Daily Current Affairs & Key Questions for NDA & Competitive Exams – 9 October 2025

Welcome to your daily roundup of the latest current affairs essential for NDA preparation and other competitive exams. Today’s post covers vital updates across politics, defence, economy, science, and sports, helping you stay sharp for the NDA exam.

Politics & Governance

Government Initiatives and Policies

• The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved four major railway projects worth Rs. 24,634 crore across Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, and Chhattisgarh as part of the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan, aiming to enhance connectivity and economic development.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi officially inaugurated the India Mobile Congress 2025, focusing on digital innovation and telecom advancements to drive India’s tech growth.
• SEBI announced a quantum-safe initiative targeting operational readiness by 2028-29 to protect India’s financial systems from emerging quantum computing threats.
• Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri unveiled India’s green hydrogen plan targeting 5 million tonnes by 2030, aiming to reduce $150 billion annual energy imports and establish India as a global hydrogen hub.
• RBI introduced Unified Lending Interface, CBDC sandbox, and tokenized Certificates of Deposit to boost fintech innovations and digital finance inclusion.

Opposition and Electoral Politics

• In Bihar, intense seat-sharing negotiations are underway among NDA allies (BJP, JD(U), LJP, HAM) and the opposition INDIA alliance (RJD, Congress, CPI, CPI(ML), VIP) ahead of the assembly elections slated for November 6 and 11. Chirag Paswan’s LJP and Jitan Ram Manjhi’s HAM are demanding significant shares, complicating alliances.
• Congress finalized candidates for 23 Bihar Assembly seats amidst seat-sharing talks with allies, while RJD and others actively prepare campaigns.
• West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee criticized exorbitant airfare hikes post-natural disaster and accused the BJP-led Tripura government of obstructing relief efforts. BJP hit back, accusing her government of ruling with a ‘Talibani mindset’ following political violence allegations.
• BJP leaders from Manipur NDA MLAs continue to pressure the central government for the restoration of the state government amid ongoing President’s Rule.

Political Developments Abroad

• The US government remains partly shut down amid congressional gridlock. Republicans control the House and Senate, while Democrats’ bill to end the shutdown is struggling in the Senate.
• UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer arrived in Mumbai for bilateral talks focusing on trade, fintech, and defence cooperation with India.

These updates reflect dynamic governance policies and election strategies shaping the political landscape, critical for understanding current affairs in preparation for competitive exams.

Geopolitics ( Hot Buzz )

• The concept of a “multipolar West” is emerging, with Europe seeking strategic autonomy in economic, technological, and military domains, moving away from US-centric dominance. This shift opens new diplomatic and trade opportunities for India, especially in technology, defense, and trade sectors. India’s role is seen as central in Europe’s Indo-Pacific strategy, offering India leverage to diversify global partnerships amid geopolitical fragmentation.
• British Prime Minister’s recent visit to Mumbai signals strengthening UK-India ties including a new trade pact with the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) countries, and deepening discussions with the European Union, indicating Europe’s rising importance in Indian diplomacy.

Regional Security and Diplomatic Developments

• The Moscow format meeting involving countries such as India, Afghanistan, China, Russia, and Pakistan continues as a platform for peace and stability negotiation concerning Afghanistan. Recently, the Taliban attended the meeting formally for the first time, reflecting complex developments in Central Asian geopolitics.
• Russia’s formal recognition of the Taliban government signals a potential domino effect in regional diplomacy that may reshape alliances in Central Asia and beyond, adding layers of complexity to the geopolitics of the region.

Global Geopolitical Risks and Trends

• Persistent geopolitical risks in 2025 include the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, US-China strategic competition, and cyber warfare threats targeting critical infrastructure globally. Increased nationalism and protectionism are challenging globalization trends, affecting international trade and diplomatic relations.
• Energy security remains a major geopolitical concern due to ongoing conflicts and supply disruptions, while climate change and its related policies exert political influence worldwide.

Emerging Geopolitical Routes and Strategic Infrastructure

• China’s Arctic “Polar Silk Route” saw the departure of its first ship via the Arctic Ocean along Russia’s coast, signaling strategic efforts to develop new trade corridors connecting East Asia, North America, and Europe via shorter, cost-effective maritime routes.

