1 Indian peacekeeper honoured by UNISFA for dedicated service
Recently, Indian peacekeepers deployed with the United Nations Interim Security Force in Abyei (UNISFA) were honoured for their outstanding service in the Abyei region (disputed territory between Sudan and South Sudan) . In a formal medal parade ceremony, Major General Robert Yaw Afram, Acting Chief and Force Commander of UNISFA, commended the dedication and professional skills of the Indian Battalion (INDBATT). This honour reaffirms India’s global leadership position in peacekeeping operations and reflects its commitment to maintaining international peace and stability.
2 Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the first phase of Navi Mumbai International Airport and several other connectivity projects.
In line with his vision of making India a global aviation hub, the Prime Minister inaugurated the first phase of Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA), built at a cost of approximately ₹19,650 crore . Navi Mumbai International Airport is India’s largest greenfield airport project , developed under a public-private partnership (PPP) . As the second international airport in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region , NMIA will work in conjunction with Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) to decongest and integrate Mumbai into the global multi-airport system . The 1,160-hectare airport is designed to be one of the most efficient airports in the world and will be able to handle 90 million passengers per annum (MPPA) and 3.25 million metric tons of cargo annually. Its unique features include an Automated People Mover (APM), a transportation system that will connect all four passenger terminals for seamless inter-terminal transfers, as well as a landside APM that will integrate with urban infrastructure. In line with sustainable practices, the airport will have dedicated storage for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), generate approximately 47 megawatts of solar power, and offer EV bus services for public connectivity throughout the city. NMIA will be the first airport in the country to be connected by water taxis.
3 The Nobel Prize in Chemistry will be awarded to three scientists from the US, Japan and Australia for developing metal-organic frameworks.
This year’s Nobel Prize in Chemistry has been announced to three scientists from the United States, Japan, and Australia for the development of metal-organic frameworks . Laureates Susumu Kitagawa, Richard Robson, and Omar M. Yaghi created molecular structures with large gaps that allow gases and other chemicals to flow. Mr. Kitagawa is a professor at Kyoto University in Japan. Mr. Richard Robson is a professor at the University of Melbourne in Australia, and Mr. Yaghi is a professor at the University of California, Berkeley in the United States. The prize money of 110 million Swedish kronor will be divided among the three winners.
4 Coldrif Cough Syrup Controversy
The central government has proposed to revoke the license of Tamil Nadu-based pharmaceutical company Sresan Pharmaceuticals , with the final decision resting with the Tamil Nadu state drug regulator (FDA) . This is the same company that manufactured the ‘ Coldrif ‘ cough syrup , which reportedly killed more than 20 children in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan . On October 2, the Tamil Nadu Drug Control Authority tested the ‘Coldrif’ syrup and found it contained 48.6 percent diethylene glycol (DEG)—a toxic chemical that can damage kidneys and poses a serious health hazard. Following this, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, and Arunachal Pradesh have banned the sale of the syrup, while Telangana, Karnataka, and Maharashtra have issued alerts. According to Health Ministry sources, the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) has already recommended revoking the company’s license. The investigation found that the company had used DEG in much higher quantities (46-48%) than the permissible limit, while its maximum limit is only 0.1 percent.
5 NITI Aayog launches ‘AI Roadmap’ to empower 49 crore unorganised workers
NITI Aayog on Wednesday released a landmark report titled AI for Inclusive Societal Development . According to it , the report aims to transform the lives and livelihoods of India’s 49 crore unorganized workers through AI and cutting-edge technologies. The report, prepared in collaboration with Deloitte , marks a new turning point in the country’s AI landscape. While the global AI discussion has largely focused on white-collar jobs and the formal economy, this report focuses on India’s unorganized sector, which contributes nearly half of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) but remains outside formal protection and productivity mechanisms.
6 NCB and RRU sign agreement for cooperation on drug control and cyber crime
The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) and the Rashtriya Raksha University (RRU) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance cooperation in the areas of research, training, technology development, and capacity building related to drug control and cyber-enabled drug crimes . The MoU was signed by Anurag Garg, Director General, NCB, and Professor Bimal N. Patel, Vice Chancellor, RRU, at a ceremony held in New Delhi.
7 Nitin Gadkari launches country’s first commercial electric truck battery swapping and charging station
Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari inaugurated the country’s first commercial electric truck battery swapping and charging station at the Delhi International Cargo Terminal Private Limited in Gujran village of Gannaur in Sonipat . He said that the day is not far when India will be number one in aviation fuel production. He urged farmers to use stubble for fuel production instead of burning it. This will strengthen their economic condition. He said that farmers will now be fuel providers and now work is being done to produce fuel from stubble. He said that 50 lakh tonnes of stubble is being used to make bio-bitumen in the country. Roads are being made from stubble in Maharashtra, Nagpur and Jabalpur.
