Daily Current Affairs for UPSC IAS: 16th October 2025

Crew Escape System:

ISRO has developed a cost-effective, single-stage Test vehicle powered by the Vikas engine to validate the crew escape system (CES).

• Crew Escape System is an emergency escape measure designed to quickly pull the crew module along with the astronauts to a safe distance from the launch vehicle in the event of a launch abort.
• The CES is classified into two types based on the way it extracts the crew module:
• It is used in Gaganyaan, where the CES pulls the crew module away from the launch vehicle;
• It is used in vehicles like SpaceX’s Falcon 9, where the crew module is pushed away using compact, high-thrust liquid-fuel engines.
• The U.S.’s Saturn V, Russia’s Soyuz, and China’s Long March vehicles also use puller-type CES designs.
• Once the CES has moved the crew module a safe distance away from the failing vehicle, the module will be released and decelerated by a multistage parachute system.
• It will reduce the module’s velocity in steps, ensuring it splashes down safely in the sea without exceeding the crew’s physiological limits upon impact.
• Typically, the crew will remain inside the module until splashdown.
• The Integrated Vehicle Health Management system (IVHM), which is a network of sensors, electronics, and software, will aid in taking a decision to activate the CES when a contingency arises.
• It will monitor all vital parameters of vehicle systems and crew health in real time.
• Based on the synthesised information and the flight regime, it will ensure prompt anomaly detection, minimise false alarms, and activate the CES early enough to protect the crew.

Fare se Fursat Fixed Airfare Scheme:

The Minister of Civil Aviation inaugurated the ‘Fare Se Fursat’ Fixed Airfare Scheme.

• Fare se Fursat Fixed Airfare Scheme is aimed at giving passengers freedom from the stress of fluctuating airfares and promoting ease of flying in the country.
• Objective is to address this long-standing challenge by introducing transparency and stability in pricing.
• It is an initiative by India’s government-owned regional carrier, Alliance Air which offers a single, fixed fare that remains constant regardless of the booking date, even on the day of departure.
• Alliance Air operates short and medium-route flights, primarily connecting tier 2 and tier 3 cities under the union government’s Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik (UDAN) scheme.
• The initiative will be implemented on a pilot basis from October 13 to December 31, 2025 across select routes.
• The initiative is also expected to encourage first-time flyers from smaller towns to opt for air travel and make air travel available, accessible and affordable.
• It is truly ‘Naye Bharat ki Udaan’ thinking beyond profitability and keeping the focus on public service.
• The static fare system eliminates uncertainty and stress associated with fluctuating airfares, ensuring predictability of costs, even for last-minute bookings.

Naying Hydroelectric Project:

An environmental public hearing for the 1000MW Naying hydroelectric project is scheduled for November 12.

• Naying Hydroelectric Project is a proposed 1,000 MW hydropower project planned on the Siyom (Yomgo) river/basin in Arunachal Pradesh.
• It will be implemented by the North Eastern Electric Power Corporation (NEEPCO).
• The project includes the construction of a concrete dam, an underground powerhouse, and tunnels, with work expected to begin around 2028 and commissioning planned for 2032.
• Once operational, it is expected to generate 4,966.77 GWh of electricity annually.
• Siyom River is a right-bank tributary of the Brahmaputra
• It flows in the Arunachal Pradesh
• The Mouling National Park is located on the east bank of the river.
• The Siyom has a length of about 170 km.

Live Cases Dashboard of the Legal Information Management and Briefing System:

The Union Minister of State for Law and Justice recently inaugurated the Live Cases Dashboard of Legal Information Management and Briefing System (LIMBS) in New Delhi.

• It is designed to provide real-time data visualisation of court cases and offer an overview of upcoming hearings to enable proactive decision-making and better inter-ministerial coordination.
• It provides details of all cases scheduled to be heard in the next seven days in the Supreme Court, High Courts, or any other courts involving various ministries of the Government of India.
• Legal Information Management and Briefing System (LIMBS) is a web-based application for monitoring of all court cases where the Union of India is one of the parties.
• LIMBS came into existence for all ministries/departments/autonomous organizations/CPSUs in 2016, and an advanced version in January 2020.
• Since then the application is seamlessly working under the supervision of the Department of Legal Affairs, Ministry of Law and Justice (as Nodal Ministry).
• It is an innovative and easy-to-access online tool which is available 24×7 to all the stakeholders,, government officials, department users, nodal officers, higher officials of ministries, advocates, arbitrators, and claimants of ministries to upload the latest information.
• It is a dashboard-based system for the user Ministries/Departments on which they can see their legal matters at a glance.

