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Current Affairs 28th October 2025
1. Catherine Connolly Elected as Ireland’s 10th President
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Historic Victory: Catherine Connolly won a landslide victory in the presidential election held on October 24, 2025, securing 63.4% of the valid votes cast, the highest percentage received by any President since the office was established in 1938.
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Record-Breaking Votes: Connolly received 914,143 first-preference votes, marking the highest number of first-preference votes ever received by a candidate in Ireland, surpassing the quota of 721,350 votes.
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Inauguration and Term: She will be inaugurated as President on November 11, 2025, and will serve as the 10th President of Ireland for the next seven years, succeeding Michael D. Higgins.
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Key Endorsements: Connolly received support from Sinn Féin, the main opposition party in the Dáil, after the party decided not to run its own candidate, describing her victory as a "stunning victory for optimism and hope".
2. Stellerus to Launch First 3D Wind Data Satellite Network
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Revolutionary Technology: Stellerus Technology, a Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) start-up, aims to be the world's first provider of satellite-enabled three-dimensional wind data. This technology will help wind power, transport, and insurance firms boost revenues, cut costs, and manage risks.
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Cost-Effective Solution: By leveraging China's cost competitiveness in satellite manufacturing, Stellerus can make global 3D wind data collection economically viable. A satellite in the US would cost around $100 million to build, compared to 20 million yuan ($2.8 million) in China.
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Improving Weather Forecasting: 3D wind data is crucial for improving weather forecasting, especially severe climate events. Stellerus' satellite network will provide critical data on wind direction, speed, and changes with altitude.
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Expansion Plans: Stellerus is seeking to raise $10m–$20m to fund its expansion in Southeast Asia and the Middle East.
3. RBI approves re-appointment of C S Rajan as Part-Time Chairman of Kotak Mahindra Bank
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Reappointment Approval: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has approved the reappointment of C S Rajan as Part-Time Chairman of Kotak Mahindra Bank for another term, effective January 1, 2026, until October 21, 2027.
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Term Details: This reappointment comes after the completion of his initial two-year term as Part-Time Chairman, which started on January 1, 2024. His initial appointment was approved by the RBI in December 2023.
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Background and Experience: C S Rajan is a retired Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer with extensive experience in leadership roles across critical infrastructure sectors, including energy, highways, water resources, and industry. He has also worked in agriculture and rural development for 14 years.
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Previous Roles: Before joining Kotak Mahindra Bank, Rajan served as the Chief Secretary of the Government of Rajasthan and held key positions in Infrastructure Leasing and Financial Services Limited (IL&FS), including Managing Director and Non-Executive Chairman.
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Leadership Transition: The reappointment of C S Rajan comes after the RBI's approval, ensuring continuity in leadership for Kotak Mahindra Bank, a private sector bank in India with a market capitalization of around 4.35 trillion INR.
Foot notes:
About Kotak Mahindra Bank-
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MD & CEO: Ashok Vaswani
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Headquarters: Mumbai
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Founded: 1985
4. India Clinches Two Golds at Badminton Asia U17 & U15 Championships
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Historic Victory: India won two gold medals in the girls' singles events at the Badminton Asia Under-17 and Under-15 Championships 2025, held in Chengdu, China. This marks the country's best-ever performance in the tournament.
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Gold Medal Winners: Shaina Manimuthu won the U15 girls' singles gold, defeating Japan's Chiharu Tomita 21-14, 22-20. Diksha Sudhakar won the U17 girls' singles gold, beating compatriot Lakshya Rajesh 21-16, 21-9.
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Record-Breaking Performance: This is the first time since 2013 that India has won two gold medals in the championship. The previous Indian winners of two gold medals were Siril Verma (U15 boys' singles) and Chirag Shetty and MR Arjun (U17 boys' doubles).
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Medal Tally: India ended the tournament with a total of five medals - two gold, one silver, and two bronze. The bronze medals were won by Jagsher Singh Khanggura in boys' singles and the mixed doubles pair of Jangjeet Singh Kajla and Jananika Ramesh.
5. India Wins Two Silvers as Hansika and Sarika Shine at U-23 World Wrestling Championships
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Silver Medal Winners: Hansika Lamba (53 kg) and Sarika (59 kg) won silver medals in their respective weight categories, losing to Japanese opponents in the finals. Hansika lost to Haruna Morikawa, while Sarika lost to Ruka Natami.
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India's Dominant Performance: The Indian women's team became the overall champion of the U-23 World Wrestling Championships, scoring 125 points, followed by the USA with 102 points, and Japan with 92 points. This achievement showcases India's growing strength in wrestling.
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Olympic Aspirations: The U-23 World Wrestling Championships served as a platform for Indian wrestlers to gain experience and qualify for senior-level competitions and the Olympics. Hansika and Sarika's performances indicate that India has potential Olympic medal contenders.
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Talent Development: The championships highlighted India's rising status in youth wrestling development, with a growing talent pool across weight classes.
