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Friday, September 12, 2025

Daily GK Update- 12th Sept, 2025

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Anupriya Patel Inaugurates National VRDL Conclave in New Delhi: Minister of State for Health, Anupriya Patel, inaugurated the National Virus Research and Diagnostic Laboratory (VRDL) Conclave in New Delhi.She launched the In-Vitro Diagnostics (IVD) validation portal and protocols, aimed at ensuring faster, transparent, and industry-friendly validation processes.Addressing scientists from 165 VRDLs, she highlighted their crucial role during the COVID-19 pandemic, including virus sequencing and validating nearly 1,700 diagnostic commodities.

 

2. PM Modi participates in Gyan Bharatam Conference tomorrow in New Delhi: PM Narendra Modi has participated in the International Conference on Gyan Bharatm in New Delhi and launched the Gyan Bharatam Portal for manuscript digitisation, preservation, and public access.

The three-day conference is being held under the theme “Reclaiming India’s Knowledge Legacy through Manuscript Heritage”.The event brings together scholars, conservationists, technologists, and policy experts to discuss ways of revitalising India’s manuscript heritage and positioning it in the global knowledge dialogue.An exhibition of rare manuscripts along with sessions on conservation, digitisation, metadata, legal frameworks, cultural diplomacy, and decipherment of ancient scripts is also part of the conference.

 

3. Dr. Geetha Vani Rayasam Takes Charge as Director of CSIR-NIScPR: Geetha Vani Rayasam has assumed charge as the new Director of CSIR-National Institute of Science Communication and Policy Research (NIScPR).She emphasized the institute’s role in shaping national and international STI policy by adopting innovative approaches aligned with current needs.Under the theme “Connecting the Unconnected”, she envisioned NIScPR as a role model for the Global South and global S&T community.

 

4. Gujarat Governor Acharya Devvrat given additional charge of Maharashtra: Gujarat Governor Acharya Devvrat has been given additional charge of Maharashtra after former Governor C.P. Radhakrishnan resigned following his election as Vice-President of India.The appointment order was issued by President Droupadi Murmu, and C.P. Radhakrishnan will be sworn in as Vice-President on September 12, 2025, in New Delhi.Acharya Devvrat (66), a former educator and Arya Samaj pracharak, has been Governor of Gujarat since 2019 and previously served as principal of a Gurukul in Kurukshetra, Haryana.

 

5. Sony Pictures Networks India Appoints Gaurav Laghate as Head of PR and Corporate Communications: Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI) has appointed Gaurav Laghate as its new Head of PR and Corporate Communications, effective September 2025.Gaurav Laghate, with over 17 years of experience in journalism, will report directly to Gaurav Banerjee, MD & CEO of SPNI.

SPNI highlights that Laghate’s journalism background and strategic perspective will enhance the company’s narrative, stakeholder engagement, and leadership team.

 

6. CP Radhakrishnan Sworn in as India’s 17th Vice President: CP Radhakrishnan sworn in as India’s 15th Vice President, with President Droupadi Murmu administering the oath at Rashtrapati Bhavan.Radhakrishnan secured 452 votes against Opposition candidate B. Sudershan Reddy (300 votes), following Jagdeep Dhankhar’s resignation due to health reasons.Before the oath, Radhakrishnan resigned as Maharashtra Governor; Gujarat Governor Acharya Devvrat given additional charge.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Irfaan Ali Re-Elected as Guyana’s President for Second Term: Irfaan Ali re-elected as President of Guyana for a second term, securing a mandate to manage the nation’s oil-driven economic boom.Guyana, with a population of 800,000, has earned $7.5 billion from oil sales and royalties since offshore production began in 2019.Re-election comes amid a territorial dispute with Venezuela, while Guyana emerges as one of the world’s fastest-growing economies.

 

2. Albania Inducts World’s First AI Minister: Albania became the first country to formally induct an artificial intelligence (AI) entity as a government minister. The AI minister, named Diella, is a virtual official created entirely from code and pixels. It was appointed to oversee public procurement and fight corruption in government spending. This pioneering move marks a new chapter in the use of AI within public administration. On 11 September 2025, Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama revealed Diella at the Socialist Party’s assembly in Tirana. Unlike a traditional minister, Diella is not a human but a digital avatar powered by AI technology. It is the only non-human member of the Albanian government. The AI minister handles procurement tasks, including evaluating and awarding public tenders where the government contracts private firms.

