Current Affairs 29 October 2025

We are here for you to provide the important Recent and Latest Current Affairs 29 October 2025, which have unique updates of Latest Current Affairs 2025 events from all newspapers such as The Hindu, The Economic Times, PIB, Times of India, PTI, Indian Express, Business Standard and all Government official websites.

Our Current Affairs October 2025 events will help you to get more marks in Banking, Insurance, SSC, Railways, UPSC, CLAT and all State Government Exams. Also, try our Latest Current Affairs Quiz and Monthly Current Affairs 2025 PDF which will be a pedestrian to crack your exams.

Read Current Affairs in CareersCloud APP, Course Name – Learn Current Affairs – Free Course –Click Here to Download the APP

We are Hiring – Subject Matter Expert – English | CA Video Creator | Content Developers(Pondicherry)

Click here for Current Affairs 28 October 2025

Click here for Affairscloud Hindu Free Vocabs telegram channel

NATIONAL AFFAIRS

Ministry of Culture Signed MoUs with 17 Institutions to Expand Work under ‘Gyan Bharatam’In October 2025, the Ministry of Culture signed Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with 17 institutions across India, to accelerate work on the conservation and digitisation of India’s manuscript heritage under the ‘Gyan Bharatam Mission (GBM)’.

• These MoUs were signed in the presence of Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Ministry of Culture during a ceremony held at the National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA) (Jaipur House) in New Delhi, Delhi.

Key Details of MoUs:
Grouping of 17 Institutions: Under the Gyan Bharatam framework, 12 institutions, including the Department of Persian Studies at the University of Kashmir (Jammu & Kashmir, J&K); and Asiatic Society (Kolkata, West Bengal, WB) have joined the initiative under the ‘cluster’ category.

• While, remaining 5 institutions including Nagari Pracharni Sabha (Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, UP) have signed MoUs as ‘Independent Centres’.

Key Functions: Institutions in ‘Cluster Centre’ category will be responsible for executing all manuscript-related activities of its own centre and also for its designated Cluster Partner Centres, which shall not be more than 20.

• While, Institutions in ‘Independent Centre’ category will be responsible for implementing all manuscript-related activities pertaining solely to its own collection.

>>Read Full News

GoI Approved Rs 5,532 Crore Investment for 7 Electronics Component Plant under ECMSIn October 2025, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) announced that the Government of India (GoI) has approved the 1st trench of 7 projects worth Rs 5,532 crore under the Electronics Components Manufacturing Scheme (ECMS).

• The projects represent a significant step toward boosting domestic manufacturing of essential components, including multi-layer printed circuit boards (PCBs), Camera Modules, Copper Clad Laminates (CCL), and Polypropylene Films.

Key Details:
Total Applications Received: As of September 2025, the GoI has received 249 applications, representing the investment commitments of Rs 1.15 lakh, nearly twice the initial target of Rs 59,350 crore.
State-wise Distribution of Projects: As per MeitY, 7 electronics manufacturing units will be established across 3 states: Tamil Nadu (TN), Andhra Pradesh (AP), and Madhya Pradesh (MP).

• Among these states, TN leads in electronics components manufacturing, securing 5 out of 7 projects, approved in 1st round of ECMS, with total investment worth Rs 4,271 crore (accounting 77% of total investments approved). Of the 5 projects approved in TN, 4 are secured by Kaynes Circuits India Private Limited, and 1 project was secured by Ascent Circuits Pvt. Limited.
• While, remaining two projects were secured by SRF Limited in MP and by Syrma Strategic Electronics Pvt. Limited in AP.

>>Read Full News

MoAFW Approves Procurement of Pulses and Oilseeds worth Rs.15,095.83 crore for Kharif 2025-26 SeasonOn October 27, 2025, Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (MoAFW), approved a Rs.15,095.83 crore plan to procure pulses and oilseeds from farmers in Telangana, Odisha, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh (MP) for the Kharif 2025-26 season.

• The plan was approved under the Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay SanraksHan Abhiyan (PM-AASHA) scheme and other schemes of the MoAFW.

State-wise Procurement Approvals:
Telangana: Approved the procurement of 4,430 metric tonnes (MT) of moong (green gram), accounting for 25% of the total production in Telangana under the Price Support Scheme (PSS) for Rs.38.44 crores.

• The GoI will also procure 100% of urad (black gram) and 25% of soyabean.

