Current Affairs - October 30, 2025 Current Affairs

During his visit to South Korea on October 29, 2025, Donald Trump was awarded the Grand Order of Mugunghwa, the country’s highest national honour. He also received a replica of the golden Cheonmachong crown, symbolising unity and peaceful reigns. This recognition was granted for his diplomatic efforts in fostering peace on the Korean peninsula, particularly his historic engagements with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. The event, held in Gyeongju, highlighted strengthened U.S.–South Korea relations and marked Trump as the first American president to receive this distinguished award.

India and Nepal have entered into major power agreements to strengthen their energy partnership. The deals were signed between India’s POWERGRID Corporation and the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) in New Delhi, in the presence of both countries’ energy ministers. These agreements aim to construct two 400 kV cross-border transmission lines connecting Inaruwa (Nepal) to New Purnea (India) and Lamki/Dododhara (Nepal) to Bareilly (India). The initiative will enhance electricity trade, improve grid reliability, and promote regional energy integration. This collaboration highlights Nepal’s hydropower potential and India’s growing clean energy demand under its Neighborhood First policy.

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has proposed an overhaul of the mutual fund fee framework to promote transparency, fairness, and investor protection. The consultation paper suggests that taxes and government levies such as STT, GST, and stamp duty be excluded from the Total Expense Ratio (TER) and charged separately to investors. It also proposes removing the additional 5 basis points expense for Asset Management Companies (AMCs) on Assets Under Management (AUM). These reforms aim to simplify cost structures, improve investor clarity, and ensure better governance in India’s mutual fund industry.

World Stroke Day is observed every year on October 29 to raise global awareness about stroke prevention, treatment, and recovery. In 2025, the Ministry of Ayush in India marked the day by promoting holistic and integrative approaches to stroke management, combining traditional Indian systems like Ayurveda, Yoga, and Naturopathy with modern medical care. The observance highlights the importance of lifestyle changes, early detection, and rehabilitation in reducing stroke-related mortality and disability. By aligning ancient practices with scientific medicine, the initiative underscores India’s commitment to preventive and restorative health care on this significant day.

Uber has entered into a strategic partnership with Nvidia to deploy 100,000 autonomous robotaxis beginning in 2027, signaling a transformative step in the evolution of urban transportation. The collaboration will leverage Nvidia’s DRIVE AGX Hyperion 10 platform, designed to support Level 4 autonomy, enabling vehicles to operate without human intervention in controlled environments. Uber will manage the operational aspects of the autonomous fleet, integrating the technology into its global ride-hailing network. This initiative represents a major advancement in self-driving innovation, combining Uber’s mobility expertise with Nvidia’s AI and computing power for next-generation smart mobility solutions.

President Droupadi Murmu took her historic Rafale fighter jet sortie from Ambala Air Force Station in Haryana on October 29, 2025. This event marked a significant milestone as she became the first Indian President to fly in the Rafale jet. Ambala, known as the base of the IAF’s 17 Squadron “Golden Arrows,” has been central to India’s Rafale operations since 2020. The sortie, lasting around 30 minutes, underscored her role as Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces and strengthened the bond between civilian leadership and military operations.

The “Koyla Shakti – Smart Coal Analytics Dashboard” is being launched by the Ministry of Coal as part of its digital transformation efforts in the energy sector. This real-time analytics platform aims to integrate data from coal producers, ports, and multiple ministries into a unified interface, enabling efficient tracking of the entire coal supply chain. By promoting data transparency, operational efficiency, and better coordination among stakeholders, the dashboard supports India’s goal of modernizing its coal management systems and ensuring smoother energy logistics across the country.

Stanford University’s 2025 World’s Top 2% Scientists List identifies the top-performing researchers worldwide based on a composite citation and impact metric developed by Professor John Ioannidis. The data, sourced from Elsevier’s Scopus database, evaluates career-long and annual scientific performance across various disciplines. This year’s list highlights 6,239 Indian scientists among the world’s top 2%, reflecting India’s growing presence in global research and innovation. Notably, several of these scientists come from emerging and lesser-known institutions, showcasing the expanding quality and diversity of scientific contributions across the Indian research landscape.

Russia has introduced Poseidon, a nuclear-powered and nuclear-armed underwater drone capable of creating massive radioactive tsunamis near enemy coastlines. Announced by President Vladimir Putin, the Poseidon—formerly known as Status-6—is a next-generation strategic weapon intended to deter large-scale attacks. It features a compact nuclear reactor that is about 100 times smaller than those found in standard submarines, giving it remarkable endurance and stealth capabilities. The weapon underscores Russia’s focus on developing autonomous and nuclear-based defence systems, marking a significant escalation in global undersea warfare and strategic deterrence technologies.

The Government of India is planning to reform the classification system of Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) by introducing two new ‘Ratna’ categories in addition to the existing Maharatna, Navratna, and Miniratna statuses. This initiative aims to modernize the evaluation framework, align it with evolving market conditions, and reward efficiency, profitability, and innovation among CPSEs. A 10-member committee headed by Cabinet Secretary T.V. Somanathan has been established to review the proposal and submit recommendations before the Union Budget 2026–27. The move reflects the government’s continued efforts to enhance corporate governance and performance accountability in the public sector.