1. PM-SETU Scheme

During the Kaushal Deekshant Samaroh at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, the Prime Minister launched the Pradhan Mantri Skilling and Employability Transformation through Upgraded ITIs (PM-SETU) scheme.

About the Scheme:
PM-SETU is a centrally sponsored programme with an investment of ₹60,000 crore, aimed at upgrading 1,000 Government ITIs into advanced, industry-oriented training centres.
It adopts a hub-and-spoke model—200 hubs will be connected to 800 spoke ITIs.
Each hub will have state-of-the-art infrastructure, innovation labs, incubation and production units, trainer development facilities, and placement cells, while the spokes will enhance outreach and accessibility.

Key Features:

• Introduction of demand-driven courses and industry collaboration to redesign existing curricula.

• Establishment of Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) with credible industry partners for cluster-based management.

• Creation of pathways for long-term diplomas, short-term, and executive programmes.

• Upgradation of five National Skill Training Institutes—Bhubaneswar, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kanpur, and Ludhiana—into Centres of Excellence with global partnerships.
  The first phase, co-financed by the World Bank and Asian Development Bank, will focus on ITIs in Patna and Darbhanga.

2. Tikhir Tribe

The Tikhir Tribal Council (TTC) recently petitioned the Nagaland DGP, seeking inclusion of Tikhir candidates from Noklak district in the Nagaland Police recruitment process.

About the Tribe:
The Tikhir are one of Nagaland’s indigenous Naga tribes, numbering 7,537 as per the 2011 Census, with some residing across the Myanmar border. They are listed as a Scheduled Tribe in India.
The Tikhirs speak Naga Yimchungru, a Tibeto-Burman language. Historically, they were headhunters, and social prestige was linked to warfare achievements.

Culture and Lifestyle:

• Primarily agricultural, relying on traditional cultivation.

• A small tribe that has occasionally faced challenges from larger neighbouring groups.

• Predominantly Christian, though elements of folk traditions persist.

• The main festival, Tsonglaknyi, held annually from October 9–12, marks the sanctification of shields.

3. Manjeera River

Two youths from Kukatpally were recently rescued after being swept away by the swollen Manjeera River near Edupayala Temple, Medak.

About the River:
The Manjeera (or Manjiira) is a tributary of the Godavari River, flowing through Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Telangana.
It originates in the Balaghat Range near Ahmednagar, Maharashtra, at an altitude of 823 metres. The river forms the boundary between Maharashtra (west) and Telangana (east) before merging with the Godavari near Basara, Nizamabad.

Tributaries: Haldi (Haridra), Lendi, Nalla, Manyad, Terna, Tawarja, and Gharni.
Key Projects:

• Singur Dam (Singur Reservoir)

• Nizam Sagar Project

4. Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary

The Delhi Forest and Wildlife Department announced daily bird walks at the Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary as part of Wildlife Week celebrations.

About the Sanctuary:
Covering 32.71 sq. km, the sanctuary lies along the Southern Delhi Ridge of the Aravalli Hills, extending into Faridabad and Gurugram districts (Haryana). It forms part of the North Aravalli Leopard Corridor, linking Sariska National Park (Rajasthan) with Delhi Ridge.

Vegetation: Northern Tropical Thorn Forests with xerophytic plants—thorns, waxy coatings, and succulent leaves.
Flora: Neem, Peepal, Jamun, and numerous medicinal species.
Fauna: Nilgai, Indian Porcupine, Indian Hare, and Indian Grey Mongoose.
The sanctuary hosts 200+ bird species, including Indian Peafowl, Red Junglefowl, and Indian Grey Hornbill.

5. Ortolan Bunting

A rare Ortolan Bunting, a European migratory bird with only one prior Bengal record, was recently spotted in Baruipur, South Bengal.

About the Species:

• Scientific Name: Emberiza hortulana

• Range: Found across Europe and parts of Mongolia, extending north to the Arctic Circle.

