Daily Current Affairs – 18-10-2025
Tamil Nadu News
Tamil Nadu Launches e-Vaadagai Scheme for Farmers
The Government of Tamil Nadu has launched e-Vaadagai, a digital initiative designed to help farmers rent agricultural machinery and implements online without the need to visit government offices.
Developed by the Department of Agricultural Engineering, the platform is integrated with the Uzhavan mobile app, allowing farmers to book equipment such as tractors, rotavators, power tillers, harvesters, and other farm tools through their smartphones.
Officials said the system aims to make farm mechanization more affordable and accessible, particularly for small and marginal farmers who cannot purchase costly machinery.
Through the e-Vaadagai portal or app, farmers can view the availability, rental rates, and location of equipment nearby, and make advance bookings with transparency and convenience.
According to the Agriculture Department, this service will also help promote efficient resource utilization, increase productivity, and reduce manual labour dependency in the farming sector.
The initiative is part of Tamil Nadu’s broader vision to digitize agricultural services and ensure that farmers benefit from technology-driven governance.
Private Universities Amendment Bill Passed in Tamil Nadu
The Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly on Friday passed the Private Universities Act Amendment Bill, introduced by Higher Education Minister K.N. Nehru. The Bill seeks to pave the way for the establishment of new private universities across the state, while ensuring adherence to Tamil Nadu’s reservation policy.
Introducing the Bill, Minister K.N. Nehru emphasized that this amendment aims to strengthen higher education infrastructure and allow new institutions to emerge under proper regulatory frameworks. He clarified that the original Private Universities Act was enacted in 2019 under the DMK government led by former Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi, and that the current amendment builds on that foundation.
Addressing concerns over reservation policies, the Minister assured that 35% of seats in private universities will be allotted to Tamil Nadu students, and that the state’s reservation norms will continue without any change.
He also pointed out that in medical-related courses, non-minority institutions currently control about 65% of seats, and under the new amendment, minority colleges will now be required to surrender 50% of their seats to the government, ensuring fair access and equity in admissions.
With these clarifications, the Private Universities Amendment Bill was passed by the Assembly, marking a major step in Tamil Nadu’s efforts to expand higher education while maintaining social justice principles.
Chief Minister M.K. Stalin Announces Formation of a Commission
Chief Minister M.K. Stalin announced in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly that the state government will soon enact a new law to prevent honour killings, emphasizing the need to put an end to caste-based and patriarchal violence.
To facilitate this, a commission headed by retired High Court Judge K.N. Basha will be formed. The commission will consist of legal experts, progressive thinkers, and anthropologists who will collect opinions from political leaders, social activists, and affected families before providing recommendations for the new law.
During the Assembly discussion on the issue of honour killings, the Chief Minister said that the term “colony,” often used as a symbol of dominance and untouchability, will be removed. Hostels in schools and colleges with caste-based names will be renamed as “Samuga Needhi Viduthi” (Social Justice Hostels) to promote equality and inclusion.
Mr. Stalin further noted that when he met Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he urged the central government to amend caste name suffixes in the list of Adi Dravidar and Scheduled Tribes — changing those ending with the “n” sound to “r” — to ensure greater respect and dignity for those communities.
The Chief Minister stated that patriarchy and caste arrogance, which deny women the right to choose their life partners, are the underlying causes of honour killings. “This mindset must end,” he said.
He added that all cases related to honour killings are being dealt with strict legal provisions and severe punishments. The police have been instructed to ensure no offender escapes justice, regardless of the reason or background.
At the same time, Mr. Stalin called upon social reform movements, political organizations, and welfare bodies to lead awareness campaigns against such cruel ideologies. “Social reform and legal punishment must advance together like a sword and shield,” he emphasized.
The proposed K.N. Basha Commission will consult all stakeholders and recommend comprehensive measures to prevent honour killings. Based on these suggestions, the Tamil Nadu Government will introduce a dedicated law to eliminate honour-based crimes, reaffirming its commitment to social justice and equality.
