National News
Swachh Shehar Jodi: Transforming Urban Sanitation Through Mentorship
- The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) launched the Swachh Shehar Jodi (SSJ) initiative, a structured mentorship program under Swachh Bharat Mission – Urban (SBM-U), pairing 72 mentor cities with around 200 mentee cities based on Swachh Survekshan rankings.
- The program fosters knowledge transfer, peer learning, and replication of best practices in urban waste management.
- Nearly 300 MoUs were signed simultaneously nationwide, kicking off a 100-day action phase.
- Mentor cities from the Super Swachh League will guide low-performing cities to improve sanitation outcomes through collaborative action plans.
India Opens First Integrative Oncology Centre at AIIA Goa
- The Ministry of Ayush has inaugurated India’s first Integrative Oncology Research and Care Centre (IORCC) at AIIA Goa on the 10th National Ayurveda Day, marking a landmark initiative in holistic cancer care.
- This first-of-its-kind centre combines Ayurveda, Yoga, Panchakarma, and modern oncology to offer patient-centric rehabilitation, aiming to reduce side effects, enhance recovery, and improve quality of life.
- In collaboration with ACTREC-Tata Memorial Centre, the facility will serve as a hub for research, training, and clinical care.
Cold Desert Biosphere & New Ramsar Sites: India’s Conservation Leap
- India’s Cold Desert Biosphere Reserve in Himachal Pradesh has been included in UNESCO’s World Network of Biosphere Reserves during the 37th Session of UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere Programme held on 27th September 2025.
- This marks India’s 13th biosphere reserve in the global network, reinforcing its commitment to biodiversity conservation and community-led sustainable development.
- Additionally, India added two new Ramsar Sites—Gokul Jalashay in Buxar and Udaipur Jheel in West Champaran, Bihar—bringing the total number of Ramsar Sites to 93, covering over 13.6 lakh hectares.
Mukhi Becomes First India-Born Adult Cheetah at Kuno
- Mukhi, the India-born cheetah at Kuno National Park, is set to become the first to reach adulthood, marking a historic milestone for India’s cheetah reintroduction program.
- Born on March 29, 2023, Mukhi’s survival despite the loss of her siblings highlights the program’s success, with a cub survival rate of over 61%, surpassing the global average.
- India now hosts 27 cheetahs, including 16 born in the country, and plans to expand the gene pool by bringing in more cheetahs from Africa to ensure a self-sustaining population.
World Food India 2025 Sees ₹1 Lakh Crore Investment Commitments
- World Food India concluded in New Delhi with investment commitments exceeding ₹1 lakh crore, one of the largest in India’s food processing sector. Over four days, 26 leading domestic and international companies signed MoUs.
- These investments are expected to generate direct employment for 64,000+ people and create indirect opportunities for over 10 lakh individuals.
- The investments span multiple states and various food segments including dairy, meat & poultry, packaged foods, beverages (alcoholic & non-alcoholic), spices, confectionery, edible oils, fruits & vegetables, and ready-to-eat products.
Banking News
Shirish Chandra Murmu Appointed as RBI Deputy Governor
- Shirish Chandra Murmu has been appointed as the new Deputy Governor of the RBI for a three-year term starting October 9, 2025, succeeding Rajeshwar Rao.
- Currently an Executive Director at the central bank, Murmu’s appointment aims to strengthen RBI’s leadership and regulatory framework amid ongoing economic challenges, though his portfolio assignment is yet to be announced.
Appointments News
Shailesh Chandra Appointed MD & CEO of Tata Motors
- Tata Motors has appointed Shailesh Chandra as its new Managing Director and CEO, effective October 1, 2025, for a three-year term.
- He will also continue as MD of Tata Passenger Electric Mobility Ltd., focusing on electric vehicles. As part of the company’s demerger, Girish Wagh will become MD & CEO of TML Commercial Vehicles Ltd., overseeing the commercial vehicle division. P.B. Balaji, the Group CFO, will resign on November 17, 2025, to become CEO of Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), with Dhiman Gupta succeeding him as CFO.
- Additionally, Sudha Krishnan will join as an Independent Director, while Kosaraju V. Chowdary and Guenter K. Butschek will join the board of TML Commercial Vehicles Ltd.
Mithun Manhas Elected 37th BCCI President
- Mithun Manhas, former Delhi captain, has been elected unopposed as the 37th BCCI president at the 94th Annual General Meeting in Mumbai on September 28, 2025.
- He succeeds Roger Binny, with Rajeev Shukla continuing as Vice-President and Devajit Saikia as Secretary.
- Former India spinner Raghuram Bhat is the new Treasurer, while Prabhtej Singh Bhatia becomes Joint Secretary.
- Manhas, a veteran of 157 first-class matches with nearly 10,000 runs, previously served at the J&K Cricket Association and has held coaching roles with IPL teams and international squads.
