Current Affairs 09th October 2025

Current Affairs 09th October 2025

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1. Sergio Gor named the youngest U.S. Ambassador to India
  • Early Political Involvement: Sergio Gor started his political journey as a College Republican and founded the George Washington University chapter of Young America's Foundation. He supported Senator John McCain's 2008 presidential campaign and worked for the Republican National Committee.
  • Republican Party Roles: Gor served as a spokesman for Representatives Steve King and Michele Bachmann, and later as communications director and deputy chief of staff for Senator Rand Paul. He played a significant role in Paul's office before joining Donald Trump's team.
  • Trump Administration: Gor worked as chief of staff for the Trump Victory Finance Committee and later as a consultant and book publishing manager for Donald Trump Jr. He co-founded Winning Team Publishing, which published books about Trump's presidency.
  • Director of Presidential Personnel Office: In November 2024, Gor was named director of the White House Presidential Personnel Office, overseeing over 4,000 appointees in the Trump administration.
Foot notes:
About US-
  • Capital: Washington, D.C.
  • President: Donald Trump
  • Vice President: JD Vance
2. India’s smartphone exports hit record $13.4 billion
  • Record Export Value: India achieved a record-breaking $13.4 billion in smartphone exports in the first half of FY26 (April-September 2025), marking a significant milestone in the country's emergence as a global smartphone manufacturing hub.
  • Apple's Dominant Role: Apple drove this growth, accounting for over 75% of shipments, with $10 billion worth of iPhone production under the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme. This highlights Apple's increasing reliance on India as a key production center.
  • Strong US Demand: The US was a major market for these exports, accounting for over half of India's smartphone exports in recent months. This underscores the importance of the US-India trade relationship.
  • Growth Drivers: The Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme played a crucial role in boosting local production and exports. Other brands like Motorola also contributed, with their exports growing sevenfold.
3. RBI unveils four UPI initiatives at Global Fintech Festival 2025
  • AI-Based UPI HELP: This AI-powered support system transforms complaint resolution and mandate management, enabling users to check transaction status, raise and track complaints, manage mandates, and access contextual guidance. It's developed using a Small Language Model (SLM) trained on payment data.
  • IoT Payments with UPI: This initiative allows transactions directly from connected devices like cars, smart TVs, and wearables, making payments faster, smarter, and frictionless. Users can make instant payments for services like fuel, EV charging, or other services via connected devices.
  • UPI Reserve Pay: This feature enables users to securely block and manage credit limits for specific purposes across merchant and UPI apps. It provides transparency with a clear view of blocked and utilized credit across merchant apps, UPI applications, and issuer platforms.
  • Interoperable Net Banking Solution (Banking Connect): This platform offers seamless payments and standardized merchant onboarding, addressing long-standing net banking challenges.
Foot notes:
About RBI-
  • Governor: Sanjay Malhotra
  • Headquarters: Mumbai
4. Srinivas Injeti appointed chairperson of NSE Governing Board
  • Appointment: Srinivas Injeti has been appointed as the Chairperson of the Governing Board of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), effective from September 9, 2025.
  • Background: Injeti is a retired 1983-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer from the Odisha cadre, with over four decades of experience in corporate regulation, financial services, governance, and public policy.
  • Previous Roles: He served as the founding Chairperson of the International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA) from 2020 to 2023 and Secretary in the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) from 2017 to 2020, where he implemented key reforms like the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC).
  • Expertise: Injeti brings extensive experience in corporate governance, regulatory reforms, and international diplomacy, having served on the boards of SEBI, Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC), and other major institutions.
5. Sharath Kamal appointed as the brand ambassador of Asian Table Tennis Championship 2025
  • Appointment: Sharath Kamal, a renowned Indian table tennis player, has been appointed as the brand ambassador for the 2025 Asian Table Tennis Championships.
  • Experience: As a top Indian table tennis player, Sharath Kamal has had a distinguished career, representing India in numerous international competitions.
  • Role: As brand ambassador, he will likely play a significant role in promoting the championship and inspiring young table tennis players in India and across Asia.
  • Competition: The Asian Table Tennis Championships are a premier tournament in the table tennis calendar, featuring top players from Asia and beyond.
6. Netflix Partners with IICT & FICCI to Develop Creative-Tech Talent
  • Partnership Objective: The collaboration aims to nurture the next generation of creative-technology talent in India's AVGC-XR sector, covering Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, Comics, and Extended Reality.
