Daily Current Affairs – 16-10-2025
Important Days
🩺 World Anaesthesia Day 2025 – October 16
Theme: “Anaesthesiology in Health Emergencies”
World Anaesthesia Day is observed on October 16 each year to commemorate the first successful use of ether anaesthesia by Dr. William T.G. Morton in 1846. The day honors anaesthesiologists’ critical contribution to surgery, pain relief, and intensive care.
The 2025 theme, “Anaesthesiology in Health Emergencies,” highlights the vital role of anaesthesia professionals during crises, disasters, and pandemics, emphasizing their expertise in emergency response, trauma management, and critical care.
The World Federation of Societies of Anaesthesiologists (WFSA) will host global webinars to promote safe anaesthetic care and patient safety awareness.
📍 First Observed: 1846 (first use of anaesthesia)
📍 Organized by: World Federation of Societies of Anaesthesiologists (WFSA)
📍 Observed on: October 16 every year
🌾 World Food Day 2025 – October 16
Theme: “Hand in Hand for Better Foods and a Better Future”
Observed every year on October 16, World Food Day marks the founding of the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in 1945. The day aims to raise global awareness about hunger, food security, and sustainable agriculture.
The 2025 theme, “Hand in Hand for Better Foods and a Better Future,” emphasizes the need for collective global action among governments, organizations, and communities to ensure equitable access to healthy diets and a sustainable agrifood system.
This year also celebrates the 80th anniversary of FAO, with the launch of the Food and Agriculture Museum & Network (MuNe) at FAO Headquarters in Rome — showcasing innovations for future food security.
📍 Established: 1945
📍 Organized by: Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
📍 Observed on: October 16 every year
International News
India’s Passport Power Drops to 85th; US Falls Out of Global Top 10 in 2025 Henley Index
The 2025 Henley Passport Index, which ranks the world’s most travel-friendly passports, has reported a decline in global mobility for both India and the United States. The report highlights how shifting diplomatic relations and tightening visa regulations are reshaping international travel freedom.
🇮🇳 India’s Position Weakens
According to the index, India’s passport slipped to 85th rank, offering visa-free access to 57 countries, down from 59 destinations in 2024. This also marks a drop from 80th place earlier this year, signaling a steady decline in mobility for Indian travellers.
Indian passport holders can now travel visa-free to 16 destinations, including Bhutan, Nepal, Indonesia, Mauritius, and Trinidad & Tobago, while 27 countries, such as Sri Lanka, Maldives, Jordan, Qatar, Cambodia, Bolivia, and Mongolia, offer visa-on-arrival. Despite these options, India’s overall travel freedom remains limited compared to top-ranked countries.
🇺🇸 US Falls Out of the Top 10
For the first time in 20 years, the US passport has exited the global top 10, dropping to 12th position, tied with Malaysia, offering visa-free access to 180 destinations out of 227. The fall is attributed to changes in global visa policies, reciprocal entry restrictions, and intensified competition among nations expanding their international access.
🌏 Asia Dominates the Rankings
Leading the 2025 list are three Asian nations:
Singapore — 193 destinations (Rank 1)
South Korea — 190 destinations (Rank 2)
Japan — 189 destinations (Rank 3)
These countries continue to expand their diplomatic and mobility partnerships globally.
A.R. Rahman Partners with Google Cloud to Launch AI-Driven Metahuman Music Band ‘Secret Mountain’
In a groundbreaking fusion of music and artificial intelligence, Google Cloud has teamed up with Oscar-winning composer A.R. Rahman to launch a metahuman digital avatar band titled “Secret Mountain.”
The project, powered by Google’s advanced AI models — including Gemini Flash 2.5 Image (Nano Banana), Gemini 2.5 Pro, Imagen, and Veo 3 — aims to deliver ultra-realistic visuals, genre-blending music, and interactive fan experiences in real time.
Thomas Kurian, CEO of Google Cloud, said,
“With the support of Google Cloud’s powerful infrastructure and AI models, Secret Mountain is designed to create a breathtaking digital experience, while ensuring built-in security, scalability, and governance.”
🎧 About Secret Mountain
The AI-driven entertainment project combines hyper-realistic acoustic avatars with immersive storytelling. It follows the story of Luna, a young woman who enters the Secret Mountain Universe and encounters diverse musical avatars from different cultures.
