Daily Current Affairs - Week 40, 2026 (28 Sep 2026 - 04 Oct 2026)

• Event Details: Held from September 7–10, 2026, at Srinagar's SKICC along Dal Lake under the theme "Rang-e-Cinema".
• Organizers: Jointly organized by J&K's Department of Information and Public Relations (DIPR) and the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC).
• Key Screenings: Features 135 shortlisted films from 41 countries, with India leading at 64 entries and France following with 13.
• Unique Highlight: Includes a floating cinema on Dal Lake, allowing viewers to watch movie screenings directly from traditional shikaras.

• Obituary: Acclaimed Malayalam filmmaker, screenwriter, and former government official R. Sarath passed away on September 7, 2026, in Thiruvananthapuram.
• Award-Winning Debut: Directed Sayahnam (2000), which earned seven Kerala State Film Awards and the Indira Gandhi Award for Best Debut Film.
• Notable Achievements: Won Best Narrative Feature at the 2011 Geneva International Film Festival for his Indo-Chinese project The Desire.
• Public Service & Research: Discovered rare Raja Ravi Varma murals during a Ministry of Culture fellowship; retired as DIPR Deputy Director in 2021.

• Anniversary & Theme: September 8 marks the 60th anniversary of International Literacy Day, carrying the theme "Literacy for people, the planet and prosperity."
• Origin: Established by UNESCO in 1966 during its 14th General Conference and first celebrated globally in 1967.
• Global Host & Challenges: Hosted in Chiapas, Mexico, addressing UNESCO data showing ~739 million youth and adults lacking basic literacy skills.
• Core Objective: Framed around SDG 4 to highlight literacy as a fundamental human right essential for personal empowerment and sustainable development.

• Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan launched India Valve Registry on 5 September 2026 in Chennai.
• Multicentre national database for de-identified real-world data on heart valve intervention outcomes.
• Launched at 9th India Valves 2026 conference on structural heart disease and transcatheter therapies.
• Addresses gap since advanced interventions began in India in 2011.
• Aims to generate indigenous clinical evidence; Tamil Nadu hospitals under CM health scheme encouraged to join.

• Held in Chandigarh on 6–7 September 2026 by National Biodiversity Authority.
• Discussed biodiversity governance, local implementation and institutional mechanisms.
• Framework under Biological Diversity Act 2002 (amended 2023) and Rules 2024.
• Three-tier structure: NBA, State Boards/UT Councils and local Biodiversity Management Committees.
• Over 2.76 lakh BMCs prepare People’s Biodiversity Registers; India party to CBD and Nagoya Protocol.

• Indian men’s doubles pair won the China Masters title on 6 September 2026 in Shenzhen.
• Defeated China’s He Jiting and Ren Xiangyu 11-21, 21-13, 21-17 in 70-minute final.
• Fifth-ranked pair’s 10th BWF World Tour title and second win of 2026 season.
• Ended previous runner-up finishes at China Masters (2023, 2025).
• China Masters is a BWF World Tour event held since 2005.

• Second edition of the bilateral air exercise between Indian Air Force (IAF) and Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF).
• Scheduled from 9–22 September 2026 at Air Force Station Jodhpur.
• Aims to enhance interoperability, operational synergy and mutual understanding.
• The Japanese contingent already arrived with two C-2 transport aircraft.
• Focus on joint training, professional exchanges and learning each other’s procedures.

• 1988-batch Indian Postal Service officer re-elected unopposed as Secretary-General of Asian-Pacific Postal Union (APPU).
• Declared elected by acclamation at 14th APPU Congress in Bangkok on 4 September 2026.
• Second consecutive four-year term (January 2027–December 2030).
• APPU is an intergovernmental body of 32 member countries and a Regional Union of the Universal Postal Union (UPU).
• Reflects regional confidence in his leadership and India’s role in international postal cooperation.

• MoEFCC observed Swachh Vayu Diwas 2026 on International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies (7 September).
• NGT Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava was Chief Guest; awards given to best-performing cities and wards under NCAP.
• Compendium of Best Management Practices under NCAP released.
• Awards based on 2022-23 framework covering road dust, solid waste, vehicular/industrial emissions, C&D waste, IEC activities.
• Emphasis on continuous, citizen-led, mission-mode action and all-inclusive local-body approach to tackle air pollution.

• Tamil Nadu State Department of Archaeology launched the third phase of exploration off Poompuhar (Kaveripoompattinam) on 6 September 2026.
• Covers ~250 sq km area, 2 km offshore, depths 2–60 m; 20-day survey ending 23 September.
• Uses side-scan sonar, echosounders and sub-bottom profilers.
• 25-member team including divers; guided by Prof. K. Rajan and Dr. Yatish Kumar.
• Linked to Sangam-era port; multi-phase project funded with ₹7 crore.

• Resolution Passed: Adopted on September 4, 2026, with 164 votes to correct landmass distortions on world maps; US voted against.
• Mercator Problem: Traditional Mercator projections over-inflate polar regions (e.g., Greenland appears equal to Africa, though Africa is 14-15x larger).
• India's Stand: Voted in favor, advocating for equal-area map projections to reflect true proportions of equatorial regions like Asia and Africa.
• Methodological Stance: Representative Raghoo Puri emphasized technological neutrality, asserting cartographers should retain choice based on context.
• Abstentions: Six countries abstained, including Estonia, Georgia, Lithuania, Moldova, Serbia, and Ukraine.

• Winner: Joheirry Mola Dominguez from the Dominican Republic won Miss World 2026 in Vietnam on September 5, 2026.
• Runners-Up: Spain’s Elisabeth Reynés placed first runner-up; Malaysia’s Taanusiya Chetty took second runner-up.
• Background: Mola is an educator, model, and founder of Voices of Tomorrow, providing English education to disadvantaged youth.
• Historic Milestone: This marks the Dominican Republic's second Miss World title after Mariasela Alvarez’s victory in 1982.
• India's Standing: Representative Nikita Porwal reached the Top 40, showcasing her social work (Project MAATI).

• Regulatory Clearance: ICICI Bank announced RBI approval for LIC to increase its shareholding up to 9.99%.
• Current Holdings: LIC previously held a 4.35% stake (31.18 crore shares) as of June 30, 2026.
• Compliance Validity: Approval received on September 4, 2026, with a one-year validity period under Banking Regulation Act norms.
• Broader Context: Follows a similar RBI approval granted on August 14, 2026, for LIC to acquire 9.99% in HDFC Bank.
• Market Position: Unites India's largest state life insurer with one of its leading private commercial banks.

• New Role: Appointed as the 44th regular Chief Justice of the Rajasthan High Court on September 5, 2026.
• Background: Previously served as a judge in the Chhattisgarh High Court before his Collegium recommendation.
• Constitutional Framework: Head of state-level judiciary, governed under Articles 217 and 223 of the Constitution.
• Recent Restructuring: Collegium also approved transferring Rajasthan's senior judge, Justice Pushpendra Bhati, to Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh HC.
• Court Leadership: Steps in following administrative protests that previously led Acting CJ Sanjeev Prakash Sharma to recuse himself.

• New Appointment: President Droupadi Murmu appointed Dr. Dinesh Sharma as Lieutenant Governor of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands on September 5, 2026.
• Constitutional Role: Operates as the representative administrator of the Union Territory under Article 239 of the Constitution.
• Political Background: Former Deputy Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh (2017–2022) and two-term Mayor of Lucknow.
• Legislative Office: Served as a Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament prior to assuming his new administrative role.
• Territory Profile: Represents India's southernmost Union Territory located in the Bay of Bengal, headquartered at Port Blair.

• 36th Ceremony: Held on September 3, 2026, at the Zurich Convention Center, celebrating 10 quirky yet insightful scientific studies.
• Chemistry Win: Indian scientists at inStem Bengaluru and international collaborators won for studying nutrient-dense protein crystals in cockroach milk.
• Key Topics: Technology explored mosquito mouthparts for 3D printing, while Physics analyzed splash-free urinal angles.
• Other Fields: Soil Science involved burying cotton underwear across 25 countries to observe soil life.
• Purpose: The awards celebrate unusual, humorous research that ultimately makes people think.

• Global Resolution: UNGA adopted a consensus resolution on September 4, 2026, designating November 27 for global elimination efforts.
• Initiative Lead: Presented by Dr. Fatima Maada Bio, First Lady of Sierra Leone, supported by 193 member states.
• Aligning Milestones: Matches the launch date of India's Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat campaign, initiated on November 27, 2024.
• Global Concern: Addresses UNFPA estimates of 640 million living women married in childhood and 12 million underaged marriages annually.
• Indian Progress: NFHS-6 data shows underage marriages dropped from 23.3% to 20.1% nationwide.

• Significance: Celebrated nationwide on September 5 to honor the birth anniversary of philosopher, educator, and statesman Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan.
• Constitutional Leadership: Served as India's first Vice-President (1952–1962) and second President (1962–1967).
• Academic Profile: Taught at Mysore, BHU, and Oxford; introduced Indian philosophy to the Western world through landmark literary works.
• Honors: Conferred the prestigious Bharat Ratna in 1954 and nominated multiple times for Nobel prizes.
• Legacy: Advocated that true education must develop both intelligence and moral ethics in individuals.

• Judicial Executive Order: The Central Government appointed eight High Court Chief Justices on September 5, 2026, following Supreme Court Collegium approval.
• Constitutional Provision: Issued under Article 217 by President Droupadi Murmu in consultation with Chief Justice of India Surya Kant.
• Key Transfers: Justice V. Kameswar Rao named Patna CJ, Justice Ravindra V. Ghuge named Calcutta CJ, and Justice M.C. Tripathi was named Bombay CJ.
• Promotions: Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra was elevated to full-time Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
• Judicial Scope: High Courts remain the top judicial bodies in states and union territories.

• Framework: Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched a 2026–2029 anti-narcotics strategy in Panaji on September 6, 2026.
• Key Targets: Aims to dismantle 100 international/interstate drug networks, destroy 100 illicit labs, and recover 100 fugitives.
• Four Strategy Pillars: Focuses on operational enforcement, precursor/synthetic drug control, demand reduction, and institutional capacity.
• Public Outreach: Targets 50 crore citizens, recruiting 1 lakh Nasha Mukt Mitras via youth platforms like NCC, NSS, and MY Bharat.
• Health Capacity: Aims to expand functional drug de-addiction centers across the nation to 1,751 facilities.

• Dr Jitendra Singh held a virtual bilateral meeting with French Minister Philippe Baptiste on 4 September 2026.
• Both sides agreed to deepen cooperation in human spaceflight, advanced space technologies, and industry engagement.
• Discussions focused on the International Space Summit (Paris, 9–10 September 2026) and Bengaluru Space Expo (7–9 September 2026).
• ISRO Chairman has been invited to deliver the opening keynote on India’s future human spaceflight in Low Earth Orbit.
• France welcomed a proposed video message from PM Modi and continued consultations on Summit deliverables.
• Prof Baptiste will visit India (28–30 September 2026) and tour ISRO facilities in Bengaluru.
• The partnership, spanning nearly six decades, includes past joint missions (Megha-Tropiques, SARAL) and ongoing Earth-observation work.

• Lahore was designated Tourism and Cultural Capital of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation for 2026–27 at the SCO summit in Bishkek.
• Pakistan simultaneously assumed the SCO chairmanship under the theme “Turning Vision into Action: Connectivity, Innovation and Shared Prosperity.”
• City chosen for its Mughal, Sufi and colonial heritage (Lahore Fort, Shalimar Gardens—both UNESCO sites, Badshahi Mosque, Walled City).
• The year-long programme will promote heritage tourism and cultural exchanges among SCO members.
• SCO members: China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Iran and Belarus.

• Italian PM Giorgia Meloni’s government has completed 1,413 consecutive days in power—the longest in the Italian Republic’s history (excluding Mussolini).
• Took office in October 2022; the average Italian government lasts only ~14 months.
• Marked the milestone with a large rally in Bari under the slogan “The most stable government, a stronger Italy.”
• At home: unemployment near 5% (lowest since 2004 records), reduced North African migrant arrivals, and EU budget compliance.
• Abroad: became a key European voice on Ukraine, migration and trade; PM Modi congratulated her as a friend strengthening India-Italy ties.
• Challenges remain: judicial-reform referendum loss, electoral-reform hurdles, low productivity, ageing population and youth emigration.

• On 3 September 2026 Smriti Mandhana scored 124 off 64 balls (14 fours, 7 sixes) vs Hong Kong in the Women’s T20 Asia Cup.
• Career international total reached 10,880 runs, overtaking Mithali Raj’s 10,868.
• Current top five: Mandhana (10,880), Raj (10,868), Bates (10,740), Edwards (10,273), Taylor (10,007).
• Also set a new Women’s T20 Asia Cup highest score (previous 119) and became the first Indian with two T20I centuries.
• Now holds the most international centuries by any woman (18) and India’s T20I sixes record (95).
• India posted 193/5 and won by 138 runs.

• Air Marshal Vivek Hande, AVSM, VSM, took over as Director General Medical Services (Air) on 1 September 2026 on permanent secondment to the IAF.
• An alumnus of AFMC Pune, Tata Memorial Hospital Mumbai, and National Defence College New Delhi, he was commissioned in December 1988.
• He is a nationally reputed gastroenterologist who has held multiple specialist and administrative appointments.
• He previously commanded INHS Asvini and served as Senior Consultant (Medicine).
• As Vice Admiral he was DG (Organisation & Personnel) in the Office of DG AFMS.
• He now holds the distinction of having served in all three services of the Indian Armed Forces.

• Surgeon Vice Admiral Dilip Raghavan, VSM, assumed charge as Director General Hospital Services (Armed Forces) on 1 September 2026.
• Born and educated in Chennai and Mumbai, he joined AFMC Pune in 1985, completed MBBS in 1989, and was commissioned into the Indian Navy on 26 December 1989.
• Key appointments include Command Medical Officer (Southern and Eastern Naval Commands) and Commanding Officer, INHS Asvini, Mumbai.
• Under his command, INHS Asvini received the Raksha Mantri Trophy for Best Command Hospital.
• He was awarded the Vishisht Seva Medal on 26 January 2026.

• Adobe’s Board has appointed Anil Chakravarthy as President and CEO effective 1 December 2026.
• He succeeds long-time CEO Shantanu Narayen, who will become Executive Chair and remain closely involved.
• Chakravarthy joined Adobe in 2020, rose to President of Digital Experience and worldwide field operations, and drove AI products (CX Enterprise, GenStudio, Brand Visibility) plus Workfront and Semrush integrations.
• Earlier career: CEO of Informatica, roles at Symantec, VeriSign and McKinsey.
• Education: B.Tech from IIT Varanasi; MS and PhD from MIT.
• The board called the choice unanimous after a formal succession process.

• On 4 September 2026 ISRO successfully launched GSLV-F17 from the Second Launch Pad at Sriharikota.
• 7 m rocket placed the 2,367 kg EOS-05 Earth-observation satellite into a Sub-Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit ~18–19 minutes after liftoff.
• The mission was ISRO’s 19th GSLV flight and the 107th launch from Sriharikota.
• EOS-05 will operate from ~36,000 km geosynchronous orbit, delivering real-time images of the Indian subcontinent every 30 minutes for an expected nine-year life.
• Used for mapping, weather, agriculture, disaster management and environmental monitoring.

• OpenAI released ChatGPT 6 Astra on 3 September 2026 as a major step toward AGI and agentic AI.
• Trained on more than 100,000 GPUs; designed for autonomous multi-step computer operations rather than simple chat replies.
• Can access local files, run complex workflows, generate presentations, spreadsheets and reports with minimal human input.
• Key features: AI agents, local-file access, advanced coding, document generation and independent task execution.
• Represents a shift from reactive assistants to systems that plan and complete entire workflows.
• Safety approach: phased release via the Daybreak program so researchers can study risks of greater autonomy.

• National Wildlife Day 2026 falls on 4 September (also linked to 22 February).
• Founded in 2005 by Colleen Paige; the September date coincides with Steve Irwin’s birthday.
• Aims to raise awareness of conservation, endangered species and habitat protection beyond popular “charismatic” animals.
• Threats highlighted: habitat loss, pollution, climate change, poaching and illegal trade.
• Suggested actions: learn about local wildlife, nature walks, plant natives, avoid litter, support conservation groups and watch responsible documentaries.
• Distinct from UN World Wildlife Day (3 March).

• India signed a Letter of Offer and Acceptance on 28 August 2026 to procure FGM-148 Javelin anti-tank missiles from the US under the Foreign Military Sales route.
• FSSAI proposes mandatory red hexagonal front-of-pack labels for high fat/sugar/salt foods in two phases.
• Raksha Rajya Mantri Sanjay Seth will inaugurate the second Annual Trident Lecture of CENJOWS on 1 September 2026 at Manekshaw Centre, New Delhi, on the theme of national resurgence through defence forces.
• The Vice President of India will release the “Mission Rangeen Machhli 2031” Strategic Action Plan for Ornamental Fisheries at Agatti, Lakshadweep on 31 August 2026.
• India inaugurated its first Green Forge Complex at BRIC-NABI in Mohali for testing genetically modified crops under controlled conditions to support the bioeconomy.
• All India Institute of Ayurveda launched the "AyurVarta" digital dialogue series on 1 September 2026 to disseminate authentic Ayurvedic knowledge globally.
• Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad introduced hub-and-spoke flight transfers under Air India’s "Easy Connect" service on 1 September 2026.
• The Ministry of Earth Sciences launched the fifth edition of the Swachh Sagar, Surakshit Sagar coastal cleanup drive on 1 September 2026.
• IIT Madras signed a cooperation agreement with UNESCO MGIEP on 1 September 2026 to develop low-cost AI and immersive learning tools for education.
• ASI designated the Kakatiya-era Gollala Gudi Temple in Palampet, Mulugu, Telangana as a Monument of National Importance via Gazette notification S.O. 4802(E) dated 31 August 2026.
• The 16th Aero India will be held at Yelahanka Air Force Station, Bengaluru from 8–12 February 2027 with online registration for exhibitors beginning on 3 September 2026.

• PM Modi begins a four-day visit to Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan on 29 August 2026 for talks on trade, defence, connectivity and to attend the SCO Summit in Bishkek.
• US President Trump signed an executive order on 27 August 2026 renaming Lake Ontario as “Lake America” for federal purposes only, while Canada continues to call it Lake Ontario.
• PM Modi’s Uzbekistan visit elevated ties to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with uranium deal, defence & energy cooperation; Uzbekistan backs India’s UNSC seat and awarded him highest honour.
• Bangladesh-China preparing first 2+2 dialogue on defence, Mongla Port, Teesta and Chinese investments while reaffirming One-China principle.
• Chinese Gen Zhao Zongqi (ex-Western Theatre commander during Galwan) removed from CPPCC posts on 26 Aug.
• Union Minister Bhupender Yadav and German Minister Carsten Schneider will co-chair the 4th Indo-German Environmental Forum on 1 September 2026 in New Delhi under the theme ‘Together For More Resilience’.
• Tim Cook will step down as Apple CEO on 31 August 2026 and John Ternus will take over as CEO from 1 September 2026, with Cook becoming Executive Chairman.
• The Digital India BHASHINI Division organised a Language AI session at the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu introducing Nepali developers to BHASHINI APIs and advancing bilateral technology collaboration.
• Türkiye became the 71st country to sign the Artemis Accords at NASA Headquarters promoting peaceful and cooperative civil space exploration.
• Pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong pleaded guilty in Hong Kong on 2 September 2026 to charges of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces under the National Security Law.
• India and Belgium signed multiple MoUs in New Delhi on 2–3 September 2026 covering renewable energy, defence-industrial cooperation, migration and mobility, semiconductors and critical minerals.

• Indian travelers can now make UPI payments at merchant outlets across Uzbekistan by scanning UZQR codes using existing UPI apps after the agreement between NIPL and NIPC.
• Japan Credit Rating Agency upgraded India’s long-term issuer ratings from BBB+ to A- with a stable outlook on 2 September 2026.

• National Sports Day is observed on 29 August to honour Major Dhyan Chand’s birth anniversary, with the 2026 theme “Tribute, Play and Move” linked to the Fit India Movement.
• World Sanskrit Day is celebrated on 28 August 2026 (Shravana Purnima) to promote Sanskrit’s contributions to literature, philosophy, science and linguistics.
• Seventeen-year-old Apoorv Kamble won the FIDE Rapid Chess Championship in Bengaluru with 8.5/9 points ahead of the Global Chess League Season 4.
• World Lake Day is observed on 27 August to highlight the importance of lakes for freshwater, biodiversity and climate regulation and the threats they face.
• India men’s hockey finished 8th at FIH World Cup after 4-3 shootout loss to Belgium following 3-3 draw; Harmanpreet scored twice.
• The ICC has withdrawn Sri Lanka’s hosting rights for the first Women’s Champions Trophy 2027 due to concerns over the autonomy of Sri Lanka Cricket.
• Lionel Messi announced his retirement from Argentina’s national team after a 20-year career with 207 appearances, 125 goals and major titles including the 2022 World Cup.
• Fifteen-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi became the youngest player to score a half-century in Duleep Trophy history with 92 off 81 balls for East Zone.
• India will host Stage 3 of the 2026 World Archery Para Series for the first time at Sabarmati Riverfront, Ahmedabad from 5–9 September 2026 with over 100 athletes from about 20 nations.
• ICC named India as host of the inaugural Women’s Champions Trophy to be held from 14–28 February 2027 after removing Sri Lanka due to governance issues.

• Taiwan passed the National Defense Autonomy and Unmanned Vehicle Industry Development Act on 27 August 2026 with a six-year budget of NT$240 billion for drone development.
• Turkey-Saudi-Pakistan first defence pact meeting on 31 Aug in Istanbul to set up a joint strategic committee.
• The fourth Tri-Services Future Warfare Course under HQ IDS and CENJOWS concluded on 30 August 2026 at Manekshaw Centre after four weeks of training on emerging technologies and multi-domain operations.
• The inaugural India-Kuwait Joint Defence Committee meeting was held in New Delhi on 28 August 2026, agreeing to expand cooperation in training, exercises, military medicine and defence industry.
• INS Nipun, the second Nistar-class Diving Support Vessel built by Hindustan Shipyard, was commissioned into the Indian Navy for deep-sea diving, salvage and submarine rescue operations.
• IAF successfully conducted the drop trial of the indigenous long-range glide bomb Khagantak-243 from a Su-30MKI on 2 September 2026 with a stand-off range exceeding 140 km.

• Air Vice Marshal Shakti Sharma assumed charge as Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Education) on 1 September 2026, becoming the first woman officer from a non-medical cadre in the Indian Defence Forces to attain two-star rank.
• Suman Ray took charge as Executive Director of the Reserve Bank of India on 1 September 2026 to oversee the DICGC and Premises Department.
• Air Marshal KAA Sanjeeb assumed charge as the Air Officer-in-Charge Maintenance of the Indian Air Force on 1 September 2026.

• PM Modi received Uzbekistan’s top honour ‘Oliy Darajali Do’stlik’ in Tashkent on 30 Aug and dedicated it to India’s people amid stronger bilateral ties.
• The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports announced the four recipients of the 2024 Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Awards on 2 September 2026.
• NHAI announced the winners of the Green Highways Excellence Awards 2026 in Avenue Plantations, Median Plantations and Land Parcels categories based on 86 nominations.

• King Harald V of Norway died on 28 August 2026 at the age of 89 after 35 years on the throne and was succeeded by his son as King Haakon VIII.
• American poet, novelist and environmental activist Wendell Berry died at 92 in Kentucky after authoring more than 50 books on agrarian life and conservation.
• Veteran Gujarati music composer, arranger and singer Gaurang Vyas passed away at the age of 87 in Ahmedabad in September 2026.

• ISRO launched EOS-05 (GISAT-1A) on 4 Sept via GSLV-F17 for real-time imaging of India from geostationary orbit.
• NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Telescope launched 30 Aug on Falcon Heavy, heading to L2 with a 300-megapixel camera for a 5-year mission.

• National Small Industry Day (30 Aug) marks MSMEs’ 31% GDP share, 38.9 crore jobs and over 8.7 crore Udyam registrations with new credit support.
• World Coconut Day is observed on 2 September every year to highlight the coconut palm as the “tree of life” serving agriculture, food, trade and daily needs.
• World Skyscraper Day is observed every year on 3 September to honour the engineering, architecture and ambition behind the world’s tallest buildings.

• Union Minister Bhupender Yadav inaugurated the International Workshop on Tiger Landscapes in New Delhi on 2 September 2026.

• Bihar launched the free Vidya Sathi app providing continuous academic support to about 3 lakh students of Classes 9–12 in 700 model schools through live teacher interaction.
• Singareni Collieries Company Limited launched gold and copper exploration on 27 August 2026 at a 199.13 sq km block in Lingadahalli, Raichur, Karnataka.
• Himachal Pradesh CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu inaugurated the state’s first ozone-based drinking water treatment project worth ₹46 crore in Dehra, Kangra.
• Bihar and Jharkhand signed a Sone river water-sharing agreement on 31 August 2026, allocating 5.75 MAF to Bihar and 2.0 MAF to Jharkhand, ending a 25-year dispute.
• Andhra Pradesh CM N. Chandrababu Naidu inaugurated Phase-I of the Pula Subbaiah Veligonda Project that diverts Krishna flood water to irrigate 1.19 lakh acres and supply drinking water in drought-prone districts.

• 16th Aero India will be held at Yelahanka Air Force Station, Bengaluru, from 8–12 February 2027.
• Organised by the Department of Defence Production under the Ministry of Defence.
• Nine hangars (A–I); Hangars A and B reserved for IAF and DRDO.
• Online registration for exhibitors begins 3 September 2026.
• India’s defence exports reached ₹38,424 crore in FY 2025–26; the previous edition (2025) had ~900 exhibitors including 150 international participants.

• ASI designated Kakatiya-era Gollala Gudi Temple in Palampet, Mulugu (Telangana) as a Monument of National Importance via Gazette notification S.O. 4802(E) dated 31 August 2026.
• Located southwest of UNESCO World Heritage Ramappa Temple.
• It is a Trikutalaya with three sanctums; central one has a Shiva Linga; features elaborate Kakatiya-style carvings, hamsa motifs, jali, and sculptures of Vishnu, Lakshmi, Ganesha, and Mahishasuramardini.
• Two detached shrines with dvarapalas stand in front.
• ASI plans roof repairs, flooring restoration, and improved visitor access for better conservation.

• India and Belgium signed several Memoranda of Understanding in New Delhi on 2–3 September 2026 during talks between PM Narendra Modi and Belgian PM Bart De Wever.
• Agreements cover renewable energy (green hydrogen, solar, storage, offshore wind, pumped storage), defence-industrial cooperation, migration & mobility, semiconductors and critical minerals processing/recycling.
• Both sides aim to double bilateral trade in the next five years.
• Defence MoUs include technology partnership for projects such as the Zorawar light tank; Belgian frigate LEOPOLD I will visit India in November 2026.

• ICC named India host of the first Women’s Champions Trophy (14–28 February 2027) after Sri Lanka’s removal due to governance issues.
• Six teams (Australia, England, India, New Zealand, South Africa, Sri Lanka) will play a T20I round-robin followed by a final.
• Venues: Cricket Club of India (Mumbai) and Vadodara International Cricket Stadium.
• Qualification based on ICC Women’s T20I rankings after the 2026 T20 World Cup (cut-off 6 July 2026).
• ICC Chairman is Jay Shah.

• India will host Stage 3 of the 2026 World Archery Para Series for the first time at Sabarmati Riverfront, Ahmedabad, from 5–9 September 2026.
• Events cover Recurve Open, Compound Open, W1, and Visually Impaired categories.
• Organised by Archery Association of India with Gujarat and Sports Authority of India support; inauguration on 4 September.
• The 29-member Indian squad includes Paris 2024 Paralympic medallists Harvinder Singh, Sheetal Devi, and Rakesh Kumar.
• Over 100 athletes from about 20 nations are expected to participate.

• IAF successfully tested indigenous long-range glide bomb Khagantak-243 from a Su-30MKI on 2 September 2026.
• Stand-off range exceeds 140 km from ~12,000 m altitude.
• Features cylindrical body, swivel glide wings, five control surfaces, and Mk-81 warhead.
• Guidance: INS + jamming-resistant satellite navigation; optional EO/IR or passive seekers for terminal phase.
• Co-developed by JSR Dynamics (airframe/controls) and Bharat Electronics Limited (electronics); supports Atmanirbhar Bharat.

• NHAI instituted the Green Highways Excellence Awards to promote healthy plantation practices along National Highways; winners for 2026 were announced in three categories.
• Avenue Plantations: 1st – Six Laning of Chilakaluripet Bypass (NH-16, Andhra Pradesh); 2nd – Vadodara-Kim Expressway (Gujarat); 3rd – Gagariya-Bakhasar & Satta-Gandhav sections (Rajasthan).
• Median Plantations: 1st – Hyderabad-Yadgiri section (NH-163); 2nd – Vadodara-Kim Expressway (Gujarat); 3rd – Varanasi Ring Road (UP).
• Land Parcels: 1st – Jamtha Clover Leaf, Oxygen Bird Park (NH-44, Nagpur); 2nd – Duhai Interchange (Delhi); 3rd – Lucknow-Ayodhya Miyawaki plantation (UP).
• 86 nominations received; survival rate was the top evaluation criterion. Awards began in 2025 under the Green Highways Policy, 2015.

• The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports announced four recipients of the 2024 awards on 2 September 2026.
• Land Adventure: Baljeet Kaur (first Indian to scale five 8,000 m peaks in one season) and Skalzang Rigzin (first Indian to summit Everest without oxygen or Sherpa).
• Water Adventure: Rimo Saha (para-swimming achievements).
• Lifetime Achievement: Shiv Prasad Chamoli (winter and adventure sports promotion).
• Each receives a bronze statuette, certificate, blazer/saree, and ₹15 lakh; to be presented by President Droupadi Murmu.

• Veteran Gujarati music composer, arranger and singer Gaurang Vyas died at the age of 87 in Ahmedabad in September 2026.
• Son of Padma Shri awardee Avinash Vyas, he assisted his father on Jesal Toral before making an independent debut with Lakho Phulani.
• He composed music for more than 100 films, including Bhavni Bhavai, Maniyaro, Liludi Dharati and Maiyarman Mandu Nathi Lagtu.
• Worked with legendary playback singers Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhosle, Kishore Kumar, Manna Dey, Mahendra Kapoor and Bhupinder Singh.
• His work remains an important part of Gujarati cinema’s musical heritage.

