CURRENT AFFAIRS 25 October, 2025

CURRENT AFFAIRS 25 October, 2025

1. INDIA’S FIGHT AGAINST LEFT-WING EXTREMISM (LWE): TOWARDS A MAOIST-FREE NATION –

• Recently, the Indian Prime Minister said India is close to being free from Maoist terror, with only three LWE-affected districts remaining.
• Over 303 Maoists, including 210 in Chhattisgarh, recently surrendered, and conflict zones will celebrate Diwali after 60–70 years.

Current Status of LWE-Affected Areas & Development

• National Target: Complete elimination of Left Wing Extremism by March 31, 2026.
• Achievement: Official figures show that more than 1,600 Maoist cadres have laid down arms in 2025, signaling a sharp drop in insurgent strength and morale.
• Most-Affected Districts: Reduced from 6 to 3 (Bijapur, Sukma, Narayanpur), all located in Chhattisgarh.
• Total LWE-Affected Districts: Reduced from 18 to 11 as of 2025.
• Violence incidents dropped by 81% (2010–2024).
• Comparison: In 2013, India had 126 districts affected by Naxal violence across multiple states.
• Recognition of Police Forces: The Chhattisgarh Police received the President’s Colour Award for exceptional courage and service — one of India’s highest honours for state police forces.

2. 22ND ASEAN-INDIA SUMMIT –

• Recently, The Prime Minister of India participated virtually in the 22nd ASEAN-India Summit held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
• The meeting reviewed the progress of the ASEAN-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and discussed future cooperation
• Theme Of This Year’s Asean Summit: “Inclusivity and Sustainability.”

East Timor (Timor-Leste) Has Officially Become The 11th Member Of ASEAN

• This is ASEAN’s first expansion since the 1990s. The last country to join ASEAN was Cambodia in 1999.
• East Timor applied for ASEAN membership in 2011, was granted observer status in 2022, and achieved full membership in 2025 after a 14-year wait.
• About East Timor (Timor-Leste)
• Sovereign island nation in Southeast Asia, and one of the world’s youngest republics (Got independence in 2002).
• It had previously been a Portuguese colony and was later occupied by Indonesia from 1975 to 1999.
• It lies in the eastern half of Timor Island in the Malay Archipelago, bordered by Indonesia to the west, and the Timor Sea (north of Australia) to the south.

3. PRESIDENT DROUPADI MURMU TAKES SORTIE IN RAFALE FIGHTER JET AT AMBALA AIR BASE –

• President Droupadi Murmu created history on Wednesday by taking a 30-minute sortie in a Rafale fighter jet at the Ambala Air Force Station in Haryana. The symbolic flight highlighted India’s growing air defence capabilities and the role of women leadership in national security. The President, who serves as the Supreme Commander of the Indian Armed Forces, was accorded a ceremonial guard of honour on arrival.

Historic Flight at Ambala Air Force Station

• President Murmu boarded the twin-seater Rafale aircraft at around 11:27 am, wearing a G-suit and flight gear, and waved from the cockpit before take-off. The sortie was conducted under the supervision of senior Air Force officers, including Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, who flew in a separate aircraft. Upon completion of the flight, she deboarded the aircraft to a warm reception from IAF personnel, marking a proud moment for the nation’s armed forces.

4. UBER PARTNERS WITH NVIDIA TO DEPLOY 100,000 ROBOTAXIS WORLDWIDE BY 2027 –

• Uber Technologies has announced an ambitious collaboration with Nvidia to develop and deploy a global fleet of 100,000 autonomous robotaxis, marking a major leap in the commercialisation of driverless transport. The partnership aims to begin large-scale deployment by 2027, with the initiative unveiled during Nvidia’s GTC conference in Washington, DC.

Strategic Collaboration for Autonomous Mobility

• The partnership builds on an earlier agreement from January, under which Uber shared driving data to enhance Nvidia’s artificial intelligence and chip systems for self-driving vehicles. Nvidia’s new platform, Drive AGX Hyperion 10, will form the backbone of the project, enabling automakers to integrate advanced sensors and hardware compatible with autonomous driving software. This technology will help Uber operate a large-scale, AI-powered mobility network across its global markets.

5. APPLE HITS $4 TRILLION AS IPHONE SALES SURGE; NVIDIA NEARS $5 TRILLION ON AI BOOM –

• Two of the world’s biggest technology firms, Apple and Nvidia, have set new market milestones. Apple briefly crossed the $4 trillion valuation mark for the first time, driven by strong global demand for its latest iPhone models, while Nvidia closed in on a record $5 trillion valuation as AI chip sales continue to dominate global technology markets.

Apple’s Record Market Milestone

• Apple’s market capitalisation briefly touched $4.005 trillion after its shares hit $269.89 on Tuesday before settling slightly lower at $3.992 trillion. This makes Apple the third company to achieve the $4 trillion milestone, following Nvidia and Microsoft. The company’s recent turnaround came after strong sales of the new iPhone 17 series and the ultra-slim iPhone Air, which performed exceptionally in the U.S., China and India.

MCQ QUIZ

Q1.  Bondla Wildlife Sanctuary is located in which state ?

1. a) Goa
2. b) Maharashtra
3. c) Karnataka
4. d) Kerala

Q2.  The biannual Darbar Move in India, revived in winter 2025, involves shifting government offices between which two cities ?

1. a) Delhi and Mumbai
2. b) Srinagar and Jammu
3. c) Jaipur and Udaipur
4. d) Kolkata and Patna

Q3.  Which historic bridge is being replaced by the modern Bajrang Setu over the Ganga River ?

1. a) Ram Jhula
2. b) Laxman Jhula
3. c) Mahatma Gandhi Setu
4. d) Howrah Bridge

Q4.  Consider the following statements about cloud seeding globally:

1. Cloud seeding has been used since the 1940s.
2. Countries like the USA, China, Israel, and UAE have adopted cloud seeding for water management.

         Which statements are correct ?

1. a) 1 only
2. b) 2 only
3. c) Both 1 and 2
4. d) None

Explanation-

• Both statement are correct. Cloud seeding is a global technology used since the 1940s. Countries like the USA, China, Israel, and UAE have adopted cloud seeding for water management.

Q5.  Consider the following statements about the appointment of the CJI:

1. The President appoints the CJI under Article 124(2) of the Constitution.
2. The senior-most judge of the Supreme Court is always appointed as CJI by law.
3. The retirement age of the CJI is 65 years.
4. Justice Surya Kant will be 53rd CJI following the retirement of CJI Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai

         Which of the statements are correct ?

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

Explanation-

• While seniority is a convention, it is not a legally binding requirement. Statements 1 and 3 are constitutionally correct. Recently, CJI Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai nominated Justice Surya Kant to his successor and he will be  53rd CJI of India.

Answer Key