Daily Current Affairs and GK | 9 October 2025

Topic: National News

1. The Indian Coast Guard carried out the 10th NATPOLREX and the 27th NOSDCP and Preparedness Meeting off the Chennai coast.

• The 10th National Pollution Response Exercise (NATPOLREX) and the 27th meeting on the National Oil Spill Disaster Contingency Plan (NOSDCP) and Preparedness Meeting on 5-6 October.
• It was a large-scale biennial exercise focused on marine pollution preparedness.
• The exercise reaffirmed India’s commitment to protecting its marine environment.
• It also aimed to strengthen coordination between various response agencies.
• There were 40 international observers from 32 countries.
• More than 105 national delegates attended from ministries, coastal states, ports, and maritime organizations.
• Indian Coast Guard and NOSDCP Director General Paramesh Sivamani supervised the entire operation.
• A key feature was the first shoreline clean-up drill held at Marina Beach.
• Local and state agencies worked together to carry out the drill.
• The scenario involved a major oil spill near the shoreline.
• The Indian Coast Guard deployed Pollution Control Vessels, Offshore Patrol Vessels, and Fast Patrol Vessels for the exercise.
• They also used Chetak and Dornier aircraft for surveillance and containment.
• Technical sessions were held alongside the practical drills.
• Real-life case studies, such as the MV MSC ELSA 3 incident, were discussed.
• The Indian Coast Guard has been the lead agency for oil spill response since 1986.
• The NOSDCP was drafted by the ICG and approved in 1993.
• It serves as the national framework for oil spill preparedness.
• The Coast Guard operates four Pollution Response Centres located in Mumbai, Chennai, Port Blair, and Vadinar.
• Over 75% of India’s energy imports arrive by sea. This makes an effective oil spill response system a strategic priority.
• NATPOLREX demonstrated India’s readiness for marine pollution emergencies.

Topic: National News

2. Celebrations will be held across India to mark the completion of 150 years of the national song 'Vande Mataram'.

• The Union Cabinet has approved celebrations across India to mark 150 years of the national song ‘Vande Mataram’.
• Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said that, keeping in mind the role of this song during the freedom struggle, it was decided to organise nationwide celebrations to commemorate its 150th year.
• The song ‘Vande Mataram’ was composed in Sanskrit by Bankimchandra Chatterji in the 1870s.
• It was accorded the status of the national song by the Constituent Assembly after Independence.
• On January 24, 1950, President Dr. Rajendra Prasad made a statement in the Constituent Assembly, "The song Vande Mataram, which has played a historic role in the Indian freedom struggle, will be given the same respect and status as Jana Gana Mana."
• It was first sung at the Indian National Congress session in 1896.
• The song was an excerpt from Bankimchandra's most famous novel, "Anand Math", published in 1882.

Topic: MoUs/Agreements

3. An MoU signed between PEDA and IISc for green hydrogen production from biomass.

• An MoU has been signed between the Punjab Energy Development Agency (PEDA) and the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, for establishing a pilot demonstration project on green hydrogen production from biomass, especially paddy straw.

• The MoU was exchanged between Neelima, CEO of PEDA, and Prof. S. Dasappa of the Interdisciplinary Centre for Energy Research (ICER), IISc.
• The agreement was exchanged during the 5th International Conference on Recent Advances in Bio-Energy Research held at Sardar Swaran Singh National Institute of Bio-Energy (SSS-NIBE), Kapurthala.
• Punjab Minister for New and Renewable Energy Aman Arora congratulated PEDA for the initiative and said it underscored Punjab’s commitment to clean energy innovation.
• The collaboration has been aimed at leveraging agricultural waste to produce green hydrogen and promote a circular economy that benefits farmers and industries alike.
• A pioneering facility will be established to demonstrate the technical and commercial feasibility of producing hydrogen from agricultural residues.
• The project is expected to help tackle stubble burning and improve air quality across the state.
• Rural economies are likely to be strengthened through new income opportunities for farmers and job creation in the green energy sector.
• The initiative will make a significant contribution to India’s National Green Hydrogen Mission and accelerate Punjab’s renewable energy goals.

Topic: Miscellaneous

4. California declared Diwali a state holiday, becoming the third US state to do so.

• California has officially declared Diwali a state holiday, becoming the third U.S. state after Pennsylvania and Connecticut to recognise the festival of lights.
• Governor Gavin Newsom signed the bill into law, which will come into effect on January 1, 2026.
• The new law allows public schools and community colleges to close on Diwali, while state employees may opt for a paid day off.
• The bill was co-authored by Assembly members Ash Kalra and Darshana Patel, reflecting California’s large South Asian population.
• According to a 2025 Pew survey, nearly one million Indian Americans reside in California, accounting for 20% of the U.S. Indian diaspora.
• The law acknowledges Diwali’s importance not only for Hindus but also for Sikhs, Jains, and Buddhists.
• The decision was widely supported by advocacy groups such as the Hindu American Foundation and the Coalition of Hindus in North America.
• The bill’s inclusive language ensures that all religious groups celebrating Diwali receive recognition and equal participation.
• The festival, derived from the Sanskrit word “Deepavali”, symbolises the triumph of light over darkness and knowledge over ignorance.
• The holiday is celebrated with the lighting of lamps, fireworks, feasts, prayers, and gatherings, reflecting California’s growing cultural diversity.

Topic: Summits/Conferences/Meetings

5. The first Vibrant Gujarat Regional Summit in Mehsana inaugurated by Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel.

