Daily GK Update- 6th Sept, 2025

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. 27th Saras Aajeevika Mela in New Delhi to Showcase ‘Lakhpati Didis’ and Empower Rural Women Entrepreneurs: The 27th edition of Saras Aajeevika Mela was held in New Delhi, with participation from over 400 rural women of Self Help Groups (SHGs) across all States and UTs, providing them a marketing platform to showcase handicrafts, handlooms, and food products.Themed “Making of Lakhpati Didis – Empowering Rural Women to Become Successful Entrepreneurs and Champions of Vocal for Local”, this is the first fair fully led by Lakhpati Didis.Under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission, around 10 crore women are connected through 90 lakh SHGs, highlighting the fair’s role in women’s empowerment and grassroots entrepreneurship.

 

2. Manohar Lal Launches Angikaar 2025 Campaign to Fast-Track PMAY-Urban 2.0 Implementation and Housing Completion: Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Manohar Lal launched the Angikaar 2025 campaign under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Urban (PMAY-U) 2.0 to boost awareness and accelerate implementation.The campaign will fast-track verification of applications, ensure completion of already sanctioned houses, and promote last-mile delivery through community mobilisation and convergence with other government schemes.Under PMAY-U, 1.20 crore houses have been sanctioned, of which over 94 lakh pucca houses are already completed and delivered; Angikaar 2025 will facilitate the completion of the remaining houses.

 

3. India’s first telecom system with indigenous chips gets TEC certification : A telecom system powered by domestically manufactured chips has received the TEC (Telecommunication Engineering Centre) certification, marking a major milestone in India’s semiconductor journey; IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw hailed it as a “big leap for India’s semiconductor story.”The certification ensures the system meets stringent quality and performance standards, strengthening India’s drive for technological self-reliance under the ‘Make in India’ initiative and enhancing its position in the global telecom and electronics ecosystem.With a focus on mature-node manufacturing (28nm–65nm), India is targeting key sectors like automotive, telecom, and industrial electronics, aiming to fill critical global supply chain gaps while showcasing world-class integration services and talent.

 

4. Piyush Goyal Takes Charge As Secretary, Ministry of Mines: Piyush Goyal, a 1994-batch IAS officer of the Nagaland cadre, assumed charge as Secretary, Ministry of Mines.Prior to this assignment, Goyal served as the Chief Executive Officer of NATGRID under Ministry of Home Affairs.Piyush Goyal succeeds Shri V.L. Kantha Rao, IAS (1992 batch), who is currently serving as Secretary, Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Amazon Completes $200 Million Acquisition of Axio to Strengthen Digital Lending in India: Amazon has completed the acquisition of Axio (formerly Capital Float) after approval from RBI, marking one of its largest deals in India, valued at around $200 million.The move converts a six-year partnership powering Amazon Pay’s Buy Now Pay Later service into full ownership, enabling Amazon to serve 10 million customers and expand into merchant lending.Amazon aims to leverage Axio’s lending expertise with its own reach and technology to expand access to credit for millions of customers and small businesses in India.

 

2. India Develops Rare Methandienone Long-Term Metabolite to Boost Global Anti-Doping Efforts: National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER) Guwahati, in collaboration with National Dope Testing Laboratory (NDTL) New Delhi, has developed a rare and high-purity Reference Material (RM) – Methandienone Long-Term Metabolite (LTM), launched by Union Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya during NDTL’s 22nd Governing Body Meeting.This Reference Material is crucial for anti-doping analysis, helping detect prohibited substances more effectively, even months or years after their use, thereby strengthening transparency and integrity in sports.India has so far developed 12 out of 22 planned Reference Materials, with Methandienone LTM being the latest, and plans to share it with all 30 WADA-accredited laboratories worldwide to support global anti-doping efforts.

 

3. Piyush Goyal Inaugurates India MedTech Expo 2025 Showcasing India as a Global MedTech Manufacturing Hub: Union Minister Piyush Goyal inaugurated the Second Edition of India MedTech Expo 2025 at Bharat Mandapam, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi, organised by the Department of Pharmaceuticals along with EPCMD and CDSCO.The three-day expo is themed “India: Global MedTech Manufacturing Hub – Precision Engineering yet Affordable”, showcasing innovations by MSMEs, start-ups, research institutions, and government bodies.The event hosts 150+ international buyers from 30+ countries, providing a platform for global partnerships, collaborations, and investments in India’s MedTech sector.

