1. India Re-Elected UNESCO Anti-Doping Bureau Vice-Chair
- India was re-elected Vice-Chairperson of the Bureau for Asia-Pacific (Group IV) at COP10, Paris.
- UNESCO's anti-doping convention was adopted on 19 October 2005.
- It has 192 States Parties.
Daily Current Affairs: 24 October 2025
Current affairs of 24 October 2025: SOAR: Skilling for AI Readiness Programme Explained; NFR Deploys Intrusion Detection System for Elephants; NITI Aayog Proposes CRZ Cut to 200 m and 10% Green Cover, and 12 more topics. Key facts for every exam, with a quiz.
In this issue: 15 topics
National Affairs
Government Schemes
Banking & Finance
- MFIN and Microfinance Institutions: Guardrails and Functions
- Bank Nomination Rules 2025: Up to Four Nominees
- SEBI Draft Relaxes Geo-Tagging for NRI KYC
Economy
- Government Securities (G-Secs): Types, Features and Issuers
- RBI Gold Reserves: Why India Is Buying More Gold
International Affairs
Agriculture & Rural
Environment & Ecology
- NFR Deploys Intrusion Detection System for Elephants
- NITI Aayog Proposes CRZ Cut to 200 m and 10% Green Cover
- Blackbuck Revival in Barnawapara Sanctuary, Chhattisgarh
- CAMI Conservation Plan: India Backs Six-Year Migratory Mammal Plan
- 23for23 Campaign and India’s First National Snow Leopard Census
Awards & Persons
National Affairs
Government Schemes
2. SOAR: Skilling for AI Readiness Programme Explained
- SOAR (Skilling for AI Readiness) is an MSDE initiative under the Skill India Mission to build AI literacy among Classes 6-12 students and teachers.
- Modules: three 15-hour AI modules for students and one 45-hour advanced module for educators.
- A Centre of Excellence in AI received ₹500 crore in Union Budget 2025-26.
- Under NAPS-2, 1,480 apprentices were trained between FY 2022 and 2026 in AI-linked roles.
Banking & Finance
3. MFIN and Microfinance Institutions: Guardrails and Functions
- NBFCs and fintechs are lending more to low-income micro-borrowers, raising regulatory worries about over-indebtedness.
- MFIN is the self-regulatory organisation of India's microfinance sector.
- From April 1, 2025, MFIN caps lenders per borrower at three.
4. Bank Nomination Rules 2025: Up to Four Nominees
- Bank nomination provisions begin on November 1, 2025, allowing up to four nominees.
- The Act was notified on April 15, 2025 with 19 amendments across five laws.
- Lockers and safe custody allow only successive nomination.
5. SEBI Draft Relaxes Geo-Tagging for NRI KYC
- SEBI proposed easing geo-tagging for NRI clients during KYC and re-KYC.
- NRIs need not be physically present in India; digital onboarding or V-CIP may be used.
- SEBI invited public comments on the draft.
Economy
6. Government Securities (G-Secs): Types, Features and Issuers
- G-Secs are debt instruments issued by central or state governments, carrying a sovereign guarantee.
- T-bills mature in under one year (91, 182, 364 days) and are zero-coupon, issued at a discount.
- Dated securities run 5 to 40 years and pay periodic coupons at fixed or floating rates.
7. RBI Gold Reserves: Why India Is Buying More Gold
- RBI has raised gold reserves aggressively since 2020, making India the second-largest buyer after China.
- Gold added in 2020-2024: India 244 tonnes, China 336 tonnes.
- In Q4 2024 India added 22.54 tonnes; Poland led with 28.53 tonnes.
- As of 31 January 2025, India's gold reserves stood at 879 tonnes.
International Affairs
8. United Nations Day 2025: UN Marks 80 Years Since Its Founding
- UN Day is observed on 24 October, the anniversary of the UN Charter coming into force in 1945.
- 2025 marks 80 years of the United Nations.
- Membership has grown from 51 founding members to 193 countries.
- The General Assembly declared 24 October as UN Day in 1947 and urged states to treat it as a holiday in 1971.
Agriculture & Rural
9. AgriSURE Fund: NABARD’s First Investment Announced at GFF 2025
- At GFF 2025, NABARD revealed the first deal from its AgriSURE Fund, a joint effort with the Agriculture Ministry.
- The fund finances agri-focused startups and technology that lift productivity, sustainability and resilience.
- NABARD also showcased Kuberjee Tech, NAVADHAN Capital and SLO Technologies (Advarisk).
Environment & Ecology
10. NFR Deploys Intrusion Detection System for Elephants
- Northeast Frontier Railway deployed an intrusion detection system on elephant corridors.
- Fibre optic cables sense vibrations and alert control rooms instantly.
- Pilot coverage of 64.03 km will grow to 210 km by April 2026.
11. NITI Aayog Proposes CRZ Cut to 200 m and 10% Green Cover
- NITI Aayog proposed cutting the CRZ limit from 500 m to 200 m, unlocking 2,790 sq km of coast.
- It suggested lowering industrial-zone green cover from 33% to 10%, with up to 25% for polluting industries.
- 113 Indian coastal cities face submergence risk.
12. Blackbuck Revival in Barnawapara Sanctuary, Chhattisgarh
- Blackbuck, declared locally extinct in Chhattisgarh in 2017, has recovered in Barnawapara under a 2021-2026 plan.
- IUCN Red List status: Near Threatened.
- Blackbuck now lives again in Barnawapara Wildlife Sanctuary.
13. CAMI Conservation Plan: India Backs Six-Year Migratory Mammal Plan
- India and other Central Asian nations endorsed a six-year transboundary plan under CAMI.
- The plan covers 17 migratory mammal species.
- CAMI began in 2014 at CMS COP11 in Quito and was updated at COP13 in Gandhinagar.
14. 23for23 Campaign and India’s First National Snow Leopard Census
- India's first National Snow Leopard Census recorded 718 individuals in the Himalayas.
- MoEFCC's #23for23 campaign marked International Snow Leopard Day, 23 October 2025.
- Snow leopard (Panthera uncia) is Vulnerable per IUCN.
Awards & Persons
15. SBI Named World’s Best Consumer Bank 2025 by Global Finance
- Global Finance, New York, named SBI the World's Best Consumer Bank 2025.
- SBI also received the Best Bank in India 2025 award.
- The awards were presented during the World Bank/IMF annual meetings.
- The recognition reflects innovation, financial inclusion, customer service and technological leadership.
Test yourself
15 questions from the news of 24 October 2025, with answers and explanations.
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