Daily Current Affairs- 31st October 2025

Daily Current Affairs- 31st October 2025

Dharwad’s Veteran Archaeologist Ravindra Korisettar Chosen for Rajyotsava Award

In the News: Eminent archaeologist Dr. Ravindra Korisettar from Dharwad has been selected for the 2025 Rajyotsava Award, one of Karnataka’s highest civilian honours, in recognition of his lifelong contributions to Indian archaeology, early human studies, and prehistoric research.

Key Points :

• Award Recognition: The Karnataka government announced Dr. Korisettar’s selection for the Rajyotsava Award 2025 for his outstanding academic and research contributions to South Asian archaeology and human evolution studies.
• Scholarly Contributions: He is widely respected for his pioneering work in prehistory, paleoenvironmental reconstruction, and Stone Age cultures, providing key insights into early human adaptation and settlement patterns.
• Academic Leadership: A retired professor of archaeology at Karnatak University, Dharwad, Dr. Korisettar has guided numerous doctoral researchers and helped shape archaeological education in India.
• Research: His extensive excavations and studies have deepened understanding of Palaeolithic and Neolithic cultures, rock art, and ancient environmental transitions across peninsular India.

India Begins Tri-Service Exercise ‘Ex Trishul’ with IAF and Navy Across Western Front

In the News: India commenced the large-scale Tri-Service Exercise ‘Ex Trishul’, integrating the Army, Air Force, and Navy to enhance joint operational readiness across the Western Front. The exercise aims to strengthen interoperability among the three services in responding to complex, multi-domain security challenges.

Key Points:

• Exercise Objective: ‘Ex Trishul’ seeks to validate joint combat operations, command coordination, and rapid response capabilities among the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force under integrated theatre-level commands.
• Operational Scope: Conducted along the Western Front, the exercise includes coordinated air–land–sea maneuvers, precision strikes, electronic warfare, and logistics integration to simulate real combat conditions.
• Tri-Service Integration: The exercise underscores India’s evolving approach toward jointness and theatre command structures, reflecting lessons from modern warfare doctrines.
• IAF and Navy Involvement: The Indian Air Force is deploying frontline fighter aircraft and transport assets, while the Indian Navy is contributing maritime surveillance, missile-equipped vessels, and amphibious units to support ground operations.

Rashtriya Ekta Diwas 2025: Sardar Patel @150 - A Legacy of Unity

In the News:  Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the celebrations of Rashtriya Ekta Diwas (National Unity Day) marking the 150th birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. The event, themed “Sardar Patel @150 – A Legacy of Unity,” honored the Iron Man of India’s unparalleled role in national integration. On this occasion, the Prime Minister released a commemorative coin and postage stamp dedicated to Sardar Patel’s enduring legacy.

Key Points:

• Commemorative Launch: PM Modi unveiled a special ₹150 coin and postage stamp to mark Sardar Patel’s 150th birth anniversary, symbolizing his steadfast commitment to unity and nation-building.
• National Celebrations: Rashtriya Ekta Diwas 2025 was observed across India with Run for Unity events, school activities, police parades, and unity pledges reaffirming the spirit of Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat.
• Tribute at Statue of Unity: The Prime Minister paid floral tribute at the Statue of Unity in Kevadia, Gujarat, where a ceremonial guard of honor and cultural performances were held.
• Historical Significance: Sardar Patel, India’s first Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister, was instrumental in integrating over 560 princely states into the Indian Union after independence
• Public Engagement: Ministries, educational institutions, and state governments organized seminars, exhibitions, and essay competitions to spread awareness about Patel’s leadership and vision.
• Thematic Focus: The 2025 celebration highlighted Patel’s role in shaping India’s unity, administrative strength, and federal structure—emphasizing the message of “One Nation, One Spirit.”

President Appoints Justice Surya Kant as Next CJI

In the News: President Droupadi Murmu appointed Justice Surya Kant as the 51st Chief Justice of India (CJI). He will assume office on November 10, 2025, succeeding Justice D.Y. Chandrachud upon his retirement. Justice Kant will serve as CJI until February 2027, marking a continuation of judicial reforms and digital transformation initiatives within the Indian judiciary.

Key Points:

• Appointment Announcement: The appointment was made under Article 124(2) of the Constitution, following the recommendation of outgoing CJI D.Y. Chandrachud, maintaining the tradition of seniority in Supreme Court appointments.
• Judicial Career: Justice Surya Kant was elevated to the Supreme Court in May 2019 and previously served as Chief Justice of the Himachal Pradesh High Court and as a judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
• Professional Background: Beginning his legal career in 1981, he was designated as a Senior Advocate in 2001 and elevated to the Bench in 2004, known for his balanced approach to justice and emphasis on fairness and efficiency.
• Major Contributions: Justice Kant has delivered significant judgments on environmental protection, social justice, governance accountability, and human rights, reflecting his inclusive legal philosophy.
• Administrative Reforms: He is expected to continue efforts initiated by his predecessors on judicial transparency, case digitization, and timely adjudication, strengthening public confidence in the judiciary.

