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Current Affairs 15th October 2025
1. India’s Joby Mathew Wins Bronze at Para Powerlifting World Championships 2025
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Historic Bronze Medal: Joby Mathew, India's veteran para powerlifter, clinched a bronze medal at the Para Powerlifting World Championships 2025 in Cairo, Egypt.
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Category and Weight: Mathew competed in the 65kg Legend (Masters) category, successfully lifting 148kg and 152kg, with a total lift of 300kg.
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Personal Best: Mathew's 152kg lift surpassed his previous personal best of 150kg, achieved just two months ago at the Beijing World Cup.
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Second World Championship Medal: This bronze marks Mathew's second World Championship medal, following his bronze at Dubai 2023, where he competed in the 59kg weight category.
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Inspiration and Recognition: Mathew's performance is an inspiration for every athlete, showcasing his enduring talent, determination, and India's growing presence in para powerlifting globally.
2. DRDO Signs MoU to Develop 300 MW Solar Projects Across India
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300 MW Solar Initiative: DRDO has signed an MoU with SECI to develop 300 MW of solar-based renewable energy projects across DRDO facilities in India.
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Net-Zero Energy Campuses: The collaboration aims to establish self-reliant, Net-Zero energy campuses by 2027 at all major DRDO locations, aligning with India's clean energy goals.
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Strategic Partnership: The MoU exchange ceremony was held at DRDO Bhawan in New Delhi, attended by top officials, including Samir V. Kamat, Secretary of the Department of Defence R&D and Chairman of DRDO.
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Renewable Energy Deployment: The partnership will facilitate the deployment of renewable energy within strategic defence establishments, promoting sustainability and energy security.
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India's Clean Energy Push: This initiative supports India's ambitious renewable energy targets, with SECI playing a key role in driving solar power development across the country.
3. 11th Asian Aquatics Championships in Ahmedabad Concluded
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Host City and Dates: The championships were held in Ahmedabad, India, from September 28 to October 11, 2025, at the Veer Savarkar Sports Complex.
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Disciplines and Events: The event featured four disciplines: swimming, artistic swimming, diving, and water polo, with a total of 65 medal events.
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Participating Countries: Although the exact number of participating countries isn't specified, the championships saw athletes from various Asian nations, including China, Japan, Kazakhstan, and India, competing in different events.
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Notable Performances: China dominated the diving events, with athletes like Tai Xiaohu, Lin Hengnuo, and Liu Zihan winning gold medals in their respective categories.
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India's Performance: Indian athletes also made their mark, with Srihari Nataraj winning silver and bronze medals in the 100m and 200m freestyle events, respectively.
4. RBI revises Merchant Trade Transactions Guidelines
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Definition and Conditions: For a trade to be classified as MTT, goods acquired shall not enter the Domestic Tariff Area. However, some transformation may be allowed if the AD bank is satisfied with the documentary evidence and bonafides of the transaction.
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Eligible Goods and Routing: MTT shall be undertaken for goods permitted for exports/import under the prevailing Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) of India. The entire trade must be routed through the same AD bank.
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Timeframe and Credit: The entire MTT must be completed within nine months, with no outlay of foreign exchange beyond four months. Short-term credit may be extended for MTT, but not backed by advance remittance for the export leg.
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Payment and Caution Listing: Payment for the import leg can be made from the balances in the EEFC account of the merchant trader. Merchant traders with outstanding of 5% or more of their annual export earnings will be liable for caution listing.
5. Civil Aviation Minister Rammohan Naidu launched new initiative Fare Se Fursat
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Fixed Airfare System: Alliance Air's "Fare Se Fursat" scheme introduces a fixed airfare system, eliminating the stress of fluctuating ticket prices and ensuring predictability and transparency in domestic aviation.
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Single Fare Regardless of Booking Date: Under this scheme, passengers will pay the same fare whether they book 30 days or 3 hours before departure, promoting affordability and ease of travel.
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Pilot Phase and Expansion: The scheme will be rolled out on a pilot basis from October 13 to December 31, 2025, across select UDAN routes, and may be expanded to more routes in 2026 based on feedback and demand patterns.
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Alignment with UDAN Initiative: "Fare Se Fursat" complements the government's Regional Connectivity Scheme – UDAN, aiming to make flying accessible and affordable for all Indians, particularly those in smaller towns and cities.
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Passenger-Centric Approach: The initiative reflects the government's people-first approach, prioritizing affordability, dignity, and ease of travel, and positioning India as a pioneer in inclusive aviation policy.
6. Anant Goenka Named Ficci President-Elect for 2025-26
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Leadership Transition: Goenka will succeed Harsha Vardhan Agarwal as President of FICCI at the conclusion of the chamber's 98th Annual General Meeting, scheduled for November 28-29, 2025, in New Delhi.