• World Skyscraper Day is observed every year on 3 September to honour the engineering, architecture and ambition behind the world’s tallest buildings.
• The date coincides with the birth anniversary of Louis H. Sullivan, a pioneer of early skyscraper design.
• According to CTBUH, buildings 300 m or taller are classified as supertall and require specialised foundations, wind engineering, elevators and fire safety systems.
• Modern supertalls are mostly mixed-use (residences, hotels, offices, observation decks).

• Cooperation agreement signed on 1 September 2026 for next-gen AI and immersive learning.
• Combines UNESCO MGIEP’s Social & Emotional Learning with IIT Madras’ AI, XR and game design expertise.
• Focus on open-source, low-cost tools for personalised learning in low-bandwidth areas.
• Includes joint research, faculty exchange and SEL-integrated pedagogy.
• Supports UN SDG 4 on quality education.

• SSSS v.5.0 launched on 1 September 2026 for coastal cleanup (12–19 September).
• Covers India’s 11,098 km coastline with drives at over 100 beaches.
• Implemented under the Ministry of Earth Sciences’ PRITHVI scheme.
• New features: First National Ocean Olympiad, dedicated website and conservation pledge portal.
• Concludes on International Coastal Cleanup Day.

• Launched on 1 September 2026 at SVPI Airport, Ahmedabad (third airport after Varanasi & Amritsar).
• Air India’s “Easy Connect” service started with two daily Ahmedabad–Delhi flights.
• Passengers complete customs, immigration and baggage formalities at Ahmedabad itself.
• Provides seamless international connections via Delhi within four hours.
• Plan to expand to 22 more airports including Surat.

• All India Institute of Ayurveda launched “AyurVarta” digital dialogue series on 1 September 2026.
• Aimed at promoting authentic Ayurveda knowledge globally.
• The inaugural episode discussed why Ayurveda Day is celebrated on 23 September.
• Linked to the Autumnal Equinox and principle of balance in Ayurveda.
• Organised under the Ministry of Ayush ahead of 11th Ayurveda Day.

• Pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong (29) pleaded guilty on 2 September 2026.
• Charge: Conspiracy to collude with foreign forces under 2020 National Security Law.
• Related to alleged contacts with foreign politicians and calls for sanctions.
• Already serving 4 years 8 months sentence in Hong Kong 47 case.
• In continuous custody since November 2020; sentencing date not fixed.

• Japan Credit Rating Agency upgraded India’s long-term issuer ratings from BBB+ to A- on 2 September 2026.
• Outlook: Stable; Country ceiling raised to A.
• Key reasons: 7.7% GDP growth in FY2026, NPL ratio below 2%, GST reforms and digital public infrastructure.
• Projected growth above 6% in FY2027.
• Concerns remain over high government debt and fiscal relations.

• Assumed charge as Air Officer-in-Charge Maintenance (AOM) on 1 September 2026.
• Succeeded Air Marshal Sanjiv Ghuratia.
• Commissioned on 3 September 1988 in the Aeronautical Engineering (Mechanical) branch.
• Earlier held posts of DG (Aircraft), DG (System) and ACAS (Maintenance Plans).
• Led induction of IAF’s first IL-78 Flight Refueller; awarded VSM (2015) and AVSM (2026).

• Appointed Executive Director of RBI on 1 September 2026.
• Will handle DICGC and Premises Department.
• Earlier served as Regional Director for Maharashtra.
• Over 30 years experience in currency management, financial inclusion, payments, consumer protection and HR.
• Also served as Secretary to Western Area Local Board.

• First woman officer from non-medical cadre in Indian Defence Forces to become Air Vice Marshal.
• Commissioned in IAF Education Branch on 18 June 1994; over 32 years of service.
• Appointed Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Education) at Air Headquarters from 1 September 2026.
• Key contributions: Established IAF Chair of Excellence at IIT Kanpur and Pune University.
• First Tri-Services officer to command a Sainik School (Principal, Sainik School Kapurthala).

• Inaugurated by Union Minister Bhupender Yadav in New Delhi on 2–3 September 2026.
• Theme: “Tiger Landscapes – Conservation, Bioeconomy and Ecotourism”.
• Organised by International Big Cat Alliance, Asian Development Bank and NTCA.
• MoU signed between IBCA and ADB on landscape conservation, capacity building and nature-positive financing.
• Focus on livelihood generation through tiger conservation.

• India inaugurated its first Green Forge Complex at BRIC-NABI in Mohali, Punjab, on 31 August 2026. The controlled-environment facility tests genetically modified crops under simulated light, humidity and temperature conditions before field trials.
• Linked to genome and trait engineering and the BioE3 policy for biotechnology-led biomanufacturing, it supports India’s expanding bioeconomy and the proposed Chandigarh-Mohali Science and Innovation Cluster.

• The Digital India BHASHINI Division organised a developer session at the Embassy of India in Kathmandu on 31 August 2026 under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology. Focused on Language AI and multilingual digital services, the event introduced Nepali developers, students and innovators to BHASHINI APIs for translation, speech recognition and synthesis.
• Parallel workshops and a foundational MoU with Kathmandu University’s Centre for Digital Public Infrastructure advanced bilateral technology collaboration and India’s digital public infrastructure outreach.

• Indian travelers can now make UPI payments at merchant outlets across Uzbekistan via the national UZQR code. This follows a commercial agreement signed on 30 August 2026 between NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL) and Uzbekistan’s National Interbank Processing Centre (NIPC), operator of the HUMO system. Users scan UZQR codes using existing UPI apps for direct person-to-merchant transactions from Indian bank accounts.
• Backed by RBI and Central Bank of Uzbekistan, the facility covers retail, hospitality and services, reducing dependence on cash and foreign cards while expanding UPI’s global footprint.

• Fifteen-year-old East Zone batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi became the youngest player to score a half-century in Duleep Trophy history on 31 August 2026. He reached fifty in 42 balls and scored 92 off 81 balls (7 fours, 7 sixes) in the semi-final against Central Zone in Bengaluru.
• At 15 years and 157 days, he broke Laxman Singh’s 1969 record. A day earlier he had become the tournament’s youngest captain after Ishan Kishan’s injury.

Lionel Messi announced his retirement from Argentina’s national team after a 20-year career spanning 207 appearances and 125 goals. He retires as Argentina’s most-capped and highest-scoring player, having led the side to the 2022 FIFA World Cup, Copa América titles in 2021 and 2024, and the 2022 Finalissima. Despite early setbacks including the 2014 World Cup final loss and consecutive Copa América defeats, Messi’s later years brought unprecedented success, cementing his legacy as one of football’s greatest.

• INS Nipun, the second Nistar-class Diving Support Vessel, was commissioned into the Indian Navy on 31 August 2026 at Naval Dockyard, Mumbai by Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Krishna Swaminathan.
• Built indigenously by Hindustan Shipyard Limited, Visakhapatnam, the ship is designed for deep-sea diving, saturation/air/heliox operations, underwater intervention, salvage and submarine rescue. Equipped with ROVs, dynamic positioning, specialised diving complex and medical facilities, it strengthens India’s regional submarine rescue capabilities and supports HADR missions under Western Naval Command.

• American poet, novelist, essayist and environmental activist Wendell Berry died at his home in Port Royal, Kentucky, on 31 August 2026 at the age of 92. Author of more than 50 books, he was renowned for writings on agrarian life, industrial agriculture and rural communities, notably The Unsettling of America (1977).
• A National Humanities Medal recipient (2010) and Kentucky Writers Hall of Fame inductee (2015), Berry farmed in Henry County and remained a prominent voice for conservation and local economies.

World Coconut Day is observed every year on 2 September. The day highlights the coconut palm, often called the “tree of life,” whose water, milk, oil, pulp, husk and shell serve agriculture, food, trade, economy and daily needs. First celebrated in 2009, it is linked to the International Coconut Community (earlier Asian and Pacific Coconut Community).

• Andhra Pradesh CM N. Chandrababu Naidu inaugurated Phase-I of the Pula Subbaiah Veligonda Project on 31 August 2026 at Gottipadiya. Conceived in 1989 and begun with bhoomi puja in 1996, the gravity-based scheme diverts 43.50 TMC excess Krishna flood water through two tunnels under the Nallamala hills into the Nallamala Sagar Reservoir.
• Phase-I stores 10.70 TMC, irrigates 1.19 lakh acres, supplies drinking water to 4 lakh people and provides fluoride-free water to 1,657 habitations in drought-prone Prakasam, Nellore and Kadapa districts.

• The Vice President of India will release “Mission Rangeen Machhli 2031” Strategic Action Plan for Ornamental Fisheries at Agatti, Lakshadweep on 31 August 2026.
• Event attended by Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh, MoS Prof S.P. Singh Baghel and Lakshadweep Administrator Praful Patel.
• Plan provides framework for scientific management, biosecurity, quality assurance and SOPs across ornamental fisheries value chain.
• Lakshadweep (17% of India’s EEZ) , known as Seaweed Cluster, focuses on mariculture, high-value fisheries and blue economy.
• Benefits to be distributed to fishers, including women.

• Raksha Rajya Mantri Sanjay Seth will inaugurate the second Annual Trident Lecture of CENJOWS on 1 September 2026 at Manekshaw Centre, New Delhi.
• Theme: ‘National Resurgence through the Lens of Defence Forces’.
• He will deliver a Special Address on ‘Leveraging the Potential of Next Generation for Nation Building’.
• Keynote by Air Marshal Tejinder Singh (CISC & Chairman CENJOWS) on jointness and integration.
• Special addresses by Lt Gen Raj Shukla (Retd) on civil-military fusion and Lt Gen Sandeep Jain on multi-domain operations.
• CENJOWS is a tri-services think tank established in 2007 under HQ IDS.

• Tim Cook stepped down as Apple’s CEO on August 31, 2026; John Ternus assumed the position on September 1, 2026.
• Tim Cook (65) becomes Executive Chairman; Ternus joins the board after 25 years at Apple.
• Cook became CEO in 2011; Apple’s value rose from ~$350 billion to $4 trillion under him.
• Ternus joined in 2001 and has led Hardware Engineering since 2021.
• Board approved succession on 20 April 2026; Arthur Levinson became lead independent director.
• Transition precedes fall launch expected to feature iPhone 18 Pro and first foldable device.

• Union Minister Bhupender Yadav and German Minister Carsten Schneider will co-chair the 4th Indo-German Environmental Forum on 1 September 2026 in New Delhi.
• Theme: ‘Together For More Resilience’.
• Highest-level bilateral forum on environment since 2008, organised by MoEFCC and BMUKN with industry partners.
• Focus areas: Low-Carbon Industries, Biodiversity, Resource Efficiency & Circular Economy, Sustainable Finance and Green Skills.
• Joint Working Groups on Climate Change, Biodiversity and Circular Economy met earlier.
• Aims to deepen cooperation in sustainable technologies and green economy.

• ICC has withdrawn Sri Lanka’s hosting rights for the first ICC Women’s Champions Trophy 2027 (originally 14–28 February 2027).
• Decision linked to concerns over autonomy of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC).
• ICC earlier banned SLC in 2023-24 for political interference; Sri Lanka also lost 2024 U-19 World Cup hosting.
• In April 2026, the Sri Lankan government took temporary control and formed a Transformation Committee.
• ICC demands a democratically elected board free from government interference.
• New host yet to be announced.

• First India-Kuwait Joint Defence Committee meeting held in New Delhi on 28 August 2026.
• Co-chaired by Joint Secretary Amitabh Prasad and Brigadier General Raed Alsakran.
• Agreed to expand cooperation in training, exercises, military medicine, staff talks, defence industry and R&D.
• Operationalises Defence MoU signed during PM’s December 2024 Kuwait visit that elevated ties to Strategic Partnership.
• Kuwaiti delegation visited National War Memorial and DPSU Bhawan; industry interaction scheduled.

• Fourth edition of Tri-Services Future Warfare Course under HQ IDS and CENJOWS concluded on 30 August 2026 at Manekshaw Centre, New Delhi after four weeks.
• Participants from Army, Navy, Air Force, government, academia, industry and think tanks examined AI, quantum tech, cyber/cognitive warfare, autonomous systems, multi-domain and grey-zone operations.
• CDS Gen NS Raja Subramani interacted with participants and sought suggestions for future editions.
• Certificates presented by CISC Air Marshal Tejinder Singh; PG Diploma in Future Warfare awarded by Lt Gen SS Mahal (Retd).
• Fifth edition scheduled from 16 November to 11 December 2026.

• King Harald V of Norway died on 28 August 2026 at age 89 after 35 years on the throne; Europe’s oldest reigning monarch.
• Succeeded immediately by his son as King Haakon VIII under absolute primogeniture.
• Norway is a constitutional monarchy (Constitution of 1814); monarch is head of state, and the government holds executive power.
• The royal house belongs to the House of Glücksburg.
• The new king formally notifies accession at an extraordinary Council of State meeting.

• Bihar and Jharkhand signed a Sone river water-sharing agreement on 31 August 2026, ending a 25-year dispute since Jharkhand’s creation in 2000.
• Allocation: 5.75 MAF to Bihar and 2.0 MAF to Jharkhand (total 7.75 MAF as per undivided Bihar’s share under 1973 Bansagar Agreement).
• Mediated by Union Ministry of Jal Shakti via CWC committee; breakthrough at Eastern Zonal Council meeting (July 2025) chaired by Amit Shah.
• Bihar Cabinet approved the draft on 13 January 2026.
• Linked to the Sone canal system irrigating Bhojpur, Buxar, Rohtas, Kaimur, Aurangabad, Patna, Gaya and Arwal.

• CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu inaugurated the state’s first ozone-based drinking water treatment project in Dehra, Kangra (₹46 crore).
• Ozone gas will disinfect water and improve taste; model to be replicated elsewhere.
• Mukhyamantri Ka Apna Parivar Sukhi Parivar Yojana surveys underway; launch on 2 October with financial support and 300 free electricity units for poor families.
• Rajiv Gandhi Van Samvardhan Yojana offers ₹1.20 lakh to SHGs for plantation with survival incentives.
• CBSE schools expansion and a new veterinary hospital at Baddal Thor also announced.
• Adequate funds assured for Dehra’s development.

• Proposal before Supreme Court: red hexagonal warning labels (“HIGH FAT/SUGAR/SALT”, “HIGHLY SWEETENED BEVERAGE”) on the principal display panel.
• Font at least one point larger than the back-of-pack nutrition table.
• Thresholds based on ICMR-NIN Dietary Guidelines 2024.
• Two-phase rollout: Phase I (two+ nutrients exceeded), Phase II (any single nutrient).
• Replaces earlier five-star rating plan.
• Aims at clearer consumer information on packaged foods.

• On 26 Aug 2026, Gen. Zhao Zongqi stripped of Standing Committee membership, full CPPCC membership and Vice-Chairmanship of Ethnic & Religious Affairs Committee.
• CPPCC is China’s top political advisory body.
• Zhao commanded PLA Western Theatre Command (2016–Dec 2020), responsible for the India border including LAC.
• Theatre covered Galwan Valley area of 15 June 2020 clash (20 Indian, ≥4 Chinese fatalities).

• Preparations underway for inaugural Diplomacy & Defence “2+2” dialogue (State Minister level) and early Foreign Minister Strategic Dialogue.
• Format mirrors India-US/Japan/Australia/Russia 2+2s (foreign + defence ministers).
• Discussions in Dhaka reviewed PM Tarique Rahman’s June 2026 China visit.
• Projects: Mongla Port modernisation, Teesta River management, China Economic & Industrial Zone (Chattogram) – $500 mn commitments from 30+ Chinese firms.
• Bangladesh reaffirmed the One-China Principle; China called it a strategic partner.

• India-Uzbekistan ties elevated to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
• Key areas: trade, investment, energy, critical minerals, defence, digital tech, AI, cybersecurity, healthcare, pharma, education, space, transport.
• Long-term uranium supply deal and nuclear cooperation agreed.
• Uzbekistan supports India’s permanent UNSC membership.
• PM Modi awarded the Order of Oliy Darajali Do‘stlik (highest friendship honour).
• Foreign ministers’ mechanism to oversee implementation.
• $1 million + tech aid for Aral Sea greening; Buddhist heritage conservation at Fayaz Tepe & Karatepa.
• Dustlik joint military exercise, space data exchange, cultural programmes 2026-30 planned.

• India lost 4-3 to Belgium in a shootout after a 3-3 draw at Wavre.
• Abhishek scored early; Harmanpreet Singh netted twice (including late equaliser).
• Belgium goals: Duvekot, Labouchere, de Kerpel.
• India converted 3 of 4 shootout attempts (Lakra, Dilpreet, Abhishek); Belgium prevailed 4-3.
• Final positions: India 8th, Belgium 7th.
• Strong individual displays but the campaign ended in disappointment.

• First ministerial meeting of Mecca Joint Defence Agreement set for 31 Aug 2026 in Istanbul.
• Pact signed 7 Aug 2026 by Erdogan, MBS and Shehbaz Sharif; contains NATO-style collective defence clause.
• Meeting to form a political-defence strategic committee (foreign & defence ministers + military chiefs).
• Agenda: collective capability, troop interoperability, joint defence production, international security.
• High-level participants include Pakistan’s Ishaq Dar.

• On Aug 30, 2026 in Tashkent, PM Modi received ‘Oliy Darajali Do’stlik’ (Order of Supreme Friendship), Uzbekistan’s top honour for international collaboration.
• He dedicated it to India’s 1.4 billion people, millennia-old heritage and historic friendship.
• Visit upgraded bilateral ties to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
• Long-term uranium supply agreement signed to support India’s nuclear energy expansion.
• Cooperation expanded in trade, investment, defence, energy, digital connectivity and nuclear sectors.
• Strengthens India’s Central Asia outreach on connectivity, energy and geopolitics.
• Both nations amplify the Global South voice.

• Launched 30 Aug 2026 at 7:26 a.m. EDT on SpaceX Falcon Heavy from Kennedy Space Center LC-39A.
• $4.3 bn NASA flagship (18,000 lb); 300-megapixel Wide Field Instrument (100× Hubble field of view).
• Separated 31 min after liftoff; three-month journey to Sun-Earth L2 (~1 million miles).
• Side boosters recovered at Cape Canaveral.
• Five-year science mission; communications via TDRS then Deep Space Network.

• 2,367 kg Earth Observation Satellite to lift off on GSLV-F17 from Sriharikota Second Launch Pad into Sub-Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit.
• It will operate from geostationary orbit (~36,000 km) for near-real-time imaging of the Indian subcontinent every 30 minutes (5 minutes for priority targets).
• GSLV-F17: 51.7 m tall, 420.5 tonnes lift-off mass; cryogenic upper stage.
• Applications: weather, agriculture, disaster management, security.
• India’s first imaging satellite in geosynchronous orbit.

• Observed annually to recognise MSMEs’ role in entrepreneurship, jobs and growth.
• Evolution: 2000 policy package → 2006 MSMED Act → revised classification (April 2025) → MSMED (Amendment) Act 2026.
• MSMEs contribute 31.1% to GDP, 35.4% to manufacturing, 48.58% to exports; they employ 38.9 crore people.
• 2026 milestones: TReDS mandatory for CPSEs (₹3.47 lakh crore invoicing); Udyam registrations crossed 8.7 crore.
• Budget 2026-27: courier export cap removed; credit guarantee raised to ₹10 crore for micro & small units.

• Researchers rediscover the elusive Ice Age-era dragonfly species Crocothemis erythraea in the southern Western Ghats after decades of misidentification.
• A new IUCAA-led study used Mira variable stars for the first time to precisely measure the Universe’s expansion rate.
• The Greater Bengaluru Integrated Township (GBIT) is being developed at Bidadi.

• The Bihar Cabinet approved the Mukhyamantri Mahila Rojgar Yojana, offering ₹10,000 to one woman per household to start a business, with up to ₹2 lakh support after review.
• Indore has achieved a significant milestone by becoming the first city in Madhya Pradesh to be awarded the prestigious CII Indian Green Building Council (IGBC) Green City Platinum Certification.
• TUDA launched “Operation SWARNA” to rejuvenate and protect the Swarnamukhi River in Andhra Pradesh.
• PM Modi launched ‘Bihar Rajya Jeevika Nidhi’ to provide affordable credit access to rural women entrepreneurs.

Bengaluru is set to host India’s first and largest AI-powered city at Bidadi, called the Greater Bengaluru Integrated Township (GBIT). The ₹20,000 crore project will cover 9,000 acres and aims to create a smart, sustainable, and technology-driven urban hub. Of this, 2,000 acres will be dedicated to AI industries, making it a major innovation and IT hub. The township will follow a work-live-play model, combining housing, offices, parks, sports facilities, and entertainment zones. It is designed as Bengaluru’s second central business district, reducing congestion in the main city. 

The Tirupati Urban Development Authority (TUDA) has initiated “Operation SWARNA” (Swarnamukhi Waterbody Action for River and Nala Awareness), a comprehensive project aimed at rejuvenating and safeguarding the 130-kilometre-long Swarnamukhi River in Andhra Pradesh. This marks the state’s first large-scale river rejuvenation effort, focused on removing encroachments, restoring riverbanks, and improving ecological balance through measures like planting native vegetation and upgrading water retention structures.

A new study led by Professor Anupam Bhardwaj from the Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA) has made a major breakthrough in measuring the Universe’s expansion rate. For the first time, scientists used Mira variable stars in our galaxy to do this. By studying 40 oxygen-rich Miras in 18 star clusters, with data from ESA’s Gaia mission, the team was able to measure their brightness and create an accurate period-luminosity relation.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on September 2, 2025, launched the ‘Bihar Rajya Jeevika Nidhi’ Saakh Sahkari Sangh Limited, a pioneering initiative aimed at empowering rural women entrepreneurs across Bihar. The program, jointly implemented by the Government of India and the Bihar state government, seeks to provide affordable and timely financial assistance to women associated with Jeevika self-help groups (SHGs) by offering them access to larger loans at much lower interest rates compared to traditional microfinance institutions. The Jeevika Nidhi has been designed to ensure easy and fair credit access for SHG women entrepreneurs, many of whom previously paid exorbitant interest rates of 18–24% to private lenders.

Researchers have reconfirmed the presence of the elusive dragonfly species Crocothemis erythraea in the high-altitude regions of the southern Western Ghats. The species, often mistaken for the widespread Crocothemis servilia, had been overlooked in past surveys. The study, led by odonatologist Kalesh Sadasivan and published in the International Journal of Odonatology, revealed that C. erythraea first reached southern India during the Pleistocene Ice Age when cooler climates allowed its expansion. Intensive surveys from 2019–2023 confirmed that both species coexist in the region, making this rediscovery scientifically significant for biodiversity records in India.

Indore has achieved a significant milestone by becoming the first city in Madhya Pradesh to be awarded the prestigious CII Indian Green Building Council (IGBC) Green City Platinum Certification. The certification is a recognition awarded by the Indian Green Building Council (IGBC), a part of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), to cities that demonstrate outstanding commitment and excellence in sustainable urban development.

In a significant step to support women ahead of the assembly elections, the Bihar Cabinet has approved the ‘Mukhyamantri Mahila Rojgar Yojana’. Under this scheme, one woman from each household will get ₹10,000 to start a business of her choice. The Rural Development Department, with help from the Urban Development and Housing Department, will run the scheme. After a six-month review, selected women could receive up to ₹2 lakh in extra support to expand their businesses.

The Kuki-Zo Council (KZC) has allowed free movement of commuters and essential goods along National Highway-02 (NH-02), a key step toward restoring normalcy in Manipur. The decision followed talks with the Ministry of Home Affairs. A tripartite meeting involving the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Government of Manipur, Kuki National Organisation (KNO) and United People’s Front (UPF) also led to a revised Suspension of Operations (SoO) Agreement for one year, reaffirming Manipur’s territorial integrity. Key commitments include camp relocations, depositing weapons, and cadre verification. A Joint Monitoring Group will enforce compliance. The move comes ahead of PM Modi’s visit to the state.

The Inland Waterways Authority of India launched “Bistirna Parore: A Musical Voyage from Sadiya to Dhubri” to celebrate the birth centenary of Bharat Ratna Dr. Bhupen Hazarika. Named after his iconic song on the Brahmaputra, the journey features cultural programs, folk performances and musical tributes at key stops including Bogibeel, Silghat, Guwahati, and Jogighopa. Remembered as the “Bard of the Brahmaputra,” Dr. Hazarika’s legacy of unity, peace, and brotherhood is being honored through this initiative, which seeks to inspire and connect communities across Assam.

• The World Health Organization (WHO) released the outcome document of the first WHO Traditional Medicine Global Summit 2023 as the "Gujarat Declaration".
• The declaration reaffirmed global commitments to indigenous knowledge, biodiversity and traditional, complementary and integrative medicine.
• The action points of the two-day WHO Traditional Medicine Global Summit 2023, held in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, are based on the evidence, discussions and outcomes presented at the summit.

• Neeraj Mittal was appointed as Secretary in the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC).
• Neeraj Mittal is a 1992-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer.
• He is currently serving as the Principal Secretary in the Department of Information Technology, Tamil Nadu.
• Prior to this, he worked as Senior Advisor in the World Bank Group and as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.
• He is replacing K Rajaraman, who is now the chairman of the International Financial Services Centers Authority (IFSCA) in Gujarat.

• The West Bengal Assembly has passed the Aparajita Women and Child Bill, 2024, aimed at protecting and empowering women and children in the state.
• The Punjab Assembly passed the Punjab Apartment and Property Regulation (Amendment) Act, 2024, to control the spread of illegal colonies and regulate property development.
• Hyderabad hosted the Global Artificial Intelligence Summit 2024, bringing together global experts to discuss the theme "Making AI Work for Everyone."
• Himachal Assembly passes a bill barring MLAs disqualified under the anti-defection law from receiving a pension.
• Madhya Pradesh Government unveils the 'Brindavan Gram' scheme to transform villages and the 'Gita Bhavan' project for ideological study centers.
• Telangana CM Revanth Reddy inaugurates the 4th edition of the Intercontinental Football Cup tournament in Hyderabad.

India’s Total Fertility Rate (TFR) declined to 1.9 in 2023, the first drop in two years, according to the Sample Registration Survey (SRS) Statistical Report 2023. This places the country below the replacement level fertility rate of 2.1 children per woman, signaling a major demographic shift. The Crude Birth Rate (CBR) also fell from 19.1 in 2022 to 18.4 in 2023. Bihar reported the highest CBR at 25.8, while Tamil Nadu had the lowest at 12. Among major states, Bihar also recorded the highest TFR at 2.8, while Delhi reported the lowest at 1.2.

• Indian-origin economist Tharman Shanmugaratnam has emerged victorious in Singapore’s presidential election.
• Tharman Shanmugaratnam defeated two contenders of Chinese origin in the country’s first contested presidential polls since 2011.
• Tharman secured 70.4% of the votes, while Ng Kok Song and Tan Kin Lian received 15.7% and 13.88% respectively.
• The president-elect, Tharman, had served as Singapore’s Deputy Prime Minister from 2011 to 2019.

• Cognizant India Chairman and Managing Director Rajesh Nambiar has been appointed as the new chairperson of the Indian IT and technology trade body NASSCOM.
• Rajesh Nambiar will replace former Microsoft India chairperson Anant Maheshwari in this role.
• Before becoming the chairperson, Nambiar served as the Vice Chairperson of NASSCOM.
• Nambiar will collaborate with Debjani Ghosh, President, of NASSCOM, and work closely with the NASSCOM Executive Council, industry stakeholders, and the government.

• Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister has launched a scheme to provide nutritious food to school children.
• Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Manjhi announced 'Subhadra Yojana' to empower more than 1 crore women with financial assistance. Under this scheme, eligible women will get Rs 5,000 annually.
• Maharashtra has become the first state to introduce a Unified Pension Scheme.
• Vijay, a leading actor of Tamil cinema and president of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, launched his party's flag and flag song at the party headquarters in Panaiyur, Chennai on 22 August 2024.
• Regional Industry Conclave was organized in Gwalior on 28th August.
• The Cabinet has approved the Chief Minister's Happiness Education Scheme in Himachal Pradesh.

The India MedTech Expo 2025 began at Bharat Mandapam, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi from September 4–6, 2025. The event is being organized by the Department of Commerce, Government of India in collaboration with the Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Ministry of Ayush, and various Export Promotion Councils. The Expo highlights India’s growth, opportunities, and innovations in the medical devices sector. It brings together PLI participants, start-ups, MSMEs, entrepreneurs, R&D labs, incubators, and hospitals. Key partners include DBT, CSIR, IITs, and state governments, ensuring strong collaboration.

• Georgia Governor Brian Kemp officially declared October as 'Hindu Heritage Month'.
• It aims to celebrate Hindu heritage while emphasizing the rich cultural and spiritual traditions of India.
• It recognizes and appreciates the valuable contributions made by the Hindu-American community in the state of Georgia.
• Hinduism is accepted as the third largest religion globally, with one billion followers worldwide and about three million followers in the United States.
• In April 2023, Georgia passed a historic resolution condemning Hinduphobia, making it the first US state to do so.

• Senior IAS officer Vumlunmang Vualnam assumed the charge of Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) as incumbent Rajiv Bansal retired on attainment of superannuation.
• Vualnam is an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of the 1992 batch from the Manipur cadre.
• He has held many important positions in the Union Government, including Additional Secretary, Ministry of Finance, Joint Secretary, Home Affairs, Deputy Secretary, Finance and Company Affairs.
• Vualnam has also held several key positions in the Government of Manipur including, Commissioner, Health & Family Welfare, and Director, Transport. He has also served as advisor to the Executive Director in the World Bank.

External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar inaugurated the SAMHiTA Conference on South Asia’s Manuscript Traditions & Mathematical Contributions in New Delhi. The three-day event aims to create a comprehensive relational database and digital archive of Indian and South Asian manuscripts preserved in global libraries, archives, and repositories, in collaboration with international institutions. The conference also featured a special exhibition showcasing India’s rich mathematical heritage and manuscript traditions, with contributions from historical scholars and their enduring relevance in the modern world.

• The 43rd ASEAN Summit is scheduled to be held in Jakarta from September 5 to 7. 
• This summit is taking place in the context of increased tension in the South China Sea. Some ASEAN member countries have expressed protest over China's recent release of a new map claiming disputed areas.
• Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong will lead a delegation to the summit.
• During the summit, ASEAN leaders will also discuss the crisis in Myanmar among other pressing regional issues.

• Shyam Sunder Gupta took over as the Principal Chief Operations Manager of Central Railway on Tuesday, September 5, 2023. 
• His appointment follows the superannuation of Mukul Jain, who retired from the position on August 31, 2023.
• Shyam Sunder Gupta, a 1992 batch officer of the Indian Railway Traffic Service, brings with him a wealth of experience spanning various regions and responsibilities within the Indian Railways.
• During his tenure, he has worked on Western Railway, South Central Railway, South East Central Railway, and Central Railway in various capacities.

• The BRICS CCI Healthcare Summit 2025 in New Delhi focused on bridging tradition and innovation under Minister Prataprao Jadhav’s leadership.
• India launched its first National Biofoundry Network to boost biotechnology, biomanufacturing, and job creation.
• The Ministry of Tribal Affairs is set to launch “Adi Vaani”, the country’s first AI-based translator for tribal languages.
• Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched the Janrakshak projects under Dial 112 in Ahmedabad.
• The 20th Global Sustainability Summit, organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), was held in New Delhi.
• Air Quality Life Index (AQLI) 2025 report ranked air pollution as India’s biggest health threat, cutting life expectancy by 3.5 years.
• Union Minister Prataprao Jadhav inaugurated the Ayush Mission and Capacity Building Summit in New Delhi.
• The British Museum in London has agreed to lend the revered 16th-century Vrindavani Vastra, a sacred silk textile woven under the guidance of Assamese saint-reformer Srimanta Sankardeva for public exhibition in Assam in 2027.
• IIT Madras, IISc Bengaluru, and IIM Ahmedabad retained top positions in NIRF 2025.
• Mansukh Mandaviya announced the mobilisation of 1,000+ ‘MY Bharat Aapda Mitras’.
• The Shilp Samagam Mela 2025 is being held in Bengaluru.
• The Angikaar 2025 campaign was launched under PMAY-Urban 2.0.

• The second edition of the Naval Commanders' Conference, 2023 began in New Delhi on 4 September.
• The conference serves as the highest-level biennial event, which facilitates discussion and policy formulation among naval commanders.
• During the three-day conference, to be held in a hybrid format, the senior leadership of the Indian Navy will review major operational, material, logistics, training, and administrative activities undertaken during the last six months.

• R Madhavan has been named as the chairman of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Pune.
• In addition to the post of Chairman, Madhavan will also serve as the Chairman of the Governing Council of FTII.
• Madhavan’s nomination follows the national recognition his film ‘Rocketry: The Nambi Effect’ received.
• ‘Rocketry: The Nambi Effect’ won the prestigious Best Feature Film award at the 69th National Film Awards.
• ‘Rocketry: The Nambi Effect’ throws light on the life of former ISRO scientist S Nambi Narayanan and his remarkable contribution to India’s space agency.

Union Minister for Youth Affairs & Sports, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, chaired a high-level meeting at MY Bharat Headquarters in New Delhi and announced the mobilisation of over 1,000 NDMA-trained ‘MY Bharat Aapda Mitras’ to support relief operations in flood-affected Punjab and Himachal Pradesh. These trained youth volunteers will deliver supplies and essential services to remote villages, assist in rehabilitation, and coordinate closely with district administrations to ensure timely action. Launched in 2023, the Aapda Mitra programme equips youth with NDMA-certified training in disaster response, including search and rescue, first aid and emergency coordination.

• Inauguration of ICONS 2023 - 3rd International Conference on Structural Integrity.
• Sri Lanka hosts 'Karnataka Cultural Festival' for the first time
• Zimbabwe's President Emmerson Mnangagwa re-elected for final term
• India and New Zealand signed MoU to enhance cooperation in the field of civil aviation

• Uday Kotak resigned as Managing Director and CEO of Kotak Mahindra Bank with effect from September 1, 2023.
• Deepak Gupta, Joint Managing Director of the bank, will temporarily assume the role of Managing Director and CEO.
• The change is subject to approval from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the bank's members.
• Uday Kotak has been leading Kotak Mahindra Bank since its inception in 1985 and guiding it to become a leading commercial lender.
• His departure marks the end of an era in Indian banking, and he will remain as non-executive director till December 31, 2023.

The Shilp Samagam Mela 2025 began at Freedom Park, Bengaluru, on 5 September. It will run till 14 September. The event celebrates India’s art, craft, and culture. It is organized by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment with TULIP. The mela has 75 stalls with handicrafts from 13 states. Artisans from SCs, OBCs, and Safai Mitras are participating. Every evening, there are folk dances, music, and storytelling. The mela promotes unity in diversity. It also helps artisans share stories, preserve traditions and reach new audiences.

• China has released its official “standard map,” including state of Arunachal Pradesh and the Aksai Chin region as part of its territory.
• The ties between India and China came under severe strain following the eastern Ladakh border row that began in May 2020.
• India has been consistently maintaining that peace and tranquillity along the LAC were key for the normalisation of overall ties.

• Dr. Vasudha Gupta, a senior officer of the Indian Information Service, assumed the post of Principal Director General in the Akashvani and News Services Division.
• Vasudha Gupta previously worked as Director General in All India Radio.
• With over 33 years of service in the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, including as Director General of the Press Information Bureau (PIB), she brings wide-ranging experience to her new role.
• Dr. Vasudha Gupta holds a Ph.D. in Finance from the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi.
• Dr. Gupta's notable achievement during the COVID-19 pandemic was the creation of a feedback dashboard for the Government of India, facilitating citizen engagement and transparency.

Shri Manohar Lal, Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs, launched “Angikaar 2025” in New Delhi on 4 September 2025. The nationwide campaign, running from 4 September to 31 October 2025, is part of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana Urban 2.0 (PMAY-U 2.0) and will cover more than 5,000 Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) across India. Angikaar 2025 seeks to raise awareness about PMAY-U 2.0, fast-track application verification and housing completion, and promote the Credit Risk Guarantee Fund Trust for Low Income Housing (CRGFTLIH). It also aims to ensure last-mile delivery of benefits by converging with schemes such as PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana, with special focus on supporting vulnerable groups.

• Indian-origin Singapore economist Tharman Shanmugaratnam has won the Presidential election in the country.
• Tharman Shanmugaratnam defeated two contenders of Chinese origin in the country's first contested presidential polls since 2011.
• In the presidential elections, Tharman Shanmugaratnam secured 70.4 per cent votes. The other contenders – Ng Kok Song and Tan Kin Lian – who contested against Tharman Shanmugaratnam bagged 15.7 per cent and 13.88 per cent votes, respectively.

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan released the India Rankings 2025 under the NIRF on September 4, 2025. IIT Madras secured the top position overall for the seventh consecutive year and led engineering for the tenth year, while IISc Bengaluru topped the universities and research categories. IIM Ahmedabad retained its lead in management, and AIIMS Delhi ranked first in medical for the eighth year. New categories such as State Public Universities, Open Universities, Skill Universities, Innovation, and SDG were introduced, with IIT Madras leading Innovation and SDG. Participation reached a record high with over 14,000 applications, reinforcing NIRF’s role in shaping quality and global competitiveness in Indian higher education.

• The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) on Friday appointed actor R Madhavan as the president of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) Society and chairperson of the governing council.
• The tenure of former president director Shekhar Kapur ended on 3 March, 2023.
• “Mr R Madhvan has been appointed the President of FTII Society and Chairman of the Governing Council. The decision has been formally conveyed to us by the Ministry,” said FTII registrar Sayyid Rabeehashmi.

A first-of-its-kind Active Mobility Centre of Excellence will be set up in Bengaluru to focus on research and evaluation of human-powered transportation modes.

The British Museum in London has agreed to lend the revered 16th-century Vrindavani Vastra, a sacred silk textile woven under the guidance of Assamese saint-reformer Srimanta Sankardeva, for public exhibition in Assam in 2027. This marks the first time the iconic textile will return to India, albeit temporarily, on an 18-month loan. Considered the largest surviving devotional textile from Assam, the Vrindavani Vastra is nearly 9.5 meters long and features intricate lampas weaving depicting scenes from Lord Krishna’s life and devotional verses. The textile, traced from Assam to Tibet in the 17th–18th centuries, was acquired by the British Museum in 1904. It remains a symbol of Assam’s cultural and spiritual heritage.

• A unique Centre of Excellence (CoE) for Active Mobility will be set up in India by the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Sustainable Transportation Lab (IST Lab) and Urban Morph in Bengaluru.
• It will focus on research and evaluation of human-powered modes of transport such as walking and cycling.
• The Centre of Excellence will work on improving urban transport efficiency and equity, addressing gender, age, economic status, and disabilities to create more inclusive and accessible public spaces.

The Air Quality Life Index (AQLI) 2025 report, released by the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago, identifies air pollution as India’s most severe health challenge, reducing the nation’s average life expectancy by 3.5 years. The findings reveal that the entire population of 1.4 billion people lives in areas where PM2.5 levels exceed the World Health Organization’s safe limit of 5 µg/m³, with northern India ranked as the most polluted region globally. Among the worst affected, residents of Delhi-NCR lose up to 8.2 years of life expectancy, while people in Bihar, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh face reductions of 5.6, 5.3, and 5 years, respectively. The report further stresses that air pollution poses a greater threat to public health than malnutrition, tobacco consumption, or unsafe water combined.

• Former Chief Justice of India (CJI) NV Ramana was appointed as a member of the prestigious International Mediator Panel of the Singapore International Mediation Centre (SIMC).
• Justice Ramana participated in the 'Singapore Convention Week', an annual conference organized by Singapore's Ministry of Law, the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL), and over 20 partner organizations.
• The letter of appointment was presented to him by SIMC President George Lim in Singapore on 29 August.

• India successfully launched its first reusable hybrid rocket, RHUMI-1, from Thiruvidandhai, Chennai, on August 24, carrying 3 Cube satellites and 50 PICO satellites in a suborbital trajectory. Developed by Space Zone India and the Martin Group, the launch utilized a mobile launcher.
• Microplastics have been found in the brain at levels 10 to 20 times higher than in other organs, according to a recent study by researchers at Kukurova University.
• Gopichand Thotakura became the first Indian space tourist by joining Blue Origin's NS-25 mission.

Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Ayush, Shri Prataprao Jadhav, inaugurated the Departmental Summit on ‘National Ayush Mission and Capacity Building in States’ at the All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA), New Delhi. The summit reaffirmed the government’s focus on strengthening Ayush as a pillar of India’s healthcare system, combining ancient wisdom with modern innovation for a healthier and more sustainable future.

• The appointment of Jaya Verma Sinha as the Chairman and CEO of the Railway Board was approved by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet, making her the first woman to hold the coveted position in the Indian Railways.
• Jaya Verma Sinha assumed the post of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) in Railway Board, Ministry of Railways on 1st September, 2023 at Rail Bhavan.
• Sinha's journey in the Indian Railways began in 1988 when she joined the Indian Railway Traffic Service (IRTS).
• In a career spanning 35 years, he has held various important positions, demonstrating his expertise and dedication.
• Prior to becoming the Chairperson and CEO, Sinha served as Member (Operations and Business Development), Railway Board.

The 20th Global Sustainability Summit, organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), was held in New Delhi. The summit focused on strategies for resilient, regenerative and responsible growth, highlighting India’s growing role in sustainable development and decarbonization. The summit emphasized India’s position as a global role model in balancing rapid economic progress with environmental stewardship. It showcased breakthrough solutions, collaborative approaches and forward-looking policies aimed at building a sustainable and inclusive future.

• Industrialist Anand Mahindra appointed Mahendra Singh Dhoni as the Brand Ambassador of Swaraj Tractors, a company of Mahindra & Mahindra.
• Swaraj Tractors is an Indian tractor manufacturing company headquartered in Mohali, Punjab, and a subsidiary of Mahindra & Mahindra.
• Established in 1974, its mission was to be self-reliant and develop India's first indigenous tractor.
• Presently Swaraj Tractors is one of the leading tractor manufacturers in India with a market share of over 10%.
• The company manufactures a diverse range of tractors ranging from 15 HP to 65 HP, which are known for their fuel efficiency, durability, and performance.
• With a strong presence in rural India, the company operates a network of over 1,000 dealerships and service centers across the country and exports its products to over 30 countries.

The Ministry of Tribal Affairs is set to launch “Adi Vaani”, the country’s first AI-based translator for tribal languages. The initiative is designed to preserve tribal culture and empower communities. It has been developed in collaboration with IIT Delhi, BITS Pilani, IIIT Hyderabad, IIIT Nava Raipur, and several Tribal Research Institutes. In its first phase, Adi Vaani will cover Santali, Bhili, Mundari, and Gondi languages, with more languages like Kui and Garo to be added later. The tool uses advanced AI models such as No Language Left Behind (NLLB) and IndicTrans2 to provide real-time translation between Hindi/English and tribal languages.

• Vumlunmang Vualnam officially begins his tenure on September 1, 2023, in the role of Secretary in the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA), Government of India.
• Vualnam takes over the position after the superannuation of Rajeev Bansal, who retired on August 31, 2023.
• Vualnam is a distinguished Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of the 1992 batch. He is part of Manipur cadre.
• Throughout his career, Wualnam has held various important roles in the Central Government. These include serving as Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Finance, Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs, and Deputy Secretary in the Ministry of Finance and Corporate Affairs.
• He has also held important roles in the Government of Manipur. These posts include Commissioner of Health and Family Welfare Department and Director of Transport.
• Vualnam has also contributed internationally as an advisor to the Executive Director at the World Bank.

Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah inaugurated the Janrakshak projects under Dial 112 in Ahmedabad, highlighting them as a historic step towards smart policing and citizen safety. The initiative is a part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision for integrated emergency response which merges multiple helpline services into a single number, 112, ensuring quicker assistance in cases of police, fire, ambulance, women, child, and disaster-related emergencies. A fleet of 1,000 GPS-enabled Janrakshak PCR vans has been deployed, supported by a 24x7 State Emergency Response Centre in Ahmedabad.

• Geetika Srivastava, currently serving as joint secretary at the headquarters of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), will be India’s new chargé d’affaires at its high commission in Islamabad, Pakistan. 
• She will succeed Suresh Kumar, who is likely to return to New Delhi. After 77 years of Independence, India has appointed a female head of mission in Pakistan.
• The appointment of Geetika Srivastava as the new CDA in Islamabad signifies a progressive step by the Indian government as it breaks the traditional male-dominated pattern of diplomatic appointments to Pakistan.
• Geetika Srivastava worked in the Indian Embassy in China from 2007 to 2009, having learned Mandarin as part of her foreign language study. 
• She has also worked in the Regional Passport Office in Kolkata and as the MEA’s Director of the Indian Ocean Region division.

Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Ayush and Health & Family Welfare, Shri Prataprao Jadhav, presided over the BRICS CCI Healthcare Summit 2025 in New Delhi. The summit, themed “Bridging Tradition and Innovation,” highlighted BRICS’ collective responsibility, representing nearly half the world’s population, one-third of global GDP, and one-fifth of world trade. The minister stressed the importance of collaboration among BRICS nations to 

Union Minister for Science and Technology, Jitendra Singh, launched India’s first National Biofoundry Network on August 27, 2025. The initiative involves six leading institutions and aims to scale up biotechnology-based proof-of-concept innovations, enhance indigenous biomanufacturing, and generate employment opportunities. The minister described the step as pivotal for positioning biotechnology as a key driver of India’s economy, environmental sustainability, and job creation.

• Japan has successfully launched its lunar exploration spacecraft, known as the "Moon Sniper", using the domestically developed H-IIA rocket.
• The achievement puts Japan in contention to become the world's fifth country to land on the moon, with the landing planned for early next year.
• The rocket's launch from the Tanegashima Space Center in southern Japan went as scheduled. 
• It also successfully deployed the lunar lander, Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM).

• The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) announced the successful completion of the second Earth orbit-raising maneuver for the Aditya L1 solar mission.
• As a result of this maneuver, the Aditya L1 spacecraft moved from its previous orbit, which was 282 by 40,225 km around the Earth, to a new orbit of 245 by 22,459 km around the Earth.
• The Aditya L1 mission will undergo a total of four Earth-orbital maneuvers before being placed in a transfer orbit towards its destination, the Lagrange point L1. The process is expected to take 125 days.
• The third Earth-bound maneuver is scheduled for 2:30 a.m. on September 10.

• Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has successfully performed the first earth-bound manoeuvre of the country's maiden solar mission, Aditya L1, from ISTRAC Bengaluru.
• The Indian Space Agency has said that ISTRAC has successfully carried out the Earth bound maneuver today morning and the spacecraft has attained a new orbit of 245 kms by 22,459 kms. The satellite is healthy and operating normally, it added.
• The next maneuver is scheduled for the 5th of September. The satellite will undergo four Earth bound orbital manoeuvres before placing in the transfer orbit towards the Lagrange point L1 in 125 days. 

• Hyderabad will soon get a cycling track with a solar panel roof over it.
• It is being called the Solar Roof Cycling Track. This route will be 23 kilometers long.
• It is being built on the lines of Daejeon and Sejong Bike Highways in South Korea.
• Telangana Municipal Minister KT Rama Rao will lay the foundation stone of the project on the service road of Outer Ring Road on Tuesday.
• The 23 kilometer long and 4.5 meter wide cycle track will connect Nanakramguda, Telangana State Police Academy (TSPA) circle, Narsingi and Kollur.

• The inaugural edition of 'Global India AI 2023' will be hosted by India in October.
• The responsibility for organizing this program will be of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.
• The conference will attract leading figures in the field of AI, such as key players, researchers, startups, and investors from India and around the world.
• A variety of topics will be covered during the program, ranging from next-generation learning and foundational AI models to applications of AI in healthcare, governance and the advancement of electric vehicles.
• The conference will also discuss future trends in AI research, AI computing systems, investment prospects and strategies to promote AI talent.
• The proceedings of the conference are being monitored by Rajiv Chandrashekhar, Union Minister of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and Electronics and IT.

• The inaugural Zayed Charity Marathon in India is scheduled for 2024 and will be organized by the Higher Organizing Committee.
• The primary objective of the Zayed Charity Marathon is to raise funds for charitable causes, and the proceeds from the Kerala-based marathon will be directed to supporting healthcare initiatives within the state.
• The event has sponsorship and support from various entities including the UAE Government, Government of Kerala, and the Indian community in the UAE.
• The Zayed Charity Marathon is a prestigious event honoring the legacy of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, former President of the UAE.

• Liz Truss has defeated Rishi Sunak to be the new Prime Minister of Britain. She beat her rival by 20000 votes, after a summer-long internal contest sparked by Boris Johnson's resignation in July.
• She is from the Conservative Party.
• Liz Truss is the UK’s 56th prime minister and the third female prime minister to lead the country. 
• The previous female Prime ministers - Margaret Thatcher and Theresa May - were also from the Conservative Party.
• Long the frontrunner in the race to replace Johnson, Truss became the Conservatives’ fourth prime minister since a 2015 election.
• Under Boris Johnson, Liz Truss was the international trade secretary in 2019. She took over as foreign secretary in 2021
• Under Theresa May, Liz Truss served as justice secretary before becoming the chief secretary to the Treasury.

• Divya Deshmukh, a 17-year-old female chess grandmaster from Nagpur, Maharashtra, India, won the women's rapid category of the Tata Steel Chess India Tournament.
• Divya won all three rounds of the tournament held at the National Library, Kolkata on September 1, 2023.
• She outperformed her competitors and stood first with a remarkable score of 7 points.
• The defending world champion, Ju Wenjun of China finished second with 6.5 points.
• Russia's Polina Shuvalova finished third with 5.5 points.

1. PM Narendra Modi again became the world's most popular leader, leaving behind world leaders including Biden
2. Anna Brnabic reappointed as Prime Minister of Serbia
3. Gautam Adani becomes Asia’s richest and the third richest person in the world as per as Bloomberg Billionaires Index
4. First edition of Homeopathy International Health Summit held in Dubai

• India produced a remarkable performance at the ISSF World Championships 2023 in Baku, Azerbaijan from August 14 to September 1, finishing third with a total of 14 medals including 6 gold medals and 8 bronze medals.
• Leading the medal count at the ISSF World Championships 2023 was China, which finished first with 28 medals, including 15 gold medals, 7 silver medals, and 6 bronze medals.
• Ukraine finished second in the medal tally with a total of 12 medals, including 6 gold medals, 4 silver medals, and 2 bronze medals.
• The ISSF World Championship 2023 holds vital importance as it serves as a qualifying event for athletes aiming to participate in the Paris 2024 Olympics.

• The first edition of the “World Health Summit for Pride of Homoeopathy” was held in Dubai on 29 August 2022.
• Aim: to promote a homoeopathic system of medicine, drugs, and practices.
• Theme of summit: “Diseases caused by climate change and global warming”.
• It was organised by Burnett Homoeopathy Pvt Ltd & was addressed by Ashwini Kumar Choubey, MoS, Environment Forest & Climate change.

• Mohun Bagal Super Giant clinched the Durand Cup 2023 trophy beating East Bengal 1-0 at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata, West Bengal.
• With this victory, Mohun Bagan SG became the first team in Durand Cup history to win 17 titles.
• With 16 titles, East Bengal are the second-most successful team in the Durand Cup.
• Earlier, Mohun Bagan had made it to the Durand cup finals in 2004, 2009 and 2019, but could not register a victory back then.

• 36 F-7BGI aircraft purchased by Bangladesh from China to boost military supplies.
• The F-7 BGI is a multi-role capable aircraft manufactured by Chengdu Aircraft Corporation, China.
•  It was specially designed to meet the requirements of Bangladesh Air Force for cost-effective multi-role fighter aircraft.
•  It is said to be the most advanced version of the F-7 fighter aircraft ever.
• F-7 BG upgraded with J-7G technology for Bangladesh. Unlike other cheaper and downgraded export variants of J-7G, the F-7 BGI (I for Improved) is in fact more advanced than J-7G it is developed from.
• F-7 BGI has a speed of Mach 2.2
• It can carry air-to-air missiles, laser-guided bomb, GPS-guided bombs, and drop tanks
• Can carry bombs and unguided rocket pods of 3000 pound, including Chinese laser-guided bombs

• Former Zimbabwe cricket captain Heath Streak passed away at the age of 49 due to colon and liver cancer on 3rd September 2023.
• Zimbabwe's all-time leading wicket-taker in Test cricket with 216 wickets at an average of 28.14.
• Scored 1,990 runs in Test matches at an average of 22.35.
• In ODIs, Streak took 239 wickets at 29.82 and scored 2,943 runs at 28.29.
• Represented Zimbabwe in 65 Tests and 189 ODIs from 1993 to 2005.

• Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has inaugurated the country’s first solar city Sanchi.
• Roof-top solar panels have been installed in all institutions like railway stations, schools, government offices, street lights, and post offices in Sanchi. Solar study lamps are also being used in homes in the city.
• Annually about 13 thousand 747 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions will be reduced in Sanchi Solar City, which is equivalent to more than two lakh adult trees.
• Along with this, there will be a saving of more than seven crore rupees annually in the energy-related expenditure of the government and the citizens.

• Max Verstappen made history at the 2023 Italian Grand Prix, scoring his 10th consecutive Formula 1 victory and setting a remarkable new record.
• Max Verstappen achieved a remarkable feat in one season in Formula One, surpassing Sebastian Vettel's previous record of nine consecutive wins a decade ago.
• The victory at Monza takes Verstappen's total race wins this year to 12 and increases Red Bull's chances of becoming the first F1 team to win every race in a season.
• Verstappen currently leads the drivers' championship by a remarkable 145 points, with his teammate Perez, who has also won this season, in second.
• 25-year-old Max Verstappen has won 47 races so far, making him fifth on the all-time list of Formula One race winners.

• On September 4, 2023, Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu inaugurated the Mukhya Mantri Sporting Abilities, Rebuilding Aspirations and Livelihood Scheme (SABAL) at Nadaun in the Hamirpur district of Himachal Pradesh.
• The goal of SABAL Yojana is to improve the lives of differently-abled children by connecting them to the mainstream of society.
• Around 400 schools in Hamirpur, Solan, and Shimla districts will get government aid, which will include necessary facilities and opportunities for specially-abled children.
• A 2% reservation quota has been allotted in government jobs for specially-abled persons.
• The education stipend for disabled children will be increased to Rs.1000.
• The Himachal Pradesh government aims to empower over 7,000 specially-abled children through the SABAL scheme.

• Max Verstappen Clinches Third Consecutive Victory at Dutch Grand Prix 2023
• Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports approves participation of athletes in upcoming Asian Games
• India win inaugural Women’s Asian Hockey 5s World Cup Qualifier, beat Thailand 7-2 in final
• Maharashtra signs MoU with Germany’s professional association football
• Parul breaks national record at World Athletics Championships

• First ABDM Microsite Launched in Mizoram
• Assam enforces ban on plastic water bottles of less than 1000ml
• Kolkata becomes the third Indian city to adopt an Air Quality Early Warning System (AQEWS)
• Thiruonam on the last day unites Keralites around the world in Onam celebrations
• Bhaderwah Rajma and Ramban Sulai honey get GI tag in Jammu and Kashmir
• The Enchanting "Magic Rice" of Assam Gets GI Tag
• Kashmir to Host Miss World 2023 in December
• M.K. Stalin launches expansion of breakfast scheme
• Hyderabad gets India’s first solar roof cycling track

• Indian athlete Parul Chaudhary finished in the eleventh position in the 3000 meters steeplechase final of the World Athletics Championships 2023 in Budapest Hungary.
• She broke the national record in the World Athletics Championships and qualified for the Paris Olympics 2024.
• Parul clocked 9:15.31s to break Lalita Babar’s mark of 9:19.76s set during Rio Olympics in 2016 while also finishing comfortably under 9:23.00s, the automatic qualification mark for next year’s Summer Games in the French capital.
• Earlier in the preliminary round, Parul ran five seconds faster than her previous personal best (9.29.51) and it helped her finish in fifth place and earn a spot in the final.
• Brunei athlete Winfred Mutile Yavi clinched the gold medal, Kenya’s Beatrice Chepkoech won silver and another Kenya athlete Faith Cherotich achieved winning bronze.

• Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has launched the expansion of the State government’s flagship Tamil Nadu Chief Minister’s Breakfast Scheme to benefit 17 lakh students of classes 1 to 5, studying in 31,008 government schools across the State, at a cost of ₹404.41 crore.
• A survey conducted among 10 lakh children, of less than six years of age, in urban areas, to check their nutritional status revealed that nearly 92,000 were malnourished.
• The government provided nutrient supplements to them, and as a result, 62,000 children recovered from malnutrition.
• The objective of the breakfast scheme was to eradicate hunger by enhancing the nutritional status and reducing malnutrition among children.
• This scheme would also reduce the burden on working mothers and increase the attendance and retention of children in schools.

• On 28th August, India defeated Thailand 7-2 in the final to win the inaugural Women’s Asian Hockey 5s World Cup Qualifier. 
• The final match witnessed an outstanding performance by the Indian side, as they triumphed over Thailand with an impressive score of 7-2. 
• This victory marked not only their Asian Cup but also secured their coveted spot in the forthcoming Women’s Hockey 5s World Cup 2024.
• The success in the Women’s Hockey 5s Asia Cup not only etches the Indian women’s hockey team’s name in history but also opens an exciting new chapter on their journey. 
• The victory secures their participation in the upcoming FIH Women Hockey 5s World Cup Oman 2024, providing them with an opportunity to showcase their skills on a global platform.

• The Maharashtra Government has signed an MoU with Germany’s professional association football league, ‘Bundesliga’, to build a football team for players under the age of 14.
• The agreement was signed by Ranjit Singh Deol, Principal Secretary, Department of School Education and Sports, and Mrs Julia Farr, representative of the Bundesliga, on behalf of the Government of Maharashtra.
• It will help young footballers to develop their skills and potentially compete at a high level.
• The Bundesliga is Germany’s premier professional football league.
• It is one of the leading football leagues in Europe and the best football players and teams belong to the league.

• Agnikul Cosmos, one of India’s private space startups, has secured its first patent for the design and manufacturing of its 3D printed rocket engine.
• The patent, which has been offered to the company under the Centre’s patent database, comes after the company opened doors to its first factory to 3D print rocket engines at scale.
• Agnikul showcased this engine at the International Astronautical Congress (IAC) 2021, Dubai, which is one of the most prestigious space tech gatherings in the world.
• As per Agnikul, one such single-piece engine called Agnilet is the world's first single-piece 3D printed rocket engine, designed and manufactured in India. 
• Srinath Ravichandran is the Co-founder & CEO of Agnikul Cosmos.

• The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has successfully tested the Inflatable Aerodynamic Decelerator (IAD) that will be used for landing payloads on Mars or Venus in the future. 
• The IAD is being developed for aerodynamically decelerating an object descending through the atmosphere.
• An IAD, designed and developed by Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), was successfully test flown in a 'Rohini' sounding rocket from Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station (TERLS).
• The IAD is made out of Kevlar fabric, coated with Polychloroprene. Since it is made of fabric, IAD can be packed into a small volume of 15 liters, available in the nosecone of the RH300.

• The government will set up India’s first-ever ‘night sky sanctuary’ in Ladakh region- work on which will be completed within three months.
• The proposed 'Night Sky Sanctuary will be located at Hanle village in Ladakh as a part of Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary and will be one of the world’s highest-located sites for optical, infra-red, and gamma-ray telescopes.
• Ladakh is a region administered by India as a union territory, which constitutes a part of the larger Kashmir region and has been the subject of dispute between India, Pakistan, and China since 1947.
• The region is most famous for breathtaking landscapes, the crystal-clear skies, the highest mountain passes, thrilling adventure activities, Buddhist Monasteries and festivals.

• Blue Energy Motors, a two-year old start-up backed by a Singapore-based firm, unveiled India’s first Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) fuelled green truck in Chakan near Pune.
• Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari inaugurated the facility which has an installed capacity of 10,000 trucks annually.
• Blue Energy Motors’ trucks will be Liquified Natural Gas-fuelled, long-haul, heavy-duty trucks.
• The FPT Industrial engine is one of the most powerful natural gas engines and compatible with CNG, LNG and biomethane. It uses multipoint stoichiometric combustion to assure best-in-class fuel consumption and lower noise than diesel engines.

• The James Webb Space Telescope has now captured its first direct picture of an exoplanet situated about 385 light-years away from Earth. 
• This exoplanet (a planet outside our solar system) is a gas giant about six to 12 times bigger than the mass of Jupiter, the largest planet in our solar system.
• The planet is called HIP 65426 b and is about 15 to 20 million years old. It's a rather young planet when compared to Earth that is 4.5 billion-years-old.
• James Webb Space Telescope was able to capture the exoplanet in four different bands of infrared light that is invisible to the human eye.
• Webb was able to capture the images because this exoplanet is about 100 times farther from its central star than Earth is from the Sun.

