NATIONAL UPDATES:
1. Jal Shakti Ministry Hosts ‘Sarpanch Samvaad’ Conclave:
The Ministry of Jal Shakti, in collaboration with the Ministry
of Panchayati Raj, organised the Sarpanch Samvaad National Quality
Conclave in New Delhi, themed ‘Viksit Gram se Viksit Bharat’, with 75
sarpanchs from 22 states discussing Localised Sustainable Development Goals.The
conclave announced a 100-Day Good Governance Challenge on the Sarpanch Samvaad
app, running from September 17 to December 25 (Good Governance Day), to
mobilise Sarpanch-led campaigns across the country.
2. India Hosts BIMSTEC Young Leaders’ Summit in Guwahati
to Foster Inclusive Leadership and Regional Cooperation: India hosted the BIMSTEC Young Leaders’ Summit in Guwahati,
bringing together over 80 participants from all member countries to discuss
inclusive leadership and cross-cultural collaboration.The
summit, organized with Bharat Scouts & Guides and inaugurated by
Assam Governor Laxman Prasad Acharya, featured sessions on entrepreneurship,
design thinking, sustainable solutions, and cultural exchanges to foster mutual
understanding.The event highlighted India’s North East as a strategic land
bridge in the Bay of Bengal region and is part of the 21-point action plan
announced by PM Modi at the 6th BIMSTEC Summit, aligning with India’s
‘Neighborhood First’, ‘Act East’ and ‘MAHASAGAR’ visions.
3. Former Bureaucrat Amit Khare
Appointed as Secretary to Vice-President C. P. Radhakrishnan: The government has appointed former bureaucrat Amit Khare as
Secretary to the new Vice-President C. P. Radhakrishnan, with a tenure of
three years from the date of assuming charge.Khare has been serving as Advisor
to the Prime Minister since October 2021, handling social sector matters, and
was part of the core team behind the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.A
1985-batch IAS officer of Jharkhand cadre, Khare is an alumnus of St. Stephen’s
College, Delhi, and holds an MBA from IIM Ahmedabad.He is widely known for his
role in exposing the Bihar fodder scam and has previously served as Secretary,
Information & Broadcasting, and Secretary, Higher Education.
4. Government Appoints L. Satya Srinivas
as India’s Executive Director at ADB: The government has
appointed Satya Srinivas, Special Secretary in the Commerce
Ministry and a 1991-batch IRS officer, as Executive Director (ED), India
at the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for a three-year term.Srinivas will succeed
Vikas Sheel and, as India’s ED, will also represent Bangladesh, Bhutan, Laos,
Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan on the ADB Board of Directors.He is scheduled to
retire from government service in February 2026, but will continue in the role
on a contract basis under terms applicable to re-employed central government
officers.
5. Justice M. Sundar Sworn In as 10th
Chief Justice of Manipur High Court: Justice
M. Sundar was sworn in as the 10th Chief Justice of the Manipur High
Court, with Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla administering the oath at Raj Bhavan.He
was appointed Chief Justice, succeeding Justice Kempaiah Somashekar upon his
superannuation. Prior to this, Justice Sundar served as a judge of the Madras
High Court, and the ceremony was attended by political leaders, judges, senior
officials, and bar representatives.
6. Professor Pradeep Kumar Prajapati
Assumes Charge as Director of All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA): Professor Pradeep Kumar Prajapati formally took charge as the
new Director of the All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA), New
Delhi, at a ceremony marked by traditional rituals and warm
welcomes.Before this role, he served as Vice-Chancellor of Dr. Sarvepalli
Radhakrishnan Rajasthan Ayurved University, Jodhpur, and earlier contributed
extensively to Gujarat Ayurved University, Jamnagar, besides starting his
career at NIA, Jaipur.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1. India to Host 89th International Electrotechnical
Commission General Meeting in New Delhi: India will host the 89th IEC General Meeting in New Delhi from
September 15–19, with over 2,000 experts from 100+ countries; Pralhad Joshi
will inaugurate, and Piyush Goyal will unveil the IEC GM Exhibition.This is the
fourth time India is hosting the IEC General Meeting (earlier in 1960, 1997,
and 2013), with focus on standards for a “sustainable, all-electric and connected world” through 150+
committee meetings and workshops on AI, e-mobility, and inclusivity.India will
serve as the Global Secretariat for LVDC standardisation, strengthening clean
energy technology efforts; IEC leaders hailed India as a “sustainability
champion” with strong global public support for green solutions.
