Daily Current Affairs and GK | 16 October 2025

Topic: Awards and Prizes

1. Sonali Ghosh has become the first Indian to win the Kenton R. Miller Award.

• She is the Director of Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve.
• This award recognises innovation in the management of national parks and protected areas.
• She received the honour along with Roque Simón Sevilla Larrea from Ecuador.
• The award ceremony took place on October 10 in Abu Dhabi
• The Kenton R. Miller Award is presented by the World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA).
• The WCPA is part of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
• The award was established in 2006. It is given every two years to individuals or teams who bring new and effective ideas to the field.
• These ideas may relate to governance, funding, science, community engagement, or policy.
• Dr. Ghosh was honoured for a conservation model that blends traditional knowledge with modern science.
• Roque Simón Sevilla Larrea was recognised for his contributions to sustainability.
• He is the founder and president of Grupo Futuro, a group of 19 businesses focused on sustainable development.

Topic: Sports

2. India's Joby Mathew won the bronze medal at the 2025 Para Powerlifting World Championships.

• A bronze medal won by Indian para powerlifter Joby Mathew at the 2025 Para Powerlifting World Championships held in Cairo, Egypt.
• Competing in the 65 kg Legend (Masters) category, he recorded a total lift of 300 kg through two successful attempts of 148 kg and 152 kg.
• His achievement marked a new personal best, surpassing the 150 kg lift he achieved at the Beijing World Cup two months earlier.
• This win represented Mathew’s second World Championship medal, following his bronze at Dubai in 2023.
• Thailand’s Phongsakon Chumchai clinched gold with a lift of 162 kg, while Peru’s Neil Gracia took silver with 161 kg.

Topic: Summits/Conferences/Meetings

3. The ‘Extradition of Fugitives: Challenges and Strategies’ Conference inaugurated by Home Minister Amit Shah.

• On 16 October, a two-day conference on ‘Extradition of Fugitives: Challenges and Strategies’ inaugurated by Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi.
• The event has been organised by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
• Participation has been confirmed from senior officers of various central and state police organisations to enhance international police cooperation for tracing fugitives wanted in India.
• Officials from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) are also attending, along with other key stakeholders.
• The conference will deliberate on topics such as the use of formal and informal channels for cooperation, the application of technology for locating fugitives, and strategic methods for extradition.
• Special sessions will cover areas like narcotics, terrorism, cybercrime, organised crime, and economic offences.
• Under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi, India has intensified global coordination to bring back offenders evading justice abroad.
• Amit Shah had earlier called for a coordinated mechanism to expedite extradition through legal and diplomatic channels.
• Currently, more than 300 extradition requests from India remain pending with different foreign governments, often delayed due to legal loopholes.
• The CBI expects that the discussions during the event will help frame new strategies and strengthen coordination among agencies to ensure faster extradition of fugitives.

Topic: Defence

4. A ₹659.47 crore contract for advanced night sights for the Indian Army’s assault rifles signed by the Defence Ministry.

• On 15 October, a contract worth ₹659.47 crore has been signed by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) to procure advanced Night Sight (Image Intensifier) systems for 7.62 x 51 mm assault rifles of the Indian Army.
• The procurement aims to strengthen the night-fighting capabilities of soldiers.
• These new sights will allow soldiers to utilise the full effective range of the SIG 716 rifle, increasing accuracy in low-light and night operations.
• Targets up to 500 metres can now be engaged even under starlit conditions, offering a major improvement over the existing sights.
• The deal has been classified under the Buy (Indian-IDDM) category with over 51% indigenous content, reflecting the government’s focus on self-reliance.
• The initiative aligns with the Aatmanirbhar Bharat programme, encouraging domestic innovation and defence production.
• The system’s introduction is expected to enhance operational readiness during critical missions.
• Indigenous manufacturing will provide significant opportunities for Indian MSMEs involved in defence production.

Topic: Personality in News

5. Actor Pankaj Dheer passed away at the age of 68 on 15 October.

• Television actor Pankaj Dheer, known for portraying Karna in Mahabharat and Shivdutt in Chandrakanta, has passed away at the age of 68 after battling cancer.
• Dheer, originally from Punjab, began his acting career in the 1980s with small roles in films.
• His breakthrough came in 1988 when he played Karna in B.R. Chopra’s Mahabharat, earning nationwide recognition.
• He later starred in several films including Sadak, Sanam Bewafa, and Aashik Awara.
• From 1994 to 1996, he played King Shivdutt in the television series Chandrakanta, based on Devaki Nandan Khatri’s novel.
• His film career also included appearances in Soldier, Baadshah, Andaz, Zameen, and Tarzan.