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Background and Experience: Goenka is the Vice Chairman of the USD 5 billion RPG Group, with diversified interests across tyres, infrastructure, pharmaceuticals, IT, and specialty sectors. He previously served as Managing Director and CEO of CEAT Ltd.
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Achievements and Recognition: During his tenure at CEAT, Goenka led the company's transformation, achieving a 25-fold increase in market capitalization. He has received several awards, including the Kabiller Science of Empathy Prize and being named "Next Generation Business Leader of the Year" by Forbes.
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Education and Global Outlook: Goenka holds an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management and a BS in Economics from the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania. His global outlook and strategic depth will help FICCI navigate the complexities of Indian industry.
7. Singapore Tops Henley Passport Index 2025
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Singapore's Top Ranking: Singapore has reclaimed the top spot in the Henley Passport Index 2025, offering visa-free access to a record 193 destinations out of 227 globally.
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Top 3 Passports: Following Singapore are South Korea and Japan, which share the 2nd and 3rd spots, respectively, with visa-free access to 190 and 189 destinations.
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India's Ranking: India's passport slipped to Rank 85 in 2025, down from Rank 80 in 2024, reflecting changing visa policies, global security considerations, and diplomatic negotiations affecting Indian travelers.
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Global Trends: The index reveals an increasingly competitive landscape in global mobility, with Asian nations dominating the top spots and traditional Western powers like the US and UK experiencing a decline in their rankings.
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Passport Power Shift: The rise of Middle Eastern nations like the UAE and China's steady climb up the rankings underscore a broader trend of emerging economies gaining ground in global mobility.
8. TCIL awarded the HR Excellence Award at the Fortune Leadership Awards 2025
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Recognition of Exemplary HR Practices: TCIL was honored with the HR Excellence Award for its outstanding HR practices, employee development, innovation, and inclusivity.
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Comprehensive HR Reforms: From 2021 to 2025, TCIL implemented wide-ranging HR reforms, including a comprehensive HR policy, function-wise restructuring, merit-based promotions, and digitization through E-Office and ERP.
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Emphasis on Skill Development: TCIL emphasized skill-building, with 58 executives earning global certifications in cyber security, networking, and auditing, enhancing delivery on high-value projects.
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People-First Culture: By fostering inclusivity, transparency, and innovation, TCIL has created a people-first culture that supports national priorities like Digital India, Smart Cities and BharatNet.
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Leadership's Vision: Shri Sanjeev Kumar, Chairman & Managing Director, TCIL, stated that the award reflects the team's dedication to nurturing an innovative, inclusive workforce aligned with Digital India.
9. AIBI Re-elects Mahavir Lunawat as Chairman
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Re-election for a Second Term: Mahavir Lunawat, Managing Director of Pantomath Capital Advisors, has been re-elected as Chairman of AIBI for a second two-year term, effective October 2025.
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Industry Experience and Expertise: Lunawat brings over 25 years of experience in investment banking, corporate strategy, and capital markets, having led numerous M&A and corporate restructuring projects and managed over 100 IPOs.
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AIBI's Growth Under Lunawat's Leadership: During his first term, AIBI underwent significant transformations, including a 71% surge in membership and the establishment of expert committees on KPIs, working capital, and standard procedures.
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Key Responsibilities as Chairman: As Chairman, Lunawat will continue to represent AIBI on SEBI's Primary Market Advisory Committee (PMAC) and advocate for the interests of investment bankers.
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New Vice Chairmen Appointed: AIBI has also appointed Abhijit Vaidya, Managing Director of Kotak Investment Banking, and Lakha Nair, Managing Director of Axis Capital, as Vice Chairmen.
10. International Day of Rural Women is observed on 15th October 2025
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Date and Purpose: The International Day of Rural Women is observed annually on October 15th to recognize the vital role rural women play in enhancing agricultural and rural development, improving food security, and eradicating rural poverty.
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Rural Women's Contributions: Rural women constitute approximately 43% of the agricultural labor force in developing countries, producing 60-80% of food in most developing countries, and contributing significantly to household income and community development.
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Challenges Faced: Rural women face numerous challenges, including limited access to education, land ownership, credit, and healthcare, as well as a disproportionate burden of unpaid care work and lack of social protection.
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Empowerment and Support: Empowering rural women requires addressing these inequalities, providing access to education, training, and economic opportunities, and promoting their participation in decision-making processes.
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Global Recognition: The International Day of Rural Women is recognized by the United Nations and celebrated globally to raise awareness about the critical role rural women play in sustainable development and to promote their empowerment and well-being.
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