National Tragedy and Public Safety:
A devastating bus accident in Andhra Pradesh resulted in the deaths of at least 25 people and injured several others. The passenger bus caught fire following a collision with a motorcycle near Kurnool, trapping many sleeping passengers inside. The Telangana government has announced an ex-gratia payment of ā¹5 lakh for the families of the deceased from the state and ā¹2 lakh for the injured. This incident marks the second such fatal bus fire in India within two weeks.
Economic Landscape:
India's manufacturing sector showed robust growth in October 2025, with the HSBC India Manufacturing PMI rising to 58.4 from 57.7 in September, indicating a substantial improvement in conditions. However, the overall private sector activity eased to a five-month low in October, primarily due to a slowdown in services growth, despite the manufacturing improvement. International demand for Indian goods softened, partly attributed to US tariffs. Despite these fluctuations, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) projects India's economy to grow at 6.6% in 2025-26, surpassing China's projected growth of 4.8%.
International Relations and Diplomacy:
India and the United States are reportedly "very near" to finalizing a bilateral trade deal. While Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal stated India would not rush into any agreement, officials suggest most issues have converged, with negotiations aiming to conclude the first tranche by Fall 2025. Separately, Australia and India signed a significant security deal in October 2025, aimed at enhancing defense relations and upholding Indo-Pacific stability. This pact includes cooperation on submarines and the establishment of a forum for military talks, building on India's inaugural participation in the Talisman Sabre exercise in July 2025. In diplomatic appointments, Shri Manish Gupta has been named the next Ambassador of India to the Republic of Ireland. Furthermore, the Vice President of India is scheduled to visit Seychelles from October 26-27, reinforcing India's commitment to its Vision MAHASAGAR and partnerships in the Global South.
National Governance and Politics:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi officially launched the Bihar Assembly election campaign with rallies in Samastipur and Begusarai, where he criticized the opposition's INDIA bloc. The Congress and BJP engaged in a political spar over Other Backward Classes (OBC) politics in the poll-bound state. In Jammu and Kashmir, the National Conference (NC) secured three Rajya Sabha seats, while the BJP won one. Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia announced plans to deliver Speed Post services within 24-48 hours. The Defence Minister released the Defence Procurement Manual (DPM) 2025, which aims to simplify revenue procurement procedures for the Armed Forces. India was also re-elected as Vice-Chairperson of the Bureau for the Asia-Pacific (Group IV) at the 10th Session of the Conference of Parties (COP10) to the UNESCO International Convention against Doping in Sport.
Environment and Science:
The first-ever national Snow Leopard Census was unveiled, recording 718 individuals across the Indian Himalayas, with Ladakh accounting for the highest population. The Northeast Monsoon arrived early in Tamil Nadu in October 2025 for the second consecutive year. Additionally, the Supreme Court directed the Jharkhand government to notify a wildlife sanctuary in the Saranda forest. On the scientific front, 90% of the development work for India's Gaganyaan mission has been completed.