Daily Current Affairs 2025  

14/10/2025

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CA-14/10/2025

 
Why in news?
India and Canada have agreed on a new roadmap to restore and strengthen their bilateral relations after nearly two years of diplomatic strain, following talks between their foreign ministers in New Delhi on October 13, 2025. 
 
Key Areas of Cooperation
The roadmap outlines concrete initiatives across several strategic domains:

• Trade and Investment: Ministerial-level discussions will be launched to boost bilateral trade, with the Canada-India CEO Forum set to resume in early 2026 to guide economic collaboration.?
• Energy and Critical Minerals: Cooperation will focus on clean energy, including green hydrogen, biofuels, carbon capture, and electric mobility. A Critical Minerals Annual Dialogue will begin in March 2026, and the Canada-India Ministerial Energy Dialogue (CIMED) will be revived.?
• Science, Technology, and AI: The Joint Science and Technology Cooperation Committee (JSTCC) will be restarted, and Canada will participate in India’s AI Impact Summit 2026. Both nations will explore collaboration in digital public infrastructure and cybersecurity research.?
• Agriculture and Food Security: Partnerships will enhance agricultural value chains, with knowledge sharing on technology and innovation to improve productivity and sustainability.?
• Higher Education: The Joint Working Group on Higher Education will be revitalized, with Canada exploring the establishment of university campuses in India to expand academic networks and student mobility.

Challenges in India-Canada relations

• Political Tensions: Diplomatic strains since 2023 due to the assassination of a Canadian Sikh separatist on Canadian soil, impacting mutual trust.
• Security Concerns: Issues involving extremism and terrorism allegations have created sensitivities between the two nations.
• Trade Barriers: Despite efforts, trade growth has been constrained by tariff and non-tariff barriers, limiting full economic potential.
• Diaspora Dynamics: The influence of the khalistan in Canada complicates bilateral relations due to differing perspectives on separatism.
• Strategic Divergences: Differences in geopolitical alignments and strategic priorities, especially in the Indo-Pacific region.

 
   
About

• The Integrated Alert System, known as SACHET, is a pan-India disaster early warning platform envisioned by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) to provide real-time geo-targeted alerts to citizens.
• It was developed by the Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT), based on the Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) recommended by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
• SACHET integrates multiple stakeholders including meteorological, hydrological, seismic, and oceanographic institutions, enabling dissemination of disaster-related alerts to ensure last-mile reachability across all States and Union Territories of India.

Key Features:

• Sends geo-targeted alerts for natural and man-made disasters via SMS to mobiles in affected regions.
• Users can receive alerts for their current location or subscribe to any state/district in India.
• The SACHET mobile app provides warnings from authorized government sources along with weather reports from the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD).
• Employs multiple dissemination channels including Cell Broadcast technology for real-time alert dissemination.
• Supports over 19 Indian languages to ensure accessibility.
• Operational nationwide, used extensively for issuing alerts during cyclones, earthquakes, floods, and other emergencies.

SACHET aligns with global disaster communication standards and the Indian government's disaster risk reduction agenda, enhancing preparedness, response, and resilience among citizens and disaster management authorities.
 
 
   
Why in news?
NATO's annual nuclear deterrence exercise Steadfast Noon began on October 13, 2025. 
 
Key details about Steadfast Noon

• Annual routine exercise for nuclear readiness.
• The exercise is hosted by a different NATO country each year.
• 2025 edition is hosted by the Netherlands, with Volkel Air Base as the main operating site.
• No actual nuclear weapons are flown.
• Participating countries include the Netherlands, Belgium, the UK, Denmark, Finland, Poland, the US, Germany, among others.
• Aircraft such as the German Tornado and American and Dutch F-35 jets participate.
• France does not participate as it keeps its nuclear forces separate from NATO's command structure.
• The exercise involves training flights over host countries and surrounding areas such as the North Sea.

The goal is to ensure that NATO's nuclear deterrent remains credible, safe, secure, and effective, sending a clear message to potential adversaries that NATO can protect and defend all its members.??
 
 
   
Why in news?
Five beaches in Maharashtra have recently received the prestigious international Blue Flag certification.
These beaches are Shrivardhan and Nagaon in Raigad district, Parnaka in Palghar, and Guhagar and Ladghar in Ratnagiri district.
 
