Daily Current Affairs Quiz
10 October, 2025
National Affairs
1. India Launches National Red List Assessment for Flora and Fauna
Source: BS
Context:
India has initiated a landmark National Red List Assessment of Indian Flora and Fauna, aimed at evaluating the extinction risk of nearly 11,000 species of plants and animals by 2030. This first-of-its-kind national exercise will provide a comprehensive picture of species vulnerability and guide evidence-based conservation planning.
Key Highlights
- Objective: To assess the conservation status of India’s flora and fauna and fulfil obligations under the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
- Framework: India’s Vision 2025-2030 prepared by Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) and Botanical Survey of India (BSI) in collaboration with IUCN-India and the Centre for Species Survival.
- Outcome: Publication of National Red Data Books for both flora and fauna by 2030 using IUCN-aligned scientific guidelines.
2. India to Host 8th International Solar Alliance (ISA) Assembly
Source: News on Air
Context:
India will host the 8th ISA Assembly from October 27–30, 2025, at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. The event will bring together governments, industry players, and financial institutions to accelerate global solar energy deployment.
About International Solar Alliance (ISA)
- Type: Global intergovernmental organisation
- Objective: Promote solar energy for energy access, security, and climate resilience
- Launch: 2015, during COP21 Climate Summit, Paris
- Founding Countries: India & France
- Headquarters: Gurugram, India (first international organisation headquartered in India)
Membership
- 124 members & signatory countries (2025)
- Over 90 full members
- Open to all UN member states after 2020 framework amendment
Key Aims
- Mobilise USD 1 trillion in solar investments by 2030
- Provide clean energy access to 1 billion people
- Install 1,000 GW of solar capacity globally
- Promote low-cost, sustainable, equitable energy systems, especially for LDCs & SIDS
Functions and Initiatives
- Policy & Advocacy: Supports governments via Ease of Doing Solar analytics and annual solar investment reports
- Programmatic Support: Scales solar projects across agriculture, health, transport, and energy; replicates models like PM-KUSUM & PM Surya Ghar internationally
3. AMRAAM Missile
Source: ET
Context:
The United States has included Pakistan in a modified arms contract with Raytheon Technologies to supply AIM-120 AMRAAM (Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles).
About AIM-120 AMRAAM
- Type: Beyond-Visual-Range (BVR), radar-guided air-to-air missile
- Developer: U.S. Air Force & Raytheon (1980s)
- Capabilities:
- Fire-and-forget: Missile autonomously tracks targets after launch
- Range: Up to 160 km (C8/D3 variants)
- Speed: Up to Mach 4
- Guidance: Inertial navigation + active radar homing
- Platforms: F-15, F-16, F-35, Eurofighter Typhoon, Gripen, etc.
- Strengths: High precision, multi-target capability, all-weather operations, resistant to electronic countermeasures
4. Gharial Classified as “Critically Depleted” in IUCN’s First Green Status Report
Source: TOI
Context:
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), in its first-ever “Green Status” assessment, has classified the gharial (Gavialis gangeticus) as “Critically Depleted”, highlighting that the species’ survival depends on restoring free-flowing river habitats and supporting wild breeding in South Asia, particularly India.
Key Highlights:
- Assessment: First-ever IUCN Green Status assessment.
- Conservation Status: Critically Depleted –
- Assesses species recovery potential, unlike the traditional Red List which focuses on extinction risk.
- Highlights gharial’s “conservation legacy” but emphasizes dependence on ongoing interventions.
- Population:
- About 681 adults remain in the wild, with 80% in the Chambal River (UP, MP, Rajasthan).
- Threats:
- Dam and barrage construction
- Sand mining
- Fishing nets and habitat fragmentation
- Conservation Measures Needed:
- Restoration of free-flowing river stretches
- Protection of nesting habitats
- Support for wild breeding programs
Awards & Recognitions
1. Hungarian Writer László Krasznahorkai Wins 2025 Nobel Prize in Literature
Source: IE
Context:
The 2025 Nobel Prize in Literature has been awarded to Hungarian novelist László Krasznahorkai, recognised for his “compelling and visionary oeuvre that, in the midst of apocalyptic terror, reaffirms the power of art.” The Nobel Committee praised his philosophical depth, artistic courage, and unique narrative style, which often unfolds in long, uninterrupted sentences.
About the Laureate
- Name: László Krasznahorkai
- Age: 71
- Born: Gyula, southeastern Hungary (near the Romanian border)
- Literary Style: Known for bleakly humorous, dense, and philosophical prose, often written as single-sentence novels reflecting chaos, absurdity, and existential struggle.
About the Nobel Prize
- The Nobel Prize in Literature, established in 1901, honours an author who has produced “the most outstanding work in an ideal direction.”
- Award ceremonies will be held on December 10, the anniversary of Alfred Nobel’s death, in Stockholm, Sweden.
