Daily Current Affairs for UPSC IAS: 1st November 2025

Kunar River:

New Delhi recently extended its support to Afghanistan to build a dam over the Kunar River, which it shares with Pakistan, at a time when the two nations are at loggerheads

• The Kunar River is also known as the Kama River.
• It flows for about 480 kilometers (298 miles) through northern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in Pakistan and eastern Afghanistan.
• This river starts high up in the Hindu Kush mountains.
• Its waters come from melting glaciers and snow.
• In Pakistan, this river is known as the Chitral River.
• It is a tributary of the Kabul River.
• The Kabul River then flows into the much larger Indus River. This makes the Kunar River part of the Indus watershed.
• The Kunar River begins just south of the Broghil Pass. This area is in the upper part of the Chitral District in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.
• It is very close to the border with Afghanistan, known as the Durand Line.
• As the river flows, it passes through different regions.
• It eventually reaches Jalalabad in Afghanistan. Here, the Kunar River joins the Kabul River.
• On its left side, the Shishi River joins it.
• On its right side, rivers like the Lotkoh River, the Landai Sin River, and the Pech River add their waters.

Doctrine of Party Autonomy:

The Supreme Court recently held that the Doctrine of Party Autonomy is not limitless, and the same is the bedrock of arbitration.

• The fundamental principle governing arbitration is party autonomy.
• The freedom of the parties to choose the process of resolving disputes is known as party autonomy.
• It confers on the parties the freedom to determine laws, place of arbitration, selection of arbitrators, etc.
• Almost all international arbitration laws, rules, and conventions recognize the principle of party autonomy.
• The concept is recognised under the New York Convention, the UNCITRAL Model Law, the Indian Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996, the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Arbitration Rules, etc.
• However, party autonomy is not unlimited, and it may be subject to certain legal or public policy constraints depending on the jurisdictions involved.
• The Supreme Court of India (SC), in the April 2021 judgment, ruled that “Party autonomy is the guiding spirit of arbitration”.
• The SC also held that such autonomy must be exercised on an equal footing, with both parties having a meaningful participation in the arbitrator appointment process.
• Any imbalance, where one party has disproportionate control, risks undermining the arbitrator’s independence and impartiality.

Indian Institute of Packaging:

The Indian Institute of Packaging (IIP) opened its Bengaluru Centre recently.

• It is an autonomous body in the field of packaging and working under the administrative control of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India.
• It was established on 14th May, 1966, with its headquarters and principal laboratories in Mumbai.
• The Institute set up its first branch office at Chennai in 1971, followed by branches at Kolkata, Delhi, and Hyderabad in 1976, 1986, and 2006, respectively.
• The main objective of the Institute is to promote the export market by way of innovative package design and development as well as to upgrade the overall standards of packaging in the country.
• The Institute is involved in various activities like testing and evaluation of packaging materials and packages, consultancy services, and research & development related to packaging.
• Besides this, the Institute is involved in training and education in the field of packaging.
• It imparts training in innovative and aesthetic packaging to the artisans, weavers, exporters, stakeholders, etc.
• It is closely working with various commodity boards and export promotion councils such as APEDA, Spices Board, MPEDA, Tea Board, MoFPI, and others.
• The Institute has linkages with international organisations and is a founding member of the Asian Packaging Federation (APF); a member of the Institute of Packaging Professionals (IOPP), USA; the Institute Packaging (IOP), UK; Technical Association of Pulp and Paper Industry (TAPPI), USA.
• The Institute organizes a biannual event i.e. International Packaging Exhibition, i.e., INDIAPACK, and a national contest for excellence in packaging, i.e., INDIASTARA.

The Aabhar Collection:

Indian Railways will patronise the newly launched ‘Aabhar’ online store that will showcase a range of exquisite gift items manufactured by indigenous tribes, handloom weavers.