About Blue Flag Certification

• Blue Flag Certification is an internationally recognized eco-label awarded by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE), based in Denmark.?
• It certifies beaches, marinas, and sustainable boating operators that meet stringent environmental, educational, safety, and accessibility criteria.?
• There are 33 criteria divided into 4 main categories: environmental education and information, bathing water quality, environmental management, and conservation and safety services.?
• The program promotes sustainable development, environmental protection, and clean and safe recreational areas.?
• Started in France in 1985 and expanded internationally in 2001.?
• The certification is awarded through an international jury including UNEP, UNWTO, IUCN, and FEE.?
• Beaches awarded the Blue Flag are considered among the cleanest and best managed worldwide.?
• The program encourages environmental education and visitor awareness about biodiversity and ecosystems.?
• Blue Flag sites are subject to regular checks to ensure compliance with standards.?
• India has multiple Blue Flag certified beaches, contributing to sustainable coastal tourism.

 
 
   
Why in news?

• Recently, Campi Flegrei volcano highlights significant volcanic unrest.
• An artificial intelligence (AI) model revealed a previously unknown "ring fault" structure beneath the volcano, which is responsible for numerous earthquakes in the region and could trigger magnitude 5 quakes.

About Campi Flegrei Volcano

• Campi Flegrei, also called the Phlegraean Fields, is a large volcanic caldera located west of Naples, Italy, in the Bay of Naples area.?
• It is the largest active volcanic caldera in Europe, spanning approximately 12-15 km in diameter.?
• Unlike a single volcano like Mount Vesuvius, Campi Flegrei is a volcanic system made up of multiple craters and volcanic structures spread across the caldera.?
• The caldera was formed by massive eruptions, including one about 39,000 years ago that may have contributed to the decline of Neanderthals.?
• The volcanic system is still active, showing signs of a magma chamber under the area with phenomena like gas emissions, warm springs, and ground deformation (bradyseism).?
• Bradyseism causes the ground to rise and fall slowly, with notable historical episodes changing ground levels by several meters.?
• Past eruptions include some violent large-scale events thousands of years ago and smaller eruptions in historical times, such as the Monte Nuovo eruption in 1538 AD.?

 

   
Why in news?
The Sonik Integrated Logistics Hub is India’s first integrated logistics facility under the Gati Shakti Cargo Terminals initiative, located strategically near Lucknow (50 km away) and Kanpur (20 km away) in Uttar Pradesh.
 
Key Features

• Location: Situated between Lucknow and Kanpur, linking major industrial and urban zones for efficient logistics.?
• Integrated Services: Offers end-to-end logistics solutions including warehousing, distribution, cargo handling, and inventory management.?
• Door-to-Door Model: Enables industries to send specified containers without filling a full rake, bridging gaps between factories and rail loading/unloading points.?
• Cargo Types: Handles diverse commodities such as fertilizers, cement, food grains, and agricultural equipment like tractors and JCBs.?
• Management: Operated by Container Corporation of India Ltd. (CONCOR) for seamless service and multimodal connectivity.?
• Infrastructure: Features modern warehousing facilities and amenities for labor and customers.?
• Technology: Bookings and tracking through CONCOR e-Logistics mobile app.?

Benefits

• Efficiency: Multimodal logistics hub significantly lowers logistical costs and improves speed, delivering up to 7.5% cost savings and 30% faster transit versus road transport.?
• Flexibility: Multiple booking and delivery options—door-to-door, terminal-to-terminal, or hybrid services.?
• Connectivity: Initial focus on Mumbai–Kolkata corridor with plans to expand to more cities for wider reach.?
• Support for Farmers: Affordable transport for tractors/heavy equipment helps agricultural sector.?

Implementation

• Under Gati Shakti: Part of the Gati Shakti Cargo Terminals initiative, supporting development of 115 multimodal terminals across India.?
• Transformative Shift: Marks Indian Railways’ growth into a comprehensive logistics provider offering first and last mile connectivity.

Two notable services were launched alongside the hub:

1. Assured Transit Container Train (Delhi–Kolkata route) — a bi-weekly service with a guaranteed transit time of 120 hours and flexible booking options (door-to-door, door-to-terminal, terminal-to-door, terminal-to-terminal).
2. Door-to-Door Parcel Service (Mumbai–Kolkata route) — uses rail parcel vans for pick-up, core rail transport, and last-mile delivery, reducing logistics costs by 7.5% and transit time by nearly 30% compared to road transport.

 
 

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