 

3. UK-India Infrastructure Financing Bridge: The UK-India Infrastructure Financing Bridge (UKIIFB) marked its first anniversary in September 2025. The initiative, launched jointly by the Indian and U.K. governments in 2024, aims to boost infrastructure investment in India. Despite initial project delays, the focus has shifted to eight strategic recommendations to de-risk investments. The second year emphasises renewable energy and improving India’s global competitiveness in infrastructure finance. UKIIFB was created to channel investments into India’s infrastructure sector. India requires $2 trillion by 2030 to meet its infrastructure needs. The initiative is led by the City of London Corporation from the U.K. side and NITI Aayog from India. It aims to attract global investors by addressing risks and inefficiencies in Indian infrastructure projects.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

 

DEFENCE

 

1. Indian Navy to Commission INS Aravali in Gurugram: The Indian Navy will commission INS Aravali at Gurugram, named after the Aravali mountain range, to enhance maritime security.INS Aravali is designed to strengthen the Navy’s information and communication infrastructure, supporting command, control, and Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA).The commissioning ceremony will be presided over by Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi.

 

2. US Hellfire Missile Fails Against UFO: Recent developments have stunned Washington after a US Hellfire missile reportedly bounced off an unidentified flying object (UFO) near Yemen. The incident was revealed during a 2025 congressional hearing on unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAPs). The footage, captured by an MQ-9 Reaper drone in October 2024, shows a missile striking a glowing orb but failing to detonate or damage the object. This event has raised urgent questions about the capabilities of US military technology and the nature of UAPs. In October 2024, an MQ-9 Reaper drone tracked a luminous orb off Yemen’s coast. Upon missile launch, the Hellfire missile struck the orb but deflected without explosion. The object remained unaffected and continued its path. The video was declassified and presented in a congressional hearing, drawing strong reactions from lawmakers and experts.

 

SPORTS

 

1. Saudi Arabia Launches First Dedicated Women’s Sports Channel in Partnership with AWSN: All Women’s Sports Network (AWSN), co-founded by Whoopi Goldberg, has partnered with Saudi Sports Company to launch a 24-hour dedicated women’s sports channel, “SSC AWSN,” available via MBC Shahid.The launch coincides with the Saudi Women’s Premier League season, which will be broadcast domestically and internationally for the first time, featuring players from more than 20 nationalities.The initiative, supported by Princess Reema Bandar Al Saud, aims to give global recognition to Saudi women’s sports and aligns with the Vision 2030 agenda to diversify the economy and promote women’s participation.

 

2. ICC Launches ‘Will to Win’ Campaign Ahead of Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 in India and Sri Lanka: The International Cricket Council (ICC) launched its flagship ‘Will to Win’ campaign ahead of the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka.

The campaign film was released alongside the opening of the general ticket window, showcasing the determination, sacrifice, and resilience of women’s cricket.The 13th Women’s World Cup will be held from 30 September to 2 November 2025, with the opening match between India and Sri Lanka in Guwahati.

 

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

 

1. TCIL Signs MoU with PNB to Strengthen IT Infrastructure and Accelerate Digital Transformation: Telecommunications Consultants India Limited (TCIL) signed an MoU with Punjab National Bank (PNB) to strengthen PNB’s IT infrastructure and accelerate its digital transformation journey.The MoU was signed at TCIL Headquarters, New Delhi, in the presence of TCIL CMD Sanjeev Kumar and PNB GM Manish Agrawal, along with senior executives of both organisations.TCIL will provide expertise in IT consultancy, project management, and regulatory-compliant technology deployment, including RFP lifecycle management, system integration, and infrastructure rollout to enhance PNB’s digital services.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. India, ADB Ink $126 Million Loan Pact to Boost Sustainable Tourism in Uttarakhand: India and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) signed a $126 million loan agreement to promote sustainable tourism in Uttarakhand.The project focuses on Tehri Garhwal District, aiming to support one of the state’s most climate-vulnerable and economically disadvantaged regions.It will benefit 87,000 residents and 2.7 million annual visitors through better tourism planning, upgraded infrastructure, improved sanitation, waste management, and disaster preparedness.

 

2. Injeti Srinivas Appointed as Chairman of National Stock Exchange: Injeti Srinivas, former chairman of the International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA), has been appointed as Chairman of the National Stock Exchange (NSE).A 1983-batch IAS officer of Odisha cadre, Srinivas has over 40 years of experience in corporate and financial regulation, governance, public policy, international cooperation, and institutional reforms.Srinivas has held key positions including Corporate Affairs Secretary, Union Sports Secretary, DG of Sports Authority of India, and has led initiatives like Khelo India, served on boards of SEBI and LIC, and participated in international assignments with the UN.

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