The lineup features six digital avatars, including Cara (an Irish singer-songwriter), Zen Tam (a Tamil rapper), and Blessing (an African percussionist and vocalist).
Rahman’s musical compositions form the emotional and creative core of the project. The composer also plans to collaborate with mentors and singers from across the globe to build a cross-cultural digital orchestra.
In his statement, Rahman noted:
“AI enables artists to create, experiment, and perform in ways once thought impossible. Together, we are creating a new world of entertainment — one where human creativity and AI innovation coexist to inspire audiences worldwide.”
This marks one of India’s most ambitious collaborations blending art, technology, and storytelling, setting the stage for a new era of AI-powered musical experiences.
India’s Russian Crude Imports Drop by 14% in September: European Fuel Research Centre
According to a report released by the European Fuel Research Centre, India’s crude oil imports from Russia declined by 14% in September compared to August 2024. Despite this drop, India remains the second-largest buyer of Russian crude, next only to China.
The reduction comes amid changing global energy dynamics following the Russia–Ukraine war, which began in 2022. As European nations halted oil purchases from Russia, the country began offering discounted crude to Asian buyers — mainly India and China — leading to a surge in India’s imports over the last two years.
The report highlighted that before the Ukraine conflict, Russia’s share in India’s total crude imports was just 1%, which later rose sharply to nearly 40%. However, in recent months, imports have shown a gradual decline due to price fluctuations, shipping challenges, and payment adjustments.
In September 2024, India imported crude oil worth ₹25,600 crore from Russia — a 14% decrease compared to August. Despite this, Russia continues to be one of India’s top three crude suppliers, with daily purchases averaging around 1.6 million barrels.
Before the Russia–Ukraine war, India imported around 700,000 barrels per day, which later doubled as Russia redirected exports towards Asia. Analysts believe the recent slowdown signals a rebalancing of India’s import strategy, considering global oil price volatility and the increasing focus on diversified energy sources.
India Re-elected to UN Human Rights Council for 7th Term (2026–2028)
India has once again secured a seat in the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), marking its seventh term as a member. The announcement was made by the UNHRC on its official social media channels, confirming India’s election for the 2026–2028 term, beginning on January 1, 2026.
The UNHRC, which works to promote and protect human rights globally, consists of 47 member countries elected by the UN General Assembly. The distribution of seats is based on geographical balance—13 for African states, 13 for Asia-Pacific, 6 for Eastern Europe, 8 for Latin America and the Caribbean, and 7 for Western Europe and others.
Since the Council’s inception in 2006, India has been a consistent participant, serving six terms: 2006–07, 2008–10, 2012–14, 2015–17, 2019–21, and 2022–24. As per UN rules, no country can serve three consecutive terms, which is why India was not a member in 2011, 2018, and 2025.
India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Bhagwant Singh Bishnoi (Bhargav Moraj), expressed gratitude to all nations for their support.
Alongside India, Angola, Chile, Ecuador, Estonia, Iraq, Indonesia, Latvia, Pakistan, Slovenia, South Africa, the United Kingdom, and Vietnam were also elected as members for the same three-year term.
Tamil Nadu News
Hitachi Expands Chennai Innovation Hub with ₹2,000 Crore Investment; 3,000 New Jobs to be Created
In a major boost to Tamil Nadu’s technology and industrial ecosystem, Hitachi Energy Technologies Services Pvt. Ltd. announced a ₹2,000 crore investment to expand its Global Technology and Innovation Centre located in Porur, Chennai. The expansion, scheduled to take place over the next five years, is expected to generate 3,000 new jobs across various engineering and technology roles.
The MoU was signed on Wednesday in the presence of Chief Minister M.K. Stalin at the Secretariat, marking another milestone in Tamil Nadu’s growing position as a global innovation hub.
The expansion builds upon Hitachi’s existing Chennai centre, which was inaugurated in October 2023. The facility has since evolved into one of the company’s largest global centres, supporting over 1,000 projects across 46 countries, with nearly 3,000 engineers already part of its workforce.
TN Govt Introduces Bill to Allow Conversion of Private Colleges into Universities
The Tamil Nadu government on Wednesday introduced a Bill in the State Assembly to amend the Tamil Nadu Private Universities Act, 2019, allowing existing private and government-aided colleges to be converted into private universities, provided they meet the required eligibility standards.