• On 9 October, the first-ever Vibrant Gujarat Regional Conference was inaugurated in Mehsana, North Gujarat, by Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel.
• Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw attended the opening session of the two-day event.
• The conference focused on key sectors including agriculture, dairy, food processing, engineering, renewable energy, tourism, and automobile components.
• The initiative has been launched under the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Viksit Bharat @2047 to extend the success of the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit to all regions of the state.
• Over 13,000 participants and more than 200 international delegates had registered to attend the event.
• Partner countries such as Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, and the Netherlands, along with global organisations like the World Bank, JETRO, and the Russian Federation, participated in the event.
• The Regional Exhibition, spread across 18,000 square metres, showcased North Gujarat’s industrial and agro-based products.
• A Reverse Buyer-Seller Meet was held to connect international buyers from 40 countries with local entrepreneurs.
• Delegates visited major industrial and heritage sites such as Maruti Suzuki, Banas Dairy, Dudh Sagar Dairy, and Modhera Solar Park.
• The event aims to highlight North Gujarat’s industrial potential while linking local enterprises with global investors and markets.

Topic: International Appointments

6. Khaled al-Anani nominated as the next UNESCO Director-General.

• UNESCO’s Executive Board has nominated Egyptian university professor and former minister Khaled el-Anani to be the agency’s next director-general.
• If confirmed by UNESCO’s General Assembly in Uzbekistan next month, he will become the first director-general from the Arab world.
• El-Anani won the vote against Firmin Edouard Matoko, an economist from the Republic of Congo.
• The nomination follows Audrey Azoulay’s two consecutive four-year terms as UNESCO’s head.
• El-Anani, aged 54, is a renowned Egyptologist and currently serves as a professor at a public university in Cairo.
• As Egypt’s Minister of Antiquities and later Tourism and Antiquities, he oversaw projects such as the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization and major archaeological discoveries.
• His nomination has been hailed by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi as a historic achievement for Egypt.
• His appointment comes as UNESCO faces budget challenges following the U.S. withdrawal, which contributed 8% of its total funding.

Topic: State News/Uttar Pradesh

7. The Uttar Pradesh government has started organising Swadesh Melas across all 75 districts.

• The aim is to boost MSMEs and promote locally made products.
• These fairs will be held from today until October 19 across the state.
• The initiative follows the success of the third Uttar Pradesh International Trade Show.
• Swadesh Melas are designed to help Uttar Pradesh become a self-reliant and developed state.
• The events will focus on supporting MSMEs, khadi, handloom, and handicraft sectors at the district level.
• The fairs will provide a platform for local artisans, entrepreneurs, and small businesses.
• Participants can showcase and sell their products directly to customers.
• The initiative also aims to raise awareness about GST reforms. It will help strengthen the state’s support for local industries.
• Each Mela will include cultural programs and exhibitions of traditional art forms.
• The Department of Culture is helping organise these cultural segments.
• Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will inaugurate the Swadesh Mela in Gorakhpur on 10 October 2025.

Topic: Important Days

8. The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) celebrated World Habitat Day 2025 at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi.

• The event was held under the theme “Urban Solutions to Crisis.”
• It focused on building cities that are resilient, inclusive, and sustainable.
• Minister of State Tokhan Sahu attended the ceremony as the Guest of Honour.
• Representatives from UN agencies, HUDCO, and the National Housing Bank participated in the event.
• MoHUA and its partner agencies released several new publications during the event.
• The Housing for All Division launched a “Compendium of Good Practices” featuring innovative housing initiatives by states and union territories.
• The first Monday of October each year is World Habitat Day.
• In 2025, this was observed on 6 October 2025 and obsevance was linked to theme urban crisis response.

Topic: Awards and Prizes

9. The 2025 Nobel in Chemistry have been won by Susumu Kitagawa, Richard Robson, M. Yaghi for Metal-Organic Frameworks.

• The 2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry has been awarded to Susumu Kitagawa, Richard Robson, and Omar M. Yaghi.
• They have been was recognised for pioneering the development of metal-organic frameworks.
• They produced molecular networks with spacious pores that enable the movement of gases and various chemical substances.
• Susumu Kitagawa is affiliated with Kyoto University in Japan.
• Richard Robson holds a professorship at the University of Melbourne in Australia.
• Omar M. Yaghi teaches at the University of California, Berkeley, in the United States.
• The Nobel Prize includes a total purse of 11 million Swedish kronor.
• Each of the three scientists will receive an equal share of the prize money.

Topic: Personality in News

10. Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla has been appointed as the brand ambassador for the government’s “Viksit Bharat Buildathon.”

• He is the first Indian astronaut to visit the International Space Station (ISS).
• The Buildathon is a nationwide innovation drive targeting students from classes 6 to 12.
• It represents India’s largest-ever school hackathon.
• More than one crore students from approximately 1.5 lakh schools will take part in the initiative.
• Participants will be encouraged to brainstorm, design, and create prototypes that solve real-life problems.
• The programme is being jointly organised by the Ministry of Education and the Atal Innovation Mission.
• Group Captain Shukla, a 39-year-old Indian Air Force officer and test pilot, recently completed his first spaceflight.
• He travelled to space on the Axiom-4 mission, a commercial venture supported by ISRO and NASA and operated by Axiom Space.
• The Viksit Bharat Buildathon was officially launched on September 23. Registrations were open until October 6.
• The live Buildathon event will take place on October 13. Winners will be declared in December.
• Students will work on four major themes — Aatmanirbhar Bharat, Swadeshi, Vocal for Local, and Samriddhi.
• These themes aim to promote self-reliance, indigenous innovation, support for local industries, and sustainable development.