Ojha, RP Singh Join BCCI Senior Selection Committee
- Pragyan Ojha and RP Singh have been appointed as new selectors on the BCCI senior men’s selection committee, replacing S Sharath and Subroto Banerjee, following the 2025 AGM.
- Led by Chairman Ajit Agarkar (term extended till 2026), the committee now includes Ojha (South Zone) and RP Singh (Central Zone), both former Indian internationals who met BCCI’s eligibility criteria of international experience and retirement period.
R Venkataramani Reappointed Attorney General of India Till 2027
- Senior advocate R Venkataramani has been re-appointed as Attorney General of India for a further two years starting October 1, 2025, following the completion of his initial three-year term.
- He succeeded KK Venugopal in 2022 as the 16th Attorney General, serving as the government’s top law officer.
- Venkataramani, born in 1950 in Puducherry, is known for his expertise in constitutional law, human rights, and government litigation before the Supreme Court and high courts.
Awards News
DRDO Wins BusinessLine Changemaker of the Year
- In September 2025, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) received the Changemaker of the Year Award at the BusinessLine Changemaker Awards for its leadership in indigenous strategic technologies under Director General Raja Babu Ummalaneni, emphasizing self-reliance and defense innovation.
- Simultaneously, the Azim Premji Foundation was honored with the Iconic Changemaker Award for its sustained impact in education, healthcare, and social upliftment across India.
Defense News
Indian Army Celebrates 199th Gunners Day on September 28
- The Indian Army celebrates its 199th Gunners Day on 28th September, marking the raising of the 5 (Bombay) Mountain Battery in 1827 and nearly two centuries of uninterrupted service by the Regiment of Artillery.
- The day was marked by a wreath-laying ceremony at the National War Memorial led by Lieutenant General Adosh Kumar, with greetings from Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi.
- The regiment continues its path of modernization under the mantra of Atmanirbhar Bharat.
Sports News
India Win 7th SAFF U-17 Football Title in Colombo
- India’s U-17 football team clinched their 7th SAFF U-17 Championship title on September 27, 2025, after a thrilling 2-2 draw with Bangladesh, followed by a 4-1 win in the penalty shootout at Colombo’s Racecourse International Stadium.
- With goals from Dallamuon Gangte and Azlaan Shah KH, India led at half-time, before a late equaliser forced penalties.
- This win cements India’s dominance in SAFF youth tournaments and highlights the success of its grassroots football development.
12th World Para Athletics Championship 2025 Kicks Off in New Delhi
The 12th World Para Athletics Championship 2025 kicked off at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, New Delhi, featuring 186 medal events over nine days, with over 1,000 athletes from 100+ nations participating. India’s Deepthi Jeevanji qualified for the medal round in the Women’s 400m T20, clocking her season’s best at 58.35 seconds. The event showcases global stars like Athanasios Ghavelas, Ezra Frech, and Catherine Debrunner, with India fielding 70+ athletes, including medal favourites Sumit Antil, Preeti Pal, and Dharambir Nain.
Indian Cricket Team Won 9th Asia Cup title 2025
India clinched their ninth Asia Cup title in a thrilling final against Pakistan, chasing down 147 with Tilak Varma playing a match-winning unbeaten 69* under intense pressure. After a top-order collapse (20 for 3), he rebuilt the innings with Shivam Dube (33 off 22) in a crucial 60-run stand. Earlier, Kuldeep Yadav (4 for 30) and Varun Chakravarthy triggered a Pakistan collapse from 107 for 1 to 146 all out. The high-stakes, politically charged clash ended with Tilak sealing it with a six and an emotional celebration in a final that will be remembered as an India-Pakistan classic.
BCCI Announces ₹21 Crore Prize for Asia Cup Champions India
India made history by winning the Asia Cup 2025 in Dubai, defeating arch-rivals Pakistan by 5 wickets in a tense final. With an unbeaten 7-match streak, including three wins over Pakistan, the team showcased dominance, depth, and composure. Tilak Varma starred with the bat, while Kuldeep Yadav led the bowling attack. To honour the team’s stellar run, the BCCI announced a ₹21 crore cash prize for players and support staff, calling the victory “extraordinary” and a testament to India’s regional supremacy and youth strength in cricket.
Important Days News
World Heart Day 2025: Small Lifestyle Changes, Big Health Benefits
- World Heart Day 2025 on 29 September emphasizes heart health awareness and CVD prevention, highlighting the theme “Small Lifestyle Changes, Big Health Benefits.”
- It encourages healthy eating, regular exercise, stress management, quality sleep, and avoidance of smoking and excessive alcohol to reduce heart disease risk and improve overall well-being.
Current Affairs Today | 29 August Current Affairs 2025 | Daily Current Affairs By Ashish Gautam