By resolution 54/68 of 6 December 1999, the General Assembly proclaimed World Space Week, to celebrate the contributions of space science and technology to the betterment of the human condition. For World Space Week 2025, the chosen theme is “Living in Space.” World Space Week is the largest annual space event in the world.
On 4 October 1957, the launch into outer space of the first human-made Earth satellite, Sputnik 1, opened the way for space exploration. A decade later, on 10 October 1967, the Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies entered into force.
World Teachers’ Day is held annually on 5 October to celebrate all teachers around the globe. It commemorates the anniversary of the adoption of the 1966 ILO/UNESCO Recommendation concerning the Status of Teachers, which sets benchmarks regarding the rights and responsibilities of teachers, and standards for their initial preparation.
The Recommendation concerning the Status of Higher-Education Teaching Personnel was adopted in 1997 to complement the 1966 Recommendation by covering teaching personnel in higher education. World Teachers’ Day has been celebrated since 1994. World Teachers’ Day is co-convened in partnership with the International Labour Organization, UNICEF and Education International.
Theme 2025: - “Recasting teaching as a collaborative profession
During the financial year 2025–26 for Rural Local Bodies in Mizoram, the Union Government has released the second installment of Untied Grants amounting to Rs. 14.40 crores under the Fifteenth Finance Commission (XV FC) along with the withheld amount of the first installment of Untied Grants amounting to Rs. 0.1209 crores for FY 2023–24.
These grants will benefit all 808 eligible Village Councils in the State. Earlier in August 2025, Mizoram had received Rs 14.2761 crores for 827 eligible Village Councils as part of the 2023–24 grants. The Ministry of Panchayati Raj and the Ministry of Jal Shakti recommend the release of XV FC Grants for RLBs/PRIs, which is subsequently released by MoF in 2 installments.
Untied Grants are meant to be utilized by Rural Local Bodies/PRIs for location-specific felt needs under the 29 subjects listed in the Eleventh Schedule of the Constitution, except for salaries and other establishment expenditures. Tied Grants, on the other hand, are earmarked for basic services relating to sanitation and maintenance of ODF and supply of drinking water.
Scientist and global activist Jane Goodall, who turned her childhood love of primates into a lifelong quest for protecting the environment, died on October 1, 2025 at 91. In 2003, she was appointed a Dame of the British Empire and, in 2025, she received the U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom.
In 1977, she set up the Jane Goodall Institute, a nonprofit organisation aimed at supporting the research in Gombe as well as conservation and development efforts across Africa. Its work has since expanded worldwide and includes efforts to tackle environmental education, health and advocacy.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) granted self-regulatory organisation (SRO) status to the Finance Industry Development Council (FIDC).
According to the central bank, it had received three applications to be recognised as self-regulatory organisations in the NBFC space, including that of the FIDC.
The remaining two applications were not considered since they were incomplete as on the last date of submission of application,” the RBI said in its press release. The microfinance companies have two SROs — Sa-Dhan and Microfinance Network (MFIN). Meanwhile, the Fintech Association for Consumer Empowerment (FACE) is the SRO for fintechs.
The Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance announced that Zydus Lifesciences Managing Director Sharvil Patel has taken over as the president of the organisation, succeeding Torrent Group Chairman Samir Mehta. The IPA represents 23 leading national pharmaceutical companies, accounting for over 85 per cent of private sector investment in pharmaceutical research and development.
Founded in 1999 under the leadership of Dilip G Shah (1941–2019), an industry veteran and first alumnus of IIM Ahmedabad, IPA was established to represent the Indian pharmaceutical industry’s issues that advocate for a balanced and inclusive intellectual property framework.
Tamilnad Mercantile Bank announced a strategic partnership with Wegofin Digital Solutions, a fintech firm, to expand digital banking and financial services for businesses across India. The collaboration marks a milestone in TMB’s digital transformation journey, introducing the Banking-as-a-Payment Aggregator (BAPA) model to empower MSMEs with technology driven solution.