Odisha: Approved to procure 18,470 MT of arhar (red gram), accounting for 100% of the production in Odisha under PSS, with a budget of Rs.147.76 crores.
Maharashtra: Approved the purchase of 33,000 MT of moong worth Rs.289.34 crores, 3,25,680 MT of urad worth Rs.2,540.30 crores, and 18,50,700 MT of soyabean worth Rs.9,860.53 crores under PSS.
MP: The GoI will procure 22,21,632 MT of soyabean under the Price Deficiency Payment Scheme (PDPS) for Rs.1,775.53 crores.
>>Read Full News

DLA Integrates LIMBS with PFMS for Paperless Advocate Fee Disbursal
In October 2025, the Department of Legal Affairs (DLA) under the Ministry of Law and Justice (MoL&J), announced the successful integration of the Legal Information Management and Briefing System (LIMBS) with the Public Financial Management System (PFMS) to create an end-to-end e-Bill system for advocate fee disbursal.

Integration of LIMBS with PFMS: 
Objective: To replace the manual, paper-based advocate fee system with a fully digital workflow ensuring transparency, uniformity, and timely disbursement.

• It promotes digital governance, accountability, and sustainability in line with Special Campaign 5.0 and Viksit Bharat @2047.

Functioning: Bills generated on LIMBS are sent to PFMS for verification and sanction; each receives a unique Claim Reference Number (CRN) for tracking, and after Drawing and Disbursing Officer (DDO)’s digital approval, payments are directly credited to beneficiaries via PFMS.
Key Features and Benefits: The integration enables end-to-end digital processing of advocate fee claims through paperless workflows, real-time CRN tracking, and timely payments, ensuring efficiency, transparency, error reduction, standardized processes, and strengthened digital record-keeping.
Expansion: The e-Bill module, launched by CAS in February 2025 for Panel Advocates, is being extended by DLA to other litigation units, including the Delhi High Court (HC), with a Retainer Fee Module under consideration for Law Officers.
Implementation:The system is operational across all ministries and departments, covering Central Government litigations managed through LIMBS. Payments are processed directly through PFMS, eliminating physical paperwork and delays.

HAL and PJSC-UAC Signed MoU for Production of Civil Aircraft SJ-100 in India
In October 2025, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Russia’s Public Joint Stock Company United Aircraft Corporation (PJSC-UAC) in Moscow, Russia, to manufacture the Superjet 100 (SJ-100) civil commuter aircraft in India.

About the MoU between HAL and PJSC-UAC:
Rights and Scope: The agreement grants HAL exclusive rights to manufacture the SJ-100 aircraft for domestic customers in India.
Objective: The MoU aims to enhance regional and short-haul connectivity under the UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik) scheme.
Significance: India’s first complete passenger aircraft since the Avro Hawker Siddeley 748 (AVRO HS-748) project (1961–1988), marking the nation’s return to civil aircraft manufacturing and reinforcing its position in the global aviation industry.
About the SJ-100 Aircraft:
Design and Capacity: The SJ-100, formerly the Sukhoi Superjet 100, is a twin-engine regional jet seating up to 103 passengers with a range of 3,530 kilometres (km) for short-haul routes.
Performance and Global Reach: Over 200 SJ-100 aircraft have been produced and are in service with more than 16 airlines worldwide, offering fuel efficiency, low operating costs, and reliable performance across extreme temperatures ranging from –55°C (degrees Celsius) to +45°C.

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

UN Convention Against Cybercrime held in Hanoi, VietnamIn October 2025, the United Nations (UN) Convention against Cybercrime was held in Hanoi, Viet Nam, marking a major step toward establishing the world’s first global framework to prevent, investigate, and combat cybercrime.

