National News
India’s Literacy Rate Rises to 80.9% in 2023–24
- India’s literacy rate has risen from 74% in 2011 to 80.9% in 2023-24, announced Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on International Literacy Day 2025.
- The ULLAS-Nav Bharat Saaksharta Karyakram has enrolled over 3 crore learners and achieved a 90% success rate in foundational literacy assessments, offering materials in 26 Indian languages to ensure inclusivity.
- States like Himachal Pradesh, Tripura, Mizoram, Goa, and the UT Ladakh have achieved full literacy.
- The theme “Promoting Literacy in the Digital Era” highlighted the role of digital technology in expanding literacy and lifelong learning across India.
Army’s Operation Rahat Rescues 6,000 in Flood-Hit North
- Under ‘Operation Rahat’, the Indian Army’s Western Command has conducted 82 HADR (Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief) missions across Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, and Jammu & Kashmir, evacuating over 6,000 people and providing medical aid to 13,000+ citizens.
- Relief efforts included air drops of 48 tons of rations, deployment of Army aviation assets flying over 250 hours, and infrastructure restoration such as bridge repair, road reconstruction, and mobile connectivity restoration.
- The Army is working closely with civil administration, NDRF, and SDRF, showcasing a unified national response to the floods.
State News
Himachal Declared Fully Literate with 99.3% Literacy
- Himachal Pradesh has been declared a fully literate state with a 99.3% literacy rate, surpassing the national average of 95%, announced by CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on International Literacy Day during Ullas Mela 2025 in Shimla.
- The state also ranks first in student-teacher ratio and plans to introduce educational reforms to transform government schools into centres of excellence.
Andhra Pradesh to Build Space City, Defence Hubs
- The Andhra Pradesh government has announced a ₹3,400 crore investment plan to establish a Space City in Tirupati and two Defence Manufacturing Hubs in Madakasira.
- In partnership with Skyroot Aerospace, the ₹400 crore Tirupati space city will focus on private satellite launches and cost-effective small launch vehicles, leveraging proximity to ISRO’s Propulsion Complex.
- The Madakasira hubs, with ₹3,000 crore investment, will produce aerospace components, defence electronics, and weapons systems, creating thousands of jobs.
International News
India, Israel Ink Bilateral Investment Agreement
- India and Israel signed a Bilateral Investment Agreement in New Delhi, aimed at boosting investments, ensuring investor protection, and facilitating trade growth through an independent arbitration dispute resolution mechanism.
- Signed by Finance Ministers Nirmala Sitharaman and Bezalel Smotrich, the pact safeguards against expropriation, promotes transparency, and eases investment transfers.
- The agreement reflects both countries’ commitment to deepen economic cooperation, with current bilateral investments at $800 million, and highlights collaboration opportunities in cybersecurity, defence, fintech, and innovation.
Nepal Lifts Social Media Ban After Deadly Youth Protests
- Nepal’s government has lifted a nationwide social media ban after violent Gen Z-led protests erupted across major cities, resulting in 19 deaths and hundreds injured.
- The ban, which blocked platforms like Facebook, X, and YouTube, was imposed due to non-compliance with local regulations.
- However, mass youth protests, especially in Kathmandu, forced an emergency cabinet meeting where Minister Prithvi Subba Gurung announced the reversal. The government has now instructed agencies to restore access, urging protestors to stand down as normalcy returns.
François Bayrou Ousted as French Prime Minister After Confidence Vote Defeat
- France has entered fresh political turmoil after Prime Minister François Bayrou lost a confidence vote on 8 September 2025 (364 against, 194 in favor), forcing his resignation and marking the collapse of Emmanuel Macron’s minority government.
- Bayrou’s fall—driven by his unpopular austerity plan, political deadlock, and scandal backlas.
- Makes him the second PM to quit in less than a year, leaving Macron under pressure to appoint his third PM in 2025, face mass protests, and manage a growing far-right threat amid calls for fresh elections.
Nepal PM KP Sharma Oli Resigns Amid Violent Gen Z Protests
- Nepal plunged into political turmoil as PM KP Sharma Oli resigned on September 9, 2025, following massive Gen Z–led protests against a social media ban that turned violent, leaving 20 dead and 250+ injured.
- Despite lifting the ban, unrest escalated with the Parliament set ablaze, government offices attacked, and airport shut down, forcing Oli to quit after pressure from the Nepal Army Chief, plunging the nation into political uncertainty.
Banking News
RBI to Issue Special Coin for Bhupen Hazarika
- The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) will unveil a special commemorative coin on legendary singer Bhupen Hazarika on September 13, 2025, as part of his birth centenary celebrations, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi attending the event in Guwahati.
- A biography published by Assam Publication Board will also be launched.
- The year-long centenary observance will conclude on September 8, 2026, with a ceremonial gathering attended by the President of India.
Economy News
Agriculture Powers 15–20% of India’s Economy: PSA
Appointments News
Harshavardhan Chitale Named Hero MotoCorp CEO from Jan 2026
- Harshavardhan Chitale has been appointed as the new CEO of Hero MotoCorp, effective 5 January 2026, following Niranjan Gupta’s resignation in April.
- A Director’s Gold Medalist from IIT Delhi, Chitale brings over 30 years of global leadership experience from firms like Signify, Philips Lighting, HCL, and Honeywell.
- His appointment signals Hero’s strategic push into electric mobility, digital transformation, and premium product innovation, with a focus on sustainability and global expansion.
Dell CFO Yvonne McGill to Depart in September 2025
- Yvonne McGill, Chief Financial Officer of Dell Technologies, will resign effective September 9, 2025, after nearly 30 years with the company. She will be succeeded on an interim basis by David Kennedy, SVP of Global Business Operations, Finance.
- McGill will remain as advisor until October 31 to ensure a smooth transition. Dell confirmed that the exit involves no internal disputes, and it has reaffirmed its Q3 and FY2025 financial outlook.
Intel Reshuffles Leadership, Holthaus to Exit
- Intel announced a major executive reshuffle, with products chief Michelle Johnston Holthaus set to exit after 30+ years at the company, as CEO Lip-Bu Tan pushes forward with a turnaround strategy.
- Holthaus, a key figure during past leadership transitions, will stay on temporarily as a strategic advisor. Kevork Kechichian, formerly of Arm, will now lead Intel’s data center group, while Srinivasan Iyengar takes charge of a newly created central engineering group.
- These changes come amid internal restructuring, job cuts, and leadership centralization, signaling intensified efforts to revamp Intel’s operations.
Awards News
Camel International Award to Younus Ahamed
- Palakkad-based NRI businessman Younus Ahamed, Executive Director of Middle East Dotspace Coworking, has been awarded the Camel International Award 2025 by Arabian World Records for his business leadership and contributions.
- He received the honor from Sheikh Matar Bin Huwaiden Al Ketbi, chairman of the Sharjah Camel Racing Club, during a ceremony held in Dubai, where 14 other global achievers were also recognized across various fields.
Sports News
Verstappen Wins 2025 Italian Grand Prix in Style
- Max Verstappen secured a dominant victory at the Italian Grand Prix on September 7, 2025, marking his first win since May and third of the season.
- The Red Bull star, who also set the fastest lap in F1 history during qualifying, led from lap four onward after a brief early tussle with Lando Norris, who finished second, ahead of Oscar Piastri.
- The result tightens the title race, with Norris now 31 points behind leader Piastri. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc finished fourth at the home race, while Lewis Hamilton climbed to sixth after starting 10th.