Daily Current Affairs and GK | 30 October 2025

Topic: International News

1. The third edition of Pravasi Parichay Cultural Festival is being organised by Embassy of India in Riyadh.

• Pravasi Parichay is a comprehensive cultural festival. It showcases India's diverse heritage from 28 October to 3 November 2025.
• This week-long celebration brings together the Indian diaspora community in Saudi Arabia.
• It brings together community for an extensive display of classical dance, music, folk art, and culinary traditions.
• Pravasi Parichay was launched in 2023. It was launched as the first festival of its kind by the Embassy of India in collaboration with Indian diaspora associations in Saudi Arabia
• The 2023 festival has featured a unique programme conducted in Sanskrit.
• In the 2024 edition, India's lingusitice diversity was celebrated by highlighting all eleven classical languages recognised in the country.
• This year's festival includes a special evening dedicated to Gita Mahotsav.
• This year's festival also includes thematic days representing various Indian states.
• Pravasi Parichay also serves multiple diplomatic and community-building objectives.

Topic: Environment and Ecology

2. Pakistan’s Lahore city remains the most polluted city of world.

• Lahore’s air quality has deteriorated to a hazardous AQI level of 312.
• PM2.5 concentrations have increased to 190.5 µg/m³.
• According to IQAir, this pollution level exceeds WHO’s annual air safety guideline by more than 25 times.
• At 10 p.m. on 28 October, Lahore became the world’s most polluted major city. It surpassed Delhi (AQI 220) and Kolkata (AQI 170).
• Extremely high PM2.5 exposure poses severe respiratory and cardiovascular health risks.
• WHO’s 2021 air quality standards recommend PM2.5 levels not exceeding 5 µg/m³ annually. The daily limit should not exceed 15 µg/m³.
• In late October, AQI readings reached as high as 412.
• IQAir, a Swiss-based air quality technology firm, provides real-time pollution data. It also supports global air quality improvement efforts.
• The provincial government is deploying artificial rain and smog guns to reduce airborne pollutants.
• Dust control measures are also being implemented.
• Sprinklers are being used at construction sites to minimize particulate matter in the air.

Topic: State News/Punjab

3. The ‘Cyber Jago’ Program launched by Punjab Police to promote online safety.

• A statewide program ‘Cyber Jago’, has been launched by the Punjab Police Cyber Crime Division to promote online safety among government school students.
• The initiative aims to safeguard children from increasing online threats and ensure digital well-being.
• Special DGP Cyber Crime V. Neeraja highlighted that widespread digital exposure increases risks for children.
• She stated that inappropriate online content and cyberattacks need to be collectively addressed.
• She also stated that as guardians of the next generation, we need to understand these dangers and take proactive steps to protect children from online threats.
• Teachers and parents should have open conversations with children about online safety and initiate discussions about online dangers.

Topic: Summits/Conferences/Meetings

4. The International Aryan Summit 2025 in New Delhi will be participated in by the PM.

• On 31st October, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will participate in the International Aryan Summit 2025 in Rohini, New Delhi.
• The event is part of the Jyāna Jyoti Festival, commemorating the 200th birth anniversary of Maharshi Dayanand Saraswati Ji and 150 years of Arya Samaj’s service to society.
• The PM will address representatives from Arya Samaj units from India and abroad.
• The summit reflects the universal relevance of Maharshi Dayanand’s reformist ideals and the organisation’s global outreach.
• An exhibition titled “150 Golden Years of Service” will be showcased at the event.
• The exhibition highlights Arya Samaj’s contributions in education, reform, and spiritual upliftment.
• The summit aims to honour Dayanand Saraswati’s educational and reformist legacy.
• It focuses on spreading Vedic values, Swadeshi philosophy, and national development ideals.

Topic: Sports

5. Namitbir Singh Walia of Punjab became an International Master in Chess.

• Punjab’s Namitbir Singh Walia from Jalandhar has become an International Master (IM) in chess.
• He secured fourth position at the 3rd Annemasse International Masters Tournament in France.
• He began playing chess at the age of six.
• In 2012, at the age of seven, he began coaching and also played in the 7th grade.
• He trained under coach Kanwarjit Singh till 2020 before advancing further.
• He has also won the Senior State FIDE Rating Open Chess Championship this year.
• Namitbir is the second person from Punjab to achieve this accomplishment.
• He follows Dushyant Sharma, who became Punjab’s first International Master in February 2022.