Topic: National News

6. The number of most Naxal-affected districts in India has come down to three.

• The number of districts most affected by Naxalism has been brought down to 3 from 6, marking a major milestone in the Modi government’s goal of creating a Naxal-free Bharat.
• Now only Bijapur, Sukma, and Narayanpur in Chhattisgarh remain under the “most affected” category.
• The count of Left-Wing Extremism (LWE)-affected districts has also declined from 18 to 11.
• The government aims to completely eradicate the menace of Naxalism by March 31, 2026.
• Under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi and guidance of Home Minister Amit Shah, record operational success has been achieved this year.
• A total of 312 LWE cadres, including top CPI (Maoist) leaders, have been neutralised, while 836 were arrested and 1,639 surrendered.
• The surrendered Naxalites include a Polit Bureau Member and a Central Committee Member.
• The National Action Plan against LWE focuses on intelligence-based, people-friendly operations and rapid infrastructure development.
• Measures such as choking terror finances, countering propaganda, and strengthening Centre–State coordination have yielded results.
• Once seen as India’s “biggest internal security challenge,” Naxalism is now in visible decline across former hotspots.
• In 2013, 126 districts reported Naxal violence, but by March 2025, only 18 districts remained affected, showing the success of the government’s counter-strategy.

Topic: Sports

7. Ahmedabad, Gujarat has been recommended as the host for the 2030 Commonwealth Games.

• The announcement was made during a meeting of the Commonwealth Sport Executive Board.
• The 2030 Games will mark 100 years of the Commonwealth Sport Movement.
• The recommendation will be presented for final approval at the General Assembly next month.
• The proposal of Ahmedabad as host city was jointly made by the Government of India, the Government of Gujarat, and the Commonwealth Games Association of India.
• This reflects India’s growing influence in global sports.
• PT Usha, President of the Commonwealth Games Association of India, shared her vision for the event.
• She said the Games would focus on sustainability, innovation, and inclusivity.

Topic: Personality in News

8. Renowned singer and actress Raavu Balasaraswathi Devi passed away at the age of 97 years.

• She is widely regarded as the first playback singer in Telugu cinema.
• She was also the first artist to perform light music on All India Radio.
• Her playback singing debut was in the 1943 film 'Bhagya Lakshmi'.
• This marked the beginning of playback singing in Telugu films.
• She acted in Tamil classics like 'Bhaktha Kuchela' (1936), 'Balayogini' (1937), and 'Thiruneelakantar' (1939).
• In 1940, she starred in the Telugu film 'Illalu'.

Topic: Summits/ Conferences/ Meetings

9. 16^th edition of the International Railway Equipment Exhibition-2025 inaugurated by Union Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi.

• This is recognized as the largest railway exhibition in Asia and the second-largest worldwide.
• More than 450 companies from over 15 countries are participating.
• They are displaying cutting-edge railway and metro technologies.
• The exhibition highlights innovations and environmentally sustainable solutions in the rail sector.
• Minister Vaishnaw noted that the railways are receiving an annual investment of ₹2.56 lakh crore to support rapid modernization efforts.
• Around 35,000 kilometres of new tracks have been laid across the country in the last eleven years.
• Additionally, about 46,000 kilometres of rail lines have been electrified in the last eleven years.
• India is becoming an emerging hub for railway exports, with Indian-made locomotives recently shipped to Africa.
• The Ministry of Railways is featuring several advanced trains and coaches, including Amrit Bharat, Tejas, Vande Bharat, Namo Bharat, and the Kolkata metro.
• The three-day event serves as a significant platform for Indian manufacturers to present their innovations to an international audience.

Topic: Sports

10. Manipur won the 30^th Senior Women’s National Football Championship, known as the Rajmata Jijabai Trophy.

• Manipur defeated West Bengal with a score of 1-0 in the final match.
• The final was held at RKM Ashrama Ground in Narainpur, Chhattisgarh.
• This victory allowed Manipur to successfully defend their title.
• It was the 23rd time Manipur has won the trophy, setting a new record.
• Lynda Kom Serto scored the decisive goal in the 93rd minute. Manipur finished the tournament unbeaten.
• Senior Women’s National Football Championship for Rajmata Jijabai Trophy is the premier women's football tournament in India.
• Its first edition was held in Manipur in 1992. It is an annual tournament.