US-Western Hemisphere and Global Diplomatic Dynamics

• The US, under President Trump’s current administration, is prioritizing renewed engagement in the Western Hemisphere while pursuing pragmatic, transactional foreign policies that could reshape global alliances and regional balances.

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Defence & International Relations

Exercise Cold Start: India’s Army, Navy, and Air Force to conduct a large-scale drone and counter-drone warfare exercise focused on inter-service collaboration in unmanned technologies, led by the Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan at Babina and Mhow stations. This marks a new era of drone warfare preparation.

Andhra Pradesh is emerging as a defense manufacturing hub with Bharat Dynamics setting up an integrated weapons and propellant complex near Donakonda, focusing on advanced anti-drone systems and international defense orders from firms like Elbit Security Systems, Israel.

Indian Navy is strategically enhancing its presence near Turkey in the Eastern Mediterranean and South Caucasus amid tensions over Turkey’s support to Pakistan and regional influence. India is deepening naval cooperation with Greece and Cyprus as a counterbalance.

India-UK Bilateral Maritime Exercise KONKAN-2025 commenced off India’s western coast, involving full carrier strike groups from both navies. The exercise focuses on interoperability and maritime security cooperation covering anti-air, anti-surface, and anti-submarine warfare.

Border Roads Organisation built the world’s highest motorable road at Mig La Pass in Ladakh at an altitude of 19,400 feet, surpassing previous records, strengthening border infrastructure.

India and Israel signed a new bilateral investment agreement enhancing their strategic and economic ties.

India’s strategic autonomy highlighted as a key foreign policy framework in the multipolar world.

The Indian Army to host the United Nations Troop Contributing Countries’ Chiefs Conclave in New Delhi from October 14 to 16, 2025, emphasizing India’s leadership in global peacekeeping.

These updates cover important defense exercises, strategic international partnerships, defense manufacturing growth, and geopolitical moves relevant to India’s defense and foreign relations landscape in October 2025.

Economy & Environment

India achieved record solar and wind power generation in H1 2025, cutting power sector emissions by 24 million tonnes. Solar output increased 25% to 9.2% of total electricity, and wind power grew 29% to 5.1%, driven by slower electricity demand, falling renewable costs, and strong policy support for clean energy transition.

The World Bank raised India’s GDP growth forecast to 6.5% for FY26 due to strong domestic demand, rural recovery, and GST reforms, reaffirming India as the world’s fastest-growing major economy. However, the FY27 forecast was lowered to 6.3% citing impact of U.S. tariffs.

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved four major railway multi-tracking projects worth ₹24,634 crore across Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, and Chhattisgarh as part of the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan to enhance connectivity and economic growth.

India launched five major national species conservation projects during Wildlife Week 2025 in Dehradun, focusing on human-wildlife coexistence, including Project Dolphin Phase II, Sloth Bear, Gharial conservation, and AI tools for conflict mitigation.

The WTO cut its 2026 global trade forecast but raised its 2025 outlook amid tariff shifts, impacting global economic dynamics.

The 2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded to Susumu Kitagawa, Richard Robson, and Omar M. Yaghi for pioneering work on metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), highlighting advances in material science.

The report on poverty and social justice showed a decline in extreme poverty and child labor in India, but challenges remain with 800 million people living on less than USD 3 per day and one in four lacking access to safely managed drinking water.

These current affairs highlight India’s economic growth, renewable energy progress, environmental conservation initiatives, major infrastructure projects, and global economic conditions in October 2025.

Science & Technology

• ISRO’s Vyommitra, India’s first humanoid robot, is set to be a major part of the Gaganyaan mission, showcasing India’s advancements in AI and space robotics.
• The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) launched Indian Radio Software Architecture (IRSA) 1.0 to enable interoperability in military communication through Software Defined Radios, advancing defense tech self-reliance.
• Nvidia announced a historic $100 billion investment in OpenAI infrastructure, marking a huge boost to AI development and tech innovation worldwide.
• The 2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded for pioneering work on metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), opening new avenues in material science applications.
• AI-based audit systems are being launched by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) for better oversight and governance transparency.
• India plans to launch its first Red List of endangered species at the IUCN World Conservation Congress, integrating technology for biodiversity monitoring.
• Advances in quantum computing were recognized with the 2025 Nobel Prize in Physics awarded to researchers who discovered macroscopic quantum mechanical tunneling and energy quantization in electric circuits.
• New discoveries include a species of eel (Apterichtus kanniyakumari) off the Tamil Nadu coast and research on “Natal Kick” by scientists measuring newborn star velocities for the first time.