Signing of UN Convention Against Cybercrime:
Signing Ceremony:The signing ceremony was hosted by Vietnam in collaboration with the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
Signing Period: The Convention was opened for signature in Hanoi, Vietnam, on 25–26 October 2025, and will continue to be open for signing at the UN Headquarters in New York, the United States of America (USA) until 31 December 2026.
Global Participation: As of now, more than 60 countries have signed the convention, reflecting a strong international commitment.
About UN Convention Against Cybercrime:
Adoption: The Convention was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA)on 24 December 2024 in New York,USA through resolution A/RES/79/243, following five years of negotiations.
Aim: Its primary objective is to establish the first universal legal framework for the investigation and prosecution of online offences.
Scope: The Convention addresses a wide range of cybercrimes, including Ransomware attacks, Financial fraud and Non-consensual sharing of intimate images.
Significance: This is the first international treaty to recognise the non-consensual dissemination of intimate images as a criminal offence, marking a major advancement in digital rights protection.
Implementation: Provides capacity building and real-time cooperation, especially for developing nations, and takes effect 90 days after the 40th ratification.
 Key Provisions: 
Criminalisation: Establishes global standards to criminalise cyber-dependent and cyber-enabled offences, including ransomware, financial fraud, and non-consensual image sharing.
International Cooperation: Facilitates cross-border collaboration through the exchange of electronic evidence and a 24/7 cooperation network for swift response to cybercrime incidents.
Human Rights: Ensures law enforcement actions respect privacy, dignity, and human rights, balancing security needs with individual freedoms.
Global Relevance: Aims to counter the USD 10.5 trillion global cybercrime threat, promoting capacity building in developing nations.
About United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC):
Executive Director (ED) – Ghada Fathi Waly
Headquarters – Vienna, Austria
Established – 1997

IUCN Adopted 1st Ever Global Soil Security Law FrameworkIn October 2025, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has officially adopted “Motion 007 on Security Law”, marking the 1st time that soil security recognised as central to food systems, water supply, biodiversity protection, and climate resilience.

• This historic framework was adopted during the IUCN World Conservation Congress held in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

About Motion 007 on Security Law:
Co-sponsored by: The new motion was co-sponsored by Save Soil (Isha Outreach) and the Global Centre for Environmental Legal Studies of the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University (in the United States of America, USA), with inputs from Aurora, an Australian soil security think tank.
Defines Soil Security: This newly adopted motion defines soil security as responsible management and preservation of soil which will help in ensuring its continued ability to perform important functions, provide essential ecosystem and biophysical services.
Future Plan: Following the successful adoption of this resolution, IUCN will now constitute a working group to frame concepts and parameters for an international convention or legal instrument on soil security.

• More than 90 member-countries will be encouraged to integrate Model Soil Security Law into national regulatory frameworks.

Significance: The new law has outlined 5 dimensions: capacity, condition, capital, connectivity and codification, will guide the member countries to incorporate soil protection across agricultural policy, climate action, and ecosystem restoration programmes.

• It will enhance legal accountability and support regenerative farming practices to farmers’ livelihoods and ecological sustainability.

Key Reasons for its Adoption:
Soil as 8th Existential Issue: Globally, Soil is recognised as ‘8th’ existential issue. While other existential issues are: climate change, food and water scarcity, biodiversity preservation, energy sustainability, and environmental maintenance, and human well-being.
Land Degradation by 2050: As per the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) estimates, 16 million squares kilometers (sq. km) of land worldwide will severely be degraded by 2050, if countries fail to take immediate actions for soil conservation.

• Economically, the world economy will witness annual loss of USD 878 billion.

Impact on SDGs: Soil health effects minimum 12 out of 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) like: climate action (SDG 13) eradicating hunger (SDG2).
About International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN):
Director-General (DG)- Dr. Grethel Aguilar
Headquarters- Gland, Switzerland
Established– 1948

Union MoS Kirti Vardhan Singh Represents India in 19th Mid-Term Ministerial Meeting of NAM in Uganda
In October 2025, Union Minister of State (MoS) Kirti Vardhan Singh, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MoEFCC), lead the Indian delegation for the 19th Mid-Term Ministerial Meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) in Kampala, Uganda.

About 19th Mid-Term Ministerial Meeting of NAM:
Theme: The event was held from October 15 to 16, 2025, under the theme“Deepening Cooperation for Shared Global Affluence”.
Meeting: During the visit, Union MoS Kirti Vardhan Singh met the President of Uganda Yoweri Kaguta Museveni on the sidelines of the event. The discussion focused on areas such as trade, investment, capacity building, healthcare, and cooperation in education and digital transformation.
NAM: It was established in 1961 in Belgrade, Yugoslavia (presently Serbia). It is a forum of 120 developing countries, with 17 countries and 10 international organizations as observers. Its founding leaders include India, Yugoslavia, Egypt, Ghana, and Sukarno.

BANKING & FINANCE

RBI released its Payment System Report for June 2025: 2nd edition In October 2025, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) published the second edition of the half-yearly Payment Systems Report for June 2025, confirming significant and sustained growth in India’s digital ecosystem.

