Daily Current Affairs: 28th October, 2025

National News

What Cabinet announced on 8th Pay Commission?

• The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the Terms of Reference (ToR) for the 8th Central Pay Commission (CPC) on 28th October 2025, marking a key move to revise the pay structure and service conditions of Central Government employees.
• The Commission, comprising a Chairperson, one part-time member, and a Member-Secretary, will submit its report within 18 months It will consider factors such as economic conditions, fiscal prudence, pension liabilities, impact on state finances, and comparisons with CPSUs and the private sector while framing its recommendations.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah Inaugurates India Maritime Week

• Union Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurated the India Maritime Week 2025 in Mumbai, emphasizing India’s maritime vision of Safety, Stability, and Self-Reliance.
• He highlighted India’s 7,500 km coastline, 23.7 lakh sq. km EEZ, and strategic role as a bridge between the Indo-Pacific and Global South.
• Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal noted the event’s theme, “Uniting Oceans, One Maritime Vision,” and its participation from 85 countries and 500 exhibitors, calling the maritime sector a key pillar of Viksit Bharat.
• Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis announced plans to develop Vadhwan Port as India’s largest and among the world’s top ten ports.

Bust of Rabindranath Tagore Unveiled at Indian Embassy in Beijing

• A bust of Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore, sculpted by Chinese artist Yuan Xikun, was unveiled at the Indian Embassy in Beijing during the Sangamam – A Confluence of Indian Philosophical Traditions symposium.
• Indian Ambassador Pradeep Rawat highlighted Tagore’s century-old visit to China as a significant milestone in India-China civilisational dialogue.

Cyclone Montha: Formation, Impact, and Other Details

• A deep depression over the southeast Bay of Bengal is likely to intensify into Cyclone Montha, bringing heavy to very-heavy rainfall across Rayalaseema, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Mahe, coastal Karnataka, Telangana, Odisha, and Chhattisgarh.
• The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) monitors such tropical storms, which form due to warm sea waters, moist air, and low-pressure systems.
• The Bay of Bengal is prone to cyclones because of its warm waters and atmospheric conditions, and storms are named by the IMD from a pre-decided list contributed by member countries.

Vessel ‘Sindhu’ Launches Historic Voyage to Barren Island

• Historic Voyage of ‘Sindhu’ to Barren Island: The passenger vessel Sindhu completed its maiden voyage to Barren Island, India’s only active volcano, carrying 500 passengers, including 125 students, marking a milestone in Andaman maritime tourism.
• Flagged off by Chief Secretary Dr. Chandra Bhushan Kumar, the ship offered passengers a close view of the volcano’s red glow and sunrise, with praise for its facilities, staff, and food.
• Barren Island, located 140 km from Port Blair, lies at the Indian-Burmese tectonic plate junction. The Sindhu provides four accommodation types, and two monthly voyages are planned to boost tourism and connect locals to the island’s natural heritage.

International News

Catherine Connolly Elected Ireland’s 10th President

• Independent left-wing politician Catherine Connolly has been elected Ireland’s 10th President after a landslide victory over Heather Humphreys. Connolly, a Member of Parliament since 2016 for Galway West and former Deputy Speaker, won strong voter support for the largely ceremonial presidential role.

Putin Announces Successful Test of Nuclear‑Powered ‘Burevestnik’ Missile

• Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the successful test of the nuclear-powered ‘Burevestnik’ cruise missile, claiming it has unlimited range and can stay airborne for extended durations.
• During recent nuclear force drills, the missile reportedly flew for 15 hours, covering 14,000 km.
• Putin also instructed the armed forces to prepare infrastructure for its deployment and later visited the joint military operations staff in Ukraine, meeting top commanders including Gen. Valery Gerasimov.

Japan Launches World’s First Yen-Pegged Stablecoin

• Japan Launches World’s First Yen-Pegged Stablecoin: Japanese startup JPYC has issued the world’s first stablecoin pegged to the yen, fully backed by domestic savings and Japanese government bonds (JGBs), and convertible 1:1 to the yen.
• The company plans to issue ¥10 trillion ($66 billion) over three years and promote low-fee, blockchain-based transactions, with potential global use.
• While adoption in Japan may take 2–3 years, especially without megabank involvement, authorities see stablecoins as a potential key player in global payments, with megabanks and other Asian countries exploring similar projects.

PM Modi Declares 2026 as ASEAN‑India Year of Maritime Cooperation

• PM Modi declares 2026 as the ASEAN-India Year of Maritime Cooperation, highlighting growing collaboration in HADR, maritime security, and the blue economy.
• Speaking at the ASEAN-India Summit, he emphasized deep historical ties, shared values, and ASEAN centrality in India’s Act East Policy, while promoting bilateral cooperation in education, tourism, science & technology, health, green energy, and cyber security.
• The partnership is positioned as a foundation for global stability and growth, reflecting shared efforts in digital inclusion and resilient supply chains.

