Current Affairs 26 & 27 October 2025

We are here for you to provide the important Recent and Latest Current Affairs 26 & 27 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.

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NATIONAL AFFAIRS

GoI Approves Extension of LC75 & BLC Investment Schemes to Central Government EmployeesOn October 24, 2025, the Government of India (GoI) approved the extension of Life Cycle 75 (LC75) and Balanced Life Cycle (BLC) investment options to central government employees under National Pension System (NPS) and the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS). It was announced by the Ministry of Finance(MoF).

• The move aims to enable flexibility for employees to plan their retirement and manage their savings according to individual preferences.

About Expanded Investment Options under NPS & UPS:
Investment Options: Under NPS & UPS, central government employees can now select from several investment options, including:

• Default Option: Standard pattern defined by the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA).
• Scheme G: 100% investment in government securities with low risk and fixed returns.
• LC-25: Up to 25% in equities, tapering gradually from age 33–35.
• LC-50: Up to 50% in equities, tapering from age 35–55.
• LC-75: Up to 75% in equities, tapering from age 35–55.
• BLC: Modified LC-50, with equity exposure tapering from age 45, allowing longer equity participation.

>>Read Full News

MoWCD Launches New Helpline ‘1515’ for POSHAN and PMMVY From November 1, 2025
On October 24,2025, the Ministry of Women and Child Development (MoWCD) has announced the launch of a new toll-free helpline number ‘1515’, effective from November 1, 2025.

• This new number will replace the existing helpline, 14408, for beneficiaries of the POSHAN Abhiyaan(erstwhile National Nutrition Mission, NNM) and the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY).

About New helpline number:
Aim: The helpline will continue to serve as a central point for queries, information and support under both POSHAN and PMMVY schemes
Benefit: The change is part of a government initiative to make support easier, simpler to recall and access for women, children, pregnant and lactating mothers across India
Coverage: The helpline will serve beneficiaries across all States and Union Territories(UTs), ensuring support is accessible regardless of location.

MoM Recognized IISc and C-MET as new CoEs under NCMM
In October 2025, the Ministry of Mines (MoM) has recognized 2 more new institutes namely, the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru (Karnataka) and the Centre for Materials for Electronics Technology(C-MET), Hyderabad (Telangana) as the Centres of Excellence (CoEs) under the National Critical Minerals Mission (NCMM).

• This development came following the approval granted by the Project Approval and Advisory Committee (PAC) in its meeting held on October 24, 2025 under the co-chairmanship of Piyush Goyal, Secretary, MoM and Professor Abhay Karandikar, Secretary of Department of Science & Technology (DST) under the Ministry of Science & Technology (MoS&T).

About CoEs Recognised under NCMM:
Key Functions: These new CoEs are required to focus on developing, demonstrating, and deploying technologies to reach Technology Readiness Levels (TRL 7/8) for pilot plants and pre-commercial demonstrations.
Hub & Spoke Model:Each CoE will operate as a Hub & Spoke consortium, uniting constituent expertise in critical minerals Research & Development (R&D).
Total CoEs under NCMM: Now the total number of CoEs recognised by MoM under NCMM reaches 9.

• These 9 recognised CoEs formed a strong network of around 90 industry and academic or R&D spokes.

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

UNCTAD-16 Held in Geneva, Switzerland from October 20 to 23, 2025The 16th session of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD-16) was held from October 20 to 23, 2025 at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland.

• Theme for UNCTAD-16: “Shaping the future: Driving economic transformation for equitable, inclusive and sustainable development”.

Key Highlights of UNCTAD-16:
Opening Plenary Session: UNCTAD-16 was inaugurated by the head of the delegation of Barbados, the host country of the previous session (UNCTAD-15) in 2021.

• During the opening plenary, Swiss Federal Councillor Guy Parmelin was elected President of UNCTAD-16.

