Daily Current Affairs and GK | 2 and 3 October 2025

Topic: National News

1. India has been re-elected to Part II of the ICAO Council.

• The election took place during the 42nd International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Assembly on 27 September 2025 in Montreal.
• Part II includes countries that make significant contributions to global air navigation services.
• India received more votes in 2025 than in the 2022 elections.
• This indicates growing international trust in India’s leadership in civil aviation.
• On 2 September 2025, the Ministry of Civil Aviation hosted a diplomatic event in New Delhi.
• The goal was to seek support for India’s re-election to the ICAO Council.
• Civil Aviation Minister Shri Rammohan Naidu appealed directly to representatives of Member States.
• The Ministry of External Affairs supported the campaign with diplomatic outreach.
• Minister Naidu visited Montreal during the Assembly session. He held bilateral meetings with other Member States.
• He also engaged with key figures in the global aviation industry.
• India’s aviation sector is growing rapidly. It is attracting global interest in manufacturing, MRO (Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul), and skill development.
• India has been a founding member of ICAO since 1944. It has maintained a continuous presence on the ICAO Council for over 81 years.
• The ICAO Assembly is held every three years. It includes all 193 signatory countries of the Chicago Convention.
• The Assembly elects a 36-member Council to serve as ICAO’s governing body. Each Council serves a term of three years.

Topic: National Appointments

2. Lieutenant General Virendra Vats assumed charge as Director General of NCC.

• On October 1, 2025, Lt Gen Virendra Vats assumed charge as the new Director General of the National Cadet Corps (the world’s largest uniformed youth organisation).
• He succeeded Lt Gen Gurbirpal Singh in the prestigious position.
• His appointment comes at a time when the NCC is expanding its strength to 20 lakh cadets across 28 states and 8 union territories.
• With its motto of 'Unity and Discipline', the NCC is moving forward in tandem with the vision of a developed India@2047,
• It has integrated innovation, digital skills and global awareness with its traditional focus on character building and patriotism.
• Lt Gen Vats was commissioned into the 19 KUMAON Regiment on December 17, 1988.
• He has served in counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism operations in Arunachal Pradesh and the Kashmir Valley.
• His experience includes command of an infantry brigade under the UN mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
• Prior to this role, he served as Commandant of the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington.

Topic: Personality in News

3. Senior socialist and freedom fighter GG Parikh passed away in Mumbai.

• On October 2, socialist, Gandhian and freedom fighter Dr. Gunvantrai Ganpatlal Parikh passed away in Mumbai at the age of 101.
• He was imprisoned during the Quit India Movement and the Emergency, and spent his entire life strengthening the labour movement.
• He worked tirelessly to engage youth in spreading the values ​​of democratic socialism.
• For this purpose, he founded the Yusuf Meherali Centre in Raigad district, Maharashtra.
• Today, the Centre operates in more than 12 states, where youth work to empower local communities and empower them through the development of sustainable local industries.
• His body was donated to JJ Hospital, fulfilling the vow he and his wife, Mangalaben Parikh, had taken long ago.
• In 2010, the body of Mangalaben Parikh was also donated to the same hospital after her death.
• Dr. Parikh was counted among the three oldest known body donors in Mumbai, all of whom passed away this year.

Topic: Awards and Prizes

4. The National Dhanwantari Ayurveda Awards 2025 conferred by the Ministry of Ayush.

• The National Dhanwantari Ayurveda Awards 2025 were conferred by the Ministry of AYUSH on three eminent figures.
• The awardees were Prof. Banwari Lal Gaur, Vaidya Neelakandhan Mooss E.T., and Vaidya Bhavana Prasher for their outstanding contributions.
• Prof. Banwari Lal Gaur was honoured for over six decades of contribution to Ayurvedic education and Sanskrit scholarship.
• He authored 31 books, more than 300 academic works including 319 publications in Sanskrit, and guided numerous PhD and postgraduate scholars.
• He has received several national honours, including the President's Award, for his contributions to Ayurvedic literature and education.
• Vaidya Neelakandhan Moos E.T., head of the Vaidyaratnam Group, represents the eighth generation of a family with a 200-year-old Ayurvedic heritage.
• He leads a team of over 100 physicians and has contributed to spreading Kerala's classical Ayurvedic practices nationally and globally.
• His initiatives include community health programs such as Marmayanam and Vajra, and a practical book on Panchakarma.
• Vaidya Bhavana Parashar, a scientist at CSIR-IGIB, has been honored for her pioneering work in the field of Ayurgenomics.
• Her research combines traditional Ayurvedic concepts such as Prakriti and Tridosha with modern genomic science, enabling advances in predictive and personalized healthcare.
• Her AI and ML-based Prakriti analysis protocols have been integrated into national programs such as the National Prakriti Testing Program, helping expand the scope of Ayurveda in public health.
• The three awardees symbolised distinct dimensions of Ayurveda — academic, traditional, and scientific.
• These honours, instituted by the Ministry of AYUSH, are considered among the highest recognitions in traditional Indian medicine.

Topic: Important Days

5. Gandhi Jayanti 2025: 2 October

• October 2, celebrated in India as Gandhi Jayanti, is observed worldwide as the International Day of Non-Violence.
• This year this day is the 156th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.
• International Day of Non-Violence is observed on 2 October to commemorate the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi.
• On 15 June 2007, the United Nations General Assembly declared 2 October as the International Day of Non-Violence.
• At the UN, statements from the Secretary-General connect Gandhi’s philosophy to modern conflicts and peacebuilding.
• Mahatma Gandhi:
  • Mahatma Gandhi, Father of the Nation, was a lawyer, political ethicist, activist, and writer.
  • His full name was Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi.
  • He was born in Porbandar, Gujarat on 2nd October 1869.
  • He was an ardent follower of Satyagraha and Ahimsa.
  • His notable works: Hind Swaraj, My Experiments with Truth, Harijan (Gujarati Newspaper), Young India (English Newspaper)
  • He founded the Harijan Sevak Sangh in 1932.
  • Times Magazine named Mahatma Gandhi as the Man of the Year in 1930.

