National News

UK Prime Minister’s Visit to India

• The UK Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, undertook a two-day official visit to India in October 2025, marking a significant milestone in the India-UK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

Key Outcomes and Agreements:

First Vibrant Gujarat Regional Conference (VGRC)

• The First Vibrant Gujarat Regional Conference (VGRC) – North Gujarat was held on 9–10 October 2025 at Ganpat University, Mehsana district.
• This conference is a new initiative by the Government of Gujarat aimed at extending the success of the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit to the regional level, promoting inclusive development across the state.

Key Facts:

Science and Technology

Partnership Between IBM and Anthropic

• IBM and Anthropic announced a strategic partnership to integrate Anthropic’s Claude Large Language Model (LLM) into IBM’s software portfolio.
• The partnership aims to accelerate the development of enterprise-ready AI, enhance software development productivity for IBM customers, and ensure security and governance.

Company Profiles:

Awards and Honors

“Nobel Peace Prize 2025”

• The Norwegian Nobel Committee announced that Maria Corina Machado has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize 2025 for her efforts in promoting democratic rights and struggling for peaceful transitions of power in Venezuela.
• Maria Corina Machado is known as Venezuela’s ‘Warrior of Democracy’ and the ‘Iron Lady’. She believes in bringing change through peaceful mass movements and political dialogue, rather than violence or armed conflict.

Related Facts:

Environment News

IUCN World Conservation Congress 2025

• The IUCN World Conservation Congress 2025 is being held from October 9 to October 15, 2025, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
• This is a major global event organized every four years, bringing together experts, leaders, and policymakers from around the world to discuss nature conservation.
• India launched the National Red List Roadmap to strengthen biodiversity conservation, under the initiative titled National Red List Assessment (NRLA) and Vision 2025–2030.

Key Facts:

New Member of IUCN

• Armenia has become the newest member of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
• The announcement was made during the IUCN World Conservation Congress held in Abu Dhabi in October 2025.
• This membership will also help Armenia prepare for hosting the Biodiversity Conference (CBD COP17) in 2026.

International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN):

Person In News

Sherry Singh

• Sherry Singh has become the first Indian woman to win the Mrs. Universe 2025 title.
• The 48th edition of the pageant was held at the Okada Hotel in Manila, Philippines, with participation from over 120 married women representing various countries.
• Sherry Singh hails from Makauda village in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India.

Mrs. Universe 2025 Results:

Rishi Sunak

• Former UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has taken on the role of Senior Adviser at leading tech company Microsoft and top Artificial Intelligence (AI) startup Anthropic.
• His role in both companies is part-time and primarily focused on strategic affairs.

Key Facts:

Kedar Lele

• Kedar Lele, the Managing Director (MD) of Castrol India, has resigned from his position.
• He will step down as MD on December 31, 2025.
• He resigned to pursue other career opportunities.

Key Facts:

Jasprit Bumrah

• Jasprit Bumrah has become the first Indian fast bowler to play at least 50 matches in each format — Tests, ODIs, and T20Is.
• He achieved this milestone on October 10, 2025, during the second Test match against the West Indies held in Delhi.

Bumrah’s Record:

Deepika Padukone

• Bollywood actress Deepika Padukone has been appointed as the first Mental Health Ambassador by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India.
• Deepika herself has battled depression, and in 2015, she founded The Live Love Laugh Foundation (TLLLF), which actively works in the field of mental health awareness and support.

Sébastien Lecornu

• French President Emmanuel Macron has reappointed Sébastien Lecornu as the Prime Minister of France, just days after his resignation.
• President Macron has asked Lecornu to form a new government and present the national budget in an effort to resolve the ongoing political deadlock.

Art and Culture

Exhibition of Lord Buddha’s Relics in Russia for the First Time

• For the first time, an exhibition of Lord Buddha’s sacred relics is being held in the Republic of Kalmykia, Russia.
• The exhibition is being organized in Elista, the capital of Kalmykia, from October 11 to 18, 2025.

Key Facts:

Birth Anniversaries of Great Personalities

Loknayak Jayaprakash Narayan

• The birth anniversary of Loknayak Jayaprakash Narayan is observed every year on 11 October.
• He was an Indian freedom fighter, socialist leader, and the leader of the ‘Total Revolution’ movement.

Key Facts:

Nanaji Deshmukh

• The birth anniversary of Bharat Ratna Nanaji Deshmukh is observed on 11 October.
• He was a renowned social reformer and politician who made significant contributions to education, healthcare, and rural self-reliance.

Key Facts:

Important days

International Day of the Girl Child 2025

• The International Day of the Girl Child is observed every year on 11 October to raise awareness about girls’ rights to education, health, nutrition, and gender equality, and to eliminate challenges like child marriage, discrimination, and violence.

Related Facts: