Daily GK Update- 1st Sept, 2025

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Ministry of Tourism Launches ‘Paryatan Mitra/Paryatan Didi’ to Promote Responsible Tourism Across India”: The Ministry of Tourism launched the National Responsible Tourism Initiative – Paryatan Mitra/Paryatan Didi – targeting local service providers like cab/auto drivers, hotel staff, tour guides, vendors, students, and marginalized communities.The initiative aims to provide training on tourism awareness, cleanliness, safety, sustainability, and high standards of hospitality for tourists.Piloted at six destinations – Orchha, Gandikota, Bodh Gaya, Aizawl, Jodhpur, and Shri Vijaya Puram – since August 15, 2024, the program has already trained 4,000+ people, as informed by Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in Rajya Sabha.

 

2. Tribal Affairs Ministry to Launch “Adi Vaani”, India’s First AI-Powered Tribal Language Translator: The Tribal Affairs Ministry will soon launch “Adi Vaani”, India’s first AI-powered tribal language translator, developed by IIT Delhi, BITS Pilani, IIIT Hyderabad, and IIIT Nava Raipur with Tribal Research Institutes.The app, initially supporting Santali, Bhili, Mundari, and Gondi, will be available on Play Store (iOS version coming soon), with Kui and Garo to be added in the next phase.Adi Vaani uses AI models like NLLB and IndicTrans2 for real-time translation, text-to-speech, speech-to-text, and OCR to preserve endangered tribal languages, digitise folklore, and safeguard cultural heritage.The initiative, aligned with Digital India and PM JANMAN, aims to empower tribal communities by supporting education, healthcare, awareness of government schemes, and inclusive governance in native languages.

 

3. Mahendra Mohan Gupta Elected Chairman of PTI Board: Mahendra Mohan Gupta, of Jagran Prakashan Ltd. (publisher of Dainik Jagran), has been elected as the Chairman of Press Trust of India’s (PTI) Board of Directors, succeeding K.N. Shanth Kumar of The Printers (Mysore) Pvt. Ltd.

V. Shreyams Kumar of the Mathrubhumi group has been elected as the Vice-Chairman of the PTI Board.The election was held during the Board of Directors’ meeting after PTI’s Annual General Meeting at its headquarters in New Delhi.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. India–Japan Seal 10-Year Roadmap with ₹60,000 Crore Investment Target: Japan set an ambitious investment target of 10 trillion yen (~₹60,000 crore) in India over the next decade, as part of a 10-year roadmap to strengthen the India–Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership.The two countries signed 13 key agreements, covering defence cooperation, economic security, digital public infrastructure, mobility of 50,000 Indian workers to Japan, and supply chain resilience in critical sectors like semiconductors, clean energy, telecom, and minerals.A comprehensive defence framework was agreed upon to address contemporary security challenges, alongside stronger cooperation in space exploration including ISRO–JAXA lunar-polar mission (Chandrayaan-5 collaboration).

2. Global Peace Index 2025: Iceland Tops Again, India Ranked 115th Among 163 Nations: The Global Peace Index (GPI) 2025, compiled by the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP), ranked 163 countries, covering 99.7% of the world’s population.Iceland retained the top spot as the most peaceful country in the world, a position it has consistently held since 2008, due to low crime, strong social trust, and absence of an army.India ranked 115th with a GPI score of 2.229, showing a 0.58% improvement in peacefulness compared to last year.The top 10 most peaceful nations are Iceland, Ireland, New Zealand, Finland, Austria, Switzerland, Singapore, Portugal, Denmark, and Slovenia, with Europe dominating the upper rankings.Least peaceful regions include the Middle East and sub-Saharan Africa; countries at the bottom are Russia, Ukraine, Sudan, DR Congo, and Yemen, with South Africa also showing a decline.

