South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL), a subsidiary of Coal India Limited (CIL),inaugurated the company’s first fully women-operated Central Store Unit at its Central Workshop, Korba.
The initiative, launched under the Government of India’s Special Campaign 5.0, follows SECL’s earlier achievement of establishing Coal India’s first all-women-operated dispensary at Bilaspur
The new Central Store Unit will oversee spare parts supply and inventory management, entirely managed by a dedicated team of eight women officers and staff led by Ms. Sapna Ikka, Senior Manager (E&M) and alumna of IIT (ISM) Dhanbad. The facility leverages a modern SAP-based digital platform for efficient and transparent record management.
The Indian Navy is set to commission Androth, the second Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC), at a ceremonial event scheduled to be held on 06 Oct 2025 at the Naval Dockyard, Visakhapatnam. The ceremony will be presided over by Vice Admiral Rajesh Pendharkar, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Naval Command.
The ceremony will be presided over by Vice Admiral Rajesh Pendharkar, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Naval Command.
The commissioning of Androth, marks yet another milestone in the Indian Navy’s steady stride towards capability enhancement and indigenisation.
Built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata, Androth is a testimony to India’s growing maritime self-reliance with over 80% indigenous content. The ship underscores the Navy’s commitment to enhancing indigenous capability through innovative technologies and home grown solutions.
The commissioning of Androth will significantly bolster the Navy’s ASW capabilities, especially in countering threats in littoral waters. It reflects the Navy’s sustained emphasis on indigenisation, innovation, and capability enhancement, while also highlighting the vital role of GRSE in strengthening India’s maritime security architecture.
Together, these inductions in recent months — Arnala, Nistar, Udaygiri, Nilgiri, and now Androth, reflect the Navy’s balanced growth across the spectrum of maritime operations.Above all, they embody the spirit of Aatmanirbharta (self-reliance), with a high percentage of indigenous content, design expertise and home grown innovation coming from Indian shipyards and industry.
Indian Navy and Royal Navy bilateral Exercise KONKAN-25 commenced on 05 Oct 2025, off the western coast of India. Over the past two decades, this exercise has grown significantly in scale and complexity, fostering enhanced interoperability and mutual understanding in maritime operations between the two navies.The exercise will be conducted in two phases from 05 – 12 Oct 25.
The harbour phase of the Exercise will include professional interactions between naval personnel, cross deck visits, sports fixtures, and cultural engagements. Additionally, Joint Working Group meetings and Subject Matter Expert Exchanges are also scheduled.
Both participating nations will deploy frontline assets, including aircraft carriers, destroyers, frigates, submarines, and integral and shore based air assets. Participation of the UK Carrier Strike Group (UK CSG 25), led by HMS Prince of Wales, including assets from Norway and Japan, has added sheen to this year’s edition of the Exercise.
On conclusion of Exercise Konkan 2025 with the Indian Navy on 12 Oct 2025, UK CSG 25 is scheduled to participate in a one-day exercise with the Indian Air Force off the western coast of India on 14 Oct 2025 prior to continuing with her planned deployment.
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on said that financial assets worth ₹1.84 trillion are lying unclaimed with banks and regulators, and called on officials to ensure that they reach their rightful owners.
Launching the Apki Poonji, Apka Adhikar (Your Money, Your Right) campaign in Gandhinagar, Sitharaman said the three-month drive will focus on “Awareness, Access and Action” to help people recover unclaimed funds.
The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has waived all charges for the mandatory biometric updates of children aged seven to 15, a move that is expected to benefit about six crore minors.
The waiver is already in effect from October 1, 2025, and will be in force for a period of one year.
“A child under the age of five enrols for Aadhaar by providing the photograph, name, date of birth, gender, address, and birth certificate. Biometric details such as fingerprints and iris are not captured for Aadhaar enrolment below the age of five,” said a Press Information Bureau (PIB) release.
Therefore, updating fingerprints, iris, and photo in Aadhaar is mandatory when the child reaches the age of five.
“This is called first Mandatory Biometric Update (MBU). Similarly, a child is required to update biometrics once again upon reaching the age of 15 years, which is referred to as the second MBU,” it said.
“The first and second MBUs, if performed between 5-7 and 15-17 years of age respectively, are thus free of cost. Thereafter, a prescribed fee of ₹125 per MBU is charged. With this decision, MBU is now effectively free for all children in the age group of 5-17,” said the release.
