Oct 21, 2025 Current Affairs

World Health Organization (WHO)

♦ The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) has announced a global call for abstracts highlighting impactful and scalable applications of Artificial Intelligence in health systems. ♦ In a statement the Ministry said, shortlisted entries will be invited to contribute a chapter to the Casebook on AI Health use cases across the global south. ♦ It added that this Casebook will serve as a comprehensive reference for policymakers, innovators, and researchers seeking to replicate and scale successfully implemented AI solutions. ♦ The ministry informed that researchers, innovators, and institutions are invited to submit abstracts by 31 October 2025.

Oct 21, 2025 Current Affairs

UNESCO report

♦ According to UNESCO's Global Education Monitoring (GEM) team, at least 133 million girls still remain out of school across the globe. ♦ In 1995, the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action set out an ambitious vision - full and equal participation of women in all aspects of life, including education. ♦ Thirty years later, much has been achieved but the new UNESCO data show how much remains unfinished. ♦ Since 1995, the world has moved closer to gender parity in education. ♦ Girls now enrol in primary, lower and upper secondary school at rates equal to boys. ♦ Globally, 91 million more girls are in primary education than three decades ago, and 136 million more are in secondary.

Oct 21, 2025 Current Affairs

State Mining Readiness Index (SMRI)

♦ The Ministry of Mines released the State Mining Readiness Index (SMRI) and corresponding State rankings, marking what it described as a major step towards promoting mining sector reforms at the State level. ♦ The initiative also fulfils an announcement made in the Union Budget 2025–26. ♦ The index evaluates States on several parameters, including auction performance, early mine operationalisation, focus on exploration, and sustainable mining practices related to non-coal minerals. ♦ These indicators aim to capture the overall readiness and efficiency of States in facilitating mining activity and implementing reforms. ♦ Under the SMRI framework, States have been divided into three categories based on their mineral endowment. ♦ In Category A, which includes mineral-rich States, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Gujarat secured the top three ranks. ♦ Among Category B States, Goa, Uttar Pradesh, and Assam emerged as the top performers. ♦ In Category C, Punjab, Uttarakhand, and Tripura claimed the leading positions.

Oct 21, 2025 Current Affairs

Titanium and Superalloy Materials Plant

♦ Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated the Titanium and Superalloy Materials Plant at the Strategic Materials Technology Complex of PTC Industries in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. Rajnath Singh reiterated that India would acquire true strength only when it can manufacture its own materials, components, chips, and alloys. ♦ An MoU was also signed between PTC Industries Limited and Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) to form a joint venture for the design, development, and manufacture of propulsion systems, guided bombs, and small aero-engines for missiles, UAVs, and loitering munitions.

Oct 21, 2025 Current Affairs

Defence ship 'Magadala' enters the water

♦ The sixth vessel, named as INS Magdala, in the series of eight Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Crafts (ASW SWC) was launched at Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL), Kochi. ♦ This ship is indigenously designed and built by Cochin Shipyard Limited. ♦ Delivery of the first ship is planned end Oct 2025. ♦ ASW SWCs will augment underwater domain awareness, Anti-Submarine Warfare and Mine Laying capabilities.

Oct 21, 2025 Current Affairs

China launches Pakistani satellite

♦ China launched a Pakistani remote sensing satellite along with two of its own onboard a single rocket on 19 October 2025. ♦ A Lijian-1 Y8 carrier rocket carrying three satellites, Pakistan remote-sensing satellite (PRSS-2), AIRSAT 03 and 04 satellites, was launched from a commercial aerospace innovation pilot zone in northwest China. ♦ This is the third Pakistani satellite launched by China this year (2025). ♦ Earlier, it launched the Pakistan Remote Sensing Satellite (PRSS-1) in July and PRSC-EO1 in January. ♦ In 2018, China sent two Pakistan satellites into orbit -- the PRSS-1, the country's first optical remote sensing satellite, and the PakTES-1A, a smaller observation craft.

Oct 21, 2025 Current Affairs

Women Entrepreneurship Platform

♦ NITI Aayog’s Women Entrepreneurship Platform and DP World, announced a joint initiative ‘We Rise - Women Entrepreneurs Reimagining Inclusive and Sustainable Enterprises’. ♦ This programme under the aegis of WEP’s Award to Reward (ATR) initiative, aims to help women entrepreneurs in India to scale their businesses globally through trade facilitation, mentorship, and strategic partnerships. ♦ Under this ATR programme, women-led Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) across India with high growth potential will be identified and mentored to expand globally. ♦ Using its global logistics network and trade expertise, DP World will collaborate with WEP to design interventions that enhance the export readiness of 100 women entrepreneurs, enabling them to meet global trade requirements and strengthen business capacity. ♦ Selected entrepreneurs will also have the opportunity to showcase their products at Bharat Mart in Dubai—a global B2B and B2C marketplace within the Jebel Ali Free Zone (Jafza), providing Indian businesses with access to international buyers.

Oct 21, 2025 Current Affairs

Tanvi Sharma

♦ India’s Tanvi Sharma won a silver medal in the girls’ singles event at the BWF World Junior Championships 2025 badminton tournament in Guwahati, Assam, on 19 October 2025. ♦ She lost to Thailand’s second seed Anyapat Phichitpreechasak 15-7, 15-12 in the final. ♦ Tanvi is just the third shuttler after Nehwal and Aparna Popat to won a medal in this tournament. ♦ Nehwal (gold in 2008 and silver in 2006) and Popat (silver in 1996) are the only other Indian women to have won medals at the prestigious event.

Oct 21, 2025 Current Affairs

Nirmal Kumar Minda

♦ Nirmal Kumar Minda took over as new President of industry chamber Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (Assocham). ♦ Currently he is Executive Chairman of Uno Minda Group. ♦ Amitabh Chaudhry, Managing Director & CEO of Axis Bank as the new Senior Vice-President in his team. ♦ Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India, one of the apex trade associations in the country.

Oct 21, 2025 Current Affairs

India International Science Festival (IISF)

♦ The 11th edition of the India International Science Festival (IISF) will be held in Chandigarh in December 2025. ♦ The four-day event will begin on 6th December and continue till 9th. ♦ The theme for IISF-2025 will be Vigyan se Samruddhi: For Atma Nirbhar Bharat. ♦ Minister for Earth Sciences Dr Jitendra Singh said that the festival will focus on five themes, including Science,Technology and Ecology of North-West India and the Himalayan Region, Science for Society and Education and Atmanirbhar Bharat through Science and Technology. ♦ The minister also mentioned the Anusandhan National Research Foundation initiative saying that it will democratize research funding by extending support to universities and institutions across states.

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