Topic: National News

6. The Centre released ₹1,01,603 crore in advance tax transfers to states.

• On October 1, the Union Government released an advance instalment of ₹1,01,603 crore in tax devolution to states.
• This special release was made ahead of the festive season to support development and welfare expenditure.
• The advance came in addition to the normal monthly devolution scheduled for October 10, 2025.
• The government emphasised that the funds would help states meet immediate expenditure needs.
• Uttar Pradesh was allocated ₹18,227 crore, the highest among all states.
• Bihar received ₹10,219 crore, while Madhya Pradesh and West Bengal were given ₹7,976 crore and ₹7,644 crore, respectively.
• Other major states include Rajasthan (Rs 6,123 crore), Odisha (Rs 4,601 crore), Tamil Nadu (Rs 4,144 crore), Andhra Pradesh (Rs 4,112 crore) and Karnataka (Rs 3,705 crore).
• Smaller states were also provided funds, with Himachal Pradesh allocated ₹843 crore, Manipur ₹727 crore, Tripura ₹719 crore and Sikkim ₹394 crore.
• Goa received ₹392 crore, while Mizoram, Nagaland and Meghalaya received ₹508 crore, ₹578 crore and ₹779 crore, respectively.
• The Centre stated that this step would provide fiscal flexibility to states, ensuring uninterrupted welfare and development projects.

Topic: Personality in News

7. Pandit Chhannulal Mishra has passed away.

• He was an eminent Hindustani classical vocalist and Padma Vibhushan awardee.
• He died at the age of 89 in Mirzapur, Uttar Pradesh, after a prolonged illness.
• He was born in 1936 in Azamgarh.
• Over the years, he became one of the most respected figures in Indian classical music.
• He was known for his mastery of styles like Khayal, Thumri, Dadra, Chaiti, Kajri, and Bhajan.
• His early training came from his father, Badri Prasad Mishra.
• He also trained under Ustad Abdul Ghani Khan of the Kirana gharana.
• Later, he received guidance from musicologist Thakur Jaidev Singh.
• In 2010, he was honoured with the Padma Bhushan.
• A decade later, in 2020, he was awarded the Padma Vibhushan.

Topic: Environment and Ecology

8. Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav inaugurated the Namo Van.

• The inauguration took place in Manesar, Haryana, as part of Wildlife Week 2025 celebrations.
• He stressed the importance of protecting India’s biodiversity.
• He highlighted the need to preserve the country’s rich variety of plants and animals.
• Wildlife Week encourages public involvement in conservation efforts.
• It is observed every year from October 2 to October 8.
• The aim is to raise awareness about wildlife protection and ecological balance.
• This year, the celebrations are being held under the theme “Sewa Parv.”
• The theme promotes a spirit of service and responsibility towards nature.

Topic: Government Schemes and Initiatives

9. A Special Gram Sabha was held in one lakh tribal villages and Tolas on 02 October 2025.

• The purpose was to officially adopt the Tribal Village Vision 2030 Declaration.
• This initiative is part of the Adi Karmayogi Abhiyan launched by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs.
• Adi Karmayogi Abhiyan is the world’s largest tribal grassroots leadership programme.
• It impacts 11 crore citizens across 30 States and Union Territories.
• The period from November 15 last year to November 15 this year has been declared by government as Janjatiya Gaurav Varsh.
• This special year is meant to celebrate and honour tribal pride and culture.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Adi Karmayogi Abhiyan and Adi Sewa Parv on September 17.
• These programmes aim to promote community involvement, responsive governance, and youth leadership.
• Each village will set up an Adi Sewa Kendra to offer essential public services.
• The initiative promotes voluntary participation by community members.
• It also includes the use of the AI-based Adi Vaani App to support communication in multiple tribal languages.
• Over 20 lakh people have been trained as Adi Karmayogis under this programme.
• This group includes government officials, women, and youth from tribal communities.
• They are responsible for ensuring last-mile delivery of public schemes.
• The initiative also supports integration with major programmes like PM JANMAN and Dharti Aaba Abhiyan 2.0.

Topic: Indian Economy

10. RBI has introduced several measures to support exporters amid global trade uncertainties.

• New guidelines will soon be issued by RBI to extend the forex outlay period for Merchanting Trade Transactions from four to six months.
• This extension will help Indian merchants manage transactions more efficiently and maintain profitability.
• The repatriation period for funds in foreign currency accounts within IFSC Banking Units has also been increased by RBI from one month to three months.
• This will encourage exporters to open IFSC accounts and boost forex liquidity there.
• The reconciliation process in the Export Data Processing and Monitoring System (EDPMS) and Import Data Processing and Monitoring System (IDPMS) will also be simplified by the RBI.
• For bills up to ten lakh rupees, exporters and importers can now close bills by submitting a declaration that payment has been received.
• A revised framework for External Commercial Borrowings (ECB) is being prepared to make regulations clearer and easier to follow.
• The new ECB rules will expand the list of eligible borrowers and recognized lenders.
• They will also relax borrowing limits and ease restrictions on the average maturity period.
• Restrictions on borrowing costs for ECBs will be removed. End-use restrictions for ECBs will be reviewed.
• The reporting requirements for ECBs will also be simplified under the updated framework.