CURRENT AFFAIRS 11 & 12 October, 2025

CURRENT AFFAIRS 11 & 12 October, 2025

1. 20 YEARS OF RTI ACT, 2005 –

• As the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005 completes 20 years of implementation in October 2025, a study has highlighted significant gaps in its functioning, exposing a transparency system under severe strain.

What are Key Facts About the RTI Act, 2005?

• About: Enacted in 2005, the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005 seeks to enable citizens to freely access information held by public authorities.
• It was designed to promote openness in government operations, strengthen accountability, and advance the principles of good governance across public institutions.
• Shahid Raza Burney’s RTI in Pune was the first one to be filed under the law.
• Core Components: The Act applies to all levels of government, including central, state, and local bodies.
• Section 8(2) permits disclosure when public interest outweighs confidentiality, and Section 22 ensures the RTI Act, 2005 takes precedence over any inconsistencies with other laws.
• Exemptions: Despite anything contained in the RTI Act, 2005 citizens are not entitled to information that could harm India’s sovereignty, integrity, security, strategic, scientific, or economic interests, affect relations with other countries, or incite an offence.
• Right to Information (Amendment) Act, 2019: Originally under the RTI Act, 2005, the Chief Information Commissioner and Information Commissioners served for 5 years or until age 65, whichever is earlier and their salary and terms of service matched those of the Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioners.
• However, the 2019 amendment changed this, giving the Central Government the power to set their term of office, salaries, allowances, and terms of service.
• Achievement of RTI Act, 2005: It has enhanced accountability in public fund use, enabling citizens to access MGNREGA expenditures, PDS records, and local development projects, reducing leakages and misuse.
• It has exposed high-profile scams like the Adarsh Society, 2G spectrum, and Commonwealth Games, while instilling a culture of accountability among public officials aware their actions are subject to public scrutiny.

2. INDIA MOBILE CONGRESS –

• The 9th edition of India Mobile Congress (IMC 2025), Asia’s largest telecom, media, and technology event, was inaugurated by the Prime Minister in New Delhi.

India Mobile Congress

• About: It is a major annual event highlighting the latest advancements and innovations in the mobile and digital technology sector.
• It provides a platform for industry leaders, policymakers, and technology enthusiasts, to discuss the future of the digital landscape.
• Organised By: It was organised jointly by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI).
• Theme: Its theme is “Innovate to Transform,” highlighting India’s commitment to leveraging innovation for digital transformation and societal progress.
• Related Recent Developments: The Bharat 6G Alliance signed MoUs with NASSCOM and the European Space Agency to advance joint technology development and released four whitepapers on spectrum, next-gen telecom power, AI-driven network evolution, and 6G architecture and security.
• India’s 6G ambitions are projected to add USD 1.2 trillion to GDP by 2035, with a goal of capturing 10% of global 6G patents. The country’s satellite communications market is also expected to triple by 2033.

3. THREE INDIAN PORTS NAMED GREEN HYDROGEN HUBS –

• India has taken a significant step toward building a future-ready green energy ecosystem by designating three major ports as Green Hydrogen Hubs. The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), under the framework of the National Green Hydrogen Mission, has formally recognised Deendayal Port (Gujarat), V.O. Chidambaranar Port (Tamil Nadu), and Paradip Port (Odisha) as focal points for green hydrogen production, distribution, and usage.
• This announcement marks a pivotal moment in India’s clean energy transition and aligns with the country’s broader ambition to achieve net-zero emissions by 2070.

3 Named Green Hydrogen Port

• Deendayal Port Authority (Gujarat)
• V.O. Chidambaranar Port Authority (Tamil Nadu)
• Paradip Port Authority (Odisha)

4. INDIA LAUNCHED NATIONAL RED LIST TO BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION TILL 2030 –

• In a landmark initiative for biodiversity conservation, India launched its National Red List Roadmap and Vision 2025–2030 at the IUCN World Conservation Congress 2025. The event, held at the Asia Pavilion, witnessed the official unveiling by Union Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Kirti Vardhan Singh. This comprehensive plan aims to develop a nationally coordinated, science-based framework to assess and monitor the conservation status of India’s diverse species, laying the foundation for the publication of National Red Data Books by 2030.

