Current Affairs One-liners — 16 October 2025

Thu, 16 Oct 2025

• On 16 October 2025 in Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh, PM Narendra Modi laid foundation stones for, inaugurated and dedicated projects worth about Rs 13,430 crore in industry, power transmission, roads, railways, defence manufacturing and petroleum.
• Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on 16 October 2025 that 258 Naxalites surrendered in Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra over two days, and that Abujhmarh and North Bastar in Chhattisgarh had been declared free of Naxal terror.
• The Ministry of Mines released the State Mining Readiness Index (SMRI) and state rankings (PIB, 16 October 2025), with Madhya Pradesh, Goa and Punjab ranked first in Categories A, B and C.
• The UN Troop Contributing Countries (UNTCC) Chiefs' Conclave 2025, hosted by the Indian Army in New Delhi from 14 to 16 October 2025, concluded with chiefs and representatives from 32 nations affirming that UN peacekeeping must adapt to new realities.
• On 16 October 2025 in New Delhi, Brazil's Vice President Geraldo Alckmin and Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal issued a Joint Declaration to substantially expand the MERCOSUR–India Preferential Trade Agreement, aiming to conclude talks within a year of their launch.
• The fifth Khelo India University Games will be held in seven cities of Rajasthan from 24 November to 5 December 2025, with 23 medal sports and kho-kho as a demonstration sport (PIB, 16 October 2025).
• India, represented by Surveyor General Hitesh Kumar S. Makwana, was elected Co-Chair of the Regional Committee of UN Global Geospatial Information Management for Asia and the Pacific (UN-GGIM-AP) for 2025–2028 (PIB, 16 October 2025).
• NMDC Steel Limited became the first company in India to receive a BIS licence under IS 18384:2023 for hot-rolled steel strip, sheet and plates for welded steel pipes for pipeline transportation, presented at World Standards Day 2025 in Raipur (PIB, 16 October 2025).
• The National Human Rights Commission marked its 32nd Foundation Day at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, on 16 October 2025 with former President Ram Nath Kovind as chief guest; the Commission was set up on 12 October 1993.
• On 16 October 2025, PM Narendra Modi dedicated to the nation the Advanced Night Vision Products Factory set up by Bharat Electronics Limited at Nimmaluru, Krishna district, Andhra Pradesh, at about Rs 360 crore.
• MoS Health Anupriya Patel represented India at the Ministerial Roundtable of the 78th Session of the WHO Regional Committee for South-East Asia, held in Colombo from 13 to 15 October 2025, on healthy ageing (PIB, 16 October 2025).
• India and Australia held the 5th India–Australia Energy Dialogue in New Delhi on 16 October 2025, co-chaired by Power Minister Manohar Lal and Australia's Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen.