Daily GK Update- 25th Sept, 2025

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Govt Approves ₹13,890 Crore Procurement of Pulses & Oilseeds in UP and Gujarat for Kharif 2025–26: Union Agriculture Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan approved the procurement of major pulses and oilseeds for the Kharif 2025–26 season in Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat, ensuring ₹13,890.60 crore worth of direct benefits to farmers.Uttar Pradesh will see 100% procurement of 2,27,860 MT urad (₹1,777.30 cr) and 1,13,780 MT tur (₹910.24 cr), along with moong, sesame, and groundnut, while Gujarat will have procurement of urad, soybean, groundnut, and moong.

The procurement process will be conducted in a transparent, digital, and farmer-friendly manner, with Aadhaar-based biometric/facial authentication and POS machines (350 in UP, 400 in Gujarat) to prevent middlemen interference.Farmers must pre-register through NAFED and NCCF and sell their crops at MSP only via the e-Samriddhi and e-Samyukti digital portals, ensuring direct payment into their bank accounts.

 

2. Govt partnered with Zepto to enhance employment opportunities: Government of India partners with Zepto to boost youth employability on the National Career Service (NCS) Portal, aiming to strengthen the connection between employers and job-seekers.Zepto to provide 10,000 job postings during the MoU period, creating structured urban employment opportunities for youth, women, and first-time job seekers.Collaboration promotes formalisation and upskilling, linking gig workers with e-Shram registration, social security schemes, and future employability opportunities.

 

3. 25 September – Antyodaya Diwas: Antyodaya Diwas is observed every year on 25 September to honour the vision of uplifting the poorest and most marginalised sections of society.The day commemorates Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya, a leader and thinker who advocated thephilosophy of “Antyodaya” (welfare of the last person) in society.The observance aims to raise awareness about poverty alleviation, inclusive development, and social welfare programs across India.Various government initiatives and campaigns, including rural development programs, skill training, and welfare schemes, are highlighted on this day to empower the underprivileged.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. 25 September – World Pharmacists Day: World Pharmacists Day is observed every year on 25 September to recognize the vital role pharmacists play in healthcare.The day was established by the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) in 2009 to raise awareness about pharmacy’s contribution to global health.Theme 2025 – Think Health, Think Pharmacist

 

2. India’s Role in Palestine Statehood Recognition: India’s position on Palestinian statehood remains crucial in global diplomacy. Over 150 UN member states now recognise Palestine. India was an early supporter, recognising Palestine in 1988. Since then, India has balanced its support for Palestine with diplomatic ties to Israel. Recent conflicts in 2023 have challenged India’s stance and raised questions about its ethical and foreign policy priorities. India recognised the Palestine Liberation Organisation in 1974. It formally recognised Palestinian statehood in 1988. This was a moral decision reflecting India’s anti-colonial values and support for self-determination. India has backed many UN resolutions supporting Palestinian rights and condemning Israeli settlements. It has also provided humanitarian aid and educational support to Palestinians.

 

3. China’s New K Visa Challenges US H-1B Tech Talent: The introduction of China’s K visa in 2025 marks shift in the global competition for science and technology talent. This move comes amid tightened US restrictions on the H-1B visa, which has traditionally allowed American tech firms to hire skilled foreign workers. China’s new visa policy aims to attract young foreign professionals in STEM fields, potentially altering the global landscape of innovation and research. The US government imposed stricter rules on the H-1B visa programme to address domestic political pressures. These changes include higher fees and prioritising higher-paid workers. While intended to protect American jobs, such curbs risk harming the US technology sector by limiting access to global talent. Countries like India, which supply many H-1B applicants, face challenges due to these restrictions.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

DEFENCE

 

1. Mazagon Dock Signs MoU with Tamil Nadu to Develop World-Class Greenfield Shipyard under Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047: Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd (MDL) signed an MoU with the Tamil Nadu Government to develop a world-class greenfield shipyard on India’s Eastern Coast under the Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047.The agreement was signed between Shri Biju George (Director, Shipbuilding, MDL) and Dr. Darez Ahamed, IAS (MD & CEO, Guidance Tamil Nadu), the state’s nodal agency for investment promotion.Following the announcement, MDL shares rose by 0.36%, trading at ₹2,946.10 on BSE, with the stock touching an intraday high of ₹2,995.00 against a 52-week high of ₹3,775.00.

 

SPORTS

 

1. ICC Suspends USA Cricket Membership Amid Governance Failures: The International Cricket Council (ICC) suspends USA Cricket membership with immediate effect (Sept 23, 2025) after repeated breaches of obligations under ICC’s Constitution, including governance failures and reputational damage.Despite suspension, USA’s national teams will continue to participate in ICC events and prepare for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics, with administration temporarily overseen by ICC.A Normalisation Committee will monitor USA Cricket, outlining reforms needed in governance, operations, and compliance for membership restoration.

 

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

 

1. India to Establish DBNet Stations in Delhi-NCR and Chennai for Real-Time Weather Forecasting under Mission Mausam: The National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting (NCMRWF), under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), and New Space India Limited (NSIL), the commercial arm of the Department of Space (DoS) signed an MoU in New Delhi to set up two Direct Broadcast Network (DBNet) stations — one in Delhi/NCR and another in Chennai — under the Mission Mausam project.DBNet stations will provide near-real-time satellite data from LEO satellites like Oceansat, NOAA, and MetOp, enabling faster, high-resolution weather forecasts, cyclone monitoring, and climate research with reduced latency.The processed DBNet data will be shared globally via WMO’s Information System – 2.0, strengthening India’s role in international weather forecasting, disaster risk reduction, and global climate monitoring efforts.