India Achieves Three Guinness World Records for Swasth Nari Campaign

In the News:  India achieved three Guinness World Records under the ‘Swasth Nari, Shakti Nari’ campaign, a nationwide women’s health initiative launched to promote awareness of preventive healthcare, nutrition, and fitness. The campaign highlights the government’s commitment to empowering women through holistic well-being and health education.

Key Points:

• Record Achievement: India secured three Guinness World Records for the largest simultaneous women’s health awareness drive, the highest participation in fitness pledges, and the biggest online session on menstrual hygiene management.
• Campaign Objective: The ‘Swasth Nari, Shakti Nari’ campaign aims to strengthen women’s health literacy, promote early screening for anemia, cervical cancer, and breast health, and encourage regular physical activity across all age groups.
• Organizing Ministry: The initiative is spearheaded by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, in collaboration with the Ministry of Women and Child Development and state health departments.
• Nationwide Participation: Over 20 lakh women and girls from across India participated in on-ground and virtual sessions, highlighting the campaign’s reach in both rural and urban communities.
• Focus Areas: Activities included nutrition counseling, yoga and fitness workshops, menstrual hygiene education, and health check-up camps conducted simultaneously across districts
• Symbol of Empowerment: The campaign aligns with India’s vision of “Nari Shakti for Viksit Bharat”, recognizing that women’s health and empowerment are central to national development.

India and US Sign Landmark 10-Year Defence Framework Agreement

In the News:  India and the United States signed a landmark 10-year Defence Framework Agreement in New Delhi to deepen strategic and defence cooperation. The pact was signed during the visit of U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, reaffirming the countries’ commitment to a free, open, and secure Indo-Pacific.

Key Points:

• Agreement Signing: The 10-year India–US Defence Framework Agreement (2025–2035) was signed by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin at South Block, New Delhi.
• Strategic Objective: The agreement seeks to enhance cooperation in defence technology, joint exercises, logistics, intelligence sharing, and maritime security, particularly across the Indo-Pacific region. Technology Collaboration: It strengthens defence industrial collaboration through initiatives under INDUS-X, promoting joint research, co-development, and co-production of advanced military technologies.
• Operational Integration: The framework institutionalises more joint service exercises, defence space cooperation, and AI-enabled command systems, expanding the interoperability of both armed forces.
• Maritime Security Focus: Both sides emphasized cooperation in ensuring freedom of navigation and regional stability in the Indian Ocean and South China Sea, aligning with shared Indo-Pacific goals.Long-Term Partnership: The agreement replaces the 2015 framework and establishes a forward-looking mechanism for continuous strategic dialogue and defence innovation.
• Geopolitical Significance: The pact reflects India’s growing global role as a security provider and cements the India–US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership, underscoring shared values of democracy and rule-based order in the region.

Xi–Trump Meeting: Key Takeaways and What It Means for India

In the News: Chinese President Xi Jinping and former U.S. President Donald Trump held a high-profile meeting in Beijing, marking their first major dialogue since renewed U.S.–China tensions over trade, technology, and Taiwan. The meeting aimed to stabilize bilateral relations amid shifting global alliances and was closely watched by policymakers worldwide, including in India.

Key Points:

• Meeting Context: The Xi–Trump talks were convened after months of escalating rhetoric over tariffs, semiconductor restrictions, and the status of Taiwan, signaling a cautious reset between the world’s two largest economies.
• Trade & Technology Focus: Both leaders agreed to reopen select trade channels, particularly in agriculture and energy, while also exploring limited cooperation in AI safety standards and climate technology.
• Taiwan & Indo-Pacific: Xi reaffirmed China’s sovereignty claims over Taiwan, while Trump reiterated the U.S. stance on freedom of navigation in the South China Sea, underscoring continuing strategic divergence.
• Global Implications: The meeting reduced immediate risks of an economic confrontation but left geopolitical tensions unresolved, especially in East Asia and the Indo-Pacific.
• India’s Perspective: For India, the dialogue underscores the need to maintain strategic autonomy. While easing U.S.–China friction may lower regional volatility, it also requires India to reinforce its partnerships within Quad and strengthen domestic manufacturing under ‘Make in India’ to remain competitive.

Amazon FACE Experiment Recreates Future Atmosphere to Study Forest Response

In the News:  Scientists launched the Amazon FACE (Free-Air CO₂ Enrichment) experiment in Manaus, Brazil — the world’s largest forest-based climate research initiative. The project aims to simulate future atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂) levels to study how the Amazon rainforest, often called the “lungs of the Earth,” will respond to rising greenhouse gas concentrations.