Under the current law, only newly established (greenfield) institutions are permitted to become private universities. The proposed amendment seeks to expand this by introducing two new categories:
“Brownfield University” – which allows existing private colleges to transform into full-fledged universities.
“Minority Private University” – which allows linguistic and religious minority institutions to establish and manage their own universities under Article 30 of the Indian Constitution.
The government is likely to pass the Bill during the ongoing Assembly session, which concludes on Friday. However, the Bill faced opposition from AIADMK MLA and former Higher Education Minister K.P. Anbazhagan at the introduction stage.
At present, seats in government-aided programmes offered by private colleges are filled according to the state’s reservation policy, which ensures equitable access for students from various communities.
The amendment is seen as a major reform in Tamil Nadu’s higher education sector, potentially empowering reputed private colleges to upgrade into universities, thereby expanding research capacity, autonomy, and quality education opportunities across the state.
IPS Officer R. Sudhakar Appointed as NCB Southern Region Deputy Director-General
Senior IPS officer R. Sudhakar, belonging to the 2003 Tamil Nadu cadre, has been assigned full additional charge as the Deputy Director-General (DDG) of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), Southern Region. He will now oversee the Bureau’s anti-drug operations across Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana.
Currently posted as the Deputy Director-General for NCB’s North-Eastern Region in Guwahati, R. Sudhakar will continue to hold that post while assuming the additional responsibility of the Southern Region.
During his career in Tamil Nadu Police, he has served in several key roles — including Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic), Chennai, and Inspector-General of Police, West Zone, Coimbatore. Known for his efficient policing and administrative expertise, he has handled diverse portfolios ranging from urban traffic management to crime control.
Tamil Nadu Secures ₹2,000-Crore Global Tech Investment in Chennai’s Porur
A major boost to Tamil Nadu’s technology and employment landscape came as the state government signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) worth ₹2,000 crore in the presence of Chief Minister M.K. Stalin. The agreement marks a collaboration between Japan’s HECI Science Group and global digital services firm Witchardts to establish a new development and skill enhancement center in Porur, Chennai.
According to an official release, Witchardts HECI Science—a leading provider of digital technology, engineering, and consulting solutions—will expand its existing Chennai facility and create a global innovation and talent development hub. The initiative is expected to generate over 3,000 new job opportunities, strengthening Tamil Nadu’s role as a top destination for global tech investments.
The signing ceremony, held in the presence of the Chief Minister, was attended by Industries Minister T.R.B. Raaja, Chief Secretary Shiv Das Meena, and Witchardts Global CEO Andrews Veropec, among others. The government stated that this investment would significantly contribute to technological advancement, skill development, and industrial growth in the state.
Sports News
Ahmedabad Recommended to Host 2030 Commonwealth Games – India Set to Mark a Sporting Milestone
In a major boost to India’s global sporting ambitions, the Executive Board (EB) of Commonwealth Sport has officially recommended Ahmedabad as the host city for the 2030 Centenary Commonwealth Games.
Although the final approval will be made at the Commonwealth Sport General Assembly in Glasgow on November 26, sources indicate that the decision is expected to be a mere formality, given Ahmedabad’s strong bid and comprehensive infrastructure plan.
The Gujarat capital, which is also preparing a bid for the 2036 Olympics, was chosen over Abuja, the Nigerian capital, after a detailed assessment by the Commonwealth Sport Evaluation Committee. The evaluation covered multiple criteria including infrastructure readiness, legacy potential, sustainability, and international connectivity.
The selection of Ahmedabad would mark India’s return as a host nation after the successful 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games. The Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Sports Complex and the Narendra Modi Stadium, the world’s largest, are expected to be central venues for the event.
Speaking on the occasion, P.T. Usha, President of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and the Commonwealth Games Association of India (CGAI), said:
“Hosting the 2030 Games will not only highlight India’s world-class sporting and organizational capabilities but will also be a significant step towards realizing the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.”
The 2030 edition, coinciding with the 100th anniversary of the Commonwealth Games, is expected to draw record global participation and place India firmly on the world sporting map once again.
Dr. Ishari K. Ganesh Re-elected as President of Tamil Nadu Olympic Association
The Tamil Nadu Olympic Association (TNOA) has elected its new set of office bearers. Dr. Ishari K. Ganesh, Chancellor of Vels University, has been re-elected as the President for the second consecutive term, reaffirming his leadership in promoting sports in Tamil Nadu. Alongside him, Aadhav Arjuna will continue as the General Secretary of the association.
Dr. Ganesh, who has been contributing to sports administration for over two decades, is widely credited for the state’s recent successes in national sporting events. Under his leadership, Tamil Nadu athletes have delivered outstanding performances — winning 79 medals each in the 36th and 37th National Games, and 92 medals in the 38th National Games, reflecting steady growth and sporting excellence.
With the joint efforts of Dr. Ishari K. Ganesh and Aadhav Arjuna, the association has achieved major progress, supported by ₹80 lakh in financial assistance for athlete welfare and infrastructure development. Furthermore, Vels University, under Dr. Ganesh’s guidance, continues to offer tuition-free education to over 200 student-athletes every year, empowering young sports talents through education.
New Office Bearers (2025–28):
President: Dr. Ishari K. Ganesh
General Secretary: Aadhav Arjuna
Vice Presidents: Senthil V. Thiyagarajan, Solai M. Raja, Dr. M. Rama Subramaniam (IPS), V.V.R. Rajeshwaran
Chairman: D.P. Sitharam Rao
Treasurer: G. Latha
The re-election of Dr. Ishari K. Ganesh and Aadhav Arjuna is expected to strengthen the Tamil Nadu Olympic Association’s initiatives in athlete development, governance transparency, and grassroots-level sports promotion.
Centre Issues Draft Rules for New Sports Bodies under National Sports Governance Act, 2025
The Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has released the draft rules for newly proposed bodies — the National Organisation for Disability (NOD) and the National Sports Federation (NSG) — under the upcoming National Sports Governance Act, 2025. These draft guidelines have been published online to seek public and stakeholder feedback before final approval.
According to the draft, the National Sports Federation will comprise a President, two Vice Presidents, and three members, all of whom must possess strong expertise in public administration, sports management, or sports law. Members must not have any commercial interests in sports-related businesses.
The age limit is set at 65 years, and the tenure is three years. Members can hold office for only one full term, and reappointment without a public election will not be permitted.
The Selection Committee for appointments will have a minimum three-month window to establish each organization and a two-month period per department. It will be headed by the Ministry Secretary, and include the Sports Department Secretary, a sports administration expert, and a National Sports Award recipient. Members of this committee will serve for four years, with an upper age limit of 67.
The National Sports Election Committee, responsible for conducting elections for all sports federations, will consist of at least 20 permanent members.
Additionally, all sports federations must ensure athlete representation — where players’ associations can elect or nominate representatives.
Star athletes representing Olympic or recognized sports will have specific roles, while federations not recognized by the National Olympic Committee (NOC) will not receive national recognition.
The move aims to standardize governance, increase transparency, and ensure athlete participation in decision-making across all sports federations in India.
National News
Bharti Airtel Partners with IBM to Integrate AI into Cloud Services, Expand Data Centres in India
Bharti Airtel Ltd. has announced a strategic partnership with IBM to integrate artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities into its recently launched cloud platform, enhancing the company’s digital service portfolio for enterprise clients. The announcement was made during the IBM Think event held in Mumbai.
According to Sandip Patel, Managing Director of IBM India and South Asia, the collaboration will enable Airtel’s August-launched cloud product—designed for businesses seeking data localisation within Indian borders—to leverage IBM’s advanced AI tools. These AI-driven capabilities are expected to improve operational efficiency and provide smarter analytics to Airtel’s enterprise customers.
Expanding Digital Footprint
Gopal Vittal, Managing Director of Bharti Airtel, said the partnership will also help expand Airtel’s cloud infrastructure footprint across India.
He further added that two new Multi-Zone Regions (MZRs) will soon be established in Mumbai and Chennai to strengthen Airtel’s data sovereignty and resilience.
This announcement follows Airtel’s recent tie-up with Google for its Visakhapatnam data centre, reflecting the telecom major’s growing focus on AI, data localisation, and digital transformation solutions for Indian enterprises.
Hyundai Motor India to Invest ₹45,000 Crore by FY2030; Aims for 15% Market Share
Hyundai Motor India Limited (HMIL) announced plans to invest ₹45,000 crore by FY2030 as part of its long-term growth vision, targeting a 15% share of the Indian automobile market. The announcement came during the company’s first-ever Investor Day, where it unveiled an ambitious strategic roadmap for the coming decade.