Astra Mark 2 Missile:

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) recently announced its intention to extend the range of its Astra Mark 2 air-to-air missile to more than 200 kilometres.

• Astra Mark 2 Missile is a Beyond Visual Range (BVR) air-to-air missile.
• It is being developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
• In addition to various laboratories of DRDO, more than 50 public and private industries, including Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, have contributed towards successful realisation of the weapon system.
• The Astra Mark-1 air-to-air missile with a strike range of around 90-100 kms is already in the Indian Air Force and is already integrated with the LCA Tejas and the Su-30 MKI fighter jets.
• The Astra Mark 2 would give the Indian Air Force an edge over the adversaries in air-to-air combat and can also be offered as an export product to friendly foreign countries.
• While Astra Mark-1 is a single pulse, smokeless solid-fueled motor, the Astra Mark-2 is going to be a dual pulse missile, giving it a higher range.
• Astra Mk-1 is 3.6 m (12 ft) long with a diameter of 178 mm (7.0 in) and weighs 154 kg with a maximum range of 110 km. Astra Mark 2 will be a bigger missile with a diameter of 190 mm and weigh close to 175 kg.
• It can go up to a distance of 150 to 180 km and can travel at around Mach 4.5.
• It is equipped with a indigenous Radio Frequency (RF) Seeker from Su-30 Mk-I.

Impatiens rajibiana:

A team of the Botanical Survey of India recently discovered ‘Impatiens rajibiana’, a new species of balsam flower.

• Impatiens rajibiana is a new species of balsam flower.
• It was discovered in the natural forests of Shergaon in the West Kameng district of Arunachal Pradesh.
• The plant was discovered growing in moist, shaded forest areas of Shergaon at an elevation of over 2,000 meters.
• It belongs to the family Balsaminaceae, commonly known as balsams.
• Many balsam species are endemic, occurring only in the region and often in limited numbers.
• India currently has around 230 known balsam species, including well-known varieties like Impatiens balsamina (garden balsam or touch-me-not).
• Between 2013 and 2017, over 16 new species were discovered in Arunachal Pradesh alone, including Impatiens godfreyi and Impatiens sashinborthakurii.

Gas Emission Intensity(GEI) Target Rules, 2025

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has notified the first legally binding Greenhouse Gas Emission Intensity (GEI) Target Rules, 2025 to reduce industrial emissions.

GEI Target Rules, 2025:

• The GEI Rules set a legal limit on the amount of greenhouse gases (GHGs) that can be emitted per unit of product output (e.g., per tonne of cement or aluminium).
• It aims to operationalize India’s Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS), 2023, strengthening the country’s climate commitments under the Paris Agreement 2015.
• The rules set specific GHG emission limits (in tonnes of CO2 equivalent per tonne of product) for the aluminium, cement, chlor-alkali, and pulp and paper industries.
• A total of 282 industrial units must comply with these targets for the financial years 2025-26 and 2026-27.
• Emission intensity is measured as tCO2e (tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent), a standard unit that accounts for the global warming potential of all greenhouse gases, not just CO2.
• The system is designed to create a market-driven incentive for reducing emissions through a tradable credit system.
• Industries that reduce their emissions below the set target will earn carbon credit certificates, issued by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency.
• Penalties for Non-Compliance:
  • Industries that fail to meet their targets have two options:
  • Buy carbon credits from the domestic market to cover their shortfall.
  • Face environmental compensation penalties imposed by the Central Pollution Control Board.

Google’s AI Hub in Visakhapatnam:

Google is establishing India’s first gigawatt-scale data centre and artificial intelligence (AI) hub in Visakhapatnam, expected to significantly transform Andhra Pradesh’s digital and economic landscape.

