Daily Current Affairs and GK | 10 October 2025

Topic: Summits/ Conferences/ Meetings

1. India will host the 8th International Solar Alliance (ISA) Assembly from October 27 to 30.

• The event will take place at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi.
• It will bring together global partners to strengthen collaboration in solar energy.
• The goal is to boost the use of solar power for a cleaner and sustainable future.
• Minister for New and Renewable Energy Pralhad Joshi said participants will work together toward the common goal of affordable solar energy for everyone.
• India has already achieved 50 percent of its total installed electricity capacity from non-fossil fuel sources.
• This milestone was reached five years ahead of schedule.
• India is the world’s third-largest producer of solar energy. It is also the second-largest market for renewable energy growth.
• A total of 124 countries will take part in the ISA Assembly. More than 40 energy ministers are expected to attend.
• The International Solar Alliance currently has 124 Member and Signatory countries.
• The organization promotes solar energy as a key step toward a carbon-neutral planet.

Topic: Economy/Banking/Finance

2. WTO cut global trade growth forecast to 0.5% for next year.

• The World Trade Organization (WTO) has revised its 2026 forecast for global merchandise trade volume growth down to 0.5%, citing expected delayed impacts from U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs.
• The new figure marks a sharp decline from its earlier estimate of 1.8% released in August.
• For 2025, the WTO upgraded its trade growth projection to 2.4%, from 0.9% previously, driven by increased U.S. imports before tariff hikes and growth in AI-related goods
• This is still below the 2.8% growth seen in 2024.
• The decline in 2026 is attributed to the impact of higher tariffs imposed by the U.S. on imports from multiple countries in August.
• The European Union negotiated a 15% duty on most EU goods imported into the United States under a new agreement.
• Growth in the volume of total world merchandise trade is expected to decline from 2.8% last year to 2.4% this year and 0.5% next year.
• The World Trade Organization also estimates that global GDP growth will decline from 2.7% in 2025 to 2.6% in 2026.
• WTO data showed that global trade volume rose by 4.9% in the first half of 2025, with trade value increasing by 6% year-on-year.
• AI-linked goods such as semiconductors and telecom equipment accounted for nearly half of the trade growth, rising 20% compared to the previous year.
• Asia and Africa are projected to record the fastest export growth this year, while Europe’s performance is expected to slow and North America’s to decline.

Topic: Awards and Prizes

3. Hungarian writer László Krasznahorkai awarded the 2025 Nobel Prize for Literature.

• On 9 October, the 2025 Nobel Prize for Literature was awarded to Hungarian novelist and screenwriter László Krasznahorkai.
• The announcement was made by the Nobel Committee at the Swedish Academy in Stockholm, Sweden.
• The award was given for his compelling and visionary oeuvre that, in the midst of apocalyptic terror, reaffirms the power of art.
• László Krasznahorkai is a great epic writer in the Central European tradition, which stretches from Kafka to Thomas Bernhard and is marked by absurdity and grotesque excess.
• Krasznahorkai is the second Hungarian to win the award, after Imre Kertész in 2002.
• A cash prize of 1.2 million US dollars will be presented to him.
• This year’s Literature Prize followed the earlier Nobel announcements in Medicine, Physics, and Chemistry.
• Last year's Nobel Prize in Literature was awarded to South Korean author Han Kang, who became the 18th woman and the first South Korean to receive the award.
• The first woman to win the Nobel Prize in Literature was Swedish author Selma Lagerlöf in 1909.
• Sully Prudhomme was the first person to win the Nobel Prize in Literature.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Summits/Conferences/Meetings

4. The National Red List Roadmap and Vision 2025-2030 launched to strengthen India's biodiversity conservation.

• The National Red List Roadmap and Vision 2025–2030 was unveiled by India at the IUCN World Conservation Congress 2025.
• The initiative was launched by Union Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Shri Kirti Vardhan Singh at the Asia Pavilion.
• The roadmap was designed to establish a comprehensive framework for species assessment and conservation.
• The minister stated that the plan will guide India’s biodiversity conservation strategy through 2030.
• It was mentioned that the government is working with IUCN, ZSI, and BSI to identify endangered species and prepare the National Red List.
• The Vision 2025–2030 document aims to create a science-based, nationally coordinated system for assessing India’s flora and fauna.
• India, one of the world's 17 megadiverse countries, is home to four of the 36 global biodiversity hotspots: the Himalayas, the Western Ghats, Indo-Burma, and Sundaland.
• Although the country occupies only 2.4% of the world's land area, it harbours approximately 8% of the global flora and 7.5% of the global fauna, with over 28% of plants and 30% of animals being endemic.
• The country has documented over 104,000 faunal species, over 18,000 flowering plant species, and nearly 20,000 marine species.
• The initiative aligns with India’s commitments under the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Kunming–Montreal Global Framework.
• The Ministry recalled the WildlifeProtection Act of 1972, amended in 2022, extending protection to CITES-listed species.
• By 2030, India aims to publish National Red Data Books for flora and fauna, reaffirming its commitment to global sustainability goals.

