Obituaries current affairs October 2025: Explanation
Q1) Prof Eknath Vasant Chitnis, who recently passed away at the age of 100, received the Padma Bhushan in 1985 for his contributions in which field?
Explanation:Prof Eknath Vasant Chitnis was a pioneering Indian space scientist and a key architect of India’s early space programme, so he received the Padma Bhushan (1985) in Science & Technology. He helped build INCOSPAR, which later became ISRO, worked closely with Vikram Sarabhai, and even recommended A. P. J. Abdul Kalam for his first major rocket project—making him one of the foundational figures of India’s space journey.
Q2) Veteran journalist T. J. S. George, who recently passed away at the age of 97, was the founding editor of which international news magazine?
Explanation:T. J. S. George was the founding editor of Asiaweek, a Hong Kong–based international news magazine. He was known for high-impact journalism, authorship and editorial leadership, and later received the Padma Bhushan (2011) for his contribution to literature and education.
Q4) Veteran actor Pankaj Dheer, who recently passed away at the age of 68, was best known for portraying which character in B. R. Chopra’s iconic television series “Mahabharat”?
Explanation:Pankaj Dheer was a veteran Indian actor in Hindi films and television, celebrated above all for his portrayal of Karna in B. R. Chopra’s epic TV series Mahabharat. His powerful performance made Karna one of the most memorable characters on Indian television, and he also appeared in popular films like Baadshah and Soldier, leaving a lasting legacy in Indian entertainment.
Q5) Thailand’s Queen Mother Sirikit Kitiyakara, who recently passed away at the age of 93, was popularly known in global media by which nickname?
Explanation:Queen Mother Sirikit was popularly nicknamed “Asia’s Jackie Kennedy” for her elegance, fashion influence and cultural diplomacy. As Thailand’s Queen (and later Queen Mother), she became a global style icon while also being associated with royal public outreach and philanthropy in Thailand.
Q6) Veteran actress and classical dancer Sandhya Shantaram, who recently passed away at the age of 94, is especially remembered for her role in which Hindi film featuring the Holi song “Are Ja Re Hat Natkhat”?
Explanation:Sandhya Shantaram is especially remembered for Navrang, the Hindi film featuring the famous Holi song “Are Ja Re Hat Natkhat”. The film was directed by V. Shantaram, and Sandhya was a veteran actress and classical dancer closely associated with the golden era of Indian cinema.
Q7) Dr. G. G. Parikh, who passed away at the age of 101 in October 2025, was widely known for his participation in which historic movement against British rule?
Explanation:Dr. G. G. Parikh is remembered for joining the Quit India Movement (1942).
Q8) Tomiichi Murayama, who recently passed away and is known for the 1995 “Murayama Statement”, served as which numbered Prime Minister of Japan from 1994 to 1996?
Q9) Chen-Ning Yang, who recently passed away at the age of 103 in Beijing, shared the 1957 Nobel Prize in which discipline for discovering parity violation in weak nuclear interactions?
Explanation:Chen-Ning Yang was a renowned Chinese-American theoretical physicist who, along with Tsung-Dao Lee, received the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1957. They proposed that parity is not conserved in weak interactions, overturning a long-held assumption in physics. This discovery led to experiments by Chien-Shiung Wu and others, becoming one of the foundational breakthroughs in particle physics and gauge theory.
Q10) Ravi Sitaram Naik, who passed away in October 2025, was serving as the Agriculture Minister of which Indian state at the time of his death?
Explanation:Ravi Sitaram Naik was the Agriculture Minister of Goa at the time of his death and had also served as Chief Minister of Goa. He was regarded as a veteran political figure with a long career in Goa’s state politics.
Q11) Prof. K. Mathangi Ramakrishnan, who recently passed away, collaborated with which institute to develop a collagen membrane used as a burn wound cover?
Explanation:Prof. K. Mathangi Ramakrishnan collaborated with CLRI (Central Leather Research Institute), Chennai to develop a collagen membrane used as a burn wound cover. This dressing works as a biological protective layer that supports healing and reduces complications, becoming a practical low-cost innovation in burn wound care used widely in hospitals.
