Current Affairs – October 09, 2025

{GS1 – Geo – PG} Supermoon

Context (TH): A supermoon is a phenomenon where a new or full moon appears larger & brighter.

It occurs when a full or new moon coincides with the Moon’s perigee while the Sun, Earth, and Moon are in a straight line (syzygy).
A supermoon appears nearly 14% larger and 30% brighter than a full moon at apogee.
The Moon’s elliptical orbit causes its distance from Earth to vary, making it appear larger and brighter at perigee and smaller and dimmer at apogee.
Frequency: Supermoons usually occur three to four times a year, often in consecutive months.
Impact: It increases gravitational pull, causing higher tides known as perigean spring tides.

Perigee is the point in the Moon’s elliptical orbit where it is closest to Earth (about 3,63,300 km), while apogee is its farthest point (about 4,05,500 km).

Read More > Super Blue Moon

{GS1 – Geo – EG – Mineral Resources} CIL-IRCON MoU for Coal Transportation

Context (TH): Coal India Limited (CIL) signed a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with railway PSU, IRCON International Limited, to develop rail infrastructure for coal transportation.

CIL is a state-owned Maharatna company under the Ministry of Coal, producing about 76% of India’s coal output (till Aug 2025).

Objective: To expand coal transport networks, improving the efficiency and speed of moving coal from mining clusters to power plants and industrial consumption centres.
Significance: The partnership advances India’s integrated logistics framework by aligning with initiatives like the PM Gati Shakti and the National Logistics Policy.

Current Status of the Coal Sector in India

Coal supplies 55% of India’s total energy and 74% of its electricity generation (PIB, April 2025).
Production: India generated over 1 billion tonnes of coal in FY 2024–25 and aims for 1.5 BT by 2030.
Import Dependence: Total coal imports in FY 2024–25 dropped by 7.9% year-on-year to 243.62 MT.
Railway Freight Share: Coal transport accounts for 49% of Indian Railways’ freight earnings (₹82,275 crore in FY 2022–23), making up about one-third of the total revenue.

Read More > Coal Sector in India

{GS2 – Governance – Initiatives} NITI Aayog AI Roadmap for Inclusive Societal Development

Context (PIB | DD): NITI Aayog, in partnership with Deloitte, released a study titled “AI for Inclusive Societal Development”, aimed at transforming the lives of India’s 490 million informal workers.

The informal sector contributes nearly 50% of GDP but is often left out of digital protection frameworks. To address this, NITI Aayog has launched Mission Digital ShramSetu.

Mission Digital ShramSetu

Goal: a national mission to make AI accessible, affordable, and impactful for every worker.
Focus: Shifting AI discourse from white-collar jobs to the informal sector.
Vision Alignment: Supports the Viksit Bharat 2047 goal of making India a $30 trillion economy by empowering grassroots productivity.

How will it impact India?

Empowering Workers: AI-driven skilling can uplift nearly 85% of India’s labour force engaged in the informal sector, reducing vulnerability and wage inequality. (NITI Aayog, 2025)
Boosting GDP: Digitising informal work could raise India’s GDP by 1.5–2 percentage points annually, unlocking an estimated $400–500 billion in productivity gains by 2047. (Deloitte)
Bridging the Income Gap: Without AI-led inclusion, informal workers’ income may stagnate at $6,000/year by 2047; the roadmap targets $14,500/year. (Deloitte)
Reducing Gender Divide: Targeted inclusion of women through AI-enabled micro-entrepreneurship can expand female labour participation from 37% (2024) to over 45% by 2047. (World Bank)
Financial Inclusion: AI and blockchain-based digital IDs and credit scoring could help formalise 150 million unregistered enterprises, improving access to credit and welfare. (MeitY, 2025)

{GS2 – Governance – Initiatives} Tobacco Free Youth Campaign 3.0

Context (PIB | NOA): The Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare launched the Tobacco Free Youth Campaign 3.0 to promote a tobacco-free lifestyle among the youth.
Objective: The 60-day initiative aims to inform & empower students to prevent tobacco use, promote quitting, and build a solid culture of health and wellness in schools and higher education institutions.
Key Activities: The campaign includes awareness rallies, pledge ceremonies, enforcement of Tobacco-Free Educational Institutions (ToFEI) guidelines, and counselling sessions.
Significance: The initiative is part of the government’s Viksit Bharat@2047 vision, supporting previous efforts to create a healthier, addiction-free generation.