 

2. Technology for Efficient Water Management Summit 2025: The Government of India, led by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has launched a series of six Departmental Summits to integrate grassroots vital information about national policy-making. One of these, the “Sujalam Bharat” Summit, focuses on water management. Coordinated by NITI Aayog and anchored by the Ministry of Jal Shakti (MoJS), the summit aims to gather feedback on water policies from diverse regions and stakeholders. Recently, the Central Water Commission (CWC) organised a virtual workshop titled “Technology for Efficient Water Management”. The event brought together representatives from states across India, including Leh, Tamil Nadu, Arunachal Pradesh, and Odisha. Participants ranged from gram panchayat members and Water User Associations to experts from institutions like the National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC), Hyderabad. The workshop was chaired by Shri Atul Jain, Chairman of CWC, with key inputs from Shri Yogesh Paithankar, Member (WP&P), CWC, and Ms Archana Verma, AS & Mission Director of the National Water Mission (NWM).

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. S&P Global Retains India’s FY26 GDP Forecast at 6.5%: S&P Global retains India’s GDP forecast at 6.5% for FY26, citing strong domestic demand, increasing government investment, and benefits from tax reforms.Inflation outlook revised downward to 3.2% for FY26 due to a sharper-than-expected drop in food inflation, providing room for monetary policy adjustments.RBI likely to cut rates by 25 bps in FY26, with the next Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting scheduled from September 29 to October 1; repo rate currently at 5.5%.

 

2. NPCI & Qatar National Bank Launch UPI Payments Across Qatar to Boost Tourism and Retail: NPCI International Payments Ltd and Qatar National Bank have partnered to enable UPI QR code-based payments across Qatar via POS terminals, with Qatar Duty Free becoming the first merchant to go live.This initiative will allow millions of Indian travellers, the second-largest group of visitors to Qatar, to make real-time, cashless transactions, reducing currency exchange hassles and boosting convenience.The move is expected to benefit Qatar’s retail and tourism sectors, increase merchant transaction volumes, promote interoperability, and expand UPI’s global acceptance network.

 

3. India’s Core Industries Grow 6.3% in August 2025, Led by Steel, Coal, and Cement: India’s eight core industries grew 3% in August 2025, the highest in 13 months, driven mainly by steel (+14.2%), coal (+11.4%), and cement (+6.1%) output.The Index of Eight Core Industries (ICI), which makes up 40.27% of the IIP, showed cumulative growth of 2.8% during April–August 2025-26, compared to last year.While fertilizers (+4.6%), petroleum refinery products (+3.0%), and electricity (+3.1%) registered moderate growth, crude oil (-1.2%) and natural gas (-2.2%) declined in August.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Andhra Pradesh Wins Best State Award Under ‘Mera Resham – Mera Abhiman’ for Excellence in Silk Farmer Development: Andhra Pradesh wins Best State Award under the ‘Mera Resham – Mera Abhiman’ programme by the Central Silk Board for promoting awareness and development among silk farmers and reelers.Award presented on 76th Central Silk Board Foundation Day in Bengaluru, by officials including Padmini Singla, Shivakumar, and MP Ambika Lakshminarayana. Recognition follows previous achievements, including winning the Best Tableau Award during Independence Day 2025, marking another proud moment for the state’s sericulture efforts.

 

2. Gram Panchayats Receive National Awards for e-Governance 2025: Gram Panchayats honoured with National Awards for e-Governance (NAeG) 2025 under a new category for grassroots-level digital service initiatives, presented at the 28th National Conference on e-Governance in Visakhapatnam by Dr. Jitendra Singh.

Award-winning Panchayats:

·       Gold: Rohini Gram Panchayat, Maharashtra – Rs.10 lakh

·       Silver: West Majlishpur Gram Panchayat, Tripura – Rs.5 lakh

·       Jury Awards: Palsana Gram Panchayat, Gujarat & Suakati Gram Panchayat, Odisha – financial incentives included. Rohini Gram Panchayat, Maharashtra adopted a fully paperless e-Office system, providing 1,027 online services, 100% household digital literacy, real-time grievance redressal, and bulk SMS outreach for citizen engagement.West Majlishpur Gram Panchayat, Tripura implemented Citizen Charter–driven governance with online access to certificates, trade licenses, property records, and MGNREGS job cards, ensuring accountability and transparency.

3. UK PM Keir Starmer Honoured with ‘Living Bridge’ Award for Strengthening India-UK Ties and Sealing FTA: UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer received the ‘Living Bridge’ honour for championing India-UK bilateral ties and finalising the India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA); the award was accepted on his behalf by Minister Seema Malhotra at the House of Lords.The Living Bridge Awards 2025, organised by the India Business Group (IBG), also recognised GMR Group, G P Hinduja, KPMG UK chair Bina Mehta, and the University of Southampton for strengthening India-UK ties.The India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) aims to double bilateral trade to USD 120 billion by 2030, pending UK parliamentary ratification next year.The awards highlight individuals and organisations promoting UK-India prosperity, investments, and cultural ties, reflecting PM Narendra Modi’s vision of a special friendship between the two nations.