DAILY GK 29-31 OCT 2025

 DAILY GK 29-31 OCT 2025

1.       RUSSIA TESTS ‘BUREVESTNIK’ CRUISE MISSILE

·         Russia announced the successful test of its nuclear-powered cruise missile, 9M730 Burevestnik (meaning “storm petrel”), conducted at a Pankovo test site in the Arctic region.

·         Developed by Russia’s Defence Industry, the nuclear-powered cruise missile Burevestnik is designated by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) as “SSC-X-9 Skyfall.”

 


2.       RUSSIA TESTS NUCLEAR-POWERED ‘POSEIDON’ UNDERWATER DRONE

·         Russia had successfully tested nuclear-poweredPoseidon’, Unmanned Underwater Vehicle (UUV), termed as ‘super weapon’ because it is impossible to intercept.

·         Poseidon, named after the Greek god of the sea, is 20 metres (m) long, 1.8 m in diameter and weighs 100 tonnes.

·         Poseidon, known in North Atlantic Treaty Organization, (NATO) as Kanyon (formerly labelled Status-6), has a strike range of 10,000 kilometer (km) or 6,200 miles, with maximum speed of up to 185 km per hour (km/h).

·         Poseidon is 100 times smaller than those on submarines, and the power of its nuclear warhead is significantly higher than Russia’s most advanced ‘Sarmat’ intercontinental ballistic missile (known as SS-X-29 or Satan II).

 

3.       INDIA’S FIRST DEFENSE EV ‘VEER’

·         Pravaig Dynamics Private Limited unveiled the VEER, an Electric Tactical All-Terrain Vehicle (E-TATV) developed for special operations, reconnaissance, and forward-patrol missions.

·         It is India’s first defence-Electric Vehicle(EV), and is hailed as one of the world’s first operational electric tactical vehicles designed specifically for military use.

·         It is Equipped with dual electric motors in an all-wheel-drive setup, delivering around 408 horsepower (hp) and 620 Newton-meter(Nm) of torque.

·         Reportedly supports a payload of about 690 kg and can tow up to 2,500 kilogram(kg).

 

4.       RASHTRIYA VIGYAN PURASKAR 2025

·         The Government of India (GoI) announced the winners of the 2nd edition of Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar (RVP 2025), the nation’s highest recognition for outstanding and inspiring contributions in science, technology, and innovation.

·         The awards are conferred across 13 domains, namely Physics, Chemistry, Biological Sciences, Mathematics & Computer Science, Earth Science, Medicine, Engineering Sciences, Agricultural Science, Environmental Science, Technology & Innovation, Atomic Energy, Space Science & Technology, and allied fields.

·         Vigyan Ratna(VR): Professor Jayant Vishnu Narlikar was honoured posthumously for his outstanding lifetime contributions to physics, particularly in the fields of astrophysics and cosmology.

·         Vigyan Shri Awardees(VS): Eight distinguished scientists were honoured with the Vigyan Shri award.

·         Vigyan Yuva – Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar(VY-SSB) Awardees: In 2025, the award recognised 14 exceptional young scientists (below 45 years) for their outstanding contributions and innovative research across various domains of science, engineering, and technology.

·         Vigyan Team(VT) Award: The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) – Aroma Mission Team was recognised for its exceptional contributions to agricultural science.

 

5.       WORLD FOOD PRIZE HONORS-TOP AGRI-FOOD PIONEER

·         Padma Shri awardee Sanjeev Surendra Kapoor was honoured as one of the 2025 “Top Agri-Food Pioneers (TAP)” by the World Food Prize Foundation (WFPF) during the Norman E. Borlaug International Dialogue, held in Lowa, USA.

·         The TAP 2025 list honour 39 changemakers from 27 countries for their outstanding contributions to transforming global agri-food systems.

·         Avijit Ghosh, Dr.Manzoor Hussain Dar, Dr.Boddupalli Maruthi Prasanna, and Aadith Moorthy were honoured for contributions to climate-resilient farming, seed innovation, agri-tech, and entrepreneurship.

 

6.       JAMES ANDERSON AWARDED KNIGHTHOOD

·         Former England fast bowler Sir James Michael Anderson has received the Knighthood Award, one of the greatest honours conferred by the British Monarchy or Commonwealth nations.

·         Following this award, he now joins the elite club of English cricket icons such as: Sir Ian Botham, Sir Geoffrey Boycott, Sir Alastair Cook and Sir Andrew Strauss.

 

7.       ‘GRAND ORDER OF MUGUNGHWA’ AWARD

·         During his visit to South Korea, Donald Trump, President of USA, was conferred with the ‘Grand Order of Mugunghwa’, South Korea’s highest civilian honour, and presented with a replica of a Silla-Dynasty gold crown.

·         With this, Donald Trump became the 1st USA President to receive this honour.

·         These honors were presented on the sidelines the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) leaders’ summit held in Gyeongju, South Korea.

 

8.       BWF WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS 2025

·         The Badminton World Federation (BWF) World Junior Championships 2025 was held in Guwahati, Assam.

