National News
EPFO Officer Selected for World Bank–Milken PFAM Program
- Shri Vivekanand Gupta, Regional Provident Fund Commissioner, has been selected as the sole Indian participant in the prestigious World Bank – Milken Institute Public Financial Asset Management (PFAM) Program 2025–26, marking a historic first for the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) and its training academy PDUNASS.
- This global leadership program, held at Bayes Business School, London, will enhance EPFO’s expertise in capital markets, governance, and strategic asset management, aligning it with international best practices to better manage retirement funds and boost financial governance.
India Adds 7 New Sites to UNESCO Tentative List
- Seven new Indian sites—including the Deccan Traps (Maharashtra), Tirumala Hills (Andhra Pradesh), and Meghalayan Age Caves (Meghalaya)—have been added to the UNESCO Tentative List, raising India’s total to 69 properties.
- These inclusions, under the Natural Heritage category, reflect India’s commitment to preserving its cultural and natural legacy, as noted by the Permanent Delegation of India to UNESCO.
- This step is a prerequisite for final World Heritage status, with the Archaeological Survey of India acknowledged for its efforts.
State News
Justice M Sundar Sworn in as Chief Justice of Manipur High Court
- Justice M. Sundar was sworn in as the 10th Chief Justice of the Manipur High Court on September 15, 2025, by Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla at Raj Bhavan, Imphal.
- His appointment follows the retirement of Justice Kempaiah Somashekar, who served briefly since May 22, 2025. Justice Sundar, aged 59, was recommended by the Supreme Court collegium, and previously served as the second senior-most judge of the Madras High Court, where he began his legal career in 1989 and became a permanent judge in 2016.
- He joins a line of Madras HC judges who have led the Manipur HC.
Acharya Devvrat Takes Oath as Maharashtra Governor
- Acharya Devvrat took oath as the Governor of Maharashtra on September 15, 2025, administered by Bombay High Court Chief Justice Shree Chandrashekhar at the Raj Bhavan, Mumbai.
- He was appointed by President Droupadi Murmu to hold the additional charge of Maharashtra Governor after C.P. Radhakrishnan resigned following his election as the country’s next Vice-President.
- Devvrat continues to serve as the Governor of Gujarat alongside his new responsibilities.
PM Modi Inaugurates Bioethanol, Polypropylene Projects in Assam
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated a Bioethanol Plant and laid the foundation stone for a Polypropylene Unit in Golaghat, Assam, marking a major step towards clean energy and industrial development in the Northeast.
- India’s push for energy self-reliance, highlighting that Assam is playing a key role in sectors like bioethanol from bamboo, semiconductors, and petrochemicals.
- With projects worth â‚ą18,000 crore, including a â‚ą27,000 crore semiconductor plant in Morigaon, Assam is being positioned as a hub for Make in India and Aatmanirbhar Bharat.
PM Modi Inaugurates Purnia Airport, Launches â‚ą36,000 Cr Bihar Projects
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the interim terminal building at the New Civil Enclave of Purnea Airport in Bihar, and launched multiple development projects worth around â‚ą36,000 crore.
- Key initiatives include a 3×800 MW thermal power plant in Pirpainti, Bhagalpur (largest private-sector investment in the state), the Kosi‑Mechi Intra‑State River Link Project, the National Makhana Board, new rail connectivity lines, and the flagging off of the first Purnea‑Kolkata flight.
International News
US, South Korea, Japan Launch Freedom Edge Military Exercise
- The US, South Korea, and Japan launched a joint air and naval exercise named Freedom Edge near Jeju Island on September 15, 2025, to enhance trilateral defense cooperation against North Korea’s nuclear threats.
- The drills include missile defense, aerial operations, and cyber capabilities, marking the most advanced cooperation to date, according to US Indo-Pacific Command.
- North Korea, via Kim Yo Jong, condemned the exercise as a “reckless show of strength”, warning of consequences and criticizing related efforts like the Iron Mace tabletop drill integrating US nuclear and South Korean conventional deterrence.
Albania Appoints World’s First AI Cabinet Minister
- Albania has become the first country in the world to appoint an AI-powered cabinet minister, unveiling “Diella”, a virtual official responsible for overseeing public procurement.
- Launched by Prime Minister Edi Rama on September 11, 2025, Diella operates through Albania’s digital services portal, processing tenders and handling over 36,000 documents and 1,000+ services using voice commands.
- While the move has been praised for its innovation in fighting corruption, critics warn of risks tied to AI governance flaws that could spark potential crises.
Banking News
RBI Launches Microsite on Indian Banknotes
- The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has launched a new microsite—https://indiancurrency.rbi.org.in—to educate the public on Indian banknotes, highlighting their design and security features.
- Key tools include a 360-degree view of notes, multimedia resources (videos, audio, animations), and interactive games for better public awareness.
- The portal also provides clear information on the exchange of old or damaged currency, making it a comprehensive and user-friendly platform for promoting currency literacy and combating counterfeit notes.
Appointments News
Amit Khare Appointed Secretary to Vice-President Radhakrishnan
- Amit Khare, retired IAS officer and current advisor to PM Narendra Modi, has been appointed Secretary to Vice-President CP Radhakrishnan for a three-year contract.