Banking/Finance
1. Razorpay, NPCI, and OpenAI Partner to Launch Agentic Payments on ChatGPT
Source: BS
Context:
In a pioneering move blending AI and digital payments, Razorpay, the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), and OpenAI have jointly launched Agentic Payments — a feature that enables UPI-powered shopping and payments directly within ChatGPT. The initiative marks a first-of-its-kind integration of conversational AI and India’s UPI ecosystem, bringing AI-driven commerce into mainstream digital payments.
Key Highlights:
- Feature: Agentic Payments allows users to shop and pay seamlessly within ChatGPT without leaving the chat interface.
- Pilot Launch: The feature is currently in its pilot phase, with early partnerships and limited access.
- Banking Partners: Supported by Axis Bank and Airtel Payments Bank, leveraging UPI innovations like UPI Circle and UPI Reserve Pay.
- Technology Base: Built on Razorpay’s payment infrastructure and integrated with ChatGPT’s conversational capabilities to facilitate AI-native UPI transactions.
2. RBI Governor Urges Fintechs to Drive Inclusive Growth Using India’s Digital Public Infrastructure
Source: TOI
Context:
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Sanjay Malhotra urged India’s fintech ecosystem to leverage the country’s Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) to deliver responsible innovation, promote inclusion, and strengthen India’s journey toward becoming a developed nation by 2047.
Key Highlights:
| Theme | Key Points (Simplified) |
|---|---|
| Responsible & Inclusive Innovation | – Fintechs should make easy-to-use services, especially for seniors and people not familiar with digital tech. – Earn profits by reaching new users, not just richer or already-served people. – India has around 10,000 fintech companies innovating in payments, loans, and financial inclusion. |
| Extending Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) Success | – Use the success of UPI (Unified Payments Interface) and AePS (Aadhaar Enabled Payment System) to provide loans to small businesses and individuals. – DPI has three layers: Identity (Aadhaar), Payments (UPI, AePS), Data (Account Aggregators). |
| RBI-Led Digital Infrastructure | – UMI (Unified Market Interface): Helps trade financial assets digitally and settle with CBDC (Central Bank Digital Currency). – ULI (Unified Lending Interface): Helps lenders use data to give loans to underserved people. |
| Account Aggregator (AA) Framework | – Lets users share financial data safely with permission. – 160 million accounts connected, 3.66 billion data requests processed. – Helps create credit history for people without formal loans. – RBI encourages all AA players to integrate more data and work together. |
| Synergy of UMI, ULI, AA | – Using these together, 3.2 million loans worth ₹1.7 trillion were given by 58 lenders. – Improves loans, money transfers, and trust in digital finance. |
| NPCI Digital Payment Innovations | – AI-based UPI HELP: Chatbot-like help for payments and complaints. – IoT Payments: Pay using smart devices (cars, TVs, watches). – Banking Connect: Easy onboarding and payment settlement for merchants. – UPI Reserve Pay: Block part of credit for recurring payments across apps. |
3. SEBI Reviewing Stock Lending and Borrowing Mechanism (SLBM)
Source: FE
Context:
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) is reviewing the Stock Lending and Borrowing Mechanism (SLBM) to make it more functional and increase market participation. Despite being allowed, short-selling through SLBM remains minimal in India.
Stock Lending and Borrowing Mechanism (SLBM)
The Stock Lending and Borrowing Mechanism (SLBM) is a framework in the Indian stock market that allows investors to temporarily lend or borrow securities. It is mainly used to facilitate short selling, hedging, or market-making.
How It Works
- Lender: A shareholder (like a mutual fund, insurance company, or retail investor) lends shares to a borrower in exchange for a fee.
- Borrower: Usually a trader or institution who wants to short-sell the shares or meet delivery obligations in the market.
- Duration: The lending is temporary, with a pre-agreed return date.
- Collateral: The borrower provides collateral (cash or securities) to the lender to cover risk.
- Settlement: After the loan period ends, the borrower returns the shares and the lender receives the collateral back along with the lending fee.
Purpose & Benefits
- Supports hedging strategies for institutional investors.
- Enables short selling, which helps in price discovery.
- Provides extra income to long-term investors through lending fees.
- Improves market liquidity by making shares available for trading.
4. RBI Lifts Ceiling on Loans Against Corporate Debt
Context:
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has removed restrictions on lending against listed corporate debt securities to deepen the corporate bond market, improve liquidity, and facilitate credit access for investors without forcing them to sell holdings.
Key Highlights:
- Loan Limits Removed:
- Previously, banks could lend only up to ₹20 lakh against listed corporate debt securities.
- Now, there is no ceiling, enabling higher borrowing against these instruments.
- Impact on Investors:
- High Net-Worth Individuals (HNIs), family offices, corporate treasuries, and institutional investors can now access credit more easily.
- AAA, AA+, and AA- rated bonds are likely to benefit first due to high credit quality.
- Bank Credit Against Shares:
- Loan limits for lending against shares increased from ₹20 lakh → ₹1 crore per person.
