Daily Current Affairs – 22-10-2025
Sports News
Cinderella–Divyanshi Secure Top Spot in U-19 World Rankings
In a proud moment for Indian table tennis, the duo of Cinderella Das and Divyanshi Bhowmick has achieved a historic milestone by clinching the World No. 1 rank in the Under-19 Women’s Doubles category, as per the latest rankings released by the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF).
The Indian pair tops the global chart with an impressive 3,910 points, surpassing several dominant international teams.
China’s Wu Jia and Wu Ying Xuan duo follows in second place with 3,195 points, while France’s Leana Hochart and Nina Guo Zheng occupy the third position with 3,170 points.
This remarkable feat highlights India’s growing presence in world table tennis, particularly in the junior circuit. The consistent performances of Cinderella and Divyanshi in recent tournaments have established them as one of the most promising young pairs on the global stage.
National News
UDAN Network to be Extended Beyond 2027, Covering 120 New Destinations
Civil Aviation Secretary Samir Kumar Sinha announced that the government’s flagship Regional Connectivity Scheme — UDAN (Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik) — will be extended beyond April 2027 under an expanded framework. The move aims to boost connectivity to hilly, North-Eastern, and aspirational regions, while adding around 120 new destinations to India’s aviation network.
Speaking at the ninth-anniversary celebrations of the scheme in Delhi, Sinha said, “UDAN will continue beyond 2027 through an enhanced model that focuses on underserved regions and builds new infrastructure.”
Launched on October 21, 2016, by the Ministry of Civil Aviation, the UDAN scheme was designed to make air travel affordable and accessible by connecting Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities. Since its inception, more than 1.56 crore passengers have flown on 3.23 lakh flights operated under the scheme. The first UDAN flight, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on April 27, 2017, between Shimla and Delhi, marked a new milestone in India’s regional aviation journey.
So far, 649 routes have been operationalized, linking 93 unserved and underserved airports, including 15 heliports and 2 water aerodromes. The government has disbursed over ₹4,300 crore as Viability Gap Funding (VGF) and invested ₹4,638 crore in airport development.
Among the recent milestones are the Comprehensive Guidelines for Seaplane Operations issued in August 2024 and the launch of UDAN 5.5, a special bidding process focusing on seaplanes and helicopters. Together, these efforts underline India’s continuing commitment to making regional air travel inclusive and sustainable.
Venu Srinivasan Reappointed for Life at Tata Trusts
The Tata Trusts has unanimously reappointed Venu Srinivasan, Chairman Emeritus of the TVS Group, as a lifetime trustee, just days before his existing term was set to end on October 23. This decision comes amid reports of internal divisions within the Trusts, which control a 66% stake in Tata Sons, the holding company of the 156-year-old Tata Group.
According to sources, the reappointment was unanimous and made in line with Tata Trusts’ established practice. However, attention now shifts to the impending renewal of Mehli Mistry’s term, which ends on October 28. Trustees are reportedly divided on whether his continuation is automatic or requires unanimous approval for lifetime tenure.