Current Affairs October 2025 for UPSC (Recap): India-EFTA TEPA, Rabi MSP, Pulses Mission, Kabul Embassy, Russian Oil Sanctions and Cyclone Montha

October 2025 at a Glance

🎯 October 2025 (recap): 1 to 31 October 2025. This is the first of three recap notes that connect the 2026 notes back to the last quarter of 2025, because UPSC draws on the previous 12 to 18 months. October 2025 had the India-EFTA agreement coming into force, the rabi MSP, a new pulses mission, a Gaza peace summit, the upgrade of the Kabul mission, US sanctions on Russian oil majors, the first Chabahar waiver and Cyclone Montha.

October 2025 at a glance

Economy: the RBI, the Rabi MSP and the Pulses Mission

Three decisions on 1 October 2025 are worth knowing together, because UPSC likes to ask about MSP, missions and the RBI corridor in the same sitting.

Economy: the RBI, the rabi MSP and the pulses mission

• RBI (1 October). At its 57th MPC meeting (29 September to 1 October) the Committee kept the repo rate unchanged at 5.50 per cent with a neutral stance, unanimously; the SDF stayed at 5.25 per cent and the MSF and Bank Rate at 5.75 per cent. The RBI raised its FY2025-26 GDP growth projection to 6.8 per cent from 6.5 per cent and cut its CPI inflation projection to 2.6 per cent from 3.1 per cent, and announced 22 regulatory measures. The Governor named US tariffs of up to 50 per cent as a risk. Link: the repo then fell to 5.25 per cent in December 2025 and rose again to 5.50 per cent in October 2026 (see the 2026 notes).

• Rabi MSP 2026-27 (CCEA, 1 October). Wheat Rs 2,585 per quintal (up Rs 160 from Rs 2,425, a rise of 6.59 per cent); barley Rs 2,150, gram Rs 5,875, masur Rs 7,000, rapeseed and mustard Rs 6,200 and safflower Rs 6,540, the last with the largest increase (Rs 600). The margin over the all-India weighted average cost of production is 50 to 109 per cent, in line with the 1.5 times principle. Static: the CACP recommends and the CCEA approves.

• Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses. A six-year mission from 2025-26 to 2030-31 with an outlay of Rs 11,440 crore, targeting 350 lakh tonnes by 2030-31 and benefiting two crore farmers through seeds, post-harvest infrastructure and assured procurement. Static: pulses are among India's major agricultural imports; the main pulses are chickpea, tur (pigeon pea), moong, urad and masur.

International Relations: EFTA, Kabul, Gaza, Russian Oil and Chabahar

The month's trade and energy items were the EFTA agreement and the US sanctions on Russian oil.

International relations: EFTA, Kabul, Gaza, Russian oil and Chabahar

• India-EFTA TEPA (1 October). The agreement entered into force on 1 October 2025; it was signed in New Delhi on 10 March 2024 and covers Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. EFTA pledged to promote FDI of USD 100 billion in India over 15 years (half in the first decade) and one million direct jobs; its concessions cover 92.2 per cent of tariff lines accounting for 99.6 per cent of India's exports to EFTA, while India protected dairy, soya and coal. Static: EFTA is not part of the EU; Switzerland and Norway are its main economies;

• Kabul mission upgraded (10 and 21 October). During Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi's visit, Jaishankar announced that India's technical mission in Kabul would be upgraded to a full Embassy; the MEA restored the Embassy status on 21 October with immediate effect. India committed to six new development projects, more visas for Afghans and an air freight corridor. India has not formally recognised the Taliban government; Russia is the only country that does. The visit needed a UN Security Council travel waiver because Muttaqi is UN-sanctioned.

• Sharm el-Sheikh Peace Summit (13 October). The Sharm el-Sheikh Peace Summit on Gaza was held on 13 October 2025, co-hosted by Presidents Trump and Sisi. India was represented by Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh, and its UN envoy later said India participated and welcomed the agreement (secondary).