1. India’s first shared Radio Access Network (RAN) solution launches at Mumbai Central railway station
2. New technology equipped 'Meghdoot' machines installed by Indian Railways for drinking water at Mumbai stations

• IDBI Bank announced the reappointment of Samuel Joseph Jebaraj as the Deputy Managing Director (DMD) on the Board of the Bank for a period of three years.
• The re-appointment is with effect from September 20, 2022 as per approval of the RBI received in this regard.
• Prior to joining IDBI Bank, the industry veteran served EXIM Bank from July 1998 up to September 2019 in various capacities.
• Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) is the promoter of the bank having management control, with 49.24 per cent stake.

• Petrus Johannes Theodorus Elbers (Pieter Elbers) has joined as Chief Executive Officer of IndiGo with effect from September 6, replacing Ronojoy Dutta.
• Elbers, 52, is a veteran of the aviation industry.
• Elbers started his career in aviation by joining KLM in 1992 at their Schiphol hub and held various managerial positions in Netherlands, Japan, Italy and Greece.
• In 2014, Elbers was promoted to the position of President and Chief Executive Officer of KLM Royal Dutch Airlines
• Bruce Ashby was the first CEO of IndiGo from 2005 to 2008.

• State-run city gas utility, Mahanagar Gas Limited (MGL), has appointed Mahesh Vishwanathan Iyer as the company's new chairman.
• Iyer was director (Business Development) with GAIL (India) Limited till last month. Gail is the promoter of MGL.
• Iyer is an electrical engineer with more than 36 years of experience in execution of projects in the areas of gas pipelines, LNG terminals, city gas distribution projects, renewables etc, amounting to Rs.40,000 crore.
• Mahanagar Gas Limited (MGL) is an Indian natural gas distribution company, incorporated on 8 May 1995.
•  MGL is an enterprise of GAIL (India) Limited (Maharatna Company of Government of India) and the Government of Maharashtra.

• Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel has inaugurated three new districts in the state.
• The new districts -- Mohla-Manpur-Ambagarh Chowki, Sarangarh-Bilaigarh, and Khairagarh-Chhuikhadan-Gandai -- takes the total number of districts in the state to 31.
• Mohla-Manpur-Ambagarh Chowki district was inaugurated on September 2. Sarangarh-Bilaigarh and Khairagarh-Chhuikhadan-Gandai were inaugurated on September 3.
• There are 499 villages in Mohla-Manpur-Ambagarh Chowki with a population of 2.83 lakh, while Khairagarh-Chhuikhadan-Gandai has 494 villages with a population of approximately 3.68 lakh.

·         Japan's Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga speaks to the media after announcing his exit from the party leadership race at his official residence in Tokyo, Japan on September 3, 2021.

·         Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga will set the stage for a new premiership after a year-long tenure from an unpopular COVID-19 response and rapidly dwindling public support.

·         Suga, who took office after Shinzo Abe resigned last September citing ill health, has seen his support rating drop below 30% as the country grapples with the worst wave of COVID-19 infections ahead of a general election this year.

Important Facts

About Japan:

v  Capital: Tokyo

v  Currency: Japanese yen

v  The life expectancy in Japan is 84, which is 3 years higher than in the United Kingdom.

v  Japan imports over 80% of Jamaica's annual coffee production

• Shipping Corporation of India has appointed Binesh Kumar as its Chairman and Managing Director (CMD).
• Tyagi was heading the Liner and Passenger Services Division as Director (L&PS) since January 7, 2021 in the company, the PSU said in a regulatory filing.
• Tyagi joined SCI in 1990 as Trainee Nautical Officer (TNOC). He served onboard various ships, in different ranks, including as Master.
• Under Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, SCI is the largest shipping company in India.
• The Shipping Corporation of India was set up on 2 October 1961.
• It comes under the Union Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways.
• Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra

• Tripura Government has setup India’s 1st Bio-Village at Daspara village of the state. 
• The concept of Bio Village 2.0 developed by the state government has been recognized as one of the best practices to attain sustainable development goals. 
• The bio-villages have been setup in Tripura by the Directorate of Bio-Technology under the Science and Technology department.
• The Daspara Bio-Village has been developed as a hamlet consisting of 64 families solely dependent on agriculture and fishery.
• As per the details available, Tripura Government plans to setup at least 100 bio-villages. Of these, 10 bio-villages have been already been completed, of which the 1st has been established at Daspara in Charilam constituency of Sipahijala district.

·        The Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2022 has been announced. Oxford University tops the list, followed by California Institute of Technology and Harvard University at second and third place respectively.

·        The Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru is placed between the positions of 301-350. Incidentally, it is also the only university in the top 350 ranking.

Important facts

Top Five Universities in the world:

v University of Oxford, UK

v California Institute of Technology, US

v Harvard University, US

v Stanford University, US

v University of Cambridge, UK

• The President has appointed Justice M. Duraiswamy, senior-most Judge of the Madras High Court as Acting Chief Justice with effect from September 13, 2022, consequent upon the retirement of Chief Justice Munishwar Nath Bhandari.
• Justice Duraiswamy will hold the post till a new Chief Justice is appointed or till his superannuation.
• Notably, Chief Justice Munishwar Nath Bhandary joined Madras High Court as Chief Justice on November 22, 2021, after Justice Sanjib Banerjee was transferred to Meghalaya High Court on November 15, 2022.

• Chief Minister M K Stalin launched the ‘Pudhumai Penn’ (modern woman) scheme under which all girl students, who studied from Classes 6 to 12 in government schools, will get Rs 1,000 per month to pursue higher education.
• Under the Pudhumai Penn scheme, money will be directly transferred to the bank accounts of students to ensure that they do not face any difficulty in pursuing education.
• The scheme aims to benefit six lakh girls every year and Rs 698 crore has been allocated in the budget for its implementation.

·         The New Development Bank (NDB), established by the BRICS ((Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) countries in 2015, has approved Bangladesh as its new member.

·         The NDB Board of Governors began talks to expand its membership in 2020.

·         It has now approved the United Arab Emirates, Uruguay and Bangladesh as its first new member states.

·         After approval of the Board, the country is required to complete its domestic processes and deposit the instrument of accession.

Important facts:

About New Development Bank

v  Headquarters location: Shanghai, China

v  Founder: BRICS

v  Founded: 15 July 2014, Fortaleza, State of Ceará, Brazil

v  Leader: Marcos Prado Troyjo

v  Parent organization: BRICS

• Senior diplomat Sanjay Kumar Verma has been appointed as India’s next high commissioner to Canada, while Amit Kumar, currently Consulate General of India in Chicago, has been named the next ambassador to the Republic of Korea.
• Sanjay Verma is a 1988 batch officer of the Indian Foreign Service and is currently the ambassador of India to Japan.
• He succeeds Acting High Commissioner Anshuman Gaur.
• Verma has served in Indian missions in Hong Kong, China, Vietnam and Turkey. He has also served as Consul General of India in Milan, Italy.

• The Karnataka government has appointed Kannada star Sudeep as the brand ambassador for its 'Punyakoti Dattu Yojana', cattle adoption scheme.
• Sudeep is known for his remarkable role in films such as ‘'Pailwan', ‘'Eega (Makkhi)', ‘'Vikrant Rona', '‘Sparsha', ‘'Huchcha', and ‘'No 73 Shanthi Nivasa'.
• The scheme is a Karnataka government flagship initiative to create awareness of cow adoption and set up goshalas across the state. It was launched in July and any individual or an organization can adopt a cow by paying a total of Rs 11,000 for one year.
• Punyakotti Dattu Yojana has been launched for the first time in the country to boost the adoption of cows across Karnataka to nurture and rear cattle in goshalas.

• The Rajasthan government on September 4, 2024, approved 33% reservation for women in the police force by deciding to amend the State Police Subordinate Services Rules, 1989.
• With this decision, the police will be able to work with more sensitivity in the cases related to women, while women will also get more employment opportunities.

·         In Afghanistan's new structure, Mullah Hebtullah Akhundzada, 60, will be the supreme leader of the Taliban government that will follow the Iranian leadership pattern.

·         After weeks of speculation, the Taliban has now announced that Mullah Hebatullah Akhundzada will be the supreme leader of its new Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan.

·         The Taliban government in Kabul will be on the lines of the Iranian leadership, with top religious leader Akhundzada as Afghanistan's supreme authority.

Important facts:

About Afghanistan

v  Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan, is its largest city.

v  Afghanistan is a landlocked country. Iran, Pakistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan and China border Afghanistan from all sides.

• Justice D Y Chandrachud, a second senior-most judge in the Supreme Court, has been nominated as executive chairman of the National Legal Services Authority with immediate effect.
• Justice Chandrachud replaces Justice UU Lalit, who took over as the 49th Chief Justice of India on August 27.
• President Droupadi Murmu nominated Justice Chandrachud to head the NALSA as executive chairman under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987.
• The Chief Justice of India is the patron-in-chief of the NALSA.
• The term of Justice Chandrachud to the post would last till November 8.
• Constituted under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987, the NALSA is mandated to provide free legal services to the weaker sections of society.

• Bhartaul, in Uttar Pradesh's Bareilly district, has become the first village in the state to achieve the distinction of supplying RO water to every household. 
• The village, which is located in the Bithiri Chainpur block of Bareilly, has a population of around 7,000 people and every house is now provided with clean RO (Reverse Osmosis) water.
• The ROs have been installed under the Centre's Adarsh Gram Panchayat initiative enabling the village to make clean drinking water available to all.
• Till now, four RO plants have been installed in the village and more ROs are underway. These RO plants have been connected to the main supply tanks which helps to provide clean water to every household.

• PM Modi has laid the foundation for the ₹76,200-crore Vadhvan Port project in Maharashtra.
• NTPC has commissioned a 160 MW solar capacity in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan.
• The government has granted 'Navratna' status to SJVN, NHPC, RailTel, and Solar Energy Corporation of India.
• Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan is set to launch the Agricultural Fund and Agricultural Investment Portal for start-ups and rural enterprises.
• President Droupadi Murmu unveiled the new flag and insignia of the Supreme Court, symbolizing India's legal heritage and cultural values.
• President Droupadi Murmu inaugurated the Vishwashanti Buddha Vihar in Latur, Maharashtra.
• The government launched Vishwasya-Blockchain Technology Stack on September 4, 2024, to enhance secure digital transactions and data management.
• PM Narendra Modi has virtually addressed the first International Solar Festival being held in Delhi.

• Newly elected All India Football Federation President Kalyan Chaubey chaired Executive Committee has appointed Dr. Shaji Prabhakaran as the new Secretary General of Indian football’s governing body.
• Former India captain Shabbir Ali was also unanimously named as the Chairman of the Advisory Committee. 
• As per the new AIFF President’s proposal, Mr. Sunando Dhar was also unanimously appointed as the new Deputy Secretary General of the AIFF.

• Alappuzha has become the fifth fully digital banking district in the state. 
• A declaration was made by the Reserve bank of India Kerala and Lakshadweep Regional Director Thomas Mathew regarding this. 
• As a part of the initiative at least one digital transaction facility, such as a debit card. 
• Internet banking, mobile banking, a unified payment interface, and many other facilities, has been enabled 26 lakh savings or current bank accounts in 29 banks in the districts.
• The places where banking services became digital before Alappuzha are Thrissur, Kottayam, Palakkad, and Kasaragod. 
• The initiative of this project was taken by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) with the support of the State Level Bankers Committee (SLBC) and respective districts administrative as part of the Union Government Digital India Project.

• Madhya Pradesh government has launched 'Brindavan Gram' scheme to transform selected gram panchayats into model villages with a focus on cow conservation, rural development, and increase in milk production. 
• Under this initiative, a cow shelter will be established in every village.
• Under Vrindavan Gram Yojana, one village will be selected from every development block, in which horticulture and medicinal farming will be promoted along with milk production.
• Work will be done to encourage cow dung-based activities, build cowsheds, promote solar energy to all houses, provision of community toilets, sports ground, collection of minor forest produce. 
• At the same time, Geeta Bhawan will be opened in all urban bodies. These will work as ideological study centers and will be the work of giving reading material.

• Paban Kumar Borthakur, a 1989-batch IAS officer, took over as the chief secretary of Assam.
• He replaced Jishnu Barua.
• Borthakur, a 1989-batch IAS officer, was serving as the additional chief secretary to the state government in the transformation and development, cultural affairs and tourism departments.
• He is also the chairman of the Assam Administrative Tribunal.
• Barua will continue as the chairman of the Assam Power Distribution Company Limited (APDCL) for a period of two years or till further orders.

• The Uttarakhand education department launched an e-governance portal "Samarth"which will provide all administrative and educational updates including information about entrance exams, salary structures, appointments from five state universities and 140 public schools.
• The initiative has been taken in a bid to make the education system more transparent in the state.
• The minister said that 200 assistant professors of science subjects will be sent to Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru for special training, while teachers of state universities will be given training at IIM Kashipur.
• The new education policy (NEP-2020) will be also implemented in the state from this session in September.

• The Himachal Pradesh Assembly passed a bill that will debar members of the House disqualified under the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution (Anti-Defection Act) from receiving pensions.
• The Himachal Pradesh Assembly (Allowances and Pension of Members' (Amendment) Bill, 2024 will affect six former Congress MLAs who were disqualified by the Speaker in February for defying the whip and staying away from the House while discussing cut motions and passing the budget.
• Himachal Pradesh is the first state in the country to pass a bill under which "any person disqualified for any time under the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution shall not be entitled to pension under the Act.

1. Appointments Committee of Cabinet appoints Ananth Narayan Gopalakrishnan as SEBI whole-time Member for three years
2. Luxury car market leader Mercedes-Benz India appoints Santosh Iyer as new MD and CEO
3. Shri Nagesh Singh, presently Joint Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs, has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to Thailand
4. Shah Faesal appointed as Deputy Secretary in the Ministry of Culture for four years or till further orders
5. Senior Indian Information Service officer Dr. Vasudha Gupta appointed as Director General of News Services Division of All India Radio
6. Yamuna Kumar Choubey gets the charge of chairman and managing director of state-owned hydroelectric power company ‘NHPC’

International Literacy Day is celebrated every year on September 8, a UNESCO initiative since 1966. The 2025 theme, “Promoting literacy in the digital era,” highlights the need to ensure digitalization expands learning opportunities without leaving behind those lacking basic literacy skills. Despite progress, millions of youth and adults worldwide still struggle with reading and writing. ILD 2025 reminds us that literacy is a fundamental human right and a key to building inclusive and sustainable societies.

1. Nagaland gets second railway station as Shokhuvi railway station after 119 years of Dimapur railway station
2. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami launches the “CM Udyog Khiladi Unnayan Yojana” in the state on the occasion of National Sports Day
3. Rajasthan becomes the second state in the country after Telangana to implement the 'Mahila Nidhi' scheme

• The Global Artificial Intelligence Summit 2024, held on September 5-6 at the Hyderabad International Convention Centre, was inaugurated by Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy with the theme "Making AI Work for Everyone", which attracted over 2,000 delegates globally.

• State-owned hydro power giant NHPC said that its Director (Technical) Yamuna Kumar Chaubey has been given the charge of Chairman and Managing Director for three months beginning September 1.
• Chaubey, 59, is a graduate in Civil Engineering from IIT, Kharagpur. He joined NHPC Limited in 1985 as a Probationary Executive (Civil) at 540 MW Chamera Hydro-Electric Project, now Chamera-I Power Station, Himachal Pradesh.
• At present, Chaubey is Director (Technical) in NHPC and is also holding the additional charge of Director (Personnel), NHPC.

• India celebrated National Sports Day on August 29 to honour hockey legend Major Dhyan Chand and promote fitness.
• The UN observed August 29 as International Day against Nuclear Tests to raise awareness about the dangers of nuclear explosions.
• World Coconut Day 2025 was celebrated by the ICC on September 2.
• India celebrated Teacher’s Day on September 5 to honor Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan.

• Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot unveiled a scheme called Mahila Nidhi on Women's Equality Day.
• This initiative by the state government will help women set up businesses through easy availability of finance under 'Mahila Nidhi' programme.
• Rajasthan is the second state in the country after Telangana where 'Mahila Nidhi' scheme has been started. 
• This initiative has been aimed at strengthening women self-help groups by facilitating financiang from banks, increasing the income of women from poor households and marginal strata of the society
• Under this scheme, loans up to Rs 40,000 will be deposited in the bank accounts of the group of members within 48 hours and loan above Rs 40,000 within 15 days. 
• At present, 2.70 lakh self-help groups have been formed in 33 districts and 30 lakh families are connected.

• The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) on 4 September 2024 launched a series of blockchain-based solutions, aimed at enhancing transparency, security, and efficiency in digital service delivery.
• The Vishvasya-Blockchain Technology Stack is designed to offer Blockchain-as-a-Service (BaaS) with a geographically distributed setup to support a range of permissioned blockchain applications.

• Frances Tiafoe became the first American man to reach the U.S. Open semifinals since 2006 by beating Andrey Rublev 7-6 (3), 7-6 (0), 6-4.
• Andy Roddick was the last U.S. man to get to the semifinals in New York, when he lost to Roger Fededer in the title match 16 years ago. 
• Roddick also was the last man from the country to win any Grand Slam singles championship, taking the 2003 U.S. Open.

• Senior Indian Information Service officer Dr. Vasudha Gupta has been appointed as the Director General of the News Services Division of All India Radio.
• A 1989-batch Officer Dr. Vasudha Gupta has served in various capacities in the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting for over 32 years long career. 
• Before her appointment as Director General of the News Services Division of All India Radio, she was serving as Director General, Press Information Bureau (PIB).
• Principal Director General of News Services Division and Director General of All India Radio N Venudhar Reddy superannuated today.
• N Venudhar Reddy, a 1988 batch IIS officer, who retired today as Principal Director General, had worked in various capacities in his around 34-year long career. Earlier, he served as Joint Secretary in the Department of Investment and Public Asset Management.

India observes Teacher’s Day every year on September 5 to honor the birth anniversary of Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, an eminent philosopher, academician, and the second President of India. The celebration began in 1962 when Dr. Radhakrishnan, upon becoming President, suggested that instead of marking his birthday, the day should be dedicated to recognizing teachers’ contributions. Born in 1888, Dr. Radhakrishnan was awarded the Bharat Ratna in 1954 for his contributions to philosophy and education.

• Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami launched “CM Udyman Khiladi Unnayan Yojana’, in the program organized on the occasion of National Sports Day in the Police Line Maidan.
• The Chief Minister Sports Development Fund will be established to be given financial benefits to the students according to accelerated rules.
• On this occasion, in view of the shortage of sports coaches, the Chief Minister appointed eight sports coaches in each district, established of Chief Minister’s Sports Development Fund to give quick financial benefits to the players as per rules and four per cent reservation for skilled players in state services.
• A sports scholarship of Rs 1500 per month will be given to budding sportspersons between the age group of eight to 14 years.
• Every year a total of 3900 budding sportspersons will be given scholarships, which will include 1950 boys and 1950 girls.
• Malchang game will also be included in the game policy. Efforts will be made again to implement a 4 per cent reservation for sportspersons in government jobs as before.
• The State Sports Award is being provided as well as the Himalayan Gems Sports Awards as well as Devbhoomi Uttarakhand Sports Ratna, and Devbhoomi Uttarakhand Dronacharya Awards.

• The Punjab State Assembly on (September 3, 2034) passed the Punjab Apartment and Property Regulation (Amendment) Act, 2024, to control the spread of illegal colonies in the State.
• The amendment aims to ensure control over illegal colonies besides providing relief to small plot holders. 
• “It will serve as a major reprieve for the common man as this amendment aims to overcome problems faced by the public in registration of their plots and check the development of unauthorised colonies. 
• The amendment stipulates penalties and punishment for offenders.

• Mastercard announced its collaboration with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to broaden its strategic outreach to Indian audiences.
• Mastercard will be the title sponsor for all international matches (both women and men) held on home ground, domestic cricket matches like Irani Trophy, Duleep Trophy, and Ranji Trophy organized by the BCCI as also all junior cricket (Under 19 and Under 23) matches held in India.
• Former India captain MS Dhoni is a Mastercard's ambassador for over four years.

• State-run Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Ltd (ONGC) on August 31 appointed Rajesh Kumar Srivastava as the interim new chairman.
• He is the third interim chief who has been appointed in last 17 months, as the government has not made a full time appointment yet.
• Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) is without a regular chairman and managing director since April 2021. 
• Subhash Kumar, the then senior-most director on the company board and the director for finance, was named officiating head after Shashi Shanker superannuated on March 31, 2021.
• ONGC has been without a full-time chief since Shashi Shanker retired as chairman and managing director (CMD) in March 2021
• The government also appointed M V Iyer as the interim chairman at GAIL following the retirement of the incumbent.

The International Coconut Community (ICC) celebrated World Coconut Day 2025 on September 2 with a global competition under the theme “Uncovering Coconut's Power, Inspiring Global Action.” The event aims to showcase the coconut’s economic, social, and environmental importance while encouraging innovation in the sector.

• President Droupadi Murmu inaugurated the 'Vishwashanti Buddha Vihar' at Udgir in Maharashtra's Latur district on September 4.
• The Buddha Vihar has a 520 kg statue of Lord Buddha, which is 10.5 feet tall.

• Former Indian batsman Suresh Raina has announced his retirement from all forms of cricket.
• The 35-year-old had followed M S Dhoni into international retirement on August 15, 2020.
• As an India player, Raina played 18 Tests, 226 ODIs and 78 T20s. He was part of the World Cup winning squad in 2011.
• He gathered 5615 runs from 226 ODIs and 1605 from 78 T20Is for India.
• Raina, who scored a century on debut in Tests, is also the first Indian to scored hundreds in all three formats of cricket and his centuries were scored outside India.
• Raina played his last competitive game in October 2021 when he turned up for CSK against Rajasthan Royals in Abu Dhabi.

• Luxury car market leader Mercedes-Benz India has announced a top-management organisational change. 
• The company has elevated Santosh Iyer, currently its Vice-President, Sales & Marketing, to the post of Managing Director and CEO.
• Santosh Iyer replaces Martin Schwenk, who, after an extremely successful four-year stint in India, will take over as President and CEO of Mercedes-Benz Thailand.
• Both these appointments will be effective from January 1, 2023. Iyer is the first Indian – and, at 46, also the youngest – to take charge at the helm of affairs of Mercedes-Benz India.
• Santosh Iyer was appointed vice president of the firm for customer services and retail training in 2016.
• Santosh Iyer has been working at Mercedes-Benz India since 2009 and has held executive positions in a variety of departments, including sales, marketing, Customer care, communications, and customer relationship management.

India observed National Sports Day on August 29, commemorating the birth anniversary of legendary hockey player Major Dhyan Chand. The day highlights the importance of sports and physical fitness across the country. Union Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya launched the Fit India Pan-India Sports Movement, which will continue until August 31, encouraging citizens to actively engage in sporting activities while paying tribute to Dhyan Chand’s remarkable legacy in Indian hockey.

• President Droupadi Murmu unveiled the new flag and insignia of the Supreme Court at the two-day National Conference of District Judiciary in New Delhi. 
• The newly unveiled flag features symbols central to India's legal and cultural heritage: the Ashoka Chakra, the Supreme Court building, and the Constitution of India. 
• The new Supreme Court flag is blue in colour. The insignia has ‘Supreme Court of India’ and ‘Yato Dharmastato Jayah’ (in Devanagari script) inscribed on it.

• Former captain and wicketkeeper-batsman of Bangladesh Cricket Team Mushfiqur Rahim announce his retirement from T20 international cricket.
• The cricketer also informed that he will continue to play in ODI, Test and league matches. His decision came two days after Bangladesh was knocked out of Asia Cup 2022.
• The 35-year-old star wicketkeeper represented Bangladesh in 102 T20Is, scoring 1500 runs with six half-centuries to his name. He was also the side's captain in its 2012 and 2014 T20 World Cup campaigns.
• Mushfiqur is the second major Bangladesh star to draw curtains on his T20I career; earlier in June, opener Tamim Iqbal had also announced his retirement from the shortest format, following a six-month break from T20Is earlier in the year.

• Shah Faesal, a 2010 batch IAS topper of erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir cadre, now AGMUT, has been appointed as the Deputy Secretary in the Union Ministry of Culture under the Central Staffing Scheme.
• The AGMUT-cadre officer was appointed for four years from the date of taking charge, or until further orders.
• Faesal, who had topped the UPSC examination in 2009, resigned from the service in January 2019.

The United Nations General Assembly, during its 64th session in December 2009, unanimously adopted Resolution 64/35 declaring August 29 as the International Day against Nuclear Tests. The observance raises global awareness about the devastating effects of nuclear weapon test explosions and advocates for a nuclear-weapons-free world. The resolution, initiated by Kazakhstan, commemorates the closure of the Semipalatinsk Nuclear Test Site on August 29, 1991, and calls for the cessation of all nuclear testing.

• The West Bengal Assembly passed the Aparajita Women and Child (West Bengal Criminal Laws Amendment) Bill, 2024, in response to the rape and murder of a woman doctor, aiming to impose capital punishment and severe penalties for crimes like rape and sexual harassment.
• The Bill contains provisions for death penalty and stringent punishment for crimes of rape and sexual assault, underscoring the State's commitment to strict legal action against such crimes.

• Grandmaster Aravindh Chithambaram clinched the 22nd Dubai Open after drawing his final round against compatriot R Praggnanandhaa.
• Aravindh finished with 7.5 points from 9 rounds.
• Russian Grandmaster Predke Alexander and Ramesh Babu Pragnananda completed second and 3rd respectively.
• The other a few Indian players also obtained seven points. Abhijit Gupta, Sammad Jayakumar Shette and Sethuraman took the fourth to sixth positions respectively.

• Shri Nagesh Singh appointed as the next Ambassador of India to the Kingdom of Thailand
• The 1995 batch IFS Officer is currently serving as the Joint Secretary at the Ministry of External Affairs. 
• He shall replace Ms. Suchitra Durai.
• Nagesh Singh is a 1995 batch officer of the Indian Foreign Service (IFS) who has served as Consul General of India in Atlanta.

• NTPC has successfully commissioned 160 MW out of 320 MW Bhainsara Solar Project at Jaisalmer in Rajasthan. 
• With this, the total installed and commercial capacity of NTPC group has reached 76,294 MW.
• NTPC REL, a subsidiary of NTPC Limited through NTPC Green Energy Limited, commenced commercial operations on August 28, 2024.

• Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched the mascot and the anthem for the 36th National Games at Trans Stadia in Ahmedabad.
• The mascot is named as ‘Savaj’ which means cub in Gujarati. The anthem is based on the theme of Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat.
• The National Games will be organised between 29th of this month to 12th of next month at six cities in the state namely Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, Surat, Vadodara, Rajkot and Bhavnagar.
• The event also witnessed the closing of 11th Khel Mahakumbh. Winners of Khel Mahakumbh were given away prizes at the hands of Mr. Shah. 
• Four Parathletics from Gujarat were also felicitated with Khel Pratibha awards on the occasion.

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for Vadhvan Port in Palghar, Maharashtra, which will be India's largest deep-water port with a 300 mta capacity. 
• The project involves ₹76,220 crore investment and aims to enhance connectivity, create jobs, and boost Maharashtra's economy.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of the Vadhvan Port project on 30 August. The Vadhvan Port is set to be operational by 2030.
• The port is strategically located 150 km from Mumbai and will have a capacity of 300 mta with 9 container terminals and 4 multipurpose berths.

• The annual Nehru Trophy boat race (NTBR), which had not been held for the past two years due to COVID-19 outbreak, was won for the third time in a row by the Pallathuruthy Boat Club.
• The winning snake boat, named ‘Mahadevikad Kattil Thekkethil Chundan’, crossed the finishing line in 4 minutes and 30 seconds, closely followed by the ‘Nadubhagam Chundan’ paddled by the NCDC Boat Club.
• Named after the first Prime Minister of the country, Jawaharlal Nehru, the 68th edition of the boat race was inaugurated by Kerala Finance Minister K N Balagopal.
• The boat race is named after Nehru to commemorate his visit to Kuttanad in the year 1952, during his first tour of Kerala after independence.

• Union Civil Aviation Minister Rammohan Naidu launched seaplane operation guidelines under RCS-UDAN in New Delhi to boost connectivity and economic growth.
• O.P. Jindal Global University will set up India’s first Constitution Academy to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the adoption of the Constitution of India.
• Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting Ashwini Vaishnaw has launched the ‘Create in India Challenge Season One.’
• Delhi Airport is the first airport in India to achieve net zero carbon emissions status under ACI.
• The Central Government's new Integrated Pension Scheme (UPS), effective from April 1, 2025, will provide central employees with 50% of their average basic pay as pension after 25 years of service, along with indexed adjustments for inflation.
• Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurated port projects and launched a skilling program at Jawaharlal Nehru Port.
• The Department of Posts has launched Deen Dayal Sparsh Yojana Philatelic Scholarship Scheme to promote philately among the students of class VI to IX.
• Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan released an e-magazine named "Sapno Ki Udaan" on the occasion of National Space Day.
• Eastern Railway has developed an AI-based chatbox named 'Prabodh' that provides easy access to railway rules.
• Joseph Francis A. Pereira, a Christian from Pakistan, has become the first person in Goa to receive Indian citizenship under the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).
• The Cabinet has approved the Department of Science and Technology scheme named ‘Vigyan Dhara’.
• IOCL signs MoU with RINL for supply of hydraulic and lubricating oil by 2029.
• Home Minister Amit Shah has announced the creation of 5 new districts in Ladakh.

• Red Bull's Max Verstappen has won his home Dutch Grand Prix title for the second year in a row.
• Mercedes' George Russell finished second, while Ferrari's Charles Leclerc finished third.
• Mercedes' seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton has finished fourth.

• The All India Football Federation (AIFF) elected its new president on Friday 2 September. 
• Former Mohun Bagan goalkeeper Kalyan Chaubey emerged victorious, blanking former India captain, Bhaichung Bhutia.
• Thirty-three members of the Electoral College voted for Chaubey while Bhuita got just one vote.
• In 1999, Bhutia became the first Indian footballer to sign with a European club.
• Chaubey, a former Mohun Bagan and East Bengal goalkeeper, has been associated with the BJP since 2015 – he lost the last parliamentary elections from Krishnanagar in West Bengal.

