National Affairs

Cabinet Approves CB-HRD Scheme for STEMM Research

• The Decision: The Union Cabinet approved the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research / Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR/CSIR) scheme on "Capacity Building and Human Resource Development (CB&HRD)".
• Outlay & Timeline: Approved with a total budget of ₹2,277.397 crore, spanning the 15th Finance Commission Cycle up to 2025–26.
• Objective: To build a robust pipeline of young researchers across national R&D labs, institutes of national importance, and universities, specifically targeting breakthroughs in Science, Technology, Engineering, Medical, and Mathematical Sciences (STEMM).

CCEA Approves Mega Highway and Rail Projects in Bihar

• NH-139W Greenfield Project: Construction of a 78.94 km, 4-lane section from Sahebganj to Bettiah via Areraj under the Hybrid Annuity Mode (HAM). Costing ₹3,822.31 crore, it will link Patna with Bettiah and significantly boost connectivity near the Indo-Nepal border.
• Bakhtiyarpur–Rajgir–Tilaiya Rail Doubling: Doubling of the 104 km single railway line section across four districts in Bihar at an outlay of ₹2,192 crore to expand capacity and ease rail congestion.

Railway Bonus and Massive Medical Education Expansion Sanctioned

• Productivity Linked Bonus (PLB): The Union Cabinet approved a 78-day wage bonus totaling ₹1,865.68 crore for 10.91 lakh non-gazetted railway employees (capped at ₹17,951 per employee) ahead of the festive season.
• Medical Seats Upgrade: Allocation of ₹15,034.50 crore (Shared: ₹10,303.20 crore Central / ₹4,731.30 crore State) from 2025–26 to 2028–29 to add 5,000 PG seats and 5,023 UG seats by upgrading existing government medical institutions.

CAG and CBDT Sign Pact to Optimize Financial Governance

• The Alliance: The Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) signed an MoU with the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT).
• Strategic Focus: Harnessing advanced data analytics to perform remote audits, co-developing technical training modules, and collaborating on research to tighten public financial management and GST audit compliance.

APEDA Launches First Regional Office in Patna

• The Launch: Union Minister Piyush Goyal inaugurated the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority's (APEDA) first dedicated office in Bihar.
• Impact: Provides regional farmers and Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) quick access to certification, market intelligence, and customs assistance. The opening was marked by exporting a 7-Metric-Ton maiden consignment of GI-tagged Mithila Makhana to global markets.

Ministry of Labour and Employment Partners with Zepto

• The Pact: An MoU was inked between the Ministry of Labour & Employment and quick-commerce platform Zepto to integrate job vacancies directly onto the National Career Service (NCS) Portal.
• Deliverables: Zepto has committed to creating 10,000 organized urban jobs targeting youth and women, while establishing institutional paths to register gig workers under the e-Shram portal for social security benefits.

International Affairs

Strategic Breakthrough: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh Visits Morocco

• Historic Milestone: Marks the first-ever visit by an Indian Defence Minister to Morocco, anchoring India's growing footprint in North Africa.
• Key Pacts: A bilateral defence cooperation MoU was signed in Rabat alongside the announcement of a new Indian Defence Wing in Morocco.
• First Defense Plant in Africa: Jointly inaugurated Tata Advanced Systems Limited's (TASL) 20,000 sq. meter production facility in Berrechid. This plant—India's first defence manufacturing asset in Africa—will assemble the indigenously developed Wheeled Armoured Platform (WhAP) 8×8 vehicles.

Banking & Finance

QR-Based UPI Payments Live in Qatar for Indian Travelers

• The Rollout: NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL) and Qatar National Bank (QNB) activated merchant-facing UPI QR codes.
• First Phase: Live at Qatar Duty Free inside Hamad International Airport (Doha), with instant INR-to-QAR forex conversions handled via Japan's NETSTARS payment engine.
• Global Footprint: Qatar officially becomes the 8th country to successfully adopt India's UPI ecosystem.

RBI Renews Commitment to the FX Global Code

• Global Best Practices: The Reserve Bank of India renewed its Statement of Commitment (SoC) to the FX Global Code.
• Significance: Reaffirms that the RBI will act transparently as an elite "Market Participant," maintaining integrity and robust wholesale risk protocols across its global foreign exchange operations.

