Current Affairs One - Liner : 26th & 27th October 2025

National:

• On 25 October 2025, the Government of India approved the extension of Life Cycle 75 (LC75) and Balanced Life Cycle (BLC) investment options to Central Government employees. These are now available under the National Pension System (NPS) and the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS). LC75 allows up to 75% equity allocation in early years, tapering with age.

• On 24 October 2025, the Ministry of Mines (MoM) recognized IISc Bengaluru and C-MET Hyderabad as new Centres of Excellence (CoEs) under the National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM). This raises the total CoEs under NCMM to 9. The aim is to boost R&D in exploration, processing, and recycling of critical minerals vital for clean energy, electronics, defence, and space.

Science & Technology:

• NASA confirmed asteroid 2025 PN7 as Earth’s new quasi-moon on 21 October 2025. It was first discovered on 2 August 2025 by the Pan-STARRS telescope in Hawaii. The asteroid is 18–36 m wide and has been co-orbiting with Earth since the 1960s. It will remain in this quasi-moon state until about 2083, posing no threat to Earth.

Summits & Conferences:

• The 16th United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD‑16) was held in Geneva, Switzerland, from 20–23 October 2025. Its theme was “Shaping the future: Driving economic transformation for equitable, inclusive and sustainable development.” It was chaired by Guy Parmelin (Switzerland) with 170+ delegations and 80 ministers participating. The aim was to renew multilateral cooperation, tackle inequalities, debt, and digital divides, adopting the Geneva Consensus and launching the Sevilla Forum on Debt.

Defence:

• The Indian Navy inducted the indigenous anti-submarine warfare shallow water craft INS Mahe on 23 October 2025. Built by Cochin Shipyard Limited, it is the first of eight ASW-SWCs under the “Make in India” initiative. Equipped with advanced sonar, torpedoes, ASW rockets, and mine-laying capability, it strengthens coastal defence.
• General Upendra Dwivedi, Chief of the Army Staff, inaugurated “Shaurya Veer – Run for India 2025” in New Delhi on 26 October 2025 as part of the 79th Shaurya Diwas. The event, with 10,000+ participants from the Army, athletes, students, and civilians, honoured soldiers’ sacrifices and promoted unity, patriotism, and fitness.

Committees:

• The 14th India–Bhutan Border Management & Security Meeting was held in Thimphu, Bhutan, on 16–17 October 2025. It was co-chaired by Dr. Rajendra Kumar (India) and Sonam Wangyel (Bhutan) with officials from both sides, including SSB, LPAI, DoT, NCB, Customs, and Bhutan’s Home Ministry. The aim was to strengthen border security, review cooperation, and address cross-border issues like mobile signal spillover, ICPs, and boundary pillars.

Important Days:

• The 78th Accession Day was observed across Jammu & Kashmir on 26 October 2025. It marks the day in 1947 when Maharaja Hari Singh signed the Instrument of Accession with India. The day was celebrated with flag hoisting, cultural events, and tributes to national heroes. It is a public holiday in J&K, symbolizing the Union Territory’s historic integration with India.

Appointments:

• The RBI approved the reappointment of C.S. Rajan as part-time Chairman of Kotak Mahindra Bank. His new term will run from 1 January 2026 to 21 October 2027. Rajan, a 1978-batch IAS officer, earlier served as Chief Secretary of Rajasthan and on the IL&FS resolution board. The approval, granted on 25 October 2025, ensures continuity and governance stability at the bank.

Obituaries:

• Eminent surgeon Dr. K. Mathangi Ramakrishnan passed away in Chennai on 27 October 2025 at the age of 91. She was a pioneer in burns care and plastic surgery, establishing India’s foremost government burns unit at Kilpauk Medical College. Her innovations included developing collagen-based membranes for affordable burn treatment.

Questions:

Q.1 The 14th India–Bhutan Border Management & Security Meeting was held in which city?
a) New Delhi
b) Paro
c) Thimphu
d) Phuentsholing

Answer: c) Held on 16–17 October 2025 in Thimphu, the meeting was co-chaired by Dr. Rajendra Kumar (India) and Sonam Wangyel (Bhutan).

Q.2 The Government of India extended the Life Cycle 75 (LC75) and Balanced Life Cycle (BLC) investment options to Central Government employees under which pension systems?
a) Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) and Public Provident Fund (PPF)
b) National Pension System (NPS) and Unified Pension Scheme (UPS)
c) Atal Pension Yojana (APY) and National Pension System (NPS)
d) Unified Pension Scheme (UPS) and Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maandhan (PMSYM)

Answer: b) The Government approved LC75 and BLC investment options under NPS and UPS for Central Government employees.