National News
Make in India Marks 11 Years of Economic Transformation
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi marked the 11th anniversary of the Make in India initiative, celebrating its role in driving economic growth, fostering entrepreneurship, boosting innovation, creating jobs, and laying the foundation for Aatmanirbharta (self-reliance).
- This milestone reflects the initiative’s lasting impact on strengthening India’s industrial and economic landscape.
- The Scheme was launched by PM Narendra Modi on 25th September, 2014.
India’s First EV Truck Fleet Flagged Off at JNPA
- India’s first fleet of electric heavy trucks with swappable batteries was flagged off at Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) by Union Minister Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, marking a major push toward sustainable logistics.
- JNPA aims to convert 90% of its 600-truck fleet to EVs by 2026, making it the largest EV truck fleet in any Indian port.
- A battery swapping station was also commissioned, supporting operational efficiency and faster turnaround.
- An MoU with Ashoka University’s Isaac Centre for Public Policy (ICPP) was signed to develop a tariff benchmarking framework for ports.
State News
Tirumala Gets India’s First AI-Based Command Centre for Pilgrims
- TTD has launched India’s first AI-powered Integrated Command & Control Centre (ICCC) at Tirumala for efficient pilgrim management and safety.
- Inaugurated by Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, the ICCC offers real-time queue analytics, density maps, facial recognition, drone-assisted emergency response, and 3D congestion mapping.
- It also monitors cyber threats and misinformation, ensuring enhanced security and smooth sarva darshanam flow with round-the-clock monitoring and cross-department coordination.
International News
India Nominates IIT-Madras as UN AI Centre of Excellence
- India has nominated IIT-Madras as a UN Centre of Excellence (COE) for Artificial Intelligence (AI) capacity building and skilling under the UN Office for Digital and Emerging Technologies (ODET) initiative.
- Announced by MeitY Secretary S Krishnan at the UN General Assembly, this move supports the Global South in closing the AI capacity gap.
- India aims to skill 10 million people annually through its India AI Mission and will host the AI Impact Summit in February 2026 to foster global collaboration.
Banking News
Banking Liquidity Deficit Widens to ₹87,183 Crore
- The banking system liquidity deficit widened sharply to ₹87,183 crore on September 23, driven by ongoing advance tax and GST outflows after months of surplus since March 2025.
- To ease the crunch, the RBI conducted an overnight variable rate repo (VRR) auction injecting ₹1.50 lakh crore, accepting bids worth ₹48,980 crore at a 5.51% weighted average rate.
- Another VRR auction of ₹1.25 lakh crore is planned to further support liquidity.
UPI Launches in Qatar, Boosting Digital Payments Abroad
- Unified Payments Interface (UPI) has gone live in Qatar, starting with Qatar Duty Free at Hamad Airport, making Qatar the eighth country to enable UPI for Indian travelers abroad.
- This move, facilitated by a partnership between NPCI International Payments Ltd (NIPL), Qatar National Bank (QNB), and NETSTARS, allows Indians to make cashless, real-time payments via apps like PhonePe, Google Pay, and BHIM.
- The expansion aims to ease foreign exchange hassles, reduce the need for carrying cash, and boost digital transactions in Qatar’s retail and tourism sectors.
Economy News
India’s GDP to Grow 6.5% in FY26: S&P
- S&P Global Ratings has retained India’s GDP growth forecast at 6.5% for the current fiscal, citing strong domestic demand, a benign monsoon, and rising government investment.
- The agency also lowered inflation projections to 3.2%, expecting a 25 bps rate cut by the RBI this year.
- Despite global headwinds and U.S. tariff impacts, India’s resilient economy is projected to sustain momentum through policy support and consumer spending.
Appointments News
Anand Piramal Named Chairman of Piramal Finance
- Anand Piramal has been appointed Chairman of Piramal Finance, succeeding his father Ajay Piramal after the merger of Piramal Enterprises into the company, approved by the National Company Law Tribunal.
- Ajay Piramal resigned as non-executive chairman but continues to lead Piramal Group. Jairam Sridharan will be MD & CEO, and new independent directors including Rajiv Mehrishi, Asheet Mehta, Anjali Bansal, and former Axis Bank MD & CEO Shikha Sharma have been appointed, pending shareholder approval.
Sudhanshu Vats Appointed President of ASCI, Subramanyeswar Vice Chair
- Sudhanshu Vats, Managing Director of Pidilite Industries Ltd, has been appointed as the new President of the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI), with S Subramanyeswar of MullenLowe Global named as vice chairman.
- At ASCI’s 39th Annual General Meeting, Vats emphasized the importance of self-regulation, integrity in advertising, and consumer trust.
- ASCI plans to launch the ‘AdWise’ children’s advertising and media literacy program to train over a million students and conduct ethnographic research on Gen Alpha for responsible advertising.
- The council will also expand its presence in Bengaluru and New Delhi.
Awards News
Tamil Arts & Cinema’s Best Recognized in Kalaimamani Awards 2021-23 — See Full List!
- The Tamil Nadu government has announced the Kalaimamani Awards for 2021-23, honoring around 90 artistes excelling in literature, music, dance, theatre, cinema, and traditional arts.
- Notable recipients include actors Sai Pallavi, S.J. Suryah, Vikram Prabhu, music director Anirudh Ravichander, and veteran singer K.J. Yesudas (M.S. Subbulakshmi Award).
- The awards ceremony, presided over by Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, will take place in Chennai this October.
