Current Affairs 8 October 2025

We are here for you to provide the important Recent and Latest Current Affairs 8 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

Union Minister Bhupender Yadav Presided Wildlife Week 2025 Celebrations & Launched Key InitiativesIn October 2025, Union Minister Bhupender Yadav, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) presided over the 71st National Wildlife Week – October 2 to 8 (WLW 2025) celebrations held at Hari Singh Auditorium, Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy (IGFNA), Forest Research Institute (FRI) Campus in Dehradun, Uttarakhand.

• WLW 2025 Theme: ‘Human-Wildlife Coexistence’, aimed to gather community support which will help in moving from ‘conflict to coexistence’.
• The event was organised by MoEFCC in partnership with the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE), IGFNA and FRI.

About Key Initiatives Launched:
5 National Projects for Species conservation: During the event, Union Minister launched 5 national projects: Phase-II of Project Dolphin; Project Sloth Bear; Project Gharial; Centre of Excellence Human-Wildlife Conflict (CoE-HWC) at SACON; and Project Tigers Outside Tiger Reserves (TOTR).

• These projects aimed at strengthening species conservation and addressing human wildlife conflict.

4 National-level Action Plans for Species Estimation: He also unveiled 4 national-level action plans & field guides for species population assessments and monitoring programmes.
Inauguration of SFS Officers’ Mess: Union Minister virtually inaugurated the SFS Officers’ Mess at Central Academy for State Forest Service (CASFoS) in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu (TN).
Conclusion of National Hackathon on HWC Co-existence: The hackathon witnessed the participation of 420 young innovators from 75 institutions across 20 States and Union Territories (UTs).

• The 3 week-long hackathon showcased Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based tools, spatial analytics, and community engagement models for real-time conflict mitigation.

About Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC):
Union Minister- Bhupendra Yadav (Constituency- Alwar, Rajasthan)
Minister of State (MoS)- Kirtivardhan Singh (Constituency- Gonda, Uttar Pradesh, UP)
>>Read Full News

NCRB Releases Crime in India 2023’; Kolkata Becomes India’s Safest City for the Fourth TimeIn September 2025, National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), released a report titled “Crime in India 2023”. As per the report, Kolkata (West Bengal, WB) has been named India’s safest city in 2023 for the fourth consecutive year, with a crime rate of 83.9 cognizable offences per lakh population.

• Kochi (Kerala) has become the most unsafe city in India with a crime rate of 3,192.4.
• The national average crime rate in India stood at 433 cases per lakh population, , reflecting the overall incidence of cognizable offences across India.

Performances of the top 10 safest cities in 2023:
Kolkata: The 2023 crime rate of Kolkata was lower with 11,843 cognizable cases than the rates in previous years such as 86.5 (12,212 cases) in 2022 and 103.5 (14,591) in 2021.

• The crimes against women have slightly declined to 1,746 cases in 2023, from 1,890 in 2022 and 1,783 in 2021.

Other top 10 cities: Hyderabad(Telangana), the second safest Indian city has been ranked behind with a difference of 248.4 crimes. Two cities of Maharashtra, such as Pune(3rd) and Mumbai(4th) have been ranked among the top 5 cities. Two cities from TN, such as Coimbatore(5th) and Chennai(6th) (419.8) have been ranked among top 10 cities.

• Other top 10 safest cities include Kanpur (Uttar Pradesh, UP) (449.1), Ghaziabad (UP) (482.6), Bengaluru (Karnataka) (806.2), and Ahmedabad (Gujarat) (839.3).

>>Read Full News

MoM Issued Guidelines for Rs 1,500 Crore Critical Mineral Recycling Incentive SchemeIn October 2025, the Ministry of Mines (MoM) issued detailed guidelines for the ‘Rs 1,500 crore Critical Mineral Recycling Incentive Scheme’ for the promotion of Critical Mineral Recycling, following the approval of the Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi in September 2025.
About Guidelines:
Overview: The guidelines outline the scheme’s modalities, including methodology for incentive allocation, procedures for application and evaluation, as well as mechanisms for institutional oversight and performance review.
Application: The scheme is open for applications from 2 October 2025 to 1 April 2026.
About Incentive Scheme for promotion of Critical Mineral Recycling:
Aim: To develop India’s recycling capacity for the separation and production of critical minerals from secondary sources, as part of the National Critical Mineral Mission(NCMM)
Scheme Duration: Financial Year2025-26(FY 26) to FY31 (6 years).
Eligible Feedstock: Electronic waste (e-waste), spent Lithium-ion Batteries (LiB), and other scrap material.
>>Read Full News