Topic: Government Schemes and Initiatives

5. Phase III of the Biomedical Research Career Programme approved by the Union Cabinet.

• The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved Phase III of the Biomedical Research Career Programme (BRCP).
• The programme will be implemented between 2025–26 and 2030–31, with a six-year extension until 2037–38.
• The programme has been launched in partnership between the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), the Wellcome Trust (UK) and the DBT/Wellcome Trust India Alliance.
• A total outlay of ₹1,500 crore has been sanctioned, with ₹1,000 crore from DBT and ₹500 crore from the Wellcome Trust (UK).
• The BRCP, launched in 2008–09 and expanded in 2018–19, has strengthened India’s position in biomedical sciences globally.
• Phase III aims to nurture top-tier scientific talent and promote interdisciplinary research for translational innovation.
• The programme will introduce Early Career Fellowships, Intermediate Fellowships, and Collaborative Grants to boost research capacity.
• Around 2,000 students and postdoctoral fellows will be trained, with special efforts to increase women’s participation by 10–15%.
• Nearly 25–30% of collaborative programmes are expected to reach technology readiness level (TRL) 4 and above.
• The initiative will also expand into Tier-2 and Tier-3 institutions, promoting equitable scientific growth across regions.
• By investing in skills, research, and collaboration, Phase III seeks to build a world-class biomedical research environment in India.

Topic: Banking/Finance

6. The Unified Payments Interface will be integrated with PayPal World.

• On 7 October, Aa collaboration between the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) and PayPal was announced.
• Under this partnership, India's instant payments platform will be the first to launch on PayPal World, a global platform connecting payment systems and digital wallets around the world.
• The initiative was announced at the Global Fintech Fest, highlighting India’s growing digital payments leadership.
• PayPal CEO Alex Chriss stated that the goal was to connect global payment systems seamlessly.
• It was said that UPI’s interoperability with PayPal World will make global transactions smoother and more inclusive.
• The idea for an interoperable platform originated during a meeting between Dilip Asbe (NPCI) and Alex Chriss in Florence two years ago.
• The project aims to make payments simple, frictionless, and accessible for both merchants and consumers.
• Chriss mentioned that the future of money lies in domestic wallets that can interact globally through shared standards.
• India was identified as a key market for PayPal, with its second-largest employee base worldwide.
• Rather than competing with UPI, PayPal chose to connect India’s digital payments system to global markets, enhancing cross-border integration.

Topic: International News

7. Palau made history with the first live underwater interview.

• The event aimed to raise awareness about protecting the ocean.
• President Surangel Whipps Jr represented Palau in the interview.
• He was joined by Merle Liivand, an Estonian Olympic swimmer and ocean advocate.
• They used a special device called the LiFi Talking Mask.
• This technology allows people to talk underwater by transmitting sound through light.
• Palau is a Pacific island nation with around 340 islands. It lies east of the Philippines. Its capital is Ngerulmud.
• The country is especially vulnerable to rising sea levels.
• President Whipps has warned that some atolls could be lost in the future.
• Similar actions have been taken by other island leaders in the past.
• In 2009, Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed held an underwater cabinet meeting.
• In 2019, Seychelles President Danny Faure gave a speech from a submersible in the Indian Ocean.

Topic: MoUs/Agreements

8. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) have formed a new partnership.

• They signed the agreement during the IUCN World Conservation Congress in Abu Dhabi.
• This Memorandum of Understanding outlines their plan to work together on renewable energy and environmental protection.
• The goal is to expand clean energy while also preserving nature and supporting sustainable development.
• The collaboration aims to reduce emissions without harming ecosystems.
• IUCN and IRENA will help guide the shift away from fossil fuels in a responsible way.
• They will design tools to measure how renewable energy projects affect biodiversity.
• They also plan to launch projects that support both conservation and clean energy.
• The two organizations will share research, policy advice, and best practices.
• They will also provide training and technical help to support sustainable energy efforts.
• The agreement will last for an initial period of three years. It can be renewed or expanded after that.
• This partnership reflects a shared commitment to climate action and protecting the natural world.

Topic: Economy/Banking/Finance

9. Revolut, a London-based digital finance firm, will launch its payment platform in India as part of its global expansion.

• The company will launch a platform for domestic and international payments.
• This will be done through partnerships with UPI and Visa.
• The service will initially be available to 350,000 users on a waiting list. It will later be opened to the wider public.
• Revolut aims to reach 20 million users in India by 2030.
• To meet India’s data localisation requirements, it has spent over £40 million adapting its technology.
• India is the only country where Revolut has made such a significant localisation investment.
• This launch marks its first move into one of the world’s largest digital payment markets.
• India is expected to become a key part of Revolut’s global growth strategy.

Topic: National News

10. Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, Dr. Ramdas Athawale, inaugurated the Purple Festival in Panaji.

• The event is focused on inclusion and recognizing the contributions of Persons with Disabilities.
• Dr. Athawale said the government has supported the development of all communities over the last eleven years.
• This includes Divyangjan, senior citizens, Scheduled Castes, and Scheduled Tribes.
• The third International Purple Festival began on 9 October in Panaji, Goa.
• It is India’s first inclusive and international festival for Persons with Disabilities.
• The festival promotes equal opportunity, empowerment, and accessibility.
• It encourages full social participation for people with disabilities.
• Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Dr. Virendra Kumar praised the Goa government for organizing a high-quality, inclusive event.
• He emphasized the need to include Persons with Disabilities in the country’s overall development.