UPSC Prelims Current Affairs 25 October 2026: RBI’s Bhubaneswar Cybersecurity Institute and India’s Asian Para Games Record

RBI’s New Data Centre and Cybersecurity Training Institute, Bhubaneswar

Why in news: Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Reserve Bank of India’s newly established Data Centre and a Cybersecurity Training Institute in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, on 25 October 2026.

• About: Two separate RBI facilities were inaugurated together — a Data Centre and a Cybersecurity Training Institute — both located in Bhubaneswar.
• Purpose: The facilities are aimed at strengthening the digital infrastructure and cybersecurity capabilities of India’s banking and financial system.
• Context: The Prime Minister linked the move to protecting the banking system from “cyber robbers and cyber terrorists” as the economy becomes more digitally reliant.

Source: PIB / PMO · GS Paper 3 / Economy – Banking & cybersecurity

Prelims angle: Note that this is an RBI institution (regulator), not a commercial bank facility — a common prelims trap is attributing RBI infrastructure projects to the government or to individual banks.

CCPA Penalises Hogar Technologies Over Misleading Walkie-Talkie Ads

Why in news: The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) imposed a ₹1 lakh penalty on M/s Hogar Technologies and Innovations LLP on 25 October 2026 for misleading advertisements and product listings of walkie-talkies that did not disclose operating frequencies and licensing requirements.

• About CCPA: Constituted under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019; headed by Chief Commissioner Smt. Nidhi Khare, with Commissioner Shri Anupam Mishra.
• Legal basis: Under the Use of Low Power and Very Low Power Short Range Radio Frequency Devices (Exemption from Licensing Requirement) Rules, 2018, personal mobile radios in the 446.0–446.2 MHz band are exempt from licensing; devices outside this band need regulatory approval.
• Scale of action: The CCPA had taken suo motu cognisance after finding over 16,970 non-compliant walkie-talkie listings and issuing notices to 13 e-commerce entities; it has now passed final orders against 12 entities with cumulative penalties of ₹58 lakh.

Source: PIB / Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution · GS Paper 2 / Polity – Statutory bodies

Prelims angle: Do not confuse the CCPA (consumer protection, under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019) with the Competition Commission of India (CCI), which deals with anti-competitive practices under the Competition Act, 2002.

Read more: Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA): Powers, Composition and Recent Orders.

12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum in New Delhi

Why in news: The Parliament of India is set to host the 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum on 26 October 2026; ahead of it, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla held bilateral talks with the Russian Parliamentary Delegation led by State Duma Chairman Vyacheslav Volodin.

• Venue: The two-day Forum is being held in the Parliament House Complex, New Delhi.
• Context: The meeting comes under India’s BRICS Presidency for 2026, with Speaker Birla calling for a people-centric approach and greater parliamentary diplomacy among BRICS nations.
• Issues raised: Both sides stressed cooperation against terrorism, and India reiterated the need for reform of the United Nations Security Council.

Source: PIB / Lok Sabha Secretariat · GS Paper 2 / International Relations – BRICS

Prelims angle: Remember that the BRICS chairmanship/presidency rotates annually among member countries; India holding the BRICS Presidency in 2026 is the key static fact likely to be tested.

NIFTEM-K Hosts ‘Hack the Fork’, India’s First AI x Food Tech Hackathon

Why in news: The National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management, Kundli (NIFTEM-K) hosted “Hack the Fork”, a 24-hour hackathon on AI applications in the alternative protein industry, concluding on 25 October 2026.

• About NIFTEM-K: An institute under the Ministry of Food Processing Industries, located at Kundli, Haryana.
• Organisers: Held in collaboration with Hack the Fork, a France-based non-profit, with teams from IITs, IIITs and the University of Delhi.
• Scale: From over 85 applicant teams, 25 were shortlisted and 22 teams from 10 states, with over 90 participants, took part in the final round.

Source: PIB / Ministry of Food Processing Industries · GS Paper 3 / Science & Technology – AI applications

Prelims angle: NIFTEM-K functions under the Ministry of Food Processing Industries, not the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution — the two ministries are often confused because both have “food” in their names.

Asian Para Games 2026: India’s Record 114 Medals

Why in news: Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated India’s para-athletes on 25 October 2026 for a record 114 medals at the just-concluded Asian Para Games 2026, India’s best-ever performance at the Games.

• About: The Asian Para Games is a multi-sport event for athletes with disabilities, held every four years after the Asian Games, in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan this edition.
• Significance: The 114-medal haul is described by the PMO as India’s best-ever performance at the Games.
• Governing body context: India’s contingent competes under the Paralympic Committee of India.

Source: PIB / PMO · GS Paper 1 / 2 – Sports and international events

Prelims angle: Do not confuse the Asian Para Games (for athletes with disabilities, organised by the Asian Paralympic Committee) with the Asian Games (organised by the Olympic Council of Asia) — they are separate events with separate medal tallies.