National Conference on Land Administration and Disaster Management Held in Gandhinagar, GujaratIn October 2025, the Department of Land Resources (DoLR), Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD), in collaboration with the Revenue Department of the Government of Gujarat, organized the National Conference on Land Administration & Disaster Management at the Mahatma Mandir Convention Centre in Gandhinagar, Gujarat.

• The two-day conference, held from October 3–4, 2025, convened officials and subject-matter experts to deliberate and exchange insights on improving land administration and strengthening disaster management.

Key Highlights of National Conference:
Chief Guest: Bhupendra Patel, Chief Minister (CM) of Gujarat, attended the national conference as Chief Guest, highlighted the need to digitize land records and use indigenous technology to ensure a citizen-centric approach and secure land rights at the grassroots level.
Focus Areas: The conference was mainly focused on promoting the objectives outlined in the Digital India Land Records Modernisation Programme (DILRMP), while at the same time, addressing emerging challenges in disaster management.
Key Sessions: The conference featured 7 panel discussions on issues like: modernizing revenue laws; upgradation of land record and registration systems; re-engineering revenue court cases; resurvey efforts; disaster management; best practices; and human resource planning, among others.

• Also, an Action Seminar was organised at the conference, where groups developed action plans on the key themes of the conference.

Key Initiatives Launched/Inaugurated:
RO Mobile App: This app digitizes daily work logs, inspections, and case updates of Revenue Officers (ROs), helping in real-time monitoring.
Integrated Land Administration (ILA) System: This new digital platform unifies registration, resurvey, GIS mapping, and revenue court management into single interface.
Other Key Launches: The conference witnessed the inauguration of new revenue offices and residential buildings; distribution of Survey of Villages And Mapping with Improvised Technology in Village Areas (SVAMITVA) property cards and safety kits to nomadic tribal families.

• Also, several Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) were signed with academic institutions for the establishment of the Centre of Excellence (CoE).

About Gujarat:
Chief Minister (CM)– Bhupendrabhai Patel
Governor- Acharya Devvrat
Capital- Gandhinagar
National Park (NP)- Gir NP, Marine NP

RPF, NDRF, IRDM Sign MoU to Strengthen Railway Disaster ResponseOn October 6, 2025, Railway Protection Force (RPF), Ministry of Railways (MoR), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), and Indian Railway Institute of Disaster Management (IRIDM), Bengaluru (Karnataka), MoR, signed a tri-party Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at Rail Bhawan in New Delhi (Delhi) to strengthen railway disaster response.
Key Details of MoU:
Focus: The MoU emphasizes rapid response during the critical “golden hour”, the first critical minutes or hours following a disaster. Drills, protocols, and planning will prioritize timely action to save lives in the early phase of emergencies.
Institutional Roles: Under the MoU, JRRPFA will function as the nodal training hub, NDRF will host field-level sensitization modules, and IRIDM will design, document, and updated advanced curricula.
Airtel Business Secured Multi-Year Contract from IRSOC:
Contract: In October 2025, Airtel Business, a Business-to-Business (B2B) arm of Bharti Airtel Limited, secured a multi-year contract from Indian Railways Security Operations Centre (IRSOC), an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based cybersecurity initiative by Indian Railways (IR).
Focus: The move focuses on protecting the critical Information Technology (IT) infrastructure, including systems for ticketing, train tracking, freight operations, signaling, and digital payments, from cyber threats.
Coverage: The cybersecurity operations will extend across 26 railway locations or zones, covering approximately 1,60,000 employees.
>>Read Full News

ICG Conducts 10th NATPOLREX-X and 27th NOSDCP Exercise off Chennai CoastThe Indian Coast Guard (ICG) carried out the 10th National Level Pollution Response Exercise (NATPOLREX-X) in conjunction with the 27th National Oil Spill Disaster Contingency Plan (NOSDCP) & Preparedness Meeting from October 5–6, 2025, off the coast of Chennai, Tamil Nadu (TN).

