Daily Current Affairs 24th September, 2025, Important News Headlines (Daily GK Update)

State News

Karnataka Launches Rs 1,000 Crore “LEAP” to Fuel Innovation Across the State

• The Karnataka government has launched the Rs 1,000 crore LEAP (Local Economy Accelerator Programme) to drive innovation and create five lakh jobs across the state, focusing on growth beyond Bengaluru.
• Over five years, LEAP aims to build strong startup ecosystems in emerging tech clusters like Mysuru, Mangaluru, Hubbali, Tumkur, Kalaburagi, and Shivamogga by addressing infrastructure and funding gaps, transforming them into global innovation hubs, and promoting equitable economic growth statewide.

Amit Shah Inaugurates Startup Conclave 2025 in Gandhinagar

• Union Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurated the Startup Conclave 2025 at Mahatma Mandir, Gandhinagar, a two-day event organized by the State Education department.
• The conclave brings together over 1,000 startups, 5,000 innovators, 100 industry mentors, 50+ venture funds, and key policymakers. Showcasing 170+ startups from 20 states, including those from Startup India and the Ministry of Electronics & IT, it also highlights innovations for defence.

Banking News

Jio Payments Bank Introduces “Savings Pro” Earn Up to 6.5%

• Jio Payments Bank has launched ‘Savings Pro’, allowing customers to earn up to 6.5% interest on surplus funds by automatically investing amounts exceeding a set threshold into low-risk overnight mutual funds via the JioFinance app.
• The service offers instant redemption of up to 90% of investments, no hidden charges, and complete digital transparency.

RBI Cancels NBFC Licence of Datta Finance and Trading

• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has cancelled the Certificate of Registration (CoR) of Datta Finance and Trading Pvt Ltd, a New Delhi-based NBFC, due to irregular digital lending practices.
• The company violated RBI norms by outsourcing core functions—including customer sourcing, KYC, loan disbursement, servicing, and recovery—to third-party service providers like KinCash, DoLoan (Zest Top One Technology Pvt Ltd), and its in-house app ZestCash.
• As a result, Datta Finance can no longer operate as a non-banking financial institution (NBFI), the RBI stated.

Business News

Nvidia to Invest $100 Billion in OpenAI A Historic Push to AI Infra

• Nvidia plans to invest up to $100 billion in AI startup OpenAI to develop data centers, deploying at least 10 gigawatts of Nvidia chips for OpenAI’s AI infrastructure.
• This strategic partnership aims to accelerate AI growth amid rising competition for energy and chip resources, with initial deployment expected in the second half of 2026.
• This comes shortly after Nvidia committed $5 billion to support struggling chipmaker Intel.

Appointments News

Vandana Gupta Assumes Charge as Controller General of Communication Accounts

• Ms. Vandana Gupta has assumed charge as the Controller General of Communication Accounts in New Delhi, following her promotion to the Apex Grade.
• A 1990 batch officer of the Indian Post & Telecommunication Accounts and Finance Service (IP&TAFS), she has held key roles across multiple states and central departments, including the DoT, DoP, CAG, MoWCD, NCW, and GGSIPU.

Awards News

President Murmu Felicitates Winners at the 71st National Film Awards Ceremony

• President Droupadi Murmu felicitated the winners of the 71st National Film Awards held on September 23, 2025, at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, celebrating the finest in Indian cinema for 2023.
• Mohanlal received the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award, while 12th Fail was named Best Feature Film. The Best Actor award was shared by Shah Rukh Khan (Jawan) and Vikrant Massey (12th Fail), and Rani Mukerji won Best Actress for Mrs. Chatterjee vs Norway. Films like Kathal, Ullozhukku, Parking, and Vash earned top regional and acting honours, while technical excellence was recognized in films like Sam Bahadur, Vaathi, and Pookkaalam, showcasing a blend of veteran legends, new-age talent, and socially relevant storytelling.