- Khare, from the 1985 Jharkhand cadre, previously served as Union Higher Education Secretary and played a key role in the National Education Policy. Meanwhile, Kerala cadre IAS officer Chandrasekar S (2014 batch) was named private secretary to the Vice-President.
- Radhakrishnan took oath as V-P on September 12 after winning the election, following Jagdeep Dhankhar’s resignation in July.
Carlos Felipe Jaramillo Appointed World Bank VP for EAP
- The World Bank has appointed Carlos Felipe Jaramillo as Vice President for East Asia and Pacific (EAP), effective September 15, 2025. Based in Singapore, now the new regional hub, Jaramillo will oversee partnerships with 23 countries and manage a portfolio of over US$32 billion.
- With over two decades of experience, including leading the Latin America and Caribbean region and managing operations in Africa, he aims to boost development in jobs, energy, human capital, and digitalization.
- Jaramillo holds a Ph.D. in Development Economics from Stanford University and has also served in the Government of Colombia.
Awards News
Muzaffarpur Tops Inspire Award 2025 for Student Innovation
- Muzaffarpur (Bihar) ranked first in India for the Inspire Award 2025, with 7,403 student submissions of innovative ideas, surpassing major cities like Bengaluru (7,306) and Lucknow (6,182).
- The INSPIRE Award, run by the Department of Science and Technology, promotes creativity and innovation among students from Classes 6 to 10, offering financial support to build models.
- The success in Muzaffarpur is credited to coordinated efforts by teachers and officials under the District Education Officer, with Vaishali also ranking sixth nationally.
Books & Authors News
Rocket Dreams: Billionaires, Power, and the New Space Race
- Rocket Dreams by Christian Davenport exposes how today’s space race is driven by billionaire rivalries between Elon Musk’s SpaceX and Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin, focusing on ego, lawsuits, and political battles rather than pure scientific exploration, raising concerns about space becoming an elite, trillion-dollar industry benefiting only the wealthy.
Dapaan: Ipsita Chakravarty’s Kashmir Stories of Survival
- Ipsita Chakravarty’s Dapaan: The Stories of Kashmir that Refuse to Die uses oral memory, folklore, and rumor to reveal how Kashmiris live under decades of conflict, oppression, and surveillance.
- Through stories of resistance, satire, and spectral fears, the book highlights everyday political survival beyond official narratives, capturing the haalaat—the complex conditions—that shape life in Kashmir amid ongoing turmoil.
Defense News
INS Nistar Joins Exercise Pacific Reach 2025 in Singapore
- INS Nistar, India’s latest indigenously designed Diving Support Vessel (DSV), made its maiden port call at Changi Naval Base, Singapore to participate in the multinational Exercise Pacific Reach 2025 starting September 15.
- The ship, over 80% indigenized, will serve as the mothership for the Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle (DSRV), showcasing India’s Aatmanirbharta in naval technology.
- The exercise involves 40+ nations, focusing on submarine rescue operations, interoperability, and best practices in the South China Sea with both harbour and sea phases.
Summits & Conferences News
PM Modi Opens 16th Armed Forces Conference in Kolkata
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the 16th Combined Commanders’ Conference at the Eastern Command Headquarters, Kolkata, under the theme “Year of Reforms – Transforming for the Future.”
- The biennial conference, attended by top officials like Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, NSA Ajit Doval, and CDS General Anil Chauhan, focused on military modernization, joint operational planning via theatre commands, AI and cyber defense, and defense indigenization.
- Hosting the event at Eastern Command highlights the strategic significance of India’s eastern front near China and Myanmar borders.
Sports News
Mohammed Siraj Named ICC Men’s Player of August 2025
- Mohammed Siraj has been named ICC Men’s Player of the Month for August 2025 after his match-winning nine-wicket haul in the final Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy at The Oval, helping India level the series 2-2 against England.
- His five-wicket haul in the second innings and relentless performance across the five-match series made him the leading wicket-taker.
- Siraj also achieved his career-best Test ranking, beating out Matt Henry and Jayden Seales for the award.
Anandkumar Wins India’s First-Ever Gold at Speed Skating World Champions
- India created history at the Speed Skating World Championships as Anandkumar Velkumar won the country’s first-ever gold in the senior men’s 1000m event, clocking 1:24.924 in China.
- He followed up his earlier bronze in the 500m sprint, making him India’s first senior World Champion in the sport.
- On the same day, Krish Sharma clinched gold in the junior 1000m, completing a double gold for India and marking a breakthrough moment in Indian roller sports.
Obituaries News
Sarada Hoffman, Kalakshetra Bharatanatyam Guru, Dies at 96
- Sarada Hoffman (also known as Alladi Sarada or Sarada teacher), a revered Bharatanatyam exponent and foundational figure at Kalakshetra, passed away on 14 September 2025 in California at the age of 96.
- Born on 15 June 1929 in Adyar, she played a crucial role in standardising the Kalakshetra Bharatanatyam methodology, influencing generations of dancers.
- She was honoured with the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (1996) and was the first recipient of the Rukmini Devi Medal for Excellence in the Arts.
- Her notable disciples include Yamini Krishnamurthy, C.V. Chandrasekhar, and the Dhananjayans.
Current Affairs Today | 16 Sep Current Affairs 2025 | Daily Current Affairs By Ashish Gautam
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