NATIONAL UPDATES:
1. PM Modi to Inaugurate Combined Commanders’ Conference
2025 in Kolkata: Prime Minister
Narendra Modi will inaugurate the Combined
Commanders’ Conference 2025 in Kolkata on 15 September, a three-day
apex-level forum of the Armed Forces focusing on reforms, transformation,
change, and operational preparedness.The theme of this year’s conference is “Year of Reforms – Transforming for the Future”,
aiming to strengthen an agile and decisive Armed Forces in a complex
geo-strategic environment.On 17 September, the Prime Minister will launch the
Swasth Nari Sashakt Parivar Abhiyaan, a nationwide initiative to improve
healthcare services for women and children, with 75,000 health camps across
Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, Community Health Centres, and other facilities.The
initiative will also observe Poshan Maah at all Anganwadis to promote
nutrition, health awareness, and overall well-being, supporting the
government’s vision of inclusive healthcare and empowered communities.
2. Himachal Pradesh Becomes Fifth Fully Literate State/UT: International Literacy Day
(ILD) 2025 was celebrated in New Delhi by the Ministry of Education with the theme “Promoting Literacy in the
Digital Era”, marking Himachal
Pradesh as the fifth State/UT to achieve full functional literacy after
Tripura, Mizoram, Goa, and Ladakh.Union Education Minister Dharmendra
Pradhan highlighted that literacy extends beyond reading and writing to
empowerment, dignity, and self-reliance, noting India’s literacy rate rose from
74% in 2011 to 80.9% in 2023–24 under the ULLAS Nav Bharat Saaksharta
Karyakram.India’s progress from 12% literacy post-independence to over 80%
today, released the ULLAS Compendium, and promoted ULLAS Literacy Week 2025
(Sept 1–8) to register new learners and volunteers nationwide.
3. 8 September – Grandparents’ Day: Grandparents’ Day is
celebrated every year on 8
September to honor grandparents and recognize the important role
they play in families and society.The day highlights the wisdom, love,
guidance, and support that grandparents provide to younger generations.It
promotes intergenerational bonding and encourages families to spend quality
time with their elders.Schools, communities, and families often organize
cultural programs, storytelling sessions, and special gatherings to mark the
occasion.
4. Himalayan Brown Bear: The Himalayan brown bear
(Ursus arctos isabellinus) has recently gained attention following an attack on
Pakistani singer Quratulain Balouch in Deosai National Park, Gilgit-Baltistan. This incident marks
growing human-bear conflicts in the region. Scientific studies indicate that
these conflicts are increasing due to habitat loss, climate change, and human
food waste. The bear, a top predator and ecological indicator, faces threats
from rapid warming and expanding human settlements in the Himalayas. Conflicts
have surged in areas like the Zanskar region of Ladakh and Lahaul valley in
Himachal Pradesh. Bears raid livestock and enter villages searching for food,
often conditioned by human waste and crops. Conflicts peak in autumn during
hyperphagia, when bears fatten for hibernation and reproduction. Despite
economic losses, no human fatalities have been reported in recent years in
these zones.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1. Dubai hosts 28th Universal Postal Congress, India
pledges active role: The 28th Universal Postal Congress (UPU) opened in Dubai, bringing together over
2,000 delegates from 192 member countries to shape the future of global postal
services; the event runs until 19 September 2025.India, represented by Union
Communications Minister Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, emphasized its long-standing
commitment to UPU (member since 1874) and aims to play a key role in the
2026–2029 roadmap focusing on digital transformation, sustainability, and
secure e-commerce.India Post, the world’s largest postal system, is being transformed
into a logistics powerhouse with six business verticals, citizen-centric
services, and advanced technology, leveraging its reach across 680,000
villages.A major initiative launched is the UPI-UPU Integration project,
linking India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) with the UPU Interconnection
Platform to enable secure, affordable cross-border remittances, benefiting
millions of Indian families.
2. ICGEB New Delhi commemorated first anniversary of
BioE3 Policy: ICGEB
(International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology), New Delhi hosted
an Institute–Industry Interaction
on Climate Resilient Agriculture and Clean Energy to mark the first anniversary
of the BioE3 Policy.The event, organised with premier national research
institutions, focused on accelerating the lab-to-market transition of
innovations in agriculture and clean energy with active participation from
industry stakeholders.The BioE3 Policy, approved in 2024, is a flagship
initiative integrating Biotechnology with Economy, Environment, and Employment,
aiming to achieve Net Zero carbon emissions by 2070 while promoting innovation
and sustainability.