Key Points:

• Project Launch: The Amazon FACE experiment was initiated by Brazil’s National Institute for Amazonian Research (INPA) in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Energy and UK Met Office, marking a landmark in global climate science cooperation.
• Research Goal: The project artificially increases CO₂ levels around selected patches of forest to mimic future atmospheric conditions expected by 2050–2070, allowing scientists to observe real-time effects on tree growth, soil health, and carbon uptake.
• Scientific Innovation: FACE technology enables researchers to enrich the air around trees without enclosing them, preserving natural interactions between vegetation, soil microbes, and climate.
• Expected Outcomes: Findings will help predict whether the Amazon will continue to act as a carbon sink or shift toward becoming a carbon source, influencing global climate projections.
• Environmental Significance: Understanding the Amazon’s resilience under high CO₂ conditions is vital to global climate targets and biodiversity preservation, as the rainforest stores nearly 100 billion tonnes of carbon.
• Collaborative Impact: The initiative aligns with global climate frameworks under the Paris Agreement, contributing data for sustainable forest management and adaptation strategies worldwide.

UNEP Adaptation Gap Report (AGR) 2025

In the News: The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) released its flagship Adaptation Gap Report (AGR) 2025, highlighting the growing disparity between climate adaptation needs and available finance. The report underscores that while global mitigation efforts remain inadequate, the world is also failing to invest sufficiently in adaptation measures crucial to protect vulnerable populations and ecosystems.

Key Points:

• Report Launch: The Adaptation Gap Report 2025 was released by UNEP ahead of the UN Climate Conference (COP30), calling for urgent scaling up of adaptation finance and implementation globally.
• Key Finding: Global adaptation finance needs are now estimated to be 10–18 times higher than current international public flows, widening the climate resilience gap, particularly in developing nations.
• Geographic Focus: Africa, South Asia, and Small Island Developing States (SIDS) remain the most exposed to climate shocks such as floods, droughts, and heatwaves, with limited fiscal space for adaptation investments.
• Policy Insights: The report stresses that adaptation must move beyond planning to concrete execution — integrating resilience in agriculture, water management, health, and infrastructure sectors.
• Finance and Action Gap: Although global climate finance surpassed USD 600 billion in 2024, less than 5% was directed toward adaptation-specific initiatives, a trend UNEP calls “alarming and unsustainable.”
• India’s Context: The report commends India’s National Adaptation Fund for Climate Change (NAFCC) and initiatives like PM-KUSUM and Mission LiFE, highlighting them as scalable models for developing economies.
• Recommendations: UNEP calls for a global “Adaptation Acceleration Pact” at COP30, urging nations to double adaptation finance by 2030 and link it with loss and damage funding mechanisms.

Namitbir Singh Walia from Punjab Earns Prestigious International Master Title

In the News: Namitbir Singh Walia, a young chess prodigy from Punjab, India, was officially awarded the International Master (IM) title by the Fédération Internationale des Échecs (FIDE). His achievement marks a major milestone in Indian chess, further strengthening India’s growing reputation as a powerhouse in the global chess community.

Key Points:

• Achievement Recognition: FIDE conferred the International Master title upon Namitbir Singh Walia after he secured all three required IM norms and surpassed the FIDE rating threshold of 2400.
• Background: Hailing from Patiala, Punjab, Namitbir began playing chess at an early age and has consistently performed strongly in both national and international tournaments.
• Tournament Success: He earned his final IM norm at the Asian Continental Chess Championship 2025, where he recorded wins against several higher-rated international players.
• Contribution to Indian Chess: Walia’s achievement adds to India’s expanding roster of titled players, following the successes of Gukesh D, Praggnanandhaa, and Divya Deshmukh, reinforcing the nation’s global chess stature.
• Training and Mentorship: He has trained under reputed Indian coaches and credited his success to family support, the All India Chess Federation (AICF), and Punjab’s local chess academies.
• Youth Inspiration: Walia’s journey from local tournaments in Punjab to earning the IM title serves as an inspiration for aspiring young players, emphasizing discipline, analytical rigor, and sportsmanship.

Historic Win! India Stun Australia to Enter Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 Final

In the News:   The Indian women’s cricket team scripted history by defeating Australia in a thrilling semi-final to enter the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 Final. The victory marks one of India’s greatest moments in women’s cricket, breaking Australia’s long-standing dominance and earning a place in the final for the first time since 2017.

Key Points:

• Match Venue: The semi-final was held at Eden Park, Auckland, where India triumphed over defending champions Australia by 27 runs in a nail-biting contest.
• Batting Brilliance: Smriti Mandhana starred with a magnificent century (112 off 121 balls), anchoring India’s innings alongside captain Harmanpreet Kaur, who contributed a steady 67 runs.
• Bowling Excellence: The bowling attack, led by Renuka Singh Thakur and Deepti Sharma, dismantled Australia’s middle order, restricting them to 242 while chasing India’s total of 269.Historic Milestone: This victory ended Australia’s 15-match unbeaten streak in World Cups and propelled India to its third-ever Women’s ODI World Cup final.
• Team Spirit: The match showcased India’s balance between youth and experience — with Richa Ghosh’s sharp wicketkeeping and Shafali Verma’s early aggression proving crucial.
• Upcoming Challenge: India will face England in the final on November 3, 2025, in Melbourne — a rematch of the iconic 2017 final that India narrowly lost.