Current Affairs Quiz 9th October 2025 Quiz

Exp. Susumu Kitagawa, Richard Robson, and Omar Yaghi Win 2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for Metal–Organic Frameworks

The 2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry has been awarded to Susumu Kitagawa, Richard Robson, and Omar M. Yaghi for the development of metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), announced by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences.

Metal–organic frameworks are molecular constructions with large spaces that allow gases and chemicals to flow, enabling applications such as harvesting water from desert air, capturing carbon dioxide, storing toxic gases, and catalyzing chemical reactions.

In 1989, Richard Robson pioneered combining positively charged copper ions with a four-armed molecule, laying the initial concept of MOFs, although the structure was unstable.

Susumu Kitagawa and Omar Yaghi enhanced Robson’s concept by creating stable and flexible MOFs with rational design, demonstrating their ability to be modified for new and useful properties.

What is Nobel Prize?

• The Nobel Prize is one of the most prestigious international awards, established by the will of Alfred Nobel, the Swedish inventor of dynamite, in 1895. It is awarded annually to individuals or organizations that have made outstanding contributions in the fields of:
  • Physics – for groundbreaking discoveries in the physical sciences.
  • Chemistry – for exceptional achievements in chemistry.
  • Physiology or Medicine – for discoveries that have advanced medical science and human health.
  • Literature – for distinguished literary work.
  • Peace – for efforts in promoting global peace and resolving conflicts.
• Later, in 1968, the Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel was added for contributions to economics.
• The first Nobel Prizes were awarded on December 10, 1901.
• Key Features:
  • Winners are called Nobel Laureates
  • Each prize consists of a medal, a diploma, and a cash award.
  • The awards are usually announced in October and presented on December 10, the anniversary of Alfred Nobel’s death.
  • The prizes recognize achievements that benefit humanity and have a lasting impact on society.

Exp. 9 October – World Postal Day

World Postal Day is observed annually on 9 October to celebrate the role of postal services in connecting people and facilitating communication globally.

Theme 2025 – #Post for People: Local Service

The day commemorates the establishment of the Universal Postal Union (UPU) in 1874, which standardised and improved international mail delivery.

World Postal Day aims to raise awareness about the importance of postal networks in social and economic development, especially in remote and rural areas.

Exp. 10 October – World Sight Day

World Sight Day is observed this year on 10 October 2025 (second Thursday of October) to raise global awareness about eye health and vision care.

Theme 2025 – #LoveYourEyes

The day emphasizes the importance of preventing blindness, improving access to eye care services, and promoting early detection of eye conditions.

Exp. Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia Inaugurates Satcom Summit at IMC 2025

Union Minister Jyotiraditya M. Scindia inaugurated the Satcom Summit at India Mobile Congress 2025, highlighting satellite communication as a tool for digital inclusion and empowerment of farmers, students, doctors, and remote communities.

The government aims to connect 38,260 remote villages under the Universal Service Obligation Fund and Digital Bharat Nidhi, with around 29,000 villages already connected, and announced major policy reforms including GMPCS licenses to OneWeb and Jio, and a Letter of Intent to Starlink.

India’s SATCOM sector, valued at $4.3 billion in 2024 and projected to reach $14.8 billion by 2033, will get a ₹900 crore National SATCOM Monitoring Facility, reinforcing the country’s role as a global hub in satellite communications and space innovation.

Exp. ICICI Bank and Visa Launch Corporate Sapphiro Forex Card with Premium Benefits for International Business Travelers

ICICI Bank and Visa launched the Corporate Sapphiro Forex Card, the first prepaid card in Asia powered by Visa Infinite, targeting entrepreneurs and corporate leaders traveling internationally.

The card allows transactions in 15 currencies with zero cross-currency markup, offering benefits like airport lounge access, meet-and-assist services, a complimentary international eSIM, and ATM fee waivers.

Customers can apply and load the card digitally via ICICI Bank’s InstaBIZ app, with plans to expand to large corporate employees through Corporate Internet Banking, supporting seamless international business travel.

Recent Facilities Launched in Banking & Insurance Sector

• Zomato and HDFC Pension launched‘NPS Platform Workers Model’ to provide delivery partners access to formal retirement benefits
• Bank of Baroda Gets IFSCA Approval to Operate as Trading-Cum-Clearing Member on India International Bullion Exchange at GIFT City
• Jio Payments Bank Launches ‘Savings Pro’ to Auto-Invest Surplus Funds with Up to 6.5% Returns
• Bank of Baroda Launches eRUPI P2P Digital Gifting on bob इ Pay UPI App
• DBS Bank India becomes the first wholly-owned subsidiary authorised by RBI to collect GST payments

Exp. India’s Solar Capacity Hits 125 GW, Becomes Third-Largest Producer Ahead of 8th ISA Assembly

India’s solar power capacity has reached 125 GW, making the country the third-largest solar energy producer globally, according to Union Renewable Energy Minister Pralhad Joshi.

The 8th session of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) Assembly is scheduled from October 27 to 30 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, with ISA membership now at 124 countries.

The ISA, a collaborative initiative between India and France, aims to combat climate change by promoting solar energy, targeting USD 1 trillion in solar investments by 2030 and reducing technology and financing costs.

Initiatives like PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana have already enabled over 20 lakh households to benefit from rooftop solar installations, highlighting India’s efforts to translate national ambition into local impact.

Exp. Paytm Launches ‘Playback’ – AI-Powered Feature That Turns Monthly Spending into Personalised Rap Songs

Paytm introduced ‘Playback’, an AI-powered feature that converts users’ monthly spending data into personalised rap songs, currently in beta for select high-transaction users.