A Strategic Conservation Framework

• The Red List Roadmap is India’s structured response to the urgent need for species documentation and threat assessment.
• It will guide conservation strategies through scientific data, allowing focused interventions for endangered flora and fauna.
• The roadmap was developed in collaboration with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), the Botanical Survey of India (BSI), and the Centre for Species Survival.

5. INDIA’S FIRST BULLET TRAIN TO RUN BY AUGUST 2027 –

• India is preparing to enter a new era of high-speed rail connectivity, with the country’s first bullet train expected to become operational by August 2027, according to Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. The announcement was made at the first-ever Vibrant Gujarat Regional Conference in Mehsana, Gujarat, marking a major milestone in India’s journey toward becoming a Viksit Bharat (Developed India).

India’s Bullet Train Project

• The Mumbai–Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail (MAHSR), popularly known as India’s bullet train project, is among the most ambitious infrastructure projects undertaken by the Indian Railways.
• Once operational, it will connect Mumbai in Maharashtra with Ahmedabad in Gujarat, covering approximately 508 kilometers at speeds of up to 320 km/h.
• Announcing the new timeline, Ashwini Vaishnaw stated that the bullet train will be operational by August 2027, symbolizing India’s transition into a technologically advanced, efficient, and eco-friendly transportation era.
• The project is being implemented by the National High-Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL) with technical and financial assistance from Japan.

MCQ QUIZ

Q1.  Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve is located in which state ?

1. a) Tamil Nadu
2. b) Karnataka
3. c) Kerala
4. d) Madhya Pradesh

Q2.  Which is the nodal ministry of PM KUSUM scheme ?

1. a) Ministry of Finance
2. b) Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
3. c) Ministry of New and Renewable Energy
4. d) Ministry of Agriculture

Q3.  Nangal Wildlife Sanctuary is located in which state ?

1. a) Madhya Pradesh
2. b) Bihar
3. c) Uttarakhand
4. d) Punjab

Q4.  Which of the following statements about the Nobel Prize in Literature is/are correct ?

1. The prize is awarded by the Swedish Academy.
2. The recipient must have produced a work in the field of literature in the preceding year.
3. The prize can be awarded to an author for their entire body of work, not just a single piece.

         Select the correct answer using the code given below :

1. a) 1 only
2. b) 1, 2 and 3
3. c) 2 and 3 only
4. d) 1 and 3 only

Explanation-

• The Nobel Prize in Literature is one of the most prestigious literary awards globally.
• Statement 1 is correct. The Nobel Prize in Literature is awarded annually by the Swedish Academy, based in Stockholm, Sweden, as per the will of Alfred Nobel. The Academy is an independent cultural institution founded in 1786.
• Statement 2 is incorrect. Alfred Nobel’s will states that the prize should be given to an author who has produced “in the field of literature the most outstanding work in an ideal direction”. However, the statutes of the Nobel Foundation interpret this as referring to a writer’s life work. It is not necessary for the work to have been published in the preceding year.
• Statement 3 is correct. The Nobel Prize in Literature is often awarded for an author’s entire oeuvre, recognizing a lifetime of literary achievement, rather than for a single work. The prize citation for many laureates refers to their overall contribution to literature. For instance, the 2025 prize was awarded to László Krasznahorkai for his dense, philosophical, and apocalyptic prose.

Q5.  Regarding the components of PM-AASHA, consider the following statements:

1. Under the Price Support Scheme (PSS), the government covers procurement costs and losses incurred by nodal agencies.
2. The Price Deficiency Payment Scheme (PDPS) involves both physical procurement and price difference compensation for oilseeds.
3. The Private Procurement & Stockist Scheme (PPPS) is primarily aimed at rice and wheat procurement.
4. PM-AASHA is focused on ensuring MSP assurance for farmers’ produce.

         Which of the above statements are correct ?

1. a) 1, 2 and 4 only
2. b) 1 and 4 only
3. c) 1, 2 and 3 only
4. d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

Explanation-

• Under the Price Support Scheme (PSS), central nodal agencies such as NAFED and FCI procure pulses, oilseeds, and copra, and the government bears the procurement costs and any losses incurred.
• PM-AASHA is designed to ensure MSP assurance for farmers, helping to stabilize prices and support their income.
• Statement 2 is incorrect because the PDPS does not involve physical procurement; it only compensates the price difference between the mandi prices and MSP for oilseeds.
• Statement 3 is also incorrect as the PPPS is focused on oilseeds, not rice and wheat.

Answer Key