India at UNCTAD-16: Union Minister Piyush Goyal, Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoC&I), led the Indian delegation at UNCTAD-16.
Sevilla Forum on Debt: During the UNCTAD-16, Antonio Guterres, Secretary General of UN; Calos Cuerpo, Minister of Economy, Trade and Business of Spain; Rebeca Grynspan, Secretary General of UNCTAD, announced the launch of ‘Sevilla Forum on Debt’  to create an open, inclusive platform for dialogue and action on global debt challenge, specifically for developing countries.
Support: During the conference, Monica Rubiolo of Switzerland’s State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) signed an agreement with Rebeca Grynspan, Secretary General of UNCTAD, pledging 4 million Swiss Francs (CHF) to support UNCTAD’s E-commerce and Digital Economy Programme (2025–2029).
UNCTAD Events: Saudi Arabia, in partnership with the Saudi Ports Authority (MAWANI), will host the 2nd UN Global Supply Chain Forum (GSCF) in November 2026. Qatar will host the 9th World Investment Forum (WIF) in 2026.
>>Read Full News

4th FATF Plenary Meeting Held from October 22 to 24, 2025 in Paris, FranceThe 4th Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Plenary Meeting was held, under the Mexican Presidency of Elisa de Anda Madrazo, from October 22 to 24, 2025, in Paris, France.

• Jamaica and Nigeria joined the FATF Plenary and Working Group (WG) meetings for the first time, along with Kenya, under the Guest Initiative.

Outcomes of the Meeting:
Evaluation Reports Approval: The FATF Plenary adopted the first two mutual evaluation reports under the new assessment system, covering Belgium and Malaysia, which focuses on results in tackling money laundering, terrorism, and proliferation financing.
High Risk Countries: FATF identified three jurisdictions such as Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), Iran, and Myanmar as high-risk jurisdictions, also known as Blacklist, urging all member countries to apply countermeasures and enhanced monitoring.
Removed Jurisdictions: Four jurisdictions, including Burkina Faso, Mozambique, Nigeria, and South Africa removed from the list of countries under increased monitoring, also known as the “grey list”.
Grey List countries: It includes Algeria, Angola, Bolivia, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Cote d Ivorie, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Haiti, Kenya, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Monaco, Namibia, Nepal, South Sudan, Syria, Venezuela, Vietnam, Virgin Islands(the United Kingdom, UK), and Yemen.
>>Read Full News

Vivek Menon Elected as First Asian Chair of IUCN Species Survival Commission for 2026-2029 TermIn October 2025, Vivek Menon, an Indian wildlife conservationist, environmental commentator, author and photographer, elected as Chair of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Species Survival Commission (SSC) for the 2025–2029 term, became the first Asian to lead the SSC in its 75-year history.

• He is the Founder and Executive Director(ED) of the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) and has been actively involved with the IUCN for over 25 years, serving in roles such as Chair of the SSC Asian Elephant Specialist Group and as an IUCN Councillor.
• The election took place during the IUCN World Conservation Congress held from October 9 to 15, 2025, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE).

IUCN Leadership and Regional Council Elections 2026–2029:
Presidency: Razan Khalifa Al Mubarak was re-elected as the President of IUCN. She will serve a second term from 2026 to 2029.
South & East Asia Councillors: Lima Rosalind from India, Roshani Adhikari Pathak(Nepal), Atsuhiro Yoshinaka (Japan), Yinfeng Guo (China), and Amran Hamzah (Malaysia) were elected as Regional Councillors for South and East Asia.
New Member: Tuvalu, a small island country in the west-central Pacific Ocean, joined IUCN, becoming its 90th State member.
>>Read Full News

India-Bhutan Border Management & Security Meeting Held in Thimpu, Bhutan
The 14th India–Bhutan Meeting on Border Management and Security was held in Thimphu, Bhutan, from October 16–17, 2025, to review and enhance bilateral security cooperation and coordination along the shared border between the two countries

• The Indian delegation was led by Rajendra Kumar, Secretary, Department of Border Management (MHA), while the Bhutanese delegation was headed by Sonam Wangyel, Secretary, Ministry of Home and Cultural Affairs, Bhutan.

About 14th India-Bhutan Meeting:
Composition of Indian Delegation: The Indian delegation comprised of officials from: Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), Land Ports Authority of India (LPAI), Department of Telecommunications (DoT); Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB); among others.

• The delegation also included representatives from Assam, West Bengal (WB), Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh (AR).