Through this tie-up, TMB will strengthen its role as a banking partner while enabling seamless UPI merchant acquiring, automated payouts, fraud risk management and compliance-driven financial operations. The partnership will also see the launch of AcquireX and DisburseX platforms. TMB will use Wegofin’s Reserve Bank of India-compliant SaaS platforms to onboard merchants.
HDFC Bank reported deposit and gross advances growth of 12.1 per cent year-on-year (yoy) and 9.9 per cent yoy, respectively, in the second quarter ended September 30, 2025, per provisional business numbers released by the Bank.
In absolute terms, as at September-end 2025, deposits and gross advances stood at ₹28,01,500 crore (25,00,100 crore as at September-end 2024) and ₹27,69,000 crore (₹25,19,000 crore), respectively, per the private sector lender’s regulatory filing.
The period-end advances under management (advances grossing up for inter-bank participation certificates, bills rediscounted and securitisation / assignment) of India’s largest private sector bank rose 8.9 per cent to Rs. 28,69,000 crore as of September 30, 2025, over Rs. 26,33,400 crore as of September 30, 2024.
Within overall deposits, while current account, savings account (CASA) deposits increased by 7.4 per cent yoy to Rs. 9,49,000 crore, time deposits were up 14.6 per cent yoy to Rs. 18,52,500 crore. The proportion of CASA deposits in overall deposits declined to 33.87 per cent as at September-end 2025 from 35.34 per cent as at September-end 2024.
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $190 million loan to support the development of the Indore Metro Rail Project, a transformative initiative aimed at enhancing urban mobility, reducing pollution, and promoting inclusive growth in the largest city of Madhya Pradesh, India.
The project will finance the construction of an 8.62-kilometer underground metro line with seven stations, connecting congested areas of Indore to the airport. Founded in 1966, ADB is owned by 69 members—50 from the region. The metro line is expected to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions—by an estimated 12,414 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent annually.
Capgemini India said Sanjay Chalke will become its chief executive officer (CEO) on January 1 as incumbent Ashwin Yardi retires from the IT services firm that has headquarters in Paris. Chalke, who is presently the chief operating officer (COO), will join Capgemini’s group executive committee.
India is Capgemini’s largest centre. Capgemini India comprises around 180,000 team members in 13 cities, including Bengaluru, Coimbatore, Gandhinagar, Kolkata, and Mumbai. Capgemini group reported global revenue of 22.1 billion euro in 2024.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has, by an order dated October 01, 2025, imposed a monetary penalty of ₹4.20 lakh (Rupees Four lakh twenty thousand only) on HDB Financial Services Limited (the company) for non-compliance with certain provisions of the ‘Reserve Bank of India (Know Your Customer (KYC)) Directions, 2016’ issued by RBI.
The company failed to obtain Permanent Account Number (PAN) or equivalent e-document thereof or Form No. 60 in certain loan accounts disbursed during FY 2023-24. This action is based on deficiencies in regulatory compliance and is not intended to pronounce upon the validity of any transaction or agreement entered into by the company.
This penalty has been imposed in exercise of powers conferred on RBI under clause (b) of sub-section (1) of Section 58G read with clause (aa) of sub-section (5) of Section 58B of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934. The statutory inspection of the company was conducted by RBI with reference to its financial position as on March 31, 2024.
In this endeavour, to encourage the banks to actively pursue customers/ depositors for re-activation of their inoperative accounts and return of their unclaimed amounts lying with Depositor Education and Awareness (DEA) Fund, the Reserve Bank of India today announced a ‘Scheme for Facilitating Accelerated Payout - Inoperative Accounts and Unclaimed Deposits’.
The Scheme aims to reduce both the stock of existing unclaimed deposits and fresh accretion of flows to the DEA Fund. It will run for a period of one year, viz., October 01, 2025 to September 30, 2026.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has issued seven Directions/Circulars, proposing to amend some of the extant Directions/Circulars applicable to banks and other regulated entities. While three of these amendments come into effect immediately (Part A), public comments are solicited on the other four (Part B).
