Daily Current Affairs (DCA) 30 October, 2025

Daily Current Affairs Quiz
30 October, 2025

National Affairs

1. Elderly in India

Source: PIB

Context:

India is experiencing a rapid demographic transition, with the population of elderly (60 years and above) expected to more than double from 100 million in 2011 to 230 million by 2036. This demographic shift is creating new socio-economic challenges and opportunities, including the emergence of a ‘silver economy’ driven by goods and services catering to older adults.

Key Highlights:

• Population Trends:
  • Elderly population projected to reach 230 million by 2036 (~15% of total population).
  • Southern states (Kerala, Tamil Nadu), Himachal Pradesh, and Punjab have higher elderly populations; Kerala expected to have 23% elderly population by 2036.
  • Northern and eastern states, e.g., Uttar Pradesh, will see rapid growth from 7% (2011) to 12% (2036).
  • LASI 2021 reports 12% of India’s population is elderly; women account for 58%, with 54% widows. Elderly dependency ratio: 62 dependents per 100 working-age individuals.
• Challenges Faced by Elderly:
  • Health: Rise in age-related diseases, dementia, limited geriatric infrastructure, urban-rural disparities.
  • Economic: Insufficient social security, rising living and medical costs, limited financial resources.
  • Social: Weakening family support, social isolation, neglect.
  • Digital Divide: Low adoption of technology, limited digital literacy.
  • Infrastructure: Lack of elderly-friendly public spaces, transport, emergency systems.

Government Initiatives for Elderly in India

Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MoSJE)
MoSJE coordinates with Finance, Health & Family Welfare, Ayush, State Governments, NGOs, civil society, and private sector stakeholders to ensure comprehensive welfare programs for senior citizens. Key initiatives include:

1. Financial Security & Pension Schemes

• Atal Pension Yojana (APY):
  • Launched: May 9, 2015.
  • Target: Citizens 18–40 years (excluding income-tax payers from Oct 2022).
  • Benefits: Monthly pension INR 1,000–5,000 after age 60; same for spouse; nominee gets accumulated wealth.
• Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS):
  • Part of NSAP; targets citizens 60+ below poverty line.
  • Pension: INR 200 (up to 79 years), INR 500 (80+).

2. Healthcare & Geriatric Support

• National Programme for Health Care of Elderly (NPHCE):
  • Launched: 2010–11.
  • Provides comprehensive healthcare at primary, secondary, and tertiary levels across 713 districts.
  • Services: Geriatric OPD, 10-bed geriatric wards, physiotherapy, labs.
• Ayushman Bharat – PMJAY:
  • Healthcare coverage up to ₹5 lakh/year for secondary and tertiary care.
  • Expansion: 6 crore senior citizens aged 70+ (Oct 2024); 40 lakh enrolled by Jan 2025.
• Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana (RVY):
  • Launched: April 1, 2017.
  • Provides assistive devices (wheelchairs, walkers, hearing aids, dentures) to BPL/low-income seniors.
  • Devices delivered via camps; doorstep delivery for 80+ seniors.

3. Social Inclusion & Empowerment

• Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojana (AVYAY):
  • Promotes well-being, social inclusion, and active participation of senior citizens.
• Integrated Programme for Senior Citizens (IPSrC):
  • Grants to state/UT agencies, NGOs, youth organizations for:
    • Senior homes, continuous care, mobile medicare, physiotherapy clinics, training centers.
  • Operational Homes: 696; 84 new homes approved for FY 2025–26.
• Senior Citizens Welfare Fund (SCWF):
  • Established: Finance Act 2015.
  • Funded by unclaimed provident and insurance funds; managed by MoSJE.

4. Digital & Technology Initiatives

• Elderly Helpline (14567): Toll-free support, launched Oct 1, 2021.
• SAGE Portal: Supports start-ups providing elderly care solutions; equity support up to ₹1 crore.
• SACRED Portal: Connects citizens 60+ with job opportunities.
• Telemedicine & e-Sanjeevani: Remote consultations, chronic disease management, mental health support.

5. Capacity Building

• Geriatric Caregivers Training:
  • Conducted via National Institute of Social Defence.
  • FY 2023–24: 32 institutes trained 36,785 caregivers.

6. Legal Framework & Family Support

• Maintenance and Welfare of Parents & Senior Citizens Act, 2007 (Amended 2019):
  • Obligates children/guardians to provide maintenance.
  • Expanded definitions: step-children, adoptive children, children-in-law, legal guardians; parents now include in-laws and grandparents.
  • Removed INR 10,000 maintenance ceiling; Tribunals determine appropriate amounts.
  • Introduced:
    • Homecare services for disabled seniors.
    • Special Police Units and Nodal Officers for senior safety.
    • Dedicated hospital queues, beds, and geriatric care.
  • Mandates seniors live a “life of dignity” rather than just a “normal life.”

