Daily Current Affairs Quiz11 & 12 October, 2025 National Affairs 1. India Upgrades Kabul Mission to Embassy Status Source: TH Context: India has announced the upgradation of its “technical mission” in Kabul to a full-fledged Embassy of India, signaling a significant step in diplomatic engagement with Afghanistan under the Taliban regime. Key Highlights: Background: 2. India–U.K. Bilateral Maritime Exercise KONKAN 2025 Source: PIB Context: The Indian Navy and the Royal Navy of the United Kingdom commenced the bilateral maritime Exercise KONKAN 25 on 5 October 2025 off the western coast of India. Over the past two decades, this exercise has evolved in scale and complexity, enhancing interoperability and mutual understanding between the two navies. Key Highlights: 3. Demographic Mission 2025 Source: TH Context: In his Independence Day 2025 address, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the launch of a high-powered Demographic Mission, aimed at countering illegal infiltration and addressing India’s emerging demographic challenges. About the Demographic Mission The Demographic Mission is a proposed national initiative to monitor, manage, and analyse India’s demographic transformations — including fertility, mortality, migration, and population distribution — to ensure balanced growth, national security, and sustainable development. Objectives Key Features 4. CCRAS Launches SPARK–4.0 Context: The Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS), under the Ministry of Ayush, has launched SPARK–4.0 (2025–26), the fourth edition of its flagship program aimed at encouraging research orientation among BAMS undergraduates. About SPARK–4.0 Key Features Significance Banking/Finance 1. Microfinance Loan Defaults Surge in FY 2024-25: Sa-Dhan Report Source: TH Context: According to the 2025 Bharat Microfinance Report by Sa-Dhan, a self-regulatory organization for microfinance institutions (MFIs), loan delinquencies in the microfinance sector rose sharply in FY 2024-25, indicating growing financial stress among small borrowers. Key Findings: Significance: 2. RBI Suggests Overhaul of EPFO’s Investment and Accounting Framework Source: BS Context: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has advised the Central Government to introduce reforms in the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) to strengthen its investment management, accounting systems, and governance structure. The recommendations come as the EPFO continues to declare annual interest rates significantly higher than prevailing government bond yields, creating long-term sustainability risks. Background: RBI’s Recommendations: 3. RBI Consolidates 9,000 Regulatory Circulars into 238 Master Circulars Source: BS Context: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has announced a major consolidation of its regulatory framework, streamlining thousands of circulars into a simplified structure to enhance clarity, accessibility, and compliance ease for regulated entities. Key Highlights: 4. IRDAI Issues New Guidelines Mandating Board-Approved Anti-Fraud Policy for Insurers Source: BL Context: The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) has introduced the Insurance Fraud Monitoring Framework Guidelines, 2025, requiring all insurers to adopt a board-approved Anti-Fraud Policy to strengthen fraud prevention and risk management practices across the insurance sector. Key Highlights: 5. NPCI and PayPal Partner to Integrate UPI with Global PayPal World Platform Source: BS Context: The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) and PayPal announced a major global partnership to integrate India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) with PayPal World, a new interoperable platform connecting payment systems and digital wallets across countries. The announcement was made at the Global Fintech Fest 2025 in Mumbai. Key Highlights: 6. RBI Advisories and Public Communication (“RBI Kehta Hai”) Source: BL Context: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) often issues advisories to citizens, banks, and financial institutions to promote financial awareness, safety, and compliance. Recently, it emphasized the importance of following only verified communication channels, such as WhatsApp and official websites, to prevent misinformation and fraud. Key Points from RBI’s Communication Agriculture 1. Prime Minister Launches PM Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana & Dalhan Atmanirbharata Mission Source: PIB Date: 11 October 2025Location: Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New DelhiTotal Outlay: ₹35,440 crore Schemes Launched a) PM Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana (₹24,000 crore) b) Dalhan Atmanirbharata Mission / Pulse Self-Reliance Mission (₹11,440 crore) Key Highlights from PM’s Address 2. Pradhan Mantri Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana (PMDDKY) 2025 Context: On October 12, 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Pradhan Mantri Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana (PMDDKY), a landmark scheme targeting 100 low-performing districts to modernize farming, enhance productivity, and double farmers’ income by 2030. About PMDDKY A comprehensive agricultural mission under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, aimed at technology integration, irrigation expansion, credit facilitation, and market reforms to make Indian agriculture climate-resilient, technology-driven, and sustainable. Objectives Eligibility Key Features Facts To Remember 1. Ceasefire takes effect as Israel forces pull back to agreed area A ceasefire between Israel and Hamas came into effect in Gaza, the Israeli military said, hours after Israel’s Cabinet approved a deal to pause the fighting and exchange the remaining hostages for Palestinian prisoners. 2. ‘Kitchen Mogul’ Jagannathan of TTK Prestige passes away at 77 T. T. Jagannathan, chairman emeritus, T. T. K. Prestige, passed away in Bengaluru. He was 77. 3. Venezuela’s María Machado wins Nobel Peace Prize Venezuelan Opposition leader María Corina Machado won the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday for her struggle to achieve a democratic transition in the South American nation, winning recognition as a woman “who keeps the flame of democracy burning amid a growing darkness”. 4. RBI appoints Sonali Sen Gupta as Executive Director The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has appointed Sonali Sen Gupta as Executive Director (ED) with effect from October 09, 2025.