1. Indian Grandmaster Arjun Arigasi defeats Spain's David Anton Guijarro to win the 28th Abu Dhabi Masters Chess Tournament title
2. Neeraj Chopra makes history, becomes first Indian to win Diamond League
3. FIFA lifts suspension of Indian Football Federation, Under-17 Women's World Cup will be held in the country as per plan
4. Manipur's Linthoi Chanambam wins ‘Judo World Championships 2022’ title in the 16-year-old category
5. Indian Cricket Legend Virat Kohli becomes first Indian to play 100 Matches in all three formats of the game 
6. James Anderson of England became the first bowler in the world to take the highest wicket in international cricket
7. Denmark's Viktor Axelsen wins "BWF World Championships 2022" title
8. Neeraj Chopra gifts Tokyo gold medalist javelin to Olympic Museum in Lausanne, Switzerland
9. Rajiv Gandhi Rural Olympic Games starts in more than 11,000 panchayats in Rajasthan
10. Fourth and final Grand Slam "US Open Tennis Tournament" of the year began in New York on 29 August 2022
11. 24-year-old Amlan Borgohain becomes India's fastest man, runs 100m in 10.25 seconds
12. Indian Cricket Captain Rohit Sharma becomes first player to score 3500 runs in T20 matches
13. New Zealand all-rounder cricketer Colin de Grandhomme announces retirement from international cricket
14. Government appoints Rajesh Kumar Srivastava as the interim head of state-owned Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC)

• New Zealand all-rounder Colin de Grandhomme announced his retirement from international cricket on Wednesday.
• De Grandhomme retires with an impressive record, especially in the Tests. He represented New Zealand in 29 matches, scoring 1432 runs at 38.70 and picking up 49 wickets. He featured in 18 wins, playing a key role in the inaugural ICC World Test Championship campaign against India in Southampton.
• The Zimbabwe-born player made his debut in 2012 and played in 29 Tests.

• Olympic Champion of India Neeraj Chopra has gifted his gold-medal-winning javelin to the Olympic Museum in Lausanne, Switzerland. 
• On the 28th of August - Sunday, Neeraj contributed his Gold-Medal Winning Javelin to the Museum and hoped that its presence at the Museum will inspire future generations of athletes.
• The track and field athlete was also joined by Olympic gold medallist shooting star Abhinav Bindra.
• Chopra's javelin joined Bindra's triumphant rifle from Beijing 2008 in the Olympic heritage collection held at the Museum, a rich patrimonial collection that is aimed at securing the Olympic legacy and inspiring future generations.
• The 23-year-old Chopra threw 87.58 m in his second attempt, winning the gold medal as the reigning Olympic champion, and he is also the Indian national record-holder. Chopra was the first track and field athlete ever to win a gold medal for India at the Games, the second individual Indian to do so, after Bindra's win in the men's 10-metre air rifle event at Beijing 2008.

World Physical Therapy Day is observed on 8th September.

• World Physical Therapy Day is observed globally on September 8th each year, providing physiotherapists with a platform to raise awareness about the importance of physical therapy in enhancing mobility, preventing injuries, and improving overall well-being.
• The theme for World Physical Therapy Day in 2024 is low back pain and the role of physiotherapy in its management and prevention.

National Sports Day, observed annually on August 29, highlights the importance of sports and physical activities for overall health and fitness.

·         Ashok Buildcon's Managing Director and Promoter Satish Parekh has taken over as the President of the India Chapter of the International Road Federation (IRF).

·         The Governing Council of the International Road Federation unanimously endorsed Satish Parekh as the President of IRF-IC. He replaces Shubmay Gangopadhyay, former director of the Central Road Research Institute.

·         Geneva-based global road safety body IRF is working for better and safer roads around the world.

Important Facts

About IRF

v  Founded: 1948

v  Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland

• International Literacy Day is celebrated every year on 8 September.
• The day aims to highlight the importance of literacy for human rights, dignity, and the development of sustainable societies.
• The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) is responsible for overseeing and promoting International Literacy Day.
• The theme for International Literacy Day 2023 is ‘Promoting literacy for a world in transition: Building the foundation for sustainable and peaceful societies’.

·         The Union Culture Minister, Shri Kishan Reddy Gangapuram, met Dr. Utpal K. Banerjee has launched a book titled "Gita Govinda: Jayadeva Divine Odissi".

·         This book is the first complete rhyming translation of the book Gitagovindam by the great 12th century poet Jayadeva.

·         Uttarakhand Governor Baby Rani Maurya has resigned from her post. Raj Bhavan officials told in Dehradun that Mrs. Maurya sent her resignation to the President on Wednesday.

·         She was sworn in as the Governor of Uttarakhand on 26 August 2018.

Important Facts

About Governor

v  A governor is, in most cases, a public official with the power to govern the executive branch of a non-sovereign or sub-national level of government, ranking under the head of state.

v  The Governor is the appointing authority in respect of the following authorities:

Ø  Advocate General

Ø  The Lokayukta and Upa Lokayukta

Ø  The State Election Commissioner

Ø  The Chairman and Members of the Human Rights Commission

Ø  The Chairman and Members of Public Service Commission

Ø  The State Chief Information Commissioner and members of Information Commission.

• The Ministry of Education in India is celebrating Literacy Week from September 1 to 8, 2023, to promote awareness about the ULAS-New India literacy program.
• The Literacy Week aims to encourage mass participation and inculcate a sense of responsibility among all citizens in achieving complete literacy in India.
• Various stakeholders including students, teachers, volunteers, government employees and citizens will participate in the campaign.
• Ullas- New India Literacy Program is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme in line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which will run from 2022 to 2027.

·         In Jammu and Kashmir, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has launched a Rural Enterprises Acceleration Programme titled ‘Saath’ for Self Help Group (SHG) women.

·         The programme aims to transform the lives of women and make them independent and strong in social and financial aspects, by mentoring the women associated with SHGs and create market linkages of products created by these women.

·         Saath is aimed at accelerating the livelihoods of rural women, associated with SHGs and which are doing small works.

·         There is not much profit in their work and there is a lack of knowledge about marketing, packaging and branding.

·         This initiative aims to teach women such skills and convert their businesses into Higher Order Enterprises.

Important facts:

About J&K

v  Founded: 14 May 1954

v  Population: 1.25 crores (2011)

v  Official bird: Black-necked crane

v  Official animal: Kashmir stag

v  Official tree: Platanus orientalis

·         The government has appointed Harsh Bhupendra Bangari as the new Managing Director (MD) of Export-Import Bank of India (Exim Bank).

·         Earlier, Bangari was posted as Deputy Managing Director in Exim Bank.

·         He has been appointed for a period of three years or till further orders of the government.

·         He will replace the current MD David Rasquinha, who was appointed on 20 July 2014 for a five-year term.

Important Facts

About United India Insurance:

v  Export-Import Bank of India Founded: 1 January 1982;

v  Export-Import Bank of India Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra.

• The International Day of Charity was conceived as a Hungarian civil society initiative supported by the Hungarian Parliament and Government in 2011,to enhance visibility, organize special events, and in this way to increase solidarity, social responsibility and public support for charity.
• September 5 was chosen in order to commemorate the anniversary of the passing away of Mother Teresa of Calcutta, who received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979 "for work undertaken in the struggle to overcome poverty and distress, which also constitute a threat to peace.

·         The Union Territory of Ladakh has declared snow leopard (Panther unica) as the new state animal and black-necked crane (Grus nicricollis) as the new state bird.

·         The notification in this regard was released by Shri Radha Krishna Mathur, Lieutenant Governor of Union Territory of Ladakh.

·         The decision was taken keeping in view bifurcation of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh into separate administrative divisions in 2019.

·         In the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, the black-necked crane and Kashmir stag (Hangul) were the state bird and animal respectively.

Important facts:

About Ladakh

v  World’s Highest Altitude Movie Theatre Open In Ladakh.

v  IAF Builds One Of The World’s Highest Mobile ATC Towers In Ladakh

·         The Union Government has selected SL Tripathi as the Chairman-cum-Managing Director of United India Insurance Company Limited. He is presently the General Manager and Director in the New India Assurance Company Limited.

·         He has been appointed as the CMD of United India from the date of assuming the charge and till the date of attaining the age of superannuation.

Important Facts

About United India Insurance:

v  Headquarters: Chennai

v  Founded: 18 February 1938

v  CEO: Shri Girish Radhakrishnan.

• Small Industry Day is celebrated every year on August 30 in India.
• This day honours the invaluable contributions of small industries, often overlooked yet pivotal drivers of global economies.
• These industries, driven by unwavering resolve, are the backbone of innovation, job creation, and economic dynamism. At present, small industries make up approximately 40% of India’s overall economy.
• The roots of Small Industry Day can be traced back to the year 2000. In August of that year, the Indian government created a comprehensive policy package for small-scale industries (SSI).

·         Equitas Small Finance Bank (ESFB) has roped in Indian women's hockey player Rani Rampal and cricketer Smriti Mandhana as the company's brand ambassadors.

·         The announcement was made during the 5th anniversary of the ESFB on September 5, 2021.

·         Rampal holds the record for being the youngest player to play in the national hockey team, while Mandhana was recognized as the best women's international cricketer by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

Important facts

About Equitas Bank:

v  Equitas Small Finance Bank is a small finance working as a microfinance lender.

v  Headquarters: Chennai

v  Founded: 2016

• World Sanskrit Day is celebrated annually on 31 August, an occasion dedicated to celebrating the importance of Sanskrit.
• The day serves as an opportunity to spread awareness about the language that was used by scholars and saints in ancient India to compose revered texts, especially those related to religious teachings and philosophy.
• Also known as Vishva-Sanskrit-Dinam, this day is an annual event focusing on the ancient Indian language Sanskrit.
• It consists of lectures about the language and aims to promote its revival and preservation.
• It started in 1969 when the Government of India started its establishment.
• This day honors the contribution of Panini to Sanskrit language and linguistics.

NITI Aayog has released a report titled “Strategies and Pathways for Accelerating Growth in Pulses towards the Goal of Atmanirbharta”. The report highlights India’s progress, with production rising 59% to 26.06 MT by 2022–23, reducing import dependence to 10.4%. It projects domestic supply of 30.59 MT by 2030 and 45.79 MT by 2047. 

·        Atul Bhatt has been appointed as the Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of the disinvestment-owned steel company Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL).

·        He was the CMD of state-owned consultancy firm MECON, which provides a full range of services required to set up a project from concept to commissioning, including turnkey execution.

·        PK Rath retired as the CMD of RINL on 31 May after serving the company for 38 years.

Important facts

About RINL:

v Situated Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh.

v Founded: 18 February 1982

The Defence Technology and Test Centre (DTTC), Lucknow, organized a conclave to strengthen collaboration with MSMEs and start-ups for the Uttar Pradesh Defence Industrial Corridor (UPDIC). Over 100 participants discussed opportunities in skill development, R&D, consultancy and technology transfer with DRDO. Conceived by Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh, DTTC has become a key driver for empowering MSMEs. Senior DRDO officials highlighted the role of MSMEs in promoting indigenous defence manufacturing and advancing the vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Viksit Bharat 2047.

·        Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu has appointed Dr PPK Ramacharyulu, who has been Secretary in the Rajya Sabha Secretariat since 2018.

·        He will replace Desh Deepak Verma, who had resigned from the post of general secretary after holding the top post for four years.

·        Ramacharyulu is the first person to rise from the rank of Secretariat to the top post in nearly 70 years of the Rajya Sabha.

Important facts

About Rajya Sabha:

v Chairperson: M. Venkaiah Naidu

v Founded: 3 April 1952;

v Rajya Sabha Term limits: 6 years.

• Infosys partnered with Mastercard to enhance cross-border money transfers through Mastercard Move and Finacle integration.
• India’s top four insurers reported covering 14 million fewer lives in FY25 due to a slowdown in credit-linked policies.
• LIC handed over a dividend of ₹7,324.34 crore to the Government of India, reflecting its role as the majority shareholder.
• Recently, the State Energy Efficiency Index (SEEI) 2024 ranked Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Assam, and Tripura as top performers.
• IEPFA launched Phase II of its “Niveshak Didi” initiative in Hyderabad’s Patelguda Panchayat to empower rural and underprivileged women with financial literacy and secure investment awareness.
• APEDA has launched the “BHARATI” initiative with the goal of raising agri-food exports to $50 billion by 2030, under which 100 startups will be supported with innovation, technology, and export enablement.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the ‘Semicon India 2025’ conference at Yashobhoomi, New Delhi.
• The 56th GST Council meeting in New Delhi approved a major GST restructuring with a simplified two-tier system.
• DPIIT and ICICI Bank signed an MoU to support startups and innovators.
• DPIIT signed an MoU with Pfizer to boost healthcare innovation in India.
• The Kapas Kisan app was launched by Union Minister Giriraj Singh.
• India’s first port-based green hydrogen project was inaugurated at VOC Port, Tuticorin.

Union Minister of Textiles Giriraj Singh launched the Kapas Kisan app to make cotton procurement more transparent and efficient under the Minimum Support Price (MSP) scheme. Developed by the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI), the app allows farmers to self-register, book time slots for selling cotton, and track their payments digitally. The app comes with multiple farmer-friendly features such as multilingual support, real-time payment tracking, digital slot booking and reduced paperwork. It also ensures that farmers get procurement at MSP, protecting them from distress sales and market volatility. By digitizing processes, it aims to cut waiting times and congestion at procurement centers.

Union Minister for Ports, Shipping & Waterways Shri Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurated India’s first port-based Green Hydrogen Pilot Project at VOC Port, Tuticorin. With this, VOC Port has become the first Indian port to produce green hydrogen. The facility, built at a cost of ₹3.87 crore, will generate 10 Nm³/hr of green hydrogen. It will be used to power streetlights and an EV charging station in the port colony. The Minister also laid the foundation for a ₹35.34 crore Green Methanol Bunkering Facility. He inaugurated a 400 KW rooftop solar plant, raising VOC’s solar capacity to 1.04 MW. He dedicated a ₹24.5 crore coal conveyor system. Other projects launched include a 6 MW wind farm, a ₹90 crore multi-cargo berth, a four-lane port road, and a Maritime Heritage Museum.

·         The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced the 15-man squad of Team India for the T20 World Cup 2021.

·         The T20 World Cup is to be held in UAE and Oman from 17th to 14th November of next month this year.

·         The Indian cricket team under the leadership of Virat Kohli includes some new faces. It includes three fast bowlers Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami while five spinners are Ravichandran Ashwin, Axar Patel, Ravindra Jadeja, Rahul Chahar and Varun Chakraborty.

·         Team names for T20 World Cup are as follows: Virat Kohli Captain, Rohit Sharma Vice Captain, KL Rahul, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant Wk, Ishan Kishan Wicketkeeper, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Rahul Chahar, Ravichandran Ashwin, Axar Patel, Varun Chakraborty, Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Mohammed Shami.

Important Facts

About BCCI

v  President: Sourav Ganguly

v  Headquarters: Mumbai

v  Founded: December 1928

The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with ICICI Bank on September 4, 2025, to boost the startup ecosystem in India. The collaboration aims to empower entrepreneurs and innovators by providing structured support, mentorship, and accelerator access. As part of this initiative, ICICI Bank will launch a Startup Engagement Programme on the Startup India portal to expand outreach and adoption among startups.

·         The 130th edition of Durand Cup began at Vivekananda Yuva Bharati Kreerangan, Kolkata.

·         West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee kicked the ball and inaugurated the tournament. 16 teams are playing in this edition of Asia's oldest club football tournament while two clubs East Bengal and Mohun Bagan are not participating.

·         The final match will be held on 3 October.

Important facts

About Durand Cup:

v  Durand Cup is a prestigious football tournament.

v  It was first organized in 1888 at Dagshai, Himachal Pradesh.

v  The tournament is named after Mortimer Durand. He was the then Foreign Secretary in charge of India.

The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry, signed an MoU with Pfizer Limited on September 4, 2025, to strengthen India’s healthcare innovation ecosystem. The collaboration aims to accelerate healthcare innovations from lab to market by offering financial and non-financial support to DPIIT-recognized startups. Through the Pfizer INDovation program, selected startups will receive grants of up to ₹60 lakhs along with an 18-month incubation program led by Social Alpha. The initiative focuses on clinical validation, regulatory approvals, go-to-market strategies, and includes mentorship, infrastructure, global exposure, and access to Pfizer’s R&D facilities in Chennai.

·         Former Australia fast bowler Shaun Tait has been appointed as the bowling coach of the Puducherry cricket team, according to a source in the Cricket Association of Pondicherry.

·         Tait is involved in a coaching team, which includes head coach Dishant Yagnik and manager and strength and conditioning coach Kalpendra Jha.

·         The former Australia player was recently appointed as the bowling coach of the Afghanistan team for a period of five months.

Important facts

About Saun Tait:

v  Tait, who played three Tests, 35 ODIs and 21 T20 Internationals for Australia, also played for Rajasthan Royals in the IPL during his playing career.

v  The pacer was instrumental in Australia's World Cup victory in the West Indies in 2007, taking 23 wickets.

The 56th GST Council meeting, held in the national capital New Delhi and chaired by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, approved a landmark reform in India’s Goods and Services Tax (GST) system. This is regarded as the most comprehensive restructuring since the GST was implemented in 2017. The Council introduced a simplified two-tier GST structure with 5% for essential items and 18% for non-essential goods and services, aimed at easing compliance and reducing consumer costs. In addition, a special 40% slab has been created for “sin goods” such as tobacco, pan masala, gutkha, sugary drinks, and luxury cars, ensuring higher taxation on items considered harmful or extravagant.

·         Cyrus Poncha, general secretary of the Squash Rackets Federation of India (SRFI), has been unanimously elected as the Vice President of the Asian Squash Federation (ASF) during the 41st Annual General Meeting of the ASF.

·         The Dronacharya Awardee has been elected for a term of four years.

Important facts

About the Asian Squash Federation:

v  Headquarters: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

v  General Secretary: Duncan Chiu

v  Founded: 1980.

The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) has launched a new initiative, BHARATI (Bharat’s Hub for Agritech, Resilience, Advancement and Incubation for Export Enablement) to strengthen India’s agri-food exports. Conceived as part of APEDA’s vision to achieve $50 billion agri-food exports by year 2030, BHARATI will empower 100 agri-food and agri-tech startups through acceleration, innovation support, and export enablement. The initiative will promote high-value categories including GI-tagged products, organic foods, superfoods, livestock items, AYUSH products and novel processed Indian foods, while also supporting advanced technologies such as AI-based quality control, blockchain traceability, IoT-enabled cold chains and agri-fintech.

·        Indian para athlete Praveen Kumar on September 3, 2021 created a new Asian record by winning a silver medal in the men's high jump T64 event.

·        Avani Lekhran also became the first Indian woman to win two medals at the Paralympics, winning a bronze medal in the R8 Women's 50m Rifle 3P SH1 event.

·        She had earlier won a gold medal in the women's 10m Air Rifle R2 SH1 event.

Important facts

About Tokyo Paralympics

v Athletes: 4,537

v Dates: Tue, 24 Aug, 2021 – Sun, 5 Sep, 2021

v Location: Tokyo

v Motto: United by Emotion

v Stadium: Olympic Stadium (Tokyo 2020)

v Nations: 163

The Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority (IEPFA), functioning under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, rolled out the second phase of its flagship programme “Niveshak Didi” at Patelguda Panchayat in Hyderabad. This unique “for women, by women” initiative seeks to enhance financial literacy among rural and underprivileged women. It equips them to take informed financial decisions, safeguard their money against fraud, embrace digital banking services, and access safe savings and investment avenues.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the ‘Semicon India 2025’ conference at Yashobhoomi, New Delhi, calling it a defining milestone in India’s semiconductor journey. The event witnessed participation from leading global CEOs, International delegates, entrepreneurs and students, underlining India’s growing role in the global technology ecosystem. Modi highlighted that more than $18 billion has already been invested across ten major projects, with approvals streamlined through a single-window system and modern plug-and-play semiconductor parks offering world-class infrastructure.

Recently, the State Energy Efficiency Index (SEEI) 2024 was released by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) with AEEE. It reviewed 36 States/UTs on 66 indicators across 7 sectors. Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Assam and Tripura emerged as top performers. 24 states notified the Energy Conservation Building Code, 31 states adopted e-mobility policies, and Kerala led in solar-powered farm pumps with 74% adoption.

Infosys announced a strategic partnership with Mastercard to scale up cross-border money movement through Mastercard Move. By integrating this service with Infosys Finacle (a subsidiary of EdgeVerve Systems), the collaboration aims to provide banks and financial institutions rapid and cost-efficient access to global payment systems. The partnership reduces the need for intensive integration resources, enabling quicker adoption of Mastercard’s payment innovations worldwide.

India’s top four life insurance companies have reported a significant drop in the number of lives insured in FY25, primarily due to a slowdown in credit-linked life insurance policies. Stress in the microfinance sector reduced loan disbursements, which in turn led to fewer new customers being brought under insurance coverage. ICICI Prudential Life Insurance covered 91.74 million lives in FY25, compared to 96.91 million in FY24, highlighting the downward trend.

The Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) handed over a dividend of ₹7,324.34 crore to the central government. The cheque was presented by LIC’s CEO and MD, R. Doraiswamy, to Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in New Delhi. The dividend, approved at LIC’s Annual General Meeting on August 26, reflects the government’s share as the majority shareholder. Department of Financial Services Secretary Nagaraju M was also present at the event.

• International Literacy Day recognised by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) is observed on September 8, every year. 
• Since 1967, this day has been observed to remind the world about the importance of literacy as a matter of dignity, and human rights and to advance the literacy agenda towards a more literate and sustainable society.
• This year's theme is "Transforming Literacy Learning Spaces".
• According to the report published by the National Survey of India, the Literacy Rate of India in 2022 is 77.7 per cent. The literacy rate in 2011 was 73%.
• According to figures till 2018, India's male literacy rate stood at 82.4% and female literacy rate stood at 65.8%.

• The world’s tallest Nataraja statue has been installed at Bharat Mandapam, the venue of the G20 summit in Delhi.
• The 28-foot-tall statue weighing 20 tonnes was made in a record time of seven months by sculptor Radhakrishnan Sthapathy and his team at Swamimalai in Thanjavur District of Tamil Nadu.
• The statue was built in Ashtadhatu (8 metals) using the traditional casting method.

• The Government of India approved annual commemoration of “Hyderabad Liberation Day” for the years 2022 to 2023. 
• On September 17, 2022, the Ministry of Culture will organise the inaugural event for the year-long celebration of Hyderabad Liberation Day. 
• Meanwhile, the state government on Saturday decided to observe September 17 as Telangana National Unity Day.
• Grand ceremonies would be held in all 33 districts.
• The goal is to raise awareness of the tale of sacrifice, heroism, and resistance among the current generation in India as a whole as well as in the region under study.
• When India gained Independence in 1947, even though 562 princely states announced the merger with the Indian Union, there was some resistance from the erstwhile state of Hyderabad.
• The erstwhile state of Hyderabad, comprising the entire state of Telangana and some districts in Maharashtra and Karnataka, got independence from the Nizam’s rule. This was possible due to the swift and timely action of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel under Operation Polo.”

• The World Health Organization (WHO) released the outcome document of the first WHO Traditional Medicine Global Summit 2023 as the "Gujarat Declaration".
• The "Gujarat Manifesto" reaffirms the global commitment to traditional medicine for health and wellness.
• India, as the host of the WHO Global Center for Traditional Medicine in Gujarat, plays an important role in supporting Member States and taking forward the work agenda of the summit.

1. National Sports Day 2022 is being celebrated all over India on 29th August
2. National Small Industries Day 2022 celebrated on 30th August
3. Rashtriya Poshan Maah begins from 1st September across India with key focus on ‘Mahila aur Swasthya’ and ‘Bacha aur Shiksha’

• On August 31, 2023, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the commencement of full-capacity operations at India's largest domestically built 700 MW nuclear power plant located at Kakrapar in Gujarat.
• The nuclear facility at Kakrapar is the largest nuclear facility of its kind to be built entirely within India.
• Initially, the Kakrapar Atomic Power Project (KAPP) started commercial operations on 30 June but was operating at 90% capacity.
• It reached its maximum operational capacity on 31 August.

• Ministry of Women and Child Development is being celebrated the 5th Rashtriya Poshan Maah 2022 across the nation from today till 30th September.
• This year, the objective of the Poshan Maah is to trigger Poshan Maah through Gram Panchayats as Poshan Panchayats with key focus on “Mahila aur Swasthya” and “Bacha aur Shiksha”.
• In the 5th Rashtriya Poshan Maah the aim is to convert Jan Andolan into Jan Bhagidari to fulfill the Prime Minister's vision of a Suposhit Bharat.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi had launched the programme from Jhunjhunu in Rajasthan on 8 March, 2018. Focusing on the aims of POSHAN Abhiyaan, the government has launched Mission Poshan 2.0 as an integrated nutrition support program.

• President Draupadi Murmu unveiled a 12-foot tall statue of Mahatma Gandhi and 'Gandhi Vatika' at the Gandhi Darshan near Rajghat in New Delhi.
• To enhance the visitor experience, a selfie point has been set up within Gandhi Vatika, which houses several statues of Mahatma Gandhi in different poses.
• Lieutenant Governor of Delhi VK Saxena and Vice President of Gandhi Smriti and Darshan Committee Vijay were present in this program.

Indian filmmaker Anuparna Roy won the Best Director award in the Orizzonti section at the 82nd Venice Film Festival for her debut feature Songs of Forgotten Trees. She is the first Indian director to earn this honor. Starring Naaz Shaikh and Sumi Baghel, the film explores the intertwined lives of two women in Mumbai. Roy dedicated the award to women worldwide, calling it a tribute to silenced voices, marking a landmark moment for Indian cinema globally.

• The ASI will launch the Adopt a Heritage 2.0 programme that seeks to invite corpororate stakeholders to enhance amenities at monuments by utilising their utilising their CSR funds on September 4
• The Archeological Survey Of India (ASI) has 3696 monuments under protection, which are spread, throughout the country
• These monument not only exhibit the rich culture herityage of India but also play a significant role  in fostering economic growth.

Indian NGO ‘Educate Girls' became the first Indian organization to win the Ramon Magsaysay Award 2025 for advancing girls’ education in rural India.

• Labour and Employment Minister Bhupender Yadav today launched Chemotherapy Services in 30 ESIC Hospitals across the country during the 191st meeting of the ESI Corporation at ESIC Headquarters in New Delhi.
• The Union Minister also inaugurated a Control Room with Dashboards of ESIC. The dashboards will ensure better monitoring of resources and beds at ESIC hospitals and the current status of ongoing construction projects.

Indian NGO Educate Girls has made history by becoming the first Indian organization to win the prestigious Ramon Magsaysay Award 2025. The honor, often called Asia’s Nobel Prize, was conferred on the NGO for its groundbreaking work in ensuring access to education for underprivileged girls in India’s rural and remote regions. Recognized for creating lasting change by tackling gender inequality in education, Educate Girls now stands alongside fellow awardees Shaahina Ali of the Maldives and Flaviano Antonio L. Villanueva of the Philippines.

• Minister of Civil Aviation Jyotiraditya M Scindia has inaugurated Utkela airport in Odisha, which has been developed as a regional airport under the UDAN scheme at a cost of Rs 31.07 crore. 
• The Utkela-Bhubaneswar-Utkela flight route is set to improve regional air connectivity, playing a pivotal role in fostering economic growth within the area. “Starting from 31st August2023, IndiaOne will operate flights along this route. These flights will be facilitated by 9-seater Cessna C-208 aircraft, sanctioned under the UDAN scheme,”
• Utkela airport has a runway of length 917 meters (2,995 ft.) with a width of 30 meters. With the addition of Utkela Airport, Odisha will now have five airports.

• Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilizers (RCF) has been granted the Navratna status by the government of India. This is the highest status that can be given to a public sector enterprise (PSE).
• RCF is a leading manufacturer of fertilizers, chemicals, and specialty products. It has a market capitalization of over Rs 7,000 crore and employs over 10,000 people.
• The Navratna status is a recognition of RCF's achievements and its potential to play a leading role in the Indian economy. The company plans to use the Navratna status to expand its product portfolio, invest in new technologies, and improve its operational efficiency.

• Popular actor and comedian RS Shivaji died in Chennai on 2 September 2023. The actor was 66.
• Shivaji was the son of actor and producer MR Santhanam and the brother of actor and director Santhana Bharathi.
• Known for featuring predominantly in Kamal Haasan’s films like Michael Madana Kama Rajan, Vikram, Sathya and Anbe Sivam, Shivaji’s claim to fame came in the form of Apoorva Sagodharargal in which his comedy sequences alongside Janagaraj became a huge hit.

• Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal launches Tele-Law 2.0
• G20 Culture Ministers' meeting begins in Varanasi
• The second G20-Roundtable meeting of Chief Scientific Advisors begins in Gandhinagar
• G20 One Health Workshop inaugurated in Bengaluru
• Draupadi Murmu released Postage Stamp in memory of Dadi Prakashmani
• MoU signed by Ministry and National Safai Karamcharis Finance and Development Corporation (NSKFDC)
• India to host the first edition of the 'Global IndiaAI 2023' conference in October
• China includes Arunachal Pradesh, Aksai Chin in its new 'standard map'
• India's new warship Mahendragiri to be launched in Mumbai
• ISRO to launch India’s first Sun mission on Sept 2
• World's first ethanol-powered car unveiled by Union Minister Nitin Gadkari

• On September 1, 2023, Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan made this announcement during the 63rd Foundation Day celebrations of the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) in Delhi.
• Bal Bhavan will be merged with NCERT.
• An Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) laboratory was inaugurated to integrate technology in education.
• NCERT will include a chapter on the success story and findings of Chandrayaan-3 in 22 recognized languages.
• A Vidhya Samiksha Kendra was also inaugurated as part of the celebrations.

• The Indian Army recently carried out Exercise Yudh Kaushal 3.0 in the high-altitude and rugged terrain of the Eastern Himalayas.
• The 14th edition of the India–Thailand joint military exercise Maitree-XIV began with an opening ceremony at the Joint Training Node (JTN) in Umroi, Meghalaya.
• India and US armies began the 21st edition of Joint Military Exercise Yudh Abhyas 2025 in Alaska.
• The 16th India-Singapore Defence Working Group meeting was held in Singapore. 
• The Indian Navy’s First Training Squadron recently visited Seychelles.

• Union Minister Piyush Goyal unveiled the statue of RK Shanmugam Chetty, the first Finance Minister of independent India, in Coimbatore.
• The unveiling took place at the South Indian Mills Association Complex (SIMA) in Coimbatore.
• The event was attended by Union Minister of State for Railways and Textiles Darshana V. Jhardosh, Coimbatore South MLA Vanathi Srinivasan, and senior officials of the South Indian Mills Association.
• RK Shanmugam Chetty played an important role in the establishment of the South Indian Mills Association.
• This organization has been instrumental in shaping the textile industry in South India.
• The South Indian Mills Association is dedicated to advancing the interests of the textile industry in the southern region of India.
• RK Shanmugam Chetty founded this organization, which has been instrumental in promoting growth and innovation in the region.