• Habitat: Prefers open areas with sparse shrubs, up to 2,500 m altitude; avoids forests and oceanic climates.

Features:
Males have a greenish-grey head, yellow throat, and brown-streaked body. Females and juveniles are duller with spotted bellies. The conical beak aids in seed cracking.

IUCN Status: Least Concern.

6. Phosphine

Astronomers using the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) recently detected phosphine (PH₃) in the atmosphere of the brown dwarf Wolf 1130C.

About Phosphine:
Phosphine consists of one phosphorus and three hydrogen atoms.
On Earth, it is produced naturally by bacteria in low-oxygen environments, derived from phosphate minerals combined with hydrogen.

Properties:

• Colourless, flammable, and extremely toxic gas with a garlic-like odour.

• Slightly soluble in water.

• Produced by reacting white phosphorus with hot water or strong bases, or by reacting calcium phosphide with water.

• Structurally similar to ammonia but less soluble and less polar.

Uses:
Employed in the semiconductor, plastics, and pesticide industries, and in manufacturing flame retardants.

7. Coral Triangle

The Philippines is set to host Southeast Asia’s first coral larvae cryobank, connecting research institutions from Taiwan, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand under the Coral Triangle initiative.

About the Coral Triangle:
Known as the “Amazon of the Seas,” it spans over 10 million sq. km, encompassing Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Timor-Leste, and the Solomon Islands.

Significance:

• Home to 75% of global coral species, 33% of reef fish, extensive mangrove forests, and 6 of 7 marine turtle species.

• Supports the livelihoods of 120 million people.

Threats:
Climate change, overfishing, pollution, and coral bleaching pose serious ecological risks.

Coral Biology:
Corals are sessile marine animals that form colonies of polyps. They share a symbiotic relationship with zooxanthellae algae, which provide nutrients via photosynthesis.

8. Chlorophytum vanapushpam

Researchers in Kerala’s Vagamon Hills (Idukki district) discovered a new plant species named Chlorophytum vanapushpam, belonging to the Asparagaceae family.

About the Species:
A perennial herb related to safed musli (Chlorophytum borivilianum), it grows in rocky Western Ghats terrains between 700–2,124 m elevation.
The name vanapushpam combines Malayalam words Vanam (forest) and Pushpam (flower).

Features:

• Slender leaves, white clustered flowers, and height up to 90 cm.

• Lacks tubers (unlike C. borivilianum).

• Seeds: 4–5 mm; flowers from September–December.
  The Western Ghats, a key diversity hub for Chlorophytum, host 18 known species, several with medicinal value.

9. INS Sahyadri

The Indian Navy’s INS Sahyadri, an indigenously built stealth frigate, recently made a port call at Kemaman Port, Malaysia.

About INS Sahyadri:

• Third ship of the Shivalik-class Guided Missile Stealth Frigates, built by Mazagon Dock Ltd., Mumbai.

• Commissioned in 2012 and part of the Eastern Fleet based in Visakhapatnam.

Specifications:

• Displacement: 6,800 tons

• Maximum speed: 32 knots

• Armed with Barak-1, Shtil-1 3S90M, BrahMos missiles, and anti-submarine rocket launchers.
  It can carry multi-role helicopters and represents India’s progress in indigenous warship design.

10. Exercise KONKAN-25

Exercise KONKAN-25 began on October 5, 2025, off India’s western coast.

About the Exercise:
It is a bilateral naval exercise between the Indian Navy and the Royal Navy (UK), featuring two phases—Harbour and Sea.

Key Highlights:

• Harbour phase: Professional exchanges, cross-deck visits, sports, and cultural events.

• Sea phase: Complex drills on anti-air, anti-surface, and anti-submarine warfare, along with flying and seamanship operations.
  Both navies are deploying frontline assets, including aircraft carriers, destroyers, frigates, submarines, and air units.

The Indian side is represented by the INS Vikrant carrier battle group. The exercise underscores the India–UK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (Vision 2035) and strengthens interoperability for regional maritime security.