 

3. India to Launch First Multi-Lane Free Flow (MLFF) Tolling System at Choryasi Plaza on NH-48: IHMCL (Indian Highways Management Company Limited), promoted by NHAI, signed an agreement with ICICI Bank to implement India’s first Multi-Lane Free Flow (MLFF) tolling system at Choryasi Fee Plaza, Gujarat (NH-48), making it the country’s first barrier-free toll plaza.

An additional agreement was signed for MLFF implementation at Gharaunda Fee Plaza, Haryana (NH-44), expanding the project beyond Gujarat.NHAI plans to roll out MLFF tolling at 25 National Highway fee plazas during the current financial year, with identification of locations underway.

NHAI Chairman Santosh Kumar Yadav stated that MLFF will bring efficient, transparent, and user-friendly tolling, leveraging technology for a modern, seamless FASTag-based ecosystem nationwide.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

DEFENCE

 

1. INS Kadmatt Joins Papua New Guinea’s 50th Independence Day: INS Kadmatt reached Port Moresby to participate in Papua New Guinea’s 50th Independence Day celebrations, showcasing India–PNG friendship and maritime partnership.The visit includes participation in the Independence Day Parade, cultural events, and naval cooperation with the PNG Defence Force in areas like maritime security and disaster relief.This goodwill visit follows PM Modi’s 2023 PNG visit, reaffirming India’s Act East Policy and commitment to Indo-Pacific peace, stability, and defence cooperation.

 

SPORTS

 

1. India to Send First-Ever National Team to Pickleball World Cup: The Indian Pickleball Association (IPA), under the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, concluded its two-day national selection trials at the IPA Centre of Excellence in Ahmedabad.Over 140 top players from across India competed for spots on the national pickleball team, with selections in Open, Under-16, and 50+ categories.For the first time, India will send an official national pickleball team to the Pickleball World Cup in Florida, USA, from October 27 to November 2, sanctioned by the Global Pickleball Federation.Selected players will undergo focused training under the IPA’s high-performance team before the international event, marking a historic milestone for Indian pickleball.

 

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

 

1. NeGD Integrates 1,938 e-Government Services on DigiLocker and e-District Platforms: National e-Governance Division (NeGD) under MeitY has integrated 1,938 e-Government services on DigiLocker and e-District platforms, achieving a major Digital India milestone.Citizens across all 36 states and union territories can now access certificates, welfare schemes, utility payments, and other services seamlessly, ensuring transparency and convenience.Maharashtra leads with 254 services, followed by Delhi (123), Karnataka (113), Assam (102), and Uttar Pradesh (86).NeGD plans to further expand e-services by leveraging emerging technologies through an AI-driven approach.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. Jio Payments Bank plans India’s 1st auto-investing savings account: Jio Payments Bank (JPB) plans to launch “Savings Pro”, India’s first product that will automatically invest idle savings account deposits into overnight mutual funds for better returns.Currently, Jio Payments Bank offers only 2.5% savings interest (since June 2025), while overnight mutual funds typically provide 5–6% annualized returns with next-day liquidity.The product aims to help customers earn higher returns seamlessly, without manually transferring money between savings accounts and mutual funds.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Educate Girls Becomes First Indian Organisation to Win 2025 Ramon Magsaysay Award: Foundation to Educate Girls Globally, an Indian non-profit founded in 2007 by Safeena Husain in Rajasthan, has been named a 2025 Ramon Magsaysay Awardee, becoming the first Indian organisation to receive this prestigious honor.The organisation focuses on mobilising community and government resources to bring out-of-school girls into classrooms, ensuring their retention and progress towards higher education and employment.Other 2025 awardees include Shaahina Ali (Maldives) for environmental work and Flaviano Antonio L. Villanueva (Philippines), with the award ceremony scheduled for November 7, 2025, in Manila.Educate Girls’ motto “one girl at a time” reflects its mission to break the cycle of illiteracy and poverty through grassroots efforts, community partnerships, and government collaboration.