UK PM Keir Starmer Honoured with ‘Living Bridge’ Award for India-UK FTA

• UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer was honoured with the ‘Living Bridge’ award for his pivotal role in concluding the India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA), aimed at doubling bilateral trade to USD 120 billion by 2030.
• The award, presented at a ceremony in the House of Lords, was accepted on his behalf by Seema Malhotra, Britain’s Indian-origin Minister for the Indo-Pacific (FCDO).
• Organised by the India Business Group (IBG), the event also recognised GMR Group, GP Hinduja, KPMG UK Chair Bina Mehta, and the University of Southampton for strengthening UK-India ties.

Defense News

Russia to Complete S‑400 Missile System Deliveries to India by 2026

• Russia will complete delivery of all five S-400 Triumf air defence systems to India by 2026, under the $5.43 billion deal signed in 2018. Four systems have already been delivered, significantly boosting India’s long-range air defence capabilities against threats like fighter jets, UAVs, and missiles.
• The deal reflects the strong India-Russia defence partnership despite geopolitical pressures, including potential US sanctions under CAATSA.
• The S-400 enhances India’s layered air defence, early warning, and strategic autonomy in defence procurement.

Indian Navy to Commission ‘Androth’: Second Anti-Submarine Warfare

• The Indian Navy will commission its second Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC), Androth, on 6 Oct 2025 at Visakhapatnam.
• Built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) with over 80% indigenous components, Androth embodies India’s push for Aatmanirbharta and maritime self-reliance.
• Equipped with advanced weapons, sensors, and waterjet propulsion, it is designed for underwater threat detection, maritime surveillance, and coastal defence.
• Named after Androth Island, the vessel continues the legacy of the previous INS Androth, strengthening India’s maritime security and indigenous warship capabilities.

MDL Signs MoU with Tamil Nadu to Develop World-Class Shipyard on East Coast

• Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) has signed an MoU with Guidance Tamil Nadu to develop a world-class greenfield shipyard on India’s eastern coast.
• This initiative, part of the Government’s Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047, aims to boost shipbuilding capabilities.
• The MoU was signed on 19 September 2025 during a ceremony led by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, with Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal present.

Cochin Shipyard Signs MoU with HD Korea to Boost Shipbuilding

• Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) has signed a long-term MoU with HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering to boost India’s Atmanirbhar Bharat shipbuilding capabilities, leveraging CSL’s infrastructure and HD KSOE’s advanced technology.
• Key initiatives include constructing large vessels using CSL’s 310-meter dry dock, developing an 80-acre Block Fabrication Facility (BFF) in Kochi with a ₹3,700 crore investment and 1,20,000 MT annual capacity, and planning a ₹15,000 crore shipyard in Tamil Nadu to create 10,000 jobs.

Summits & Confernces News

Visakhapatnam Declaration 2025: Charting India’s Digital Transformation

• The Visakhapatnam Declaration, adopted at the 28th National Conference on e-Governance, outlines a roadmap for India’s digital transformation focusing on civil service reform, AI, and inclusive growth.
• It emphasizes leveraging emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain, IoT, and Data Analytics for transparent, citizen-centric governance while ensuring cybersecurity and digital trust.

World Food India 2025 Set to Begin in New Delhi

Schemes News

Ayushman Bharat Completes 7 Years: Transforming India’s Healthcare Landscape

• Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) marks 7 years since its launch in September 2018.
• As the world’s largest government-funded health assurance scheme, it has provided ₹5 lakh annual health cover to over 55 crore beneficiaries, authorizing 10.3 crore+ hospital admissions worth ₹1.48 lakh crore.
• The scheme now includes 12 crore families, ASHA/anganwadi workers, senior citizens 70+, and nearly 1 crore gig workers.
• With 1.8 lakh Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, the initiative has revolutionized universal health coverage in India, praised by PM Modi for combining scale, compassion, and technology.

Obituaries News

• Legendary cricket umpire Harold ‘Dickie’ Bird has died at the age of 92.
• Widely regarded as one of the greatest umpires, he officiated in 66 Tests and 69 ODIs, including the 1983 World Cup final where India defeated West Indies.
• Before umpiring, Bird had a modest playing career with Yorkshire and Leicestershire, later becoming club president.
• He was honoured with a guard of honour during his final Test in 1996 at Lord’s, leaving a legacy as one of cricket’s most beloved figures.

Current Affairs Today | 24 Sep Current Affairs 2025 | Daily Current

Affairs By Ashish Gautam