7. Digital Initiatives & Technology Integration:

• SAGE Portal: Supports elderly care start-ups.
• SACRED Portal: Job opportunities for citizens 60+.
• Elderly Helpline 14567 and Senior Citizens Welfare Portal for services and guidance.
• Telemedicine & e-Sanjeevani: Remote consultations, chronic disease management, mental health support.

8. Legal Framework & Family Support:

• Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007 (amended 2019):
  • Obligates children/guardians to provide maintenance; removes ₹10,000 ceiling.
  • Mandates nodal officers, special police units, homecare services, and hospital prioritization.

9. Housing & Intergenerational Initiatives:

• Retirement Homes Guidelines 2019: Promotes age-friendly housing.
• NAITIK PATAM Game: Encourages moral education and inter-generational bonding.

2. RoDTEP and RoSCTL Schemes

Source: ET

Context:

The Government of India has set up a committee headed by former Secretary Neeraj Kumar Gupta to review the notified rates under two key export support schemes — Remission of Duties and Taxes on Exported Products (RoDTEP) and Rebate of State and Central Taxes and Levies (RoSCTL).

About the RoDTEP Scheme:

• Objective: To refund taxes, duties, and levies incurred by exporters during the manufacturing and distribution process that are not reimbursed under any other mechanism at the central, state, or local level.
• Rate Structure: The current rates range from 0.3% to 4.3% of the export value, depending on the product category.
• Extension: The scheme has been extended till March 2026 to continue supporting exporters amid global trade challenges.

About the RoSCTL Scheme:

• Applicable primarily to textile and apparel exports.
• Offers rebates on central and state taxes/levies to enhance the competitiveness of India’s labour-intensive textile sector.
• Aims to ensure that exported goods are tax-neutral and not burdened by domestic levies.

Significance:

• The review aims to enhance export competitiveness, particularly for MSMEs and labour-intensive sectors.
• It is part of India’s broader strategy to boost merchandise exports and maintain momentum under the Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) 2023.

3. NITI Aayog Proposes IP and Technology Push to Strengthen India’s Manufacturing Sector

Context:

The NITI Aayog has released a roadmap titled “Reimagining Manufacturing: India’s Roadmap to Global Leadership in Advanced Manufacturing”, developed jointly with CII and Deloitte, outlining a 10-year strategy to transform India’s manufacturing sector into a frontier technology-enabled, globally competitive ecosystem.

Key Objectives:

• Increase Manufacturing’s GDP Share: From 15–17% to 25% by 2035.
• Job Creation: Generate over 100 million jobs.
• Global Leadership: Position India among the top three hubs for advanced manufacturing by 2035.
• Alignment with Viksit Bharat 2047: Strategic milestone for long-term industrial growth.

Challenges Identified:

• Infrastructure Gaps: Industrial corridors lack sufficient facilities.
• Skilled Talent Shortage: Limited availability of high-tech workforce.
• Low R&D Investment: Insufficient innovation funding relative to global peers.
• Fragmented Supply Chains: Limits scale, efficiency, and global competitiveness.
• Technology Adoption: Slow integration of advanced technologies on shop floors.

Proposed Interventions:

• Intellectual Property (IP) Reforms:
  • Streamlined approval mechanisms for modern technology applications in manufacturing.
  • Promote cost-effective access to green and reliable energy.
• Frontier Technology Enablement:
  • Focus areas: Artificial Intelligence (AI) & Machine Learning, Robotics, Digital Twins, and Advanced Materials.
  • Encourage pilot-to-scale transitions through sustained funding from government and industry.
  • Support shared R&D and testing infrastructure to reduce individual capex burdens.
• Collaborative Innovation:
  • Promotion of joint industry-academia initiatives.
  • Facilitate cluster-focused technology deployment to enhance competitiveness.
• Skilling and Capacity Building:
  • Develop a future-ready workforce through large-scale, modular, cluster-aligned programs.
  • Position advanced manufacturing as a strategic priority under the National Manufacturing Mission.
• Institutional Support:
  • Establish the Global Frontier Technology Institute as a centre of excellence for advanced manufacturing research and innovation.

Phase 1 (FY2026–FY2028) Focus:

• Launch strategic interventions to promote advanced manufacturing adoption.
• Build skilling programs and technology diffusion frameworks.
• Set up infrastructure and funding mechanisms to accelerate technology absorption and deployment.

4. National Blockchain Framework (NBF)

Source: PIB

Context:

Launched in September 2024 with a budget of ₹64.76 crore, NBF provides a unified, secure, and scalable architecture for blockchain adoption in governance and public services. India is leveraging blockchain to improve transparency, accountability, efficiency, and trust in government operations, moving beyond its early association with cryptocurrencies.

What is Blockchain?

• A distributed, secure, and immutable ledger of transactions or records.
• Key features: Transparency, Immutability, Decentralization, Trust.

Types of Blockchain:

1. Public: Open to all nodes, transparent and decentralized.
2. Private: Permissioned, restricted to selected participants; ideal for government applications.
3. Consortium: Semi-decentralized, managed by multiple organizations.
4. Hybrid: Combination of public and private, allowing selective access.

Core Components of NBF

1. Vishvasya Blockchain Stack

• Indigenous modular platform for government applications.
• Features: Blockchain-as-a-Service (BaaS), permissioned layer, open APIs, distributed deployment across NIC data centres in Bhubaneswar, Pune, and Hyderabad.

2. NBFLite

• Sandbox for startups, academia, and researchers to test blockchain apps.
• Includes smart contract templates for governance and industry use cases.

3. Praamaanik

• Blockchain-based mobile app verification tool to ensure authenticity and protect users from fraud.

4. National Blockchain Portal

• Central platform promoting innovation, standardization, and cross-sector adoption of blockchain.

Key Blockchain-Enabled Use Cases in India

• Certificates & Document Chain
  • Over 34 crore documents verified, including academic, caste, income, ration card, birth & death certificates.
  • Ensures secure storage, verification, and retrieval of documents.
• Logistics Chain
  • Tracks movement of goods, e.g., Karnataka’s Aushada online medicine supply chain.
  • Provides traceability, transparency, and reduces spurious entries.
• Judiciary & Inter-Operable Criminal Justice System (ICJS)
  • 665 judiciary documents and 39,000 ICJS records verified.
  • Enables secure, time-stamped records, e-notices, and efficient judicial processes.
• Property Chain
  • Over 34 crore property documents verified.
  • Provides transparent ownership history and reduces litigation risks.
• Financial Sector & NSDL
  • RBI uses blockchain for Digital Rupee (e₹) pilots.
  • NSDL uses DLT for Debenture Covenant Monitoring, creating a secure audit trail.

Strategic & Regulatory Initiatives

• Centre of Excellence (CoE): Provides consultancy, training, and ICT support for blockchain pilots.
• TRAI: Uses DLT to track SMS messages end-to-end, reducing spam and enforcing compliance.
• RBI: Leverages blockchain for secure, traceable, and instant payments via e₹.

Capacity Building & Skill Development

• Skill Development Programmes: Trained 21,000+ government officials on blockchain.
• PG Diploma in FinTech & Blockchain Development (PG-DFBD): 900-hour curriculum covering blockchain, FinTech, AI/ML, cybersecurity.
• BLEND (C-DAC): Online course for students and professionals to develop blockchain applications.
• FutureSkills PRIME: Industry-oriented program for upskilling IT workforce in emerging technologies including blockchain.

Way Forward

• NBF promotes G2C and G2B services, building trust, transparency, and operational efficiency.
• Emerging use cases include: Land records, Blood Bank tracking, GST monitoring, and Public Distribution System (PDS).
• Aligns with Digital India and Aatmanirbhar Bharat, supporting indigenous innovation and inclusive growth.

Key Terms (One-Line Explanations)

• Blockchain-as-a-Service (BaaS): Shared blockchain infrastructure for easy deployment.
• Permissioned Blockchain: Access restricted to verified participants.
• Smart Contract: Self-executing digital agreements on blockchain.
• Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT): Database shared across multiple nodes for transparency.
• Proof of Concept (POC): Pilot project to test feasibility before full deployment.

Banking/Finance

1. SEBI Proposes Simpler Mutual Fund Rules to Cut Investor Costs

Source: ET

Context:

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has proposed a comprehensive overhaul of Mutual Fund (MF) regulations, aiming to make them simpler, more transparent, and investor-friendly. The proposals seek to remove outdated provisions, streamline fee structures, and reduce investor costs, reflecting SEBI’s push for regulatory modernisation in India’s fast-growing mutual fund industry.

Key Objectives

• Reduce Costs: Lower total charges for investors.
• Enhance Transparency: Clearer disclosure of fees and statutory charges.
• Simplify Compliance: Ease operational and regulatory burdens for AMCs.
• Improve Governance: Standardise roles of trustees and AMCs.
• Promote Investor Protection: Ensure investors bear only justified costs.