State News

World Bank Approves $280 Million Loan for Kerala Health

• The World Bank has approved a $280 million loan for the Kerala Health System Improvement Programme to enhance healthcare access and resilience for 11 million elderly and vulnerable people.
• The initiative aims to support over 90% of patients with hypertension and diabetes via electronic tracking, introduce home-based care, and expand digital health services with integrated data platforms and cybersecurity.
• It also targets a 40% rise in controlled hypertension cases and a 60% increase in cervical and breast cancer screening, while strengthening climate-resilient primary health facilities in key districts.
• The IBRD loan has a 25-year maturity with a five-year grace period.

Awards News

Vajra Chandrasekera Wins 2025 Le Guin Fiction Prize

• Sri Lankan author Vajra Chandrasekera has won the 2025 Ursula K. Le Guin Prize for Fiction for his sci-fi novel Rakesfall, praised as an “extraordinary achievement in science fiction.”
• The $25,000 award, given by the Ursula K. Le Guin Foundation, honors works reflecting Le Guin’s ideals of hope, equity, and freedom
• In his acceptance speech, Chandrasekera described Rakesfall as a novel about power and the arrogance of the powerful, linking its themes to AI, capitalism, and humanity’s pursuit of godhood.

Banking News

RBI Approves Reappointment of C S Rajan at Kotak Bank

• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has approved the reappointment of C S Rajan as Part-Time Chairman of Kotak Mahindra Bank from January 1, 2026, to October 21, 2027, aligning with the end of his current tenure as Independent Director.
• Rajan, a retired IAS officer (1978 batch) with 46 years of experience in governance, infrastructure, and rural development, has been serving as chairman since January 1, 2024.

Defense News

Indian Army Observes 79th Infantry Day

• The Indian Army celebrated the 79th Infantry Day to commemorate the 1947 Kashmir operation, when troops of the 1st Battalion, SIKH Regiment were airlifted to Srinagar on 27th October 1947 to repel Pakistan-backed raiders — marking independent India’s first military action.
• Lt. Gen. Ajay Kumar, Director General of Infantry, praised the valour, professionalism, and dedication of infantrymen in defending the nation’s sovereignty and integrity.

Science & Technology News

Stellerus to Launch First 3D Wind Data Satellite Network

• Hong Kong startup Stellerus Technology is set to launch the Feilian Constellation, the world’s first satellite system for capturing 3D wind data, aiming to revolutionize weather forecasting, renewable energy, aviation, and disaster management.
• Leveraging China’s low-cost satellite manufacturing and partnering with Chang Guang Satellite Technology, Stellerus plans a six-satellite constellation to provide hourly, kilometer-scale wind maps, filling a critical global data gap previously limited by aircraft, weather balloons, and cloud-tracking satellites.

Sports News

India Sweeps Kabaddi Gold at Asian Youth Games

• India sweeps Kabaddi Gold at the 2025 Asian Youth Games in Bahrain, with both Under-18 boys and girls teams remaining unbeaten.
• The girls crushed Iran 75-21, led by raider Neha Patel and defender Riya Singh, while the boys edged a close 35-32 win over Iran.
• The victories reaffirm India’s dominance in youth kabaddi and boost the nation’s medal tally at the Games.

Lando Norris Wins Mexico GP, Takes F1 Championship Lead

• Lando Norris Dominates Mexico City GP to Take F1 Championship Lead — McLaren’s Lando Norris clinched a commanding lights-to-flag victory at the 2025 Mexico City Grand Prix, finishing 30.3s ahead of Charles Leclerc and 31.0s ahead of Max Verstappen, to seize the Drivers’ Championship lead by one point.
• The action-packed race saw Ollie Bearman claim a career-best fourth for Haas, while Oscar Piastri finished fifth, losing his championship lead to teammate Norris.
• Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli and George Russell took sixth and seventh, with Lewis Hamilton eighth after a 10-second penalty.
• The win marks Norris’s most dominant performance of the season, solidifying McLaren’s momentum in the 2025 title battle.

D Gukesh, Divya Deshmukh Win Double Gold at European Club Cup

• D Gukesh, Divya Deshmukh Clinch Double Gold at European Chess Club Cup — India’s D Gukesh and Divya Deshmukh delivered stellar performances at the European Club Cup 2025 in Rhodes, Greece, each winning individual gold medals.
• Gukesh took gold on the top board as his team SuperChess emerged champions, marking a strong comeback ahead of the Chess World Cup in Goa.
• In the women’s section, Divya Deshmukh won gold on the second board, helping Cercle d’echecs de Monte Carlo secure the team title.

Important Days News

International Animation Day 2025 Celebrates Global Animation Art

• International Animation Day (IAD), created by ASIFA in 2002, is celebrated globally on October 28 to honor the birth of animation, marking Emile Reynaud’s first public performance of projected moving images in 1892.
• The day highlights animation as a powerful art form and cultural medium, spanning 3D films, shorts, multimedia, TV, and internet content, created by professionals, students, and children worldwide.
• ASIFA encourages participation through screenings, workshops, exhibitions, and program exchanges across countries, promoting collaboration and global visibility.
• The 2025 IAD poster was designed by Lucija Mrzljak, and organizers can use it for communication while crediting the artist and ASIFA.