1 edition of bilateral maritime exercise between India-Korea navies begins
Indian Navy warship ‘ Sahyadri ‘ arrived at Busan Naval Base, South Korea on October 13, 2025 , as part of her ongoing operational deployment to the South China Sea and the Indo-Pacific region . Sahyadri will participate in the first bilateral maritime exercise between the Indian Navy (IN) and the Republic of Korea Navy (ROKN) there . INS Sahyadri, indigenously designed and built, was commissioned into the Indian Navy in 2012. It is the third warship of the Shivalik class of guided missile stealth frigates.
2 India to provide free e-visa to citizens of Mongolia
India and Mongolia held bilateral and delegation-level talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Mongolian President Khurelsukh Ukhnaa in New Delhi . Ten MoUs were signed following this . These MoUs cover humanitarian assistance, restoration of heritage sites in Mongolia, immigration, cooperation in geology and mineral resources, promotion of cooperation, and exchange of digital solutions . On this occasion, the two leaders jointly released commemorative postage stamps to mark the 70th anniversary of bilateral relations between India and Mongolia . Addressing a joint press conference in New Delhi, Prime Minister Modi said that India has decided to provide free e-visas to Mongolian citizens .
3 Defence Minister Rajnath Singh released the book titled “Ready, Relevant and Resurgent II: Shaping a Future Ready Force” in New Delhi
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh released the book titled “ Ready, Relevant and Resurgent II: Shaping a Future Ready Force ” at a function in New Delhi . Authored by Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, the book presents a comprehensive and forward-looking roadmap for future-ready India’s armed forces. The book provides an in-depth analysis of the changing nature of warfare, focusing on emerging areas such as cyberspace, space-enabled operations, cognitive warfare, and their growing relevance to the armed forces.
4 India strengthens cultural and spiritual ties with Russia, presents sacred Kanjur to Kechenersky Khurul, the main Buddhist temple in Kalmykia
Another historic event cementing the deep cultural and spiritual ties between India and Russia took place. A high-level Indian delegation, led by Deputy Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Shri Keshav Prasad Maurya, presented the sacred 108-volume Mongolian Kanjur to the Kechenersky Khurul , a major Buddhist temple in Kalmykia . This significant presentation was a major highlight of the Indian delegation’s visit, which coincides with the first exhibition of sacred relics of Lord Buddha in the Russian Republic of Kalmykia from October 11 to 18, 2025. During the ceremony held at the historic Kechenersky Khurul, Shri Maurya presented the sacred Kanjur to the temple priest and the head of the Kechenersky Khurul. The Kanjur is a foundational text of Mongolian Buddhism. It was donated on behalf of the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC) and the Manuscripts Division (NMM) of the Ministry of Culture of India.
5 Google to invest US$15 billion in Visakhapatnam
Google CEO Sundar Pichai spoke with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday and shared details about the company’s plans for its first Google AI Hub . The hub will be located in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh , and will be Google’s largest AI hub outside the United States . Pichai stated on the social media platform ” X ” that the hub will accelerate AI innovation in India and boost the country’s digital economy. He explained that the hub will be equipped with gigawatt-scale computing capacity, a new international subsea gateway, and large-scale energy infrastructure. Through this hub, Google will bring its leading technologies to industries and users in India. Google announced during the ” India AI Power ” event on Tuesday that it will invest US$15 billion over the next five years . Google Cloud CEO Thomas Kurian stated that the hub will be connected to Google’s global network and will be part of a network of AI centers spread across 12 countries.
6 UPI payment facility to be launched soon in Japan for Indian tourists
NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL) , the international arm of India’s National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) , on Tuesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Japan ‘s NTT DATA Japan . This agreement is a major step towards the acceptance of UPI payments in the Japanese market , thereby enhancing the payment experience for Indian tourists. Under this partnership, NIPL and NTT DATA Japan will work together to enable UPI payments at all NTT DATA-affiliated merchants in Japan. The integration of UPI will help Japanese merchants offer faster payments to their customers, thereby increasing customer satisfaction and boosting their business.
7 Toxic chemicals confirmed in three syrups made in India, WHO issues stern warning
The World Health Organization (WHO) has identified three adulterated medicines manufactured in India , including the most controversial Coldrif cough syrup . This syrup was manufactured by Srisan Pharmaceuticals, a company based in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu . This case came to light just a few weeks ago after the deaths of several children in Madhya Pradesh , raising national concern. The WHO investigation found that the Coldrif syrup contained excessive amounts of diethylene glycol (DEG), a toxic chemical. DEG is extremely harmful to the body. It can severely affect the kidneys and liver and can be fatal for children. The concentration of this chemical in Coldrif syrup was found to be over 48 percent, while the safe limit is only 0.1 percent. In addition to Coldrif, two other syrups are also included in the WHO warning: Respifresh TR by Rednex Pharmaceuticals and Relife by Shape Pharma . WHO has appealed to all countries that if these syrups are found in any country, then they should immediately inform WHO about it, so that timely action can be taken.
