Current Affairs One - Liner : 30th October 2025

National:

• The Union Cabinet approved the Terms of Reference (ToR) for the 8th Central Pay Commission on October 28, 2025. The Commission will review pay, allowances, and pensions for ~50 lakh employees and 69 lakh pensioners. It is chaired by Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai, with a report due in 18 months (April 2027). Recommendations are expected to be implemented from January 1, 2026.

• On October 28, 2025, Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) and Safran Aircraft Engines inaugurated a ₹425 crore Aero Engine Components Facility at Adibatla, Telangana. The plant will manufacture critical rotating parts for CFM (CFM International) LEAP – Leading Edge Aviation Propulsion – engines. It is expected to generate ~500 skilled jobs and boost India’s role in the global aerospace supply chain.
• On October 28–29, 2025, Punjab Police launched the ‘Cyber Jago’ program to promote online safety. It aims to reach nearly 5 lakh schoolchildren across the state through awareness drives. The initiative includes Training of Trainers (ToT) workshops for teachers to guide students on cyber hygiene. Partners include NGO Space2Grow and cybersecurity firms Starlight Data Solutions & Cybercops Compliance Solutions.
• The Government of India launched the Model Youth Gram Sabha (MYGS) initiative on October 30, 2025, in New Delhi, as a joint effort of the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, the Ministry of Education, and the Ministry of Tribal Affairs. It aims to strengthen Janbhagidari (people’s participation) by engaging students in simulated Gram Sabha sessions across schools nationwide.
• On October 30–31, 2025, PM Modi visited Ekta Nagar, Kevadia (Gujarat) for Rashtriya Ekta Diwas celebrations. He inaugurated and laid foundation stones for projects worth ₹1,140+ crore. Key works included Birsa Munda Tribal University, e-bus depot with 25 e-buses, Hospitality District (Phase-1), Narmada Ghat extension, and Smart bus stops. The projects aim to boost tourism, connectivity, sustainability, and tribal empowerment in the region.

International:

• Elon Musk’s xAI launched Grokipedia on October 28, 2025, as an AI-powered encyclopedia with ~885,000 articles. It positions itself as a “truth-first, less biased” rival to Wikipedia, powered by the Grok LLM. Unlike Wikipedia’s community-driven editing, Grokipedia relies mainly on AI with minimal human moderation. Critics quickly flagged errors, missing citations, and reliability issues, sparking debate on its credibility.

Banking:

• On October 28, 2025, PayPal partnered with OpenAI to enable in‑chat payments inside ChatGPT. The system uses OpenAI’s Agentic Commerce Protocol (ACP) and PayPal’s Instant Checkout. Users will be able to shop and pay directly within ChatGPT, starting rollout in 2026. This integration connects 400M+ PayPal users with ChatGPT’s global audience, creating a new AI‑commerce ecosystem.

MoUs:

• On October 28, 2025, WaveX (under the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting) signed an MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) with T-Hub, Hyderabad. The aim of the MoU is to strengthen India’s AVGC‑XR sector (Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, Comics & Extended Reality). It includes setting up 10 incubation centres across India with mentorship and infrastructure support.

Science & Technology:

• Scientists announced the discovery of Super-Earth GJ 251c on October 23, 2025, published in The Astronomical Journal. It is about 4 times Earth’s mass, orbiting the red dwarf Gliese 251 in Gemini every 54 days. Located just 18–20 light-years away, it lies in the star’s habitable zone. The find makes GJ 251c a prime candidate for studying potential life-supporting conditions.

Sports:

• Namitbir Singh Walia from Jalandhar, Punjab became the state’s second International Master (IM) in Chess in October 2025. He achieved his final IM norm at the 3rd Annemasse International Masters Tournament in France, finishing 4th overall. Namitbir began chess at age 6 and was initially coached by Kanwarjit Singh before advancing to higher training.
• Lando Norris won the 2025 Formula 1 Mexican Grand Prix on October 26, 2025, at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in Mexico City, driving for McLaren. He started from pole, led almost the entire race, and secured his sixth victory of the season, reclaiming the lead in the Drivers’ Championship.

Defence:

• The Indian Army signed a contract on October 28, 2025 to procure indigenously developed Software Defined Radios (SDRs). These SDRs were designed by DRDO and will be produced by Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL). They provide secure, jam-resistant, high-speed communication with Mobile Ad hoc Network (MANET) capability.
• On October 30, 2025, Russia announced a successful test of its nuclear-powered, nuclear-capable underwater drone Poseidon. It was launched from the Belgorod submarine and is designed to carry a nuclear warhead up to 100 megatons. Poseidon can travel vast distances at ~1 km depth, making it hard to intercept. Russia claims it can unleash radioactive tsunamis, raising global security concerns.

Committees:

• On October 29, 2025, the Government of India constituted a committee under former Finance Secretary Neeraj Kumar Gupta to review and rationalize export rebate rates under the RoDTEP (Remission of Duties and Taxes on Exported Products) and RoSCTL (Rebate of State and Central Taxes and Levies) schemes. The panel will submit its report by March 31, 2026.

Govt.Schemes:

• On October 28, 2025, the Union Cabinet approved ₹37,952.29 crore under the Nutrient-Based Subsidy (NBS) scheme. It covers Phosphatic & Potassic (P&K) fertilisers like DAP (Di-Ammonium Phosphate) and NPKS grades for Rabi 2025–26. The scheme will run from October 1, 2025 to March 31, 2026, ensuring affordable fertilisers for farmers. This move supports food security, farmer welfare, and stable input costs during the Rabi season.

Important Days:

• Disarmament Week 2025 was observed from October 24–30, beginning on UN Day. The theme was “Promoting Global Peace and Security through Disarmament.” It highlighted the urgency of reducing weapons, especially nuclear arms, to ensure peace and sustainable development. Events worldwide engaged governments, NGOs, and youth in spreading awareness on arms control and cooperation.
• International Stuttering Awareness Day 2025 was observed on October 22 worldwide. The theme was “Your Voice Matters”, focusing on acceptance and empowerment. It highlighted that stuttering is a neurological condition, not a flaw or weakness. Events included workshops, webinars, and awareness campaigns across countries. The day aimed to reduce stigma, promote empathy, and encourage early intervention.

Appointments:

• Dr. Patrick Herminie was sworn in as the 6th President of the Republic of Seychelles on October 26, 2025, during a national ceremony at Unity Stadium, Victoria. He succeeded President Wavel Ramkalawan after winning the October 2025 election with 52.7% of the vote.

Awards & Honours:

• On October 26, 2025, the World Food Prize Foundation honoured Padma Shri Chef Sanjeev Kapoor in Des Moines, Iowa. He was recognised as a “Top Agri-Food Pioneer” for linking Indian agriculture with nutrition and sustainable diets. Kapoor has championed local produce, farmer support, and school-nutrition programmes across India. This award highlights his role in shaping global food security and climate-resilient food systems.

Questions:

Q.1 Chef Sanjeev Kapoor was recognized by the World Food Prize Foundation for his contributions in which field?
a) Culinary innovation
b) Linking agriculture with nutrition and sustainability
c) Food technology research
d) Restaurant entrepreneurship

Answer: b) Sanjeev Kapoor was honoured as a “Top Agri‑Food Pioneer” for promoting sustainable diets and farmer engagement.

Q.2 What is the name of the newly discovered Super-Earth found in October 2025?
a) GJ 251c
b) TOI 700 d
c) Proxima b
d) Kepler-442b

Answer: a) GJ 251c, about four times Earth’s mass, orbits the red dwarf Gliese 251 and lies within its habitable zone, making it suitable for life studies.