• It is an online store on the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) portal dedicated to showcasing exquisite gift items and hampers.
• The collection, which currently features over 150 items, is part of GeM’s mandate to promote social inclusion.
• Products in the collection are select One District One Product (ODOP) and Geographical Indication (GI) items.
• They are sourced exclusively from:
  • Central Cottage Industries Emporium (CCIE)
  • Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC)
  • Various Central and State Handicraft and Handloom Emporiums

Government e-Marketplace (GeM):

• It is the Public Procurement Portal for procurement of goods and services for all Central Government and State Government Ministries, Departments, Public Sector Units (PSUs), and affiliated.
• The portal was launched in August 2016 by the Ministry of Commerce & Industry.

Kunming Biodiversity Fund:

Seven countries have secured $5.8 million from the Kunming Biodiversity Fund to enhance nature-friendly agriculture.

• Kunming Biodiversity Fund is a Multi-Partner Trust Fund (MTPF) launched in 2021 during Part 1 of the COP 15 of Convention of Biological Diversity.
• It aims to facilitate the successful implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF) at regional, national, subnational and local level.
• Initial contribution:5 billion yuan (about $200 million) from China
• It was established under the leadership of the Ministry of Environment and Ecology (MEE) of China and the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), with the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (SCBD) and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
• It supports developing countries to accelerate and upscale their actions for the National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs).

Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework:

• It was adopted during the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity in December 2022.
• It aims to support the achievement of sustainable development goals and build on previous strategic plans.
• It sets a bold path towards global harmony with nature by 2050.
• The GBF consists of 23 targets (set for 2030) and four global goals (set for 2050) to preserve biodiversity for current and future generations.

Kendriya Grihmantri Dakshata Padak:

The ‘Kendriya Grihmantri Dakshata Padak’ has been awarded for the year 2025.

• It has been instituted by the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India in 2024.
• The award aims to encourage professional standards and boost the morale of officers and officials across the country.
• It is given to recognize excellent work, promote high professional standards and boost the morale of the concerned official/officer in the following four fields:
  • Special Operation
  • Investigation
  • Intelligence
  • Forensic Science
• It was created by merging the 4 previously existing MHA awards –
  • The Special Operation Medal,
  • The Medal for Excellence in Investigation,
  • The Exceptional Intelligence Efficiency Medal, and
  • The Union Home Minister’s Award for Meritorious Service.
• It is conferred on members of the Police Forces, Security Organization, Intelligence Wing/Branch/Special Branch of State/Union Territories/Central Police Organizations (CPOs)/Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and Forensic Science (Central / State / Union Territories) throughout the Indian Union.
• The medal is announced on 31st of October every year, on the occasion of Birth Anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.

Know Your Vehicle:

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has simplified the Know Your Vehicle (KYV) process for FASTag users.

• Know Your Vehicle is a system where all FASTag users submit images of their vehicle and registration certificate to verify that the tag is linked to the correct vehicle.
• It was implemented in 2024, in an attempt to prevent the leakages in the FASTag system.
• The whole process has to be repeated every three years to ensure no misuse.
• It is an initiative of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), KYV was notified by National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI).
• The ‘One Vehicle One FASTag’ rule: KYV supports the idea that each vehicle should have its own valid FASTag account.
• Preventing fraud or misuse: verifying images and documents helps reduce fake tags, mis-linked vehicles.
• Ensuring smooth toll travel: without a verified KYV your FASTag may be blocked or flagged, causing delays and extra costs.
• FASTag is a device that employs Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology for making toll payments directly while the vehicle is in motion.
• It is a tag used for making toll payments directly from the customers linked prepaid or savings/current account.
• It is also vehicle specific and once it is affixed to a vehicle, it cannot be transferred to another vehicle.
• FASTag can be purchased from any of the National Electronic Toll Collection (NETC) Member Banks.

Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary:

The Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister said that Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary will become the third home for cheetahs in the state.