2. 16 September – World Ozone Day: World Ozone Day, also
known as the International Day for
the Preservation of the Ozone Layer, is observed every year on 16 September.It
commemorates the signing of the Montreal Protocol in 1987, an international
treaty designed to protect the ozone layer by phasing out ozone-depleting
substances (ODS).Theme 2025 – From
science to global action.The ozone layer is crucial as it shields Earth
from harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation, which can cause skin cancer,
cataracts, and harm ecosystems.In 1994, the United Nations General Assembly
proclaimed 16 September as World Ozone Day.
3. 5th Coast Guard Global Summit 2027: The Indian city of
Chennai will host the 5th Coast Guard Global Summit (CGGS) in 2027. This event
will coincide with the 50th anniversary of the Indian Coast Guard. The summit
aims to strengthen international maritime cooperation and tackle emerging challenges
at sea. The decision was made unanimously at the 4th CGGS held in Rome in 2025,
which saw participation from 115 countries and international organisations. The
CGGS is a biennial event that brings together coast guards worldwide. It serves
as a platform for dialogue on maritime security, safety, and environmental
protection. The 2027 summit will feature an International Coast Guard Fleet
Review and a World Coast Guard Seminar. These activities will show global unity
in addressing maritime challenges. The summit will focus on maritime search and
rescue, marine pollution response, and countering transnational maritime
crimes. Other areas include information sharing, capacity building, training,
and technical assistance. These themes reflect the need for collective action
in safeguarding the maritime domain.
OTHER UPDATES:
DEFENCE
1. Indian Navy Receives 2nd Indigenously
Built Anti-Submarine Warfare Ship ‘Androth’ from GRSE: Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Ltd. (GRSE), Kolkata, handed
over the 2nd Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ANDROTH) to the
Indian Navy, boosting its anti-submarine and coastal surveillance
capabilities.‘Androth’, the second of eight ASW-SWC ships, is indigenously
built with ~77-metre length, diesel engine-waterjet propulsion, lightweight
torpedoes, and indigenous anti-submarine rockets, reflecting India’s push for
defence self-reliance.The ship’s name is derived from Androth Island in
Lakshadweep, symbolizing strategic maritime significance, and represents over
80% indigenous content, supporting the government’s vision of ‘Aatmanirbhar
Bharat’.
2. INS Nistar Joins Multinational
Exercise Pacific Reach 2025 in Singapore: INS
Nistar, the Indian Navy’s latest indigenously designed Diving Support
Vessel (DSV), is participating in the multinational Exercise Pacific Reach 2025
in Singapore, which includes over 40 nations.Serving as the mothership for Deep
Submergence Rescue Vehicles, INS Nistar will take part in submarine rescue
exercises and Subject Matter Expert Exchanges (SMEE) with other participating
countries.
The
exercise is conducted in two phases – harbour and sea, with the harbour phase
covering discussions, medical symposiums, and cross-deck visits, while the sea
phase involves rescue operations in the South China Sea with the Submarine
Rescue Unit (E).
