Current Affairs Quiz 16th October 2025 Quiz

Exp. 16th WHO–IRCH Annual Meeting Commences in Jakarta to Boost Global Collaboration on Herbal Medicine Regulation

The 16th WHO–IRCH Annual Meeting is being held in Jakarta, Indonesia, from 14–16 October 2025, to strengthen global cooperation on herbal medicine regulation.

The meeting focuses on harmonising regulatory frameworks and enhancing international collaboration to ensure the safety, quality, and efficacy of herbal medicines.

India’s delegation, led by Dr. Raghu Arackal (Advisor, Ayurveda, Ministry of Ayush), includes Dr. Raman Mohan Singh (DDG & Director, PCIM&H) and Dr. Mahesh Dadhich (CEO, NMPB), showcasing India’s leadership in traditional medicine integration.

A major highlight was the release of the Proceedings of the WHO–IRCH Workshops on “Safety and Regulation” and “Efficacy and Intended Use of Herbal Medicines”, organised by WHO and the Ministry of Ayush in Ghaziabad, India (6–8 August 2025).

Exp. India Showcases Global Leadership in Spice Standards at 8th Codex Committee Session Held in Guwahati

The 8th Session of the Codex Committee on Spices and Culinary Herbs (CCSCH) began in Guwahati, Assam, reinforcing India’s leadership in global spice standardisation.

The event, organised by the Spices Board under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, brought together 81 delegates from 27 countries to discuss harmonised international standards for spices and culinary herbs.

Established in 2013 at India’s initiative, the Codex Committee on Spices and Culinary Herbs operates under the Codex Alimentarius Commission of FAO and WHO, with India (through the Spices Board) serving as its Secretariat.

Exp. TCIL Wins HR Excellence Award at Fortune Leadership Awards 2025 for Outstanding People-Centric Reforms and Innovation

Telecommunications Consultants India Limited (TCIL), a Miniratna Schedule ‘A’ PSU under the Department of Telecommunications, received the HR Excellence Award at the Fortune Leadership Awards 2025, held at Radisson Blu Plaza, Delhi, for its outstanding HR innovation, employee development, and inclusivity.

Between 2021 and 2025, TCIL implemented major HR reforms under Mission Karmayogi, including function-wise restructuring, merit-based promotions, performance-linked management systems, reward mechanisms, and digitisation initiatives like E-Office and ERP.

The company focused strongly on skill enhancement, with 58 executives earning global certifications in areas such as cybersecurity, networking, and auditing, boosting efficiency and delivery in high-value telecom and IT projects.

Exp. India–South Korea Inaugural Naval Bilateral Exercise Kicks Off at Busan to Strengthen Strategic Maritime Partnership

The inaugural India–South Korea naval bilateral exercise began at Busan Naval Base, with INS Sahyadri participating to strengthen navy-to-navy cooperation and deepen the strategic partnership between the two countries.

The exercise includes harbour and sea phases, featuring cross-deck visits, professional exchanges, sports fixtures, cross-training, and complex joint manoeuvres between INS Sahyadri and ROKS Gyeongnam to enhance interoperability and operational synergy.

The exercise reflects India’s commitment to the Indo-Pacific as a responsible maritime stakeholder, promoting shared interests, common values, and laying the foundation for future larger-scale naval engagements with South Korea.

Exp. DTNBWED and UPBOCWWB Collaborate to Empower Uttar Pradesh Construction Workers through Skill Development Training

The Dattopant Thengadi National Board for Workers Education & Development (DTNBWED) signed an MoU with the Uttar Pradesh Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board (UPBOCWWB) to empower construction workers through skill development under the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) programme.

In Phase 1, DTNBWED will implement 120-hour RPL training for 1,00,000 registered construction workers across 7 districts of Uttar Pradesh, aligning skills with NCVET standards, followed by assessment and certification, with plans to expand to 2,00,000 workers in subsequent phases.

This collaboration strengthens the commitment of DTNBWED and UPBOCWWB to enhance employability, skill recognition, and social security for workers in the unorganised construction sector, marking a significant step in workforce capacity building in Uttar Pradesh.

Exp. Centre Extends Tenure of 16th Finance Commission to November 30 for Final Report Submission

The government has extended the tenure of the 16th Finance Commission by one month, now set to submit its report by November 30, 2025, instead of the original October 31 deadline.

The 16th Finance Commission, chaired by former NITI Aayog vice-chairman Arvind Panagariya, was constituted on December 31, 2023, and will make recommendations on tax distribution between the Centre and states for five years starting April 1, 2026.

The Commission consists of four members, assisted by Secretary Ritvik Pandey, two joint secretaries, and one economic advisor, including full-time members Annie George Mathew and Manoj Panda and part-time members Soumya Kanti Ghosh (SBI) and T Rabi Sankar (RBI).