Tobacco Consumption in India

Usage: India has over 270 million tobacco users (WHO 2025 report), with 8.4% of students aged 13–15 years currently using tobacco (2019 Global Youth Tobacco Survey).
Health Impact: According to the WHO, tobacco use results in about 1.35 million deaths annually.
Economic Burden: Tobacco use costs India 1.04% of GDP, with smoking making up 74% of this cost.
India’s Initiative: includes the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (2003), the National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP), and the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act (2019).

{GS2 – IR – India-UK} India-UK Bilateral Talks

Context (TH | PIB): UK PM Keir Starmer is on a two-day visit to India with a 125-member business delegation to strengthen trade, investment, and technological cooperation between the two countries.

India and the UK held bilateral talks in Mumbai, reaffirming their commitment to the India–UK CETA and to doubling bilateral trade by 2030.

The Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) is a trade deal between the U.K. and India, signed in July 2025, to improve market access for both nations. It removes tariffs on about 99% of Indian exports and expects to increase U.K. exports to India by 60%.

India–UK Relations

Trade Volume: Bilateral trade between India and the UK reached £44.1 billion in early 2025, making India the UK’s 11^th largest trading partner.
Strategic Partnership: India and the UK elevated their ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, guided by the India–UK Vision 2035 and reinforced by CETA.
Defence Cooperation: Both countries adopted a 10-year Defence Industrial Roadmap in 2025 to promote co-design, co-development, and co-production of advanced defence technologies.
Investment: The UK is India’s 6^th largest source of FDI, while India ranks as the 2^nd largest investor in the UK, reflecting mutual economic confidence.

India–UK Vision 2035 is a 10-year strategic roadmap agreed upon in July 2025 to strengthen bilateral relations across five pillars: Growth and Jobs, Technology and Innovation, Defence and Security, Climate and Energy, and Education and Skills.

{GS2 – IR – Bilateral Relations} India’s Policy on Recognising the Taliban

Context (HT): India’s decision to host Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister with full protocol signals a cautious step toward formal diplomatic engagement with the Taliban regime.

India’s Current Diplomatic Approach Toward the Taliban

Non-recognition Policy: India has not officially recognised the Taliban regime due to its poor human rights record and exclusionary governance approach.
Embassy Operations: Since June 2022, India has kept a technical team at its Kabul embassy to monitor humanitarian assistance and assess the changing geopolitical circumstances.
Consulate Access: Officials appointed by the Taliban currently manage Afghan consulates in Mumbai and Hyderabad, while New Delhi’s primary embassy is still unrecognised officially.
Humanitarian Assistance: India continues to send wheat, vaccines, and medical supplies, reaffirming its commitment to Afghan welfare without endorsing the regime.

Key Reasons for the Non-recognition of the Taliban

Security Concerns: The Taliban’s past connections with terrorist organisations such as LeT and JeM heighten anxieties about a revival of cross-border militancy.
Pakistan Factor: Close coordination between the Taliban and Pakistan’s ISI raises concerns that Afghanistan might turn into a geopolitical asset for Islamabad.
Democratic Credibility: An official recognition would conflict with India’s global stance on democratic governance and women’s rights, undermining its moral authority and consistency in policy.
Global Alignment: Recognising the Taliban risks alienating allies like the U.S. and the EU, both of which maintain sanctions against Taliban leaders.

Strategic Rationale for Recognition

Strategic Leverage: Formal engagement might strengthen India’s regional sway and help counteract the growing influence of China and Pakistan in Afghanistan.
Investment Protection: Recognition can shield India’s development assets (e.g., Salma Dam) and facilitate the resumption of stalled projects.
Security Dialogue: Direct engagement provides a structured communication channel to counter extremist threats and prevent Afghan soil from being used against India.
Connectivity Goals: Stronger ties with the Taliban can ensure India’s overland access to Central Asia via the Chabahar route, bypassing Pakistan’s blockade.

India-Afghanistan Bilateral Relationship

Historical Roots: Relations date back to ancient Silk Route exchanges, formalized by the 1950 Treaty of Friendship and reinforced by India’s support for the Northern Alliance after 1979.
Developmental Partnership: India has invested over $3 billion in Afghanistan’s reconstruction, building key assets such as the Salma Dam and the Afghan Parliament.
Policy Divergence: India’s democratic ethos contrasts with the Taliban’s autocratic regime, making engagement more complicated amid concerns over terror networks and the narcotics trade.
Strategic Value: Stability in Afghanistan underpins India’s regional connectivity ambitions and broader security architecture across South and Central Asia.
Recent Shifts: India’s hosting of the Taliban’s Foreign Minister indicates a cautious evolution toward limited formal engagement without full diplomatic recognition.

Read More > India-Afghanistan Relations

{GS2 – IR – Groupings} India to Host the 8^th International Solar Alliance Assembly

Context (PIB | NOA): India will host the 8^th Session of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) Assembly from October 27 to 30, 2025.