• It is located in the state of Madhya Pradesh.
• It was declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1975.
• It is the largest wildlife sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh.
• The entire sanctuary is situated on a plateau, forming part of the upper Vindhyan range.
• It acts as a corridor for Panna Tiger Reserve and Satpura Tiger Reserve while indirectly connecting Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve via Rani Durgawati Wildlife Sanctuary.
• It is classified under the Deccan peninsula biogeographic region and forms part of the Ganga and Narmada basins.
• The forest type of this sanctuary is classified as the Tropical Dry Deciduous forest which consists of the Central Indian monsoon forests.
• Three fourth of Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary falls in the Yamuna [Ganges] basin and one fourth of the sanctuary falls in the Narmada basin.
• The north flowing Kopra River, Bamner River, Bearma River, which are tributaries of the Ken River, are the major rivers of this sanctuary.
• Flora: Teak, Saja, Dhaora, Bhirra, Ber, Bel, Mahua, Tendu, Gunja and Amla etc.
• Fauna: Tiger, Panther, Sloth-beer wild dog, blue bull, chinkara, spotted deer, sambhar etc.

India Crosses 500 GW Power Capacity Mark:

India has achieved a significant milestone with the nation’s total installed electricity capacity surpassing 500 GW.

• More than 51% of this capacity now originates from non-fossil fuel sources. India has already achieved one of its major COP26 (Glasgow, 2021) Panchamrit goals — to have 50 % of installed electric power capacity from non-fossil fuel sources by 2030, five years early.

Breakdown of India’s Power Capacity:

• Total Installed Capacity: 500.89 GW
• Non-fossil fuel sources: 256.09 GW (≈51%) including Solar(127.33 GW), Wind (53.12 GW), Hydro (30.29 GW) and Nuclear (45.25 GW).
• Fossil-fuel-based sources: 244.80 GW (≈49%)

Renewables Hit Record High: India has emerged as a global renewable energy leader, ranking:

• 3rd in solar power capacity,
• 4th in wind power, and
• 4th in overall renewable energy capacity globally.

National Marine Fisheries Census, 2025:

The Union Minister of State, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, launched the Marine Fisheries Census (MFC) 2025.

• It is the fifth edition of the Marine Fisheries Census.
• It is a coast-wide activity fully funded by the Department of Fisheries, Government of India.
• Nodal Agency: ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) as the nodal agency and Fishery Survey of India (FSI) as the operational partner.
• 13 coastal States and Union Territories, including the Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep,
• The core household data collection is scheduled for an extended period of 45 days.
• It is powered by a suite of custom-made, multilingual Android applications—VyAS–NAV(for validation of fishing villages and harbours), VyAS–BHARAT (household and infrastructure enumeration) and VyAS–SUTRA (for real-time supervision and monitoring of households and enumerators) developed by the the ICAR–Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI).
• For the first time, census includes crucial indicators like total family income, homeownership, outstanding liabilities, and sources of credit.
• It covers data on insurance status, major losses or disabilities, the specific socio-economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on fisher families, and the receipt of benefits from schemes like PMMSY/PM-MKSSY.
• New schedules focusing on Fish Farmer Producer Organizations (FFPOs) and Self-Help Groups (SHGs) are introduced to facilitate collectivization and strengthen the value chain.

Minors’ Property Right:

In K.S. Shivappa vs Smt. K. Neelamma Case 2025, the Supreme Court (SC) ruled that after attaining majority, a person can repudiate a property sale made by their guardian without court sanction, either by filing a suit or through clear conduct, such as reselling the property.