Key Areas of Discussions: During the meeting, both countries reviewed the bilateral security cooperation and border management issues like: mobile signal spillover, future roadmap for integrated check posts, maintenance of boundary pillars and cross-border movement. They also discussed capacity building for Bhutan’s police.
Previous Edition: The 13th India-Bhutan bilateral meeting on border management and security was held in 2019.

BANKING & FINANCE

RBI Launched Global Hackathon ‘HaRBInger 2025’ to Boost Secure, Inclusive Banking SolutionsIn October 2025, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) launched the 4th edition of its global hackathon ‘HaRBInger 2025: Innovation for Transformation’, designed to leverage emerging technologies to build innovative, secure and user-centric financial solutions.

• This year’s global hackathon is centred on the theme ‘Secure Banking: Powered by Identity, Integrity, and Inclusivity’.

Key Theme: Under this hackathon, the eligible entities and individuals are invited to develop technology-driven solutions under three problem statements: tokenised Know Your Customer (KYC); offline Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC); and enhancing trust.
SWAMIH Fund-I Gets Special Exemption to Encourage Institutional Investment
In October 2025, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has allowed SWAMIH Investment Fund-I, the Special Window for Affordable and Mid-Income Housing, to operate under a specified exemption from certain Reserve Bank of India (Investment in Alternate Investment Fund,AIF) Directions, 2025.

• This exemption is designed to motivate regulated entities, including banks and non-banking financial companies, to invest in the fund.

About Reserve Bank of India (RBI):
Governor- Sanjay Malhotra
Headquarters- Mumbai, Maharashtra
Established- 1935
>>Read Full News

World Bank Approves USD 280 million Loan to Kerala under KHSIPIn October 2025, the World Bank(WB) approved USD 280 million (approximately Rs.2,424 crores) loan to Kerala under the Kerala Health System Improvement Programme (KHSIP), with an aim to enhance the healthcare system of Kerala.

• The initiative focuses on improving the quality of life and life expectancy for approximately 11 million elderly and vulnerable individuals in Kerala.

Details of Financial Support:
Funding: The loan is provided by the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), with a maturity period of 25 years and a 5-year grace period.

• Funding is structured under the Programme for Results (PforR) model, which denotes the disbursement upon achieving the desired results, ensuring accountability and outcome-oriented progress.

Collaboration: Local bodies such as Gram Panchayats, municipalities, and district administrations will actively participate in rollout and monitoring of the programme.
About Kerala Health System Improvement Programme (KHSIP):
Overview: It is a state-sector health reform programme aimed at improving the quality of healthcare services and enhancing the efficiency of healthcare delivery systems in Kerala.

• The programme is implemented in all 14 districts of Kerala, with a proposed duration of around 5 years.

Objectives of KHSIP:

• Chronic Disease Management: The programme targets hypertension and diabetes, aiming to cover 90% of registered patients and using digital tracking systems to monitor health and treatment adherence.
• Home-Based Care: It will be provided to provide comprehensive healthcare services for bedridden, homebound, and elderly individuals. It also includes medical check-ups, nursing support, and preventive care to reduce hospital dependency.
• Prevention: The initiative targets a 40% improvement in hypertension control and a 60% increase in cervical and breast cancer screenings to reduce preventable deaths.
• Digital Health Infrastructure: The healthcare system of Kerala will be modernized through electronic (e) medical records and integrated data platforms with expansion of services such as teleconsultations, patient monitoring, and data analytics.
• Climate-Resilience: Primary Health Centres (PHCs)will be developed in districts such as Wayanad, Kozhikode, Kasaragod, Palakkad, and Alappuzha to develop climate-resilient health facilities into climate-smart facilities.

About Kerala:
Chief Minister (CM) – Pinarayi Vijayan
Governor – Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar
Capital – Thiruvananthapuram
Tiger Reserve (TR) – Periyar TR, Parambikulam TR

City Union Bank unveils new digital payment solutions at Global FinTech Fest 2025City Union Bank (CUB), recognized as one of India’s oldest and most trusted private sector banks, made a significant impression at the Global FinTech Fest (GFF) 2025, which took place in Mumbai from October 7 to 9.

• The GFF 2025 was organised by the The Payment Council of India (PCI), National Payment Corporation of India (NPCI) and Fintech Convergence Council (FCC).

