEO Ravi Kumar S. named to 2025 TIME 100 AI list (Start of September) ▼
  • Ravi Kumar S. is the CEO of Cognizant.
  • He has been named to the 2025 TIME 100 AI list.
  • The TIME 100 AI list highlights the most influential leaders, thinkers, scientists, and policymakers shaping today’s AI landscape.
  • Cognizant pledged $1 billion in 2023 to accelerate enterprise AI under Kumar's leadership.
  • Cognizant’s global Synapse skilling initiative is close to reaching 1 million people with AI and advanced-technology training.
  • Kumar initiated the world’s largest vibe coding event among Cognizant employees, earning a GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ title for the most participants in an online generative AI hackathon.
  • Kumar launched Cognizant’s Bluebolt program in 2023, which has already collected more than 500,000 employee ideas on AI use cases.
International Stuttering Awareness Day observed on October 22 (End of October) ▼
  • International Stuttering Awareness Day is celebrated every year on October 22.
  • International Stuttering Awareness Day 2025 shines a light on the power of speech, acceptance, and resilience.
  • The day inspires others to embrace their voice and helps break the stigma around speech disorders.
  • Awareness campaigns are run to understand and accept people living in society with stuttering.
Collins Dictionary's Word of the Year 2025: 'Vibe Coding' (Start of November) ▼
  • Collins Dictionary has chosen “vibe coding” as its Word of the Year 2025.
  • The term “vibe coding” describes a new way of programming where developers create computer programs by simply describing them to an AI chatbot instead of writing code manually.
  • OpenAI co-founder and former Tesla AI director Andrej Karpathy popularised the term “vibe coding.”
  • Other shortlisted words for Collins’ Word of the Year 2025 include “Biohacking,” “Clanker,” and “Aura Farming.”
  • Alex Beecroft, Managing Director of Collins, stated that “vibe coding” captures the evolving relationship between language and technology.