• During the exercise, more than 105 national delegates and 40 international observers from 32 nations participated actively in discussions at the 27th NOSDCP conference, which was held concurrently.

About 10th NATPOLREX-X:
Exercise: The biennial exercise plays a key role in enhancing India’s readiness to tackle marine oil spills under the framework of the NOSDCP.
Leadership: The exercise was supervised by Director General(DG) Paramesh Sivamani, ICG and Chairperson of the NOSDCP.
Participation: Over 100 national delegates and 40 international observers from 32 countries took part in the exercise.
Key Highlight: 
Drill: For the first time, a shoreline clean-up drill was conducted at Chennai’s Marina Beach, led by the Greater Chennai Corporation, TN Pollution Control Board, State Disaster Management Authority, Police, and other local agencies.
Asset Deployment: The ICG deployed a range of maritime and aerial assets, including Pollution Control Vessels (PCVs), Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs), Fast Patrol Vessels (FPVs), and Chetak and Dornier aircraft equipped for pollution surveillance and containment operations.
About 27th NOSDCP Exercise:
Event: The 27th NOSDCP & Preparedness Meeting was held on October 5–6, 2025, in Chennai, alongside the 10th NATPOLREX-X.
Technical Sessions: Focused on nurdle spills, Hazardous and Noxious Substances (HNS) spill management, post-spill monitoring, environmental impact assessments, and shoreline cleanup case studies.
Awards: The “Samudri Paryavaran Sanrakshan Trophy” was given to the New Mangalore Port Authority(Karnataka) and the “Tel Udyog Samudri Paryavaran Sanrakshan Trophy” to ONGC (Western Offshore) for their outstanding environmental protection initiatives during the NOSDCP meeting.
About Indian Coast Guard (ICG)
Director General (DG) –  Paramesh Sivamani
Headquarters -New Delhi, Delhi
Motto – “Vayam Rakshamah(We Protect)”
Established – 1977

MoPR Launched PPC 2025–26: “Sabki Yojana, Sabka Vikas” Abhiyaan
In October 2025, the Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR) launched the People’s Plan Campaign (PPC) 2025–26: “Sabki Yojana, Sabka Vikas”(Everyone’s Plan, Everyone’s Development) Abhiyaan across all States and Union Territories (UTs) to prepare Panchayat Development Plans (PDPs) for the Financial Year (FY) 2026–27.

• The campaign aims to promote participatory, transparent, and accountable local governance by engaging communities through Gram Sabha meetings.

Key Features of PPC 2025–26:
Collaboration: Convergence with 20 Line Ministries/Departments of the Government of India (GoI) for active participation in Special Gram Sabha meetings.
Digital Tools: Use of digital platforms like eGramSwaraj, Meri Panchayat App, and Panchayat NIRNAY to review past plans and track progress 
Planning Guidance: Guided by the Panchayat Advancement Index (PAI); Special focus is given to tribal empowerment through the Adi Karmayogi Abhiyaan, capacity building of facilitators, and improving Panchayat Own Source Revenue (OSR).

• Since its inception in 2018, over 18.13 lakh PDPs have been uploaded on the eGramSwaraj Portal.

Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw Approves Establishing NaMo Semiconductor Lab at IIT Bhubaneswar
In October 2025, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), approved the establishment of the ‘NaMo Semiconductor Laboratory’ at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bhubaneswar, Odisha.

• The project is funded under the Members of Parliament Local Area Development (MPLAD) Scheme with an allocation of around Rs. 4.95 crore.

About the NaMo Semiconductor Laboratory:
Objective: The laboratory aims to boost indigenous semiconductor design, manufacturing, and packaging while enhancing research and training facilities in chip technology.
Implementation and Funding: It features advanced cleanroom facilities at the IIT Bhubaneswar’s Silicon Carbide Research and Innovation Centre (SiCRIC), with Rs. 4.6 crore for equipment and Rs. 35 lakhs for software.
Contribution: India contributes 20% of the global chip design talent pool, with 295 universities using Electronic Design Automation (EDA) tools.

