Daily Current Affairs & Key Questions for NDA & Competitive Exams – 18 October 2025
Stay updated with today’s most important current affairs, carefully curated for NDA preparation and other competitive exams. This concise summary covers key developments in politics, defence, science, sports, and more from the last 24 hours—essential for mastering GK and acing SSB interviews.
Key Recent Current Affairs Highlights
Politics & Governance
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered the keynote address at the NDTV World Summit 2025, emphasizing government priorities on improving people’s lives, focussing on marginalized sections, and advancing democracy and the Constitution. He highlighted the government’s efforts to reduce poverty and support struggling sectors like BSNL.
- The Gujarat cabinet is set for an expansion to strengthen governance with new leadership faces joining the state administration, aiming to boost political administration effectiveness.
- Home Minister Amit Shah reiterated India’s zero tolerance stance on criminals operating from abroad, underlining a strong policy approach to cross-border crime and national security cooperation.
- India reaffirmed its commitment at the Non-Aligned Movement meet to a negotiated two-state solution for Palestine, considering it the viable path for peace in the Middle East.
- Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s JD(U) party announced candidates for all 101 assembly seats, focusing on backward and minority communities to reinforce inclusivity.
- The CBI arrested Punjab Police DIG Harcharan Singh Bhullar amid a graft case investigation, reflecting ongoing efforts to tackle corruption.
- The Karnataka government proposed new regulations curbing RSS activities on public roads and in government institutions, highlighting political dynamics in the state.
These updates are key governance and political developments across national and regional levels impacting policy and political landscapes in India.
Defence & International Relations
- India successfully test-fired the NAG MK-2 Anti-Tank Guided Missile (ATGM) from the new indigenous light tank, Zorawar, developed by DRDO and L&T. This marks a major milestone in India’s armoured warfare modernization and self-reliance in defence manufacturing. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh praised the achievement, highlighting enhanced combat capabilities for sensitive borders.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi, at the NDTV World Summit 2025, declared that India no longer endures terrorism silently, citing Operation Sindoor as a decisive response to threats. This reflects India’s robust stance on national security and counter-terrorism.
- India’s External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar met Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya to reaffirm strong bilateral ties and regional cooperation, underlining India’s neighbourhood-first policy approach.
- The Indian Navy inducted its 11th ACTCM Barge LSAM 25, boosting operational readiness and maritime capabilities.
- Former Australian PM Tony Abbott criticized Pakistan as a military dictatorship, praising India’s democratic strength, reflecting geopolitical perspectives shared at the NDTV World Summit 2025.
- On the international front, tensions continue around US-China trade relations and rare-earth restrictions, impacting global supply chains and strategic alliances.
- India has been elected as Co-Chair of the Regional Committee of the United Nations Global Geospatial Information Management for Asia and the Pacific (UN-GGIM-AP) for three years, enhancing its role in global geospatial governance.
These developments highlight India’s growing defence capabilities and proactive international diplomacy.
Science & Technology
- Ola Electric launched “Ola Shakti,” a new battery energy storage solution (BESS) based on the 4680 Bharat Cell technology manufactured at the Ola Gigafactory. This system is designed for use from residential setups to grid-scale deployments, aiming to scale annual energy storage to 5 GWh, expanding beyond electric two-wheelers.
- At the NDTV World Summit 2025, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw highlighted India’s advancements in AI and data technology, saying data is the new oil and announcing that over 50 countries have requested Aadhaar architecture. He emphasized India’s growing AI research capabilities, with projects like Google’s AI hub planned in Visakhapatnam.
- The Indian Navy signed an MoU with IIT Delhi planned to focus on innovations improving quality of life on board ships, enhancing technological integration in naval operations.
- The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) World Conservation Congress 2025 in Abu Dhabi revealed India’s new national Red List assessing extinction risks for 11,000 species, launched the Abu Dhabi Call to Action for conservation, and recognized India’s first Dugong Conservation Reserve in Tamil Nadu.
- AR Rahman and Google Cloud collaborated to develop hyper-realistic AI music avatars, blending technology with immersive storytelling and interactive fan engagement.
- South Korea launched its largest-ever arms fair showcasing unmanned and AI-enhanced weapons such as suicide drones and howitzers, reflecting global trends in tech-driven military advancements.
These developments reflect rapid advancements in energy storage, AI, environmental conservation, and technology integration in defence and cultural domains.
Sports
- Veteran Indian shooter Zoravar Singh Sandhu won a historic bronze medal in the men’s trap event at the ISSF World Shotgun Championships 2025 held in Athens, Greece. This is only India’s third medal in the world championships history and a significant achievement for Indian shooting sports.
- Indian shuttler Lakshya Sen secured a place in the quarter-finals of the Men’s Singles at the Denmark Open by defeating Denmark’s Anders Antonsen in straight games.
- The Indian men’s doubles badminton pair, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, advanced to the quarter-finals by defeating their opponents from Chinese Taipei in straight games at the Denmark Open.
- In football, Manipur won the 30th Senior Women’s National Football Championship (Rajmata Jijabai Trophy) by defeating West Bengal 1-0 in the final.
- Indian cricketers Abhishek Sharma and Smriti Mandhana were named ICC Players of the Month for September.
These updates showcase Indian athletes’ strong performances in shooting, badminton, cricket, and football at both national and international levels
Awards & Recognitions
The Global Fintech Awards 2025 honored trailblazing innovators reshaping the financial technology landscape, celebrating advancements in digital payments, blockchain, and financial inclusion worldwide.
Uttarakhand Updates
- The Uttarakhand Assembly Secretariat is preparing for a special session to celebrate the state’s silver jubilee (25 years of statehood) with grand events planned.
- The government has issued alert and strict guidelines for health services to be on 24-hour alert mode during Diwali 2025, focusing on public safety and emergency readiness.
- In Haridwar, a tragic incident occurred where the burnt body of a 25-year-old woman was found near the highway; police investigations are underway.
- The Cyber Cell is investigating an attempt to tarnish the image of the Director General of Information through social media, with a formal complaint lodged.
- Ahead of Diwali, traffic regulations are being enforced strictly in Haridwar, including no entry for heavy vehicles for eight days (October 17 to 24) to manage traffic flow efficiently.
- Air pollution levels have worsened in Dehradun and Kashipur as Diwali approaches, with monitoring ongoing to control environmental impact.
- Political activity continues as Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami participated in election campaigns in Bihar, supporting BJP candidates in multiple rallies.
- The state government has announced a special selection process benefiting 10,000 economically weaker students by offering free coaching for professional courses like engineering and medical studies.
These local updates reflect governance, public safety, environmental, and political activities in Uttarakhand.
Importance for NDA and Other Aspirants
Current affairs are vital for NDA exam and SSB interview success, testing awareness of national progress, defence capabilities, and global dynamics. Regular updates strengthen confidence, improve articulation, and reflect a well-informed mindset—key traits of future officers.
Practice Questions
- What is the theme of World Habitat Day 2025?
- Name the Indian Army initiative that trained peacekeepers from over 90 countries.
- Which country hosted the 2023 COP28 climate summit?
- What does the acronym ‘ESTIC’ stand for in DRDO’s upcoming conclave?
- Which Indian state celebrates ‘Alaska Day’ on 18 October?
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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