Defense News
India Tests Agni-Prime Missile from Rail-Based Launcher
- India successfully test-fired the Agni-Prime intermediate-range ballistic missile from a rail-based mobile launcher, showcasing the nation’s cutting-edge missile deployment capabilities.
- The test, conducted by DRDO and Strategic Forces Command, makes India one of the few countries with the ability to launch from a moving rail platform.
- With a range of 2,000 km and advanced features like independent launch systems and secure communications, this first-of-its-kind test met all mission objectives, enhancing India’s strategic mobility and readiness.
L&T, BEL Join Race to Build India’s Stealth Fighter Jet
- L&T and BEL have formed a 50:50 consortium to bid for India’s ₹15,000 crore Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) programme, marking the first major private sector entry in building a 5th-generation fighter jet.
- The move challenges HAL’s monopoly, as more bids from private defence players like Adani Defence are expected before the September 30 deadline.
- Developed by DRDO’s Aeronautical Development Agency, the project aims to build five prototypes in five years, boosting private-public collaboration in India’s defence manufacturing ecosystem.
Rank & Reports News
Children in India 2025 Report Released Here You Need To Know
- The Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation (MoSPI) released the fourth edition of “Children in India 2025”, presenting comprehensive data on the status of children in India.
- Key highlights include a significant decline in Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) from 44 in 2011 to 25 in 2023, a drop in dropout rates from 13.8% in 2022-23 to 8.2% in 2024-25, and a reduction in the percentage of women marrying before 18 years from 26.8% (2015-16) to 23.3% (2019-21).
- Adoption numbers increased from 3,927 in 2017-18 to 4,515 in 2024-25.
- The publication features seven chapters covering vital statistics, health, education, child protection, and sustainable development goals, enriched with new data like causes of death and mobile device usage.
Schemes News
PM Modi to Transfer ₹10,000 to 75 Lakh Bihar Women
- Prime Minister Modi will transfer ₹10,000 each to 75 lakh women in Bihar under the Mukhya Mantri Mahila Rozgar Yojana on September 26 to support women’s economic empowerment by helping them start businesses.
- The scheme targets economically weaker women aged 18-60, including Jeevika SHG members, with an additional ₹2 lakh grant after a six-month review.
- The move aims to strengthen Bihar’s economy ahead of the election year.
Sports News
Ahmedabad to Host 11th Asian Aquatics Championship 2025
- Veer Savarkar Sports Complex in Ahmedabad will host the 11th Asian Aquatics Championship from 28th September to 11th October 2025, marking the first time the event is being held in India.
- Organized by Asia Aquatics and the Swimming Federation of India, with support from the Sports Authority of Gujarat, the championship will feature over 900 athletes from 29 countries competing in swimming, diving, artistic swimming, and water polo.
- As a qualifier for the 2026 Asian Games, the event boosts India’s prospects to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games and the 2036 Olympic Games, while positioning Ahmedabad as a global sports hub.
Ravichandran Ashwin Becomes First Indian to Join BBL
- Ravichandran Ashwin has signed with the Sydney Thunder, becoming the first Indian international male cricketer to join the Big Bash League (BBL).
- While several Indian women cricketers have previously played in the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL), BCCI rules had until now prevented Indian men from participating in overseas leagues.
Science & Technology News
New Eel Species Apterichtus kanniyakumari Discovered off Tamil Nadu Coast
- Apterichtus kanniyakumari is a newly discovered species of finless snake eel found off the Colachel coast.
- Named after Kanniyakumari, it belongs to the genus Apterichtus and is distinguished by its golden-yellow body, pale white ventral head with yellow lines, and three unique black blotches.
- Molecular analysis of the mitochondrial CO1 gene shows it forms a distinct clade close to Apterichtus nanjilnaduensis.
- Snake eels, from the family Ophichthidae, inhabit shallow sandy seas and use their tails to burrow backwards for protection.
Important Days News
World Contraception Day 2025: Empowering Choices, Enabling Freedom
- World Contraception Day 2025 is observed on September 26, continuing a global effort since 2007 to raise awareness about contraception and its critical role in reproductive health and family planning.
- The 2025 theme, “A choice for all. Freedom to plan, power to choose,” emphasizes the right to bodily autonomy, gender equality, and access to diverse contraceptive methods such as oral pills, IUDs, implants, condoms, and sterilisation.
- Despite progress, challenges like cultural barriers, misinformation, and limited access persist, with over 25 crore women still lacking safe contraceptive options.
European Day of Languages 2025: Celebrating Linguistic Diversity Across the Continent
European Day of Languages, celebrated every year on 26 September, was established in 2001 by the Council of Europe to promote language learning, linguistic diversity, and intercultural understanding across Europe. The day aims to raise awareness about the benefits of multilingualism, encourage lifelong learning, and highlight the continent’s 225+ indigenous languages. Events are organized independently by member states—ranging from language classes to cultural programmes—without specific funding from the EU or Council of Europe.
World Environmental Health Day 2025: Clean Air, Healthy People
- World Environmental Health Day, observed annually on September 26, was initiated by the International Federation of Environmental Health (IFEH) in 2011 to emphasize the critical link between environmental conditions and human health.
- The 2025 theme, “Clean Air, Healthy People,” underscores the role of air quality in preventing respiratory diseases and fighting climate change.
- This day promotes sustainable practices, raises awareness on pollution, and aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
- Global activities include workshops, tree planting, clean-up drives, and health campaigns, urging governments, communities, and individuals to act for a cleaner, healthier future.
Current Affairs Today | 26 Sep Current Affairs 2025 | Daily Current Affairs By Ashish Gautam