• With, 28 student-designed chips from 20 institutions have been fabricated at the Semiconductor Laboratory (SCL), Mohali, Punjab.

Vision: The initiative supports national missions such as ‘Make in India’ and ‘Design in India’, boosting the country’s semiconductor ecosystem.

DDWS Signed MoA with BISAG-N to Strengthen Digital Monitoring of Rural Water and Sanitation
In October 2025, the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation (DDWS), Ministry of Jal Shakti (MoJS), signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with the Bhaskaracharya National Institute for Space Applications and Geo-informatics (BISAG-N), an autonomous scientific society under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), in New Delhi, Delhi to strengthen digital monitoring of rural water and sanitation programmes.

Signatories: The MoA was exchanged between Swati Meena Naik, Joint Secretary (JJM), and Vinay Thakur, Special Director General, BISAG-N, in the presence of  Ashok K.K. Meena, Secretary, DDWS, who chaired the event.
About the MoA:
Purpose: To develop a Geographic Information System (GIS)-integrated, decision-support platform for the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) and Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen) (SBM(G)) portals.
Aim: Enhance data-driven decision-making, planning, monitoring, and evaluation of rural water supply and sanitation initiatives.
Alignment with PM GatiShakti: The initiative aligns with the Pradhan Mantri  GatiShakti National Master Plan (PMG-NMP) to enable convergence of rural water and sanitation infrastructure with other sectoral assets.
Key Features:
Scheme Mapping: The platform enables comprehensive scheme mapping by creating unique scheme-level IDs, mapping Rural Piped Water Supply Schemes (RPWSS), and monitoring water delivery at the household level.
Implementation: BISAG-N will provide end-to-end support for the platform’s implementation, encompassing database design, map creation, data migration, software development, and systems integration.
About Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM): Launched in 2019, JJM aims to provide tap water to every rural household with enhanced funding extended till 2028 in the 2025–26 Union Budget.

BANKING & FINANCE

SEBI Launches ‘Validated UPI Handles’, ‘SEBI Check’ to Strengthen Investor Payment SecurityIn October 2025, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) unveiled two significant initiatives, namely Unified Payment Interface(UPI) Handles and SEBI Check, to safeguard investors against fraudulent transfers and unauthorised intermediaries.

• These initiatives which bring in a new layer of trust and transparency in the capital market are developed in collaboration with National Payment Corporation of India (NPCI).

About UPI handle:
Initiative: SEBI has introduced exclusive “@valid” UPI IDs for all registered investor-facing intermediaries, including brokers and mutual funds (MF).

• SEBI confirmed that major brokers covering over 90% of investors, along with all MFs have already adopted the “@valid” UPI handle.

Suffix Identifier: Apart from the @valid, which indicates the verified status, a suffix indicating the type of intermediary, for e.g. .brk for brokers and .mf for MF will be added along.
Visual authentication:  When an investor initiates a UPI payment to a registered entity using a @valid handle, a “thumbs-up” symbol enclosed in a green triangle will appear on the payment screen.

• Its absence serves as a red flag, alerting investors to potential unauthorised recipients.
• In addition, a distinct QR (Quick Response) code featuring the same thumbs-up logo will be used for quick and error-free payments.

About SEBI Check:
Initiative:This is a self-verification tool that enables investors to confirm the authenticity of SEBI-registered entities before making payments.
Payment Modes: This facility can be used not only for UPI payments but also for transfers made through NEFT (National Electronic Funds Transfer), RTGS (Real-Time Gross Settlement), and IMPS (Immediate Payment Service).
Verification: Investors can verify an intermediary’s bank account number and IFSC (Indian Financial System Code) code or its @valid UPI ID through the SEBI Check portal available on the SEBI website or SEBI Saarthi application(app).
About Securities Exchange Board of India (SEBI): 
The SEBI, a market regulator was constituted as a non-statutory body on April 12, 1988 through a resolution of the Government of India (GoI) and was established as a statutory body in 1992.
Chairman – Tuhin Kanta Pandey
Headquarters – Mumbai, Maharashtra

Comos Co-operative Bank launched India’s First Youth-Focused Digital App ‘Cosmos Galgal app’
In October 2025, Cosmos Co-operative Bank, in partnership with Umunthu System Private Limited, launched Cosmo Galgal app, India’s first youth-focused digital banking solution from a co-operative bank.