8 California recognizes Diwali festival as a state holiday
California has officially recognized the festival of Diwali as a state holiday. After Pennsylvania and Connecticut , it has become the third state in the US to declare Diwali a state holiday. California Governor Gavin Newsom signed a bill introduced by Assemblymember Ash Kalra. This bill would provide paid leave to state employees and allow schools to celebrate the festival. The Indian community has praised the initiative.
9 Historic MoU signed between IICT, FICCI and Netflix to nurture India’s next generation of creative talent
The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) and the Indian Institute of Creative Technology (IICT) announced a landmark partnership with Netflix India to nurture India’s AVGC-XR (animation, visual effects, gaming, comics, and extended reality) talent . This collaboration will leverage IICT’s academic and research capabilities, FICCI’s extensive industry network, and Netflix’s creative expertise to cultivate the next generation of creative technology professionals in India. Under this initiative, IICT will develop industry-driven curriculum, while students will benefit from workshops, masterclasses, and guest lectures by leading professionals. The partnership will also provide scholarships to select students through the Netflix Fund for Creative Equity, supporting underrepresented talent in the media and entertainment sector. Additionally, Netflix will participate in IICT’s national councils—the Research and Development Council, the Academic Council, and the Industry Development Council—and provide strategic guidance to strengthen India’s AVGC-XR ecosystem.
10 Sanju Samson appointed as EPL ambassador for India
Indian cricketer Sanju Samson has been appointed as the official ambassador of the English Premier League (EPL) in India—a first-of-its-kind appointment . The move aims to strengthen the EPL’s presence in the Indian subcontinent and reinvent football through India’s popular sporting icons. Samson’s appointment aims to bridge India’s love for cricket and the growing appeal of international football, especially among youth and urban sports fans.
11 India to release first Red List at 2025 IUCN Congress
In a historic step in biodiversity conservation , India will unveil its first-ever National Red List of Endangered Species at the IUCN World Conservation Congress 2025, to be held in Abu Dhabi (UAE) between October 9–15, 2025. The list, prepared with India’s unique biodiversity in mind, aims to identify threatened species and strengthen national conservation priorities. India’s delegation will be led by Kirti Vardhan Singh, Union Minister of State (Environment, Forest and Climate Change and External Affairs). The Red List of Threatened Species is primarily prepared by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). It is the premier global tool for scientifically assessing the extinction risk of species. India’s own National Red List aims to track the status of the country’s rich flora and fauna at a country-specific level.
12 INS Abhay and INFAC T-82 decommissioned
After serving the Indian Navy for over three decades , Indian Naval Ship Abhay and Indian Naval Fast Attack Craft (INFAC) T-82 were decommissioned at the Naval Dockyard in Mumbai on 06 October 2025. Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command, presided over the ceremony as the Chief Guest, which was attended by senior officers, dignitaries, Indian Navy veterans, commissioning crews, and former Commanding Officers, officers and sailors of both INS Abhay and INFAC T-82. INS Abhay, a Soviet Pauk II-class anti-submarine corvette, was commissioned on 10 March 1989 at Poti, Georgia, in the erstwhile Soviet Union. INS Abhay, an Israeli Super Dvora Mk II-class corvette, was commissioned on 09 October 2003 at the Naval Dockyard, Mumbai. In keeping with its doctrine of ‘stealth strike’, it was often the first responder for search and rescue operations, performed submarine escort duties and was part of numerous coastal interception operations.
13 World Cotton Day 2025
Union Ministers Giriraj Singh and Pabitra Margherita participated in the World Cotton Day 2025 celebrations in New Delhi on October 7. The event was jointly organised by the Ministry of Textiles and the Confederation of Indian Textile Industry (CITI), with the theme ” Cotton 2040: Technology, Climate and Competitiveness .” World Cotton Day was established in 2019 when four cotton-producing countries of sub-Saharan Africa (Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad and Mali) , collectively known as the ” Cotton Four” , proposed to the World Trade Organization (WTO) to celebrate the day on October 7.
14 Air Force Day Parade 2025
The 93rd anniversary of the Indian Air Force (IAF) was celebrated with great pomp at Hindon Air Force Station in Ghaziabad on October 8, 2025. Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Naval Staff were special invitees to the event. Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal AP Singh inspected the ceremonial parade. Former Air Chiefs and other senior officers of the Indian Air Force were also present on the occasion. The Indian Air Force (IAF) was officially established on October 8, 1932, under British rule. At that time, it had only three aircraft and four officers.