25 October 2026
India finished the fifth Asian Para Games at Aichi-Nagoya in Japan with a record 114 medals.
The tally was 30 gold, 35 silver and 49 bronze.
At the previous edition in Hangzhou, China, India had won 108 medals with 27 gold, 32 silver and 49 bronze.
Flag-bearer Nishad Kumar won two golds, in the men's high jump and the long jump T47.
Mona Agarwal also won two golds, taking the women's 10 metre air rifle standing SH1 with a Games record and the women's 50 metre rifle three positions SH1 with a world record.
The closing ceremony was held at 2:30 PM Indian Standard Time.
Total medals:
114
Gold:
30
Host:
Aichi-Nagoya, Japan
Why it matters for exams: Medal tallies and host cities of the Asian Para Games are asked directly in sports current affairs sections.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSCBank
In plain words
T47 Track class 47 — A para athletics class for athletes with impairment of one arm.
SH1 Shooting class 1 — A para shooting class for athletes who can hold the gun without a support stand.
25 October 2026
The Ministry of Education has announced the fifth edition of the Kashi Tamil Sangamam, to be held from 28 November to 12 December.
The theme is 'Thirukkural Payilvom - Thirukkural Abhyas Karen'.
About 1,400 people from Tamil Nadu will travel in seven groups of roughly 200 each on an eight-day journey.
The itinerary covers Varanasi, Prayagraj and Ayodhya.
Registration is through the Kashi Tamil Sangamam portal hosted by IIT Madras; it opened on 22 October and closes on 13 November.
Application categories include students, teachers, writers and media professionals, agriculture, professionals and artisans, women and spiritual leaders.
Dates:
28 November to 12 December
Participants:
About 1,400 in seven groups
Theme:
Thirukkural Payilvom - Thirukkural Abhyas Karen
Why it matters for exams: The organising ministry, the host cities and the theme of each Kashi Tamil Sangamam edition are standard current affairs questions.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
In plain words
Thirukkural Thirukkural — A classical Tamil work of couplets on ethics and governance, attributed to Thiruvalluvar.
Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat — A central initiative that pairs states and regions to exchange language and culture.
25 October 2026
The Director General of Health Services has warned against the reuse of single-use medical devices and disposable surgical items in all public and private healthcare facilities.
The advisory says such items are being sterilised after one procedure and used again, particularly in cardiology, nephrology, oncology, cardiothoracic and vascular surgery and neurosurgery.
The risks listed are cross-infection, device malfunction, loss of performance and procedure-related complications.
The advisory also raises concerns about patient safety, infection control, regulatory compliance and healthcare costs.
It was sent by letter to Chief Secretaries, Health Secretaries and Directors of Health Services of all States and Union Territories.
States and Union Territories have been asked to enforce strict vigilance against such reuse.
Issued by:
Director General of Health Services
Addressed to:
Chief Secretaries, Health Secretaries and Directors of Health Services of all States and UTs
Why it matters for exams: The DGHS is the technical health advisory office of the Union government and its advisories are asked in health governance questions.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
In plain words
DGHS Director General of Health Services — The Union government's technical adviser on public health and medical care.
Nephrology Nephrology — The branch of medicine dealing with the kidneys.
25 October 2026
Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh told reporters that India has become the third-largest exporter of arms to Europe.
India's defence exports reached an all-time high of 38,424 crore rupees, about 3.6 billion euros, and go to more than 80 countries.
The defence manufacturing base has 16 major public sector companies, about 840 large and medium private firms and nearly 17,000 small enterprises including start-ups.
The government aims to spend 75 per cent of its annual defence capital expenditure, estimated at 20 to 25 billion dollars, within India.
He said the European Union's ReArm Europe initiative is driving European demand, and that European companies are being encouraged to manufacture in India under Make in India.
Defence exports:
38,424 crore rupees
Export destinations:
More than 80 countries
Domestic capital spending target:
75 per cent
Why it matters for exams: Defence export figures and the target of indigenous capital spending are asked in economy and defence sections alike.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSCBank
In plain words
ReArm Europe ReArm Europe — A European Union initiative to raise defence spending and production in Europe.
Capital expenditure Capital expenditure — Spending on buying or building long-lasting assets such as aircraft, ships and weapons.
25 October 2026
India has issued a fresh advisory for its nationals in Saudi Arabia, particularly Umrah pilgrims, who are affected by continuing flight cancellations.
India is coordinating with Saudi authorities to facilitate their early return.
The Consulate General of India in Jeddah is running 24x7 control rooms in Jeddah and Makkah, helped by community associations and volunteers.
The mission is in regular contact with Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Hajj and Umrah and its Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The difficulties being taken up include visa validity and delayed departures.
The cancellations follow drone and missile attacks on civilian infrastructure by Yemen's Houthis.
Control rooms:
Jeddah and Makkah, 24x7
Indian mission:
Consulate General of India, Jeddah
Why it matters for exams: Consular machinery, the ranks of Indian missions abroad and West Asian geography are regular examination material.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
In plain words
Umrah Umrah — A pilgrimage to Mecca that may be made at any time of the year.
Consulate General Consulate General — A mission in a city other than the capital, headed by a Consul General.
25 October 2026
For the first time, the same solar eruptions have been studied jointly by India's Aditya-L1 and Europe's Proba-3.
The instruments used were the Visible Emission Line Coronagraph on Aditya-L1 and the ASPIICS coronagraph on Proba-3.
The study was led by the Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Bengaluru, with European and American solar physicists, and was published in the journal Astronomy and Astrophysics.
Only two coronal mass ejections were recorded simultaneously by both instruments, on 14 and 16 September 2025.