• This report presents a comprehensive analysis of various payment systems operated by the RBI, the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), banks and other Payment System Operators (PSOs).

Digital Payment Boom
Growth: In the past 10 years, the digital transactions have increased 38 times in volume terms and more than three times in value terms.

• The digital payments made up 99.7% transactions in volume and 95.7% in terms of value in 2024.
• During the first half (H1) of 2025, the total transaction volume touched 12,549 crore (cr), amounting to Rs. 1,572 lakh cr and digital payments comprising 99.8% of volume and 97.7% of value.

Payment Modes: Unified Payment Interface (UPI) remained the most preferred payment mode, contributing 85% of total transaction volume, though only 9% in value.
Inward and Outward Remittance: India remains the top recipient of global foreign remittances, with a record USD 137.7 bn inflow in 2024, more than double that of Mexico, the second-highest recipient with USD 67.6 bn.
>>Read Full News

Banking Laws (Amendment) Act 2025: New Nomination Rules Effective from November 1, 2025In October 2025, the Ministry of Finance (MoF) has announced new guidelines under the Banking Laws (Amendment) Act, 2025, which would provide depositors more flexibility and control over nominations for bank deposit accounts, lockers, and assets held in safe custody.

• The provisions under Sections 10, 11, 12, and 13 of the Banking Laws (Amendment) Act, 2025 are set to come into effect from 1st November 2025.

Background:
Overview: The Banking Laws (Amendment) Act, 2025, notified on 15 April 2025, incorporates 19 amendments spanning five core legislations: the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934; the Banking Regulation Act, 1949; the State Bank of India Act, 1955; and the Banking Companies (Acquisition and Transfer of Undertakings) Act, 1970 & the Banking Companies (Acquisition and Transfer of Undertakings) Act, 1980.
Earlier Implementation: The Government of India(GoI) had earlier notified August 1, 2025, as the commencement date for specific provisions of the Banking Laws (Amendment) Act, 2025, namely Sections 3, 4, 5, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, and 20, through Gazette Notification S.O. 3494(E) dated 29th July 2025.
Key Features of Provisions :
Multiple Nominations: Customers may nominate up to four persons, either simultaneously or successively, thereby simplifying claim settlement for depositors and their nominees.
Nomination for Deposit Accounts: Depositors may opt for either simultaneous or successive nominations, as per their preference.
Nomination for Articles in Safe Custody and Safety Lockers: For such facilities, only successive nominations are permitted.
Simultaneous Nomination: Depositors may nominate up to four persons and specify the share or percentage of entitlement for each nominee, ensuring that the total equals 100 percent and enabling transparent distribution among all the nominees.
Successive Nomination: Individuals maintaining deposits, articles in safe custody, or lockers may specify up to four nominees, where the next nominee becomes operative only upon the death of the nominee placed higher, ensuring continuity in settlement and clarity of succession.
Impact: The implementation of these provisions will offer depositors enhanced flexibility to make nominations as per their preference, while ensuring greater uniformity, transparency, and efficiency in claim settlements across the banking system.
About Ministry of Finance (MoF):
Union Minister – Nirmala Sitharaman (Rajya Sabha – Karnataka)
Minister of State (MoS) – Pankaj Chaudhary (Constituency – Maharajganj, Uttar Pradesh, UP)

SBI and BoB to Establish IDPIC for Real-Time Fraud DetectionIn October 2025, the State Bank of India (SBI) and Bank of Baroda (BoB), supported by other Public Sector Banks(PSBs), were designated as the lead institutions to establish the to establish ‘the Indian Digital Payment Intelligence Corporation (IDPIC), a Section 8 (non-profit) company that will use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to detect and prevent digital payment frauds in real time.

• The framework and articles of association have received approval from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).

About Indian Digital Payment Intelligence Corporation (IDPIC):
Objective: To detect and prevent digital payment fraud in real time, strengthen risk management frameworks, and establish a shared intelligence network for swift inter-bank response to cyber threats.
Background: The establishment of IDPIC follows the A.P. Hota Committee’s recommendation to create a Digital Payments Intelligence Platform
Capital: The entity will have an authorised capital of Rs. 500 crore and paid-up capital of Rs. 200 crore.
Funding: SBI and BoB will each provide Rs. 10 crore as seed funding, while other public sector banks will participate as equity investors in subsequent phases.
AI & ML Integration: IDPIC will leverage AI and Machine Learning (ML) algorithms to analyze transaction patterns and detect suspicious activity.
>>Read Full News

Paytm Enables UPI Payments for NRIs using International Mobile Numbers
On October 27, 2025, Paytm, a subsidiary of One97 Communications, has enabled Unified Payments Interface (UPI) payments for Non-Resident Individuals (NRIs) through their international mobile numbers, eliminating the need for an Indian Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card to pay merchants and send money.