8 Jal Shakti Ministry announces media internship programme, college students to get Rs 15,000 per month
The Jal Shakti Ministry on Tuesday announced the launch of a new internship program, which will provide students from colleges and universities across the country with an opportunity to participate in the ministry’s media and social media activities . Candidates selected for the program will receive a monthly honorarium of ₹15,000 and a certificate upon completion of the internship. According to the ministry’s Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation (DoWR, RD & GR), the internship program is open to students pursuing graduate, postgraduate, or research studies in the field of mass communication from a recognized university or institute. The program will last six to nine months, and interested candidates can apply by November 24, 2025.
9 MoU for establishment of Dr. Ambedkar Chairs in three new universities
The Dr. Ambedkar Foundation , under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India , will organize a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signing ceremony on October 15, 2025, at Nalanda Hall, Dr. Ambedkar International Centre (DAIC), New Delhi, for the establishment of new Dr. Ambedkar Chairs at three new universities: the University of Mumbai, Jaipur National University, and GB Pant Technical and Agricultural University. Currently, 25 Dr. Ambedkar Chairs are operational at various Central and State Universities under the Dr. Ambedkar Foundation Scheme, which promote research, teaching, and extension activities on the life, philosophy, and works of Bharat Ratna Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar, as well as on issues of social justice, equality, and empowerment of marginalized communities.
10 Female workforce participation rate reaches 42% in countries, India registers significant growth among BRICS nations
India has seen a significant increase in the female workforce participation rate. The Ministry of Labor and Employment has stated that the female labor force participation rate is projected to increase from 23 percent in 2017-18 to approximately 42 percent in 2023-24. According to World Bank data , over the past decade, India has recorded significant increases in women’s labor force participation among BRICS countries .
11 India to resume international postal services to the United States
India will resume international postal services to the United States . The Ministry of Communications said in a release that India Post has now established a compliant mechanism for Delivery Duty Paid processing after extensive system development and coordination with US Customs and Border Protection. The ministry stressed that this new system ensures full regulatory compliance, speedy customs clearance and seamless delivery to addresses in the US without any additional charges or delays.
12 Indian para powerlifter Joby Mathew won bronze medal at Powerlifting World Championships 2025
Indian para powerlifter Joby Mathew has won the bronze medal at the Para Powerlifting World Championships 2025 held in Cairo , Egypt . In the 65kg Legend (Masters) category, Mathew successfully lifted 148kg and 152kg . He surpassed his personal best of 150kg set at the Beijing World Cup two months ago. This is Joby Mathew’s second World Championships medal after winning the bronze medal in 2023. Thailand’s Phongsakon Chumchai won the gold medal at the Para Powerlifting World Championships 2025 by lifting 162kg, while Peru’s Neil Garcia won the silver medal by lifting 161kg.
13 World Rural Women’s Day
World Rural Women’s Day is celebrated every year on October 15th . This day aims to honor the contributions, struggles, and role of women living in rural areas. Rural women play a vital role in agriculture, animal husbandry, water conservation, forestry, and family nutrition. They are not only the foundation of their families but also contribute significantly to the progress of the entire rural community. The day was established by the United Nations General Assembly on December 18, 2007 , and was first celebrated in 2008. The United Nations believes that when rural women are given opportunities for education, training, and economic independence, the entire community progresses. This day is a means of recognizing the contributions of women to agriculture and rural development.
14 Former Goa Chief Minister Ravi Naik passes away
Goa ‘s Agriculture Minister and former Chief Minister Ravi Naik passed away suddenly on Tuesday due to cardiac arrest . Naik was a veteran of Goa politics, spanning more than four decades. He began his political career with the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) in the 1980s. He then joined the Congress Party and became a prominent figure in Goa’s politics. Naik served as Chief Minister of Goa twice —first briefly in 1991 and again in 1994. He served as Chief Minister for a total of approximately 850 days. He also served as a Lok Sabha MP from 1998 to 1999. During his political career, he led several important departments in Goa. Naik joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) shortly before the 2022 Goa Assembly elections. He was subsequently appointed Agriculture Minister in Chief Minister Pramod Sawant’s government.