• The application (app) provides integrated video KYC (Know Your Customer), allowing users to open zero-balance savings accounts in under 15 minutes from anywhere, eliminating the need to visit a branch.

About Cosmo Galgal App: 
Comprehensive Banking Services: Deposit money, bank transfers, fixed deposits, and account statements.
TrendZ Feature: Auto-categorized transaction insights to track spending in real time.
UPI Compatibility: Link Cosmos Bank accounts with any Unified Payment Interface) UPI app for seamless payments.
Digital & Physical Cards: Virtual debit cards for online use; physical RuPay Platinum cards with rewards.
Auto Budgeting: Categorizes expenses into essentials, savings, and discretionary spending.
Multilingual Access: Available in English, Hindi, Marathi, and Gujarati; plans for additional regional languages.
About Cosmos Co-operative Bank: Founded in 1906 by Krishnaji Sadashiv Gore and Shankar Hari Barve, it is one of India’s oldest urban co-operative banks, headquartered at Cosmos Tower, Pune, Maharashtra.

Phonepay along with Utkarsh SFB Launches Wish Credit Card
On October 06, 2025, Phonepay, a leading digital payments and financial services company in collaboration with Utkarsh Small Finance Bank(Utkarsh SFB) launched ‘Wish Credit Card’, a Fixed Deposit(FD) backed credit card from deposits right from Rs 2000, available in Phonepay Application(app).

About Wish Credit Card:
Aim: The card is aimed at providing access to credit for users in tier-2 and tier-3 cities, as well as first-time credit card applicants.
Type: The card is issued as a RuPay credit card, enabling Unified Payments Interface (UPI) payments and providing reward points on selected transactions.
Security: The FD secures the credit limit while earning interest for the cardholder.
Rewards: 3% reward points on monthly recharge and bill payments through the Phonepay app; 1% reward points on Scan & Pay transactions and selected eCommerce purchases and also Rs 200 bonus reward points monthly on spends of Rs 15,000.

• Reward points can be redeemed at 1 point = Rs.1.

Razorpay, YES Bank Launches India’s First RBI-Compliant Biometric Authentication for Payments
In October 2025, Razorpay in collaboration with YES bank launched India’s first biometric card authentication system compliant with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) 2025 guidelines.

• The newly introduced Access Control Server (ACS) combines biometric verification with an Artificial intelligence (AI) driven risk engine to securely authenticate transactions.

About Biometric Authentication:
Security: The move allows online card payments to be verified using facial recognition, marking a shift from the traditional two-factor authentication model that relied on PINs (Personal Identification Number) and SMS (Short Message Service) OTP (One Time Password).
Reliability: The system minimizes transaction failures from OTP delays or errors and complies with RBI’s updated digital authentication guidelines.
Capability: The system is capable of processing up to 10,000 transactions per second while reducing OTP-related errors and providing a smoother payment experience.

AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS

President of India Droupadi Murmu Presented MY Bharat NSS Award 2022-23In October 2025, President of India Droupadi Murmu presented the MY Bharat-National Service Scheme (NSS) Awards for the year 2022-23 during a ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhawan in New Delhi, Delhi.

• For year 2022-23, a total of 50 recipients including NSS Units and Programme Officers (10+10), and NSS Volunteers (30), received the MY Bharat NSS award in recognition of their outstanding service and leadership.

About MY Bharat-NSS Awards:
Formed in: These awards were instituted by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS) in 1993-94.
Objective: These awards are conferred annually to recognise the outstanding contributions of youth in the fields of social service, community development and nation-building.
Categories for 2022-23: For year 2022-23, MY Bharat-NSS Awards were given in two main categories such as: NSS Units and their programme officers (10+10) and NSS Volunteers.
>>Read Full News

John Clarke, Michel Devoret & John Martinis Won 2025 Nobel Prize in PhysicsOn 7 October 2025, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics jointly to John Clarke, Michel Henri Devoret, and John Matthew Martinis for their discovery of macroscopic quantum mechanical tunnelling and energy quantisation in an electric circuit in Stockholm, Sweden.

