Current Affairs One - Liner : 16th October 2025

National:

• The Government of India has extended the 16th Finance Commission’s tenure till 30 Nov 2025 (earlier due 31 Oct). It is chaired by Dr. Arvind Panagariya, constituted on 31 Dec 2023 under Article 280. Mandate: Recommend tax devolution & grants for the 2026–31 period and strengthen fiscal federalism.

• On 10 Oct 2025, the Ministry of Mines reclassified limestone entirely as a major mineral under the MMDR Act. Earlier, it had a dual status—minor (lime kilns) and major (cement, steel, fertilizer use). Existing leases will transition smoothly with royalty till Mar 2026 and plans valid till Mar 2027. The move aims to boost ease of doing business, transparency, and rural income.
• On 14 Oct 2025, Bharath Thammineni became the first Indian to climb 9 peaks above 8,000 m. His latest summit was Cho Oyu (8,188 m), the world’s 6th highest mountain. He has scaled 9 of the 14 eight‑thousanders, with 5 in Pakistan still inaccessible. Founder of Boots & Crampons, he is a leading figure in Indian mountaineering.
• On 14 Oct 2025, Google, Airtel & Adani announced a USD 15 bn AI & Data Hub in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. It will be the largest AI hub outside the US, with gigawatt‑scale compute capacity. The project includes a subsea cable landing station and renewable energy assets for sustainability. It aims to boost India’s AI ecosystem, digital backbone, and create up to 30,000 jobs.
• On 15 October 2025, the Ministry of Home Affairs announced that the number of most Naxal-affected districts in India has come down to three — Bijapur, Sukma, and Narayanpur (all in Chhattisgarh). This is a steep fall from 126 districts in 2013 and six districts in 2023–24. The total LWE-affected districts have also been reduced from 18 to 11.

MoUs:

• On 14 October 2025, the Ministry of Labour & Employment (MoL&E) signed an MoU with Zomato in New Delhi to create nearly 2.5 lakh gig job opportunities annually through the National Career Service (NCS) portal, aiming to formalise and strengthen India’s gig economy.

Sports:

• On 15 Oct 2025, the 30th Senior Women’s National Football Championship final was held at Narainpur, Chhattisgarh. The event, known as the Rajmata Jijabai Trophy, was contested in the Senior Women’s Football category. Manipur defeated West Bengal 1–0, with Lynda Kom Serto scoring in stoppage time. It was Manipur’s record 23rd title, reaffirming their dominance in Indian women’s football.
• On 14 October 2025, the ICC announced Abhishek Sharma as the Men’s Player of the Month and Smriti Mandhana as the Women’s Player of the Month for their stellar September performances. Abhishek smashed 314 runs in the Asia Cup T20Is, earning Player of the Tournament and a record 931 T20I rating points. Mandhana dominated the ODI series against Australia with scores of 58, 117, and 125, leading India’s batting charge.

Defence:

• On 15 October 2025, the Ministry of Defence signed a ₹659.47 crore contract to procure advanced night sights (image intensifiers) for the Indian Army’s 7.62×51 mm SIG 716 assault rifles. The deal, under the Buy (Indian-IDDM) category, will significantly enhance soldiers’ night-fighting capabilities up to 500 metres.

Apps & Portals:

• On 14 Oct 2025, Union MoS for Law & Justice Arjun Ram Meghwal launched the LIMBS “Live Cases” Dashboard in New Delhi. It is part of the Legal Information Management & Briefing System (LIMBS) to digitise govt litigation. The dashboard tracks 7.23 lakh live cases across 53 ministries, updated by officials and advocates. Aim: Ensure transparency, accountability, and reduced litigation burden in governance.

Military Exercises:

• On 14 Oct 2025, the Indian Air Force and the UK’s Carrier Strike Group‑25 held a joint aerial exercise over the Indian Ocean Region. IAF deployed Sukhoi‑30 MKIs, Jaguars, AWACS & AEW&C, while the UK fielded F‑35B jets from HMS Prince of Wales. The drill followed Exercise Konkan‑25, focusing on air dominance, surveillance, and strike coordination. Aim: To enhance interoperability, mutual trust, and Indo‑Pacific security cooperation.
  The inaugural IN–RoKN Bilateral Naval Exercise 2025 was held at Busan, South Korea, from 13–16 Oct 2025. INS Sahyadri represented the Indian Navy, while the Republic of Korea Navy deployed frontline warships. The drill had Harbour & Sea phases with planning exchanges, cultural events, and tactical manoeuvres. Aim: To enhance interoperability, maritime security, and strengthen India–South Korea naval partnership.

Important Days:

• On 15 Oct 2025, the world observed the International Day of Rural Women. The 2025 theme was “The Rise of Rural Women: Building Resilient Futures with Beijing+30.” It highlighted rural women’s role in agriculture, food security, poverty eradication, and climate resilience. The day called for equal access to resources, decision‑making, social protection, and digital inclusion.
• World Anaesthesia Day 2025 was observed globally on 16 October 2025 with the theme “Anaesthesiology in Health Emergencies.” It commemorates the first successful public demonstration of ether anaesthesia in 1846, a milestone that transformed surgery into a painless and precise science.

Appointments:

• On 15 October 2025, Hyundai Motor India announced Tarun Garg as its new MD & CEO. He will assume charge on 1 January 2026, succeeding Unsoo Kim. Garg becomes the first Indian national to head Hyundai India since its 1996 inception. An IIM Lucknow alumnus, he brings 30+ years of auto industry experience.

Obituaries:

• Veteran actor Pankaj Dheer passed away in Mumbai on 15 October 2025, aged 68. He was best known for his iconic role as Karna in B.R. Chopra’s Mahabharat. Dheer also acted in films like Sadak, Baadshah, and TV shows like Chandrakanta. He is survived by his wife Anita and son Nikitin Dheer, also an actor.
• Renowned singer and actress Raavu Balasaraswathi Devi passed away in Hyderabad on 15 October 2025, aged 97. She was the first playback singer of Telugu cinema, debuting with Bhagyalakshmi (1943). A child prodigy, she recorded her first HMV disc at just 6 years old. With over 2,000 songs and as the first light music singer on AIR, she leaves a lasting legacy.
• Former Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Amolo Odinga passed away in Kerala’s Koothattukulam on October 15, 2025, at the age of 80, following a cardiac arrest during a morning walk while undergoing Ayurvedic treatment.
• Goa Agriculture Minister and former Chief Minister Ravi Naik passed away on October 15, 2025, at the age of 79 due to cardiac arrest. He served twice as Chief Minister (1991, 1994) and was a seven-time MLA with stints in MGP, Congress, and BJP.

Questions:

Q.1 Which team won the 30th Senior Women’s National Football Championship 2025?
a) Tamil Nadu
b) West Bengal
c) Manipur
d) Odisha

Answer: c) Manipur defeated West Bengal 1–0 in Narainpur, Chhattisgarh, to clinch their record 23rd title.

Q.2 Which Indian cricketer won the ICC Women’s Player of the Month for September 2025?
a) Harmanpreet Kaur
b) Deepti Sharma
c) Smriti Mandhana
d) Shafali Verma

Answer: b) Mandhana dominated the ODI series against Australia with scores of 58, 117, and 125, leading India’s batting performance.