Period Covered: October 1, 2025 – October 31, 2025
Focus Areas: Nobel Prize Winners 2025, Global Hunger Index, RBI Monetary Policy, and Defence Modernization.
Target Examinations: UPSC CSE (Mains 2026), RBI Grade B, NABARD Grade A, SSC CGL, and IBPS PO.
Keywords: #NobelPrize2025 #GlobalHungerIndex #RepoRate #NagMissile #MACE-Ladakh
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: THE OCTOBER PARADIGM
October 2025 was defined by global recognition and domestic strategic consolidation. The month witnessed the announcement of the 2025 Nobel Prizes, highlighting breakthroughs in quantum physics and immune tolerance. On the domestic economic front, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) maintained the status quo on rates while revising GDP forecasts upward to 6.8%. India’s strategic capabilities received a massive boost with the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) clearing ₹79,000 crore worth of projects, including the Nag Missile System Mk-II. However, social indicators presented a challenge as India ranked 102nd in the Global Hunger Index 2025, terming the situation as “Serious”.
SECTION 1: NOBEL PRIZES 2025 (SPECIAL FEATURE)
Domain: Science, Literature & Peace | Relevance: High Yield for All Exams
The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences and the Norwegian Nobel Committee announced the laureates for 2025. This year’s awards heavily favored quantum mechanics and evolutionary economics.
| Category | Laureates | Contribution / Citation |
|---|---|---|
| Physics | John Clarke, Michel H. Devoret, John M. Martinis | For the discovery of macroscopic quantum mechanical tunneling and energy quantisation in electric circuits (Critical for Quantum Computing). |
| Chemistry | Omar M. Yaghi, Susumu Kitagawa, Richard Robson | For the development of Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs), revolutionizing gas storage and carbon capture. |
| Physiology or Medicine | Mary E. Brunkow, Fred Ramsdell, Shimon Sakaguchi | For discoveries concerning peripheral immune tolerance (Regulatory T-cells), aiding autoimmune disease treatments. |
| Literature | László Krasznahorkai (Hungary) | For his compelling and visionary oeuvre that reaffirms the power of art amidst apocalyptic terror. |
| Peace | María Corina Machado (Venezuela) | For her tireless work promoting democratic rights and the struggle for a peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy. |
| Economic Sciences | Joel Mokyr, Philippe Aghion, Peter Howitt | For theories on Innovation-driven Growth and “Creative Destruction”. |
SECTION 2: ECONOMY & BANKING
Domain: Monetary Policy & Indices | Relevance: GS-III, RBI Grade B
2.1 RBI Monetary Policy Committee (October 2025)
Decision: The MPC, in its meeting held from September 29–October 1, 2025, decided to keep the Repo Rate unchanged at 5.50%. The stance remained “Neutral”.
- Growth Forecast: Revised India’s Real GDP growth projection for FY 2025-26 upwards to 6.8% (from 6.5%).
- Inflation Forecast: Lowered CPI inflation forecast for FY 2025-26 to 2.6% (down from 3.1%), citing a steep decline in food prices and rationalized GST rates.
- Context: This pause follows a cumulative 100 bps reduction earlier in the year, as the RBI assesses the impact of previous cuts and global trade uncertainties.
2.2 Global Hunger Index (GHI) 2025
Release: Published by Concern Worldwide and Welthungerhilfe.
- India’s Rank: 102nd out of 123 countries.
- Score: 25.8.
- Category: “Serious” level of hunger.
- Key Indicators: While child mortality has improved, child wasting (18.7%) remains the highest globally. Stunting stands at 32.9%.
- Comparison: Top performers include Belarus, Chile, and China (Rank <5).
2.3 NITI Aayog Asset Monetization
Update: NITI Aayog increased the asset monetization target for FY 2025-26 by ₹23,000 crore, setting the new target at ₹1.9 trillion. This push focuses on highway bundles and power transmission lines.
SECTION 3: DEFENCE & SECURITY
Domain: Military Acquisitions & Technology | Relevance: GS-III, CDS/NDA
3.1 Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) Approvals
Event: On October 23, 2025, the DAC, chaired by Raksha Mantri, accorded Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for proposals worth ₹79,000 Crore.
Key Projects Approved:
| System/Platform | Strategic Utility |
|---|---|
| Nag Missile System Mk-II | Advanced anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) for the Army, featuring improved seeker technology. |
| Landing Platform Docks (LPDs) | To enhance the Indian Navy’s amphibious warfare capabilities and humanitarian assistance (HADR) reach in the Indian Ocean Region. |
| Automatic Chemical Agent Detectors | For the Army to detect chemical warfare agents in the battlefield. |
3.2 EM Railgun Demonstration
Development: In a major leap for non-conventional weaponry, DRDO successfully demonstrated an Electromagnetic (EM) Railgun in Pune. This technology uses kinetic energy rather than explosives to destroy targets at hypersonic speeds.
3.3 Exercise ‘Sagar-Kavach’
- Event: A coastal security exercise conducted off the coast of Goa and Maharashtra in October 2025.
- Agencies: Indian Navy, Coast Guard, and State Marine Police.