India’s Renewable Energy Achievements

India has achieved 50% of its installed electricity capacity from non-fossil fuel sources, five years ahead of schedule.
India ranks as the third-largest solar energy producer and the second-largest global market for renewable energy growth.
India is also the second-largest manufacturer of solar modules, after China.
The country targets 5 million tonnes of green hydrogen production by 2031.
Under the PM Surya Ghar Muft Yojana, over 20 lakh households have already installed rooftop solar systems, promoting decentralised clean energy access.

About the International Solar Alliance (ISA)

Launch: Jointly initiated by India and France at COP21 (2015, Paris).
Headquarters: Gurugram, India, the first intergovernmental organisation headquartered in India.
Membership: 124 Member and Signatory Countries, primarily from the Global South.
Objective: Promote affordable, reliable, and sustainable solar energy access worldwide through technology, finance, and policy cooperation.
Major Projects: One Sun One World One Grid (OSOWOG), Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) Scheme, Solar Technology Application Resource Centre (STAR C) Initiative.

{GS2 – IR – Bilateral Relations} India-Brazil Bilateral Trade Target USD 20 Billion

Context (DD): India and Brazil pledged to boost trade and investment at the 7^th Trade Monitoring Mechanism (TMM) meeting, aiming for USD 20 billion in bilateral trade within five years.

Key Highlights of the Meeting

Both sides agreed to work on visa facilitation to enhance business mobility.
Discussion on expanding the India-MERCOSUR Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) to widen the scope of trade and reduce tariff barriers.

The India-MERCOSUR PTA, in effect since June 2009, offers reciprocal tariff concessions on a select range of goods, with India granting concessions on 450 tariff lines and the MERCOSUR bloc (comprising Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay) on 452 tariff lines, aiming to promote bilateral trade.

The two countries are working to diversify the trade basket, shifting focus from traditional commodities to high-value sectors such as healthcare, renewables, and digital services.

India-Brazil Relations

Current Trade Status: Brazil continues to be India’s largest trading partner in the Latin American and Caribbean region.
- Bilateral merchandise trade stood at USD 12.19 billion in FY 2024-25.
Agricultural Exchange: India exports coconuts and mangoes to Brazil, while Brazil supplies cashews and Nelore cattle breeds (originating from Andhra Pradesh).
Global Cooperation: The two nations work together in platforms like BRICS, G20 and the International Solar Alliance, reflecting South-South cooperation.
Strategic Dialogue: New mechanisms such as the NSA-level talks and the 2+2 Political-Military Dialogue (started in 2024) are helping deepen defence and strategic engagement.

{GS3 – IE – RBI} Expansion of RBI’s Integrated Ombudsman Scheme

Context (BS): The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has included state co-operative Banks and central co-operative banks in the Reserve Bank – Integrated Ombudsman Scheme (RB-IOS), 2021.

About RBI’s Integrated Ombudsman Scheme (RB-IOS)

RB-IOS is a free, single-window grievance redressal system by the RBI to resolve customer complaints against regulated entities under the Alternate Grievance Redressal (AGR) Framework.
It merged three ombudsman schemes — for Banks, NBFCs, and Digital Transactions into a single unified framework under the ‘One Nation – One Ombudsman’ principle.
Objective: It aims to simplify complaint filing, standardise procedures, and ensure faster, transparent, and fair customer grievance redressal against RBI-regulated financial entities.
Coverage: All Commercial Banks, Regional Rural Banks, scheduled and non-scheduled primary (urban) cooperative banks, NBFCs (with assets of≥₹100 crore), and Credit Information Companies.
- It will include state and central cooperative banks starting from November 2025.

The AGR Framework is a comprehensive system developed by RBI to manage internal and external dispute resolution mechanisms across the financial sector.

{GS3 – IE – Industry} World Cotton Day 2025

Context (PIB): Recently, the Ministry of Textiles celebrated World Cotton Day 2025 on 7 October 2025 under the theme “Cotton 2040: Technology, Climate & Competitiveness”.

Key Highlights of the Event

Growth Targets: India aims to achieve USD 100 billion in textile exports as part of a broader USD 350 billion textile sector target by 2030.
Cotton Productivity: India accounts for 40% of global cotton cultivation area, but productivity remains low at around 450 kg per hectare, compared to 2,000 kg globally.
- To bridge this gap, the government is considering a “Mission for Cotton Productivity”.
Kasturi Cotton Bharat: The event saw the signing of multiple MoUs with leading firms under the Kasturi Cotton Bharat initiative.
- It aims to match Egyptian Giza’s and American Supima’s global recognition for purity and quality.