• This investment of approximately USD 15 billion over five years (2026–2030) marks Google’s largest investment in India to date and aligns with the Government of India’s Viksit Bharat Vision, which seeks to accelerate the expansion of AI-driven services.
• The project is expected to generate Rs 10,000 crore in revenue, boosting state GDP and regional development, and strengthens India’s position in global digital infrastructure.
• It is a facility that houses Information Technology (IT) infrastructure to store, manage, and deliver applications and data. Initially on-premises and privately owned, data centers have evolved into cloud and hyperscale facilities serving multiple clients.
• Significance of Data Centres in India’s Economic Growth: Data centres are crucial for India’s digital economy, powering cloud services, AI, machine learning (ML), and digital platforms like e-commerce, banking, and social media.
• They support critical infrastructure in healthcare, finance, and government, while driving job creation, investment, and overall economic growth.

EPF New Withdrawal Rules 2025:

The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has announced major reforms simplifying withdrawal rules under EPFO 3.0

• The revised EPF withdrawal framework simplifies and modernises the provident fund system to provide greater flexibility, ease of access, and faster digital claim settlement for over 30 crore subscribers.
• Aim is to streamline withdrawal procedures, enable members to meet urgent financial needs without lengthy documentation, and balance short-term liquidity with long-term retirement security.
• New Features:
  • Simplified Categories: 13 withdrawal purposes merged into three core types — Essential Needs (illness, education, marriage), Housing Needs, and Special Circumstances.
  • Enhanced Limits: Up to 10 withdrawals for education and 5 for marriage during service, compared to the previous combined limit of 3.
  • Minimum Balance Rule: Members must retain 25% of their EPF corpus to preserve compounding benefits and ensure retirement savings.
  • Service Tenure Relaxed: Minimum service period reduced to 12 months for housing and 7 years for marriage or education, enhancing accessibility.
  • Full Withdrawal Option: Members can now withdraw up to 100% of the eligible balance, including employer and employee shares.
  • Digital Transformation (EPFO 3.0): Automated, document-free settlements, cloud-based core banking integration, and multilingual self-service portals introduced for faster processing.
  • Vishwas Scheme for Dispute Resolution: Rationalised penal damages and simplified compliance to reduce litigation for delayed PF remittances.

India Elected for United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC):

India has been elected unopposed to the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) for the 2026–2028 term, marking its seventh tenure on the global body.The UNHRC is the principal intergovernmental body within the United Nations system responsible for promoting, protecting, and monitoring human rights across the world.Created in 2006 by the UN General Assembly, it replaced the former UN Commission on Human Rights to strengthen the global human rights framework. Headquarters: Located at the United Nations Office in Geneva (UNOG), Switzerland. Aim is to promote universal respect for human rights, address violations, and make recommendations for their protection through international cooperation and dialogue.

Limestone Classified as a Major Mineral:

The Ministry of Mines has issued a notification, classifying limestone entirely as a major mineral, removing its dual classification as both a major and minor mineral.Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed mainly of calcium carbonate (CaCO₃), widely used in cement, steel, fertilizer, sugar, and chemical industries. It is also an important building and industrial raw material with high commercial significance.Earlier, limestone was classified based on end use minor when used for lime production in building material and major when used for industrial purposes. The new notification (October 2025) removes this end-use distinction, treating all limestone uniformly as a major mineral under the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 (MMDR Act).

India to Resume Postal Service to US from Tomorrow:

India will resume all categories of international postal services to the United States starting October 15, 2025. This development comes after a two-month suspension caused by regulatory changes in the United States. With a new system now in place to comply with American customs rules, India Post is once again ready to deliver to U.S. addresses without delays or legal barriers.

