Global Rankings & Indices

• Economic Freedom Index 2025:
  • India's rank: 128th (score of 53).
  • Globally, only three countries are fully economically free (score 80+): Singapore (1st), Switzerland (2nd), and Ireland (3rd).
  • Pakistan's rank: 150th.
  • North Korea's rank: 176th (last).
• Climate Change Performance Index 2025: India ranks 10th.
• India's Current Global Population Rank: India is currently ranked first globally in population.
• Energy Transition Index: India ranks 71st.
• Corruption Perception Index: India ranks 96th.
• Global Peace Index: India ranks 115th.
• Happiness Index: India ranks 118th.
• Human Development Index: India ranks 130th.
• Gender Gap Index: India ranks 131st.
• Press Freedom Index: India ranks 151st.
• Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Index: India ranks 99th (first time in top 100).

International Relations & Events

• India-Bhutan Rail Link: India and Bhutan signed an MoU to establish their first cross-border rail links.
  • Two links planned: Banarhat (West Bengal, India) to Samtse (Bhutan) - 20 km; Kokrajhar (Assam, India) to Gelephu (Bhutan) - 69 km.
  • Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Mistry signed the MoU.
  • India previously established the Punatsangchhu Hydroelectric Project (1020 MW) in Bhutan.
• European Union Naval Force (EUNAVFOR): Participated in a table-top exercise in Mumbai for the first time in India.
• 'Best of India' Fair:
  • Inaugurated on October 1st by Union Minister of State for Textiles, Pabitra Margherita, in Moscow, Russia.
  • Aims to promote Indian exporters' access to European markets, showcasing handicrafts, handlooms, garments, and carpets.
• UN General Assembly 80th Session: Annalena Baerbock (Germany) appointed as President.
• UN Ocean Conference: Held in France.
• UN Security Council Non-Permanent Members (2026-27): Latvia, Bahrain, Democratic Republic of Congo, Colombia, and Liberia were chosen.
• Battle of Haifa Anniversary: Indian Embassy in Israel celebrated the 107th anniversary of the Battle of Haifa (September 23, 1918), where Indian soldiers from Jodhpur, Mysore, and Hyderabad liberated Haifa from German-Turkish occupation during WWI. Major Dalpat Singh is known as the "Hero of Haifa."
• UN Sanctions: Re-activated against Iran.

National Initiatives & Developments

• AstroSat: India's first dedicated multi-wavelength space astronomy observatory completed 10 years of operation on September 28, 2025.
  • Launched in 2015 by PSLV-C30 from Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.
  • Functions include detecting X-ray sources in space and studying star systems.
• Spice Route Initiative:
  • Launched by Kerala to connect and preserve ancient ports and heritage sites related to the spice trade.
  • Aims to establish museums and boost spice trade.
  • Kerala government has signed an agreement with UNESCO for this initiative.
  • India's Spice Research Centre is in Kozhikode, Kerala.
• 'Rabi Track River' App:
  • Launched by Puducherry to strengthen rabies surveillance.
  • Developed by Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Veterinary Education and Research (RIVER).
• UIDAI's 'Aadhaar Samvad': The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) hosted the 4th 'Aadhaar Samvad' in Hyderabad.
• Vande Ganga Jal Sanrakshan Abhiyan: Launched in Rajasthan on June 5, 2025 (World Environment Day).
• First Vande Bharat Rail Maintenance Depot: Established in Jodhpur, Rajasthan.
• Maharaja Suheldev Memorial: To be built in Uttar Pradesh, commemorating his victory over Ghazi Saiyyad Salar Masud in 1033.
• C-CARES 2.0 Digital Platform: Launched by the Ministry of Coal.
• Rafale Fighter Fuselage Manufacturing: Dassault Aviation (French) and Tata will manufacture Rafale fighter fuselages in Hyderabad, India.
• India's First Indigenous AI Model: Bharat GPT.