The 16th India-Singapore Defence Working Group (DWG) meeting was held in Singapore. It was co-chaired by Shri Amitabh Prasad from India’s Ministry of Defence and Col Daxson Yap from Singapore’s Ministry of Defence. In 2025, India and Singapore mark 60 years of diplomatic ties. Both sides welcomed the growing defence partnership and agreed to expand cooperation in emerging domains and global commons. The talks also underlined Singapore’s key role in India’s Act East Policy, with focus on connectivity, security, and maritime cooperation.

• Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL) and Kenya Shipyard Limited (KSL) signed an MoU for cooperation in ship design and construction.
• The MoU was formalized during a meeting between India's Union Defense Minister Rajnath Singh and Kenya's Cabinet Secretary Defense Aden Bare Duale on August 29, 2023.
• The signing event took place in New Delhi, Delhi.
• Chief of Defense Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan and Defense Secretary Giridhar Aramane attended the bilateral meeting.
• Aden Bare Duale, serving as the Defense Cabinet Secretary of Kenya, is on a 3-day visit to India.
• Kenya Shipyard Limited is a state-owned company under the Ministry of Defense of Kenya, established in 2020 to meet the operational needs of the Kenya Navy through shipbuilding, repair, maintenance, and marine services.

The Indian Navy’s First Training Squadron (1TS), comprising INS Tir, INS Shardul, and ICGS Sarathi, departed Port Victoria, Seychelles on 4 September after completing a four-day port call under its Long Range Training Deployment. During the visit, 1TS engaged extensively with the Seychelles Defence Forces (SDF) through professional exchanges, cross-training sessions, and cultural events aimed at enhancing maritime cooperation.

• Reliance Industries becomes the first Indian company to cross ₹10 lakh crore in revenue for FY 2024.
• HDFC Bank has launched a financial product named Giga, tailored for India's gig workers, offering specialized financial solutions to support their unique needs.

The 21st edition of the India–USA Joint Military Exercise Yudh Abhyas 2025 is being conducted at Fort Wainwright, Alaska, from September 1 to 14, 2025. The drill brings together troops from the Madras Regiment of the Indian Army and the 1st Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment “Bobcats” of the Arctic Wolves Brigade Combat Team, 11th Airborne Division of the US Army. Yudh Abhyas 2025 will conclude with multi-domain manoeuvres, high-altitude drills, and live-fire exercises, aimed at enhancing interoperability for United Nations peacekeeping and combined operations.

• HDFC Bank has launched a new digital-first financial services initiative called Giga, specifically designed to cater to the needs of gig workers and freelancers, including customized products and services.
• This is a new type of financial suite.
• This digital-first program offers a range of products and services designed to meet the unique needs of the fast-growing workforce.
• The GIG economy includes a wide range of professionals, from management consultants and software developers to delivery partners and caregivers.

The 14th edition of the India–Thailand joint military exercise Maitree-XIV began with an opening ceremony at the Joint Training Node (JTN) in Umroi, Meghalaya. The exercise will run from 1 to 14 September 2025 as part of the two nations’ military exchange programme to improve cooperation, coordination, and understanding between the Indian Army and the Royal Thai Army. Started in 2006, Maitree has become an important element of defence ties between India and Thailand. The last edition was held in Tak Province, Thailand.

• Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) became the first Indian company to surpass ₹10 lakh crore in annual revenue for FY 2023-24, achieving a record turnover of ₹10,00,122 crore (USD 119.9 billion) with a net profit of ₹79,020 crore (USD 9.5 billion).
• RIL's CSR spending increased by 25% to ₹1,592 crore (USD 191 million) in the last year, making it the largest CSR contributor among Indian corporates, with total CSR expenditure exceeding ₹4,000 crore (USD 502 million) over the past three years.

The Indian Army recently carried out Exercise Yudh Kaushal 3.0 in the high-altitude and rugged terrain of the Eastern Himalayas, particularly in Arunachal Pradesh’s Kameng region. Designed to test readiness in extreme weather and difficult terrain, the large-scale exercise highlighted the Army’s growing integration of modern technologies and its preparedness for multi-domain warfare. It was supervised by the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the Gajraj Corps, the drills featured drone-based surveillance, real-time target tracking, precision strikes, air-littoral operations, and coordinated manoeuvres across multiple battlefield domains.

• NHPC Ltd, Solar Energy Corporation of India Ltd (SECI), RailTel Corporation of India (RCIL), and SJVN have been granted Navratna status by the Department of Public Enterprises, Ministry of Finance on August 30.
• Railtel Corporation of India (RCIL) becomes the 22nd Navratna with a turnover of ₹2,622 crore and a net profit of ₹246 crore for FY24; Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) is the 23rd Navratna with a turnover of ₹13,035 crore and a net profit of ₹436 crore for FY24.
• National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) is designated the 24th Navratna, reporting a turnover of ₹8,405 crore and a net profit of ₹3,744 crore for FY24; Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam Ltd (SJVN) follows as the 25th Navratna with a turnover of ₹2,833 crore and a net profit of ₹908 crore for FY24.

• At the India Steel Conclave 2024 held in New Delhi, the Indian Steel Association (ISA) presented the prestigious 'Gender Diversity Award' to Dr. Dasari Radhika, DGM (HR), RINL, the corporate entity of Visakhapatnam Steel Plant for displaying excellence in commitment. 
• The award was presented by Shri Nagendra Nath Sinha, former Secretary, Ministry of Steel, and Government of India in the presence of several stalwarts of the steel industry.

• President Droupadi Murmu conferred the National Teachers' Awards to 82 teachers in school and higher education categories at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi on September 5, 2024. 
• 16 teachers from higher educational institutions and polytechnics have also been selected for the 'Teachers Award 2024'. 
• This is the first time that teachers from higher educational institutions have also been awarded.
• The awarded teachers were given a cash prize of Rs 50,000, silver medal and certificates.

• Hayao Miyazaki, has won the 2024 Ramon Magsaysay Award, often regarded as Asia's Nobel Prize.
• Ayushmann Khurrana and Neeraj Chopra have been honored with the Youth Icon of India award by FICCI for their remarkable contributions to cinema and sports, respectively.
• Malabar Group's 'Hunger Free World' project won the CSR Times Award 2024 for its exceptional commitment to social responsibility and welfare.
• Kashi's Lab Mitra model won the National e-Governance Gold Award at the National e-Governance Conference 2024 for its innovative approach to laboratory management and public service delivery.
• Wokha SAATHI (Smart AI-based Assistant for Timely Help & Interface) WhatsApp chatbot won gold at the National eGovernance Awards 2023-2024.
• The Ministry of Women and Child Development received the National e-Governance Gold Award 2024 for its Poshan Tracker initiative, which enhances real-time monitoring of nutrition programs.

• The Ministry of Women and Child Development has received the National Award for e-Governance 2024 (SWARNA) for the Poshan Tracker initiative. 
• The award has been given to the Nutrition Tracker initiative for government process re-engineering and digital transformation. 
• Nutrition Tracker ensures a healthy future for children with real-time monitoring and evaluation of children's nutritional development.

• Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
• The signing ceremony was held in Bengaluru.
• The MoU focuses on the area of Short Range Air Defense Systems.
• BEL and IAI have previously worked together on joint development, production and product support programs for the Indian Defense Forces.
• The MoU is in line with India's 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' (self-reliant India) and 'Make in India' policies.

• The Wokha SAATHI (Smart AI-based Assistant for Timely Help & Interface) WhatsApp Chatbot, an innovative initiative of the Wokha District Administration of Nagaland has been awarded the prestigious Gold Award at National Awards for e-Governance Scheme 2023-2024.
• The award was presented at the 27th National Conference on e-Governance held in Mumbai, Maharashtra by Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Devendra Fadnavis.

• The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has approved the merger of Tata SIA Airlines into Air India, subject to certain conditions.
• This landmark merger also involves Singapore Airlines (SIA) and entails the acquisition of shares in the merged entity, Air India, subject to certain voluntary commitments.
• TSAL (Tata SIA Airlines Limited) is a joint venture between the Tata Group and Singapore Airlines with the former holding 51% and the latter 49%.
• As part of the merger transaction, SIA shall also invest Rs. 2,059 crore in Air India. Post the consolidation, SIA shall hold 25.1% shareholding in Air India.
• The consolidation will make Air India India’s largest international carrier and second-largest domestic carrier.

• The 'Lab Mitra' initiative, launched in Varanasi and expanded across Uttar Pradesh, received the National e-Governance Gold Award 2024 for Administrative Reforms, benefiting over 2.5 lakh patients through its efficient online lab report system.

• Reserve Bank of India Governor Shaktikanta Das has been ranked as the top central banker globally by US-based Global Finance magazine.
• Das has been rated ‘A+’ in the Global Finance Central Banker Report Cards 2023.
• Das is followed by Switzerland Governor Thomas J Jordan and central bank chief of Vietnam Nguyen Thi Hong.
• Das has been placed at the top of the list of three central bank governors who have been rated A+.
• Grades are based on a scale from A to F for success in inflation control, economic growth goals, currency stability, and interest rate management, according to a statement by Global Finance magazine.
• An ‘A’ represents an excellent performance down through an ‘F’ for outright failure.
• The report has been published annually by Global Finance since 1994.

• Malabar Group, one of the world’s largest jewelry conglomerates, has been honored with the prestigious CSR Times Award 2024 for its transformative ‘Hunger Free World’ project. 
• The CSR Times Award is a national recognition given to corporate organizations that demonstrate exceptional commitment to social responsibility, with a focus on the welfare of the people.

• In a significant development, Bandhan Bank has been granted authorization by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to serve as an authorized pension disbursement bank. 
• This authorization is in association with the Central Pension Accounting Office (CPAO), a part of the Ministry of Finance. 
• The bank is set to collaborate closely with the CPAO to initiate and streamline the process of disbursing civil pensions.

• Ayushmann Khurrana and Neeraj Chopra received the FICCI Young Leader’s Youth Icon Award at the FICCI Young Leaders Awards in New Delhi, recognizing their significant contributions and positive societal impact. The awards were presented by Shashwat Goenka and Aishwarya Bansal.
• Ayushmann Khurrana was recognized as the only Bollywood actor to receive the award this year for his exemplary career and commitment to social causes, while Neeraj Chopra was honored for his Olympic gold medal and inspirational contributions to sports.

·         International Day to Protect Education from Attack is observed globally on 9 September.

·         For the first time in 2020, the International Day for Protecting Education from Attack was declared.

·         The day aims to raise awareness about the importance of protecting schools as places of safety and security for students and teachers, and the need to keep education at the top of the public agenda.

Important Facts

About UNESCO

v  UNESCO headquarters: Paris, France.

v  UNESCO Head: Audrey Azoulay.

v  UNESCO Founded: 16 November 1945.

v  UNICEF Executive Director: Henrietta H. Fore.

v  UNICEF Founded: 11 December 1946.

v  UNICEF Headquarters: New York, United States.

• Life Insurance Corporation of India has tied up with Saraswat Cooperative Bank Ltd in its effort to increase the penetration of life insurance through the Bancassurance channel in Mumbai.
• Saraswat Cooperative Bank is India’s largest Urban Cooperative Bank.
• Citizens in general and customers of Saraswat Bank, in particular, will now have the opportunity to fulfill their life insurance protection needs through the Bank itself by purchasing insurance products.
• The Bank has a vast network of 294 Branches as at 31 March 2023 spread over 6 states and is catering to over 2 million customers. It has also got the distinction of being India’s largest Urban Cooperative Bank.
• Being the premier insurer of the country, LIC has plans for all segments of the society under its product basket of Annuity, ULIP, Term Insurance and Savings category.
• Recently LIC has launched a close-ended Guaranteed Benefit plan “Dhan Vriddhi” which is available till 30th September 2023 only, to persons of all age ranging from 90 days to 60 years.

• Nepal Tourism Board has received the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Gold Award in Sustainable Tourism for Livelihood Recovery Project (STLRP). 
• This is the third time NTB has received a PATA award in community-based tourism. The award recognizes the project’s efforts in creating employment opportunities and enhancing sustainable tourism development in all seven provinces of Nepal.
• NTB’s STLRP previously won the PATA Gold Award in 2022 and 2023. In 2022, it was recognized for Tourism Destination Resilience, and in 2023, for its initiatives in women’s empowerment through tourism, sustainability, and social responsibility.

•        International Literacy Day is celebrated globally on 8 September every year.

•        The day spreads awareness about the importance of literacy for individuals, communities and societies and the need for intensive efforts for more literate societies.

•        The theme of the 55th International Literacy Day is “Literacy for Human-Centered Recovery: Bridging the Digital Divide”.

• At the Septimius Awards 2024 in the Netherlands, Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub won Best Actor for "Scoop," and "Maidaan," starring Ajay Devgn, was named Best Asian Film.
• The 24th International Mother Teresa Awards were held in Dubai to honor significant contributions, marking the second time the ceremony was hosted outside India.

• The International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies is observed globally on 07 September to promote and facilitate actions to improve air quality.

• It is a day recognized by the United Nations that aims to raise public awareness at all levels (individual, community, corporate and government) that clean air is important for health, productivity, the economy and the environment.

Important facts

About the UN

v  Headquarters: New York, United States

v  Founded: 24 October 1945, San Francisco, California, United States

v  Secretary General: Antonio Guterres

v  Founder: United States, India, United Kingdom, Brazil, France, etc.

• The Indian Army has launched Project NAMAN to provide dedicated support and services to veterans and their families.
• For the first time, the Indian Navy's P8I aircraft has been deployed in Europe.

• Indian Army launches first phase of Project Naman. It is designed to provide dedicated support and services to defence pensioners, eminent soldiers and their families. 
• In the first phase of Project Naman, 14 Common Service Centres have been established at key locations across the country, including New Delhi, Jalandhar, Leh, Dehradun, Lucknow, Jodhpur, Bengdubi, Gorakhpur, Jhansi, Secunderabad, Sagar, Guntur, Ahmedabad and Gorakhpur.

• INS Arighat, India's second nuclear-powered submarine, was commissioned into the Indian Navy.
• The first indigenously developed Pollution Control Vessel of the Indian Coast Guard, ‘Samudra Pratap,’ was launched in Goa in the presence of Raksha Rajya Mantri.

Levi’s has announced Bollywood star Alia Bhatt as its new Global Brand Ambassador, marking a major collaboration between the iconic denim brand and one of India’s leading film and fashion personalities. Levi’s highlighted her cultural influence and style authority, seeing her as the perfect face for its evolving women’s portfolio.

Kokichi Akuzawa, 102, from Japan, became the oldest person to summit Mount Fuji on August 5, 2025, earning Guinness World Records recognition. Climbing with his daughter, granddaughter, and friends, he overcame past health challenges and trained for three months to prepare. Though he admitted the climb was harder than before, group support helped him succeed. A retired engineer, Akuzawa said mountains symbolize equality and progress, calling the achievement a cherished final memory.

Author Amish Tripathi launched his novel The Chola Tigers: The Avengers of Somnath.

• Indian-American physician and cancer researcher Dr Siddhartha Mukherjee has been nominated for the Baillie Gifford Prize for Non-Fiction in London, a prestigious £50,000 prize.
• His book "The Song of the Cell: An Exploration of Medicine and the New Human" is one of 13 books selected for the long list.
• The six finalists for the prize are to be announced on 8 October and will be revealed during a live event at England's annual Cheltenham Literature Festival.
• The winner of the prize will be announced at a ceremony at the Science Museum in London on 16 November.

Renowned author Amish Tripathi has launched his latest historical novel, The Chola Tigers: The Avengers of Somnath, at Crossword Kemps Corner in Chennai. The book, the second in his Indic Chronicles series, celebrates the bravery and sacrifice of the Chola Empire, including unique details like the presence of a women’s regiment in their army. Set in 1025 CE, the story follows Emperor Rajendra Chola’s bold response to Sultan Mahmud of Ghazni’s attack on the Somnath temple, weaving history and fiction into a gripping tale of courage, unity, and dharma.

• Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has unveiled the grand statue of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose near India Gate in New Delhi on 8 September 2022.
• The grand statue of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose is a jet black granite statue, measuring a total of 28 ft and it will be placed under the Canopy near India Gate.
• The statue of Netaji was carved from a monolithic block of granite weighing 280 MT.
• The granite monolith was chiselled to produce a statue weighing 65 MT.
• It is completely hand sculpted using traditional techniques and modern tools.
• The 28 feet tall statue of Netaji is one of the tallest, most realistic, monolithic, handmade sculptures in India.

• Professor Satyajit Majumdar, serving as the Dean of the School of Management and Labor Studies at the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) in Mumbai, was awarded the 'Dr V G Patel Memorial Award-2023'.
• He received this prestigious award in the category of 'Entrepreneurship Coach, Educator, and Mentor' for his outstanding contribution to promoting and strengthening entrepreneurship in India.
• Dr. V.G. Patel is widely recognized as a pioneer of the entrepreneurship movement in India, which makes this award particularly significant.
• Professor Satyajit Mazumdar was selected for this award from among 400 applicants from 26 different states. The selection was done by a jury appointed by the Indian Entrepreneurship Development Institute (EDII) in Ahmedabad.

• The Indian cities, Nilambur and Thrissur in Kerala, and Warangal in Telangana became the nation’s first entrants in the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities. 
• The group of global cities also includes some of the most developed cities like Beijing, Shanghai, Hamburg, Athens, Incheon, Bristol, and Dublin.
• As per the announcement, a total of 77 cities from 44 countries have joined the UNESCO GLC.
• Nilamubur is a major eco-tourism destination in Kerala.
• Under this initiative, the city aims to ensure employment opportunities and UN Sustainable Development Goal- 2 of 'zero hunger'.
• The Rudreshwar Temple (also known as Ramappa Temple) located at Palampet in Mulugu district, near Warangal, was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage Site list in July 2021.

• President of India Draupadi Murmu honored 75 teachers with the National Teacher Awards 2023 at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi on September 5, 2023.
• The event is organized annually on 5th September, the birthday of Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, which is celebrated as National Teachers' Day in India.
• The objective of the National Teacher Awards is to acknowledge and celebrate the extraordinary contribution of teachers to education and the positive impact they have on the lives of students.

• The Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) on Tuesday approved the country’s first intra-nasal Covid-19 vaccine — Bharat Biotech’s iNCOVACC — for restricted emergency use in those aged above 18 years. 
• It’s only the second such vaccine in the world, after CanSino Biologics’ vaccine in China, to get regulatory approval.
•  iNCOVACC is a chimpanzee adenovirus vectored recombinant nasal vaccine that has been specifically formulated to allow intra-nasal delivery through nasal drops.
• It has been designed to not only protect against infection but also reduce transmission of the virus.
• Currently, Covishield, Covaxin and Corbevax are part of the Government’s Covid immunisation drive while vaccines like Covovax and Sputnik are available at private centres.

• Praveena Anjana, 23, from Udaipur, won the Miss International India 2023 title and secured her place to represent India at the Miss International pageant to be held in Japan this October 2023.
• Praveena Anjana started her modeling career at a young age and recently won the Miss Divine Beauty 2023 pageant in August.
• The Miss International pageant, a prestigious global beauty pageant, is held every year in Japan with the mission of promoting world peace and understanding through beauty.
• It is considered to be the fourth largest beauty pageant globally based on the participation of national winners in the international pageant.

• In the latest development, the Central government announced to change the name of Rajpath and Central Vista lawns into Kartavya Path. 
• The objective behind the decision is said to shed remnants of the British colony in India. 
• The name old is said to be Kingsway in simple meaning. It was named as such in honour of King George V.
• It is the celebrated venue of the Republic Day parade every year and stretches through Vijay Chowk to India Gate.

• The 71st edition of the Miss World pageant is slated to be held in Kashmir. 
• The announcement was made by Julia Morley, CEO of the Miss World Organisation.
• A month-long series of events will begin in November, with a glitzy finale, which will include the crowning of Miss World 2023, set to take place on December 8.
• India was chosen as a host country for the long-running beauty pageant in June, after the UAE was initially announced as host.

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday announced a new scheme  ‘PM SHRI Schools (PM ScHools for Rising India) Yojana’  to develop 14,500 schools as model schools that will be equipped with modern infrastructure, including labs, smart classrooms, libraries, and sports facility.
• This will be a new centrally sponsored scheme for upgradation and development of more than 14500 Schools across the country by strengthening the selected existing schools from amongst schools managed by Central Government/ State/ UT Government/ local bodies.
• The aim of these schools will not only be qualitative teaching, learning and cognitive development, but also creating holistic and well-rounded individuals equipped with key 21st century skills.

• India overtook Britain to emerge as the world’s fifth-largest economy, according to Bloomberg. 
• The Indian economy toppled the UK from its position in the last three months of 2021.
• India’s economy is projected to grow 7% this year while that of the UK struggles with high energy prices and rising consumer inflation.
• The International Monetary Fund projected India overtaking UK this year, placing it just behind the US, China, Japan and Germany.
• The change in ranking has pushed the United Kingdom to the sixth spot as the country continues to grapple under the brutal cost-of-living shack
• The calculations were done using the IMF database and historic exchange rates on the Bloomberg terminal.

1. Haridwar in Uttarakhand declared as the ‘Best aspirational district of India’ by NITI Aayog among 117 aspirational districts of India
2. Central Goevrnment implement 'One Nation One Fertilizer' scheme under single brand name "Bharat" to bring uniformity in fertilizer brands across the country
3. Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurates "Smriti Van Memorial" spread over 470 acres in Kutch, Gujarat
4. Higher education sector regulator University Grants Commission (UGC) announces the launch of 'e-Samadhan' portal for redressal of grievances of students, employees
5. India launches its first cervical cancer vaccine, Quadrivalent Human Papillomavirus vaccine (qHPV) 

1. AirAsia India becomes the first airline in India to use AI-powered CAE Rise Training System
2. India overtakes China and UK to become world’s 10th largest life insurer as per survey of Brand Finance Insurance 100 2021
3. Mukesh Ambani announces the setting up of India's first and the world's largest carbon fiber plant at Hazira, Gujarat
4. India's GDP grew by 13.5 percent in the first quarter (April-June) of the current financial year, according to the data released by NSO
5. SBI trims GDP growth forecast to 6.8% for FY23

• Indian Navy participates in 5th 'AUSINDEX-23' held in Australia.
• Indian Air Force participates in Egypt's Exercise Bright Star-23 for the first time

• India gets its first cervical cancer vaccine, Quadrivalent Human Papillomavirus vaccine (qHPV) today i.e. on 1 September. 
• The most awaited vaccine has been launched by the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology Jitendra Singh at IIC Delhi.
• The Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) had on 12 July granted market authorisation to Serum Institute of India (SII) to manufacture an indigenously-developed vaccine against cervical cancer. 
• Cervical cancer in India ranks as the second most frequent cancer among women between 15 and 44 years of age. 
• The revolutionary step for the Indian demography will now help prevent cases of cervical cancer.
• The qHPV vaccine CERVAVAC has demonstrated robust antibody response that is nearly 1,000 times higher than the baseline against all targeted HPV types and in all dose and age groups.
• When cancer starts in the cervix, it is called cervical cancer.It occurs most often in women over age 30. Long-lasting infection with certain types of human papillomavirus (HPV) is the main cause of cervical cancer. When cervical cancer is found early, it is highly treatable and associated with long survival and good quality of life.

• According to the provisional estimates by the Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation, the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the country for the April-June quarter of the current financial year grew at 13.5 per cent.
• Agriculture, Forestry & Fishing sector rose 4.5%. The manufacturing sector grew 4.8% and the Construction sector appreciated by 16.8%.
• The GDP segment of Trade, Hotels, Transport, Communication & Services related to Broadcasting, logged growth of 25.7 per cent in the current fiscal.
• The Real GDP in Q1 of 2022-23 is estimated to attain a level of 36 lakh and 85 thousand crore rupees, as against 32 lakh and 46 thousand crore rupees in Q1 of last fiscal at 2011-12 Prices.

• The inauguration of the warship Mahendragiri was done by Dr. Sudesh DhanKhada, the wife of Vice President Jagdeep DhanKhada, who was the chief guest at the event.
• The warship Mahendragiri is the seventh vessel of Project 17A frigates. It is named after the eastern hill of Mahendragiri, located in the state of Odisha. 
• This technologically advanced warship is a symbol of India's strong commitment to embrace its rich naval heritage.
• This launch marks a significant milestone in India's naval capabilities, showcasing its determination to strengthen its maritime presence.

• In line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s idea of innovation, Indian Railways have set up ‘Meghdoot’ machines at Dadar, Thane and other stations of Mumbai Division.
• The unique ‘Meghdoot’ machines use innovative technology to convert water vapour in the air into potable water.
• According to the official, a contract for setting up 17 ‘MEGHDOOT’, Atmospheric Water Generator Kiosks’ over Mumbai Division of Central Railway under NINFRIS policy for a period of 5 years has been awarded to Maithri Aquatech Pvt Ltd.
• An Atmospheric Water Generator (AWG) is a device that extracts water from ambient air. The technology utilizes the science of condensation to extract water vapour from the surrounding atmosphere.
• Meghdoot machines are research-driven and it does not need source water. Also the technology is environmentally-friendly with zero maintenance.

• State Bank of India (SBI) chief economist has revised down India's full-year GDP growth forecast to 6.8 for the financial year FY23. 
• Earlier, the growth forecast was 7.5%.
• SBI's lowering of GDP growth forecast comes after the National Statistical Office (NSO) on Wednesday released the data for the April-June quarter (Q1) of 2022-23, where the economy showed a growth of 13.5% -- lower from 20.1% in Q1 of FY22.
• Earlier this month, the Reserve Bank of India had projected the estimated first quarter GDP growth to be 16.2%.

• Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani announced the construction of India’s first and one of the world’s largest carbon fiber plants in Hazira, Gujarat. 
• The plants based on acrylonitrile feedstock will have a capacity of 20,000 MTPA.
• Ambani announced that the company will start ACN production next year and the first phase of carbon fiber in 2025.

• India has now overtaken China and the UK to become the world’s 10th largest life insurer. 
• According to a survey by Brand Finance Insurance 100 2021, a London-based brand valuation consultancy organization, Life Insurance Corporation (LIC), a state-owned insurance behemoth and life insurer has emerged as the third strongest and tenth most valuable insurance brand globally. 
• The report states that the combined value of the top 100 insurance brands in the globe decreased by 6% from $462.4 billion in 2020 to $433.0 billion in 2021.
• LIC’s brand value climbed to $8.65 billion, up about 7%. India becomes the 10th largest life insurer globally.
• The top 10 most valuable insurance brands worldwide include five Chinese insurance companies, with Ping An Insurance ranking as the most valuable brand despite seeing a 26% reduction in brand value.
• While France, Germany, and India each have one insurance company on the list, the United States has two in the top ten. India is now the 10th largest life insurer in the world.
• Italy’s Poste Italiane is the strongest insurance brand, followed by LIC of India, Mapfre of the US.

·         Karnataka Bank has launched an all-in-one point-of-sales (POS) swiping machine called 'WisePOSGo' for its merchant customers to process business payments.

·         The private sector lender has rolled out this POS device in association with Mswipe Technologies Pvt Ltd.

·         The launch of 'WisePOSGo' is another step towards expanding the digital payment infrastructure in the country and promoting a cashless economy.

Important facts

About Karnataka Bank

v  Karnataka Bank Headquarters: Mangalore;

v  CEO of Karnataka Bank: Mahabaleshwar MS;

v  Establishment of Karnataka Bank: 18 February 1924

·         The Union Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs, Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman chaired the 24th meeting of the Financial Stability and Development Council (FSDC).

·         The Finance Minister is the Chairman of the FSDC. It is to be noted that the FSDC sub-committee is chaired by the Governor of RBI.

Important facts

About FSDC: Financial Stability and Development Council

v  Founded: December 2010

v  FSDC is an apex-level body that was set up by the Government of India to form a super regulatory body.

v  Its establishment was first recommended by the Raghuram Rajan Committee in 2008.

• Bengal has bagged the award for the best destination for culture in the internationally acclaimed World Travel Awards. The trophy will be conferred in Berlin next year.
• The award will be conferred by Pacific Area Travel Writers Association, an affiliate of the UN World Tourism Organization on March 9 next year in Berlin.
• The Pacific Area Travel Writers Association (PATWA) is a professional organisation of travel writers that was founded in 1998. It works with both the public and the private sector to support sustainable growth and improve the quality of travel and tourism.

·        The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has made an allocation of Special Drawing Rights (SDR) 12.57 billion to India. (Approx USD 17.86 billion).

·        With this, the total SDR holding of India has gone upto SDR 13.66 billion (equivalent to around USD 19.41 billion).

·        SDR is one of the components of the Foreign Exchange Reserves (FER) of India.

·        Hence the Foreign Exchange Reserves (FER) has also increased now. IMF has allocated a total of SDR 456 billion to all its member countries out of which India has got SDR 12.57.

Important facts

About IMF:

v Headquarters: Washington, D.C. U.S

v Managing Director and Chairman: Kristalina Georgieva

v Chief Economist: Gita Gopinath.

• President of India Droupadi Murmu conferred the National Teachers Awards 2022 to 46 exceptional teachers from across India today. 
• The coveted prize was awarded to teachers from various states including Telangana, Maharashtra, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, and Punjab.
• Out of these 46 teachers, two teachers (one from Uttarakhand and the other from Andaman and Nicobar Deep Group) awarded for teachers with disabilities under the special category.
• Every winner of the National Teachers Awards is honoured with a certificate of merit, a cash reward of Rs 50,000 and a silver medal.
• The tradition to celebrate Teacher's Day began in 1962 to honour the former President and all the teachers across the country.

·         The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has constituted a five-member committee to review applications and make recommendations on New Umbrella Entity (NUE) licences.

·         The five-member committee will be headed by RBI Chief General Manager P Vasudevan.

·         The new umbrella entities will set up their own payment structure to compete with the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI).

Important facts:

About RBI

v  The First Governor of RBI was Sir Osborne Smith and the First Indian Governor of RBI was CD Deshmukh.

v  The First woman Deputy Governor of RBI was KJ Udeshi.

v  The only Prime Minister who was the Governor of RBI was Manmohan Singh.

v  Present Governor of RBI: Shaktikanta Das.