 

4. Shabana Mahmood Appointed UK Home Secretary in Labour Cabinet Reshuffle: Shabana Mahmood has been appointed as the new UK Home Secretary, succeeding Yvette Cooper after a major Labour-led government reshuffle triggered by Deputy PM Angela Rayner’s resignation.Mahmood, who previously served as Secretary of State for Justice and Lord Chancellor (2024–25), has been the MP for Birmingham Ladywood since 2010 and is a senior Labour Party leader.Taking charge amid challenges like small boat crossings, asylum hotels, and migration pressures, she has expressed support for reforming the European Convention on Human Rights and tightening immigration rules.

 

 

OTHER UPDATES:

DEFENCE

 

1. COAS General Upendra Dwivedi Launches Book ‘Operation Sindoor’ by Retd. Lt. Gen. KJS Dhillion: Chief of the Army Staff, General Upendra Dwivedi, launched the book “Operation Sindoor: The Untold Story of India’s Deep Strikes Inside Pakistan” authored by Retd. Lt. Gen KJS Dhillion in New Delhi.General Dwivedi highlighted that the book is a tribute to the courage, professionalism, and spirit of the Indian Army, describing Operation Sindoor as a coordinated and synergised military action.The book is considered foundational in nature and is expected to serve as a valuable reference for academia and research scholars.

 

SPORTS

 

1. Tripura CM Dr. Manik Saha Inaugurates North Eastern Zone Badminton Championship: Tripura CM Dr. Manik Saha inaugurated the North Eastern Zone Badminton Championship, organized by the Tripura Badminton Association, with participation from over 200 players of seven North Eastern states.Saha emphasized the role of sports in fostering unity, discipline, and patriotism, calling the event a celebration of the North East’s diversity and talent.He highlighted Tripura’s investments in sports infrastructure, announcing new projects like two multi-purpose indoor halls and a 200-bed sports hostel to boost sports development in the state.

 

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

 

1. India Launches First-Ever Vulture Conservation Portal ‘The Vulture Network’ to Safeguard Endangered Species: We Foundation India, in collaboration with Gauhati University’s Zoology Department, launched The Vulture Network (thevulturenetwork.org), India’s first dedicated portal for vulture conservation.The cloud-based portal compiles scientific data, spreads awareness in local languages (starting with Assamese), and provides free outreach materials for awareness campaigns.The initiative highlighted major threats to vultures, such as carcass poisoning, harmful veterinary drugs like diclofenac, and negative social perceptions, with focus on the slender-billed vulture (only ~800 mature individuals left).Partners include Assam Bird Monitoring Network, LASA Foundation, Suraksha Samitee, and individual researchers, stressing the importance of citizen science in vulture and endangered species conservation.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. DPIIT and ICICI Bank Partner to Launch Startup Engagement Programme Under Startup India Initiative: The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) signed an MoU with ICICI Bank to support startups and innovators under the Startup India initiative.ICICI Bank will launch a Startup Engagement Programme on the Startup India portal, offering accelerator support, mentorship, pilot projects, and networking opportunities with investors and industry leaders.The collaboration aims to foster early- and growth-stage startups by providing business development guidance, product refinement, operational scale-up support, and access to ICICI Bank’s Mumbai-based accelerator facility.

 

2. SBI Hosts First-Ever Start-up Pitch Fest ‘Dream2Demo’ to Empower Entrepreneurs and Boost Innovation: SBI’s Start-up branch hosted its first-ever Pitch Fest – “Dream2Demo”, offering entrepreneurs a platform to present ideas directly to leading investors and strengthen start-up–investor connections.The event supported national initiatives like Make in India and Startup India, with leaders from IITM Research Park, Startup TN, and SBI highlighting SBI’s role in financing, mentorship, and market linkages for entrepreneurs.SBI showcased its customised start-up solutions, including equity-linked funding and collaborations with Startup TN and IIT Madras Incubation Cell, reaffirming its commitment to empowering innovators from grassroots to global markets.