Exp. IMF Raises India’s FY26 GDP Growth Forecast to 6.6%

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has raised India’s GDP growth forecast for FY26 by 20 basis points to 6.6%, citing a strong first quarter that offset the impact of the US rate hike, and also revised FY27 growth to 6.2%.

The World Bank recently revised India’s FY26 GDP forecast to 6.5% (up from 6.3%) while slightly lowering FY27 growth to 6.3%, noting that India is expected to remain the world’s fastest-growing major economy driven by strong consumption growth.

The Economic Survey projects FY26 GDP growth between 6.3% and 6.8%, while the IMF also raised global growth for 2025 to 3.2%, keeping the 2026 global growth forecast unchanged at 3.1%.

Exp. 15 October – International Day of Rural Women

International Day of Rural Women is observed annually on 15 October to recognise the vital role of women in rural areas in agriculture, food production, and rural development.

The day highlights the challenges faced by rural women, such as poverty, limited access to education, healthcare, and economic opportunities, while celebrating their resilience and leadership.

Theme 2025 – The Rise of Rural Women: Building Resilient Futures with Beijing+30

Established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2007, the day encourages governments, organizations, and communities to invest in initiatives that support and empower rural women worldwide.

Exp. 15 October – World White Cane Day

World White Cane Day is observed annually on 15 October to recognise the achievements of people who are blind or visually impaired and to highlight the importance of the white cane as a symbol of independence.

Theme 2025 – Modernisation of the White Cane – Development of Visually Impaired Persons’.

The white cane empowers visually impaired individuals by providing mobility, safety, and self-confidence, allowing them to navigate their surroundings independently.

First celebrated in the United States in 1964, World White Cane Day now serves as an international observance advocating for the rights, empowerment, and inclusion of visually impaired individuals.

Exp. 15 October – World Students’ Day

World Students’ Day is observed annually on 15 October to honour the birth anniversary of former President of India, Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, and to recognise the achievements and potential of students worldwide.

Theme 2025 – Empowering Students as Agents of Innovation and Change

The day emphasizes the importance of education, innovation, and youth empowerment, encouraging students to pursue knowledge, creativity, and leadership skills.

Exp. Veteran Telugu Playback Singer and Actress Raavu Balasaraswathi Devi Passes Away

Veteran actress and singer Raavu Balasaraswathi Devi, widely recognised as the first playback singer in Telugu cinema and the first ‘light music’ singer on All India Radio, passed away in Hyderabad at the age of 97.

She made her cinematic singing debut with Bhagya Lakshmi (1943), lending her voice to actress Kamala Kotnis, marking a revolutionary shift in Telugu cinema and ushering in the era of playback singing.

Beginning her career as a child actor, Balasaraswathi Devi also appeared in several Tamil classics including Bhaktha Kuchela (1936) and Balayogini (1937), leaving behind a rich artistic legacy that continues to inspire generations of artists.

Exp. IndiaAI Launches ₹2.5 Crore Face Authentication Challenge to Strengthen Exam Integrity and Promote Ethical AI Innovation

IndiaAI, under the Digital India Corporation, launched the Face Authentication Challenge on 14 October 2025, inviting startups to create secure and scalable AI-based facial verification systems to prevent impersonation and duplicate entries in public exams.

The challenge carries a ₹2.5 crore prize pool, with the top two teams eligible for a two-year contract and up to ₹1 crore for final deployment of their solutions.

The initiative builds on the success of the AI-based facial recognition pilot conducted by UPSC and NeGD during NDA and CDS exams in September, which reduced verification time to 8–10 seconds per candidate.

Applications remain open till 25 October 2025 on indiaai.gov.in, aligning with the ₹10,372 crore IndiaAI Mission aimed at promoting ethical, responsible, and inclusive AI innovation across sectors.

Exp. Ministry of Minority Affairs Launches Centre for Jain Studies at DAVV Indore under PMJVK to Promote Heritage Languages

The Ministry of Minority Affairs is supporting universities nationwide to establish Centres of Excellence for promoting and preserving heritage and classical languages under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakram (PMJVK) initiative.

As part of the programme, Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya (DAVV), Indore, inaugurated its Centre for Jain Studies, approved at a cost of ₹27.16 crore, during a National Seminar on “Jainism and Indian Knowledge System” attended by senior officials and ministers.

Ministry officials encouraged the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and digital tools for research and preservation, with similar Centres of Excellence already operational at University of Mumbai and Gujarat University for Pali, Prakrit, and Avesta Pahlavi studies, aiming to integrate traditional wisdom with modern learning.