NATIONAL NEWS

EPFO Launches ‘Passbook Lite’ and Annexure K Download Facility

Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) launched ‘Passbook Lite’ on its member portal to simplify Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) account management.

Announced by Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya as part of digital governance reforms.

Passbook Lite provides a snapshot view of contributions, withdrawals, and balance, accessible directly on the portal without separate login and with real-time access.

Members can now directly download Annexure K (PDF), a critical document for validating Provident Fund transfers and for Employees’ Pension Scheme (EPS) calculations.

New reforms allow online tracking of Provident Fund transfer applications, verification of updated service periods, and maintenance of permanent digital records.

These measures will benefit 27 crore+ EPFO subscribers by ensuring faster claim settlements, improved transparency, convenient document access, better grievance redressal, and reliable recordkeeping for retirement and pension planning.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin Launches ‘Anbu Karangal’ Scheme

Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu M.K. Stalin launched the ‘Anbu Karangal’ (Hands of Love) scheme to provide monthly financial support of ₹2,000 to orphaned children.

The assistance will continue until the child turns 18 years or completes school education, whichever is earlier.

The scheme benefits children who have lost both parents and those with one surviving parent incapable of providing care.

In the first phase, 6,082 children across Tamil Nadu will receive direct financial support through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).

The initiative is implemented under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, which mandates state governments to safeguard orphaned and vulnerable children.

To support higher education, 1,340 students who lost both parents, cleared Class 12, and secured college admission were given laptops.

A mobile application was launched in collaboration with the Tamil Nadu e-Governance Agency for online applications, grievance redressal, real-time monitoring, and beneficiary tracking, ensuring transparency and efficiency.

Yatri Sewa Diwas 2025 Launched by Ministry of Civil Aviation

The Ministry of Civil Aviation launched Yatri Sewa Diwas 2025 to ensure passenger-centric services across Indian airports, emphasizing dignity, comfort, inclusivity, and humane travel.

The initiative was inaugurated by Union Minister Rammohan Naidu at Hindon Airport, reflecting the Prime Minister’s vision of public service in governance.

Activities included free medical check-ups for women travelers under Swastha Nari, Sashakt Parivar Abhiyan, cultural programs, awareness drives, quiz competitions, tree plantation, and special outreach for taxi drivers, students, and senior citizens.

A major digital push was announced with all airports to become WiFi-enabled under the Digital India Mission, along with a focus on standardizing services across airports.

The initiative aims to address persistent issues such as lack of health facilities, cleanliness gaps, poor digital access, and inadequate services for women, elderly, and differently-abled passengers.

Yatri Sewa Diwas 2025 builds on past efforts like UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik) but shifts the focus from flight volumes and infrastructure to passenger experience, service quality, and inclusivity.

 

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

India Re-elected to Councils of Universal Postal Union

India has been re-elected to the Council of Administration and the Postal Operations Council of the Universal Postal Union (UPU) during the 28th Universal Postal Union Congress held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

The Universal Postal Union, a specialised agency of the United Nations, is the global forum for cooperation among postal stakeholders.

The Council of Administration handles policy, regulatory, and governance matters.

The Postal Operations Council manages technical and operational functions, driving the modernisation of postal services.

India’s re-election reflects international recognition of India Post’s leadership, reforms, and digital innovations. India has been a member of the Universal Postal Union since 1876.

 

BANKING

SEBI Reintroduces B-30 Incentives for Mutual Funds, Caps Payout at ₹2,000

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) announced the reintroduction of incentives for mutual fund (MF) distributors to enhance MF penetration in smaller towns and villages.

Fund houses can now incentivise distributors for bringing in new investors from beyond the top 30 cities (B-30 regions).

For lumpsum investments, the incentive will be 1% of the first investment made by the investor.

For Systematic Investment Plan (SIP) investors, the incentive will be 1% of total investments in the first year, subject to a ceiling of ₹2,000.

The incentive framework will also cover distributors bringing in first-time women investors from top cities.

This new framework replaces the earlier incentive structure, which was valid until March 2023.

Under the previous system, MFs could charge up to 30 basis points (bps) over and above the expense ratio if a portion of their assets came from B-30 regions.

NPCI Raises Unified Payments Interface Merchant Transaction Limit

The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has revised the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) limits for Person-to-Merchant (P2M) transactions, effective 15 September 2025.

Users can now make UPI merchant transactions up to ₹10 lakh per day in selected verified categories.

The UPI limit for Person-to-Person (P2P) transfers remains unchanged at ₹1 lakh per day.

The single transaction limit for P2M transactions has been raised to ₹5 lakh in specified categories.

For capital markets and insurance, the per-transaction limit has increased from ₹2 lakh to ₹5 lakh, with a maximum of ₹10 lakh per day.

