World Para Athletics Championships 2025
News–India’s Record-Breaking Triumph at World Para Athletics Championships 2025.
- Event – India hosted the World Para Athletics Championships 2025 for the first time at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, New Delhi.
- Performance – India’s best-ever show with 22 medals (6 Gold, 9 Silver, 7 Bronze).
- Previous Record – 17 medals at Kobe, Japan (2024).
- Top Performers –
– Sumit Antil – Gold in Javelin Throw (71.37 m)
– Shailesh Kumar – Gold and Asian Record in High Jump T63
– Simran Sharma – Gold (100m T12) and Silver (200m T12) - Other Medalists – Preeti Pal, Rinku Hooda, Sandip Sanjay Sargar, Nishad Kumar, Soman Rana, Ekta Bhyan.
- Participation – Largest Indian contingent with 73 athletes (54 men, 19 women).
- Support Programs – 37 medalists trained under TOPS & Khelo India schemes.
- Significance – India achieved top-10 in medal tally; boost to para sports and future Paralympic hosting potential.
New ODI Captain
News-Shubman Gill Appointed as India’s New ODI Captain.
- Event – Shubman Gill appointed as India’s new ODI captain on 4 October 2025, succeeding Rohit Sharma.
- Debut as Captain – First ODI series as captain, after previously leading India in Tests and T20Is.
- Series – Three-match ODI series against Australia.
- Career Stats – 55 ODIs, 2,775 runs, 8 centuries.
- Significance – Among India’s most promising young cricket leaders.
- India’s ODI Squad vs Australia (Oct 2025) –
Shubman Gill (C), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer (VC), Axar Patel, KL Rahul (WK), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, Dhruv Jurel (WK), Yashasvi Jaiswal.
Exercise KONKAN-2025
News–Exercise KONKAN-2025 – Strengthening India-UK Naval Partnership.
- Event – India–UK naval exercise KONKAN-2025 began on 5 October 2025 off India’s western coast.
- Duration – Conducted in two phases till 12 October 2025.
- Objective – Strengthen maritime cooperation under the India–UK Vision 2035.
- Activities – Harbour interactions, professional exchanges, and sea drills on anti-air, anti-surface, and anti-submarine warfare.
- Key Participants – INS Vikrant (India) and HMS Prince of Wales (UK Carrier Strike Group).
- Partner Nations – Norway and Japan also participated.
- Follow-up Exercise – UK Carrier Strike Group to conduct a joint drill with the Indian Air Force on 14 October 2025.
Aadhaar Biometric Update
News-UIDAI Waives Aadhaar Biometric Update Charges for Children Aged 5–17 Years.
- Event – UIDAI waived Aadhaar biometric update charges for children aged 5–17 years.
- Effective From – 1 October 2025, for one year.
- Beneficiaries – Around 6 crore children across India.
- Aadhaar Enrollment (Below 5 years) – Only demographic details taken (name, photo, DOB, gender, address); no biometrics.
- Biometric Updates –
– First update at age 5.
– Second update at age 15. - Fee Waiver – Updates for 5–7 and 15–17 age groups now free (earlier ₹125 per update).
Minimum Support Prices
News-Government Hikes Minimum Support Prices for Rabi Crops for 2026‑27 Marketing Season.
- Event – Union Government approved an increase in MSP for all mandated Rabi crops for the 2026–27 marketing season.
- Highest MSP Hike – Safflower (+₹600/quintal), followed by lentil, rapeseed, gram, barley, and wheat.
- Approving Body – Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA).
- New Initiative – Launch of Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses.
- Budget Outlay – ₹11,440 crore.
- Objective – Boost pulse production to 350 lakh tonnes by 2030–31.
NHAI
News-NHAI to Install QR Code Sign Boards on Highways.
- Event – NHAI to install QR Code Sign Boards on National Highways.
- Objective – Promote transparency and enhance ease of commuting.
- Features – Provide project-specific details, emergency contacts, and nearby facilities (hospitals, e-charging stations, toilets).
- Installation Points – Toll plazas, rest areas, and highway entry/exit points.
- Significance – Improves road safety, commuter awareness, and overall user experience.
World Animal Day
News- World Animal Day 2025: 100 Years of Compassion.
- Date and Theme – Celebrated on 4 October 2025; Theme: “Save Animals, Save the Planet!”
- Anniversary – Marks the 100th anniversary of World Animal Day.
- Origin – Started in 1925 by Heinrich Zimmermann, aligned with St. Francis of Assisi’s feast day.
- Objective – Promote awareness, conservation, and compassion for animals.
- Significance – Highlights the link between animal welfare and environmental health amid threats like climate change and poaching.
MCQs
Q1. Where were the World Para Athletics Championships 2025 held?
A – Mumbai
B – New Delhi
C – Bangalore
D – Kolkata
Q2. Who was appointed India’s new ODI captain on 4 October 2025?
A – Rohit Sharma
B – Virat Kohli
C – Shubman Gill
D – Shreyas Iyer
Q3. When did the India–UK naval exercise KONKAN-2025 begin?
A – 1 October 2025
B – 5 October 2025
C – 10 October 2025
D – 12 October 2025
Q4. What is the age group for which UIDAI waived Aadhaar biometric update charges in 2025?
A – 0–5 years
B – 5–17 years
C – 10–18 years
D – 15–20 years
Q5. Which Rabi crop saw the highest MSP hike for 2026–27?
A – Wheat
B – Barley
C – Safflower
D – Lentil
Q6. Where will NHAI install QR Code Sign Boards?
A – Only toll plazas
B – Only rest areas
C – Highways (toll plazas, rest areas, entry/exit points)
D – Only city roads
Q7. What is the theme of World Animal Day 2025?
A – Protect Wildlife, Protect Earth
B – Save Animals, Save the Planet!
C – Animals First, Humans Later
D – Conservation for All