Q12) Dr. Yogendra Makwana, who passed away at the age of 92 in Ahmedabad in October 2025, was a former Union Minister and senior leader of which political party?
Explanation:Dr. Yogendra Makwana was a veteran Dalit leader of the Indian National Congress (INC) and a former Union Minister who served in several key portfolios during the 1980s. A long-time Rajya Sabha MP from Gujarat (1973–1989), he also held roles such as Deputy Chief Whip and Secretary of the Congress Parliamentary Party, making him an important organisational and ministerial face of the Congress from Gujarat.
Q13) Raavu Balasaraswathi Devi, who recently passed away at the age of 97, is widely regarded as the first playback singer in which Indian film industry?
Explanation:Raavu Balasaraswathi Devi is widely regarded as the first playback singer in Telugu cinema, marking an important shift in Indian film music. She was a pioneer who began as a child artist and later became known for early contributions to Telugu film songs.
Q14) Dr. K. Mathangi Ramakrishnan, who recently passed away at the age of 91, was a renowned pioneer in which field?
Explanation:Dr. K. Mathangi Ramakrishnan was a pioneer in plastic and reconstructive surgery and burn care in India. She is remembered for strengthening specialised burn treatment and advancing reconstructive approaches, improving outcomes for patients with severe burns and trauma.
Q15) Manuel Frederick, who recently passed away at the age of 78, was best known for which achievement in Indian sports?
Explanation:Manuel Frederick became the first sportsperson from Kerala to win an Olympic medal, earning bronze with India’s hockey team at the 1972 Munich Olympics. As a goalkeeper, he is remembered for being part of a historic Olympic podium finish that remains a proud milestone in Indian hockey history.
Q16) Govardhan Asrani, who recently passed away at the age of 84, was best known for his work in which field?
Explanation:Govardhan Asrani was best known for Bollywood comic acting, with a long career across films and popular character roles. He is remembered for iconic comedy performances that became part of Hindi cinema’s classic comedy legacy.
Q17) Daniel “Danya” Naroditsky, who recently passed away at the age of 29, was a chess grandmaster representing which country?
Explanation:Daniel Naroditsky was an American chess grandmaster who represented the United States in international chess, becoming a GM in his late teens. Beyond over-the-board play, he was a popular online commentator, coach and author, known for his instructive streams and his book Mastering Positional Chess, which he wrote as a teenager.
Q18) Bernard Julien, who recently passed away, was a former all-rounder and 1975 World Cup winner for which cricket team?
Explanation:Bernard Julien was a West Indies all-rounder and a member of the 1975 Cricket World Cup–winning team. He is remembered for contributing in both batting and bowling during the dominant West Indies era of the 1970s.
Q19) Former Prime Minister Raila Amolo Odinga, who passed away in October 2025 while undergoing treatment in Kerala, previously served as the Prime Minister of which country?
Explanation:Raila Amolo Odinga previously served as the Prime Minister of Kenya and remained one of the country’s most influential leaders. He is remembered as a major pro-democracy figure linked with multiparty politics and constitutional reform in Kenya.
Q20) Tomiichi Murayama, Japan’s former Prime Minister who recently passed away at the age of 101, is internationally best known for which landmark 1995 World War II apology statement?
Explanation:Tomiichi Murayama is best known for the Murayama Statement (1995), a landmark World War II apology expressing deep remorse and a heartfelt apology for Japan’s wartime actions. It became a key reference point in Japan’s post-war diplomacy and later discussions on wartime responsibility.
Q21) Satish Shah, who recently passed away at the age of 74, was best known for his contribution to which field?
Explanation:Satish Shah was best known for Hindi films and television comedy, becoming a familiar face through memorable roles in Bollywood and hit TV shows. His comic timing and character roles made him a widely loved entertainer across multiple generations of Indian audiences.