On the Government e-Marketplace (GeM), including tax payments and earnest money deposits, the limit has been raised from ₹1 lakh to ₹5 lakh per transaction.

Credit card bill payments can now be made up to ₹5 lakh per transaction, with a daily cap of ₹6 lakh.

UPI accounts for 85% of all digital transactions in India, highlighting its dominance in the digital payments ecosystem.

SEBI Unveils SWAGAT-FI Framework

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) launched a new framework called SWAGAT-FI (Simplified Wrapper Framework for Facilitating Access to GIFT-IFSC for Foreign Investors) on 16 September 2025.

The initiative aims to make India a more attractive investment destination by easing entry for low-risk foreign investors such as sovereign wealth funds, pension funds, and long-term institutional investors.

Under SWAGAT-FI, eligible foreign investors can register for a 10-year period instead of the earlier 3-year cycle, ensuring long-term stability and reduced administrative burden.

A digital portal has been introduced to enable faster onboarding, cutting processing time from months to about a week.

Investors can operate with a single demat account, simplifying investment management across instruments.

The framework is integrated with the GIFT City IFSC ecosystem, enhancing global investor convenience.

SWAGAT-FI also improves disclosure and transparency standards for IPOs and market data, ensuring a predictable and regulated environment.

The policy aims to attract “patient capital” (long-term investments), thereby reducing market volatility and strengthening the depth and resilience of Indian capital markets.

By simplifying processes, India seeks to compete with global hubs like Singapore, Dubai, and London in attracting foreign institutional investment (FII).

NPCI Seeks Approval For UPI Cash Withdrawals Up To ₹10,000

The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has approached the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to permit cash withdrawals via Unified Payments Interface (UPI) at over 2 million Business Correspondent (BC) outlets across India.

At present, UPI cash withdrawals are available only at select ATMs/merchants, with a cap of ₹1,000 in cities/towns and ₹2,000 in rural areas.

Under the new proposal, Business Correspondents (BCs) will be allowed to disburse up to ₹10,000 per transaction.

Business Correspondents are local agents (such as shopkeepers, NGOs, or individuals) who provide basic banking services in areas with limited branch and ATM presence.

BCs can be shopkeepers, non-profits, or even individuals.

UPI contributes 85% of India’s digital payments and accounts for nearly half of global real-time digital transactions.

In July 2025, UPI processed 19.5 billion transactions worth ₹25 trillion, with daily volumes peaking at 707 million on 2 August 2025.

The proposal for BC-enabled UPI withdrawals is still under RBI review and remains at the planning stage.

 

DEFENCE

Indian Defence Service of Engineers Commemorates 76th Raising Day

The Indian Defence Service of Engineers (IDSE), a Group ‘A’ cadre under the Ministry of Defence (MoD), celebrated its 76th Raising Day on 17 September 2025 at Manekshaw Centre, Delhi Cantt.

Defence Secretary Shri Rajesh Kumar Singh was the Chief Guest and commended IDSE officers for strengthening national defence preparedness through world-class infrastructure.

The IDSE was formally established on 17 September 1949, marking a historic milestone in India’s defence engineering landscape.

IDSE officers are responsible for construction and maintenance of defence infrastructure, including married accommodations, technical and administrative buildings, airfields, hangars, naval jetties, hospitals, and specialised facilities for the Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, and DRDO.

 

APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

Deputy Election Commissioner in Election Commission of India

Senior IAS officer Pawan Kumar Sharma has been appointed as Deputy Election Commissioner (DEC) in the Election Commission of India (ECI), with the rank of Additional Secretary.

Pawan Kumar Sharma is a 1999-batch IAS officer of the Madhya Pradesh cadre.

IAS officer V Lalithalakshmi, a 2008-batch officer of the West Bengal cadre, has been appointed as Joint Secretary in the Vice President’s Secretariat.

The Deputy Election Commissioner (DEC) is a senior official in the ECI, which is responsible for conducting and administering elections across India.

 

SPORTS

Marium Fatima Becomes Bihar’s First Woman FIDE Master

Marium Fatima, a young chess player from Muzaffarpur, Bihar, has become the first Woman FIDE Master (WFM) from the state, marking a historic achievement.

The Woman FIDE Master title is awarded by the Fédération Internationale des Échecs (FIDE) based on a player’s rating performance and achievements in recognized tournaments.

This title is ranked below Woman International Master (WIM) and Woman Grandmaster (WGM) and generally requires a FIDE rating of 2100+.

Marium has consistently shown exceptional skill and earned accolades at state and national levels, showcasing her strategic acumen in competitive chess.

With this achievement, she joins the ranks of elite Indian women chess players, inspiring upcoming talents across Bihar and India.

Ravindran Shankaran, Director General of Bihar State Sports Authority, congratulated her, emphasizing institutional support for chess development in Bihar.