Sports

• ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup matches continue with India Women playing South Africa Women in Visakhapatnam and Australia Women defeating Pakistan Women by 107 runs in Colombo.
• In the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Asia & EAP Qualifier at Oman, Nepal beat Kuwait by 58 runs.
• Afghanistan defeated Bangladesh by 5 wickets in the 1st ODI of the 3-match series in Abu Dhabi.
• Novak Djokovic battled injury to reach the quarterfinals of the Shanghai Masters 2025.
• Wrestler Aman Sehrawat was suspended for one year following disqualification at the World Championships.
• Recent tennis highlights include strong performances from rising stars in global tournaments.
• Indian pacers Mohammed Siraj and Kuldeep Yadav climbed ICC Men’s Test Player Rankings after standout performances in the Ahmedabad Test against West Indies.
• LeBron James led the LA Lakers to their 17th NBA championship.
• Max Verstappen won the Las Vegas Grand Prix in Formula 1 racing.

Awards & Recognisations ( Past 24 hrs )

Lieutenant Bhunesh Dagar was awarded the Silver Gun Trophy for outstanding performance at the Army Air Defence College, recognizing excellence in military training and leadership. This award was announced as the 24-week Young Officers Course concluded recently.

Indian Air Force Day 2025 was observed with the theme “Operation Sindoor,” commemorating the achievements and dedication of the Indian Air Force, a significant event inspiring defense aspirants. The celebrations highlighted the role of the IAF in national security and humanitarian operations as of October 8, 2025.

These updates within the last 24 hours are notable for motivating and informing NDA aspirants about recent defense honors and ceremonial observances.

Uttarakhand Updates

Wildlife Week 2025 was celebrated in Dehradun, Uttarakhand, under the theme “Human-Wildlife Coexistence.” The event included launching key initiatives like the RO Mobile App for digitizing revenue officers’ work and the Integrated Land Administration System unifying land records digitally. Several MoUs were signed for academic centers of excellence.

The Uttarakhand Religious Freedom (Amendment) Bill 2025 was passed to prevent forced or fraudulent religious conversions and regulate religious freedoms.

The state government started a program to conserve and replant 14 threatened and rare plant species in their natural habitats, showcasing Uttarakhand’s ecological commitment.

Uttarakhand implemented Operation Clean, aimed at curbing fake drug trade and protecting public health.

The state government announced 10% horizontal reservation in government services for Agniveers as a recognition measure for their service.

In tourism, Uttarakhand began a carrying capacity survey at popular locations like Nainital, Kanchidham, and Bhawali to ensure sustainable tourism management.

Smriti Rawat was crowned Miss Uttarakhand 2025.

16 teachers were honored with the Shailesh Matiyani State Teacher Award 2024 on Teacher’s Day, recognizing excellence in primary and secondary education.

Districts like Rudraprayag and Tehri Garhwal in Uttarakhand report high landslide density, calling for focused disaster management efforts.

These updates highlight Uttarakhand’s ecological initiatives, governance, tourism management, social recognitions, and disaster awareness in October 2025.

Importance for NDA and Other Aspirants

Regular updates across diverse fields form the backbone of General Knowledge for NDA and SSB exams. Awareness of such current affairs sharpens candidates’ understanding of national and global issues, which is crucial for interview discussions and written tests in the NDA exam.

Repeated Past Important Questions

1. Which plan includes the development of multi-tracking rail projects across Indian states, approved in 2025?
2. The DRDO’s advancements in which type of weapons significantly enhance India’s defence preparedness?
3. What is the theme typically celebrated on Air Force Day in India?
4. Who were the recipients of the 2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry and what was their contribution?
5. Which international body is responsible for addressing environmental crimes like wildlife trafficking during G20 summits?

Try answering these questions to solidify your preparation!

Closing Words & Coaching Mention

To get all the latest and most important current affairs for your NDA preparation, make sure to click here every day or visit groundzeroinstitute.com/blog/ at 11:30 AM

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