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Tuesday, September 16, 2025

Daily GK Update- 16th Sept, 2025

 

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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