Current Affairs - October 8, 2025 Current Affairs

The World Bank has upgraded India’s GDP growth forecast for FY26 to 6.5%, up from the earlier estimate of 6.3%. This upward revision is driven by strong domestic demand, a resilient rural economy, and the positive impact of Goods and Services Tax (GST) reforms that have enhanced revenue collection and formalization. India is expected to remain the fastest-growing major economy globally, supported by rising consumption, improved agricultural output, and infrastructure spending. Despite these optimistic projections, the World Bank has cautioned about potential risks from global economic uncertainty and external shocks, such as the U.S. tariff on Indian exports.

Indian Air Force Day is celebrated annually on October 8, commemorating the founding of the IAF in 1932. The day honours the courage and dedication of IAF personnel while showcasing India’s air power through air shows, parades, and exhibitions. The 2025 celebrations focus on modernization and operational readiness, highlighting advanced aircraft and technologies such as Rafale, Tejas, and C-17. IAF Day reflects both the historical legacy of the force and its evolution into a modern, capable air force, serving as a symbol of national strength, agility, and defence preparedness.

BS Chandrasekhar, a legendary Indian leg-spinner, and Brian Lara, one of the greatest batsmen from the West Indies, received the prestigious Lifetime Achievement awards at the CEAT Cricket Rating Awards. This recognition highlights their immense contributions to the sport—Chandrasekhar for his match-winning spells in the 1960s and 1970s, and Lara for his record-breaking batting feats, including his 400* in Tests. The awards celebrate their lasting impact on international cricket and their roles as icons who inspired generations of players and fans alike.

The 2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded to Susumu Kitagawa, Richard Robson, and Omar M Yaghi for pioneering the design of molecular structures that create large, porous spaces allowing gases and chemicals to flow efficiently. Their groundbreaking work has practical applications in harvesting water, capturing carbon dioxide, storing toxic gases, and catalyzing chemical reactions. The three scientists will share the prize money of 11 million Swedish crowns (around Rs 10 crore). This recognition highlights their transformative contribution to chemistry, particularly in materials science and sustainable technologies with significant global impact.

Khaled el-Enany, Egypt’s former minister of antiquities and tourism, has been appointed as the next Director-General of UNESCO. With a background in archaeology and heritage preservation, El-Enany brings extensive experience in managing cultural and historical assets to the role. UNESCO, founded in 1945 and headquartered in Paris, focuses on fostering global peace and security through cooperation in education, science, culture, and communication. India, a founding member since 1948, continues to collaborate actively with UNESCO and hosts two of its offices. El-Enany’s appointment signifies a renewed emphasis on global cultural preservation and cooperation.

Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, the first Indian to reach the International Space Station (ISS), has been appointed as the brand ambassador for the Viksit Bharat Buildathon 2025. This Buildathon is India’s largest school-level hackathon, designed to involve over one crore students from 1.5 lakh schools across the country. It encourages young innovators to develop prototypes and creative solutions to real-world challenges. By choosing Shubhanshu Shukla, an inspirational space pioneer, as its ambassador, the initiative aims to motivate students to pursue innovation, scientific thinking, and contribute to building a technologically advanced and self-reliant India.

The 2025 Dehradun Literature Festival marks its 7th edition, celebrating literature, art, and cultural dialogue. The event will feature distinguished personalities such as Former Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, filmmaker Imtiaz Ali, writer and columnist Shobhaa De, and singer Usha Uthup. With the theme “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam: Voices of Unity,” the festival emphasises the spirit of global harmony and shared human values. Hosted at the Doon International School in Dehradun, the festival continues to serve as a vibrant platform for authors, artists, and thinkers to exchange creative ideas and cultural perspectives.

Netflix has entered into a partnership with the Indian Institute of Creative Technology (IICT) and FICCI to foster the growth of creative-technology talent in India. The collaboration, announced during the 25th edition of FICCI Frames, aims to nurture young creators through training and educational opportunities. As part of this initiative, Netflix will utilise its Netflix Fund for Creative Equity to provide scholarships to deserving students. This partnership reflects Netflix’s commitment to promoting diversity, inclusion, and innovation in India’s growing media and entertainment sector by empowering future creative professionals.

PayPal has integrated India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) as the first payments system partner on its newly launched global platform, PayPal World. This collaboration significantly enhances UPI’s global reach, enabling seamless cross-border transactions and positioning it as an international standard in digital payments. For PayPal, the integration provides access to India’s rapidly growing digital payment market, while consumers and merchants benefit from instant, secure, and cost-effective transactions. The partnership also strengthens PayPal’s competitive position against other fintech players and sets a precedent for global interoperability between national payment infrastructures and international platforms.

The Swadeshi Mela-2025 will be organised in Noida, located in Uttar Pradesh, as part of the state’s initiative to encourage local entrepreneurship and promote indigenous products. The event aims to showcase and support the manufacture, sale, and exhibition of locally made goods, including handicrafts, handlooms, agricultural items, and innovative startup products. By organizing this international trade show, Uttar Pradesh seeks to empower small businesses, strengthen the local economy, and advance the vision of self-reliance under the broader “Swadeshi” movement promoting India’s domestic industries.

Shivalik, India’s third Very Large Gas Carrier (VLGC), was constructed in South Korea, a nation known for its advanced shipbuilding technology and maritime engineering expertise. With a storage capacity of 82,000 cubic metres, Shivalik features state-of-the-art safety, temperature control, and operational systems, ensuring efficient gas transportation. The vessel has been inducted into the Shipping Corporation of India Limited’s (SCI) fleet, joining its predecessors Sahyadri and Anandamayi. This addition strengthens India’s maritime capabilities and supports the nation’s growing energy logistics infrastructure for liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) transport.

India will launch its first national Red List of Endangered Species at the IUCN World Conservation Congress 2025 in Abu Dhabi. This initiative highlights species at risk within India and strengthens national conservation priorities. As one of the 17 mega-diverse countries, India hosts over 45,000 plant species and nearly 100,000 animal species across unique ecosystems like the Himalayas, Western Ghats, and Sundarbans. The Red List will provide critical scientific data to guide conservation decisions, address habitat loss, and support global biodiversity targets under the Convention on Biological Diversity, reinforcing India’s commitment to preserving its rich natural heritage.