International Affairs

• China's Thorium to Uranium Conversion: China successfully converted thorium to uranium fuel using a fourth-generation molten salt reactor for the first time globally. Thorium 232, which is three times more abundant than uranium, serves as the fuel, converting to uranium for energy production. India holds significant thorium reserves in Kerala's monazite sand.
• Václav Havel European Rights Award: Awarded to Maksym Butkevich of Ukraine.
• "I Am Georgia" Autobiography: Indian Prime Minister Modi wrote the preface for the autobiography of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
• Sanae Takaichi: The first female Prime Minister of Japan.
• Cyclone Naming: Cyclone Shakti was named by Sri Lanka, and Cyclone Montha was named by Thailand.
• World's First White Iberian Lynx: Discovered in Spain. The animal has a cream-colored, cat-like structure with sharp eyes. Madrid, Spain, is also the headquarters of the World Tourism Organization (WTO).
• 68th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference: Held in Bridgetown, the capital of Barbados.

National Affairs - Economy & Development

• Economic Freedom Index 2025: India ranked 128th globally.
• Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY):
  • Launched on September 23, 2018, from Ranchi, Jharkhand.
  • Issued over 420 million Ayushman cards by October 28, becoming the world's largest health insurance scheme.
  • Provides ₹5 lakh per family for health insurance in listed government and private hospitals.
  • The National Health Authority (NHA) is its nodal agency.
• Mission Indradhanush: Launched on December 25, 2014, with the objective of vaccination.
• Six-member Payment Regulatory Board: Formed by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
• Self-sufficiency in Pulses: A mission was launched to achieve self-sufficiency in Arhar, Urad, and Masoor pulses by 2030-31.
• Director General of Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS): Sanjay Garg was appointed. BIS, established in 1947 as the Indian Standards Institution and renamed in 1987 (Act of 1986, latest Act 2016), aims to ensure quality standards and is headquartered in New Delhi.
• Namaste Semiconductor Lab: Established at IIT Bhubaneswar.
• "Aapki Poonji, Aapka Adhikar" Campaign: Launched by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in Gujarat.
• Global Fintech Fest: Held in Mumbai.
• MSME Seva Parv (Virasat Se Vikas): Organized in Uttar Pradesh.

National Affairs - Environment & Conservation

• Third Home for Cheetahs: Nauradehi Sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh has been designated as the third home for cheetahs, following Kuno National Park and Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary. Cheetahs were declared extinct in India in 1952, and Project Cheetah was launched on September 17.
• 94th Ramasar Site of India: Gogabeel Lake in Katihar district, Bihar, has been designated. It is Bihar's 6th Ramasar site and acts as a confluence for the Ganga and Mahananda rivers during floods. India ranks third globally in the number of Ramasar sites, with Tamil Nadu having the most within India.
• Climate Activist Sonam Wangchuk: Included in Time Magazine's "100 Most Influential Climate Leaders" list. He advocates for statehood, autonomy, and 6th Schedule inclusion for Ladakh and is known for creating artificial glaciers (ice stupas) to conserve freshwater. He was arrested under the preventive detention National Security Act (NSA), 1980.
• National Mission to Halt Declining Animal Population: Launched for camels.
• India's Only Mud Volcano: Erupted after 20 years on Baratang Island, Andaman and Nicobar.

National Affairs - Defense & Security

• First Indian Boxing Federation Cup: Held in Chennai.
• Exercise Poorvi Prachand Prahar: A joint exercise by the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force, held in Mechuka, Arunachal Pradesh, to improve inter-service coordination.
• Exercise Vayu Samanvay-II: Conducted by the Southern Command of the Indian Army in a desert region, focusing on anti-drone defense.
• Veer (Electric Military Vehicle): Developed by Pravega company in Bengaluru, it is an electric military vehicle for defense operations.
• Indian Coast Guard's 10th National Level Pollution Response Exercise (NATPOLREX): Held in Chennai.

National Affairs - Education & Culture

• India's First Slum-Free City: Chandigarh achieved this status.
• UPSC Centennial Year: The Union Public Service Commission (established based on Lee Commission recommendations) is celebrating its centennial year in 2025.
• Pandit Chhannulal Mishra: Associated with the Swarmandal instrument.
• Education Ministry's AI and Computational Thinking Curriculum: To be introduced as mandatory from Class 3 in all schools (including CBSE, NCERT, KVS, NVS) from the 2026-27 academic year. The Kartik Raman Committee is designing the syllabus.

National Affairs - Sports

• Time 100 Next 2025 List (Cricket): Yashasvi Jaiswal is the only cricketer included.
• ISSF Junior World Cup 2025: India secured the 1st position in the medal table.
• ICC Men's T20 Batter Ranking: Abhishek Sharma achieved a new record with 931 rating points.
• World Para Athletics Championship 2025: The Indian contingent won 22 medals.

Miscellaneous National Affairs

• Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT): India implemented this with Singapore to investigate the death of singer Jubin Garg.
• Jubin Garg Island: An island in Singapore was named after the legendary Assamese singer Jubin Garg.
• "The Way They Will Shoot You, Madam" Book: Authored by Harvinder Bheja.
• World's Highest Motorable Road: Constructed by BRO in Ladakh at an altitude of 19,400 feet.
• First Cheetah Safari in India: To start in Kuno National Park, Madhya Pradesh.

Important Days

• World Vegan Day 2025: Celebrated on November 1st. Veganism involves complete abstinence from all animal products. Louis Wallis, Head of the World Vegan Society, initiated it.
• State Foundation Days on November 1st: Andhra Pradesh (1953), Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu (1956), and Chhattisgarh (2000).
• World Saving Day: Celebrated on October 31st.
• Tribal Pride Fortnight (Janjaatiya Gaurav Pakhwada): From November 1st to November 15th, coinciding with Birsa Munda's birth anniversary.