About UPI Facility for NRIs:
Mode: Currently the facility is available in beta mode and will be rolled gradually to all eligible users.
Countries: The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI)–powered service is available to Indians in 12 countries, including Singapore, Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Oman, Qatar, United States of America (USA), Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates (UAE), United Kingdom (UK), France, and Malaysia can avail the initiative.
Access: The users can log in to their Paytm application(app) with their international mobile number, registered with their Non-Resident External (NRE) or Non-Resident Ordinary (NRO) bank account in India.
Seamless Payments: NRIs can now use the Paytm app to make instant payments, transfer funds, and shop on Indian platforms using international mobile numbers, eliminating currency conversions, remittance delays, and extra charges.

JPYC Launches World’s First Yen-Pegged Stablecoin ‘JPYC’
On October 27, 2025, the Japanese fintech firm JPYC Inc., launched “JPYC”, world’s first Yen-pegged stablecoin, which is pegged equal in value (1:1) to Japanese Yen (JPY).

• The coin is fully backed by domestic deposits in JPY, and Japanese Government Bonds (JGBs) and aims to issue up to 10 trillion JPY (approximately USD 66 billion) over the next 3 years.

About Stablecoin JPYC:
Revenue Model: Transactions will be fee-free initially, with earnings derived from interest on JGB reserves.
Blockchain support: The coin operates on multiple blockchains, including Ethereum, Avalanche, and Polygon, making it easier for wallets, exchanges, and Decentralized Finance (DeFi) platforms to integrate JPYC and use it across different ecosystems.
Mint: The users or partner institutions will send JPY to the official account or “on-ramp”, a payment channel. JPYC will mint the same amount of JPYC tokens on the blockchain.

• The users will send the JPYC tokens back to JPYC Inc., upon redeeming their stablecoins. JPYC Inc. burns those tokens and returns the equivalent JPY to the user.

APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

Citigroup CEO Jane Fraser Appointed as New Chair of the Board
In October 2025, Citigroup Inc., one of the world’s leading financial institutions, announced the election of its Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Jane Fraser, as the new Chair of its Board of Directors(BoD), effective from October 22, 2025.

• She succeeds John Dugan, who has held the position since 2019.

About Jane Fraser:
Career: She started her career in investment banking, working in Mergers & Acquisitions at Goldman Sachs in London(the United Kingdom, UK) and later with a brokerage in Madrid(Spain).
Experience: She spent nearly a decade at McKinsey & Company, where she rose to the position of partner before joining Citigroup Inc. in 2004.
At Citigroup: She has held several prominent roles, including Global Head of Strategy & Mergers and Acquisitions(M&A), CEO of Citi Private Bank, and CEO of Citi Latin America.

• In March 2021, she became the CEO of Citigroup, making history as the first woman to lead a major United States of America(USA) bank.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Japan Successfully Launches HTV-X1 Cargo Spacecraft to ISS
In October 2025, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) successfully launched its new unmanned cargo spacecraft, the HTV‑X1, aboard the flagship H3 rocket from the Tanegashima Space Center in southern Japan, Japan.

• The spacecraft, on its first mission, is carrying cargo to deliver supplies to the International Space Station (ISS).

About Japan’s New Cargo Spacecraft:
Successor: The HTV-X succeeds JAXA’s unmanned H-II Transfer Vehicle, known as Kounotori (meaning “stork” in Japanese), which completed nine missions to the ISS from 2009 to 2020.
Features:It can carry up to 6,000 kilogram(kg) of cargo, supply power for cold-stored lab samples, and stay docked to the ISS for six months before a three-month independent mission.
Launch Vehicle: Japan’s new H3 rocket, equipped with four boosters and a larger fairing, enhances payload capacity and cost efficiency.

SPORTS

India Hosts 4th SAAF Championships 2025 in Ranchi; India tops with 20 GoldsThe 4th Edition of the South Asian Athletics (SAAF) Championships 2025, held at Birsa Munda Athletics Stadium, Ranchi, Jharkhand, from October 24 to 26.

• The event saw participation from six South Asian nations with around 300 athletes and 150 technical officials taking part.

About SAAF Senior Athletics Championships 2025:
Organizer: SAAF Senior Athletics Championships 2025 was organized under the aegis of the South Asian Athletics Federation (SAAF) and hosted by the Athletics Federation of India (AFI).
Opening Ceremony: The opening ceremony on October 24, 2025, was inaugurated by Jharkhand Chief Minister (CM) Hemant Soren at the Birsa Munda Stadium, Ranchi, Jharkhand.
Logo, Mascot, and Anthem: The event’s logo reflected Jharkhand’s tribal art and natural beauty; the mascot ‘Dalma’ symbolized strength and unity; and the anthem ‘Johar – Jharkhand Bharthey Hunkaar’ celebrated regional pride through traditional tribal music.
India Tops Medals Tally With 20 Gold Medals:
India has topped the medal tally with a total of 58 medals (20 Gold, 20 Silver, and 18 Bronze), while Sri Lanka positioned second place with 40 medals (16 golds), and Nepal as third with 6 medals.

IMPORTANT DAYS

World Sight Day 2025 – October 9World Sight Day (WSD), also known as World Eye Day or World Vision Day, is observed annually on the Second Thursday of October across the globe to focus global attention on blindness, visual impairment, and the importance of eye health.

• In 2025, WSD was observed on October 9.

Theme: 
2025 Theme: “Love Your Eyes”
Focus: This year’s theme highlights the importance of valuing, protecting, and prioritizing one’s own health.

Background: 
Origin: WSD was initiated under the Sight First campaign of the Lions Club International Foundation (LCIF) in 1990.
Collaboration: LCIF integrated WSD with VISION 2020, a global initiative coordinated by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB).
Official Launch: In 1999, the WHO formally launched WSD, which was first observed on October 12, 2000.
Global Vision Statistics: According to the WHO, over 2.2 billion people worldwide suffer from vision impairment, with about 1 billion cases being preventable or treatable.
Initiatives by WHO:
WHO Eyes: It is an application available in 14 languages, that allows users to test their vision without visiting an eye specialist.
SPECS 2030: Global initiative aiming for a 40% rise in access to spectacles and affordable eye care.
IPEC: Integrated People-Centered Eye Care (IPEC), launched in 2023, for the IPEC in Southeast Asia. It is one of the key programmes in INSIGHT 2030 strategy.

• INSIGHT 2030 is a replacement for VISION 2020.

Vision Loss: Uncorrected refractive errors, cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, and glaucoma, are the leading causes of vision loss.
Related Observances:
Prevention of Blindness Week (April 1–7): Promotes awareness on blindness prevention in India.
World Glaucoma Week (2nd week of March): Highlights global awareness on glaucoma and early detection.
About International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB):
President – Caroline Casey
Headquarters – London, the United Kingdom (UK)
Established – 1975

International Day of Care and Support 2025 – October 29 The United Nations (UN)’s International Day of Care and Support (IDCS) is annually observed across the globe on 29 October to promote awareness of the vital role of caregiving and support for people facing illness, disability, or other challenges.

• 29 October 2025 marks the third observance of the IDCS.

Theme:
2025 Theme: “Care and Support for All – Addressing all rights-holders, including those providing and receiving care and support ”
Focus: This year’s theme highlights  the importance of building inclusive, equitable, and sustainable care and support systems that recognise and uphold the rights of both caregivers and care recipients.
Background:
Establishment: On 24 July 2023, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted a resolution A/RES/77/317 and decided to proclaim the 29 October of every year as the IDCS.
First Observance: The First IDCS was observed on 29 October 2023.
Gender Inequality in Care Work:
Unequal Burden: Around the world, women and girls shoulder a disproportionate share of care duties, both paid and unpaid.

• Every day, women and girls perform over 16 billion hours of unpaid care work, supporting families, communities, and economies across the world.