Key Highlights
CUB, with the NPCI and fintech partners, has launched IoT (Internet of Things) -based UPI (Unified Payment Interface) payments, AI (Artificial Intelligence)-driven support, and biometric authentication to enhance customer experience.
UPI circle – My Devices: This enables secure UPI Payments via IoT devices such as Smart TVs.

• The functionality allows a primary user to securely delegate UPI access to up to five secondary devices or users, such as family members.

>>Read Full News

ECONOMY & BUSINESS

BEML Signed MoU with Italy’s Tesmec S.p.A to Introduce Surface Miner Equipment in India
In October 2025, BEML Limited, a Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) under the Ministry of Defence (MoD), signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Italy-based Tesmec S.p.A to introduce advanced Surface Miner equipment for mining operations in India.

• The partnership aims to enhance the efficiency, safety, and sustainability of mining operations in India by leveraging Tesmec’s global technological expertise and BEML’s domestic manufacturing capabilities.

About the Partnership between BEML & Tesmec S.p.A:
Objective: The partnership aims to introduce, manufacture, and market advanced Surface Miner equipment in India for use in mining operations.
Focus Areas: The partnership focuses on technology transfer and localization of surface miner equipment, enhancing productivity, safety, and environmental performance in mining, and promoting the indigenization of high-technology mining machinery.
Significance: The BEML-Tesmec partnership enhances India’s mining capabilities and promotes self-reliance in line with “Aatmanirbhar Bharat” and “Make in India.”
About Surface Miner Equipment: It is used in open-cast mining operations to cut and crush rock and soil without the need for drilling or blasting.

• It includes Surface miners, Draglines, Bucket-wheel excavators, Blasthole drills, Dozers and large mining trucks.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

ICG Launched Two Advanced FPVs ‘ICGS Ajit’ and ‘ICGS Aparajit’ at Goa ShipyardOn October 24, 2025, the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) launched two advanced Fast Patrol Vessels (FPVs) ‘Indian Coast Guard Ship (ICGS) Ajit (yard 1276)’ and ‘ICGS Aparajit (yard 1277)’, at Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL) in Panaji, Goa.

• These vessels are the seventh and eighth vessels in a series of eight indigenously built FPVs by GSL for the Indian Coast Guard, and represent the 42nd and 43rd ICGS constructed by GSL.
• The vessels were launched by Manju Sharma in the presence of Dr. Mayank Sharma, Financial Advisor (Defence Services).

Background:
Contract : In March 2022, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) signed a Rs 473 crore contract with GSL for the construction of eight Adamya-class FPVs for the ICG.

• The vessels are being designed, developed, and manufactured indigenously by GSL under the Buy (Indian-IDDM) category.

Project Progress: Six out of the eight FPVs : ICGS Adamya (yard 1270), ICGS Akshar (yard 1271), ICGS Amulya (yard 1272), ICGS Akshay (yard 1273), ICGS Achal (yard 1274), and ICGS Atal (yard 1275) have already been launched, while the remaining two are scheduled for launch by December 2025.

• The first vessel of the series, ICGS Adamya, was launched in October 2024 and inducted into service in July 2025.

About ICGS Ajit and ICGS Aparajit:
Length: Each vessel measures 52 metres (m) in length.
Displacement:  Both vessels have a displacement capacity of 320 tonnes.
Technology:  They are equipped with Controllable Pitch Propellers (CPP), a first for this class of ships in India, ensuring enhanced propulsion efficiency and superior manoeuvrability.
Capabilities: These vessels are designed for multiple operational roles, including:

• Fisheries protection and monitoring.
• Coastal patrol and maritime surveillance.
• Anti-smuggling and anti-piracy missions.
• Search and Rescue (SAR) operations around India’s island territories and Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

Indigenous Content: Over 65% of components are made in India, highlighting GSL’s focus on defense self-reliance.
About Indian Coast Guard (ICG):
Director General (DG) – Paramesh Sivamani
Headquarters – New Delhi, Delhi
Established – 1978

NASA Confirms Asteroid ‘2025 PN7’ as Earth’s New Quasi-Moon
In October 2025, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) confirmed the discovery of a small asteroid, designated ‘2025 PN7’, which has been classified as a new “quasi-moon” of Earth.