• Russian oil sanctions (22 October). The US sanctioned the Russian oil majors Rosneft and Lukoil on 22 October 2025, putting about 3.1 million barrels per day of exports at risk, with a wind-down deadline of 21 November 2025. Reliance, with a deal for up to 500,000 barrels per day with Rosneft, said it would align with Government guidelines, and India's direct imports of Russian oil fell sharply (reports).

• Chabahar waiver (28-29 October). The US granted a six-month sanctions waiver for the Chabahar port project, valid until 26 April 2026. Its expiry is covered in the April 2026 note.

Environment and Awards: Cyclone Montha and the Nobel Prizes

A named cyclone and the Nobel Prizes are the usual October prelims fodder.

Environment and awards: Cyclone Montha and the Nobel Prizes

• Cyclone Montha. Severe Cyclonic Storm Montha formed over the southeast Bay of Bengal on 25 October and crossed the Andhra Pradesh coast between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam around midnight of 28-29 October. The name was contributed by Thailand. Static: North Indian Ocean cyclones are named from a list rotated among member countries of the WMO/ESCAP Panel; Cyclone Montha was the cyclone of the post-monsoon season, when the Bay of Bengal is most active.

• Nobel Prizes 2025 (secondary). Peace: Maria Corina Machado of Venezuela. Physics: John Clarke, Michel H. Devoret and John M. Martinis (macroscopic quantum tunnelling in an electric circuit). Chemistry: Susumu Kitagawa, Richard Robson and Omar M. Yaghi (metal-organic frameworks). Medicine: Mary E. Brunkow, Frederick J. Ramsdell and Shimon Sakaguchi (peripheral immune tolerance). Literature: Laszlo Krasznahorkai. Economics: Joel Mokyr, Philippe Aghion and Peter Howitt (innovation-driven growth).

Further Reading

• PIB press releases, ministry websites and annual reports, the Gazette of India, MEA and UN documents and the official sources named in each note — the primary sources behind every fact above.

How UPSC Could Ask This Next

Here is how UPSC could turn October 2025 into questions.

How UPSC could ask this next

• Trade: which countries form EFTA, whether it is part of the EU, the investment pledge, and the year of signing.

• Agriculture: the six rabi crops, the margin over cost, the body that recommends MSP, and the aim of the pulses mission.

• Neighbourhood: what it means to upgrade a technical mission to an embassy without recognising a government.

• Energy security: secondary sanctions, India's dependence on Russian crude and its alternatives.

• Disasters and geography: how cyclones are named and the regions where the Bay of Bengal forms them.

Test Yourself: Practice Questions

22 practice questions on October 2025, including UPSC-style statement questions, each tied to a verified fact.

Practice Questions

Q1. At its October 2025 policy the RBI's Monetary Policy Committee

• (a) raised the repo rate to 5.75 per cent

• (b) kept the repo rate at 5.50 per cent with a neutral stance

• (c) changed the stance to tightening

• (d) cut the repo rate to 5.25 per cent

Q2. The RBI's FY2025-26 GDP growth projection announced in October 2025 was

• (a) 7.4 per cent

• (b) 5.9 per cent

• (c) 6.5 per cent

• (d) 6.8 per cent

Q3. The wheat MSP for the 2026-27 marketing season is

• (a) Rs 2,610 per quintal

• (b) Rs 2,275 per quintal

• (c) Rs 2,425 per quintal

• (d) Rs 2,585 per quintal

Q4. Which rabi crop received the largest absolute MSP increase for 2026-27?

• (a) Safflower (Rs 600)

• (b) Wheat (Rs 160)

• (c) Gram

• (d) Barley

Q5. The Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses has an outlay of

• (a) Rs 28,840 crore

• (b) Rs 6,000 crore

• (c) Rs 1,000 crore

• (d) Rs 11,440 crore

Q6. The Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses targets production by 2030-31 of

• (a) 500 lakh tonnes

• (b) 250 lakh tonnes

• (c) 350 lakh tonnes

• (d) 150 lakh tonnes

Q7. Which of the following is NOT a member of EFTA?

• (a) Sweden

• (b) Iceland

• (c) Norway

• (d) Switzerland

Q8. The India-EFTA TEPA entered into force on

• (a) 15 August 2025

• (b) 10 March 2024

• (c) 1 April 2025

• (d) 1 October 2025

Q9. EFTA's pledged investment in India under the TEPA over 15 years is

• (a) USD 500 billion

• (b) USD 10 billion

• (c) USD 100 billion

• (d) USD 20 billion

Q10. In October 2025 India upgraded its mission in Kabul to

• (a) a Consulate

• (b) a Trade Commission

• (c) a full Embassy

• (d) a Liaison Office

Q11. Which country is the only one that officially recognises the Taliban government in Afghanistan, as of the October 2025 reports?

• (a) Russia

• (b) Pakistan

• (c) Iran

• (d) China

Q12. Who represented India at the Sharm el-Sheikh Peace Summit on Gaza on 13 October 2025?

• (a) National Security Adviser Ajit Doval

• (b) Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh

• (c) Prime Minister Modi

• (d) External Affairs Minister Jaishankar

Q13. The US sanctions of 22 October 2025 targeted which Russian companies?

• (a) Rosneft and Lukoil

• (b) Gazprom and Novatek

• (c) Sibur and Transneft

• (d) Surgutneftegas and Tatneft

Q14. The US waiver for the Chabahar port project granted in October 2025 was valid until

• (a) 29 October 2026

• (b) 31 December 2025

• (c) 30 June 2026

• (d) 26 April 2026

Q15. Severe Cyclonic Storm Montha, which hit Andhra Pradesh in October 2025, was named by

• (a) Oman

• (b) Thailand

• (c) India

• (d) Bangladesh

Q16. The 2025 Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to

• (a) Abiy Ahmed

• (b) Narges Mohammadi

• (c) Maria Ressa

• (d) Maria Corina Machado

Q17. Consider the following statements:
1. The India-EFTA TEPA entered into force on 1 October 2025.
2. Sweden is a member of EFTA.
3. EFTA pledged USD 100 billion of investment in India over 15 years.
Which of the statements given above are correct?

• (a) 1 and 2 only

• (b) 2 and 3 only

• (c) 1 and 3 only

• (d) 1, 2 and 3

Q18. Consider the following statements:
1. The wheat MSP for 2026-27 was fixed at Rs 2,585 per quintal.
2. Wheat received the largest absolute increase among the rabi crops.
3. MSPs are recommended by the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices.
Which of the statements given above are correct?

• (a) 1 and 2 only

• (b) 2 and 3 only

• (c) 1 and 3 only

• (d) 1, 2 and 3

Q19. Consider the following statements:
1. The RBI kept the repo rate at 5.50 per cent in October 2025.
2. The SDF rate was 5.25 per cent.
3. The RBI cut its FY2025-26 growth projection.
Which of the statements given above are correct?

• (a) 1 and 2 only

• (b) 2 and 3 only

• (c) 1 and 3 only

• (d) 1, 2 and 3

Q20. Consider the following statements:
1. India restored Embassy status to its mission in Kabul on 21 October 2025.
2. India formally recognised the Taliban government.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

• (a) 1 only

• (b) 2 only

• (c) Both 1 and 2

• (d) Neither 1 nor 2

Q21. Consider the following statements:
1. The US sanctioned Rosneft and Lukoil on 22 October 2025.
2. The wind-down deadline was 21 November 2025.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

• (a) 1 only

• (b) 2 only

• (c) Both 1 and 2

• (d) Neither 1 nor 2

Q22. Consider the following statements:
1. Cyclone Montha was named by Thailand.
2. It crossed the coast of Odisha.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

• (a) 1 only

• (b) 2 only

• (c) Both 1 and 2

• (d) Neither 1 nor 2

Mains Practice Questions

Use these to frame full-length answers. You don't have to answer one exactly — they show the angles UPSC tests, so let them guide which points you cover.

• Examine the significance of the India-EFTA TEPA for India's trade and investment strategy.

• Discuss how India should respond to US secondary sanctions on Russian oil while safeguarding its energy security.

• Analyse the implications of India's decision to upgrade its mission in Kabul to an embassy.

• Evaluate the role of MSP and the pulses mission in reducing India's dependence on imported pulses.