International News
Bangladesh Political Parties Sign Democratic Reform Charter
Major political parties in Bangladesh have signed a Democratic Reform Charter, pledging to implement key reforms after the upcoming national elections next year. The agreement marks a major step toward restructuring the nation’s political framework following a period of instability.
The charter was conceived after the collapse of Sheikh Hasina’s government last year, which was brought down by massive student protests demanding transparency, fair governance, and democratic accountability.
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Jamaat-e-Islami, two major opposition parties, have signed the reform charter, expressing their support for the proposed democratic framework.
However, the National Citizens’ Party (NCP) — formed by the student leaders who led the protests that toppled Hasina’s regime — boycotted the event, creating political tension among reformists.
Analysts see the signing of the charter as a symbolic and strategic step toward restoring public trust and ensuring a more transparent, inclusive political system in Bangladesh.
Trump to Meet Putin in Hungary: Move to End Ukraine War
U.S. President Donald Trump has announced that he will meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Budapest, Hungary, to discuss steps toward ending the ongoing Ukraine war.
The decision came after a two-hour-long phone conversation between the two leaders, during which they discussed the possibility of a ceasefire in Ukraine.
During the Ukraine invasion, Orbán drew controversy for extending special status and citizenship to ethnic Hungarians living in Ukraine, a move that sparked criticism from the European Union. Despite Western pressure, he has refused to alter his supportive stance toward Russia, leading EU member states to independently raise funds and supply military aid to Ukraine.
Trump, who had previously been critical of Russia, now appears to be softening his position ahead of his 2025 presidential campaign. Analysts believe this meeting could be an attempt to project himself as a global peace broker capable of negotiating an end to the Ukraine war.
Observers also note that this shift may affect Ukraine’s diplomatic expectations from the United States, with doubts emerging over whether Trump would continue the strong pro-Ukraine stance maintained by current Western governments.
Sri Lankan Prime Minister Meets PM Modi
Sri Lankan Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Friday, where the two leaders discussed several key areas of mutual interest, including development cooperation, education, women’s empowerment, innovation, and the welfare of Indian fishermen.
The meeting took place at Prime Minister Modi’s official residence in Delhi. Both leaders expressed commitment to strengthening the long-standing friendship and trust-based partnership between India and Sri Lanka.
The discussion also highlighted India’s continued support for Sri Lanka’s development and the mutual importance of maintaining peace and cooperation in the Indian Ocean region.
National News
Gujarat Cabinet Reshuffled: Deputy CM and 24 Ministers Sworn In
The Gujarat State Cabinet, led by Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, underwent a major reshuffle on Friday. The new cabinet, which was sworn in at the Raj Bhavan in Gandhinagar, includes Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi and 24 other ministers, expanding the council’s strength to 26.
Former Minister of State Harsh Sanghavi has now been elevated as the Deputy Chief Minister, becoming the second-youngest person to hold the post after Rohit Dalvi. The reshuffle also marks the first time in four years that Gujarat has appointed a Deputy Chief Minister.
Of the 24 new ministers, six were part of the previous cabinet, while four others had served as ministers in earlier BJP governments. The remaining 15 are newcomers, signaling an infusion of fresh faces and perspectives in state governance.
Cabinet Expansion and Composition
The Gujarat Legislative Assembly, which has 182 members, allows up to 27 ministers in the cabinet. In line with this, the BJP leadership decided to revamp the 17-member previous council, prompting the resignation of 16 ministers before the new team took oath.
Governor Acharya Devvrat administered the oath to the new ministers at the ceremony. Key names sworn in as Cabinet Ministers include Arjun Singh Chauhan, Jagdish Vishwakarma, Harsh Sanghavi, Rushikesh Patel, Raghavji Patel, and Purnesh Modi.
The new cabinet has nine Ministers of State (Independent Charge), three Ministers of State, and a total of 13 Cabinet Ministers. Notably, three women ministers have been appointed this time, compared to only one in the previous term — marking an important step towards gender inclusion in Gujarat politics.