According to HMIL, the investment will focus on expanding India-centric products, enhancing local manufacturing and localisation levels, and building a sustainable financial growth framework to support the company’s roadmap through FY2030.
The strategic plan underscores Hyundai’s commitment to strengthening its presence in India, one of the fastest-growing automobile markets in the world, and to lead innovation through advanced technology, electric mobility, and customer-focused design.
The company also announced a leadership transition, with Tarun Garg set to take over as Managing Director & CEO effective January 1, 2026. The move is seen as a step toward aligning Hyundai’s Indian operations with its global expansion and innovation goals.
India’s Trade Deficit Doubles in September Amid Surge in Imports, Services Export Slowdown
India’s trade deficit widened sharply by 93% in September 2024, as a spike in imports outpaced export growth, according to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. However, during the first half of FY 2024–25 (April to September), the overall trade gap narrowed by 2.3%, indicating a relatively balanced trend over the six-month period.
Key Trade Figures
The ministry’s data shows that total exports stood at $67.2 billion, up 0.8% compared to August 2024. Meanwhile, imports jumped to $83.8 billion, an 11.3% month-on-month increase. Consequently, the trade deficit nearly doubled to $16.6 billion, compared to $8.6 billion in August, marking one of the steepest monthly rises in recent months.
Goods and Services Performance
India’s goods and services exports combined rose 6.7% in September 2024, reaching $36.4 billion — despite the full impact of the 50% U.S. tariff being in effect for the first complete month. The services sector, which had been a strong pillar of export growth, recorded a decline of 5.5%, falling to $30.8 billion in September 2025.
Interestingly, India’s exports to the U.S. between April and September 2025 grew 13.4% compared to the same period last year. Yet, the downward monthly trend suggests a gradual slowdown in export momentum — with U.S.-bound exports declining from $8.8 billion to $5.5 billion over recent months.
Half-Year Overview
Between April and September 2024–25, merchandise and services exports grew 4.45%, while imports rose 2.3%, slightly reducing the trade gap.
However, economists caution that the fall in service exports — traditionally India’s strength — could affect overall current account stability if the trend continues.
Note: Service sector data for August 2025 is based on RBI’s latest release, while September figures are provisional estimates.
Source: Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India.
Defence Ministry Boosts Border Readiness with ₹659-Crore Night Vision Rifle Systems
The Ministry of Defence has signed a ₹659.47-crore contract to procure advanced night vision devices designed to enhance the accuracy of rifle targeting even in darkness. These state-of-the-art systems will be integrated with 716 lakh rifles, enabling soldiers to hit targets up to 500 meters away at night.
The devices will be jointly manufactured by MKU and Medley Technologies, ensuring a high level of domestic production under the “Make in India” initiative. The agreement mandates that over 51% of the components must be indigenously produced, in line with the government’s goal of strengthening local defence manufacturing.
Additionally, several Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) involved in producing auxiliary parts will benefit from this collaboration. The move comes amid ongoing night-time infiltration threats along India’s borders, especially with Pakistan, and aims to equip the armed forces with superior surveillance and targeting capabilities for border defence.
Environment News
Global CO₂ Levels Hit Record High in 2024 – UN Climate Report Warns of Escalating Crisis
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO), a specialized agency of the United Nations, has warned that the concentration of carbon dioxide (CO₂) in the Earth’s atmosphere reached an all-time high in 2024, signaling an alarming acceleration in global warming.
According to the WMO’s latest annual greenhouse gas bulletin, atmospheric CO₂ levels have continued to rise sharply since monitoring began in 1957. The absorbed heat trapped by these greenhouse gases is intensifying the climate crisis, leading to more frequent and severe natural disasters such as droughts, floods, and heatwaves across the world.
The report notes that the rate of CO₂ increase is now three times higher than it was during the 1960s, largely due to human-induced emissions from fossil fuel use, deforestation, and industrial activity. These emissions have worsened air quality, soil degradation, and extreme weather patterns globally.
The WMO emphasized that reducing greenhouse gas emissions is vital not only for stabilizing the climate but also for ensuring economic stability, public health, and social security.
In addition to CO₂, levels of methane (CH₄) and nitrous oxide (N₂O)—two potent greenhouse gases—also reached record highs in 2024, amplifying the threat of global temperature rise beyond safe limits.