1. Tejas LCA Mk1A Fighter Jet

On 17th October 2025, Defence Minister unveiled the first Tejas LCA Mk1A fighter jet from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited’s (HAL) new Nashik production line. He also inaugurated a second production line for the HTT-40 trainer aircraft at the same facility.

Key Points

• New Production Line: The Nashik facility is HAL’s third production line for Tejas fighter jets, established with an investment of ₹150 crore.
• Increased Capacity: The facility will produce eight additional Tejas jets annually, enhancing HAL’s total capacity to 24 aircraft per year (16 from Bengaluru + 8 from Nashik).
• Aircraft Type: The LCA Mk1A is a 4.5-generation, multi-role fighter jet designed to replace the IAF’s ageing MiG-21 fleet.
• Advanced Features: It includes improved combat avionics, air-to-air refuelling, and enhanced weapons integration for air defence, ground attack, and maritime missions.
• Indigenisation: The aircraft boasts over 64% indigenous content, aligning with the government’s ‘Make in India’ and Atmanirbhar Bharat initiatives.

2. Ahmedabad Recommended to Host 2030 Commonwealth Games

On 16th October 2025, the Commonwealth Sport’s Executive Board recommended Ahmedabad as the proposed host city for the 2030 Centenary Commonwealth Games, marking a major step towards bringing the Games back to India after two decades.

• The recommendation positions Ahmedabad as the leading candidate for the 2030 Games, with the final decision to be taken by the full Commonwealth Sport membership at the General Assembly in Glasgow on 26 November 2025.
• Ahmedabad beat Abuja, Nigeria, in the bidding process, with both cities submitting compelling proposals, although Commonwealth Sport has pledged to support Abuja’s potential bid for the 2034 Games.
• India last hosted the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi in 2010.

3. Sam Fender Wins Mercury Prize 2025

On 16th October 2025, British rocker Sam Fender won the Mercury Prize for his third album, People Watching, beating fellow nominees including band Pulp and singer FKA Twigs.

• The 31-year-old artist thanked his fellow nominees and paying tribute to his late friend Annie Orwin, who inspired the album’s title track.
• This is Fender’s first Mercury Prize win, having previously been nominated in 2022 for his second album, Seventeen Going Under.
• The Mercury Prize, first awarded to Primal Scream in 1992, honours the best album released by British and Irish acts, offering a £25,000 ($33,600) prize and shortlisting 12 albums annually.

4. Forest Declaration Assessment 2025

On 13th October 2025, the Forest Declaration Assessment 2025 report highlighted that global deforestation continues at an alarming rate, despite international pledges to halt forest loss by 2030.

Key Points

• Global Deforestation Trends: In 2024, 8.1 million hectares of forest were lost, with tropical forests accounting for 6.73 million hectares. Clearance for permanent agriculture caused about 86% of deforestation over the past decade.
• Missed Targets: Countries are 63% off track to meet COP26 pledges to stop deforestation and restore degraded ecosystems, having restored only 10.6 million hectares, about 5.4% of global reforestation potential.
• Financial Imbalance: International public finance for forests increased to $5.7 billion (2022–2024), yet this is only 1.4% of the $409 billion spent annually on agricultural subsidies that drive forest loss. Achieving 2030 goals requires $117–$299 billion.
• Financial Institutions Lag: Only 40% of institutions exposed to commodity-driven deforestation risks have policies addressing deforestation in their investments.
• Land Rights and Governance Issues: Weak enforcement, insecure land rights, and limited participation of Indigenous Peoples, local communities, and women undermine forest conservation.

5. UIDAI Launches SITAA to Boost Aadhaar Security

On 16th October 2025, the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) launched the Scheme for Innovation and Technology Association with Aadhaar (SITAA) to enhance the security and resilience of India’s digital identity ecosystem against emerging threats like deepfakes, spoofing, and presentation attacks.

• SITAA aims to develop secure, scalable, and globally benchmarked solutions that strengthen Aadhaar authentication frameworks while promoting indigenous innovation.
• The program particularly focuses on leveraging advanced biometric technologies, artificial intelligence, and data privacy measures to address evolving authentication challenges and ensure a robust national digital identity system.
• To support this initiative, UIDAI has partnered with MeitY Startup Hub (MSH), which will offer technical mentoring, incubation, and accelerator support, and NASSCOM, which will provide industry linkages and global outreach for participating innovators.

6. Military Combat Parachute System (MCPS)

On 16th October 2025, India successfully carried out a high-altitude combat freefall jump from 32,000 feet using the Military Combat Parachute System (MCPS), developed indigenously by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

Key Points

• MCPS Design: Developed by DRDO’s Aerial Delivery Research and Development Establishment (Agra) and Defence Bioengineering and Electromedical Laboratory (Bengaluru).
• Operational Capability: The MCPS is the only parachute system in operational use by Indian Armed Forces capable of deployment above 25,000 feet.
• Features: The system offers a lower rate of descent, enhanced steering capabilities, safe exit from aircraft, precise deployment at predetermined altitudes, accurate navigation, and landing in designated zones.
• NavIC Compatibility: Integration with Navigation with Indian Constellation (NavIC) ensures operational autonomy and protection from foreign interference or denial of service.
• Induction Advantage: The indigenous system reduces maintenance turnaround, enhances operational availability, and decreases reliance on foreign suppliers.

7. India & Brazil to Expand Trade Agreement with MERCOSUR

On 16th October 2025, India and Brazil agreed to significantly expand the existing Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) between India and the MERCOSUR bloc to boost bilateral trade and investment.

• The Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR for its Spanish initials) is a regional integration process, initially established by Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay, and subsequently joined by Venezuela and Bolivia.

Key Points

• Background: The expansion builds upon the original Framework Agreement signed on 17 June 2003 to strengthen economic cooperation between India and MERCOSUR.
• Expanded Scope: Both sides agreed the upgraded pact will provide broader tariff preferences and address non-tariff barriers to trade.
• Private Sector Engagement: The governments will actively consult private sector stakeholders to ensure inclusive and practical negotiation outcomes.
• Technical Dialogue: A technical dialogue will soon begin, including an early meeting of the Joint Administration Committee (under Article 23 of the PTA) to define the framework of expansion.
• Timeline: Both sides aim to conclude negotiations within one year of their formal launch.
• MERCOSUR Coordination: Brazil assured close coordination with other MERCOSUR members to ensure the process remains swift, substantial, and mutually beneficial.