Daily Current Affairs- 20th October 2025

Daily Current Affairs- 20th October 2025

The Bathou Religion of Assam’s Bodo Community Receives a Separate Census Code

In the News: The Government of India has decided to grant a separate religion code for Bathouism, the traditional faith of the Bodo community in Assam, in the upcoming Census 2025, marking formal recognition of their distinct religious identity.

Key Points:

• Recognition of Indigenous Faith: Bathouism, the ancestral religion of the Bodos, will now be recorded separately instead of being classified under Hinduism, ensuring visibility in national data.
• Meaning of ‘Bathou’: The word ‘Bathou’ derives from Ba (five) and Thou (deep thought), symbolising the worship of the five natural elements—air, fire, earth, water, and ether.
• Supreme Deity: Followers worship Bathoubwrai (Sibwrai) as the supreme god, represented by the Sijou plant (Euphorbia splendens) instead of idols.
• Cultural Importance: The recognition strengthens the Bodo cultural and religious identity, aligning with similar efforts by the Bodoland Territorial Council to include Bathouism in official forms.
• Policy Significance: A distinct census code will improve data accuracy and support the community’s access to religious and cultural preservation schemes.
• Historic Milestone: This move reflects India’s broader trend of acknowledging indigenous and tribal faiths in its demographic documentation.

"Govt Launched Rs 600 Crore ‘Kapas Kranti Mission'"

In the News: The Government of India launched the ₹600 crore Kapas Kranti Mission on 21 October 2025 to promote high-yield, long-staple cotton cultivation across major producing states.

Key Points:

• Outlay & Scope: The mission is valued at ₹600 crore and forms part of the broader Mission for Cotton Productivity.
• Cultivation Focus: It emphasises adoption of High-Density Plantation (HDP) techniques, scientific agronomy and long-staple cotton varieties.
• Digital & Market Tools: A mobile application called Kapas Kisan App will facilitate cotton procurement—slot bookings, transparency, reduced middle-men.
• Replication Model: The HDP success model of Maharashtra’s Akola region is to be replicated in states like Telangana to raise productivity.
• Infrastructure Support: The mission includes setting up 122 procurement centres and 345 ginning units in targeted regions.
• Farmer Income & Self-reliance: The scheme aims to boost incomes of cotton growers, increase fibre quality and reduce dependence on imports for long-staple cotton.

MoWCD Honoured for Outstanding Implementation of PM–JANMAN Scheme

In the News: The Ministry of Women and Child Development (MoWCD) was awarded on 19 October 2025 for its exceptional contribution to the implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM–JANMAN). The award was presented by the President of India during the National Conclave on the Adi Karmayogi Abhiyan at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. Secretary Shri Anil Malik received the honour on behalf of the ministry.

Key Points:

• The PM–JANMAN scheme covers 75 Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) across 18 states and one Union Territory, aimed at socio-economic development through integrated interventions.
• Under the scheme, MoWCD made more than 2,000 Anganwadi centres functional in PVTG areas, thereby enhancing early childhood care and nutrition in remote tribal regions.
• The recognition underscores MoWCD’s role in line-ministry coordination, implementing interventions related to nutrition, education, health and livelihoods for tribal communities.
• The award ceremony took place during a conclave organised by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, signalling inter-ministry collaboration for tribal welfare and inclusive governance.
• The achievement reflects the government’s commitment to ensure that tribal communities are “at the last mile” of development initiatives and that benefits reach remote and vulnerable groups.

Shantha Rangaswamy Elected as First Woman President of ICA

In the News: Former Indian women’s cricket captain Shantha Rangaswamy was elected as the first woman President of the Indian Cricketers’ Association (ICA). This marks a historic moment in Indian cricket administration, reflecting growing gender inclusion and representation in the sport’s governance. The election also coincided with the induction of other women leaders into important cricket bodies, signalling a new phase of reform within Indian cricket.

Key Points:

• Shantha Rangaswamy became the first woman ever to lead the Indian Cricketers’ Association, the representative body for retired Indian cricketers.
• She played 16 Test matches and 19 ODIs for India between 1976 and 1991, and became the first Indian woman to score a Test century, achieving 108 runs against New Zealand.
• The new ICA leadership aims to promote inclusive cricket governance and ensure greater participation of women in decision-making roles.
• Alongside her election, Sudha Shah and Shubhangi Kulkarni, both former India captains, were nominated to the BCCI Apex Council and IPL Governing Council, respectively.
• The move is seen as a milestone for women’s cricket in India, recognising their long-standing contributions to the game and strengthening institutional representation.
• Shantha Rangaswamy’s leadership is expected to focus on player welfare, pension reforms, and gender equity within cricket administration.

India Marks Major Biotech Breakthrough with Indigenous Antibiotic and Gene Therapy Success

In the News: India has achieved two significant milestones in biotechnology: the launch of its first indigenous antibiotic, Nafithromycin, and the successful completion of the country’s first-in-human gene therapy trial for Haemophilia A. The antibiotic was formally launched under the aegis of the Department of Biotechnology in collaboration with industry, while the gene-therapy trial was reviewed by the Minister of Science & Technology following its conduct at Centre for Stem Cell Research (CSCR), Bengaluru and Christian Medical College, Vellore. This pair of achievements underscores India’s growing strength in medical innovation and its push for self-reliance in health tech.

Key Points:

• Nafithromycin is India’s first indigenously developed macrolide antibiotic targeting community-acquired bacterial pneumonia (CABP) and resistant infections; it was developed by industry (Wockhardt Ltd) in partnership with government support.
• Clinical data indicate Nafithromycin offers about 10 times the efficacy and 8 times the lung-exposure of azithromycin, and its treatment course is just three days once-daily.
• The first human gene-therapy trial for Haemophilia A in India was conducted by the CSCR and CMC Vellore collaboration; it used lentiviral vectors and reported sustained Factor VIII expression and zero bleeding episodes in participants.
• These advancements strengthen India’s goals of pharmaceutical self-reliance, combating antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and advancing regenerative medicine as part of its bio-economy strategy.
• The twin achievements position India to contribute globally in biotech innovation, especially in affordable therapies for low- and middle-income countries.