Daily Current Affairs & Key Questions for NDA & Competitive Exams – 17 October 2025

Introduction

This post summarizes the latest current affairs crucial for NDA preparation. Stay updated with key news across Politics, Defence, Economy, Science, and Sports relevant for the NDA exam and other competitive exams.

Key Recent Current Affairs Highlights

Politics & Governance

• In Bihar, political tensions are high over assembly elections with major strife inside NDA (BJP, JDU) regarding seat sharing among leaders like Chirag Paswan, Nitish Kumar, and others. Opposition parties RJD and Congress are also facing internal conflicts, particularly on seat allocation, with their alliance talks seeing deadlock. The RJD focuses campaign on employment and youth issues. NDA leaders Amit Shah and Yogi Adityanath are actively campaigning in Bihar while opposition leaders try to consolidate votes.​
• Gujarat’s cabinet expansion is scheduled soon under Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel aiming to strengthen governance by introducing new ministers.​
• The Election Commission of India (ECI) denied allegations of communal bias in Bihar’s voter list after complaints about exclusion of Muslims. ECI directed officials to maintain transparency and fairness. Opposition parties, including Shiv Sena (UBT) and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, have demanded correcting voter list anomalies before local body elections, reflecting ongoing discontent among opposition ranks on electoral roll issues.​
• Key opposition leaders held press conferences demanding correction of electoral roll issues in Maharashtra and have threatened to stall local elections unless anomalies are addressed. However, some opposition leaders acknowledge errors but call for balanced action given local election delays.​
• The Election Commission has served show-cause notices to district authorities over inconsistencies in voter rolls, indicating government action on electoral transparency concerns raised by opposition parties.​
• In Bihar, the Vikasheel Insaan Party (VIP), once seen as a potential disruptor to the opposition alliance, has agreed to contest 15 seats as part of the grand alliance, reducing fears of splits that could benefit NDA.

Geopolitics ( Hot Buzz )

• U.S. President Donald Trump plans to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Budapest after a frank phone call discussing the Ukraine conflict, including concerns over U.S. delivery of long-range Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine which Russia views as harmful to peace ties. Top U.S. and Russian officials are set for further talks soon, signaling ongoing diplomatic engagement amid tensions.
• India successfully tested a new long-range surface-to-air missile to strengthen its air defense capabilities as tensions in the Indo-Pacific region rise. India continues balancing ties with the U.S., Russia, and China while pushing strategic autonomy and participation in groupings like BRICS and SCO.
• India’s geopolitical stance involves multi-alignment and strategic autonomy, engaging flexibly with global powers and regional neighbors. New Delhi fosters partnerships across Europe, the Middle East, and Asia to promote its economic and security interests amidst U.S.-China rivalry.
• The Indo-Pacific region remains a strategic hotspot with escalating defense spending and new alliance frameworks like AUKUS, U.S.-Japan, and U.S.-India defense partnerships. Countries in the region prioritize strategic pluralism over binary alignments to safeguard autonomy.
• China’s rare earth export controls, Thailand-Cambodia border tensions, and complex dynamics in South Asia including Pakistan-Afghanistan relations add to regional uncertainties. Globally, economic concerns in the U.S., rising gold prices, and political crises in places like Madagascar persist.
• Russia’s recognition of the Taliban and its potential regional ripple effects, alongside ongoing civil conflicts in Sudan and protests in Kenya, reflect broader global geopolitical instability.
• India has condemned Pakistan’s recent military actions along the Afghan border, reaffirming support for Afghanistan’s sovereignty amid ongoing border tensions.

These geopolitical developments depict an evolving, multipolar global order with India navigating complex strategic challenges by balancing relationships while asserting its strategic autonomy in a competitive Indo-Pacific environment.

​​Defence & International Relations

• Defence Minister Rajnath Singh unveiled the first Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Mk1A fighter jet at HAL Nashik, marking a major milestone in India’s indigenous defence manufacturing. The fighter incorporates enhanced avionics and weapon systems. HAL has started the third production line in Nashik to fast-track deliveries to the Indian Air Force.
• DRDO showcased advanced defence technologies including the Pinaka rocket system, Zorawar mini tank, Akash-NG missile, and other innovations to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence, underscoring the government’s focus on technological self-reliance (Aatmanirbharta) in defence.
• India has begun serial production of the LRAShM (Long-Range Anti-Ship Missile), a hypersonic missile that enhances India’s strategic maritime capabilities.
• India actively conducted joint military exercises with multiple countries in 2025 including major drills with the UK (KONKAN), USA (YUDH ABHYAS), Japan (DHARMA GUARDIAN), and France (SHAKTI), emphasizing interoperability, combat readiness, and strategic cooperation.

International Relations:

• External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar emphasized India’s commitment to strategic autonomy and multi-alignment during a speech at Jawaharlal Nehru University, highlighting India’s balanced diplomacy amidst global power rivalries.
• India reiterated its firm support for free, fair, inclusive elections in Bangladesh, urging the country to conduct the next general election without delay.
• India’s diplomatic relations continue strengthening with Finland, marking bilateral cooperation in various sectors and reaffirming partnership goals.
• The India-UK joint statement included commitments on cutting-edge technology cooperation in AI, 6G, biotech, and cybersecurity.
• India condemned Pakistan’s military incursions near the Afghan border and reaffirmed support for Afghanistan’s sovereignty amid regional tensions.

Economy & Environment

Economy:

• The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has raised India’s GDP growth forecast for FY26 to 6.6%, up from the earlier 6.4%, reflecting strong domestic demand and economic resilience despite US tariffs on Indian exports. For FY27, the forecast is moderated to 6.2%. India continues to be the fastest-growing major economy globally. The IMF emphasizes the importance of open trade, infrastructure investment, and scaling the labor force to sustain growth.
• Indian stock markets saw gains led by sectors such as FMCG, automobiles, and banks. The Sensex rose by over 450 points to around 83,922, while the Nifty50 gained nearly 127 points. Weakness in oil prices to around $60 per barrel helped reduce raw material costs, benefiting paint stocks notably. However, IT and pharma sectors faced slight pressure.