Major Proposals

1. Cost Rationalisation

• Brokerage cuts: Cash market 0.12% → 0.02%; Derivatives 0.05% → 0.01%.
• Exit-load expenses: Additional 0.05% charge removed; exit load continues to credit schemes directly.
• Revised Expense Ratio (TER): First two slabs for open-ended active schemes raised by 5 bps.
• Exclusion of statutory levies: GST, STT, CTT, Stamp Duty removed from TER computation.

2. Transparency in Fee Disclosure

• Statutory charges, brokerage, exchange, and regulatory fees to be disclosed separately.
• Optional performance-linked TER framework proposed for fees based on scheme performance.

3. Governance & Oversight

• Standardised roles for AMCs and trustees.
• Launch expenses borne by AMCs/trustees, not investors.
• Regulation 24(b) updated to allow AMCs/subsidiaries to provide advisory services to non-pooled funds with Chinese walls and trustee oversight.

4. Compliance & Operational Simplification

• Timelines clarified as calendar or business days.
• Digital communication (emails, SMS, websites) replaces newspaper ads for scheme changes.
• Submission of ad copies to SEBI no longer required.

5. Updating Definitions & Removing Redundancies

• New terms: Total Expense Ratio (TER), Exit Load.
• Updated definitions: Mutual Fund, Liquid Net Worth.
• Deleted outdated provisions: Capital Protection Oriented Schemes, Real Estate Mutual Funds, Infrastructure Debt Funds.

Key Terms – SEBI Mutual Fund Overhaul

• Total Expense Ratio (TER): Total costs (management fees, statutory charges, and operational expenses) charged to a mutual fund scheme annually, expressed as a percentage of assets.
• Exit Load: Fee charged to investors when they redeem units from a mutual fund before a specified period.
• Basis Point (bps): One-hundredth of a percentage point (0.01%). Used to measure changes in fees, interest rates, or costs.
• Statutory Levies: Mandatory government charges like GST, STT, CTT, and Stamp Duty applicable to mutual fund transactions.
• AMC (Asset Management Company): Firm responsible for managing a mutual fund’s investment portfolio.
• Trustee: Independent body overseeing that AMCs operate in the investors’ interest.
• Chinese Wall: Internal barrier to prevent conflict of interest between business units of the same company.
• Open-Ended Scheme: Mutual fund that allows investors to buy or redeem units at any time.
• Performance-Linked TER: Optional fee structure where AMC charges depend on scheme’s performance.
• Transitory Expense (0.05%): Previous additional charge allowed over exit load, now removed.

2. RBI Proposes Measures to Speed Up Cross-Border Remittances

Source: IE

Context:

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has issued a draft circular aimed at accelerating the credit of inward cross-border remittances to beneficiaries’ accounts, enhancing efficiency in foreign exchange transactions and aligning India with global standards.

Key Proposals:

• Same-Day Credit:
  • Banks are advised to credit inward remittances received during forex market hours on the same business day.
  • Currently, only 8–10% of inward remittances reach beneficiaries within an hour, compared to 75% in the US.
• Real-Time Nostro Reconciliation:
  • Banks must reconcile and confirm credits in their nostro accounts on a near real-time basis or at maximum intervals of 30 minutes.
  • This addresses delays caused by end-of-day reconciliation practices.
• Immediate Customer Notification:
  • Banks must notify customers immediately upon receipt of cross-border payment messages.
  • Payments received after business hours should be communicated at the start of the next working day.
• Straight-Through Processing (STP):
  • Banks are encouraged to implement STP for crediting inward remittances to resident individual accounts to minimize manual intervention.
• Digital Interfaces for Customers:
  • Banks should provide digital platforms for forex transactions, including document submission, transaction monitoring, and status updates.

Background:

• The initiative aligns with global practices, where most cross-border payments via SWIFT reach beneficiary banks within an hour.
• The draft follows discussions between SWIFT, the Finance Ministry, and RBI on speeding up cross-border settlements.

Significance:

• Reduces delays in inward remittances, improving the experience for NRIs, migrant workers, and exporters.
• Enhances efficiency and transparency in India’s foreign exchange and payment ecosystem.
• Encourages adoption of digital banking and automation for cross-border transactions.

Key Terms

• Cross-Border Payments: Money transfers between residents and non-residents.
• Inward Remittances: Funds sent to India from abroad.
• Nostro Accounts: Accounts held by an Indian bank in a foreign bank to facilitate foreign exchange transactions.
• Straight-Through Processing (STP): Fully automated processing of transactions from initiation to settlement without manual intervention.