Topic: Agriculture and Allied Sector

6. India exported GI-tagged Indi and Puliyankudi limes to the UK for the first time.

• The first-ever air shipment of GI-tagged Indi and Puliyankudi limes from Karnataka and Tamil Nadu to the United Kingdom has been facilitated by the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA).
• A total of 500 kg of limes were sent — 350 kg of Indi Lime from Vijayapura (Karnataka) and 150 kg of Puliyankudi Lime from Tenkasi (Tamil Nadu).
• The export marks a major step in promoting India’s unique horticultural products globally.
• Indi Lime is known for its superior quality, zesty aroma, high juice yield and balanced acidity.
• The Puliyankudi lime, particularly the Kadayam variety, is characterised by its thin peel, strong acidity, high ascorbic acid content and juice percentage of around 55%.
• The Puliyankudi lime officially received its GI tag in April 2025.

Topic: Summits/ Conferences/ Meetings

7. Union Minister Piyush Goyal underscored the importance of developing indigenous technologies.

• He said this would help minimize India’s reliance on specific foreign sources for crucial inputs.
• Speaking at the TiEcon conference in New Delhi, he described India as a rising global hub for innovation.
• He was addressing TiEcon Delhi-NCR (The IndUS Entrepreneurs) conference on the theme ‘India’s Deeptech Moment: From Digital Leadership to Technological Sovereignty’.
• He highlighted that both the government and private stakeholders are channeling financial and intellectual resources to strengthen India’s deeptech ecosystem.
• The Minister announced that the upcoming phase of the Startup Fund of Funds will prioritize early-stage financing for deeptech startups.
• This will support innovation and promote local technology ownership.
• He also talked about the ₹1 lakh crore Anusandhan Fund (equivalent to approximately USD 12 billion).
• The fund aims to foster research, innovation, and long-term funding for transformative technological projects.
• The IndUS Entrepreneurs (TiE) is a non-profit organization.
• Its mission is to foster entrepreneurship through mentoring, networking, education, funding and incubation.

Topic: Government Schemes and Initiatives

8. The government launched the Model Youth Gram Sabha initiative in New Delhi.

• The Model Youth Gram Sabha initiative aims to encourage youth participation in grassroots governance.
• A Training Module on the Model Youth Gram Sabha was also introduced during the launch event.
• An online Model Youth Gram Sabha Portal was also launched.
• According to the Panchayati Raj Ministry, the program aims to strengthen citizen involvement.
• It seeks to promote participatory governance by involving students in mock Gram Sabha activities.
• Government will implement the initiative in more than one thousand schools across the country.
• Union Minister of State for Panchayati Raj Prof. Satya Pal Singh Baghel attended the launch event.
• The Model Youth Gram Sabha initiative represents a collaborative effort between the Ministries of Panchayati Raj, Education, and Tribal Affairs.

Topic: State News/ Gujarat

9. Infrastructure and development projects worth over ₹1,140 crore to be inaugurated by PM Modi during his two-day visit to Gujarat starting from 30 October.

• He will inaugurate and lay foundation stone of these projects in Ekta Nagar, Kevadia.
• Birsa Munda Tribal University in Rajpipla, Vaman Vriksha Vatika, an E-Bus Charging Depot, and a fleet of 25 electric buses are the projects to be inaugurated by PM Modi.
• He will also lay the foundation stone for several new initiatives.
• These include the Museum of Royal Kingdoms of India, a new Sports Complex, Jetty Development near Shoolpaneshwar Ghat, and Travelators at the Statue of Unity.
• During the visit, the Prime Minister will lead the Rashtriya Ekta Diwas celebrations.
• He will pay tribute to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on his birth anniversary.
• The Prime Minister will participate in the Ekta Diwas pledge and parade.
• The parade will feature a BSF contingent showcasing indigenous dog breeds like Rampur Hounds and Mudhol Hounds.

Topic: International News

10. Russia has carried out a successful test of its nuclear-powered and nuclear-capable underwater drone, Poseidon.

• Russia has declared that the drone cannot be intercepted.
• President Vladimir Putin announced the test shortly after revealing a similar success with the Burevestnik nuclear-powered cruise missile.
• Putin said that Poseidon operated on nuclear power for the first time.
• He said that the drone surpasses all current technologies in both speed and operational depth.
• He also said that Poseidon’s compact nuclear reactor is about 100 times smaller than those used in submarines.
• Its warhead is far more powerful than the Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile.
• As per Russian media, Poseidon drone is engineered to detonate near coastlines. It is designed to trigger a massive radioactive tsunami.