Current Affairs — 09 October 2025
Daily news by your exam, state and topic — each with a short summary, key facts and MCQs.
Thu, 09 Oct 2025
UK PM Keir Starmer's first official India visit: missile deal, university campuses, critical minerals and JETCO reset
On 8–9 October 2025 UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer made his first official visit to India, holding talks with PM Modi in Mumbai on 9 October; outcomes included a government-to-government route for Lightweight Multirole Missiles, new UK university campuses and a reset of JETCO.
Bihar polls: ECI deploys about 8.5 lakh officials, a General Observer for every constituency, and orders labelling of AI content
On 9 October 2025 the Election Commission said about 8.5 lakh officials, including a General Observer for each of Bihar's 243 constituencies for the first time, are deployed for the Bihar polls, and directed parties to prominently label AI-generated campaign content.
PM Modi at Global Fintech Fest 2025, Mumbai: India's AI approach rests on three principles
On 9 October 2025 at the Global Fintech Fest 2025 in Mumbai, PM Narendra Modi said India's AI approach rests on Equitable Access, Population-scale Skilling and Responsible Deployment, and called India Stack a beacon for the Global South.
Textiles Ministry eases PLI scheme for MMF and technical textiles; minimum investment halved
On 9 October 2025 the Ministry of Textiles notified amendments to the PLI scheme for MMF apparel, MMF fabrics and technical textiles, halving minimum investment to ₹150 crore (Part-1) and ₹50 crore (Part-2) and cutting the incremental turnover condition from 25% to 10%.
Inaugural Australia–India Defence Ministers' Dialogue in Canberra; submarine rescue arrangement signed
On 9 October 2025 in Canberra, Rajnath Singh and Australian Deputy PM and Defence Minister Richard Marles held the inaugural Australia–India Defence Ministers' Dialogue, agreed to make it annual and welcomed an arrangement on mutual submarine rescue support.
Vaishnaw reviews Sabarmati bullet train sites: charkha-inspired station, 84-hectare depot; 325 km viaduct done
On 9 October 2025 Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw visited Mumbai–Ahmedabad bullet train sites at Sabarmati, Ahmedabad, where the terminal station is inspired by Gandhi's charkha and the 84-hectare depot is the largest of the project's three.
Tobacco Free Youth Campaign 3.0 launched: 60-day drive, 4th National Tobacco Testing Laboratory at NIMHANS
On 9 October 2025 MoS Health Anupriya Patel launched the 60-day Tobacco Free Youth Campaign 3.0, aligned with the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan, and a 4th National Tobacco Testing Laboratory was dedicated at NIMHANS, Bengaluru.
NPS and APY assets under management cross ₹16 lakh crore; subscribers top 9 crore
On 9 October 2025 the combined assets under management of the National Pension System and Atal Pension Yojana crossed ₹16 lakh crore, with the subscriber base surpassing 9 crore, PFRDA said.
Mines Ministry holds roadshow for Tranche VI auction of 23 critical and strategic mineral blocks
On 9 October 2025 the Ministry of Mines held a roadshow in New Delhi for Tranche VI of critical and strategic mineral block auctions, covering 23 blocks (19 composite licences and 4 mining leases), with bids due by 1 December 2025.
CCRAS's AI-ready DRAVYA portal to catalogue 100 Ayush substances in first phase
PIB said on 9 October 2025 that the DRAVYA portal of the Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences, unveiled at the 10th Ayurveda Day event in Goa on 23 September, will catalogue 100 key medicinal substances in its first phase.
Centre releases XV Finance Commission grants: ₹410.76 crore to Andhra PRIs, ₹680.71 crore and ₹151 crore health grant to West Bengal
PIB reported on 9 October 2025 that the Centre released first instalments of XV Finance Commission untied grants for 2025–26 — ₹410.76 crore to Andhra Pradesh's rural local bodies and ₹680.71 crore to West Bengal's — plus a ₹151 crore health grant to West Bengal.
GST cuts and Arunachal Pradesh: kiwi, Arunachal Orange, Yak Churpi and crafts move to 5%
A PIB explainer on 9 October 2025 said GST on Arunachal Pradesh's key farm, processed and craft products has fallen from 12–18% to 5%, helping kiwi (over 50% of India's output), GI-tagged Arunachal Orange, Adi Kekir ginger and Yak Churpi.
Indian Navy commissions indigenous static firing facility 'Trinetra' at Naval Station Bheemunipatnam
On 8 October 2025 the Indian Navy commissioned 'Trinetra', an indigenously designed static firing facility for testing naval weapon systems, at Naval Station Bheemunipatnam near Visakhapatnam.