Daily Current Affairs – 27-10-2025
National News
India to Conduct ‘Trigul’ Tri-Service Exercise Near Pakistan Border
India will conduct its annual ‘Trigul’ tri-service military exercise along the Pakistan border adjoining Gujarat and Rajasthan from October 30 to November 10, 2025, involving coordinated participation from the Army, Air Force, and Navy.
The large-scale exercise will test joint operational readiness, focusing on offensive and defensive warfare, and will see the participation of around 20,000 troops, battle tanks, UAVs, helicopters, and naval warships.
The Indian Air Force’s Rafale and Sukhoi Su-30MKI jets, along with early warning systems, will take part, supported by the Indian Navy’s maritime assets. Key focus areas include intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and electronic warfare capabilities.
The announcement follows Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s warning that any misadventure by Pakistan in the Sir Creek region would face strong consequences. Both India and Pakistan have advised airlines to limit flight operations over the border region during the exercise.
This comes months after India’s ‘Operation Sindhur’, conducted in May 2025 as retaliation for a terror attack in Bahawalpur, marking heightened border preparedness. The 96-km-long Sir Creek sector between Gujarat’s Kutch region and Pakistan remains a long-standing maritime dispute.
International News
Direct Flights Between India and China Resume After Four Years
After a gap of more than four years, direct flight services between India and China have officially resumed. The first IndiGo A320 flight carrying 176 passengers departed from Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport, Kolkata, to Guangzhou (China) at 10 PM on October 26, 2025.
The air service had been suspended since 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the India–China border tensions in Eastern Ladakh.
With this resumption, IndiGo has launched daily flight operations between Kolkata and Guangzhou, strengthening bilateral connectivity, trade, and tourism.
Rabindranath Tagore Statue Unveiled at Indian Embassy in Beijing
A bust of Rabindranath Tagore, India’s Nobel laureate poet, was unveiled at the Indian Embassy in Beijing on October 26, 2025, by renowned Chinese sculptor Yuan Xikun. The event was attended by India’s Ambassador to China, Pradeep Rawat, who highlighted that Tagore’s visit to China a century ago marked “a significant milestone in the civilizational ties” between the two nations.
Ambassador Rawat emphasized that Tagore’s ideals of universal humanism and his friendship with Chinese scholars Gu Hongmo and Liang Qichao continue to strengthen India–China cultural relations. Tagore, who visited China three times, remains highly respected among Chinese readers, with many of his works translated into Chinese and taught in schools.
The sculptor Yuan Xikun, who created the Tagore bust, had earlier sculpted a seated statue of Mahatma Gandhi holding a book, installed in Chaoyang Park (2005) — where the Indian Embassy celebrates Gandhi Jayanti each year.
Comprehensive Ceasefire Agreement Between Thailand and Cambodia
In a major diplomatic development, Thailand and Cambodia signed a comprehensive ceasefire agreement on October 26, 2025, in Kuala Lumpur, witnessed by U.S. President Donald Trump during the 13th ASEAN–U.S. Summit.
This new pact builds upon the preliminary ceasefire agreed in July 2025, aiming to end months of escalating border clashes that had brought the two nations to the brink of war. Following U.S. warnings of economic sanctions if hostilities continued, both sides agreed to halt attacks.
Under the new agreement, Thailand will release prisoners from both nations, while Cambodia will withdraw troops from the border. The ceasefire is expected to restore peace and stability along the contested region.
Following the summit, President Trump is set to visit Japan and South Korea, where he is expected to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping to discuss reducing U.S.–China trade tensions.
ASEAN
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is a regional organization comprising 11 countries — Brunei, Myanmar, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and the newest member, Timor-Leste (East Timor).
Formed in 1967, ASEAN aims to promote political, economic, and social cooperation among member nations and ensure regional peace and stability.
India established sectoral partnership with ASEAN in 1992, which later evolved into a Full Dialogue Partnership (1995) and then to a Summit-Level Partnership (2002).
Latest ASEAN Member: Timor-Leste 🇹🇱
The newest full member of ASEAN is Timor-Leste (East Timor), which officially joined the bloc as the 11th member on 26 October 2025.
Timor-Leste first applied for membership in 2011, received “in-principle” approval in 2022, and achieved full membership in 2025.
India Stands in Solidarity with ASEAN Nations
Prime Minister Narendra Modi reaffirmed India’s commitment to being a steadfast partner of ASEAN nations during the 22nd ASEAN-India Summit, held via video conference as part of the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Addressing the gathering, he emphasized that even amid rising global uncertainties, the India–ASEAN Comprehensive Strategic Partnership continues to grow stronger, backed by deep economic and cultural ties.
Highlighting ASEAN’s central role in India’s Act East Policy, the Prime Minister announced 2026 as the ASEAN–India Year of Maritime Cooperation, aiming to strengthen collaboration in blue economy and maritime security. He noted that the twin goals — ASEAN Vision 2045 and Developed India 2047 — would illuminate the collective future of humanity.
Prime Minister Modi also underlined cooperation in sectors like education, tourism, science and technology, health, green energy, and cybersecurity, and vowed to preserve shared cultural heritage while enhancing people-to-people ties. Meanwhile, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim expressed optimism that the India–ASEAN Goods Trade Agreement would be finalized within the year, describing the partnership as a driving force for regional stability and prosperity.
Economy News
Global Insurers Outpace LIC in Adani Group Investments
According to a report by S&P Global Ratings (August 2025), major American and global insurance companies have invested more in Adani Group companies than India’s Life Insurance Corporation (LIC).
The report data reveals that a U.S.-based Athene Insurance invested USD 750 million (≈ ₹6,650 crore) in Adani’s Mumbai International Airport (MIAL) in June 2025, along with multiple other international insurers.
While media reports earlier suggested LIC’s investment in Adani Group came through government influence, LIC denied these claims, calling them unfounded.
Currently, LIC holds around 4% of Adani’s total shares, valued at approximately ₹60,000 crore. In contrast, LIC’s holdings are higher in other Indian corporates — 6.94% in Reliance Group (₹1.33 lakh crore), 15.86% in ITC Limited (₹82,800 crore), and 4.89% in HDFC Bank (₹64,725 crore).
The findings underscore that global investors now play a larger role in Adani Group’s financial backing compared to India’s largest insurer.