SEBI Raises Net Worth Rules for Custodians to ₹75 Crore

• Regulatory Tightening: SEBI amended the Custodian Regulations, hiking the minimum net worth barrier from ₹50 crore to ₹75 crore to buffer operational risks.
• Transition Windows: The rules kick in after 6 months; existing custodians are given 3 years to comply. The rules explicitly restrict making exaggerated marketing claims and mandate strict internal shields against corporate fraud and asset theft.

Standalone Primary Dealers Allowed in Rupee NDF Market

• Market Deepening: The RBI expanded access to the offshore Rupee Non-Deliverable Forward (NDF) market by allowing standalone primary dealers (SPDs) authorized as AD Category-III to trade in Rupee Non-Deliverable Derivative Contracts (NDDCs). SPDs can now extend liquidity and market-making services to both residents and non-residents.

Awards & Recognitions

Kroll Brand Rankings 2024: Virat Kohli Solidifies Top Spot

• The Leaderboard: Cricketer Virat Kohli retained the apex spot in India with a surging brand valuation of USD 231.1 million.
• Key Ranks: Actor Ranveer Singh stood 2nd, while Shah Rukh Khan held onto the 3rd spot.
• Top Female Star: Alia Bhatt ranked 4th overall (USD 116.4 million), emerging as India's most valued female celebrity asset. Actress Ananya Panday broke into the top 25 list for the first time at the 25th spot.

India Secures ICAO Council President Certificate for Aviation Safety

• Global Standard Certification: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) received the prestigious International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Council President Certificate in Montreal, Canada.
• Why it Matters: Recognizes India's stellar progress in compliance and safety oversight metrics logged via the ICAO Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme (USOAP).

Appointments & Resignations

General Anil Chauhan Retained as CDS Until May 2026

• Tenure Extension: The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) extended General Anil Chauhan’s executive run as Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) and Secretary of the Department of Military Affairs (DMA) until May 30, 2026.

Science & Technology

DRDO Test Fires Next-Gen Agni-Prime from Rail Mobile Launcher

• The Milestone: DRDO and the Strategic Forces Command (SFC) successfully executed a textbook test launch of the nuclear-capable, canisterized Agni-Prime (Agni-P) ballistic missile (Strike Range: 1,000–2,000 km).
• Strategic Value: Conducted using a specialized Rail-Based Mobile Launcher (RBML) integrated with the national railway network, significantly boosting India’s hidden second-strike mobility and tactical reaction timelines.

ISRO and Schneider Electric Deepen Space Site Automation

• Operational Upgrade: Extending a 15-year old alliance, ISRO teamed up with Schneider Electric SE to overhaul infrastructure and power systems at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) in Sriharikota to meet the scaling demands of heavy-payload vehicle launches.

Sports

Futsal History: India Bags First International Victory

• The Match: The Indian National Futsal Team registered its maiden international win by shutting out Mongolia 3–0 during the 2026 AFC Futsal Asian Cup qualifiers held in Ardiya, Kuwait.

Obituary

Legendary Kannada Novelist SL Bhyrappa Passes Away

• Literary Loss: Acclaimed Kannada philosopher, screenwriter, and novelist Santeshivara Lingannaiah (S.L.) Bhyrappa passed away at 94 in Bengaluru.
• Legacy: Author of 25 seminal novels (including Parva, Mandra, and Vamshavruksha), he was decorated with the Sahitya Akademi Fellowship (2015), Padma Shri (2016), and the Padma Bhushan (2023).

Important Days

National Ayurveda Day 2025 – September 23

• 10th Milestone Edition: Observed under the theme “Ayurveda for People and Planet”.
• Fixed Date Change: Shifting from a fluid lunar calendar layout, the Government of India permanently locked September 23 (coinciding with the Autumnal Equinox) for all future annual editions.

World Pharmacists Day 2025 – September 25

• Theme: “Think Health, Think Pharmacist”.
• Sector Pulse: Commemorating the 1912 founding of the FIP, reports show India's pharma base hit USD 50 billion in market value (projected to hit USD 130 billion by 2030), supplying 20% of global generic medicines and 60% of UNICEF's core vaccine requests.

Antyodaya Diwas 2025 – September 25

• The Anniversary: Celebrated across India to commemorate the 109th birth anniversary of thinker and political philosopher Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya, highlighting structural programs aimed at upliftment of the poorest sections of society.