• The asteroid, initially detected in August 2025 by astronomers using the Pan-STARRS1(PS1) telescope at the University of Hawaii, the United States of America (USA).

About Asteroid 2025 PN7:
Nature: It is a quasi-moon, orbiting the Sun alongside Earth and appearing to follow the planet, though it is not gravitationally bound like the true Moon.
Duration Near Earth: It has been orbiting the Sun alongside Earth since the 1960s and is expected to remain in this co-orbital path until 2083.
Size: Estimated between 18 and 36 metres (m), roughly the height of a small building.
Proximity: Closest approach about 4 million kilometer (km) (10 times the distance to the Moon); farthest around 17 million km.
Significance: Rare discovery (only eight confirmed quasi-moons); valuable for studying asteroid dynamics, orbital models, and potential future space missions.

SPORTS

BWF World Junior Championships 2025 Held in Guwahati, AssamThe Badminton World Federation (BWF) World Junior Championships 2025 was held at the National Centre of Excellence (NCE) in Guwahati, Assam, from October 6 to October 19, 2025. This was the second occasion India hosted the prestigious event, with the inaugural hosting taking place in 2008.

• During the event, India secured the first-ever bronze medal in the Suhandinata Cup (Mixed Team Event).

About BWF World Junior Championships 2025: 
Championship Structure:

• Suhandinata Cup (Mixed Team Event): Held from October 6–11, 2025, featuring 36 national teams.
• Eye-Level Cup (Individual Events): Conducted from October 13–19, 2025, including singles, doubles, and mixed doubles competitions.

New Scoring Format: The 2025 BWF World Junior Championships used a best-of-three relay system, with each set to 45 points; players or teams must win two sets to claim victory, making matches faster and more dynamic.
India’s Achievements:
Team Bronze: India secured its maiden medal in the Suhandinata Cup by defeating South Korea to advance to the semifinals. India shared the Bronze with Japan.

• China took the Gold and Indonesia earned Silver.

Silver Medal: Tanvi Sharma won silver in Girls’ Singles at the World Junior Championships, ending a 17-year medal drought for India.

• She became the first Indian woman since Saina Nehwal (Gold, 2008) and Aparna Popat (Silver, 1996) to win a Bronze medal.

India’s Medal Tally: India has won a total of 11 individual medals(1 gold, 4 silver and 6 bronze) in the history of the BWF World Junior Championships (as of 2025).

OBITUARY

Thailand’s Queen Mother Sirikit Kitiyakara Passed Away
On October 24,2025, Thailand’s Queen Mother Sirikit Kitiyakara,renowned for her commitment to public service and cultural preservation, passed away at the age of 93 in Bangkok, Thailand. She was born on August 12, 1932, in Bangkok.

About Queen Mother Sirikit Kitiyakara:
Queenship: She married King Bhumibol Adulyadej in 1950 and assumed the role of Queen Consort of Thailand.

• Renowned for her grace and fashion sense, she earned the nickname “Asia’s Jackie Kennedy.”

Charitable Work: Beyond her royal duties, she actively engaged in philanthropy, focusing on rural development, preserving traditional crafts, and promoting environmental conservation.
Environmental Work: Known as the “Green Queen,” she promoted wildlife conservation and sustainable development, setting up breeding centers, open zoos, and sea turtle hatcheries.
Key Initiatives: Through projects like the SUPPORT Foundation, she worked to enhance the quality of life for rural communities across Thailand.
Mother’s Day: Her birthday 12 August is celebrated as Mother’s Day in Thailand.

IMPORTANT DAYS

Global Media and Information Literacy Week 2025 – October 24-31The United Nations (UN)’s Global Media and Information Literacy (MIL) Week is annually observed across the globe from 24th to 31st October to raise awareness and highlight global progress in promoting media and information literacy for everyone.
Theme:
2025 Theme: “Minds Over Artificial Intelligence (AI) – MIL in Digital Spaces”
Focus: This year’s theme emphasizes the critical role of Media and Information Literacy in the age of AI.

Background: 
Initiation: Global MIL Week was launched in 2012 through a collaborative initiative led by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), along with

• The UNESCO MIL Alliance (formerly GAPMIL),
• The United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC), and
• The MIL and Intercultural Dialogue (MILID) University Network.

