National News

UWA gets UGC approval to establish branch campuses

• The University Grants Commission (UGC) of India has approved the University of Western Australia (UWA) to establish multiple branch campuses in the country.

Key Facts:

Afghanistan’s Interim Foreign Minister Visits India

• Afghanistan’s Interim Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi arrived in New Delhi on October 9, 2025, for a week-long visit.
• This marks the first high-level ministerial visit from Afghanistan to India since the Taliban took power.
• The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) granted special permission to Muttaqi for this visit, as he was under security sanctions.

Afghanistan:

Third Edition of the International Purple Festival

• The third edition of the International Purple Festival is being held in Panaji, Goa, from October 9 to 12, 2025.
• It is India’s first international and inclusive festival, focusing on empowering persons with disabilities, showcasing their talents, and promoting their participation in society.

Second Series of Policy Paper Released

• The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NITI Aayog, B.V.R. Subrahmanyam, has released the second series of the policy paper titled “Decriminalisation and Trust-Based Governance Towards India’s Tax Transformation.”

NITI Aayog:

Inauguration of SatCom Summit

• Union Communications Minister Jyotiraditya M. Scindia inaugurated the SatCom Summit focused on “Space Networks for Universal Connectivity” during the India Mobile Congress 2025 (IMC2025).

Significance of the SatCom Summit:

International News

“National Red List Roadmap” Released

• India has released the “National Red List Roadmap” to strengthen biodiversity conservation.
• The roadmap aims to prepare the Red Data Book of India by 2030, providing a scientific assessment of the status and threat levels of the country’s plant and animal species.

Related Facts:

Opposition Party of Sri Lanka

• Sri Lanka’s opposition party Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) has decided to launch a joint political program with the ruling United National Party (UNP).

Sri Lanka:

Suggestion to Expel Spain from NATO

• U.S. President Donald Trump has suggested expelling Spain from NATO due to its failure to increase defense spending.
• NATO members had agreed to raise their military expenditure to 5% of GDP by June 2035, but Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez rejected this target.

NATO:

Azerbaijani Passenger Plane Crash

• Russian President Vladimir Putin acknowledged his country’s role in the Azerbaijani passenger plane crash that occurred on December 25, 2024.
• The incident resulted in the deaths of 38 people.

Related Facts:

Honors and Awards

Nobel Prize in Literature 2025

• Hungarian author László Krasznahorkai has been awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature 2025 for his “visionary works that demonstrate the power of art in catastrophic times.”

Related Facts:

Defence News

Launch of ‘Saksham’ Anti-Drone Grid

• The Indian Army has launched ‘Saksham’, an indigenously developed anti-drone grid.

Related Facts:

State Specific News

Approval of Menstrual Leave Policy: Karnataka

• The Karnataka Cabinet has approved a menstrual leave policy for women.
• The policy will be applicable across all sectors in the state, including government offices, private sector, IT firms, multinational companies (MNCs), and garment industries.

Other Major Indian States with Menstrual Leave:

Chief Minister launches short-term employment program

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Chief Minister’s Short-Term Employability Programme (STEP) in Maharashtra.
• The programme aims to provide industry-focused, short-term skill training to youth in Maharashtra to enhance their employability.

Implementation Framework:

Environment News

World’s First Underwater Live Interview

• The island nation of Palau in the Pacific Ocean successfully conducted the world’s first underwater live interview.
• The event aimed to raise awareness about the importance of ocean conservation.

Related Facts:

Appointments

Shirish Chandra Murmu

• Shirish Chandra Murmu assumed office as the Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) for a three-year term starting October 9, 2025.
• He was promoted from the position of Executive Director and will succeed former Deputy Governor M. Rajeshwar Rao.

Reserve Bank of India (RBI):

Important days

World Mental Health Day

• World Mental Health Day is observed annually on October 10 to raise awareness about mental health issues and promote mental health services.

Details: