Daily Current Affairs Quiz
1 November, 2025
National Affairs
1. Early Warning System (EWS) for the Himalayas
Context:
The Himalayan region is increasingly vulnerable to climate-induced disasters such as floods, landslides, glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs), and avalanches, prompting scientists to emphasize the urgent need for a robust Early Warning System (EWS) to reduce human and economic losses.
Rising Disaster Trend in the Himalayas
- Between 1900–2022, India faced 687 disasters, with 240 occurring in the Himalayan belt (Down To Earth, 2024).
- Disasters have risen sharply — from only 5 incidents before 1962 to 68 between 2013–2022, accounting for 44% of India’s total disasters.
- NASA data (2007–2017) recorded 1,121 landslide events, indicating increasing instability.
- The Himalayas are warming at 0.15°C–0.60°C per decade, faster than the global average, accelerating snowmelt and flash floods.
- Frequency and intensity of cloudbursts, avalanches, and GLOFs have grown significantly, affecting both mountain communities and downstream river basins.
Importance of Early Warning Systems (EWS)
- Life-saving Mechanism:
- Early alerts enable timely evacuation, reducing casualties in flood- and landslide-prone zones.
- Disaster Preparedness:
- Facilitates real-time hazard detection (GLOFs, cloudbursts, avalanches), enabling rapid emergency response.
- Scientific Data Backbone:
- Builds a data-driven record for risk modeling, improving infrastructure safety and climate adaptation planning.
- Community Resilience:
- Involving local communities in EWS management enhances awareness, accountability, and swift ground-level action.
- Proven Global Success:
- International experience from Switzerland and China shows EWS combined with community participation can prevent glacier-related disasters.
Successful Examples of EWS Implementation
- Switzerland: Local coordination and real-time alerts have prevented several glacier-collapse disasters.
- China (Cirenmaco Lake): Satellite-fed EWS with unmanned monitoring boats tracks glacial lake fluctuations.
- India: The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has funded AI-based hailstorm early warning systems for apple farmers in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
Role of Artificial Intelligence and Technology
- AI Models: Process real-time data for predictive warnings with sub-kilometre precision.
- Satellite Integration: Monitors lake levels, glacier shifts, and snowmelt patterns in real time.
- Drone Surveillance: Offers localized risk assessments, though limited by terrain, weather, and cost.
- AI-based Prototypes: Currently under pilot testing in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh for predicting cloudbursts and hailstorms.
Challenges in Establishing EWS in the Himalayas
- Rugged Terrain: Difficulties in installing and maintaining sensors across remote, steep landscapes.
- Poor Connectivity: Limited internet and telecom infrastructure obstructs real-time data transmission.
- High Costs: Lack of affordable, indigenous EWS technology hampers large-scale deployment.
- Fragmented Governance: Overlapping institutional roles lead to delayed coordination and execution.
- Low Community Participation: Without local training and awareness, alerts often fail to trigger timely evacuation.
2. UIDAI launches ‘Aadhaar Vision 2032’ Framework
Source: IE
Context:
The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has unveiled the ‘Aadhaar Vision 2032’ framework, a ten-year strategic roadmap to upgrade India’s digital identity ecosystem. The framework aims to integrate Artificial Intelligence (AI), Blockchain, Quantum Computing, and Advanced Encryption to make Aadhaar more secure, inclusive, and future-ready.
About ‘Aadhaar Vision 2032’
- A technological and strategic roadmap designed to future-proof India’s digital identity infrastructure.
- It envisions a next-generation Aadhaar ecosystem built on innovation, privacy, and security, ensuring Aadhaar remains the backbone of India’s digital governance and economic architecture.
- Launched by: Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).
- Guided by: A High-Level Expert Committee chaired by Shri Neelkanth Mishra, Chairperson, UIDAI.
Objectives of the Framework
- To strengthen Aadhaar’s technological foundation for the next decade.
- To align the Aadhaar ecosystem with the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, 2023 and global cybersecurity standards.
- To ensure resilience, scalability, and transparency in Aadhaar-linked public and financial services.
Key Features of Aadhaar Vision 2032
AI-Enabled Authentication:
- Deployment of Artificial Intelligence (AI) for intelligent identity verification, fraud detection, and anomaly tracking.
- Ensures faster and more reliable authentication for millions of users in real time.
Blockchain Integration:
- Use of Blockchain technology for tamper-proof, transparent, and traceable digital transactions.
- Builds a trust-based data ecosystem, minimizing data manipulation risks.
Quantum-Resilient Security:
- Incorporation of quantum-safe cryptographic techniques to secure Aadhaar against future quantum computing threats.
Advanced Encryption Mechanisms:
- Integration of multi-layered encryption protocols to safeguard data privacy and enhance security compliance with international cybersecurity benchmarks.
Privacy-by-Design Compliance:
- Embeds user consent, data minimization, and control mechanisms in line with the DPDP Act, 2023.
- Prioritizes transparency and accountability in data processing.
Next-Generation Technology Stack:
- Overhaul of UIDAI’s core tech architecture for scalability, interoperability, and innovation.
- Seamless Aadhaar-linked service integration across governance, fintech, and welfare platforms.
3. Kendriya Grihmantri Dakshata Padak
Source: PIB
Context:
On October 31, 2025 — the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel — the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) announced the ‘Kendriya Grihmantri Dakshata Padak’ for 1,466 police personnel from States, Union Territories, Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), and Central Police Organisations (CPOs). The award honours excellence, professionalism, and integrity in policing.
About Kendriya Grihmantri Dakshata Padak:
The Kendriya Grihmantri Dakshata Padak is a national-level police award instituted to recognise exceptional professionalism, courage, and integrity in policing and internal security operations.
- Launched by: Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA)
- Instituted on: 1 February 2024
- First Awarded on: 31 October 2024 (Sardar Patel Jayanti)
Objective:
- To promote high professional standards in policing.
- To motivate and honour officers contributing significantly in Special Operations, Investigation, Intelligence, and Forensic Science.
Key Features:
- Annual Recognition: Conferred every year on October 31 to mark Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s legacy as India’s first Home Minister.
- Eligible Personnel: Open to members of State/UT Police, CAPFs, CPOs, Intelligence units, and Forensic departments.
- Focus Areas: Operational excellence, investigative proficiency, intelligence acumen, and scientific innovation in policing.
- Selection Process: Recipients are chosen through a rigorous evaluation based on merit, integrity, and contribution to public safety.
4. India to Host Historic Maritime Convergence in February 2026
Source: PIB
Context:
India will host a landmark maritime convergence in February 2026 at Visakhapatnam, featuring three major naval events — the International Fleet Review (IFR), Exercise MILAN 2026, and the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) Conclave of Chiefs — under the MAHASAGAR vision aimed at promoting collective maritime security and regional cooperation.
About Exercise MILAN 2026
Exercise MILAN is a biennial multilateral naval exercise hosted by the Indian Navy since 1995, designed to strengthen naval diplomacy, interoperability, and regional maritime cooperation.
- Host: Indian Navy
- Edition: 12th
- Venue: Visakhapatnam
- Participants: Over 40 friendly foreign navies from the Indo-Pacific, Africa, Europe, and ASEAN regions.
Aims and Objectives
- To enhance maritime domain awareness, anti-submarine warfare (ASW) readiness, and air defence coordination.
- To promote search-and-rescue preparedness, operational synergy, and a rules-based maritime order.
- To advance India’s MAHASAGAR (Maritime Security, Growth and Resilience) vision.
Key Features of MILAN 2026
- Dual-Phase Format:
- Includes Harbour Phase (seminars, planning conferences, professional interactions) and Sea Phase (operational drills and tactical manoeuvres).
- Advanced Naval Drills:
- Focus on ASW, air defence, surface warfare, maritime domain awareness, and search-and-rescue missions.
- International City Parade:
- A grand parade at RK Beach, Visakhapatnam, featuring contingents from participating navies, the Indian Army, and the Indian Air Force — symbolizing maritime diplomacy and joint force capability.
- Showcase of Indigenous Naval Capability:
- India will display its INS Vikrant (indigenous aircraft carrier), Visakhapatnam-class destroyers, and Nilgiri-class frigates, highlighting its transformation into a Builder’s Navy.
Banking/Finance
1. RBI Rejects Seven-Year Bond Bids as Yields Touch 6.6%
Source: BS
Context:
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) cancelled the auction for the seven-year government bond after market participants demanded a yield of around 6.6%, a level the central bank found unacceptable.
Key Highlights:
- The government had planned to sell ₹11,000 crore worth of 6.28% 2032 bonds.
- Market participants said accepting such high bids would have sent a negative signal and pushed yields further up.
- Following the RBI’s decision, bond yields softened, with the 10-year benchmark yield settling at 6.53%, down from 6.57% the previous day.
- The seven-year bond, considered relatively illiquid and mainly held by banks, was trading at 6.46%, later easing to 6.43%.