·         India secured the first-ever bronze medal in the Suhandinata Cup (Mixed Team Event).

·         Championship Structure Suhandinata Cup (Mixed Team Event) & Eye-Level Cup (Individual Events).

·         India secured its maiden medal in the Suhandinata Cup by defeating South Korea.

·         India shared the Bronze with Japan.

·         China took the Gold and Indonesia earned Silver.

·         Tanvi Sharma won silver in Girls’ Singles at the World Junior Championships, ending a 17-year medal drought for India.

 

9.       FRENCH OPEN BADMINTON 2025

·         The Yonex French Open 2025 Badminton Tournament, a Badminton World Federation (BWF) World Tour Super 750 event, was held in France.

·         Anders Antonsen: The Danish shuttler captured his second title of 2025.

·         An Se-young: The South Korean capture her ninth BWF World Tour title of 2025 at the French Open.

·         Badminton World Federation (BWF) Headquarters – Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

 

10.    EUROPEAN CHESS CLUB CUP

·         Indian Grandmaster (GM) Dommaraju (D) Gukesh and GM Divya Deshmukh won gold medals at the European Chess Club Cup 2025, held in Rhodes, Greece.

·         Tournament featured a total of 102 teams, competing across two main categories: Open and Women’s sections.
40th European Chess Club Cup Open Section Champion: Super Chess

·         29th European Chess Club Cup Women’s Section Champion: Cercle d’Échecs de Monte-Carlo

·         GM D. Gukesh: clinched the gold medal on the top board in the Open section, leading his team SuperChess to the championship title.

·         GM Divya Deshmukh: Won the gold medal on the second board in the Women’s section, representing Cercle d’Échecs de Monte-Carlo, the team champion.

·         GM Nihal Sarin: Won the gold medal on the fourth board, representing Bayegan Pendik, and played a key role in the team’s strong overall performance.

·         GM Abhimanyu Puranik: Secured the gold medal on the seventh board, representing Alkaloid, and showcased remarkable consistency and strength throughout the event.

·         GM Aravindh Chithambaram: Won the bronze medal on the fourth board, representing Alkaloid, and contributed significantly to the team’s second-place finish in the Open section.

 

11.    4TH SAAF CHAMPIONSHIPS 2025

·         The 4th Edition of the South Asian Athletics (SAAF) Championships 2025, held at Birsa Munda Athletics Stadium, Ranchi, Jharkhand.

·         The event saw participation from six South Asian nations with around 300 athletes and 150 technical officials taking part.

·         The event’s logo reflected Jharkhand’s tribal art and natural beauty; the mascot ‘Dalma’ symbolized strength and unity; and the anthem ‘Johar – Jharkhand Bharthey Hunkaar’ celebrated regional pride through traditional tribal music.

·         India has topped the medal tally with a total of 58 medals (20 Gold, 20 Silver, and 18 Bronze).

·         Sri Lanka positioned second place with 40 medals (16 golds), and Nepal as third with 6 medals.

 

12.    MEXICAN GRAND PRIX 2025

·         Lando Norris of the United Kingdom representing McLaren Racing Limited, won the Mexican Grand Prix (GP) 2025 held in Mexico City, Mexico.

·         Monaco Driver Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) secured second, and Netherlands Driver Max Verstappen (Red Bull), finished third.

 

13.    NAMITBIR SINGH WALIA ACHIEVES INTERNATIONAL MASTER TITLE

·         Punjab’s Namitbir Singh Walia from Jalandhar achieved an International Master (IM) in Chess after securing the 4th position at the 3rd Annemasse International Masters Tournament, held in France, marking a major milestone as Punjab’s 2nd player to achieve this title.

·         Dushyant Sharma made history on 1st February, 2022, by becoming Punjab’s first IM in chess.

·         The title was awarded by the International Chess Federation (FIDE).

·         Grandmaster (GM): The highest and most prestigious title in chess, requiring a minimum FIDE rating of 2500 and three GM norms.

·         International Master (IM): One level below GM, the IM title requires a FIDE rating of 2400 and need to achieve three IM norms in FIDE-sanctioned tournaments.

·         FIDE Master (FM): Awarded to players with a FIDE rating of 2300 or higher.

·         Candidate Master (CM): Granted to players with a FIDE rating of 2200 or higher.

 

14.    INDIA’S 90TH CHESS GM

·         16-year-old Ilamparthi Avalpoondurai Ravikumar, from Chennai, Tamil Nadu (TN), became India’s 90th Chess Grandmaster (GM) by securing his final GM norm and achieved an International Chess Federation (FIDErating of 2518 at the Bijeljina tournament in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Europe.

·         His achievement also makes him the 35th GM from TN.

·         Viswanathan Anand (1988) – India’s first Grandmaster, who later made history by becoming the country’s first World Chess Champion.

·         Koneru Humpy (2002) – India’s first Woman Grandmaster, achieving the title at just 15 and becoming the youngest female GM in the world at that time.