6. Shri Pulak Kumar Mukhopadhyay assumed charge as Executive Director, SJVN
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Appointment Details: Shri Pulak Kumar Mukhopadhyay was among the seven officials promoted to Executive Director positions at SJVN, effective October 14, 2025. The appointments are co-terminus with their superannuation date or until further orders.
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Experience and Expertise: Pulak Kumar Mukhopadhyay brings extensive experience in design engineering, project construction, renewable energy development, and thermal power operations, contributing to SJVN's growth and development.
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SJVN's Leadership Team: The company is led by Chairman and Managing Director, Bhupender Gupta, along with other functional directors, including Director (Personnel), Director (Finance), and Director (Projects).
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SJVN's Performance: SJVN has been making strides in the power sector, including achieving commercial operation of 128.88 MW capacity at its 1,000 MW Bikaner Solar Power Project, marking a significant milestone in renewable energy development.
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Company Overview: SJVN Limited is a power generation company with a market capitalization of ₹34,967.30 Cr, focusing on hydroelectric power generation and exploring renewable energy sources, with a strong presence in the Indian power sector.
Foot notes:
About SJVN-
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Chairman & MD: Bhupendra Gupta
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Headquarters: Shimla
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Founded: 1988
7. Reliance and Meta Partner for ₹855 Crore AI Joint Venture, REIL
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Joint Venture Details: Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) and Meta Platforms have launched a joint venture, Reliance Enterprise Intelligence Limited (REIL), with an initial investment of approximately ₹855 crore ($102.6 million). RIL's subsidiary, Reliance Intelligence Limited, will hold 70% stake, while Meta's subsidiary, Facebook Overseas Inc., will hold 30%.
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Objective: REIL aims to develop and scale enterprise AI services across India, democratizing access to advanced AI solutions for businesses of all sizes.
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Alignment with India's Digital Push: The venture aligns with India's push for self-reliance ('Swadeshi') and made-in-India digital solutions, supporting the country's growing emphasis on homegrown innovation and digital transformation.
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Growth Potential: The partnership is expected to catalyze AI adoption, improve productivity, and enable Indian firms to compete globally with advanced, sovereign AI capabilities.
8. Sanjeev Kapoor Honoured as Top Agri-Food Pioneer by World Food Prize Foundation
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Award Recognition: Sanjeev Kapoor, a renowned Indian chef, author, and Padma Shri recipient, has been recognized as a Top Agri-Food Pioneer by the World Food Prize Foundation for his transformative impact on global food systems.
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Contribution to Food Sustainability: Kapoor's initiatives have made significant strides in improving access to healthy food across India, promoting sustainable eating, and supporting Indian agriculture. He has served millions of nutritious meals, especially to children, educators, and farmers.
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"Farm to Finger" Philosophy: Kapoor champions the "farm to finger" philosophy, celebrating India's cultural tradition of eating with hands to create a personal and mindful food experience. This approach connects farmers, producers, and consumers, inspiring millions to adopt nutritious and sustainable eating habits.
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Partnerships and Initiatives: Kapoor has collaborated with organizations like HarvestPlus Solutions to drive innovative food initiatives that combine traditional Indian flavors with modern nutrition science.
9. International Animation Day observed on 28th October 2025
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Date and History: International Animation Day is celebrated on October 28, commemorating the first public screening of animated images by Charles-Émile Reynaud at the Musée Grévin in Paris on October 28, 1892.
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Purpose and Significance: The day honors the art of animation, recognizing its cultural, technological, and artistic impact worldwide. It's a celebration of the inventive, expressive, and ever-evolving medium that brings characters and stories to life.
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Global Celebrations: International Animation Day is observed in over 50 countries, with events such as film screenings, workshops, exhibitions, and panel discussions showcasing animation techniques, styles, and history. Cultural institutions, animation schools, and studios participate in the celebrations.
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ASIFA's Role: The International Animated Film Association (ASIFA) coordinates the global celebration, commissioning a notable animator to create an original poster each year. The poster is adapted and used worldwide to promote the event.
10. Piyush Pandey, advertising legend and Padma Shri recipient passed away
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Legendary Advertising Career: Piyush Pandey was a renowned advertising professional who served as the Chief Creative Officer Worldwide and Executive Chairman India of Ogilvy. He joined Ogilvy in 1982 and played a crucial role in shaping the agency's creative vision.
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Iconic Campaigns: Pandey created some of India's most iconic ad campaigns, including Fevicol's "Fevicol Bus" and "Fevicol Fish," Cadbury's "Kuch Khaas Hai," and Asian Paints' "Har Ghar Kuch Kehta Hai." His work continues to inspire generations of advertisers.
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Awards and Recognition: Pandey received numerous awards and accolades, including the Padma Shri in 2016, the Cannes Lions' Lion of St Mark lifetime achievement award, and being named the most influential man in Indian advertising for eight consecutive years by The Economic Times.
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Impact Beyond Advertising: Pandey's work extended beyond advertising, with notable contributions to social causes, such as leading the creative charge for the campaign to end polio in India with UNICEF. His efforts helped make India polio-free in 2014.
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