3. Freedom Edge Exercise: The trilateral military
exercise “Freedom Edge” began on 15 September 2025. South Korea, the United
States, and Japan are conducting the five-day drills in international waters
near Jeju Island. This marks the third round of these joint exercises,
following previous sessions in June and November of the prior year. The
exercise aims to enhance trilateral interoperability and demonstrate a shared
commitment to regional peace and stability. The “Freedom Edge” drills focus on
multi-domain operations, involving air, sea, and missile defence training. Key
activities include ballistic missile defence, air defence exercises, maritime
interdiction, and medical evacuation training. These exercises represent the
most advanced demonstration of trilateral defence cooperation to date. The
drills help the three countries prepare for potential threats and improve their
ability to respond collectively. The exercise puts stress on the strategic
alignment of South Korea, the US, and Japan amid rising security challenges in
the Asia-Pacific. It aims to counter growing nuclear and missile threats,
particularly from North Korea. The drills also send a clear message of
deterrence and solidarity. They strengthen military ties and interoperability,
which are crucial for maintaining regional security and peace.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
1. AIIMS Delhi Becomes First Govt Medical College in
India to Train Doctors on da Vinci Robotic Surgery System: AIIMS Delhi has
become the first government
medical college in India to install Intuitive Surgical’s da Vinci robotic system for
training doctors in robotic-assisted surgery at its SET (skills, e-learning, and telemedicine)
facility.This is the second robotic platform at the SET centre, making
AIIMS the only institute in the country with two robots exclusively dedicated
to medical training.The facility already supports medical students, residents,
nurses, and faculty through simulators and mannequins for hands-on practice.The
da Vinci system will enable exposure to multiple specialities, including
urology, gynaecology, general surgery, oncology, and head & neck surgery;
older models of the robot cost between ₹8–20 crore, excluding service fees.
2. Pink Tax: The Pink Tax remains a
pressing issue in 2025, denoting how women often pay more for similar products
or services than men. This subtle form of gender-based price discrimination
impacts household budgets globally. Awareness and consumer action are key to
challenging this unfair practice. Pink Tax is not an official tax but a pricing
pattern. It means women pay higher prices for products or services designed for
them. Items like haircuts, toys, personal care products, and clothing often
cost more for women. Companies benefit from this extra revenue without
contributing additional taxes to governments. The term Pink Tax originated in
California in 1994. Studies show women’s personal care products cost around 13%
more than men’s in the U.S. Women’s clothing and accessories also have higher
prices by 7-8%. Dry cleaning women’s shirts can be nearly double the price of
men’s. In the U.K., women’s deodorants and moisturisers are priced higher than
men’s. The United Nations has urged countries to eliminate this gender-based
pricing to promote economic equality.
BANKING AND FINANCE
1. SBI Raises Auto-Sweep (MOD) Threshold
to ₹50,000: SBI has increased the auto-sweep
(Multi Option Deposit – MOD) threshold from ₹35,000 to ₹50,000, meaning
customers must now maintain a minimum of ₹50,000 in their savings account
before surplus funds are converted into fixed deposits.Under the facility, surplus
funds above the threshold are transferred into fixed deposits in multiples of
₹1,000, earning higher interest at prevailing term deposit rates.The scheme
ensures easy liquidity through a reverse sweep, where funds are automatically
moved back from MOD deposits if the savings balance falls short.Interest on MOD
deposits is compounded quarterly and payable at maturity; premature withdrawal
is allowed with a small penalty, while senior citizens enjoy additional
interest benefits.The revision will mainly affect customers with balances just
above ₹35,000, while those maintaining higher balances will still benefit from
better returns with liquidity through the MOD facility.
2. NABARD to Launch Centralised Digital Lending Platform for Regional Rural Banks: NABARD is developing a centralised digital lending platform (CDCI) for Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) to enhance their competitiveness against NBFCs and microfinance institutions, streamlining end-to-end credit delivery.Following the One State-One RRB policy, the number of RRBs has reduced from 43 to 28 through amalgamation, aiming to achieve scale efficiencies, cost rationalisation, and operational effectiveness.The CDCI platform is designed to digitise, automate, and streamline credit processing, offering more agile and efficient solutions than current loan origination systems, with rollout expected by end of September 2025. RRBs operate 22,158 branches across 26 states and 3 UTs, with 92% in rural or semi-urban areas; NABARD plans to support them in innovative loan products like housing loans with default guarantees and MSME financing to deepen financial inclusion.
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