The faster eruption moved at about 645 km per second and the slower one at 145 km per second, and mass and thermal energy estimates from the two instruments agreed well.
Aditya-L1 was launched on 2 September 2023 by PSLV-C57 and reached its halo orbit at the Sun-Earth L1 point on 6 January 2024.
Instruments:
VELC on Aditya-L1 and ASPIICS on Proba-3
Journal:
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Lead institution:
Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Bengaluru
Why it matters for exams: Aditya-L1's instruments, its orbit and the agency behind Proba-3 are standard space science questions.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
In plain words
Coronagraph Coronagraph — An instrument that blocks the bright disc of the Sun so the faint outer corona can be seen.
Halo orbit Halo orbit — A looping path around a Lagrange point rather than around a planet.
25 October 2026
ISRO has reported that both satellites of the Space Docking Experiment re-entered the Earth's atmosphere on 12 October 2026.
SPADEX-A came down over the South Pacific Ocean at about 16:48 UTC and SPADEX-B over the North Atlantic Ocean at about 23:36 UTC.
The two satellites were launched on 30 December 2024 by PSLV-C60 into a 470 km circular orbit.
They completed vertical and radial docking, composite control, power transfer, undocking and payload operations, and also demonstrated circumnavigation.
After the fuel in both satellites ran out their orbits decayed, and two moderate geomagnetic storms on 4 and 11 October 2026 hastened the decay.
Re-entry date:
12 October 2026
Launch vehicle:
PSLV-C60
Orbit:
470 km circular
Why it matters for exams: SPADEX made India one of the few countries to dock satellites in orbit, so its launch vehicle and objectives are examined.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
In plain words
Docking Docking — Joining two spacecraft together while they are in orbit.
Geomagnetic storm Geomagnetic storm — A disturbance of the Earth's magnetic field caused by solar activity, which can drag down low satellites.
25 October 2026
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will share his thoughts in the 139th episode of the Mann Ki Baat programme at 11 AM.
The programme will be broadcast by all Akashvani and Doordarshan stations, on the AIR News website and on the NewsOnAir mobile app.
It will also be streamed live on the YouTube channels of AIR News, DD News, the Prime Minister's Office and the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
The broadcast is in Hindi first, with regional language versions beginning immediately afterwards.
Episode:
139th
Time:
11 AM
Why it matters for exams: The episode count of Mann Ki Baat and the structure of India's public broadcaster are asked in general awareness papers.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
In plain words
Akashvani Akashvani — The official name of All India Radio, the country's public radio service.
25 October 2026
The Reserve Bank of India has announced a four-day Variable Rate Repo auction under the Liquidity Adjustment Facility.
The notified amount is Rs 1,50,000 crore and the auction will be held on Monday, October 26, 2026.
The auction window will be open from 9:30 AM to 10:00 AM and the reversal date is Friday, October 30, 2026.
The Reserve Bank said the decision follows a review of current and evolving liquidity conditions in the near term.
Operational guidelines are the same as those issued in the Bank's press release of January 20, 2022.
Notified amount:
Rs 1,50,000 crore
Tenor:
4 days
Reversal date:
October 30, 2026
Why it matters for exams: Liquidity tools of the Reserve Bank, and the repo mechanism itself, are core banking examination material.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSCBank
In plain words
LAF Liquidity Adjustment Facility — The window through which the Reserve Bank lends to or absorbs money from banks for short periods.
Variable Rate Repo Variable Rate Repo — A repo auction in which banks bid for funds and the rate is decided by the bidding.
25 October 2026
The Ministry of External Affairs has condemned the attack on a church in Karak, Jordan, which took place on 23 October.
The statement said India stands firmly with the Government and the people of Jordan in this difficult hour.
It also reaffirmed India's commitment to fighting terrorism in all its forms.
External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar separately expressed deep shock at the incident.
The attack caused the loss of several lives and left many others injured.
Place of attack:
Karak, Jordan
Statement by:
Ministry of External Affairs
Why it matters for exams: West Asian capitals and India's diplomatic responses to attacks abroad are common current affairs questions.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
In plain words
Ministry of External Affairs Ministry of External Affairs — The Union ministry that conducts India's foreign relations.
25 October 2026
External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar held an interaction with Heads of Mission from Africa in New Delhi.
He said the India-Africa partnership rests on deep South-South solidarity, shared histories and common aspirations.
The discussion covered Africa's growing role in a multipolar world.
It also looked at possibilities for cooperation focused on people.
Venue:
New Delhi
Theme:
Deep South-South solidarity
Why it matters for exams: India-Africa engagement and the institutions of the African continent are regular questions in international relations sections.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
South-South cooperation South-South cooperation — Cooperation among developing countries in trade, technology and development aid.
Head of Mission Head of Mission — The senior most diplomat of a country in the country where the mission is located.
Background
TIFR Mumbai is the main campus of TIFR - a National Centre of the Government of India, under the umbrella of the Department of Atomic Energy, as well as a deemed University awarding degrees for master's and doctoral programs.
The Institute was founded in 1945 with support from the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust under the vision of Dr. Homi Bhabha.
Its researchers carry out basic research in physics, chemistry, biology, mathematics, and computer science.
The archival authority record gives the institution's dates of existence as June 1, 1945.
Founded:
1945
Umbrella department:
Department of Atomic Energy
Founding support:
Sir Dorabji Tata Trust
Main campus:
Mumbai
Why it matters for exams: Which Department a research institute sits under is a standard one-mark question, and the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research is regularly mistaken for a Department of Science and Technology body.
Kerala PSCUPSC