National News

Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) Inauguration

• The largest wastewater treatment plant in Asia (Sewage Treatment Plant – STP) was inaugurated by Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Okhla, Delhi.
• The plant will play an important role in cleaning the Yamuna River and will generate electricity and A-grade sludge from the waste.

Related Facts:

School on Geoscience Technology

• Dr. M. Ravichandran, Secretary of the Ministry of Earth Sciences, inaugurated the school on geoscience technology in New Delhi.

RSS Completes 100 Years

• On the completion of 100 years of RSS, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also released a commemorative coin.
• One side of the ₹100 coin features the Lion Capital of Ashoka, the national emblem of India, symbolizing the nation’s dignity.
• The coin also bears the motto of the RSS: "Rāṣṭrāya Swāhā, Idaṃ Rāṣṭrāya Idaṃ Na Mama," which conveys dedication and service to the nation.

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS):

State Specific News

Approval of Cancer Care Policy: Maharashtra

• The Maharashtra Cabinet has approved a Cancer Care Policy.
• Under this policy, a three-tier cancer treatment service system will be established, providing specialized care through 18 hospitals.
• To support this initiative, the state government will set up a new organization named Maharashtra Cancer Care, Research and Education Foundation (MAHACARE Foundation) with an initial capital investment of ₹100 crore.

'GST– Super Savings' Awareness Campaign

• The Government of Andhra Pradesh has launched a comprehensive awareness campaign named 'GST– Super Savings' to convey the benefits of GST 2.0 to every household.
• The state government has planned multiple programs from 30 September to 19 October covering sectors such as agriculture, micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME), handlooms, aquaculture, education, insurance, electronics, e-commerce, construction, tourism, hospitality, transportation, logistics, sports equipment, renewable energy, and automobiles.

56th GST Council Meeting:

International News

Earthquake Near the Coast of Cebu Province, Philippines

• On 30 September 2025, a 6.9 magnitude earthquake struck near the coast of Cebu Province, Philippines.
• The epicenter of the earthquake was approximately 19 kilometers from Bogo city, Cebu.

General Information Related to Earthquake Measurement:

Former President Joseph Kabila Sentenced to Death

• Former President of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Joseph Kabila, has been sentenced to death in absentia for war crimes and treason.
• He is accused of supporting the rebel group M-23, which caused destruction in the eastern part of the country.

Congo:

Agreement Between Rights Limited and Etihad Rail

• Rights Limited has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Etihad Rail to strengthen commercial collaboration in the mobility sector in the United Arab Emirates and international markets.
• The agreement was formalized at the Global Rail Transport Infrastructure Exhibition & Conference held in Abu Dhabi from 30 September to 2 October 2025.
• The MoU was signed by Shadi Malak, CEO of Etihad Rail, and Rahul Mithal, Chairman & Managing Director of Rights Limited.

Economy and Banking

Internal Ombudsman System

• The Central Bank has decided to empower Internal Ombudsmen (IO) of commercial banks with compensation powers and access to complainants.
• The IO system has been institutionalized in regulated entities such as banks and NBFCs, enabling independent top-level review of complaints rejected by the internal ombudsman.

Unified Ombudsman Scheme (RBI-IOS):

RBI Issues New Directives

• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has issued new directives for banks, effective from 1 October 2025.

Key New Directives:

Mandatory Acoustic Vehicle Alerting System (AVAS)

• The Government of India has decided to make the Acoustic Vehicle Alerting System (AVAS) mandatory for electric vehicles.
• Under this rule, all new electric vehicles will be equipped with AVAS from 1 October 2026, and from 1 October 2027, it will be mandatory for all existing electric vehicles as well.

Acoustic Vehicle Alerting System (AVAS):

UPI Transactions: September 2025

• In September 2025, the number of Unified Payments Interface (UPI) transactions increased by 31% year-on-year to 1.963 billion (19.63 billion).
• During this period, the total transaction value was ₹24.90 lakh crore, which is 21% higher compared to the previous year.

Unified Payments Interface (UPI):

Mandatory Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)

• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has made two-factor authentication (2FA) mandatory for all digital payments from April 1, 2026, with an aim to make digital payments more secure.
• The SMS-based OTP option will continue, but banks will be allowed to provide customers with alternative authentication options as well.

Reserve Bank of India (RBI):

GDP Estimate: RBI

• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has revised its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth forecast for the current fiscal year 2025-26 from 6.5% to 6.8%.
• The inflation estimate for the current fiscal year is projected at 2.6%, lower than the previous forecast.

Related Facts:

Scheme for Inactive Accounts and Unclaimed Amounts

• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has announced a scheme named “Inactive Accounts and Unclaimed Deposits” to facilitate quick payments.
• This one-year scheme starts from today and will end on 30 September 2026.

India-EFTA TEPA Comes into Effect

• The Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA) between India and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) came into effect on 1 October 2025.
• The agreement was signed on 10 March 2024 in New Delhi.

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Person In News

Chris Woakes

• England all-rounder Chris Woakes has announced his retirement from international cricket.

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Praveer Ranjan

• Praveer Ranjan has been appointed as the 32nd Director General of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF).
• He is a 1993 batch IPS officer of the AGMUT cadre and previously served as the Special Director General for Airport Security in CISF.
• He has been honored with the President’s Police Medal in 2009 and 2016.

Central Industrial Security Force (CISF):

Virendra Vats

• Lieutenant General Virendra Vats has assumed the position of Director General of the National Cadet Corps (NCC).
• Lieutenant General Vats joined the 19 Kumaon Regiment of the Indian Army in December 1988.
• He will succeed Lieutenant General Gurbirpal Singh.

National Cadet Corps (NCC):

Sports News

'Promise to Children' Digital Campaign

• The International Cricket Council (ICC) and UNICEF launched a digital campaign named 'Promise to Children' during the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025.
• The campaign’s key faces are Bollywood actor and UNICEF National Ambassador Ayushmann Khurrana and Smriti Mandhana, vice-captain of the Indian women’s cricket team.

International Cricket Council (ICC):

Environment News

'Gaj Rakshak' Mobile App

• The Forest Department has developed a mobile app named 'Gaj Rakshak' for monitoring elephants in Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve.
• The app provides real-time information on the location, movement, and behavior of elephants.

Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve:

Birth of Two Asiatic Lion Cubs

• Two Asiatic lion cubs were born at the Indira Gandhi Zoological Park in Visakhapatnam under the zoo’s ongoing breeding and conservation program.

Related Facts:

Important days

International Day of Older Persons

• The International Day of Older Persons is observed every year on 1 October.
• The day was established by the United Nations General Assembly on 14 December 1990 and was first observed on 1 October 1991.
• The day aims to honor the contributions of older persons to society, recognize their achievements, and raise awareness about age-related issues.

Related Facts:

National Voluntary Blood Donation Day

• In India, National Voluntary Blood Donation Day is observed every year on 1 October to raise awareness about the importance of blood donation and encourage voluntary blood donation.
• The day was first observed in 1975 with the collaboration of the Indian Society of Blood Transfusion & Immunohaematology and organizations associated with the blood donation awareness campaign.

Eligibility Criteria for Blood Donation:

International Coffee Day

• International Coffee Day is celebrated every year on 1 October.
• The day honors coffee lovers, coffee farmers, and all those associated with the coffee industry.

Related Facts: