🇮🇳 National News
The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW), in collaboration with IIT Madras, NTCPWC, NMC, and Chennai Port Authority (ChPA), launched MAR-a-THON 2025 at IIT Madras.
This initiative is part of the Sagarmala Start-up Innovation Initiative (S2I2).
- Foster Research, Innovation, Start-ups, and Entrepreneurship (RISE) in the maritime sector
- Served as curtain-raiser for India Maritime Week 2025
- Acts as a catalyst for solving industry challenges
- Aligned with Maritime AmritKaal 2047 goals
Shri T.K. Ramachandran, IAS, Secretary, MoPSW, emphasized the role of technology in maritime growth.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Singapore PM Lawrence Wong virtually inaugurated Phase-II of the PSA Mumbai Terminal at Jawaharlal Nehru Port (JNPA).
- Terminal’s handling capacity increased to 4.8 million TEUs
- Now India’s largest container terminal
NITI Aayog released a report recommending measures to achieve self-sufficiency in pulses by 2030 and doubling production by 2047.
| Year | Production | Supply | Surplus |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 26.06 MT | — | — |
| 2030 | 34.45 MT | 30.6 MT | 3.79 MT |
| 2047 | 51.57 MT | 45.8 MT | 16.48 MT |
- Crop-wise clustering and customized technologies
- High-quality seed distribution and “one block, one seed village” model
- Focus on 111 high-potential districts
- Climate adaptation measures and data-driven monitoring
- Awareness on nutritional value of pulses as per ICMR–NIN guidelines
India defeated South Korea 4-1 in the Asia Cup 2025 final held in Rajgir.
- India’s 4th Asia Cup title (after 2003, 2007, 2017)
- Ended an eight-year title drought
- South Korea holds record for most titles (five)
With this win, India secured direct qualification for the 2026 FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup, to be co-hosted by Belgium and the Netherlands.
The US Open 2025 was held from August 24 to September 7, 2025, at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, New York. It was the 145th edition and final Grand Slam of the year.
| Category | Champion(s) |
|---|---|
| Men’s Singles | Carlos Alcaraz |
| Women’s Singles | Aryna Sabalenka |
| Men’s Doubles | Marcel Granollers / Horacio Zeballos |
| Women’s Doubles | Gabriela Dabrowski / Erin Routliffe |
| Mixed Doubles | Sara Errani / Andrea Vavassori |
- Total purse: $90 million – largest in tennis history
- 20% increase from 2024
- Singles champions received $5 million each (39% rise)
💼 Business & Economy
Levi’s has appointed Bollywood actress Alia Bhatt as its global brand ambassador.
- Aligns with shift in women’s fashion trends emphasizing comfort-first, relaxed, and style-driven denim fits
- Positions Levi’s as a modern, trend-forward, and culturally relevant fashion icon
- Aims to resonate with younger generations and redefine its global image
Bank of Baroda (BoB) has classified the loan accounts of Reliance Communications (RCom) and its former promoter Anil Ambani as fraudulent.
This makes BoB the third bank, after State Bank of India (SBI) and Bank of India (BoI), to take such action.
- Outstanding loan: ₹1,656 crore against sanctioned ₹2,462 crore
- RCom’s account first categorized as NPA in June 2017
- Decision followed forensic audit by BDO India LLP
- Multiple show-cause notices (January 2024 & August 2025)
- Personal hearing in July 2025
The FY25 Business Responsibility and Sustainability Report (BRSR) revealed that State Bank of India (SBI) recorded the highest number of customer complaints among all banks.
| Bank | Complaints (FY25) | Unresolved |
|---|---|---|
| SBI (Public Sector) | 6.87 lakh | 1.05 lakh |
| Axis Bank (Private Sector) | 4.97 lakh | 8,782 |
A majority of grievances were linked to unauthorized electronic debits. SBI also reported 12,502 complaints about delays in essential service delivery (up from 7,223 in FY24).
🌐 International News
India handed over five metric tonnes of cowpea seeds to Fiji as humanitarian assistance, delivered in Nadi city.
The initiative supports food security, farming sustainability, and livelihoods of local growers in Fiji.
The event took place during the first official visit of Fiji’s Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka to India, where he met PM Narendra Modi.
- India gifted two ambulances to the Fijian Military Forces
- Announced creation of a Defence Wing at India’s High Commission in Suva
- Declared plans for a Cyber Security Training Cell in Fiji
Both nations reaffirmed cooperation in defence, health, trade, agriculture, climate action, and cultural exchanges.
👔 Appointments
Sundeep Sikka, ED & CEO of Nippon Life India AMC, has been elected Chairman of the Association of Mutual Funds in India (AMFI).
Vishal Kapoor, CEO of Bandhan AMC, has been appointed Vice Chairman.
- Sikka previously served as AMFI Chairman (2013–2015)
- Board member since 2009
- Kapoor has been Chairman of ARN Committee since 2020
- AMFI established in 1995, operates under SEBI’s guidance
Indian-American Amit Kshatriya has been appointed as the Associate Administrator of NASA, the highest-ranking civil service role at the agency.
Announcement was made by Acting NASA Administrator Sean P. Duffy on September 3, 2025.
- Joined NASA in 2003 – 20-year career in space exploration
- Recipient of Silver Snoopy Award
- Served as lead robotics officer during COTS Dragon demonstration mission
- Most recently: Deputy Head of Moon to Mars Programme
In his new role, he will oversee NASA’s 10 center directors, act as Chief Operating Officer, and guide missions under the Artemis campaign for Moon and Mars exploration.
📅 Important Days
International Literacy Day is observed annually on September 8.
- Established by UNESCO in 1966
- Highlights literacy as a fundamental human right and matter of dignity
- Idea originated at the 1965 World Conference of Ministers of Education in Tehran, Iran
- UNESCO’s motto: “Literacy is the best remedy”
World Physical Therapy Day is celebrated globally on September 8 each year. Recognized by the World Confederation for Physical Therapy in 1996.
- Earliest reference: Hippocrates used massage as therapy
- 1813: Per Henrik Ling (Father of Swedish Gymnastics) founded Royal Central Institute of Gymnastics (RCIG)
- 1887: Sweden’s National Board officially recognized physical therapists
Physiotherapy began in 1952 with the establishment of the first physiotherapy center in Mumbai, supported by the Government of India and WHO.
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