Environment:

• Malaysia has launched a climate investment fund, Dana Iklim+, targeting $475 million for infrastructure, private equity, real estate, and nature-based solutions aimed at achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.
• ASEAN countries have committed to increasing renewable energy targets to 45% of electricity capacity by 2030 and reducing energy intensity by 40% from 2005 levels, underscoring a strong regional push for energy transition.
• Research has shown India’s sunshine hours have declined over the past 30 years, mainly due to aerosols, cloud cover, and local weather conditions, impacting solar energy potential. This trend varies regionally and seasonally and poses challenges to renewable energy generation.
• Indonesia has lifted a four-year moratorium on international carbon credit trading, allowing companies to sell credits abroad under national and UN standards to align with emission reduction goals.

These developments highlight a positive economic outlook for India with challenges and initiatives in sustainable energy and climate action regionally.

Science & Technology

• Scientists are advancing studies that bring them closer to confirming the existence of dark matter, which constitutes roughly 27% of the universe’s mass. Research on gamma rays near the Milky Way’s center shows signals consistent with dark matter particle collisions, a major breakthrough in cosmology expected to be further clarified by the Cherenkov Telescope Array Observatory, operational by 2026.
• The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully tested a new long-range surface-to-air missile off the Odisha coast, enhancing India’s air defence network against aerial threats.
• The India Meteorological Department declared the official withdrawal of the southwest monsoon for 2025 after a near-normal rainfall season that supported agricultural output.
• The government approved a new policy to promote domestic semiconductor startups to boost indigenous innovation and reduce dependency on imports, a significant move for India’s high-tech manufacturing ecosystem.
• Zoho’s messaging app Arattai announced interoperability features akin to UPI and email, signaling growth in indigenous digital ecosystem innovations.
• On the science funding front, India’s Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and Technology Development Board (TDB) have ongoing proposals inviting collaborative research partnerships internationally, including with the EU and Canada, with deadlines on 17 October 2025.

Sports

• Australia became the first team to reach the semifinals of the Women’s Cricket World Cup held in India, after a dominant ten-wicket win over Bangladesh. Key performances included a strong opening by Phoebe Litchfield and a fine unbeaten 66 by Bangladesh’s Sibanda.
• Indian badminton stars Satwik Sai Raj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, along with Lakshya Sen, advanced to the quarterfinals of the Denmark Open Super 750 tournament, showcasing India’s rising prominence in badminton.
• Indian shooter Zoravar Singh Sandhu ranked fifth after the first day of the men’s trap qualification round at the ISSF World Championship in Athens, remaining a strong contender among 133 competitors.
• Virat Kohli hinted at a possible comeback to international cricket in the upcoming ODI series against Australia starting October 29, following his long hiatus after retiring from Tests and T20Is.
• In football, defending champions Arsenal maintained their top position with a win in the UEFA Women’s Champions League group stage. Real Kashmir FC withdrew from the AIFF Super Cup and were replaced by Dempo SC.
• Pro Kabaddi League matches continue with teams like Bengal Warriorz, Patna Pirates, Tamil Thalaivas, and Jaipur Pink Panthers securing wins in recent fixtures.

Uttarakhand Updates

• Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami laid the foundation stone and performed land worship for the ‘Way Side Amenity’ project in Amodi, Champawat, with an estimated cost of ₹1.6 crore. This project is a key step towards realizing the vision of an ‘Ideal Champawat’ and aims to improve infrastructure and tourist facilities.
• The state government plans a cabinet expansion soon with five vacant posts expected to be filled. CM Dhami will visit Delhi on 17 October 2025 for discussions with central leadership on this matter.
• Strict actions continue in the state with closure of 250 madrasas as part of a crackdown on activities deemed ‘love, spit, and land jihad,’ as stated by CM Dhami, emphasizing law and order and social harmony.
• There has been a controversial incident in Uttarkashi where a restaurant employee was caught in a video spitting on butter naan. Hindu organizations have condemned this as an act of ‘spit jihad’ and demanded strict action. Police have filed a case against the accused.
• Traffic arrangements for Diwali have been implemented in Haridwar from 17 to 24 October 2025, restricting heavy vehicles and managing vehicle movement on designated routes to ease congestion.
• Weather conditions showed deterioration before Diwali with alarming air pollution levels reported in Dehradun and Kashipur, posing health concerns.
• Uttarakhand is hosting the Uttarakhand AI Impact Summit 2025 in Dehradun on 17 October, focusing on AI for social inclusion, innovation, and governance under the state’s Digital Uttarakhand vision, collaborating with the India AI Mission and Ministry of Electronics & IT.
• Infrastructure development is underway with the Adani Group planning a ₹4,000 crore ropeway project expected to reduce the Kedarnath pilgrimage time from 9 hours to 36 minutes.

Importance for NDA and Other Aspirants

Diverse current affairs across governance, defence, economy, science, and sports form the backbone of the general knowledge required for NDA and SSB interviews. Regular updates strengthen your understanding of national priorities and global events, crucial for cracking the NDA exam.

Practice Questions

1. Who is the current Chairperson of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)?
2. What is the significance of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act for India?
3. Name the Indian Navy ship that recently participated in the inaugural IN-RoKN bilateral naval exercise?
4. What is India’s FY26 growth forecast as per the IMF?
5. Which country hosted the 2025 Women’s Cricket World Cup semifinals?

Closing Words & Coaching Mention

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