Daily Current Affairs 25th September, 2025, Important News Headlines (Daily GK Update)

National News

PM Narendra Modi Chairs 49th PRAGATI Meeting

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired the 49th PRAGATI meeting to review eight critical infrastructure projects across Mines, Railways, Water Resources, Industrial Corridors, and Power sectors, spanning 15 States and UTs with a combined investment of over ₹65,000 crore.
• Emphasizing timely implementation, the PM stressed that delays not only escalate costs but also deprive citizens of essential services.

Cabinet Approves 78-Day Bonus for Railway Employees

• The Union Cabinet, chaired by PM Narendra Modi, has approved a Productivity Linked Bonus (PLB) of 78 days for 10.91 lakh railway employees amounting to ₹1865.68 crore.
• This bonus, paid ahead of the Durga Puja/Dussehra holidays, serves as an incentive for the employees’ excellent performance.
• The maximum bonus of ₹17,951 will be given to eligible non-gazetted staff, including Track Maintainers, Loco Pilots, Station Masters, and Technicians.
• In the 2024-25 year, Indian Railways achieved record cargo loading of 1614.90 Million Tonnes and nearly 7.3 billion passengers.

GST Appellate Tribunal (GSTAT) Launched by Finance Minister

• The Goods and Services Tax Appellate Tribunal (GSTAT) was launched by Union Finance Minister Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman to provide a unified, independent forum for resolving GST disputes efficiently across India.
• GSTAT aims for jargon-free decisions, digital-by-default filings, and time-bound hearings to reduce litigation delays and improve ease of doing business, especially benefiting MSMEs and exporters.
• It features a nationwide structure with a Principal Bench in Delhi and 31 State Benches, combining judicial and technical expertise.

India Restricts Silver Imports Till March 31, 2026

• The Indian government has restricted silver and unstudded jewellery imports till March 31, 2026, following a surge in imports, especially from Thailand, raising concerns of duty evasion under the Asean-India Trade Agreement.
• Imports of these products will now require a government license.
• In a separate move, exports of non-basmati rice are now subject to mandatory contract registration with APEDA, amid a 6.4% rise in India’s rice exports during April–August FY26.

State News

Cabinet Approves ₹3,822 Crore NH-139W Highway Project in Bihar

• The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by PM Narendra Modi, has approved the construction of a 4-lane Sahebganj-Areraj-Bettiah section of NH-139W in Bihar on Hybrid Annuity Mode (HAM).
• The 78.942 km project, worth ₹3,822.31 crore, will improve connectivity between Patna and Bettiah, enhancing access to key regions in North Bihar and facilitating regional economic growth.
• The project will support long-distance freight, connect seven PM Gati Shakti nodes, and improve access to tourist sites like the Kesariya Buddha Stupa and Mahavir Temple.
• It will cut travel time between Sahebganj and Bettiah from 2.5 hours to 1 hour and generate over 31.9 lakh man-days of direct and indirect employment.

Cabinet Approves Doubling of Bakhtiyarpur–Tilaiya Rail Line

• The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, led by PM Narendra Modi, has approved the doubling of the Bakhtiyarpur – Rajgir – Tilaiya railway line (104 km) in Bihar with an estimated cost of ₹2,192 crore.
• This project will enhance connectivity across four districts and promote tourism to sites like Rajgir, Nalanda, and Pawapuri.
• It will improve rail access to approximately 1,434 villages and 13.46 lakh people while boosting freight transport capacity by 26 MTPA.
• The expansion will help reduce CO2 emissions (equivalent to planting 1 crore trees) and minimize logistics costs.

International News

India, Australia Sign Organic Products Mutual Recognition Arrangement

• India and Australia signed a Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA) for Organic Products on September 24, 2025, at Vanijya Bhavan, New Delhi, strengthening their strategic partnership under the India-Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Arrangement (ECTA).
• The MRA, implemented by APEDA (India) and DAFF (Australia), covers unprocessed plant products, processed foods with organic ingredients, and wine, promoting trust in each other’s organic standards and simplifying compliance.

Super Typhoon Ragasa Devastates South-East Asia

• Super Typhoon Ragasa, the world’s strongest storm of 2025, has wreaked havoc across South-East Asia, affecting Taiwan, Hong Kong, the Philippines, and South China.
• The storm caused severe flooding and infrastructure destruction, with 17 deaths and 18 injuries reported in Taiwan, and 4 deaths in the Philippines. Nearly 2 million people have been evacuated in southern China, where Guangdong Province suspended schools, transport, and businesses.
• Despite gradually moving away from Hong Kong, Ragasa continues to bring hurricane-force winds and heavy rain, prompting an orange alert from China’s National Meteorological Centre.

