🇮🇳 National News
Shri Vivekanand Gupta, serving as Regional Provident Fund Commissioner, has been chosen as the only representative from India for the World Bank–Milken Institute Public Financial Asset Management (PFAM) Program 2025–26.
- First time an EPFO official selected for this global leadership initiative
- Program to be held at Bayes Business School, London
- Will strengthen EPFO’s capabilities in capital markets, asset governance, and strategic fund management
- Aimed at aligning EPFO with international standards
India has successfully included seven additional sites in the UNESCO Tentative List, bringing its total tally to 69.
- Deccan Traps (Maharashtra)
- Tirumala Hills (Andhra Pradesh)
- Meghalayan Age Caves (Meghalaya)
- And others under Natural Heritage category
The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) credited for facilitating this recognition. This is a crucial step towards final inscription on the World Heritage List.
India’s newly designed Diving Support Vessel (INS Nistar) has made its maiden port call at Singapore’s Changi Naval Base to participate in Exercise Pacific Reach 2025, beginning September 15.
- Over 80% indigenized
- Acts as mothership for Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle (DSRV)
- Multinational exercise involving 40+ nations
- Focus on submarine rescue missions and interoperability
- Harbour and sea phases in the South China Sea
Anandkumar Velkumar created history by winning India’s first-ever gold medal in the senior men’s 1000m race at the Speed Skating World Championships in China, clocking 1:24.924.
- Anandkumar also secured bronze in 500m sprint
- First Indian senior athlete to become World Champion in this sport
- Krish Sharma clinched gold in junior 1000m event
- Significant breakthrough for Indian roller sports
Muzaffarpur district in Bihar has secured the top rank nationwide in the Inspire Award 2025 competition, registering 7,403 student submissions of innovative ideas.
| Rank | District | Submissions |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Muzaffarpur (Bihar) | 7,403 |
| 2 | Bengaluru | 7,306 |
| 3 | Lucknow | 6,182 |
| 6 | Vaishali (Bihar) | – |
The Inspire Award, organized by Department of Science and Technology, encourages creativity among students from Classes 6 to 10.
💼 Business & Economy
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has unveiled a dedicated microsite: https://indiancurrency.rbi.org.in, designed to spread awareness about Indian banknotes.
- 360-degree interactive view of currency notes
- Engaging multimedia features: videos, audio, and animations
- Educational games to understand note designs and security features
- Guidance on exchanging old or damaged currency
- Comprehensive tool for currency education and fraud prevention
🌐 International News
On September 15, 2025, the US, South Korea, and Japan began conducting a joint air and naval drill, named Freedom Edge, in waters near Jeju Island.
- Enhances trilateral cooperation in defense against North Korea’s nuclear threats
- Includes missile defense, aerial maneuvers, and cyber warfare training
- Most advanced trilateral initiative so far
- Kim Yo Jong strongly criticized it as a “reckless display of strength”
Pyongyang also condemned the related Iron Mace tabletop drill focused on US nuclear deterrence integration.
Albania has made history by appointing the first AI-powered government minister, named Diella, tasked with overseeing public procurement.
- Launched on September 11, 2025 by PM Edi Rama
- Operates within the country’s digital services portal
- Capable of managing tenders, handling 36,000+ documents
- Processing 1,000+ government services through voice commands
While praised for innovation and potential to combat corruption, critics highlight risks of AI governance challenges.
👔 Appointments
Retired IAS officer Amit Khare, currently serving as advisor to PM Modi, has been appointed as Secretary to Vice-President CP Radhakrishnan on a three-year contractual basis.
- 1985-batch IAS officer from Jharkhand cadre
- Former Union Higher Education Secretary
- Played significant role in drafting National Education Policy
Chandrasekar S (2014-batch IAS, Kerala cadre) appointed as VP’s Private Secretary. VP Radhakrishnan was sworn in on September 12, 2025.
📚 Books & Authors
Written by Christian Davenport, Rocket Dreams highlights how the modern space race is driven largely by personal rivalries and corporate ambitions of billionaires like Elon Musk (SpaceX) and Jeff Bezos (Blue Origin).
- Explores how lawsuits, political influence, and ego clashes overshadow genuine scientific exploration
- Raises concerns about space becoming a multi-trillion-dollar industry dominated by elites
- Questions potential limiting of benefits for society
In Dapaan: The Stories of Kashmir that Refuse to Die, author Ipsita Chakravarty presents oral narratives, folklore, and rumor to portray everyday life in conflict-stricken Kashmir.
- Captures resilience, resistance, satire, and anxieties of Kashmiris
- Reflects the haalaat (complex circumstances) of the region
- Offers alternative to official narratives through lived experiences of survival
📅 Important Days
Observed annually on September 17, World Patient Safety Day highlights the importance of ensuring safe medical care.
2025 Theme: “Safe care for every newborn and every child”
- A “patient” refers to an individual who is ill, injured, or in need of medical treatment
- Emphasizes the need for child-centered patient safety initiatives
🕊️ Obituaries
Sarada Hoffman (also known as Alladi Sarada or “Sarada teacher”), a legendary Bharatanatyam guru from Kalakshetra, passed away on 14 September 2025 in California at the age of 96.
- Born on 15 June 1929 in Adyar
- Pioneered and standardized the Kalakshetra style of Bharatanatyam
- Honoured with Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (1996)
- First recipient of the Rukmini Devi Medal for Excellence in the Arts
- Renowned disciples: Yamini Krishnamurthy, C.V. Chandrasekhar, Dhananjayan duo
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