• The father, acting as the natural guardian, sold plots bought in the names of his minor sons without obtaining district court approval as required by law.
• After attaining majority, the sons resold the properties, resulting in legal disputes between the original buyers and the subsequent purchasers.
• The laws on property acquired by minors through their guardians are determined through 3 pieces of legislation:
• Indian Contract Act, 1872: Only persons of majority age and sound mind are competent to contract. Contracts by minors are void ab initio—invalid from the beginning.
• A valid contract requires consent, a lawful object, legal consideration, and competent parties—the last being crucial when a minor is represented by a guardian.
• Hindu Minority and Guardianship Act, 1956: Natural guardians must act for the minor’s benefit. Guardians cannot sell, mortgage, or lease a minor’s immovable property without court permission.
• Any sale without permission is voidable at the instance of the minor.
• Guardian and Wards Act, 1890: A guardian cannot dispose of a ward’s property without the court’s sanction.
• Limitation Act, 1963: It grants a person 3 years after attaining majority to challenge or set aside such a property transfer.

Current SC Ruling:

• The Court held that a person can reject a voidable transaction either by instituting a suit for setting it aside or by repudiating it through unequivocal conduct.
• The act of reselling the property to a new buyer after attaining majority, within the three-year limitation period, constitutes a valid repudiation of the original, unauthorised sale.
• If the plaintiff refuses to testify, their proxy cannot replace their personal testimony on key matters known only to the plaintiff. Hence, a Power-of-Attorney holder cannot testify in place of the principal.
• The ruling strengthens minor protection under Indian property law, reaffirming the precedent set in Abdul Rahman v. Sukhdayal Singh Case, 1905 and specifying a three-year limitation period for such repudiation under the Limitation Act, 1963.

India has received a six-month waiver from US sanctions on Iran’s Chabahar Port:

India has received a six-month waiver from US sanctions on Iran’s Chabahar Port, allowing continued Indian operations there until at least April 2026. Chabahar Port is situated in Iran’s Sistan-Baluchestan province on the Gulf of Oman, near the mouth of the Strait of Hormuz. The Chabahar Port project comprises two ports – Shahid Kalantari and Shahid Beheshti. It is Iran’s only oceanic and deep water port, giving direct access to the Indian Ocean. The Chabahar port is located about 170 km west of Pakistan’s Gwadar Port, which is being developed by China under the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

Kendriya Grihmantri Dakshata Padak 2025:

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has honoured 1,466 personnel from various States, Union Territories, Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and Central Police Organisations (CPOs) with the ‘Kendriya Grihmantri Dakshata Padak 2025’. Kendriya Grihmantri Dakshata Padak: Instituted by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) in February 2024, it is announced annually on 31st October, marking the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, India’s first Home Minister. It honours excellence in Special Operations, Investigation, Intelligence, and Forensic Science, promoting professionalism, high ethical standards, and motivation among security and police personnel.

The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has ended cheque and money order payments for all immigration:

The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has stopped accepting cheques and money orders for all immigration-related filings. Starting this week, applicants must now authorise payments through electronic debit using Form G-1650, which allows the agency to withdraw funds directly from a US bank account.According to USCIS spokesperson Matthew J. Tragesser, this shift aims to make the agency’s payment process safer, faster, and more efficient. Over 90% of previous payments were made through cheques or money orders, leading to delays, fraud risks, and payment errors. Tragesser stated, “America deserves better, and we intend to deliver.”

India’s GST Revenue Grows 4.6% to ₹1.96 Lakh Crore in October:

India’s Goods and Services Tax (GST) collections rose to ₹1.96 lakh crore in October 2025, according to official data released on November 1. This marks a 4.6% year-on-year increase, the slowest pace in 52 months, even as collections hit a five-month high. The previous month’s revenue stood at ₹1.89 lakh crore, showing a steady rise in inflowsOctober continued the trend of strong GST inflows, with total revenues staying above ₹1.8 lakh crore for the tenth consecutive month. The last time collections exceeded the ₹2 lakh crore mark was in May 2025, reflecting sustained consumption and tax compliance despite slower growth momentum.