• The laureates demonstrated that quantum mechanics governs macroscopic systems, with Josephson junctions underpinning quantum computers, flash memory, and ultra-precise quantum sensors.

Significance of the Discovery:
Experiments: Conducted in the mid-1980s, using a chip-based Josephson junction built from superconductors.
Observation: Demonstrated quantum tunnelling and energy quantisation, showing that macroscopic systems can exhibit quantum behaviour.
Impact: Laid the foundation for next-generation quantum technologies, including quantum computers, quantum cryptography, and quantum sensors.
Prize Details:
Components: Includes a gold medal, personal diploma, and cash award.
Cash Award: Swedish Kronor (SEK) 11 million, shared among the three laureates.
>>Read Full News

APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

BPF President Hagrama Mohilary Sworn as the CEM of the BTC in AssamOn October 5, 2025, President of Bodoland People’s Front (BPF), Hagrama Mohilary, sworn in as the Chief Executive Member (CEM) and former Minister of Assam, Rihon Daimary, took oath as the Deputy CEM of the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC), the autonomous at a ceremony in Kokrajhar, Assam.

• The ceremony took place in the presence of Himanta Biswa Sarma,Chief Minister (CM) of Assam and Lakshman Prasad Acharya, Governor of Assam.

About Hagrama Mohilary:
Commander: Hagrama was the Commander of the Bodo Liberation Tigers (BLT), a militant group that sought a separate state for the Bodo community.
BPF: In 2005, following the 2003 Bodoland Accord and the BLT ceasefire, Hagrama Mohilary founded the BPF and became its first president.
In BTC: He became the first CEM of BTC in 2005 and continued till 2020. Under his leadership, Bodoland saw improvements in infrastructure, healthcare, and education, alongside initiatives for youth empowerment and tribal development.
About Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC):
Overview: It is an autonomous administrative body in Assam that provides self-governance to the Bodo and other communities, overseeing education, culture, land and forest management, economic planning, infrastructure, and local welfare schemes.
Background: BTC was created under the BTC Accord signed in 2003 between the Government of India (GoI), Government of Assam, and the BLT. It administers four districts in Assam such as Kokrajhar, Baksa, Udalguri, and Chirang, which are collectively known as BTR.
Structure: The BTC has 46 members: 40 elected and 6 nominated, with the CEM heading the executive committee to manage governance and development in the BTR.
About Assam:
Chief Minister (CM) – Himanta Biswa Sarma
Governor – Lakshman Prasad Acharya
Capital – Dispur
Tiger Reserve (TR) – Manas TR, Nameri TR

ACQUISITIONS & MERGERS

IIHL Acquires 100% Stake in Sterling Bank, Bahamas
In October 2025, IndusInd International Holdings Limited(IIHL), the promoter of IndusInd Bank Limited, Mauritius, has completed the acquisition of a 100% stake in Sterling Bank, Bahamas, through its wholly owned subsidiary IIHL (Capital), Mauritius.

Details of Acquisition:
Stake details: IIHL had earlier acquired a 51% stake in Sterling Bank in September 2022, and has now acquired the remaining 49% equity, making Sterling Bank a fully owned subsidiary.
Renaming and Expansion: Following the acquisition, Sterling Bank will be renamed as IIHL Bank & Trust Ltd.

• With this move, IIHL aims to expand its global footprint in the Banking, Financial Services, Securities, and Insurance (BFSI) sector and strengthen its global presence.

Expansion: IIHL plans to use advanced financial technologies and global market products to boost services and reach a USD 50 billion market capitalization by 2030.

SPORTS

F1 Singapore Grand Prix: George Russell Wins; McLaren Secures 10th Constructors’ TitleOn October 5, 2025, George Russell from the United Kingdom (UK), representing Germany-based Mercedes-Benz, won the 24th Edition of the Formula One (F1) Singapore Grand Prix. The race was held at the Marina Bay Street Circuit, Singapore, serving as the 18th round out of 24 in the 2025 Formula One World Championship.

• Meanwhile, McLaren has secured the enough points to seal the 2025 Teams’ Championship with six games to spare.