3. 7 September – International Day of Clean Air for Blue
Skies: International Day of Clean Air
for Blue Skies is observed every year on 7 September to raise awareness about the
importance of clean air for health, productivity, and the environment.The UN
General Assembly designated this day in 2019, following a resolution led by the
Republic of Korea.The day highlights the link between air pollution, climate
change, and sustainable development, urging global cooperation.
4. 7 September – International Day of Police Cooperation: International Day of Police
Cooperation is observed every year on 7 September to promote global collaboration
among law enforcement agencies.Theme 2025 – ICT and AI in policingThe day emphasizes information sharing,
joint operations, and coordination to combat transnational crime and terrorism.
It highlights the role of INTERPOL and other international policing
organizations in maintaining global security and safety.
5. 7 September – World Duchenne Awareness Day: World Duchenne Awareness Day is
observed on 7 September every year to
raise awareness about Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD), a genetic disorder
causing progressive muscle weakness.Theme 2025 – Family: The Heart of Care.
The
day highlights the importance of early diagnosis, research, and treatment
options to improve quality of life for affected individuals.It emphasizes the
need for global support, advocacy, and education about DMD for patients,
families, and healthcare providers.
OTHER UPDATES:
DEFENCE
1. MQ-28A Ghost Bat Military Drones: Australia has recently
made strides in developing the MQ-28A Ghost Bat, a next-generation military
drone. These unmanned aircraft are designed as collaborative combat aircraft
that operate alongside manned fighter jets. The move marks a strategic shift for
Australia as it rebuilds its defence industry to counter emerging threats in
the Indo-Pacific region. Australia has traditionally relied on the United
States for advanced military hardware. However, rising regional tensions and
the rapid modernisation of China’s armed forces have prompted Australia to
develop sovereign defence capabilities. The MQ-28A Ghost Bat project represents
the first major Australian-designed and manufactured combat aircraft in more
than 50 years. This effort aligns with a global trend towards unmanned systems
in modern warfare. The Ghost Bat is a 38-foot-long drone designed to act as a
robot wingman for piloted fighter jets. It can fly preprogrammed missions
autonomously but allows remote pilots to take control if necessary. The drone
has a range of approximately 2,300 miles, nearly spanning the width of
Australia. It is named after a local bat species known for its agility and
strength. The aircraft is estimated to cost about one-tenth of a traditional
manned fighter jet like the F-35.
2. Sagarmatha Friendship-2025: The Nepali Army and
China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) commenced the fourth edition of their
joint military exercise, Sagarmatha Friendship-2025, in Kathmandu. The
exercise, running until 16 September 2025, aims to boost cooperation in
counter-terrorism, disaster management, and United Nations peacekeeping. This
biennial drill, first held in 2017, alternates between Nepal and China,
reflecting growing defence and strategic ties between the two nations. The
joint exercise focuses on joint counter-terrorism operations and disaster
relief. Troops from both sides form mixed teams to share skills and knowledge.
Activities include practical drills, knowledge exchange sessions, cultural
events, and sports competitions. The training improves interoperability and
builds mutual trust. It also enhances preparedness for regional security
challenges and peacekeeping missions.
SPORTS
1. India Wins Men’s Hockey Asia Cup 2025 with 4-1 Victory
over South Korea in Rajgir: India
clinched their 4th Asia Cup
men’s hockey title after defeating South Korea 4-1 in the final at Rajgir, Bihar,
securing a spot in the 2026 Hockey World Cup.Goals for India came from Sukhjeet
Singh (1’), Dilpreet Singh (28’, 45’), and Amit Rohidas (50’), while Dain Son
(51’) scored the only goal for South Korea.India remained unbeaten in the
tournament, winning five matches and drawing one, including big Super 4 victories
against Malaysia (4-1) and China (7-0).With this win, India now has 4 Asia Cup
titles (2003, 2007, 2017, 2025), while South Korea remain the most successful
team with 5 titles (1994, 1999, 2009, 2013, 2022).