Agreements News

Govt, Zepto Partner to Boost Jobs via NCS Portal

• The Government has partnered with quick commerce platform Zepto to boost employment opportunities and youth employability via the National Career Service (NCS) Portal.
• The Ministry of Labour and Employment signed an MoU in the presence of Union Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya.
• With over 52 lakh registered employers and 7.5 crore vacancies mobilized, NCS serves as a key link between employers and job seekers.
• Zepto will offer 10,000 job postings during the MoU, focusing on youth, women, and first-time job seekers, while promoting formalization, upskilling, gig worker inclusion, and access to social security schemes through e-Shram registration.

UAE-India Business Council Signs MoUs to Deepen Trade Ties

• The UAE-India Business Council (UIBC) has signed strategic MoUs to boost bilateral trade and investments, focusing on institutional collaboration and grassroots CEPA implementation.
• Agreements were made with the UAE-India CEPA Council, the Services Export Promotion Council (SEPC), and regional Chambers of Commerce to strengthen cooperation across key sectors like logistics, healthcare, IT/ITES, education, and tourism, while enhancing B2B and B2G ties and state-level trade linkages.
• These initiatives aim to unlock new economic opportunities and redefine global trade flows.

Defence News

Centre Extends General Anil Chauhan’s Tenure as Chief of Defence Staff Till 2026

• The Central Government has extended the tenure of General Anil Chauhan as Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) till May 30, 2026, ensuring continuity and stability in India’s military leadership.
• Appointed as CDS in September 2022, Chauhan — also Secretary of the Department of Military Affairs (DMA) — has been pivotal in advancing theatre commands, tri-service integration, and defence modernization.

Summits & Conferences News

7th Future Food Forum 2025 Begins in Dubai

• The 7th Future Food Forum 2025 opened in Dubai, uniting policymakers, industry leaders, and academics to address food security, trade, and innovation across the Global South.
• Key discussions focused on resilient food ecosystems, leveraging technology, sustainable practices, and cross-border partnerships.
• The role of Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements (CEPAs) in boosting food manufacturing, logistics, and SME integration into global supply chains was emphasized.

Schemes News

Cabinet Greenlights DSIR/CSIR “Capacity Building & Human Resource Development” Scheme

• The Cabinet, chaired by PM Narendra Modi, has approved the DSIR/CSIR Scheme on “Capacity Building and Human Resource Development” with an outlay of ₹2277.397 crore for the 2021-26 period.
• The scheme, aimed at fostering young researchers, will support R&D institutions, national laboratories, and universities across India.
• It will focus on Science, Technology & Engineering, Medical, and Mathematical Sciences (STEMM), and aims to enhance India’s Global Innovation Index and support the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
• With four sub-schemes including fellowships, the scheme strengthens India’s R&D ecosystem and drives global leadership in science.

Sports News

ICC Suspends USA Cricket’s Membership Over Governance Issues

• The International Cricket Council (ICC) has suspended USA Cricket’s membership due to repeated breaches of governance obligations and failure to secure National Governing Body status with the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC).
• Despite the suspension, USA’s national teams will continue participating in ICC events, including preparations for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics (LA28).
• The ICC will oversee the management of USA teams temporarily to protect players’ interests and support high-performance development.

Bayern Munich Legend Jerome Boateng Announces Retirement

• Jerome Boateng, former Bayern Munich and Germany defender, has announced his retirement at the age of 37. The 2014 FIFA World Cup winner shared the news on Instagram, closing a career marked by tactical brilliance, long-ball precision, and strong defensive performances.
• Despite recent off-field controversies, Boateng’s legacy includes numerous titles with Bayern and key contributions to Germany’s historic World Cup win.
• His retirement signals the end of an era for one of modern football’s most prominent center-backs.

Important Days News

World Pharmacists Day 2025 Celebrated Globally

• World Pharmacists Day 2025, observed on September 25, celebrates the vital role of pharmacists in ensuring medication safety, patient care, and strengthening health systems.
• Initiated by the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) in 2009, the day commemorates the federation’s founding in 1912.
• The 2025 theme, “Think Health, Think Pharmacist”, underscores pharmacists as integral healthcare providers—not just medicine dispensers.
• It calls for their full integration into health policies, promoting collaboration across sectors to enhance public health outcomes globally.

Antyodaya Diwas 2025: Honouring Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya’s Vision