1st OCTOBER 2025 ENGLISH TNPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS PDF TNPSC SHOUTERS
No change in repo rate - Reserve Bank of India announcement
- The Reserve Bank of India has decided to extend the repo rate at the same level without changing it to 5.50%. In the first half of this year, the Reserve Bank had reduced the repo rate by a total of 100 basis points. However, it stopped the rate change in the last meeting in August.
- In this situation, a recent opinion poll had predicted that interest rates would remain unchanged. Similarly, it has been announced that there will be no change in the interest rate.
- The government has explained that tax collection increased due to increased sales due to the reduction in GST. GST revenue in September 2024 was Rs. 1.73 lakh crore and in August 2025 it was Rs. 1.86 lakh crore.
- Domestic GST revenue in total tax revenue has increased by 6.8% to Rs. 1.35 lakh crore. The government has announced that the duty on imported goods has increased by 15.6% to Rs 52,492 crore. The amount of GST paid and refunded is Rs 28,657 crore, the government has informed.
- The increase in dearness allowance for central government employees and pensioners was discussed in the Union Cabinet meeting today (October 1).
- In this meeting, the Union Cabinet has approved a 3 percent increase in dearness allowance in the salaries of central government employees. It has been informed that the new increase in dearness allowance will come into effect from July 1 (with prior date).
- This approval of the Central Government is expected to benefit about 1.15 crore working and retired employees. To help employees cope with the rise in prices, the dearness allowance is revised every year in January and July.
- Accordingly, in March, it was approved to increase the dearness allowance by 2 percent and increased it from 53 percent to 55 percent. Currently, the basic salary and pension for employees has been increased from 55 percent to 58 percent.
- The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today approved the continuation of Phase-III of Biomedical Research Industry Scheme. The Department of Biotechnology, the Wellcome Trust, UK and SPV India Consortium will undertake Phase-III of the research activities and grant-in-aid for the approved research activities and grant-in-aid for the years 2025-26 to 2030-31, with an additional period of Rs. 1,500 crore for the subsequent years (2031-32 to 2037-38).
- In line with the goals of a developed India to enhance skills and innovation, the Department of Biotechnology has launched Phase-III of the Biomedical Research Industry Scheme. The scheme aims to develop high-level scientific talent for cutting-edge biomedical research and also to inspire interdisciplinary research for translational innovations.
- It will strengthen institutions that conduct high-quality research. It will also help in reducing regional disparities in scientific capacity and building world-class biomedical research capacity.
- The Department of Biotechnology, in collaboration with the Wellcome Trust, launched the Biomedical Research Programme in 2008-2009. It provides higher education in India for world-class biomedical research with the approval of the Union Cabinet. Subsequently, the second phase was implemented in 2018/19 with expanded syllabus.
- The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has approved the scheme to increase the production of pulses, a major initiative aimed at increasing domestic production and achieving self-sufficiency. The scheme will be implemented over a period of six years from 2025-26 to 2030-31 at a cost of Rs. 11,440 crore.
- Pulses play an important role in the cropping patterns and diet of India. India is the world's largest producer and consumer of pulses. With rising incomes and living standards, consumption of pulses has also increased. However, due to the lack of domestic production, pulses import has increased by 15-20%.
- To reduce this import dependency, meet the growing domestic demand, increase production and increase farmers' income, a 6-year "Self-Reliance Pulses Production Drive" was announced in the Budget for the financial year 2025-26. The drive will adopt a comprehensive strategy that includes agricultural research, seed systems, area expansion, procurement and price stability.
- Priority will be given to developing and cultivating new varieties of pulses that are high in productivity, pesticide resistance and climate change resilience. Trials will be conducted at various locations in major pulse-growing states to ensure the appropriate conditions.
- In addition, to ensure availability of high quality seeds, states will prepare five-year eco-seed production plans. The production of hybrid seeds will be supervised by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research.
- The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has approved opening of 57 new Kendriya Vidyalaya schools across the country to facilitate the educational needs of the children of Central Government employees.
- The total financial requirement for opening of 57 new Kendriya Vidyalaya schools over the nine-year period from 2026-27 is Rs. 5862.55 crore (approx.). This includes Rs. 2585.52 crore (approx.) as capital expenditure and Rs. 3277.03 crore (approx.) as operational expenditure.
- It is noteworthy that for the first time, these 57 Kendriya Vidyalayas have been allowed to start Balwadis, i.e. classes at the pre-primary level of 3 years, as model schools for the National Education Policy, 2020.
- With a view to improving the infrastructure facilities for education of uniform quality across the country to meet the educational needs of children of transferable and non-transferable employees of the Central Government, including the Defence and Paramilitary Forces, the Central Government approved the scheme for starting Kendriya Vidyalayas in November 1962. As a result, the "Central Schools System" was started as a division of the Union Ministry of Education.
