News of The Day –  29th October 2025

The Hindu, Indian Express, Live Mint, Business Standard, Economic Times, PIB and AIR, etc

(with Syllabus Relevance)

Jamaica’s strongest-ever storm, Hurricane Melissa, turns to Cuba

(GS-1: Geography)

• Event: Cat 5 Melissa landfall Jamaica (winds 185 mph, strongest since 1851.
• About : Hurricane Formation and features.
• Context: Slow-moving; surge up to 13 ft; tied for strongest Atlantic landfall. 
• Issues: Health risks (water contamination, outbreaks).
• Relevance: Highlights climate-amplified disasters; global aid/cooperation.

(GS-1: Geography)

AIR

• Event: M6.1 quake Sindirgi (Balikesir) at 22:48 local; depth 6 km.
• Relevance: Turkey’s seismic vulnerability (fault lines); underscores EWS needs.
• About: Earthquakes and its impact.

Cabinet approves Terms of Reference of 8th Central Pay Commission 

(GS-2: Polity and Governance)

PIB

• Event: Approval for 8th CPC ToR; formation announced Jan 2025.
• About: Central Pay Commission 
• Composition: Chair: Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai; Part-time: Prof. Pulak Ghosh; Sec: Pankaj Jain. 
• Impact: Benefits 50L employees, 69L pensioners; interim reports possible.
• Relevance: Ensures equity, inflation adjustment; aligns with welfare governance.

Ministry of Coal is Set to Launch “Koyla Shakti”

(GS 2: Polity and Governance)

PIB

• Event: Launch Oct 29 with 14th coal auction & CLAMP portal.
• About: Smart analytics dashboard for real-time coal value chain (mining-transport-markets); integrates PSUs, railways, ports.
• Focus: Data-driven governance, logistics optimization, transparency.
• Impact: Enhances efficiency, reduces imports; supports Digital India.
• Relevance: Aligns with Atmanirbhar, energy security; aids Viksit Bharat.

A start for North-South carbon market cooperation (GS2: International Relations)

The Hindu

• Topic: EU-India New Strategic Agenda.
• Focus: Shields exporters, accelerates decarbonization; model for Global North-South ties.
• Issues: ICM evolving; CBAM impacts on steel/aluminium exports.
• Impact: Enhances trade, innovation; potential for ICM-CBAM credits.
• Relevance: Supports Paris Agreement Art.6; India’s net-zero, G20 green initiatives.

NITI Aayog releases twin reports on India’s Services Sector: Insights from GVA and Employment Trends and State-level dynamics 

(GS-3: Economy)

PIB

• Event: Launch of two reports on India’s Services Sector by NITI Aayog.
• Key Findings:
  • Services sector contributes ~55% to national GVA (2024-25)
  • employment share rose from 26.9% (2011-12) to 29.7% (2023-24)
  • Adding 40M jobs; regional convergence as lagging states catch up.
• Issues: Informality, gender/rural-urban gaps, low-wage risks in traditional services.
• Impact: Guides Viksit Bharat@2047; policy roadmap for formalization, skilling, green jobs.
• Relevance: Supports inclusive growth, Digital India.

Urban planning in India is restricted to land-use planning 

(GS-3: Economy)

Indian Express

• Topic: Limitations of current urban planning (master plans focused on zoning, population projections).
• Issues: No economic vision, ignores resource shortages, pollution; growth spills beyond boundaries without regional integration.
• Suggestions: Adopt economic growth hubs approach; include environmental (air quality), resource management plans; link with rural economies.
• Impact: Addresses sprawl, shortages; supports sustainable urbanization.
• Relevance: Aligns with AMRUT, Smart Cities; crucial for 74th Amendment’s self-governance.

Cabinet approves the Nutrient Based Subsidy rates for Rabi 2025-26 on Phosphatic and Potassic fertilizer

(GS-3: Economy)

PIB

• Event: Approval for NBS rates on P&K fertilizers (incl. DAP, NPKS).
• Details: Effective Oct 1, 2025-Mar 31, 2026; 28 grades covered; budgetary outlay ~₹37,952 Cr (₹736 Cr > Kharif 2025).
• Context: Adjusts for global prices (urea, DAP, MOP, sulphur).
• Impact: Ensures affordable supply to farmers, stabilizes Rabi cropping.
• Relevance: Supports PMKSY, soil health; aids food security, farmer income.