3. India’s UPI Ecosystem

Source: BL

Context:

The Unified Payments Interface (UPI) in India continues to lead global digital payment innovation. A report by Worldline highlights the upcoming growth drivers for UPI, focusing on enhanced user experience, global adoption, and embedded financial services.

Growth Drivers

• Frictionless Biometric Authentication: Pilots are underway to simplify access, expand adoption, and enhance security across demographics.
• Conversational “Chat and Pay” Journeys: Integration of payments within messaging/chat platforms for seamless transactions.
• Embedded Finance: Adoption of recurring payments, micro-EMIs, and global cross-border corridors.
• Credit on UPI & Small-ticket EMIs: Encouraging higher-value transactions while maintaining volume in peer-to-merchant (P2M) payments.

Emerging Patterns

• Smaller Average Transaction Size: While average ticket size has decreased, overall reach and adoption have increased.
• Invisible Payments: Platforms like FASTag and Bharat Connect create seamless payment experiences integrated into daily life.
• Recurring Micro-Payments: Frequent small payments drive macro-level adoption, reinforcing financial inclusion.

Key Terms

• P2P Payments: Transfers between individuals.
• P2M Payments: Payments from individuals to merchants or service providers.
• Biometric Authentication: Using fingerprints, facial recognition, or iris scans to authorize transactions.
• Embedded Finance: Integration of financial services directly into apps or platforms without separate banking interfaces.
• Micro-EMI: Small, instalment-based payments for purchases via digital channels.

Agriculture

1. Nutrient Based Subsidy (NBS) Scheme

Source: IE

Context:

The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister, approved NBS rates for Rabi 2025–26 for Phosphatic and Potassic (P&K) fertilizers to ensure smooth availability at affordable prices.

Definition

• A centrally sponsored scheme under the Department of Fertilizers, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers.
• Provides fixed subsidy per kg of nutrient content (N, P, K, S) in P&K fertilizers.
• Launched on 1st April 2010, replacing the earlier product-based subsidy system for non-urea fertilizers.

Objectives

• Ensure fertilizers are available to farmers at reasonable prices.
• Promote balanced fertilizer use based on soil and crop needs.
• Encourage the fertilizer industry towards efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and competition.

Key Features

• Subsidy based on nutrient content: Fixed ₹/kg for N, P, K, S nutrients instead of per-product subsidy.
• Freedom in MRP fixation: Fertilizer companies can set MRPs, monitored by the government.
• Coverage: 28 grades of P&K fertilizers, including DAP and NPKS grades.
• Special Support: Government may announce additional packages to stabilize prices amid global volatility.
• Urea exception: Urea remains under statutory price control, with fixed MRP of ₹242 per 45-kg bag since March 2018.

Facts To Remember

1. ASTraM App

To curb traffic violations near educational institutions, the Bengaluru Traffic Police (BTP) will roll out a new feature on the ASTraM app, enabling college students to report offences occurring around their campuses.

2. President Droupadi Murmu Takes Historic Sortie in Rafale Fighter Jet

President Droupadi Murmu created history by taking a sortie in a Rafale fighter aircraft from the Indian Air Force (IAF) Station in Ambala, Haryana, on October 30, 2025. This marked her as the first President of India to fly in two different fighter jets of the IAF.

3. Govt to Launch Mobile Number Verification Platform to Curb Online Frauds

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) will soon launch a Mobile Number Verification (MNV) platform to help banks and financial institutions verify the ownership of mobile numbers linked to accounts, aiming to reduce online frauds such as phishing and identity theft.

4. RBI Accelerates Repatriation of Gold to Strengthen Reserve Control

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has intensified its efforts to bring gold reserves back to domestic storage, with over 65% of its holdings now in India, nearly double the share from four years ago. This move enhances control over national bullion assets amid global geopolitical uncertainties.

5. Over 10,000 Farmer-Producer Organisations Established Across India, Says Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan

Union Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that so far ten thousand Farmer-Producer Organisations (FPOs) have been established in the country and the turnover of some FPOs have reached 100 crore rupees. 

6. Union Home Minister Amit Shah Pays Tribute to Arya Samaj Founder Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati on Death Anniversary

Union Home Minister Amit Shah today paid tribute to the founder of the Arya Samaj, Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati, on his death anniversary.

7. Government to Launch Model Youth Gram Sabha Initiative in New Delhi Today

  The government will launch the Model Youth Gram Sabha (MYGS) initiative in New Delhi 

8. 56th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) 2025 in Goa

 With the 56th International Film Festival of India – IFFI 2025 scheduled to be held from 20th to 28th November 2025 at Panaji in Goa