Daily Current Affairs: September 10, 2025

Staying updated with daily national and international events is essential for cracking competitive exams like Banking, SSC, Railways, and UPSC. Here is a curated breakdown of the most significant developments from across the nation today.

1. National & International Affairs

India & Israel Sign Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT)

The Government of India has signed a landmark Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) with the Government of Israel to bolster trade, innovations, and cross-border infrastructure development.

• Strategic Milestone: With this agreement, Israel has become the first Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) member state to sign a treaty under India's new model investment framework.
• Key Figures: The historic treaty was signed in New Delhi by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Israel's Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich. This new framework replaces the older 1996 treaty that was revoked in 2017.

India’s First Bamboo-Based Bio-Refinery Completed in Assam

Engineers India Limited (EIL), a 'Navratna' CPSE under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, has successfully wrapped up mechanical construction on India's first-ever bamboo-based bio-refinery at Numaligarh, Assam.

• The Project: Executed for Assam Bio Ethanol Private Limited (ABEPL), the cutting-edge refinery utilizes technology from Finland's Chempolis Oy.
• Output Targets: The refinery is engineered to produce 49,000 Tonnes Per Annum (TPA) of bioethanol, 11,000 TPA of acetic acid, and 19,000 TPA of furfural, aligning perfectly with India’s Ethanol Blending Programme (EBP).

DST Unveils "ESTIC-2025" to Replace Indian Science Congress

The Department of Science and Technology (DST) has officially unveiled the theme for the upcoming Emerging Science, Technology, and Innovation Conclave-2025 (ESTIC-2025), scheduled for November 2025 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.

• The Evolution: ESTIC is designed as a highly progressive, policy-driven successor to the historic Indian Science Congress (ISC), which has recently lost policy relevance.
• Theme: The inaugural conclave will center around the theme: "Viksit Bharat 2047 - Pioneering Sustainable Innovation, Technological Advancement and Empowerment."

5th Edition of Lok Samvardhan Parv Concludes in Kochi

Organized by the Ministry of Minority Affairs (MoMA) under the PM-VIKAS (Pradhan Mantri Virasat ka Samvardhan) framework, the 10-day cultural and crafts extravaganza concluded successfully at Marine Drive in Kochi, Kerala. The platform provided direct national market linkages to nearly 100 minority community artisans spanning 25 States and Union Territories.

2. Banking, Finance & Global Remittances

UPI-UPU Integration Launched in Dubai

Union Minister Jyotiraditya M. Scindia officially launched the "UPI-UPU integration project" at the 28th Universal Postal Congress in Dubai, UAE.

• The System: This cross-border breakthrough links India's Unified Payments Interface (UPI) with the international Universal Postal Union (UPU) Interconnection Platform.
• The Impact: It will allow global citizens to send international remittances seamlessly through local post offices with enhanced speed and drastically lower transaction fees. India also announced a USD 10 million commitment to drive global e-commerce and digital payment innovation.

IFC Commits ₹498 Crores to GVMC for Sewerage Project

The International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, has committed ₹498 crores (USD 60 million) to the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) for the Madhurawada Sewerage System Project in Andhra Pradesh.

• The Distinction: The transaction was executed via rupee-denominated Non-Convertible Debentures (NCDs), marking India's first-ever direct municipal financing without a sovereign guarantee.

3. MoUs & Digital Approvals

• MoL&E Job Ecosystem Boost: The Ministry of Labour & Employment signed MoUs with non-profit Mentor Together and online marketplace Quikr. Quikr Jobs will integrate over 1,200 daily job listings across 1,200 cities directly onto India's National Career Service (NCS) portal.
• NPCI Appoints New TPAP: The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has officially granted Third-Party Application Provider (TPAP) approval to digital payments platform Viyona Fintech to offer seamless UPI services via its applications, GraamPay and Viyona.

15 One-Liner Question & Answers (Exam Oriented)

Q1. Which nation became the first OECD member state to sign a Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) under India's new investment framework?

Ans: Israel.

Q2. Where was the Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) between India and Israel signed in September 2025?

Ans: New Delhi, Delhi.

Q3. India's first-ever bamboo-based bio-refinery has been successfully completed in which state?

Ans: Numaligarh, Assam.

Q4. Which European country's firm (Chempolis Oy) provided the technology for India's first bamboo-based bio-refinery?

Ans: Finland.

Q5. Which central ministry organized the 5th edition of the Lok Samvardhan Parv cultural event in Kochi, Kerala?

Ans: Ministry of Minority Affairs (MoMA).

Q6. Under which flagship institutional framework was the 5th Lok Samvardhan Parv organized?

Ans: PM-VIKAS (Pradhan Mantri Virasat ka Samvardhan).

Q7. What is the name of the new high-level science conclave launched by the DST to replace the Indian Science Congress (ISC)?

Ans: ESTIC-2025 (Emerging Science, Technology, and Innovation Conclave-2025).

Q8. What is the official theme designated for the inaugural ESTIC-2025 conclave at Bharat Mandapam?

Ans: "Viksit Bharat 2047 - Pioneering Sustainable Innovation, Technological Advancement and Empowerment."

Q9. Who launched the landmark "UPI-UPU integration project" for cross-border postal remittances?

Ans: Union Minister Jyotiraditya M. Scindia.

Q10. At which international summit in Dubai, UAE, was the UPI-UPU cross-border remittance framework launched?

Ans: 28th Universal Postal Congress.

Q11. How much financial funding has India committed globally to support innovation in e-commerce and digital payments via the UPU?

Ans: USD 10 million.

Q12. The International Finance Corporation (IFC) committed ₹498 crores to which municipal corporation for a major sewerage infrastructure project?

Ans: Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC), Andhra Pradesh.

Q13. What unique financial feature distinguishes the IFC's ₹498 crore funding to GVMC from traditional municipal funding in India?

Ans: It is the first direct municipal financing executed through NCDs without a sovereign guarantee.

Q14. The Ministry of Labour & Employment integrated Quikr Jobs into which official Indian employment portal?

Ans: National Career Service (NCS) portal.

Q15. Which fintech organization was recently granted Third-Party Application Provider (TPAP) approval by the NPCI to run the GraamPay application?

Ans: Viyona Fintech.