• Former US President Barack Obama has won the "Emmy Award" for Best Narrator for his Netflix documentary series, Our Great National Parks.
• With this award, Mr Obama joins two Grammy Awards recipients and becomes the first person to receive an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony Award.
• Mr. Obama has won Grammy Awards for the audio versions of his memoirs "The Audacity of Hope" and "Dreams from My Father".
• He is only the second US President in history to win an "Emmy Award".
• The only other president to win an Emmy was Dwight Eisenhower, who won an honorary award in 1956 for becoming the first president to hold a televised news conference.

• The Ramon Magsaysay Awards Foundation (RMAF) has announced 2022’s awardees in a global announcement ceremony and it is widely regarded as the ‘Nobel Peace Prize of Asia’.
• The 2022 Ramon Magsaysay Awardees includes Sotheara Chhim (Cambodia), Bernadette J. Madrid (Philippines), Tadashi Hattori (Japan) and Gary Bencheghib (Indonesia).
• The Ramon Magsaysay Award, established in 1957, is Asia’s greatest honour and distinction.
• The award is managed by RMAF. It is named after Ramon Magsaysay, the third president of the Philippines. 
• The award is regarded around the world as ‘’Asia’s Nobel Prize’’. The prize is annually presented in a ceremonial ceremony in Manila, Philippines on August 31. 
• The first Ramon Magsaysay Awards ceremony was held on 31st August 1958.

• AR Rahman, the Oscar Award-winning- musician, has been honoured by naming a street after him in Markham city in Canada's Ontario state.
• Rahman, who completed three decades in the Indian film industry earlier this month, penned a note of gratitude for the authorities of Markham in Ontario, Canada.
• The city of Markham had announced that a street will be named in Rahman's honour back in November 2013.

• India's National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS) and the UK government, in collaboration with BAE Systems, successfully conducted a virtual ransomware drill for 26 countries.
• The exercise was part of the International Counter Ransomware Initiative (CRI)-Resilience Working Group which is being led by India under the leadership of National Cyber Security Coordinator (NCSC).
• It was facilitated by BAE Systems through the Immersive Labs platform.
• The theme of the exercise is based on the energy sector in which the respective national cyber crisis management teams of CRI partner nations will have to deal with ransomware attacks on several power distribution companies.

1. Veteran Bollywood director and producer Subhash Ghai confers with the “Lifetime Achievement Award” at the 67th Filmfare Awards
2. 23-year-old Divita Rai from Karnataka wins the coveted title of “LIVA Miss Diva Universe 2022”

• Indian Army Chief General Manoj Pande was conferred the title of Honorary General of the Nepali Army by Nepal President Bidya Devi Bhandari in Kathmandu.
• General Pande was honoured at a special ceremony at the President's official residence 'Shital Niwas' in the capital city of Nepal during his ongoing visit to the Himalayan nation.
• He was also presented a sword and scroll during the function.
• Commander-in-Chief General KM Cariappa was the first Indian Army chief to be decorated with the title in 1950. 
• In November last year, the Chief of the Nepali Army, General Prabhu Ram Sharma was also made the Honorary General of the Indian Army by President Ram Nath Kovind at a ceremony in New Delhi.

• 23-year-old Divita Rai from Karnataka won the prestigious title of Miss Diva Universe 2022. 
• Rai was crowned by the reigning Miss Universe 2021, Harnaaz Sandhu, at a lavish ceremony that celebrated the 10th anniversary of the coveted pageant.
• 23-year-old Divita Rai is an architect and model by profession and has an interest in various activities like badminton, basketball, painting, listening to music and reading.
• Rai will represent India at the global pageant of Miss Universe.

1. Indian Army inducts indigenously developed “Swarm Drone” into Army's Mechanized Forces
2. Fully indigenous 30 mm bullet for AK-630 gun delivered to Indian Navy
3. Indian Coast Guard conducts 10th National Maritime Search and Rescue Exercise 'SAREX-2022' in Chennai
4. Bangladesh imports 36 F-7BGI aircraft from China to boost military supplies
5. Indian Army contingent 7/8 Gorkha Rifles participates in Exercise 'Vostok-2022' in Russia
6. Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveils the new flag of the Indian Navy during the commissioning of the country's first indigenously built aircraft carrier - INS Vikrant
7. India's first indigenous aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant commissioned in Cochin

• Veteran Bollywood director and producer Subhash Ghai was conferred with the Lifetime Achievement award at the 67th Filmfare awards.
•  
• Subhash Ghai is known for his iconic films like ‘Karz’, ‘Pardes’, ‘Vishwanath’, ‘Saudagar’, ‘Khalnayak’ and many others.
• The director was honoured for his outstanding contribution to Indian cinema over the years. 
• He is considered among one of the best directors of the Hindi cinema. 
• The main X-factor of Subhash Ghai’s films has been their music.
• Popular awards: 
• Best Film: Shershaah (Dharma Productions)
• Best Director: Vishnuvardhan (Shershaah)
• Best Actor: Ranveer Singh (83) as Kapil Dev
• Best Actress: Kriti Sanon, Mimi as Mimi Rathore

• Russia has launched week-long military drills involving forces from China and other nations.
• The exercise will be held until September 7 at seven firing ranges in Russia’s Far East and the Sea of Japan, and that it involves more than 50,000 troops and 5,000 weapons units, including 140 aircraft and 60 warships.
• Soldiers of Indian Army contingent 7/8 Gorkha Rifles are participating in this exercise.
• The 'Vostok-2022' strategic command and staff exercise is being conducted under the command of Chief of General Staff of Russia Valery Gerasimov.

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday morning commissioned the first indigenous aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant in a ceremony at Cochin Shipyard Limited in Kochi.
• Designed by the Indian Navy's in-house Warship Design Bureau (WDB) and built by Cochin Shipyard Limited, a Public Sector Shipyard under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Vikrant has been built with state-of-the-art automation features and is the largest ship ever built in the maritime history of India.
• The Indigenous Aircraft Carrier is named after her illustrious predecessor, India's first aircraft carrier, which had played a vital role in the 1971 war.
• Vikrant carries a mix of about 30 aircraft. It could fly the MiG 29k fighter aircraft in anti-air, anti-surface and land attack roles.
•  
• The ship is 262 m long and 62 m wide and it displaces approximately 43,000 tonnes when fully loaded. INS Vikrant can attain a maximum speed of 28 knots with an endurance of 7500 nautical miles.
• IAC Vikrant consist of 14 decks with 2,300 compartments which can carry around 1,500 sea warriors and to cater to the food requirements, around 10,000 chapatis or rotis are made in the ship's kitchen, which is called the ship's galley.
• The ship is also fitted with a physiotherapy clinic, ICU, laboratories and isolation ward.

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled a new ensign of the Indian Navy during the commissioning of the country's first indigenously-built aircraft carrier - INS Vikrant - at Cochin Shipyard Limited in Kochi.
• The new naval ensign unveiled has been named 'NISHAN'.
• The earlier ensign of the Navy was a white flag with horizontal and vertical red stripes, with the Emblem of India emblazoned at the intersection of the two stripes, and the tricolour placed in the canton.
• The new naval ensign which the PM unveiled in Kochi replaces the present ensign that carries the Saint George’s Cross with the Tricolour in the canton (top left corner of flag).
• It is 4th change since 1950.
• It now includes the Indian Navy crest on a navy blue background and draws inspiration from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
• The Indian Navy draws its origin to the colonial period. On October 2, 1934, the naval service was renamed Royal Indian Navy (RIN), with its headquarters at Bombay (now Mumbai)
• An Ensign is a national flag which is displayed on ships and aircraft, often with the special insignia of a branch or unit of the armed forces.

• Indian Coast Guard conducted the 10th National Maritime Search and Rescue Exercise (SAREX-2022) in Chennai.
• The two-day event, organised by the National Maritime Search and Rescue Board under the theme 'Capacity Building towards Marine Passenger Safety' would witness 51 participants from National Maritime Search and Rescue stakeholders.
• The aim of this exercise is to control the incidents in the sea and save lives by conducting rescue operations.
• 24 foreign observers from 16 friendly countries have participated in this exercise.

·         The 28th edition of the Singapore-India Maritime Bilateral Exercise (SIMBEX) took place from 02 to 04 September 2021.

·         The SIMBEX-2021 annual bilateral maritime exercise was hosted by the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) in the southern shore of the South China Sea.

Important facts

About Simbex-2021:

v  The Indian Navy was represented by the Guided Missile Destroyer INS Rannvijay along with a ship-propelled helicopter, the ASW corvette INS Kilton and the Guided Missile Corvette INS Kora and a P8I Long Range Maritime Patrol Aircraft.

v  The aim of the exercise is to strengthen bilateral defense ties between the two countries. This year's edition of SIMBEX is also a special occasion as it takes place during the ongoing celebrations of the 75th year of India's independence.

v  The success of SIMBEX-2021 is yet another demonstration of the mutual resolve of both sides to further strengthen the bilateral partnership in the years to come.

·         Chandigarh Railway Station (CRS) has been awarded the 5-star 'Eat Right Station' certification for providing high quality, nutritious food to the passengers.

·         The certification was granted by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) on the findings of an FSSAI-empaneled third-party audit agency.

·         The CRS was chosen to be upgraded on the lines of a world class railway station.

Important facts

About certification

v  The certification 'Eat Right India' is part of a massive movement by FSSAI to transform the country's food system to ensure safe, healthy and sustainable food for all Indians

v  According to IRSDC, Eat Right India adopts a judicious mix of regulatory, capacity building, collaborative and empowerment approaches to ensure that our food is suitable for both people and the planet.

·         The Ministry of Defense, Government of India and the US Department of Defense have signed a Project Agreement (PA) for the Air-Launched Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (ALUAV).

·         The agreement has been signed under the Joint Working Group on Air Systems in Defense Technology and Trade Initiative (DTTI).

·         The PA for the ALUAV is part of the Research, Development, Testing and Evaluation (RDT&E) MoU, first signed between the Defense Ministry and the US Department of Defense in January 2006 and renewed in January 2015.

Important facts

About ALUAV

v  ALUAV: Air-Launched Unmanned Aerial Vehicle

v  Air-Launched unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), military aircraft that is guided autonomously, by remote control, or both and that carries sensors, target designators, offensive ordnance, or electronic transmitters designed to interfere with or destroy enemy targets.

• Algeria has been approved as the newest member of the BRICS New Development Bank, joining other nations in seeking alternatives to international financial institutions like the World Bank and IMF.
• In addition to Algeria, the BRICS New Development Bank has welcomed other countries, including Egypt, the UAE, Iran, and Saudi Arabia, as part of its growing membership.

·         As part of India's ongoing presidency of BRICS in 2021, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will chair the 13th Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa summit in virtual format today.

·         The theme of the summit is BRICS@15: Inter-BRICS Cooperation for Continuity, Consolidation and Consensus. India has outlined four priority areas for its presidency.

·         The meeting will be attended by Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.

·         This is the second time that Prime Minister Modi will chair the BRICS summit. Earlier he had presided over the Goa summit in 2016.

Important Facts

About BRICS

v  BRICS is the acronym coined to associate five major emerging economies: Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.

v  Headquarters: BRICS Tower

v  Purpose: Political

v  Founded: June 2006

v  Funding: Member states

v  Subsidiary: New Development Bank

v  Founders: China, Brazil, Russia, United Nations General Assembly

·        The next Defense Expo will be organized by Gujarat in 2022.

·        Chief Minister Vijay Rupani announced this.

·        A Memorandum of Understanding has been signed between the Department of Defense Production and the Government of Gujarat in this regard.

·        Around 100 countries are expected to participate in this biennial event.

Important facts

About the Defence Expo-2022:

v Defence Expo-2022 will be held in Gandhinagar from 10th to 13th March next year.

v The aim: To move from Make in India to make for the world.

v The Defence Expo-2022 will focus on making India a Defence manufacturing hub.

·         Indian biologist Shailendra Singh has been awarded the Bahler Turtle Conservation Award for bringing back three critically endangered turtle conservation species from the brink of extinction.

·         Shailendra Singh was nominated to lead the Turtle Survival Alliance (TSA)/Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) India Turtle Program.

• Alembic Pharmaceuticals has received approval from the US health regulator to market a generic drug used to treat moderate to severe psoriasis of the scalp. 
• Alembic Pharmaceuticals has received final approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) for its abbreviated new drug application (ANDA) for betamethasone valerate foam.

·         Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the "Shikshak Parv-2021" and addressed the inaugural conference through a video conference.

·         The theme of 'Shikshak Parv-2021' is "Quality and Sustainable Schools: Learning from Schools in India".

·         This event was organized by the Ministry of Education, it will be celebrated from 07 to 17 September, 2021.

Important facts

About new education policy

v  New Education Policy (NEP) 2020: The new National Education Policy was approved by the Union Cabinet on 29 July 2020 to bring about transformational reforms in the school and higher education systems in the country.

v  The first education policy of the 21st century replaced the 34 year old National Policy on Education (NPE), 1986, also, the Ministry of Human Resource and Development was renamed as Ministry of Education.

·         Indian Navy's offshore patrol vessel, INS Savitri delivered two Mobile Oxygen Plants (MOPs) to Bangladesh on September 2, 2021 to support its fight against COVID-19.

·         Each mop can generate 960 liters of oxygen per minute.

·         These can also be used to refill oxygen cylinders.

·         The Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) in India has developed and manufactured the MOP.

Important facts:

About Indian Navy

v  Founded :1612

v  The Indian Navy is the naval branch of the Indian Armed Forces.

v  The President of India is the Supreme Commander of the Indian Navy.

·         Writer Namita Gokhale has been chosen as the recipient of the seventh Yamin Hazarika Woman of Substance Award.

·         He was recently conferred with the honor in a virtual ceremony. She is the co-founder and co-director of the Jaipur Literature Festival, the Gokhale Himalayan Echoes and the Kumaon Festival of Literature and the Arts.

Important facts

About the award

v  The award was organized by a group of women professionals since the year 2015, Denips was the first woman from Northeast India to be selected for the annual award Yameen Hazarika, who administered Delhi and the Union Territories in 1977 in a Federal Police Service.

• Moody’s Ratings has raised India's GDP growth forecast to 7.2% for the fiscal year 2024.
• India has achieved the 40th rank in the 2023 edition of the Global Innovation Index.
• Mumbai has been named Asia's billionaire capital in the Hurun India Rich List 2024.
• Energy expert Kuldeep Gupta's book "From Oil to Lithium: Navigating the Future of Energy" traces Karan's journey transitioning from fossil fuels to renewable energy.
• L'Oreal Paris has appointed Alia Bhatt as its new global brand ambassador.

·         The National Teacher Award 2021 was conferred by President Ram Nath Kovind on September 5, 2021. President Kovind presented awards to 44 best teachers of the country for their dedicated contribution.

·         The award is given to those who improve the quality of education for students and inspire, enrich their lives.

·         This year, the education ministry released the names of 44 teachers who will be conferred with the National Teacher Award. Out of total 44 teachers, 9 awardees are women.

Important Facts

About Ministry of Education:

v  Founded: 15 August 1947

v  Ministry executives: Amit Khare, IAS; Anita Karwal, IAS

v  Child agencies: Department of School Education and Literacy; Department of Higher Education

v  Jurisdiction: India

v  Headquarters: Shastri Bhawan, Dr. Rajendra Prasad Road, New Delhi

·        Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (POWERGRID) has won the prestigious 'Association for Talent Development (ATD) 2021 Best Award' after securing 8th rank among 71 organizations across the world.

·        POWERGRID is the only Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) that won the ATD Best award and is one of the only two Indian companies in the Top 20.

·        Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (POWERGRID) is a Maharatna CPSU under the Ministry of Power, Government of India.

Important facts

About POWERGRID :

v Founded: 23 October 1989

v Headquarters: Gurgaon, India

v Owner: Government of India

v Organization type: State-owned enterprise

v Area served: India

v Purpose: Transmission, distribution and energy trading

• Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy inaugurated the fourth edition of the Intercontinental Football Cup tournament at the Gachibowli Stadium in Hyderabad.
• Organized by the All-India Football Federation (AIFF), the football tournament features teams from India, Mauritius, and Syria.

·         Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED), in collaboration with Ministry of External Affairs, is setting up an Atmanirbhar Bharat Corner in 75 Indian Missions/Embassies across the world over the next 3 months.

·         The first such self-reliant India corner was successfully inaugurated on August 15, 2021 at the Indian Embassy in Bangkok, Thailand.

·         In addition, TRIFED will also set up Atmanirbhar corners in 75 embassies abroad established in India.

Important Facts

About Tribal Affairs:

v  Minister of Tribal Affairs: Arjun Munda;

v  TRIFED was established on the 6th of August 1987.

Carlos Alcaraz defeated Jannik Sinner 6-2, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 in the 2025 US Open men’s singles final, securing his second US Open crown and sixth Grand Slam overall. The victory also lifted the 22-year-old Spaniard back to the world No. 1 ATP ranking. This final added another chapter to the growing rivalry between Alcaraz and Sinner, who have clashed in several major finals this year, driving each other to new heights in men’s tennis.

·         Mexican photographer Alejandro Prieto has emerged as the winner of the Bird Photographer of the Year (BPOTY) 2021.

·         He has won for capturing a photograph of a greater roadrunner staring up at the barbed-wire-clad border wall between the USA and Mexico, with what almost looks like a sense of bewilderment.

Important facts:

About Mexican

v  Capital: Mexico City

v  Currency: Mexican peso

v  President: Andrés Manuel López Obrador

• India’s solar energy capacity has increased 32-fold in the last 10 years, and this speed and scale will help the country achieve 500 gigawatt non-fossil capacity by 2030. 
• This was stated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi while addressing the two-day first International Solar Festival through video conferencing, being held in New Delhi.

·         As a part of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav celebrations, Ministry of AYUSH has launched a campaign named 'AYUSH Aapke Dwar' which aims to distribute saplings of medicinal plants to 75 lakh households in a year.

·         The campaign was inaugurated by Union AYUSH Minister Sarbananda Sonowal from Mumbai, during which he distributed saplings of medicinal plants to the citizens.

Important facts

About the elixir of freedom festival

v  Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav is an initiative of the Government of India to celebrate and celebrate 75 years of progressive India and the glorious history of its people, culture and achievements.

v  The festival is dedicated to the people of India, who have not only played a vital role in bringing India in its evolutionary journey, but also have within them the power and ability to enable Prime Minister Modi's vision to energize India 2.0, which is self-reliant. Inspired by emotion.

The Indian men’s hockey team defeated South Korea (4-1) in the Asia Cup 2025 final at the Rajgir Sports Complex, Bihar, to claim their fourth title after earlier wins in 2003, 2007, and 2017. India started strong with Sukhjeet Singh scoring in the opening minute, followed by Dilpreet Singh’s brace (28th, 45th) and Amit Rohidas’s strike (50th). This victory also secured their qualification for the 2026 FIH Hockey World Cup in Belgium and the Netherlands. 

• L'Oréal Paris has signed Alia Bhatt, a leading Bollywood actress, as its new global brand ambassador, marking a significant milestone for both the brand and the actress.
• This partnership underscores L'Oréal's commitment to diversity and global representation in its marketing and branding strategies.

·         India has become the first country in Asia to launch Plastic Pact, a new platform to promote the circular system for plastics.

·         The India Plastics Pact platform was launched on September 03, 2021 by Alexander Ellis, British High Commissioner to India at the 16th Sustainability Summit organized by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).

Important facts

About 'India Plastic Pact':

v  The new platform is a joint effort, and the importance of the plastic where the imagination to create a world of 'India Plastic Pact' World-Wide Fund for Nature-India (WWF-India) and Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and There is no pollution in the environment.

v  The agreement targets to transition businesses to a circular economy for plastics by 2030.

v  The initiative is supported by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and WRAP, a global NGO based in the UK, and supported by the British High Commission in India.

• Ajaya Babu Valluri won gold in the men’s 79kg category at the Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships in Ahmedabad.
• Indian shooters clinched double gold in Men’s 25m Standard Pistol events at the Asian Shooting Championship in Kazakhstan.
• Indian men’s doubles stars Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty assured India a medal at the BWF World Championships 2025 in Paris.
• The ICC partnered with Google as its second global women’s-only partner to boost the visibility and engagement of women’s cricket worldwide.
• Oscar Piastri clinched victory at the 2025 Dutch Grand Prix, with Max Verstappen finishing runner-up.
• Australian fast bowler Mitchell Starc has announced his retirement from T20 International cricket at the age of 35.
• New Delhi will host the 2026 BWF World Championships, bringing the event back to India after 17 years.
• Veteran leg-spinner Amit Mishra announced retirement from all forms of cricket.

• The United Arab Emirates has launched a sweeping two-month visa amnesty program, offering a crucial opportunity for individuals residing illegally in the country to regularize their status or depart without penalties. 
• The program, which takes effect today, was announced by the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Port Security (ICP) and will run until October 30, 2024.
• Under this program, individuals with expired visas of all types, including tourist and residency visas, can either adjust their status to continue living and working legally in the UAE or leave the country without incurring fines or facing entry bans.

·        The Drug Controller General of India- DCGI has approved two clinical trials of indigenous Covid vaccine Corbevax.

·        Vaccine maker Biologicals E has received permission for Phase II and III trials on children between the ages of five and eighteen under certain conditions.

·        The Department of Biotechnology and its PSU Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council – BIRAC have provided support to Biologicals E's COVID-19 Vaccine.

·        This support will be provided from the preclinical phase to the third phase of the trial.

Important facts

About the DCGI

v DCGI: Drugs Controller General of India

v Headquarters location: New Delhi

Indian leg-spinner Amit Mishra has announced his retirement from all forms of cricket, bringing the curtains down on a career spanning over 25 years. Known for his classical leg-spin, flight and deceptive googlies, Mishra represented India in 22 Tests, 36 ODIs and 10 T20Is, claiming 156 international wickets. He made a memorable Test debut in 2008 against Australia with a five-wicket haul and was part of India’s 2013 ICC Champions Trophy-winning squad. 

• Aruna Vasudev, an eminent Indian film scholar, critic, festival curator, and painter, has passed away at 88.
• Known by her formidable sobriquet ‘Mother of Asian Cinema’, Aruna was celebrated for her passionate evangelism of Indian and Asian films. 
• She is credited for fostering interest and scholarship about Asian film cultures the world over.

• Moody’s Ratings has raised its real GDP growth projections for India, forecasting a robust 7.2 percent growth for the fiscal year 2024, up from a previous estimate of 6.8 percent. 
• The New York-based global rating agency has also raised its growth projections to 6.6 percent for 2025, up from 6.4 percent.

·        Hurun Research Institute has released the Hurun India Future Unicorn List 2021, according to which India is the third largest unicorn/startup ecosystem in the world.

·        America is on top followed by China in second place.

·        According to the list there are 51 rhinos in India. There are 396 unicorns in the United States and 277 in China.

Important facts

About the unicorn

v Zilingo unicorn tops the ranking in India with USD 310.

v Zilingo is headquartered in Singapore. Bengaluru is the top Indian city in terms of number of unicorns headquartered in a city.

v Bengaluru has 31 unicorns followed by Mumbai with 12 rhinos.

New Delhi has been officially confirmed as the host city for the 2026 Badminton World Championships, the premier event in international badminton. The announcement was made at the closing ceremony of the 2025 edition in Paris, marking the tournament’s much-awaited return to India after a gap of 17 years. India last hosted the championship in 2009 at Hyderabad. The 2026 edition, scheduled for August, will bring together the world’s top shuttlers who will battle for prestigious titles and crucial ranking points across singles, doubles, and mixed doubles categories.

Veteran journalist Umesh Upadhyay has passed away.

Dr. Soumya Swaminathan recently released an autobiography titled 'The Scientist Entrepreneur: Empowering Millions of Women', which details the journey of Dr. Kalpana Shankar from nuclear scientist to leading entrepreneur.

·        Union Minister of Women and Child Development, Smriti Zubin Irani inaugurated Nutri Garden to mark the beginning of Poshan Maah - 2021 at All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA).

·        In which Shigru (horseradish) and Amla plants were also planted.

·        AIIA, New Delhi under the guidance of Ministry of AYUSH started the celebration of Poshan Maah - 2021.

Important facts

About NUTRI GARDEN:

v Nutri kitchen garden/Nutri garden is a method of planting and harvesting nutrient-rich crops in residential houses or in their vicinity to meet the requirements of the family all year round.

v In urban areas, Nutri kitchen gardening can be promoted in the form of rooftop gardening, terrace gardening, vertical gardening and container gardening.

v In rural areas, Nutri kitchen gardens can be promoted in the backyard of the houses.

Australian fast bowler Mitchell Starc has announced his retirement from T20 International cricket at the age of 35, choosing to prioritize his Test and ODI career. Starc, who made his T20I debut in 2012, represented Australia in 65 matches, claiming 79 wickets, the second-highest for his country after Adam Zampa. A vital member of Australia’s 2021 T20 World Cup-winning squad, Starc featured in five of the six T20 World Cups, missing only the 2016 edition due to injury. 

·         The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) is organizing 10 cycle rallies across the country, as a part of the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav celebrations, to mark the 75th year of India's independence.

·         With a route length of 1,703 km, the rally will cover historically significant places and birthplaces of heroes of India's freedom struggle over a period of 27 days.

·         A team of 12 CISF cyclists will participate in the rally, which will be led by an Assistant Sub Inspector.

·         The rally is being flagged off from Pune's Yerwada Jail and will end on October 2 at Raj Ghat, the Samadhi of Mahatma Gandhi.

Important facts:

About Yerwada Jail

v  Yerwada Jail is the place where historic Poona Act was signed when Mahatma Gandhi fasted to protest against the Communal award.

v  Yerwada Central Jail was built in 1871 by the British

v  Location: Yerwada, Maharashtra, India

Oscar Piastri put on a commanding display to secure victory at the 2025 Dutch Grand Prix in Zandvoort, maintaining the lead for all 72 laps. Driving for McLaren, he faced relentless pressure from teammate Lando Norris, who unfortunately retired just seven laps from the end due to mechanical failure. Home favourite Max Verstappen of Red Bull finished second, delighting the Dutch fans, while rookie Isack Hadjar delivered a breakthrough performance by claiming his maiden Formula 1 podium with third place for Racing Bulls.

Indian men’s doubles stars Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty assured India a medal at the BWF World Championships 2025 in Paris. They defeated Malaysia’s two-time Olympic medallists Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik 21-12, 21-19 in the quarterfinals. The win continues India’s podium streak at the event since 2011. The world No. 3 pair, who had lost to the same Malaysians in last year’s Olympics, delivered a commanding performance this time. 

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has partnered with Google as its second global women’s-only partner. The collaboration will use Google’s technology to make women’s cricket more engaging, accessible and visible to fans worldwide. This partnership will help grow the sport globally and build on the earlier tie-up with Unilever. From highlights to real-time updates, fans will be able to follow the game more closely and connect with their favorite players and moments.

• The 48th Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) began on 7 September in Canada.
• India will actively participate in the 48th TIFF, which will run from September 7 to September 17, and highlight its talent, content, and entertainment industry.
• The official Indian delegation participating in TIFF will be led by Prithul Kumar, Joint Secretary (Films), Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
• This year TIFF has selected six Indian films to be part of its official selection. These films include "Dear Jassi" directed by Tarsem Singh Dhandhwar, "Kill" directed by Nikhil Nagesh Bhatt, and "Thank You for Coming" directed by Karan Boolani.

At the 16th Asian Shooting Championship in Shymkent, Kazakhstan, Indian shooters delivered a historic performance by winning double gold in the Men’s 25-meter Standard Pistol events. Veteran Olympian Gurpreet Singh won his maiden international gold in the individual category, with Amanpreet Singh bagging silver. Along with Harsh Gupta, the trio also clinched gold in the team event. India’s junior shooters also excelled, winning gold medals in the 50m Rifle Prone Junior Team and 25m Standard Pistol Junior Team categories.

• The three-day Kathmandu-Kalinga Literature Festival concluded successfully in Lalitpur, Nepal.
• The Kathmandu-Kalinga Literature Festival was inaugurated by Nepal's Foreign Minister NP Saud and played an important role in promoting cultural exchange within South Asia by promoting literary and cultural activities.
• Artists from India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka participated in the event, which showcased various art forms includingliterature, music, dance, poetry, and more.
• The'Yashasvi Sahitya Samman' awards were presented to notable personalities, including Professor Awadhesh Pradhan, actress and writer Divya Dutta, Professor Madhav Prasad Pokharel, and actress Manisha Koirala.

Indian lifter Ajaya Babu Valluri claimed a gold medal in the men’s 79kg category at the 30th Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships in Ahmedabad. He lifted a combined total of 335 kg, narrowly surpassing Malaysia’s Muhammad Erry (333 kg) and Nigeria’s Adedapo Adeleke (306 kg). With this victory, Valluri qualified for next year’s Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. In the women’s 69kg event, Harjinder Kaur secured a bronze medal with a total lift of 222 kg. The championships feature over 300 athletes from 31 nations.

• Renowned Hindustani classical singer Malini Rajurkar has passed away at the age of 82. 
• Malini Rajurkar was known for her simplicity and deep artistry in music.
• He was a notable presence in India's major music festivals including Gunidas Sammelan (Mumbai), Tansen Samaroh (Gwalior), Sawai Gandharva Mahotsav (Pune) and Shankar Lal Mahotsav (Delhi).
• Malini Rajurkar was highly regarded for her expertise in Tappa and Tarana styles of music.
• She was an exponent of the Gwalior Gharana and was known for her mastery of the'Khayal' and 'Tappa' styles in Hindustani classical music.

• Amrit Mathur’s autobiography ‘Pitchside: My Life in Indian Cricket’
• NCERT Granted Deemed University Status
• Piyush Goyal unveils statue of RK Shanmugam Chetty in Coimbatore

• Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) scientist N Valarmathi died due to a cardiac arrest.
• N Valarmathi was known for her key role in providing countdown announcements for rocket launches held in Sriharikota.
• Valarmathi's last public announcement was during the countdown to the launch of Chandrayaan-3, a historic mission that successfully landed on the Moon.
• Chandrayaan-3 was launched on July 14, 2023 from the Satish Dhawan Space Center in Sriharikota.
• Notably, Chandrayaan-3 marked the last countdown announcement given by N Valarmathi before his demise.

David Lammy was appointed Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom after Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s cabinet reshuffle. Alongside this role, he became Secretary of State for Justice and Lord Chancellor, succeeding Angela Rayner, who resigned amid a stamp duty scandal. His new role gives him key responsibilities in supporting the Prime Minister and overseeing UK justice affairs.