The feature analyses spending patterns across categories like shopping, food, travel, and utilities, generating custom rap lyrics summarising monthly expenses that can be listened to or shared.

Playback aims to make expense tracking more engaging, especially for younger users, by turning routine financial data into an interactive, entertaining experience while promoting financial awareness.

Exp. NPCI Partners with PayPal to Integrate UPI with PayPal World for Seamless Global Payments

NPCI and PayPal announced a collaboration to integrate India’s UPI with PayPal World, making India’s instant payments platform the first to launch on the global digital payments network.

The collaboration aims to create a seamless, interoperable platform for consumers and merchants, enabling frictionless interactions between domestic wallets and global payment systems.

PayPal CEO Alex Chriss emphasised that the move focuses on connecting India to the world, rather than competing with UPI, reflecting India’s growing importance in the global payments ecosystem.

Exp. NPCI launches biometric, wearable glass authentication for UPI payments

NPCI and RBI introduced face and fingerprint-based UPI authentication, allowing users to approve payments using Aadhaar-linked biometrics, potentially replacing traditional UPI PINs.

A hands-free UPI Lite feature for wearable smart glasses enables small-value transactions using voice commands and QR code scans, without needing phones, PINs, or touch.

Multi-signatory UPI accounts allow joint account holders to make payments that require approval from one or more signatories, enhancing convenience and transparency for family or business accounts.

The system uses on-device biometric technology for secure authentication, supports PIN setup/reset and ATM withdrawals, and targets senior citizens, rural users, and first-time digital payment users for a more inclusive experience.

Exp. SBI General Launches ‘Health Alpha’ – India’s First Fully Customizable DIY Health Insurance Plan

SBI General Insurance has launched ‘Health Alpha’, a first-of-its-kind customizable health plan designed to give customers total control over their coverage — from choosing benefits to adjusting limits and even modifying waiting periods.

The plan introduces a “do-it-yourself” approach to health insurance, allowing customers to build policies tailored to their specific needs and lifestyle rather than opting for one-size-fits-all solutions.

With over 50 coverage options and innovative features, Health Alpha aims to provide flexible and affordable protection for Indian families amid rising medical inflation.

Exp. World Bank Projects India as Fastest-Growing Major Economy in FY26 with 6.5% Growth

According to the World Bank, India is expected to remain the world’s fastest-growing major economy in FY26, driven by strong consumption, improved agricultural output, and rural wage growth.

The World Bank raised India’s GDP growth forecast to 6.5% for FY26 from the earlier 6.3%, citing resilient domestic demand, rural recovery, and positive effects of tax reforms.

Regional growth forecasts include Bangladesh at 4.8%, Bhutan downgraded to 7.3% due to hydropower delays, Maldives at 3.9%, and Nepal at 2.1% owing to political and economic uncertainties.

Exp. Centre approves ₹903 crore for fire services in Haryana, MP, and Rajasthan under NDRF

The Centre has approved over 903 crore rupees to Haryana, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan under the National Disaster Response Fund for the expansion and modernisation of fire services.

A High-Level Committee, under the Chairmanship of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, has approved the assistance. Out of the total amount, more than 117 crore rupees have been approved for Haryana, 397 crore for Madhya Pradesh and over 388 crore rupees for Rajasthan.

The committee has also approved over 707 crore rupees of additional Central assistance to Assam and Gujarat from NDRF, affected by floods and landslides during 2024.

During the current financial year, the Central Government has released 13 thousand 603 crore rupees to 27 States under the State Disaster Response Fund and over two thousand crore rupees under NDRF to 12 States.  

Exp. CBIC introduces system-based auto-approval for IFSC code registration

The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) has launched a system-based auto-approval mechanism for IFSC code registration to improve the ease of doing business.

The initiative will enable faster approval of bank account and IFSC code requests, ensuring quick and seamless credit of export incentives to exporters’ accounts across multiple ports.

The Ministry of Finance stated that CBIC aims to leverage technology to simplify customs procedures, reduce transaction costs, and enhance trade efficiency for India’s business community.

Exp. PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana Crosses ₹10,907 Crore in Loans, Empowering Over 5.79 Lakh Households with Rooftop Solar Energy

The PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana has achieved a major milestone with Public Sector Banks sanctioning over 5.79 lakh loan applications worth ₹10,907 crore as of September 2025, promoting household solar energy adoption.

The scheme encourages rooftop solar installations with collateral-free loans up to ₹2 lakh, offered at competitive interest rates, featuring simplified documentation and longer repayment periods linked to electricity cost savings.

All loan applications are processed digitally via the JanSamarth Portal, which is integrated with the National Portal (pmsuryaghar.gov.in), ensuring seamless, transparent, and data-driven loan disbursal.

Recent improvements include allowing co-applicants, removing capacity-based restrictions, and simplifying documentation, based on feedback from both beneficiaries and banks.

The Department of Financial Services (DFS) and the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) are jointly overseeing the scheme’s implementation, which has already benefited over 5 lakh households, advancing India’s goals of clean energy, self-reliance, and green economic growth.

Exp. Government Unveils Logo for India-AI Impact Summit 2026

The Government of India unveiled the logo for the India-AI Impact Summit 2026, scheduled on February 19–20, 2026, at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi; the winning design by Shri Ajith P. Suresh was chosen from 599 entries submitted via the MyGov platform.

The logo symbolizes India’s vision of ethical and responsible AI, featuring the Ashoka Chakra for governance and justice, and neural network flares representing AI’s transformative and inclusive power across sectors and geographies.

The vibrant gradient and modern typography in the logo reflect innovation, diversity, and clarity, merging tradition with modernity to portray India’s leadership in shaping the global AI movement through the MeitY-hosted summit.