Daily GK Update- 24th Sept, 2025

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Government Sanctions 25 Lakh Additional LPG Connections under PMUY, Total Reaches 10.58 Crore: The Union Government sanctioned the release of 25 lakh additional LPG connections under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) for the financial year 2025-26, taking the total connections distributed under the scheme to 10.58 crore.Launched in 2016, PMUY aims to provide LPG connections to women from poor households without any upfront costs for installation, first refill, hose, regulator, or stove, fully funded by the government and oil marketing companies.As of July 2025, the scheme has delivered over 10.33 crore LPG connections, and in August, the government approved a targeted subsidy of ₹300 per 14.2 kg cylinder and increased eligible refills to 9 per year.For the latest 25 lakh connections, the government will spend ₹676 crore, including ₹512.5 crore for deposit-free connections, ₹160 crore for the targeted subsidy, and ₹3.5 crore for project management and administration.

 

2. CAG Report 2022-23: 16 States in Revenue Surplus, Uttar Pradesh Tops with ₹37,263 Crore: According to the CAG report on State Finances 2022-23, 16 out of 28 States were in revenue surplus, with Uttar Pradesh topping the chart at ₹37,263 crore, followed by Gujarat (₹19,865 crore) and Odisha (₹19,456 crore).The fiscal responsibility path prescribed by the XV Finance Commission required States to have zero-revenue deficit or achieve revenue surplus during 2022-23; revenue receipts of surplus States exceeded their revenue expenditure.The 12 revenue-deficit States included Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Kerala, Maharashtra, Meghalaya, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal, with a combined deficit of ₹2,22,648 crore.The Finance Commission grants for bridging revenue deficits in 2022-23 amounted to ₹86,201 crore, covering 39% of the aggregate revenue deficit, with the largest shares going to West Bengal, Kerala, and Andhra Pradesh.

 

3. Vandana Gupta Takes Charge as Controller General of Communication Accounts: Ms Vandana Gupta, a 1990 batch IP&TAFS officer, has assumed charge as the Controller General of Communication Accounts in New Delhi.She has held significant roles in Maharashtra, Delhi, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat Circles, and at the DoT Headquarters as well as the Department of Posts.On central deputation, she served in key positions including Principal Director at GASAB (CAG), Joint Secretary in MoWCD, JS in NCW, and Controller of Finance at GGSIPU.

 

4. IndusInd Bank Appoints Viral Damania as New CFO, Ending Interim Arrangement: IndusInd Bank appointed Viral Damania as its new Chief Financial Officer (CFO), filling the position left vacant since January after whistleblower CFO Gobind Jain’s resignation.Damania brings over 27 years of experience, having served as CFO of Bank of America India and previously worked with Citibank NA across India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and PwC.With this appointment, the interim responsibilities of Santosh Kumar as special officer – finance & accounts end, and he will continue as Deputy CFO of the bank.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. India and Brazil Launch Maitri 2.0 to Boost Agri-Innovation and Global Food Security: The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) launched Maitri 2.0, the second edition of the Brazil–India Cross-Incubation Programme in Agritech, in New Delhi with participation from senior officials and diplomats.M. L. Jat emphasized the 77-year-old India–Brazil partnership, highlighting their cooperation in BRICS, G20, and the ICAR–EMBRAPA MoU for strengthening the agri-food value chain.Maitri 2.0 was described as a two-way learning platform fostering innovation, co-creation, and inclusive collaboration for global food security.

 

2. India and Morocco Sign Defence Cooperation MoU to Strengthen Strategic Partnership: India and Morocco signed an MoU on Defence Cooperation in Rabat, providing a framework for collaboration in defence industry, joint exercises, training, and capacity building.The agreement includes a comprehensive roadmap covering counter-terrorism, maritime security, cyber defence, peacekeeping, military medicine, and expert exchanges.Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh announced the opening of a new Defence Wing at the Indian Embassy in Rabat, showcasing India’s defence capabilities such as drone and counter-drone technologies to support Morocco’s requirements.