- Focus: Assessing the efficacy of the coastal security mechanism against asymmetric threats.
SECTION 4: SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY & ENVIRONMENT
Domain: Space & Ecology | Relevance: Prelims & GS-III
4.1 MACE Observatory Inauguration
Event: The Major Atmospheric Cherenkov Experiment (MACE) Observatory was inaugurated at Hanle, Ladakh.
- Significance: It is the world’s highest imaging Cherenkov telescope, located at an altitude of ~4,300 meters.
- Objective: To detect high-energy gamma rays from space, aiding in the study of black holes and supernova remnants.
4.2 Mission Mausam & SITAA
- Mission Mausam: Cabinet approved ₹2,000 crore for this mission to make India “Weather Ready” and “Climate Smart” using advanced radars and AI-based forecasting.
- SITAA: UIDAI launched the Scheme for Innovation and Technology Association with Aadhaar (SITAA) to foster innovation in digital identity solutions.
4.3 Eco-Sensitive Zones (ESZ)
Notification: The MoEFCC designated Namdapha National Park and Kamlang Wildlife Sanctuary in Arunachal Pradesh as Eco-Sensitive Zones. This regulation restricts mining and heavy industry in the buffer zones of these critical tiger habitats.
SECTION 5: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS & APPOINTMENTS
Domain: Diplomacy & Persons | Relevance: GS-II
5.1 Quad Ports of the Future Partnership
Event: The inaugural conference was hosted in Mumbai in October 2025.
- Objective: To mobilize private sector investments in sustainable and resilient port infrastructure across the Indo-Pacific, countering debt-trap diplomacy.
5.2 Key Appointments (October 2025)
| Person | Position / Role | Significance |
|---|---|---|
| Sanae Takaichi | Prime Minister of Japan | Sworn in on Oct 21. First female PM of Japan; known for conservative policies. |
| Justice Surya Kant | Designate Chief Justice of India | Name cleared in October to succeed Justice B.R. Gavai in Nov 2025. |
| Paul Kapur | US Assistant Secretary of State | For South and Central Asia; critical for Indo-US strategic ties. |
| Neeraj Chopra | Honorary Lieutenant Colonel | Conferred by the Territorial Army for sporting excellence. |
SECTION 6: SPORTS & CULTURE
Domain: Sports & Awards
6.1 World Chess & Badminton
- Chess: Divya Deshmukh created history by becoming the first Indian woman to win the FIDE Women’s World Cup Championship 2025.
- Badminton: The BWF World Junior Championships were hosted in Guwahati (Oct 6-19), showcasing India’s growing infrastructure for international events.
6.2 Awards
- PETA Person of the Year 2025: Bollywood actor Raveena Tandon.
- British Academy Book Prize 2025: Won by Sunil Amrith.
RAPID FIRE REVISION CAPSULE
- Nobel Peace Prize 2025: Maria Corina Machado (Venezuela).
- Physics Nobel: For Macroscopic Quantum Tunneling.
- RBI Repo Rate (Oct 2025): 5.50% (Unchanged).
- Global Hunger Index Rank: 102nd (Serious Category).
- MACE Observatory: Located in Hanle, Ladakh (Gamma Ray detection).
- PM-VBRY Scheme: Employment incentive scheme active in discussions.
- New Japan PM: Sanae Takaichi.
- Divya Deshmukh: FIDE Women’s World Cup Winner.
- Mission Mausam: ₹2,000 crore outlay for weather readiness.
MOST EXPECTED EXAMINATION QUESTIONS
Q1. Who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Economics (Sveriges Riksbank Prize) in 2025 for their work on “Creative Destruction” and innovation-led growth?
A. Daron Acemoglu & Simon Johnson
B. Joel Mokyr, Philippe Aghion & Peter Howitt
C. Ben Bernanke & Douglas Diamond
D. Claudia Goldin
Answer: (B) Joel Mokyr, Philippe Aghion & Peter Howitt
Q2. In October 2025, the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) approved the procurement of ‘Nag Missile System Mk-II’. What type of missile is ‘Nag’?
A. Surface-to-Air Missile
B. Air-to-Air Missile
C. Anti-Tank Guided Missile (ATGM)
D. Cruise Missile
Answer: (C) Anti-Tank Guided Missile (ATGM)
Q3. Which Indian city hosted the “Quad Ports of the Future Partnership” conference in October 2025?
A. Chennai
B. Visakhapatnam
C. Mumbai
D. Kochi
Answer: (C) Mumbai
Q4. According to the Global Hunger Index 2025, what is India’s rank among 123 countries?
A. 94th
B. 102nd
C. 107th
D. 111th
Answer: (B) 102nd
Q5. The ‘MACE Observatory’, inaugurated in October 2025, is located in which region/state?
A. Nainital, Uttarakhand
B. Hanle, Ladakh
C. Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu
D. Mount Abu, Rajasthan
Answer: (B) Hanle, Ladakh
Disclaimer: This content is based on the provided source material which simulates a future scenario (October 2025). Specific data points are derived strictly from the supplied dataset.