Government Schemes Driving the Sector

Initiatives such as PM MITRA Parks and Amended Technology Upgradation Fund Scheme (ATUFS) promote innovation and infrastructure in the textile industry.
Samarth Scheme: Demand-driven, placement-oriented skilling for textile workers.
National Technical Textiles Mission (NTTM): Focuses on technical textile innovation, market development, and skilling.
Silk Samagra Scheme and the National Handloom & Handicraft Development Programmes support development across sericulture, handloom, and handicraft segments.
These initiatives are aligned with the 5F Vision: Farm, Fibre, Factory, Fashion, and Foreign, ensuring a seamless value chain from cultivation to exports.

Textile Sector in India

The sector contributes 2.3% to India’s GDP, 13% to industrial production, and 12% to exports, making it one of the largest employment generators in the country.
India is the second-largest producer of cotton (23.8% global share), the largest producer of jute, and second in man-made fibres.
The market size was estimated at $174 billion in 2024, projected to reach $350 billion by 2030, with domestic consumption accounting for nearly 80%.

{GS3 – Envi – Species} Nesolynx banabitanae Wasp Species

Context (TOI): Entomologists in West Bengal recently identified a new hyperparasitoid wasp species, Nesolynx banabitanae.

About Nesolynx banabitanae

Nesolynx banabitanae is a hyperparasitoid wasp species belonging to the family Eulophidae.
Hyperparasitoid: It parasitises the larvae and pupae of other parasitoid wasps like Charops aditya.
Name: The species was named after Banabitan Biodiversity Park in Kolkata, where it was first identified.
Diet: Larvae feed on the pupae of host parasitoids, while adults depend on nectar and honeydew.
Habitat: The wasp prefers semi-natural habitats like urban parks, gardens, and agro-ecosystems that support host wasp populations.
Geographic Distribution: It has been recorded from the Gangetic plains of West Bengal, India.
Ecological Role: Regulating populations of primary parasitoid wasps indirectly aids pest control.
Significance: This discovery marks only the seventh species of Nesolynx recorded in India.

{GS3 – S&T – Defence} DRDO Releases the Indian Radio Software Architecture

Context (ET): The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) released the Indian Radio Software Architecture (IRSA) standard 1.0 for interoperability among all military radio systems.

About the Indian Radio Software Architecture (IRSA)

The IRSA is India’s first national comprehensive software framework that enables Software-Defined Radios (SDRs) from all branches of the Armed Forces to communicate seamlessly.
It standardises software interfaces and Application Programming Interfaces (APIs), enabling communication software called waveforms to be reused across SDRs, ensuring full interoperability.

SDRs are advanced radios where functions like frequency, modulation, and encryption are managed by software instead of fixed hardware, enabling flexible and secure communication updates.

Developed By: The DRDO in collaboration with the Integrated Defence Staff (IDS) and the Tri-Services (Army, Navy, and Air Force).
Significance: IRSA advances India’s goal of self-reliance (Atmanirbhar Bharat) in defence communication by providing secure, interoperable, and future-ready military communication systems.

{GS3 – S&T – Tech} India Mobile Congress 2025

Context (PIB): PM Modi inaugurated the 9^thedition of India Mobile Congress (IMC 2025) in New Delhi.

Key Highlights of the Event

Organised by: Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Ministry of Communications, and the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI).
Theme: “Innovate to Transform” reflects India’s focus on leveraging innovation for digital transformation and inclusive growth.
Participation: 400+ companies, 7,000 global delegates, and 1.5 lakh visitors from over 150 countries.

India’s Telecom Transformation

India has emerged as the second-largest telecom and 5G market, with broadband users rising from 60 million in 2014 to over 944 million in 2025.
5G now covers 99.9% of districts, replacing limited 2G access, while India accounts for 20% of global mobile users.
Data costs have fallen by 98%, from ₹287/GB (2014) to ₹9.11/GB (2025), making the internet affordable.
Mobile manufacturing has increased 28 times, exports 127 times, and indigenous 4G/5G stacks are now globally export-ready, placing India among the top five nations.

{Prelims – Infra – Airways} Navi Mumbai International Airport Inaugurated

Context (IE | ET): PM Modi recently inaugurated the Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA), a ₹19,650-crore greenfield project.

It will be India’s first airport connected by water taxi and equipped with an Automated People Mover (APM) linking terminals.
Planned for full completion by 2036, the Navi Mumbai International Airport is designed to handle up to 90 million passengers annually.
It will decongest Mumbai airport, enhance regional air connectivity, and boost overall aviation capacity.

Read More > India’s Aviation Sector