Q22) Jane Goodall, who recently passed away at the age of 91, was globally renowned for her work as a:
Explanation:Jane Goodall was globally renowned as a primatologist and environmental conservationist for her long-term study of wild chimpanzees at Gombe (Tanzania). Her research revealed tool use and complex social behaviour in chimpanzees, and she later became a powerful global voice for wildlife protection, habitat conservation and youth-led action through the Jane Goodall Institute.
Q23) T T Jagannathan, who recently passed away in Bengaluru, served as Chairman Emeritus of which iconic Indian kitchen appliance brand?
Explanation:T T Jagannathan served as Chairman Emeritus of TTK Prestige (Prestige), one of India’s most iconic kitchen appliance brands. He was widely known as “The Kitchen Mogul” for expanding Prestige through innovation, scale, and a strong consumer brand focus.
Q24) Pandit Chhannulal Mishra, who passed away at the age of 89, was a towering figure in which of the following fields?
Explanation:Pandit Chhannulal Mishra was a leading exponent of Hindustani classical music (Banaras gharana), celebrated for forms like khayal and thumri and the expressive Purab Ang tradition. His career made him a major cultural ambassador of Banaras/Varanasi musical heritage in modern India.
Q25) Chen-Ning Yang, who recently passed away at the age of 103, shared the 1957 Nobel Prize in Physics for discovering the violation of which fundamental symmetry in weak nuclear interactions?
Explanation:Chen-Ning Yang shared the Nobel for showing parity is violated in weak interactions meaning nature can distinguish left and right at the subatomic level. This was a major breakthrough that reshaped particle physics and became a landmark result in modern fundamental science.
Q26) Space scientist Eknath Vasant Chitnis, who passed away at the age of 100, served as Member Secretary of which body that later evolved into the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)?
Q27) T T Jagannathan, former Chairman Emeritus of TTK Prestige Ltd. who recently passed away, is credited with designing which globally acclaimed pressure cooker safety innovation that prevents explosions by safely releasing steam?
Explanation:T T Jagannathan is credited with the Gasket Release System (GRS), a major pressure cooker safety innovation that helps prevent explosions by releasing excess steam safely. It became a benchmark safety feature and strengthened Prestige’s reputation for safer cookware.
Q28) In October 2025, Oscar-winning actress Diane Keaton passed away at the age of 79. She won her Academy Award for Best Actress for which film?
Explanation:Diane Keaton won the Academy Award for Best Actress for “Annie Hall”, one of the most influential romantic comedies in film history. She remained a versatile screen icon through roles in The Godfather series and other notable films, shaping modern American cinema.
Q29) Banamali Roy, who passed away at the age of 85, served as the Forest Minister of which Indian state?
Explanation:Banamali Roy served as Forest Minister of West Bengal and was a senior leader of the Left/CPI(M) political ecosystem in the state. He is remembered as a long-serving MLA from north Bengal, playing a notable role in the region’s political and administrative landscape.
Q30) Sirikit Kitiyakara, who recently passed away at the age of 93, was the Queen Mother of which country?
Explanation:Sirikit Kitiyakara was the Queen Mother of Thailand, widow of King Bhumibol Adulyadej and mother of King Maha Vajiralongkorn. She was widely known for royal philanthropy and cultural influence, and was often associated with the nickname “Asia’s Jackie Kennedy”.
Q31) Piyush Pandey, who recently passed away in Mumbai at the age of 70, was a Padma Shri awardee best known for his contributions to which field?
Explanation:Piyush Pandey was best known for advertising and brand communication, shaping modern Indian advertising with culture-rooted storytelling. As a top leader at Ogilvy, he created iconic campaigns for major Indian brands, helping advertising speak in a more local, relatable Indian voice.
Q32) Former Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga, who recently passed away at the age of 80, died while receiving medical treatment in which Indian state?
Explanation:Raila Odinga, a towering Kenyan opposition leader and former Prime Minister, passed away after a cardiac arrest while undergoing Ayurvedic treatment in Kerala, India. He collapsed during a morning walk at a hospital in Koothattukulam (Ernakulam district). Odinga was a central figure in Kenya’s pro-democracy movement and remained a key architect of modern Kenyan politics even after his term as PM.