China has launched the Shenzhou-21 mission to its Tiangong Space Station:

China has successfully launched the Shenzhou-21 spacecraft from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in the Gobi Desert, marking another achievement in its expanding space programme. The mission lifted off at 11:44 pm local time (1544 GMT) aboard a Long March-2F rocket and is set to dock with the Tiangong Space Station within a few hours. The crew includes Commander Zhang Lu, Engineer Wu Fei, and Specialist Zhang Hongzhang, who will stay in orbit for six months conducting research and maintenance work.Among the crew, Wu Fei, aged 32, has made history as China’s youngest astronaut to enter orbit.

Ilamparthi AR, a 16-year-old chess talent from Tamil Nadu, has become India’s 90th Grandmaster:

Tamil Nadu once again proves its dominance in Indian chess as 16-year-old Ilamparthi AR from Chennai becomes India’s 90th Grandmaster. He achieved this remarkable feat by securing his final GM norm at the Bijeljina Open held in Bosnia and Herzegovina.Ilamparthi AR is a 16-year-old chess prodigy from Chennai, Tamil Nadu, who recently became India’s 90th Grandmaster. Born in 2009, he has been passionate about chess from a young age and trains under Grandmaster Shyam Sundar M. A student of Velammal School, Ilamparthi has won several international tournaments and is known for his sharp strategies and consistent performance on the global stage.

RBI Returns Jana Small Finance Bank’s Application for Universal Bank Licence:

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has returned Jana Small Finance Bank’s (SFB) application to convert into a universal bank, saying it did not meet all the required criteria. The application, submitted in June 2025, was sent back by the regulator late Monday eveningJana SFB’s Managing Director and CEO, Ajay Kanwal, clarified that this is a return, not a rejection of the bank’s application. He said the RBI did not specify the exact reasons but assured that the bank will identify and fix the issues soon. Kanwal plans to meet RBI officials later this week to understand the specific gaps before resubmitting the application.

Pravaig VEER EV, India’s first indigenous electric military vehicle:

India is taking a major stride toward self-reliance in defence technology with the Pravaig VEER EV, an all-electric military vehicle developed by Pravaig Dynamics, a Bengaluru-based company. Designed for the Indian Armed Forces, the VEER EV combines stealth capabilities, high terrain mobility, and quick field-repair readiness, making it a powerful asset for modern military operations.According to media reports, the VEER EV is engineered for stealth missions and challenging terrains like deserts, mountains, and forests. It recently won the iDEX (Innovation for Defence Excellence) award — a recognition given by the Indian government for groundbreaking defence innovations.

PayPal Joins Forces with OpenAI to Become ChatGPT’s First Integrated Digital Payments Wallet:

PayPal has partnered with OpenAI to integrate its digital wallet directly into ChatGPT. This means that users will soon be able to buy products and make payments through ChatGPT using PayPal, creating a seamless and secure shopping experience inside the AI platform.The announcement led to a 4% rise in PayPal’s shares, showing investor confidence in the company’s AI strategy.Both PayPal users and merchants will be able to connect to ChatGPT’s e-commerce ecosystem. Shoppers can click “Buy with PayPal” within ChatGPT to purchase items, while merchants will be able to list and sell their products directly on the platform.

Sahitya Akademi Launches Hindi Edition of Lithuanian Novel “The Last Day” as “Antim Din”:

The Sahitya Akademi, under the Ministry of Culture, released the Hindi translation of the acclaimed Lithuanian novel “The Last Day”, titled “Antim Din”. The book launch took place at Rabindra Bhawan, New Delhi, in collaboration with the Embassy of Lithuania. This 250-page novel, originally written by Lithuanian-Ukrainian author Jaroslavas Melnikas, has been translated into Hindi by Dr. Poonam Tiwari to reach a wider Indian audience.The Sahitya Akademi has released the Hindi translation of the internationally acclaimed Lithuanian novel The Last Day, written by Jaroslavas Melnikas. The translated version, titled “Antim Din,” was launched at a special event held at Rabindra Bhawan in New Delhi, in collaboration with the Embassy of Lithuania. This release marks a major milestone in strengthening literary and cultural ties between India and Lithuania, promoting mutual understanding through world literature.