  • Scholarships and Mentorship: Netflix will provide scholarships to select students through the Netflix Fund for Creative Equity, targeting underrepresented talent in the media and entertainment sector. The partnership also includes workshops, masterclasses, and guest lectures to mentor students.
  • Industry-Driven Curriculum: IICT will design curricula driven by industry needs, while Netflix will participate in IICT's national councils (R&D Council, Academic Council, and Industry Development Council) to contribute to the growth of India's AVGC-XR ecosystem.
  • Key Stakeholders: The partnership involves key stakeholders, including Mahima Kaul (Director - Global Affairs, Netflix India), Dr. Vishwas Deoskar (CEO, IICT), and Munjal Shroff (Chairman, FICCI AVGC-XR Forum), who emphasize the collaboration's potential to drive innovation and sustainable growth in the sector.
7. HURL Shines Platinum at FAME National Awards 2025
  • FAME National Awards Background: The FAME National Awards recognize excellence and achievements in various industries. Although specific details about HURL's achievement are scarce, it's clear that FAME Awards are prestigious and highly regarded.
  • Event Details: The 2025 FAME National Conference was held in Charlotte, NC, from May 20-22, 2025, featuring over 250 attendees, dynamic sessions and robust networking opportunities.
  • HURL's Achievement: HURL won a platinum award, indicating exceptional performance and dedication in their field. Unfortunately, more specific details about their achievement aren't readily available.
  • Industry Impact: The FAME Awards likely recognize excellence in industries such as manufacturing, given the context of the FAME USA organization.
8. BS Chandrasekhar, Brian Lara win Lifetime Achievement awards
  • Award Recognition: BS Chandrasekhar and Brian Lara were honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award for their remarkable contributions to cricket. This award acknowledges their outstanding careers and impact on the sport.
  • Brian Lara's Achievements: Brian Lara is widely regarded as one of the greatest batsmen in cricket history. He scored 11,953 runs in Test matches and 10,405 runs in ODIs, making him one of the few batsmen to achieve 10,000+ runs in both formats.
  • BS Chandrasekhar's Legacy: BS Chandrasekhar was a legendary Indian spin bowler known for his unique bowling style and match-winning abilities. He took 242 wickets in 58 Test matches and 1063 wickets in first-class cricket.
  • Ceremony Highlights: The CEAT Cricket Awards 2025 ceremony celebrated cricketing excellence, with other notable winners including Joe Root (International Cricketer of the Year), Sanju Samson (T20I Batter of the Year), and Varun Chakravarthy (T20I Bowler of the Year).
9. Laszlo Krasznahorkai Is Awarded Nobel Prize in Literature
  • Award Motivation: László Krasznahorkai was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature for his "compelling and visionary oeuvre that, in the midst of apocalyptic terror, reaffirms the power of art". This recognition highlights his significant contribution to the literary world.
  • Birth and Background: Krasznahorkai was born on January 5, 1954, in Gyula, Hungary. His Hungarian background has influenced his writing, and he continues to write in Hungarian.
  • Literary Style: Krasznahorkai's works are known for their complex and thought-provoking themes, often exploring the human condition, society, and the power of art. His writing style is characterized as visionary and compelling.
  • Prize Details: Krasznahorkai is the sole recipient of the Nobel Prize in Literature for 2025, indicating the significance of his contributions to literature. The prize recognizes his entire body of work rather than a single piece.
10. World Postal Day observed on 09th October 2025
  • Date and Theme: World Postal Day is observed annually on October 9, commemorating the Universal Postal Union's (UPU) establishment in 1874. The theme for 2025 is "#PostForPeople: Local Service. Global Reach," highlighting the postal sector's role in connecting people and communities worldwide.
  • Purpose: The day aims to raise awareness about the postal sector's contributions to global communication, commerce, and social and economic development. It emphasizes the importance of accessible communication for everyone, regardless of location.
  • History: World Post Day was declared by the UPU Congress in Tokyo in 1969, and it's celebrated in over 150 countries. The first known postal document dates back to ancient Egypt in 255 BC, while the world's first adhesive postage stamp, the Penny Black, was a British innovation in 1840.
  • Activities: People can participate in World Post Day by sending letters or cards, visiting local post offices, exploring philately, learning about postal history, and using postal services. Many countries also organize events like exhibitions, workshops, and awareness programs to showcase the value of postal services.
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