- IPO financing limits increased from ₹10 lakh → ₹25 lakh per person.
- Expected Benefits:
- Market Depth & Liquidity: Improved trading, turnover, and bid-ask efficiency.
- Investor Flexibility: Enables borrowing without liquidating investments.
- Corporate Bond Market Growth: Encourages participation and utilization of outstanding debt.
5. HSBC India Launches ‘HSBC Innovation Banking’ Platform
Source: BL
Context:
On October 9, 2025, HSBC India launched the “HSBC Innovation Banking” platform in Mumbai to support startups and the growing technology and venture ecosystem in India.
Objective: Provide non-dilutive debt funding to startups across all stages, from seed funding to IPO preparation.
HSBC in India
Full Name: The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited
Established in India: 1853, as Mercantile Bank of India, London and China
Acquired by HSBC: 1959
Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra
CEO (as of 2021): Hitendra Dave
Significance
- Supports startup growth without diluting equity, allowing founders and investors to retain control.
- Strengthens India’s startup and technology ecosystem.
- Facilitates global market access and strategic guidance for Indian startups.
Agriculture
1. e-NAM Platform Expanded with 09 New Commodities
Source: PIB
Context:
The Government of India has expanded the National Agriculture Market (e-NAM) by adding 9 new commodities, increasing the total tradable items to 247.
About e-NAM
- Launched: 14 April 2016
- Purpose: Connects all APMC mandis across India into a unified national digital marketplace.
- Aim:
- Promote uniform agricultural marketing
- Reduce information asymmetry between buyers and sellers
- Ensure transparent price discovery based on demand, supply, and quality
Functions
- Digital Marketplace: Links APMCs, private markets, and buyers nationwide.
- Price Transparency: Real-time auctioning for fair pricing to farmers.
- Quality Assurance: Introduces quality assaying for value-based pricing.
- Ease of Transaction: Online payments, warehouse-based sales, mobile access to market data.
- Inclusive Beneficiaries: Farmers, traders, processors, exporters, and mandis.
Recent Addition
9 new commodities added:
- Green Tea
- Tea
- Aswagandha Dry Roots
- Mustard Oil
- Lavender Oil
- Mentha Oil
- Virgin Olive Oil
- Lavender Dried Flower
- Broken Rice
Impact:
- Total tradable commodities rise to 247
- Enhances trade diversity
- Boosts farmers’ incomes
- Strengthens transparent and quality-driven agricultural trading ecosystem
Facts To Remember
1. PM pitches India’s fintech start-ups to Global South
Prime Minister Narendra Modi pitched India as a fintech hub for the Global South to “enhance digital cooperation and partnership across the world,” at an event where he shared the stage with Prime Minister of U.K. Keir Starmer, at Mumbai.
2. Champion jockey Aslam Kader passes away
Former champion jockey Aslam Kader passed away on Thursday morning (Oct. 9) in Bengaluru, after a long battle with lung cancer. He was 63.
3. All-India house price index up 3.6% annually in Q1: RBI
All-India House Price Index (HPI) based on transaction-level data of 18 major cities increased by 3.6% year-on-year in the first quarter of the current fiscal, according to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) data released
4. India and Australia sign three key pacts to expand defence ties
India and Australia on Thursday signed three key pacts including one on information sharing, to further expand their bilateral defence and military ties following “productive” talks between defence minister Rajnath Singh and his Australian counterpart Richard Marles in Canberra.
5. Three Major Indian Ports Recognised as Green Hydrogen Hubs Under National Mission
Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has formally recognised three major ports as Green Hydrogen Hubs under the National Green Hydrogen Mission.
6. Rajnath Singh Co-Chairs Maiden India-Australia Defence Industry Roundtable in Sydney
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh today co-chaired the maiden India-Australia Defence Industry Business Roundtable in Sydney with Australia’s Assistant Minister of Defence, Peter Khalil to advance industrial partnerships and capability development between the two nations.
7. India-UK Navies Conduct First Combined Carrier Strike Group Exercise
The United Kingdom’s Royal Navy frigate HMS Richmond arrived at Mumbai Port today following the successful conclusion of Exercise Konkan 2025, held off India’s western coast from 5th-9th of this month.
8. India Wins Historic Bronze at BWF World Junior Mixed Team Championships 2025
The Indian Badminton team clinched bronze in the Mixed Team event at the BWF World Junior Mixed Team Championships 2025 in Guwahati
9. Health Minister JP Nadda Launches Enhanced Tele MANAS App on World Mental Health Day
Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare Jagat Prakash Nadda launched several new initiatives, including Tele MANAS App for the National Tele Mental Health Programme (Tele MANAS) on the occasion of the World Mental Health Day in New Delhi
10. Reserve Bank of India Appoints Shirish Chandra Murmu as Deputy Governor
Shirish Chandra Murmu took charge as the Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank of India yesterday for a period of three years.