2. India Beat Oman to Clinch Bronze in CAFA Nations Cup
2025: In Football, India defeated Oman to finish third in the CAFA Nations Cup 2025 at Hisor
Central Stadium in Tajikistan to win the bronze medal. The match
finished 1-1 in regulation time after Udanta Singh scored the equaliser for
India.Oman missed their first two chances in the penalty shoot-out and Gurpreet
Singh Sandhu saved the final penalty as India won 3-2.This was the first time
ever that India defeated Oman in an international football match and this was
also a historic finish to their campaign.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
1. India’s Fully Digital Census 2027: The Census of India 2027
marks transformation. Nearly 34 lakh enumerators will collect data using their
own smartphones. This will be the first fully digital Census in the country. The mobile
applications developed for this purpose will support multiple languages and
work on both Android and iOS platforms. The data will be uploaded directly to a
central server, ensuring faster and more accurate processing. Enumerators will
use dedicated apps to record household data. These apps were initially created
for the 2021 Census but have been upgraded to match current mobile
technologies. The use of personal smartphones reduces the need for additional
hardware. If data is collected on paper due to any issue, it must later be
entered into a web portal, avoiding double data entry or scanning. This
approach guarantees that data is digitised at the source. The Census will be
conducted in two phases. The houselisting operation will run from April to
September 2026. Population enumeration will follow in February 2027 across most
states, except Ladakh, Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand,
where it will start in September 2026. Data collection will be available in
English, Hindi, and regional languages. Citizens will also have the option to
self-enumerate via a web portal.
BANKING AND FINANCE
1. PNB Signs ₹21,000 Crore MoU with Rajasthan Government under
Rising Rajasthan Initiative: Punjab
National Bank (PNB) signed an MoU with the Rajasthan government to provide ₹21,000 crore financial
support under the Rising Rajasthan initiative.During his Jaipur
visit, PNB MD & CEO Ashok Chandra distributed 2,000 loan sanction letters
to women entrepreneurs at a self-help group loan distribution ceremony.Chandra
urged MSMEs to use PNB’s digital platforms for better access to government
schemes and emphasized digital adoption, financial inclusion, and fraud
prevention in a town hall with employees.
2. Declining Quality of Foreign Direct
Investment in India: Foreign
direct investment (FDI)
remains a key element of India’s economic growth. However, recent trends reveal
a complex scenario where gross inflows appear strong but net inflows are
sharply declining. This shift reflects short-term profit motives over long-term
industrial development. At the same time, Indian firms are increasingly
investing abroad, denoting challenges in the domestic investment climate.
Investor behaviour is shifting from strategic commitments to short-term
financial gains. Investments increasingly aim at rapid profit through tax
arbitrage and treaty-based routing. Manufacturing, once a major FDI recipient,
now accounts for only 12% of inflows. Capital is flowing more into financial
services, energy, and hospitality sectors. These sectors contribute less to
industrial innovation and job creation, weakening long-term economic
resilience.
AWARDS AND HONOURS
1. Indian Filmmaker Anupama Roy Wins Best Director at
82nd Venice Film Festival for Songs of Forgotten Trees: Indian filmmaker Anupama Roy won the Best Director
award in the Orizzonti
section at the 82nd
Venice Film Festival for her film Songs of Forgotten Trees,
which tells the story of two migrant women in Mumbai.The award was announced by
Julia Ducournau, president of the Orizzonti jury.Vetern U.S. director Jim
Jarmusch won festival’s top honor, the Golden Lion for Best Film, for his movie Father Mother Sister
Brother. The film explores family dynamics and generational
tension, with scenes set in New Jersey, Dublin, and Paris.The Silver Lion runner-up award was given to The
Voice of Hind Rajab, directed by Tunisia’s Kaouther Ben Hania. Based on
a true story of a young Palestinian girl killed during the Gaza war.Toni
Servillo won Best Actor for his role as a weary president in Paolo Sorrentino’s
Italian film La Grazia while the Best Actress award went to Chinese star Xin
Zhilei for her performance in The Sun Rises On Us All.Benny Safdie was named
Best Director in the main competition for The Smashing Machine. Italian
director Gianfranco Rosi received a special jury prize for his black-and-white
documentary Below the Clouds.
2. Sikkim’s Karma Tempo Ethenpa Receives National Teachers Award 2025: President Droupadi Murmu presented the National Teachers Award 2025 to Shri Karma Tempo Ethenpa, Principal of PM SHRI Govt. Sr. Secondary School, Mangan, Sikkim, in New Delhi.Shri Ethenpa was among 66 teachers nationwide (45 school teachers and 21 from higher education) selected for this prestigious award.The award recognizes his dedication to education and tireless efforts to inspire and empower students.
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