Awards & Appointments

• 31st MS Swaminathan Award (Individual Category):
  • Agriculture: Sahaj Samruddh (Mysore, Karnataka).
  • Environmental Protection: Veerappan (Kalanganar village).
  • Note: MS Swaminathan, known as the Father of the Green Revolution in India, was awarded the Bharat Ratna in 2024.
• Global MS Swaminathan Award (First Time): Awarded to Dr. Adamoala Adenal from Nigeria.
• UN Sasakawa Award for Disaster Risk Reduction: Awarded to Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, Head of the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
• Keir Starmer (UK PM): Received the 'Living Bridge Award' for promoting the India-UK Free Trade Agreement.
• Mohanlal: Received the Dadasaheb Phalke Award.
• Manmohan Singh: Received the PV Narasimha Rao Award in the field of Economics.
• King Charles III's Knighthood: Awarded to David Beckham.
• National e-Governance Award 2025 (Digital Governance): Awarded to Rohini, Maharashtra.
• Changemaker of the Year Award: DRDO (for indigenous technology).
• RBI Deputy Governor: Shri Satish Chandra Murmu.
• Chairman of PM's Economic Advisory Council: Mahendra Dev.
• BCCI Chairman: Mithun Manhas.

Other Significant Events

• 72nd Miss World Title: Awarded to Opal Sujatha (Thailand) in Hyderabad.
• First Fully Functionally Literate State: Mizoram (1st), Goa (2nd), Tripura (3rd).
• Uttar Pradesh Government: Signed an agreement with Australia's Monash University to promote education standards.
• Ukraine Operation: Conducted 'Operation Spider Web' for a major attack on Russia.
• Mount Etna Volcano: Erupted in Italy.
• Book "Sangathan aur Manaviy Vyavasthapan": Written by Nitin Gadkari.
• ICC and UNICEF Campaign: Launched 'Promise to Children' campaign during the ICC Women's World Cup. Ayushmann Khurrana is the brand ambassador.
• First Indian Boxing Federation Cup: To be held in Chennai from October 1-7, featuring male and female boxers across 10 weight categories. Ajay Singh is the President of the Indian Boxing Federation.
• FIDE Women's Chess World Cup: To be held in Goa, India.
• 11th Asian Aquatics Championship: To be held in Ahmedabad.
• First E-commerce Company to get RBI NBFC License: Flipkart.
• Bangladesh: Removed its Father of the Nation's name (Sheikh Mujibur Rahman) from currency notes.
• Mahipalpur Nuclear Power Project: 4 x 700 MW.
• First Adult Female Cheetah Born in India (Kuno National Park): Named Mukhi, daughter of Jwala.
• First BIMSTEC Traditional Music Festival: Held in New Delhi.
• IPL 2025 Winner: RCB, captain Rajat, defeated Punjab. Orange Cap: Sai Sudarshan; Purple Cap: Prasidh Krishna; Super Striker: Vaibhav Suryavanshi.

Important Days & Decades

• International Translation Day: Celebrated on September 30th.
• UN Theme for 2025: Year of Peace and Development.
• UN Decade of Indigenous Languages: 2022-2032.
• World Tourism Day: September 27th.
• World Rabies Day: September 28th.
• World Heart Day: September 29th.
• National Handloom Day: August 7th.
• International Sports Day: June 11th.

Geographical & Historical Context

• Kheer Bhawani Mela: Celebrated in Jammu & Kashmir.
• Sindoor Smarak Park (Dedicated to Operation Sindoor): Located in Kutch, Gujarat.
• New Ramsar Sites in India: Kichan (Phalodi, Rajasthan), Manar (Udaipur, Rajasthan), Gokul Lake (Bihar), and Udaipur Lake (Bihar). The current total is 93 Ramsar sites.
• Daojali Hading (Neolithic site): Located in Assam, famous for discoveries of Neolithic artifacts.
• Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy (Test Series): Related to India vs. England cricket.
• UN Official Languages: Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, Spanish (Hindi is not included).
• Puducherry: Comprises four districts (Karaikal, Mahe, Yanam, Puducherry) and was under French rule. Its first French Governor was Francois Martin.
• Kozhikode, Kerala: Location of India's Spice Research Centre.