Barriers to Opportunity: Persistent gender norms and limited investment in care infrastructure continue to restrict their opportunities for education, leadership, decent work, and personal time.
Economic Impact: In 2024, women globally lost the equivalent of 41 days of paid work compared to men, mainly because of unpaid caregiving responsibilities.
2025 Event:
The 2025 global observance of the IDCS was held in Geneva, Switzerland, and was jointly organised by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), UN Women, and the International Labour Organization (ILO).
About  International Labour Organization (ILO):
Director-General (DG) – Gilbert F. Houngbo (Togo)
Headquarters – Geneva, Switzerland
Member nations – 187
Established – 1919

World Stroke Day 2025 – October 29World Stroke Day (WSD) is observed annually across the globe on 29 October to raise awareness about stroke prevention, early recognition, and rehabilitation.
Theme:
2025 Theme: “Every Minute Counts”.
Focus: The theme emphasizes the critical importance of recognizing stroke symptoms quickly and seeking immediate medical help to minimize brain damage.

Background:
Establishment: WSD was first established during the World Stroke Congress held in Vancouver, Canada, in 2004.
Proclamation: Dr. Vladimir Hachinski led the creation of a working group that, in October 2006, developed the World Stroke Proclamation to promote global awareness and action against stroke.
Creation of WSO: In 2006, the World Stroke Organization (WSO) was formed through the merger of the International Stroke Society (ISS) and the World Stroke Federation (WSF).
First Observance: The first WSD was officially observed on October 29, 2006.
About Stroke:
Definition: A stroke occurs when blood flow to the brain is blocked or reduced, causing brain cell damage or death without quick treatment.
Types: There are 2 main types of stroke, ischemic and haemorrhagic.

• Ischemic: Blood clot blocks brain flow (≈85% of cases).
• Hemorrhagic: Brain bleeding from a ruptured vessel.

Global Stroke Burden: According to the WSO, nearly 12 million people suffer a stroke each year, and one in four adults over the age of 25 is likely to experience a stroke during their lifetime.
2025 Event:
Campaign: The associated #ActFAST campaign aims to educate the public on recognizing stroke symptoms quickly.

• F.A.S.T. (Face drooping, Arm weakness, Speech difficulty, Time to call emergency services) to simplify symptom recognition.

World Stroke Congress (WSC 2025): The 17th WSC held on October 22–24, 2025, in Barcelona, Spain, bringing together global experts to advance stroke prevention, treatment, and recovery.
About World Stroke Organisation (WSO):
President– Jeyaraj Pandian (India)
President-Elect– Craig Anderson(Australia)
Headquarters– Geneva, Switzerland
Established – 2006

Vigilance Awareness Week 2025 – October 27 – November 2Vigilance Awareness Week (VAW), led by the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC), is commemorated annually throughout India during the week coinciding with the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel (on 31st October), to promote integrity, transparency, and vigilance against corruption.

• VAW 2025 is observing from 27th October to 2nd November 2025.
• VAW 2024 was held from 28th October to 3rd November 2024, while VAW 2026 will be observed from 26th October to 1st November 2026.

Theme:
2025 Theme: “Vigilance: Our Shared Responsibility”
Focus: To promote integrity, transparency, and accountability in public life.

Background:
Decision: CVC, under Government of India (GoI) Resolution No. 371/20/99/AVD-III dated 4 April 1999, decided that every year the week beginning from 31st October would be observed as VAW.
Introduction: The observance of VAW was first introduced in 2000.
2025 Campaign:
Preventive Vigilance Campaign: As a prelude to VAW 2025, the CVC directed all organisations to undertake a three-month campaign on Preventive Vigilance from 18th August to 17th November 2025.
Focus: The campaign focuses on five key areas, Disposal of pending complaints, Disposal of pending cases, Capacity building programmes, Asset management and Digital initiatives.
2025 Event: 
Pledge: The observance of VAW 2025 commenced with the pledge-taking ceremony by public servants across Ministries, Departments, Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs), Banks, and other organisations.
Leadership: Central Vigilance Commissioner Praveen Kumar Srivastava and Vigilance Commissioner A. S. Rajeev administered the integrity pledge to officials at the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) headquarters in New Delhi(Delhi), marking the observance of VAW.
About Central Vigilance Commission (CVC):
The CVC, established in 1964 on the recommendations of the Santhanam Committee, is an independent apex body that promotes integrity, transparency, and accountability in public administration.

• It functions autonomously and reports only to Parliament, not to any Ministry or Department.

Central Vigilance Commissioner – Praveen Kumar Srivastava
Headquarters – New Delhi, Delhi

*******

Current Affairs Today (AffairsCloud Today)