CoalMin proposes escrow fund for underground coal gasification blocks 

(GS-3: Economy)

BS

• Event: Draft guidelines for UCG mining/closure plans; invites comments (30 days).
• Provisions: Pilot feasibility study, real-time groundwater monitoring; escrow ₹50,000/ha (base Sept 2025, revised 5-yrly).
• Context: Targets 100 MT gasification by 2030; first UCG in 14th auction round.
• Issues: Environmental risks (groundwater).
• Relevance: Reduces import dependence; aligns with Atmanirbhar, green energy transition.

Electronics Manufacturing Component Scheme 

(GS-3: Economy)

PIB

• Event: Approval of 7 projects (₹5,532 Cr investment); output ₹44,406 Cr, 5,195 jobs.
• Focus: PCBs (20% domestic demand), camera modules (15%), copper laminates (100%); in TN (5), MP (1), AP (1).
• Context: ECMS outlay ₹22,919 Cr; 249 applications received.
• Impact: Reduces import reliance, boosts DVA/GVC integration.
• Relevance: Complements PLI, ISM; drives Atmanirbhar in electronics.

Relocation of forest dwellers from tiger reserves must be voluntary 

(GS 3: Environment)

The Hindu

• Event: Tribal Affairs Ministry’s policy framework “Reconciling Conservation and Community Rights”.
• Focus: Relocation as exceptional, voluntary, evidence-based; FRA 2006 rights recognition prerequisite.
• Issues: Coexistence challenges, ecological necessity vs. community rights; past forced evictions.
• Mechanisms: Safeguards officer per reserve, 3-tier grievance redressal, NDCCI database, annual audits; SC/ST Act invocation for violations. 
• Relevance: Balances Project Tiger with FRA, supports SDG 15 (biodiversity) and tribal welfare.

Setting up an early warning system for the Himalayas poses unique challenges (GS-3: Environment)

The Hindu

• Topic: Multi-hazard EWS needs for Himalayas (GLOFs, landslides, floods, wildfires, earthquakes).
• Challenges: Terrain complexity, climate variability, funding gaps, policy silos; last decade saw 68 disasters (44% of India’s total).
• Context: NASA data shows 1,121 landslides (2007-17); urgent national priority per experts.
• Solutions: Integrated tech (AI, radars), community involvement, Himalayan Risk Council.
• Relevance: Aligns with NDMA, Sendai Framework; vital for 12 states/UTs’ resilience amid climate threats.

UN report finds countries’ emission reductions short of goal set in Paris 

(GS-3: Environment)

The Hindu

• Event: UNFCCC NDC Synthesis Report (based on 64 updated NDCs covering 30% emissions).
• Findings: Emissions to drop 17% below 2019 by 2035 (6% below prior NDCs); peak by 2030 if implemented.
• Issues: Far short of 43% (2030)/57% (2035) for 1.5°C; only 64/190 submitted by Sept 2025.
• Need: Major acceleration needed; revisit 2030 targets at COP30.
• Relevance: Urges India’s NDC update; supports Paris Agreement, net-zero 2070.

Nagaland University Study sounds environmental alert for Loktak Lake

(GS-3: Environment)

NIE

• About Loktak Lake 
• Key Findings: Agriculture/settlements/Jhum (42% basin) degrade 9 inflow rivers (e.g., Nambul, Khuga worst); low DO, high BOD/temp.
• Issues: Runoff threatens biodiversity (132 plants, 428 animals), fisheries, hydropower; Ramsar site. 
• Solutions: Community land mgmt., regulated Jhum, eco-farming.
• Relevance: Supports wetland conservation, SDG 14/15; livelihood protection.

Scientists run climate ‘time machine’ in Amazon as Brazil preps for COP30 (GS-3: Environment)

DD News

• About : AmazonFACE project
• Focus: Tests Amazon adaptation (FACE tech); Brazil-UK collab. 
• Context: Ahead of COP30 (Belem); open question on biome’s CO2 sink role.
• Impact: Informs NDCs, forest policy; gauges tipping risks.
• Relevance: Supports Paris Agreement, Brazil’s biodiversity/climate leadership.

Trishul

(GS-3: Defence)

FP

• Event: Tri-service exercise ‘Ex Trishul’ (Oct 30-Nov 10) along Pakistan border (Rajasthan-Gujarat).
• Focus: Joint ops (Army: tanks/helicopters/missiles; Navy: frigates; IAF: Rafales); tests interoperability, indigenous systems.
• Context: NOTAM issued; amid Sir Creek tensions post-Operation Sindoor.
• Impact: Enhances readiness, deterrence; covers land/air/sea/cyber/space.
• Relevance: Aligns with JAI (Jointness, Atmanirbharta, Innovation) vision.