 

3. Amita Chaudhury Becomes First Woman of Indian Origin to Chair UNEP FI Global Sustainable Insurance Board: Amita Chaudhury was appointed as the first woman of Indian origin to chair the UNEP FI Global Sustainable Insurance Board, leading the Principles for Sustainable Insurance (PSI) initiative.With over 20 years of global leadership experience across Singapore, London, and India, Chaudhury is recognized for championing sustainability, diversity, and business transformation, and has held senior roles including at Unilever.Her appointment breaks the glass ceiling for Indian women in global finance leadership and serves as an inspiration for aspiring professionals, highlighting her dedication to delivering business value while creating a positive impact for people and the planet.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

DEFENCE

 

1. Praveen Kumar and Praveer Ranjan Appointed as New DGs of ITBP and CISF: The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet approved the appointment of Praveen Kumar, a 1993 batch IPS officer (West Bengal cadre), as the new Director General of ITBP, succeeding Rahul Rasgotra, who retires on September 30, 2025.Praveen Kumar, currently Special Director in the Intelligence Bureau, will serve as ITBP chief until his superannuation on September 30, 2030, bringing expertise in intelligence, border management, and counter-insurgency. Praveer Ranjan, a 1993 batch IPS officer (AGMUT cadre), has been appointed as Director General of CISF, replacing Rajwinder Singh Bhatti, who retires on September 30, 2025. Ranjan, with experience in industrial security and public safety, will serve as CISF chief until his superannuation on July 31, 2029, strengthening CISF’s role in protecting critical infrastructure nationwide.

 

2. Israel Successfully Tests “Iron Beam” Laser System to Strengthen Missile Defense: Israel successfully tested “Iron Beam,” a high-power laser system developed by Elbit Systems and Rafael, designed to destroy incoming missiles. Iron Beam will complement existing missile defense systems like Iron Dome, David’s Sling, and Arrow, and is expected to be operational by the end of 2025. The laser-based system offers a low-cost alternative to traditional interceptors, which cost around $50,000 per rocket, targeting primarily short-range missiles and drones.

 

SPORTS

 

1. Smriti Mandhana Smashes Fastest ODI Century by an Indian, Breaking Virat Kohli’s Record: Smriti Mandhana scripted history by smashing the fastest ODI century by any Indian, reaching the milestone in just 50 balls against Australia at Arun Jaitley Stadium, New Delhi. She broke Virat Kohli’s 2013 record of a 52-ball century against Australia, becoming the fastest Indian (men’s or women’s) to score an ODI hundred. Mandhana played a blistering knock of 125 runs off 65 balls, including 17 fours and 5 sixes, completing her century with a six over midwicket. Her innings, coming while chasing Australia’s record 412/7, also placed her century as the second-fastest in women’s ODI history, behind Meg Lanning’s 45-ball ton.

 

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

 

1. IILM University Gurugram in collaboration with AIMS Launch Experiential Learning Lab to Drive MSME Innovation Across India: The School of Management, IILM University, Gurugram, in collaboration with the Association of Indian Management Schools (AIMS) Delhi-Haryana Chapter, has launched the MSME Experiential Learning Lab to empower Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Haryana and across India. The initiative is designed to provide hands-on mentorship, live projects, and innovation-driven training to help MSMEs overcome business challenges and achieve sustainable growth. Designed as a problem-solving hub, the Lab turns business challenges in areas such as digital transformation, sustainability, and sales into opportunities for innovation and growth.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. UPI Settlement Rules to Change from November 3: From November 3, 2025, UPI settlement rules will change to make processing faster and smoother by separating authorised transactions and dispute settlements. Authorised transactions will be processed in 10 daily cycles (9 am to 9 pm, in two-hour windows), while dispute-related settlements (refunds or reversals) will be handled in two dedicated cycles: midnight–4 pm and 4 pm–midnight. The revised framework does not affect RTGS cut-off timings, reconciliation reports, GST reports, or other existing settlement procedures.

For consumers, payments at shops, online platforms, and peer-to-peer transfers will continue as before, but refunds and reversals will now be processed in predictable, dedicated dispute cycles.

NPCI aims to reduce bottlenecks, improve operational efficiency, and cut risks of settlement delays, benefiting banks with less congestion and users with faster transaction updates.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Ministry of Ayush Launches National Dhanwantari Ayurveda Awards to Honour Excellence in Ayurveda: The Ministry of Ayush has launched the National Dhanwantari Ayurveda Awards to recognise outstanding contributions in the field of Ayurveda and inspire both experienced and young practitioners. The awards will be presented annually in five categories: Ayurveda Bhushan (Rs 5 lakh), Ayurveda Ratna, Ayurveda Gaurav, Ayurveda Yuva, and Ayurveda Prashasti Patra (Rs 1 lakh each), along with citations and trophies. The awards aim to encourage excellence, promote competition, and motivate professionals in Ayurveda practice, education, and research. The initiative highlights the importance of Ayurveda in preventive healthcare, chronic disease management, and holistic well-being, strengthening its national and global visibility. Eligible Ayurvedic professionals can apply online through the Ministry of Ayush website, with winners selected by a dedicated committee after reviewing all entries.