Telangana tops UPI transaction intensity:

Telangana has emerged as the leader in UPI transaction intensity among Indian states, according to a new study published in the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) September 2025 bulletin. Using PhonePe transaction data as a proxy for Unified Payments Interface (UPI) usage, the study highlights the growing shift towards digital payments, especially in southern and western India.Alongside Telangana, the states of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, and the National Capital Territory of Delhi also reported high per capita UPI usage

Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal unveils LIMBS Live Cases Dashboard:

To enhance transparency and efficiency in government litigation, Union Minister of State for Law and Justice Arjun Ram Meghwal inaugurated the LIMBS Live Cases Dashboard on October 14, 2025, in New Delhi. The new dashboard is part of the Legal Information Management and Briefing System (LIMBS), a centralised digital platform that streamlines how ministries monitor and manage legal cases. The Legal Information Management and Briefing System (LIMBS) was initially launched in 2015 by the Ministry of Law and Justice to digitise legal data and coordinate litigation involving the Government of India.The portal consolidates details about legal cases from various departments, helping reduce litigation backlog and enhance efficiency.
With over 7 lakh active cases currently listed from 53 ministries and departments, LIMBS has become a key tool in improving the government’s legal preparedness and accountability

India’s GDP Seen Growing 6.6% in 2025:

India’s economy is expected to grow faster than earlier predicted, even as it faces new trade barriers from the United States. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has revised India’s 2025–26 GDP growth projection upward to 6.6%, compared to its earlier estimate of 6.4%. This increase reflects a stronger-than-anticipated economic performance in the first quarter, which has helped buffer the impact of higher US tariffs on Indian imports.

Shah Rukh Khan Becomes 1st Actor To Billionaire Club:

Shah Rukh Khan has officially become the world’s richest actor, crossing the billionaire threshold with a reported net worth of $1.4 billion (₹12,490 crore). His achievement places him ahead of global icons including Taylor Swift, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Tom Cruise. This milestone underscores not only his personal journey but also the rising global economic footprint of Bollywood.

Finance Minister to Inaugurate dhaRti BioNest at IIT Dharwad:

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will inaugurate the dhaRti BioNest Incubation Centre at IIT Dharwad, marking a significant step toward empowering startups in biotechnology, deep tech, and healthcare. This incubation hub aims to provide early-stage support for innovators through mentoring, lab infrastructure, and funding, especially in a region traditionally underserved by such high-tech facilities.The dhaRti BioNest is a dedicated incubation centre established within the dhaRti Foundation at IIT Dharwad.It supports early-stage startups in life sciences, biomedical engineering, and tech-enabled health solutions.Functioning under the BioNEST program by BIRAC, it provides critical resources to help transform lab ideas into market-ready products.

Railways launches three integrated door‑to‑door freight and parcel services:

The Railways Minister, Ashwini Vaishnaw, has virtually inaugurated three new door‑to‑door freight and parcel services aimed at enhancing India’s logistics ecosystem. These services mark a strategic move by Indian Railways to become more competitive in goods movement by improving last‑mile connectivity, reducing dependency on road transport, and lowering costs for shippers.

The three services launched are:

• Assured Transit Container Service (Delhi → Kolkata): A time‑bound container train service to provide reliable transit between national capitals, linking Delhi with Kolkata.
• Door‑to‑Door Parcel Service (Mumbai → Kolkata): Utilizing railway parcel vans, this service collects parcels from origin addresses and delivers directly to the destination address, bypassing intermediate handling.
• Railway Goods Sheds as Integrated Logistics Hub: Selected goods sheds will be upgraded and integrated into the logistics network to act as multimodal hubs—serving as nodes for collection, distribution, and transshipment.

NHAI to Use All Municipal Waste in Roads by 2027:

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is planning to use 100% of India’s municipal waste for road construction by 2027. This initiative was announced by Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari during a convocation ceremony at an engineering college near Chennai. By integrating waste management with infrastructure development, the government aims to address urban pollution while reducing the reliance on traditional, carbon-intensive construction materials.

11th Asian Aquatics Championships in Ahmedabad Concluded:

India made sporting history by hosting the 11th Asian Aquatics Championships for the first time from September 28 to October 11, 2025, at the Veer Savarkar Sports Complex, Ahmedabad, Gujarat. The event marked a significant milestone, being only the second time South Asia has hosted this prestigious aquatics meet. With over 1,100 athletes from 29 countries, the championships brought global attention to India’s aquatic potential and organizational capabilities.

Medals:

• China topped the medal tally with 54 medals (40 gold, 10 silver, 4 bronze), showing dominance across all disciplines. Kazakhstan and Japan followed in second and third place, respectively.
• India finished 11th, achieving its best-ever performance at the event, winning a total of 13 medals — 4 silver and 9 bronze.