In a historic feat, the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has once again scripted history by setting a new world record, as Project Himank constructed the world’s highest motorable road at Mig La Pass, located at 19,400 feet above sea level in eastern Ladakh near the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
With this achievement, the BRO has surpassed its own previous record set at Umling La in 2021, which stood at 19,024 feet. Led by Brigadier Vishal Srivastava, the BRO team hoisted the National Flag and the organisation’s flag at the site.
The newly constructed road, part of the Likaru-Mig La-Fukche alignment, holds immense strategic importance as it forms the third crucial axis from Hanle to Fukche village near the border. In addition to its strategic value, the road is expected to boost tourism in Ladakh, offering breathtaking views of the Indus Valley.
At a grand ceremony held at Vigyan Bhawan Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi presided over the Kaushal Deekshant Samaroh, felicitating 46 All India Toppers from Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) across the country.
This marked the 4th edition of the National Skill Convocation, a unique initiative that was first conceptualized under the inspiration of the Prime Minister to make skill development aspirational.
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the increase in the Minimum Support Prices (MSP) for all mandated Rabi Crops for Marketing Season 2026-27.
Government has increased the MSP of Rabi Crops for Marketing Season 2026-27, to ensure remunerative prices to the growers for their produce.
The absolute highest increase in MSP has been announced for Safflower at Rs.600 per quintal followed by Lentil (Masur) at Rs.300 per quintal. For Rapeseed & Mustard, gram, barley, and wheat, there is an increase of Rs.250 per quintal, Rs.225 per quintal, Rs.170 per quintal and Rs.160 per quintal respectively.
Nearly two years after its launch, the credit line on UPI (CLOU) product continues to see limited adoption, as banks and fintech companies remain uncertain about its treatment and reporting requirements, according to multiple industry sources.
A key point of confusion is whether the product should be classified and reported as a credit card or a personal loan, each governed by different Reserve Bank of India (RBI) guidelines and compliance obligations.
Estimates suggest that the CLOU clocked around ₹500 crore in value per month last year.
Industry participants added that further clarity is required on reporting the use of CLOU to credit bureaus in India.
Smaller banks, in particular, face technological and operational constraints that limit their ability to underwrite credit lines on UPI, restricting partnerships with fintechs and distribution of the product, a fintech founder said.
“Smaller banks specifically still lack understanding of the product. The guideline still hasn’t come on whether to treat it as a credit card… Some large private banks were doing CLOU treating it according to the RBI’s credit card master direction, but there is no circular around it,” the source explained.
The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), which operates UPI, rolled out the pre-sanctioned credit line on UPI product in 2023. The product links a credit account to the UPI app, allowing banks to disburse credit to users.
Industry participants said offering was aimed at first-time borrowers, gradually introducing them to credit based on their repayment behaviour.
World Habitat Day is marked on the first Monday of October each year and is recognized by the United Nations to reflect on the state of towns and cities, and on the basic right of all to adequate shelter.
On 6 October 2025, the Global Observance of World Habitat Day will be linked to urban crisis response.
2025 Theme: Urban crisis response.
The theme focuses on addressing multiple crises affecting urban areas - including climate and conflicts - that are contributing to inequality, and promotes existing tools and approaches to effective crisis response.
In 1985, the United Nations designated the first Monday of October of every year as World Habitat Day.
The 12th edition of the World Para Athletics Championships came to a conclusion on, October 5. The event, which began on September 26 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, New Delhi, India, was the first-ever World Para Athletics Championships hosted by any South Asian country.
Brazil, who finished second in the 2024 edition of the World Para Athletics Championships, improved their standings in 2025 and finished at the top of the medal tally with 44 medals, including 15 gold, 20 silver and 9 bronze.China, with 13 gold, 22 silver and 17 bronze medals, was the team with the most medals (52) but finished in second place due to winning two fewer gold.
In Badminton, Indian shuttlers have won both Women’s Singles and Men’s Doubles titles at Al Ain Masters 2025 at the Khalifa bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi. In Men’s Doubles, the Indian duo of Hariharan Amsakarunan and Arjun Madathil Ramachandran defeated Indonesia’s Raymond Indra and Nikolaus Joaquin in the finals in straight sets 21-17, 21-18.
Earlier, rising Indian shuttler Shriyanshi Valishetty won the Women’s Singles Trophy. In an All-Indian final, Shriyanshi defeated her compatriot Tasnim 15,21, 22-20, 22-20.