English Poet Jayanta Mahapatra Passes Away at 95

Skechers has signed Indian fast bowler Mohammed Siraj as its new brand ambassador to strengthen its presence in cricket. Siraj, India’s leading wicket-taker in the recent Test series against England and a key IPL player for Gujarat Titans, will wear Skechers cricket footwear and appear in campaigns. He joins Jasprit Bumrah, Ishan Kishan and Yastika Bhatia in endorsing the brand. Skechers aims to boost its connection with Indian cricket fans through high-performance, comfortable gear for athletes.

• Rajit Punhani, a 1991-batch IAS officer, assumed charge as the CEO of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).
• T.C.A. Kalyani took charge as the 29th Controller General of Accounts in the Ministry of Finance.
• IAS officer Piyush Goyal assumed charge as Secretary of the Ministry of Mines.
• Indian-American Amit Kshatriya appointed as NASA’s Associate Administrator.
• Anutin Charnvirakul was elected as the new Prime Minister of Thailand.

Anutin Charnvirakul, leader of the conservative Bhumjaithai Party, has been elected Prime Minister of Thailand. He replaces Paetongtarn Shinawatra of the Pheu Thai Party, who was dismissed last month by the Constitutional Court over an ethics scandal. The result marks a major blow to the Shinawatra family, which has dominated Thai politics for more than 20 years. At 58 years old, Anutin is a seasoned politician. He previously served as Health Minister and Interior Minister, where he was known for spearheading Thailand’s cannabis decriminalization policy. 

1994-batch IAS officer of the Nagaland cadre, Shri Piyush Goyal, assumed charge as Secretary of the Ministry of Mines on September 4, 2025. Prior to this, he served as the Chief Executive Officer of NATGRID under the Ministry of Home Affairs. In his new role, Piyush Goyal will lead India’s mining sector at a crucial time, as the demand for critical minerals such as lithium, cobalt, nickel, and rare earth elements has become essential to achieving the goals of energy transition, self-reliance, and net-zero emissions.

Indian-American Amit Kshatriya has been appointed as NASA’s new Associate Administrator, becoming the agency’s highest-ranking civil servant and chief operating officer. In this role, he will oversee NASA’s 10 center directors and all mission directorates, while also shaping the agency’s strategic direction and execution. A veteran with over 20 years at NASA, Kshatriya earlier served as deputy for the Moon to Mars Programme, where he directed planning and implementation for the Artemis missions and laid the groundwork for future human exploration of Mars. 

Rajit Punhani, a 1991-batch IAS officer of the Bihar cadre, has taken charge as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). He previously served as Secretary in the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Secretary of the Rajya Sabha, and CEO of Sansad TV. During his tenure in various roles, he was instrumental in launching a pension and insurance scheme for over 450 million unorganized workers, executing the world’s largest maternal messaging program, and contributing to the formulation of India’s Goods and Services Tax (GST) framework.

Ms. T.C.A. Kalyani, a 1991-batch officer of the Indian Civil Accounts Service (ICAS), has assumed charge as the 29th Controller General of Accounts (CGA) in the Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance. With over 34 years of distinguished government service, Ms. Kalyani has served in several key ministries including Defence, Telecom, Fertilizers, Finance, Social Justice & Empowerment, Information & Broadcasting, and Home Affairs. She played a pivotal role in implementing the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) scheme for fertilizer subsidies, a reform that boosted digitization and financial inclusion. Her tenure also included contributions to the digital transformation at MTNL and the revival of Fertilizer Corporation of India Limited.

• Renowned Carnatic vocalist & the Padma Bhushan awardee T.V. Sankaranarayanan passed away at the age of 77 in September 2022.
• He won the Sangita Kalanidhi award of the Music Academy in 2003.
• In 2003, the Central Govt also conferred on him Padma Bhushan.
• He was considered the torch-bearer of the Madurai Mani Iyer style of singing and technique.

• A new book on divorce laws and various religions in the post-colonial era has been released at the India International Centre, New Delhi on September 2, 2022.
• The book 'Divorce and Democracy: A History of Personal Law in Post-Independence India' talks about family law, religion, and gender politics in India.
• Written by Saumya Saxena, British Academy Fellow at the faculty of History, University of Cambridge, the book talks about the Indian state's difficult dialogue with divorce, which reconciles largely through religion.
• It also explores the path of marriage and divorce laws of Hindu, Muslim, and Christian communities in postcolonial India.
• The book launch event was also attended by Salman Khurshid, a Senior Advocate at the Supreme Court of India, politician, and author.

• Former Tata Sons chairman Cyrus Mistry died in a road accident in Maharashtra's Palghar on Sunday. 
• Mistry was returning to Mumbai from Ahmedabad in his Mercedes that crashed on a divider. 
• Mistry was aged 54 years.
• The accident took place around 3.15pm, when Mistry was travelling to Mumbai from Ahmedabad. 
• The accident took place on a bridge over the Surya River.
• Mistry was ousted as chairman of Tata Sons in October 2016.
• Mistry was the sixth chairman of the Tata group, a conglomerate started more than 150 years ago, and the second not named Tata. 
• He was the brother-in-law of Noel Tata, half-brother of Ratan Tata, Mistry’s predecessor as chair.

• Minister of State for Ayush and Minister of State for Women and Child Development Dr. Munjpara Mahendrabhai Kalubhai released a book titled “Science behind Surya namaskar”.
• It is a collection of evidence-based research on one of the most well-known Yoga Asanas at All India Institute of Ayurveda.
• The book has been assembled by the All-India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA) department of Swasthavritta and Yoga, at AIIA.
• Dr Kalubhai also inaugurated the new Panchakarma Room in the Hospital block and flagged off an e-rickshaw and a public ambulance for AIIA.

1. Abhijit Sen, one of India’s leading agriculture economists and distinguished academics, passes away
2. 'World's loneliest man', also known as 'Man of the hole', dies in Brazil forest
3. Mikhail Gorbachev, the Last Soviet President who ended Cold War, Passes away at age of 91

1. World's largest religious monument “Temple of the Vedic Planetarium" being built in Mayapur, West Bengal
2. 50th All Manipur Shumang Leela Festival started in Manipur
3. Subedar Major Yogendra Singh Yadav's autobiography 'The Hero of Tiger Hill' publishes
4. Book titled “Indian Banking in Retrospect – 75 Years of Independence” authored by Dr. Ashutosh Raravikar released
5. Annual harvest festival 'Nuakhai' celebrated with pomp in western Odisha

• Mikhail Gorbachev, the last president of the erstwhile Soviet Union, passed away at the age of 91.
• Mr Gorbachev played a crucial role in ending the Cold War without any bloodshed. Gorbachev served as the President of the Soviet Union from 15th March 1990 to 25th December 1991 until the dissolution of the USSR - Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. 
• He also served as the General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union from 1985 to 1991.
• He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1990 "for the leading role he played in the radical changes in East-West relations".

• Dr Ashutosh Raravikar has authored a new book titled “Indian Banking in Retrospect – 75 years of Independence”.
• He is currently The Director of the Department of Economic & Policy Research (DEPR), RBI.
• The book is published by Aswad Prakashan Private Limited.
• Bibek Debroy, Chairman of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister of India has written the foreword of the book.
• The books highlights various economic development such as LPG (Liberalisation Privatisation and Globalisation) reforms during 1991, the Nationalisation of Banks in 1969 for the first time, the licencing of new private sector banks post 1991, setting up of Payment banks, Small Finance Bank (SFB) and consolidation of Public Sector Banks (PSBs) etc. It also mentioned financial inclusion, and Prime Minister’s Jan DhanYojana (PM JDY) impact on the banking system in India.

• Western Odisha is celebrating agricultural festival Nuakhai on 1st September.
• Nuakhai is an annual harvest festival in Odisha, celebrated to welcome the season’s new rice. 
• Celebrated a day after Ganesh Chaturthi, Nuakhai is the most auspicious and important social festival in Western Odisha.
• In Nuakhai, nua means new and khai means food.

• The autobiography “The Hero of Tiger Hill: Autobiography of a Param Vir”, is about the inspiring story of Subedar Major (Honorary Captain) Yogendra Singh Yadav (Retd), the Youngest Param Vir Chakra (PVC) awardee, at the age of 19 for his actions in the 1999 Kargil conflict. 
• This autobiography is published by Srishti Publishers & Distributors.
• Subedar Major Yadav’s idea in writing about him began when he was invited to the top colleges in India, he noticed that his simple but honest answers made a lot of impact on young students. 
• His motive in writing the autobiography is to motivate youngsters of India and infuse a sense of patriotism. 
• The book was mainly focused on the night of July 3, 1999, 19 years old Yadav was given a crucial task with the Ghatak Platoon of 18 Grenadiers Regiment in order to capture the Tiger Hill.

India has secured Singapore’s support to join patrols in the Malacca Strait, a crucial maritime chokepoint handling over 60% of global trade and most of India’s energy imports. The announcement came during Singapore PM Lawrence Wong’s visit to New Delhi in September 2025, where he met PM Narendra Modi. India’s inclusion in the Malacca Straits Patrol (MSP) with Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand will strengthen surveillance, counter Chinese naval activity and support India’s Act East and Indo-Pacific strategies, while boosting defense, digital and space cooperation.

A coalition of 26 nations, dubbed the “coalition of the willing,” has pledged postwar security guarantees to Ukraine, including land, sea and air support to deter future aggression. France and the UK will deploy troops, Germany awaits U.S. clarity, Italy will train forces, while Poland ruled out ground troops. Bulgaria pledged Black Sea naval support. The U.S. role is expected to include air support and sanctions. President Zelenskiy called it a milestone for safeguarding Ukraine’s sovereignty.

Ukraine has developed the FP-5 Flamingo, a long-range cruise missile with a range of 3,000 km and a 1,150 kg warhead, making it one of the heaviest in its class. Powered by an Ivchenko AI-25 turbofan, it cruises at 850–900 km/h with GPS/GNSS guidance and a Circular Error Probable (CEP) of about 14 meters. Though large and non-stealthy, the missile’s destructive payload enables strikes on major infrastructure across Russia. Initial production is one per day, with plans to scale up. The Flamingo reflects Ukraine’s push for cost-effective, scalable weapons to boost deep-strike capabilities.

• The 25th meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) leaders was held in Tianjin, China, on August 31, 2025.
• According to the Global Peace Index 2025, released by the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP), India ranks 115th out of 163 countries.
• India announced 1,000 e-scholarships for Afghan students for 2025-26 under ICCR’s Special Scholarship Scheme.
• The World Health Organization (WHO) has released its reports “World Mental Health Report,” “World Mental Health Today,” and “Mental Health Atlas 2024,” raising serious concern over a deepening global mental health crisis.
• Nepal banned 26 major social media platforms in September 2025.

·         BBC Hindi's first news broadcaster Rajni Kaul passed away in Faridabad, Haryana.

·         She was 93 years old.

·         Not only was she the first woman to join BBC Hindi as a staff member, but she also became the first woman to read news bulletins in Hindi on the network in 1961.

·         She was famous for her program Indradhanush.

Nepal has imposed a ban on 26 popular social media platforms, including Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, YouTube, X (formerly Twitter), LinkedIn, Reddit, and Snapchat. According to the government, the banned platforms failed to comply with requirements under the Directive for Regulation of Social Media Use, 2080, which mandates social media companies to register locally, set up offices in Nepal, and appoint official contact persons to ensure adherence to national laws.

·         Former Union Health Secretary Keshav Desiraju has passed away due to "Acute Coronary Syndrome".

·         Desiraju was the grandson of former President Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan.

·         He was a 1978 batch IAS officer of Uttarakhand cadre.

·         He was known for his contributions to mental health and community healthcare. He was the architect of India's Mental Health Act of 2017.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has released its reports “World Mental Health Report,” “World Mental Health Today,” and “Mental Health Atlas 2024,” raising serious concern over a deepening global mental health crisis. The findings reveal that over 1 billion people worldwide are living with mental health conditions, with anxiety and depression being the most common, accounting for nearly two-thirds of all cases. Mental illness has now become the second leading cause of long-term disability globally. According to WHO’s 2025 estimates, about 14% of the global population is affected by mental disorders, with young people and women carrying the highest burden. In India, nearly 10.6% of adults live with mental health conditions, with a lifetime prevalence of 13.7%. However, treatment gaps remain alarmingly high between 70% and 92% due to a shortage of specialists and persistent social stigma.

·         Former French footballer Jean-Pierre Adams, who has been in a coma for 39 years, has died.

·         In 1982, Adams slipped into a coma following a medical error during his routine knee surgery.

·         He made a total of 22 appearances for the France national football team from 1972–1976.

Important facts

About UN

v  Headquarters: New York, United States

v  Founded: 24 October 1945, San Francisco, California, United States

v  Secretary general: António Guterres

v  Founders: United States, India, United Kingdom, Brazil, France, MORE

In a significant educational initiative, India has announced 1,000 e-scholarships for Afghan students for the academic year 2025-26 under the Special Scholarship Scheme for Afghan Nationals (SSSAN), facilitated by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR). The programme enables Afghan nationals between 18 and 35 years to pursue online undergraduate and postgraduate courses through the government’s e-VidyaBharati (e-VB) i-learn portal, eliminating the need to travel to India. The scholarships cover a wide range of disciplines including Business Administration, Commerce, Computer Science, Arts, Political Science, Education, Journalism, Psychology, and Mass Communication.

·         Former International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Jacques Rogge has passed away.

·         He spent 12 years as President of the IOC from 2001 to 2013, overseeing three Summer Games and three Winter Games, as well as producing the Youth Olympics. After that the command was taken over by Thomas Bach.

Important facts

About IOC

v  IOC - International Olympic Committee

v  Headquarters: Lausanne, Switzerland

v  President: Thomas Bach

v  Founded: 23 June 1894, Paris, France

v  Founders: Pierre de Coubertin, Demetrios Vikelas

According to the Global Peace Index 2025, released by the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP), India ranks 115th out of 163 countries, marking a 0.58% improvement in peacefulness compared to last year. India ranks ahead of neighbours Bangladesh (123rd), Pakistan (144th), and Afghanistan (158th). At the global level, Iceland retained its position as the world’s most peaceful country for the 18th consecutive year, followed by Ireland, New Zealand and Switzerland. Singapore remains the only Asian country in the top 10.

·         Popular actor and Bigg Boss 13 winner Sidharth Shukla passed away after suffering a massive heart attack in Mumbai’s Cooper Hospital on Thursday, September 2.

·         He was 40. “He was brought dead to the hospital some time ago,” a senior Cooper Hospital official confirmed.

The 25th meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) leaders was held in Tianjin, China, on August 31, 2025. The theme was “Upholding the Shanghai Spirit: SCO on the Move.” Chinese President Xi Jinping welcomed leaders from the 10 member countries for two days of talks. The discussions mainly focused on improving security cooperation, promoting economic growth and strengthening the SCO’s role in global affairs.

·         Former Rajya Sabha MP and senior journalist Chandan Mitra has passed away.

·         He was the Editor and Managing Director of The Pioneer newspaper in New Delhi.

·         Mitra was nominated as a member of the Rajya Sabha from August 2003 to 2009.

·         In June 2010, Mitra was elected to another term in the Rajya Sabha by BJP from Madhya Pradesh.

·         His term ended in 2016. In July 2018, he resigned from the BJP and joined the Trinamool Congress (TMC).

Important facts:

About Rajya Sabha

v  Seats: 245 (233 Elected + 12 Nominated)

v  Chairperson: M. Venkaiah Naidu

v  Secretary General: Dr. Parasaram Pattabhi Kesava Ramacharyulu, IAS; since 1 September 2021

v  Founder: Constituent Assembly of India

v  Founded: 3 April 1952

• Dharambir set an Asian record with a 34.92m throw to win gold in the men's F51 club throw at the Paralympics, while Pranav Soorma secured silver with a throw of 34.59m.
• Serbia's Filip Graovac won bronze with a 34.18m throw, and Amit Kumar Saroha, the 2017 world championship silver medallist, finished last with a throw of 23.96m.

• The Uttar Pradesh government has appointed Aparna Yadav as vice-chairperson of the women's commission, Babita Chauhan as the new chairperson and Charu Chaudhary has also been made vice-president.
• Aparna Yadav, the daughter-in-law of Samajwadi Party founder Mulayam Singh Yadav and sister-in-law of Akhilesh Yadav, joined the BJP in January 2022.
• Governor Anandiben Patel has approved these appointments.

• Hockey India has announced that the Women's Asian Champions Trophy 2024 will take place from 11th to 20th November in Rajgir, Bihar.
• Avani Lekhara has become the first Indian woman to win two Paralympic gold medals.
• Manish Narwal won the silver medal in the 10m air pistol SH1 final at the Paris Paralympics 2024.
• England batter Dawid Malan has called time on his international career at the age of 36.
• Preethi Pal makes history by clinching a bronze medal, while Nishad Kumar secures silver at the Paris Paralympics 2024.
• Himanshi Tokas clinches a silver medal at the Asian Cadet Judo Championships.
• NorthEast United FC wins the Durand Cup 2024 title, marking their first major victory.
• Rubina Francis creates history by winning a bronze medal at the Paris 2024 Paralympics.
• Sumit Antil and Nitesh Kumar win gold at the Paris Paralympics 2024.
• Shuttler Suhas L. Yathiraj has won a silver medal in men's badminton at the Paralympic Games 2024.
• Harvinder Singh made history by becoming the first Indian archer to win a gold medal at the Paris Paralympics 2024.
• Siddhartha Agarwal, a 49-year-old swimmer from Bengaluru, has made history by becoming the oldest Indian to swim across the English Channel. 
• Anuya Prasad won the gold medal in the air pistol event at the World Deaf Championship, showcasing her excellence in shooting sports.
• 17-year-old Sheetal Devi and 39-year-old Rakesh Kumar make history as Jammu and Kashmir's first Olympic medallists, winning bronze in mixed team compound open archery at the Paris Paralympics 2024.
• Sharath Kamal and Manika Batra will lead the Indian men's and women's table tennis teams at the 27th Asian Table Tennis Championships in Astana, Kazakhstan, from October 7 to 13.
• Rahul Dravid has been appointed as the head coach of Rajasthan Royals for IPL 2025.

• Dr. T.V. Somanathan has taken over as the new Cabinet Secretary of India.
• Iran has appointed Fatemeh Mohajerani as its first female government spokesperson.
• Dr. D K Sunil has assumed the role of Chairman and Managing Director (Additional Charge) of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).
• C S Setty has taken over as the Chairman of the State Bank of India (SBI).
• Air Marshal Tejinder Singh has taken over as the Deputy Chief of the Air Staff.
• Shriram Capital has appointed Subhasri Sriram as its Managing Director and CEO.
• V. Satish Kumar has taken additional charge as the Chairman of IOCL (Indian Oil Corporation Limited).
• Sharath Kamal has been appointed as the ITTF Foundation's first Indian Ambassador, promoting table tennis and its impact on global development initiatives.
• Michel Barnier has been appointed as the new Prime Minister of France.

• Former Team India captain and head coach Rahul Dravid is going to join Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2025. Dravid will be appointed as the head coach of the team.

• French President Emmanuel Macron appointed Michel Barnier as the new Prime Minister of the country.
• Michel Barnier, aged 73, becomes France's oldest Prime Minister in modern history, succeeding Gabriel Attal, who was the youngest PM. Barnier previously led the EU's Brexit negotiations from 2016 to 2021.

• Sharath Kamal and Manika Batra will captain the Indian men's and women's table tennis teams, respectively, at the 27th Asian Table Tennis Championships in Astana, Kazakhstan from October 7 to 13.
• The championships will feature the continent's leading players, with the Indian squad selected to compete at this prestigious event, as announced by the Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI).

• Air Marshal Tejinder Singh took over as Deputy Chief of the Air Staff of the Indian Air Force in New Delhi. 
• Air Marshal Tejinder is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy and was commissioned in the fighter stream of the IAF on 13 June 1987.

• 17-year-old Sheetal Devi and 39-year-old Rakesh Kumar brought glory to Jammu and Kashmir by winning bronze medals in the mixed team compound open archery event at the Paris Paralympics 2024, making them the region's first Olympic medallists.
• Sheetal Devi finished second in the individual compound ranking round with 703 points and along with Rakesh Kumar set a new mixed compound world record of 1399.
• Sheetal Devi was born on 10 January 2007 in Kishtwar, Jammu and Kashmir and despite suffering from a congenital disease called phocomelia, she is an inspirational athlete who excelled in archery, who has gained recognition nationally and internationally by learning to shoot arrows with her feet.

• Challa Sreenivasulu Setty (CS Setty) took over as the 27th Chairman of State Bank of India (SBI) on August 28, 2024, succeeding Dinesh Khara, who retired after reaching the maximum age limit of 63.
• John Matthai was the first chairman of SBI, appointed in 1955 following the nationalization and renaming of the Imperial Bank of India under the State Bank of India Act 1955.

• Anuya Prasad won the women’s air pistol gold in a thrilling fashion with a 10.3 last shot to beat Sofia Olenych of Ukraine by 0.1 point in the second World Deaf shooting championship in Hannover, Germany.

• Dr. D K Sunil, who serves as Director (Engineering, Research and Development), has assumed the role of Chairman and Managing Director (Additional Charge) of HAL, succeeding Mr. C B Ananthakrishnan, effective September 1, 2024.

• Sharath Kamal has been named the first Indian ambassador of the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Foundation, where he will promote table tennis development, especially for underprivileged children.

• Iran has appointed 54-year-old Fatemeh Mohajerani as its first female government spokesperson. 
• President Pezeshkian made the appointment in a cabinet meeting on 28 August 2024.
• She has previously served as the head of the Technical and Vocational Training University of Shariati, a women's institution, during Iran's 11th government.

• ADNOC and ExxonMobil are partnering to build the world's largest low-carbon hydrogen facility in Texas, aimed at producing up to 1 billion cubic feet of low-carbon hydrogen daily.
• The facility will convert U.S.-produced natural gas into virtually carbon-free hydrogen by removing approximately 98% of the associated CO2 emissions, setting a global benchmark in low-carbon energy.

• Siddhartha Agarwal, a 49-year-old swimmer from Bengaluru, has made history by becoming the oldest Indian to swim across the English Channel. 
• Agarwal successfully navigated the 42-km stretch between England and France on August 29, completing the grueling swim in an impressive 15 hours and six minutes.

• Dr. T.V. Somanathan today took over as the new Cabinet Secretary in the Government of India after the superannuation of Shri Rajiv Gauba. 
• Dr. Somanathan is an IAS officer of Tamil Nadu cadre (1987 batch).
• Dr. Somanathan has earlier held important positions like Joint Secretary and Additional Secretary in the Prime Minister's Office at the Centre. He also served as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Corporate Affairs.

• The navies of India and South Africa on Wednesday (September 4, 2024) signed an implementation agreement to enhance submarine rescue support cooperation that ensures the “safety of the South African Navy’s submarine crew in times of distress or accident.”
• Under this agreement, the Indian Navy will provide assistance by deploying its Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle (DSRV) as and when required, further strengthening the cooperative relationship between the two navies. " 
• The agreement was signed by Indian Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh K Tripathy and South African Navy Chief Vice Admiral Monde Lobes.

• Paris Paralympics 2024 Harvinder Singh created history by winning the gold medal in the men's individual archery recurve open final. 
• Became the first archer from the India to win a gold medal in the Paralympics or Olympics. After this, in the final of men's club throw F-51, Dharamvir won the gold medal with a throw of 34.92 meters breaking the Asian record.
• Pranav Surma won the silver medal by throwing 34.59 meters in the same event. Earlier in the day, world champion Sachin Sarjerao Khilari won the silver medal in the men's shot put F-46 category with an Asian record throw of 16.32 meters.

• Senior IAS officer Govind Mohan has assumed charge as the Union Home Secretary.
• Deepti Gaur Mukherjee, a 1993 batch IAS officer from the Madhya Pradesh cadre, has assumed charge as the Secretary of the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA).
• Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Limited (GRSE) has been honoured with two prestigious awards at the CSR Times Awards 2024. 
• Senior IPS officer B Srinivasan has been appointed as the Director General of the National Security Guard (NSG).
• India's Jay Shah has been elected as the new chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC).
• Apple has appointed Kevan Parekh as its new CFO in anticipation of a major product launch.
• Satish Kumar has been appointed as the new Chairman and CEO of the Railway Board.
• Nasscom has appointed SAP Labs India MD Sindhu Gangadharan as its new chairperson.
• Senior IPS officer Rajwinder Singh Bhatti has been appointed as the Director General of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF).
• Vice Admiral C.R. Praveen Nair has been appointed as the Commandant of the Indian Naval Academy.

• The Nepal Tourism Board has received the PATA Gold Award for Sustainable Tourism for its Livelihood Recovery Project (STLRP).
• UAE launches two-month visa amnesty program for those residing in the country illegally.
• South Africa has introduced a new scheme to enhance tourism from India, aimed at increasing Indian visitors and promoting the country as a prime travel destination.

• Suhas L Yathiraj, the Indian shuttler who clinched silver medal in men’s badminton at Paralympic Games 2024 in Paris.
• Suhas Yathiraj had bagged his first Paralympic silver in the Tokyo Olympics.

• South Africa announced the creation of an innovative new Trusted Tour Operator Scheme (TTOS), the initial focus of which will be on the emerging tourism markets of India and China. 
• The scheme, to come into effect from January 2025, will reform the visa system and "boost" job creation in the tourism sector.
• TTOS will remove some of the major obstacles in South Africa's path to becoming a preferred tourist destination for the world's second and fifth-largest economies.

• NorthEast United FC defeated Mohun Bagan Super Giant 4-3 in a penalty shootout to capture the 133rd Durand Cup title played at Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata on August 31.
• NEUFC won its first title since its inception a decade ago.

• India and Poland announced a strategic partnership focused on defence, trade, and technology cooperation.
• India and Indonesia have strengthened their cooperation in combating terrorism.
• India's Prime Minister donates four BHISHM cubes to support emergency medical care in Ukraine.
• WHO has launched a six-month global plan to combat the mpox outbreak, focusing on reducing human-to-human transmission through coordinated efforts.
• Vietnam has approved the appointment of three new Deputy Prime Ministers.
• Australia has introduced the "right to disconnect" law, allowing employees to disengage from work-related communications outside of official working hours.

• At the Asian Cadet and Junior Judo Championships in Mungyeong, South Korea, India’s Himanshi Tokas clinched the Silver medal in the Women’s 63-kilogram event.
• 19-year-old Himanshi is a Khelo Bharat athlete. This four-day Judo Championship will conclude today at the Mungyeong Gymnasium.

• At the Paris Paralympics 2024, Indian athlete Priti Pal won the bronze medal in the final of the women's 200m T-35 event with a time of 30.01 seconds. With this, Preity has become the first Indian woman to win two Paralympic medals in athletics.
• Indian athlete Nishad Kumar has won a silver medal in the men's high jump – T47 event with a height of 2.04 meters.

• Dawid Malan announced his retirement from international cricket after a career spanning 114 matches across all formats, during which he scored 4,416 runs with an average of 37.74, including eight centuries and 31 fifties.
• Malan, who first made his mark with a 78-run knock in his T20I debut against South Africa in June 2017, highlighted his journey with the England team as an incredible experience since July 2017.

• India's Manish Narwal won the silver medal in the men's 10m air pistol shooting SH1 category at the Paris 2024 Paralympics.
• Indian para-shooter Manish Narwal scored 234.9 points in the final, which missed the gold medal, which was won by Republic of Korea's Jo Jeongdu with 237.4 points.

• Rajasthan's shooter Avani Lekhara has created history at the Paris Paralympics. Avani won the gold medal in the women's 10 meter air rifle event. 
• At the same time, Mona Agarwal of Rajasthan stood third in this competition. Who has won the bronze medal.
• Avani Lekhara has created history by becoming the first Indian woman to win two gold medals at the Paris Paralympics.
• Avani, who won the gold medal for India at the Tokyo Paralympics 2020, targeted the gold medal in the 10m Air Rifle (SH1) event at the Paris Paralympics 2024 (August 30. 
• Avani scored 249.7 in the final, which is a Paralympic record. Avani had set the previous record of 249.6 points in Tokyo.

• Hockey India has announced that the Women's Asian Champions Trophy 2024 will begin on 11 November 2024 in Rajgir, Bihar.
• The event will be a joint venture between Hockey India and the Government of Bihar, and will be held from 11 to 20 November 2024 at the newly-developed Rajgir Hockey Stadium.
• Teams from India, China, Japan, Korea, Thailand and Malaysia will participate in this championship.

• Tanvi Patri clinched the Under-15 girls singles title at the Badminton Asia Junior Championships, defeating Thi Thu Huyen Nguyen 22-20, 21-11 in Chengdu, China.
• Shikhar Dhawan announced his retirement from all forms of international and domestic cricket on August 24, 2024, concluding a 12-year career with 34 Tests, 167 ODIs, and 68 T20Is, and a total of 10,867 runs.
• Diana Pundole has created history by becoming the first Indian woman to win the championship title in the MRF saloon category at the Indian National Car Racing Championship 2024 held at the Madras International Circuit.
• Indian women wrestlers won a total of 10 medals at the Under-17 World Wrestling Championships in Amman.
• Harmanpreet Singh has been named the captain of the Indian men's hockey team for the 2024 Asian Champions Trophy.
• Christian Richter wins his maiden IBSF World Under-17 Boys’ Snooker Championship.
• Karthik Venkataraman becomes the champion of the 61st National Open Chess Championship.
• Bangladesh achieved a historic win in the SAFF U-20 Championship football tournament.
• Five-year-old Teghbir Singh has become the youngest Asian to conquer Mount Kilimanjaro.

Union IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw inaugurated TDK Corporation’s Advanced Lithium-ion Battery Manufacturing Plant in Sohna, Haryana. Built with an investment of ₹3,000 crore under the Electronics Manufacturing Cluster (EMC) Scheme, the facility spans 180 acres and will produce 20 crore battery packs annually, meeting about 40% of India’s demand. The batteries will power mobiles, laptops, wearables and hearables, cutting import dependence and strengthening the domestic supply chain. The plant will create around 5,000 direct jobs, with production starting in Q4 2025 and scaling up in phases.

Researchers at the S. N. Bose National Centre for Basic Sciences (SNBNCBS) have discovered that protein p47 functions as a “mechanical chaperone”, directly stabilizing proteins under mechanical stress. Earlier believed to be just an assistant to the cellular machine p97, p47 has now been shown to independently bind and refold stretched proteins, as revealed through single-molecule magnetic tweezers experiments. This breakthrough could pave the way for new treatments for diseases such as cardiomyopathies and laminopathies, where protein stability under strain fails. The finding challenges traditional views of protein folding, expanding the understanding of cellular resilience and opening new therapeutic avenues.