Reasons for Weak Bidding:
- Public sector banks (PSBs) were absent from the auction due to existing mark-to-market (MTM) losses and reluctance to take on more risk.
- Bidding weakened after a technical breakout at 6.56%, prompting cautious sentiment among dealers.
- Banks are not adding new bonds to their Held-to-Maturity (HTM) portfolios following the April 2024 RBI investment portfolio norms, which make reclassification between categories (HTM, AFS, FVTPL) more restrictive.
Revised RBI Framework:
- Portfolios must be classified under HTM, Available-for-Sale (AFS), or Fair Value Through Profit or Loss (FVTPL).
- The Held-for-Trading category has been merged into FVTPL, with daily or quarterly fair valuation required.
- Only 5% of the HTM portfolio can be shifted in a year.
Key Terms
- Held-To-Maturity (HTM): Securities meant to be held until maturity and valued at amortized cost.
- Available-for-Sale (AFS): Securities that can be sold before maturity and are periodically fair-valued.
- Fair Value Through Profit or Loss (FVTPL): Trading or fair-value-managed securities whose gains/losses are reflected in profit or loss.
- Held-for-Trading (HFT): Merged into FVTPL; securities held for short-term profit through active trading.
- Amortized Cost: The original purchase cost adjusted for interest income and repayments over time.
- Fair Value (Mark-to-Market): The current market price of a security used for valuation.
- Other Comprehensive Income (OCI): Accounting category where unrealised AFS gains/losses are recorded outside profit or loss.
2. RBI Launches Three Key Surveys for Monetary Policy
Source: ET
Context:
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has initiated the next round of three major surveys that provide critical inputs for its monetary policy formulation. These surveys help the central bank assess inflation expectations, consumer confidence, and economic sentiment across urban and rural India.
Key Surveys Launched:
- Inflation Expectations Survey of Households (IESH)
- Purpose: To capture households’ perceptions and expectations regarding price movements and inflation.
- Coverage: Conducted across 19 cities in India.
- Focus: Reflects consumers’ assessment of inflation based on their individual consumption baskets.
- Relevance: Aids the RBI in understanding inflationary psychology and anchoring inflation expectations.
- Urban Consumer Confidence Survey (CCS)
- Purpose: To gauge qualitative responses from urban households on their sentiment regarding the general economic situation, employment, income, and spending.
- Use: Acts as an indicator of consumer sentiment and urban demand trends.
- Rural Consumer Confidence Survey (RCCS)
- Purpose: To collect data on current perceptions and one-year-ahead expectations of rural households about the economic situation, employment conditions, and income prospects.
- Objective: Helps track rural consumption patterns and overall rural economic health.
Significance:
- The findings from these surveys are essential for the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) to assess demand conditions, inflation trends, and consumer sentiment.
- They contribute to evidence-based policymaking, helping the RBI balance growth and inflation objectives.
3. SEBI Probes MCX Over 4-Hour Trading Disruption
Source: TOI
Context:
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has launched an investigation into the four-and-a-half-hour trading disruption at the Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX) on October 28, 2025, which delayed trading from its regular start time of 9 a.m. to 1:25 p.m. The probe aims to determine whether the incident resulted from system deficiencies, which could attract monetary penalties under SEBI’s framework for market infrastructure institutions (MIIs).
Key Highlights:
- Nature of the Incident:
- MCX experienced a major technical glitch on October 28 that halted trading for over four hours.
- The issue was traced to a “parameter limit relating to reference data like Unique Client Code (UCC)”, which exceeded preset system thresholds.
- The exchange said it has since rectified the issue to prevent recurrence.
MCX (Multi Commodity Exchange of India Ltd)
MCX (Multi Commodity Exchange of India Ltd) is India’s largest commodities derivatives exchange, where participants trade futures contracts in commodities like gold, silver, crude oil, natural gas, agricultural products, and base metals.
Key Points:
- Type: Commodity futures exchange
- Founded: 2003
- Headquarters: Mumbai, India
- Objective: Provide a transparent, regulated platform for price discovery and risk management in commodity markets
- Products: Futures and options contracts in metals, energy, and agricultural commodities
- Regulator: SEBI (Securities and Exchange Board of India)
Agriculture
1. SBI Foundation Launches SMART-CROP Project
Source: BL
Context:
The SBI Foundation, the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) arm of the State Bank of India (SBI), has launched the SMART-CROP Project — Sustainable Monitoring and Real-time Tracking for Crop Resilience and Optimal Practices — to enhance climate resilience, productivity, and sustainability among smallholder farmers.