Proposal: In 2018, Ghana, Jamaica, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines proposed to officially designate 24–31 October as Global MIL Week and reviewed by the UNESCO Executive Board during its 205th session (205 EX/Decision 34).
Proclamation: In 2019, the UNESCO General Conference formally proclaimed Global Media and Information Literacy Week to be observed every year from 24 to 31 October.
About Media and Information Literacy (MIL):
Definition: MIL is the knowledge and skills to responsibly access, evaluate, use, and create information and media content, while understanding digital rights and ethics.
Significance: MIL enables critical thinking, informed participation, and promotes dialogue, diversity, gender equality, peace, and sustainable development in the digital space.
2025 Event:
Conference: The main conference for Global MIL Week 2025 was held on October 23–24 in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia, hosted by UNESCO and the Government of Colombia, with the theme “Minds Over AI – MIL in Digital Spaces”.
Hackathon: Global Youth Hackathon 2025, part of UNESCO’s Global MIL Week 2025 to tackle digital challenges like AI misuse, misinformation, online hate, and threats to information integrity.

• Theme: “Youth Leading the Way: Building MIL Solutions for Impact.”

About United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO):
Director-General (DG)– Audrey Azoulay
Headquarters– Paris, France
Established – 1945

World Polio Day 2025 – October 24World Polio Day is observed on October 24 annually across the world to highlights global efforts to eradicate poliomyelitis (polio), a highly infectious disease caused by the poliovirus, which primarily affects children under five and attacks the nervous system.

Theme:
2025 Theme: “End Polio: Every Child, Every Vaccine, everywhere”
Focus: The theme stresses vaccinating every child against polio and reaffirming global commitment to eradication through equal access and collective action.
Background :
Origin: World Polio Day was established by Rotary International (RI) to commemorate the birth anniversary of Jonas Salk, an American virologist who developed the first successful polio vaccines.
First Team: Jonas Salk led the first team to develop a vaccination against polio and began its testing in 1953.
Oral Polio Vaccine(OPV) : It was invented in 1962 by Albert Sabin and it   produces antibodies in the blood and provides a shield against all three types of polioviruses.
Inactivated Polio Vaccine(IPV): It was invented in 1955 and is an injectable vaccine and can be either administered alone or along with other vaccines.
Progress in Polio Eradication:
GPEI: The day reflects on the progress made in eradicating polio since the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) was launched in 1988, when there were approximately 350,000 cases worldwide.

• It has introduced a Global Action Plan to implement the 2022–2029 Polio Eradication Strategy effectively.

Polio Free Regions: The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the European Region polio-free in 2002.

• India was declared Polio free on 27th March 2014 by the WHO.

Decline: Wild poliovirus cases have fallen over 99% in 35 years, from 350,000 to under 10 annually, with 80% of cases in just four regions.
About World Health Organisation (WHO):
Director General (DG)- Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus
Headquarters- Geneva, Switzerland
Established – 1948

Disarmament Week 2025- October 24 to 30The United Nations (UN)’s Disarmament Week is annually observed across the globe  from 24 October, the UN’s founding anniversary, to highlight global disarmament efforts that foster international peace and security.

• The UN Disarmament Week 2025 is observed from 24-30 October.

Background:
Origin: In 1978, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted resolution A/RES/S-10/2 (Final Document of the 10th Special Session) and proclaimed the week starting 24 October, the UN’s foundation day, as a period dedicated to promoting disarmament objectives.
Participation: In 1995, the UNGA adopted resolution A/RES/50/72 B, inviting governments and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) to actively engage in Disarmament Week to enhance public understanding of disarmament issues.
Organizer: The annual Disarmament Week is organized by the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA).
Disarmament:
Definition: Disarmament is the act of reducing, limiting, or abolishing certain types of weapons (e.g., nuclear weapons), either unilaterally or mutually, to prevent armed conflict and lessen its impact.
Agenda: In 2018, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres launched Securing Our Common Future: An Agenda for Disarmament.

• The agenda presents strategic measures to promote sustainable peace and global security.

About United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA):
Under-Secretary-General(USG) and High Representative(HR) for Disarmament Affairs– Izumi Nakamitsu(Japan)
Headquarters– New York, the United States of America (USA)
Established – 1998

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