Highlights of Singapore Grand Prix 2025:
George Russell: The win marked his fifth career F1 victory and his second win of the 2025 season, stands at fourth position in the Drivers’ Championship with 173 points.

• He demonstrated a flawless performance by leading the race from start to finish, maintaining his pole position advantage throughout.

Other Podium Finishers: Belgian-Dutch driver Max Verstappen (Red Bull Racing) secures second placed and Britain-driver Lando Norris (McLaren) finished third, both summed up their total points for the Drivers’ Championship to 273 points and 314 points.

• Oscar Piastri secured fourth place in the Singapore GP, and leads the Drivers’ Championship with 336 points.

Top 3 Winners of Singapore GP 2025:

McLaren Clinches Constructors’ Title
Achievement: McLaren clinched its 10th Constructors’ Championship, also marking its second consecutive championship, a milestone last achieved in 1991.

• The team secured 12 wins out of 18 races, including seven 1–2 finishes, achieving the title with six races remaining.

About the Marina Bay Street Circuit:
It is  renowned Formula 1 racing circuit located in Marina Bay, Singapore. It is famous for hosting the Singapore Grand Prix, the first night race in Formula 1 history, which debuted in 2008.
Circuit Length (2025): 4.927 km (3.061 mi)
Race Distance: 305.337 km, 62 laps

IMPORTANT DAYS

World Habitat Day 2025 – October 6The United Nations (UN) observes World Habitat Day annually across the world on the first Monday of October to highlight the state of human settlements and emphasize every person’s right to adequate shelter.

• In 2025, WHD was observed on 6th October.

Theme:
2025 Theme: “Urban Crisis Response”
Focus: Urges cities to build crisis-ready governance, resilient infrastructure, and inclusive policies for vulnerable urban communities.

Background:
UN Resolution : On 17 December 1985, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted Resolution A/RES/40/202, designating the first Monday of October each year as WHD.
First Celebration:WHD was first celebrated in 1986 and the event was hosted by Nairobi, Kenya.
Urban October: 
Purpose: Urban October provides a platform for everyone to engage in discussions about the challenges and opportunities arising from the rapid changes in cities and towns.
Key Events: The month begins with WHD on the first Monday of October and concludes with World Cities Day on October 31.
Inception of World Cities Day: The UN World Cities Day was first celebrated on 31st October 2014.
Scroll of Honour Award:
Launch: The UN-Habitat Scroll of Honour Award was launched in 1989 by the UN-Habitat. It is recognized today as the most prestigious award in the field of human settlements worldwide.
Purpose: The award honors individuals and institutions that have made outstanding contributions to urban development.
2025 Winners:The 2025 UN-Habitat(United Nations Human Settlements Programme) Scroll of Honour Award recognized outstanding contributions to sustainable urban development by the following laureates: Israel Smart (Nigeria), Public Works Studio (Lebanon), Just a Change (Portugal), and Clara Marina Brugada Molina (Mexico).
2025 Events:
Host & Coordination: WHD 2025 was hosted in Nairobi, Kenya, at the UN-Habitat Headquarters, with the global celebration coordinated by UN-Habitat.
About United Nations Human Settlements Programme(UN-Habitat):
Executive Director(ED) – Anacláudia Rossbach
Headquarters – Nairobi, Kenya
Established -1978

STATE NEWS

Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis Launches ‘Abhijat Marathi OTT’
On October 6, 2025, Chief Minister (CM) of Maharashtra, Devendra Fadnavis, officially launched ‘Abhijat Marathi Over-the-Top(OTT)’, a free digital platform dedicated to preserve and promote Marathi language and culture on a global stage.

• The launch event, held in Mumbai (Maharashtra), was attended by Minister Uday Samant, cultural leader Kedar Joshi, and other dignitaries, highlighting a significant step in promoting regional entertainment.

About Abhijat Marathi OTT Platform:
Objective: The platform aims to act as a “cultural bridge”, connecting younger generations with Marathi heritage globally.
Content Library: Hosts classic films, modern web series, theatre, and cultural programming.
Accessibility: It offers free access to a wide range of content, ensuring inclusivity for all users.
Availability: Accessible across mobile devices, web, and smart Televisions(TVs)

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