Launch Details:
- Event Venue: Hyderabad
- Participants: Farmers from project locations (both in-person and virtual participation)
- Supported Under: SBI Foundation’s LEAP Programme (Livelihood and Entrepreneurship Accelerator Programme)
- Duration: 3 years
Implementing Partners:
- University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS), Raichur
- International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT)
- Agribridge
Coverage and Beneficiaries:
- States Covered: Karnataka (Bidar, Kalaburagi, Raichur) and Telangana (Sangareddy, Vikarabad)
- Beneficiaries: Over 8,000 smallholder farmers
Key Highlights:
- Technology Integration:
- Use of satellite imaging, remote sensing, and AI/ML analytics for real-time crop stress monitoring.
- Enables early detection of climate risks, pest/disease outbreaks, and soil degradation.
- Focus Crops: Chickpea and pigeonpea (pulse crops)
- Digital Inclusion: Farmers will receive actionable insights through data-driven platforms to improve decision-making and adopt climate-smart practices.
- Research Component: Socio-economic assessments will study yield gaps, impact of early detection tools, and agroecological benefits.
2. Marine Fisheries Census 2025
Source: PIB
Context:
The Government of India has launched the Marine Fisheries Census (MFC) 2025, marking the country’s first fully digital and geo-referenced enumeration of marine fishing communities, aimed at improving evidence-based planning and welfare delivery.
Conducting Agencies:
- Funding: Department of Fisheries, Government of India
- Implementation: ICAR–Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI)
- Operational Support: Fishery Survey of India (FSI)
Objectives:
- Create a real-time, comprehensive database of marine fisher households, crafts, gears, and infrastructure.
- Capture socio-economic indicators, including income, insurance, debt, and benefits from schemes like PMMSY and PM-MKSSY.
- Support sustainable fisheries management and policy interventions.
Key Features:
- Fully Digital & Paperless: Covers ~1.2 million households across 5,000 marine villages in 13 coastal states and UTs.
- Drone-Based Enumeration: Ensures accuracy in counting fishing crafts during trawl ban periods.
- VYAS App Ecosystem:
- VYAS–NAV: Validates fishing villages and harbours
- VYAS–BHARAT: Household and infrastructure enumeration
- VYAS–SUTRA: Real-time supervision and monitoring
- Geo-Referenced Data & Multilingual Interface: Ensures precision, inclusivity, and accountability.
- Real-Time Dashboards: Enable live tracking and data analytics for administrators.
Facts To Remember
1. Government Launches Employee’s Enrolment Scheme 2025 to Expand EPF Coverage
Labour and Employment Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya today launched the Employee’s Enrolment Scheme 2025.
2. President Droupadi Murmu to Begin Three-Day Visit to Uttarakhand from Tomorrow
President Droupadi Murmu will be on a three day visit to Uttarakhand from tomorrow.
3. Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh Calls for Transparent and Impactful Government Communication
Union Minister for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions Dr Jitendra Singh said that effective communication is not just about information dissemination but about building trust, creating awareness, and inspiring participation among citizens.
4. 67th Akashvani Sangeet Sammelan to Begin Tomorrow Across 24 Centres Nationwide
Prasar Bharati, in collaboration with Culture Ministry, will hold the 67th edition of Akashvani Sangeet Sammelan from tomorrow till the 29th of this month across 24 centres nationwide.
5. Union Minister Scindia Inaugurates Sohra Tourism Circuit Project Under PM-DevINE Scheme
Union Minister for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) and Minister of Communications Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, along with Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma, laid the foundation stone for the Integrated Development of the Sohra Tourism Circuit in Sohra
6. I&B Secretary Sanjay Jaju Inaugurates WAVES Bazaar at IndiaJoy 2025 in Hyderabad
Information and Broadcasting Secretary Sanjay Jaju inaugurated the WAVES bazaar at the ongoing IndiaJoy 2025 conclave in Hyderabad today. Speaking on the occasion, I&B Secretary Jaju said, Waves bazaar is expected to benefit the entire gamut of media and entertainment Industry.
7. Civil Aviation Minister Rammohan Naidu Inaugurates Crèche Facility At Udaan Bhawan In New Delhi
Civil Aviation Minister Rammohan Naidu inaugurated a crèche facility at Udaan Bhawan in New Delhi.
8. Aviation Corps Of Indian Army Celebrates 40th Raising Day
The Aviation Corps of the Indian Army is celebrating its 40th Raising Day today.
