NATIONAL NEWS

Ministry of Ayush Celebrates 10th National Ayurveda Day

The Ministry of Ayush celebrated the 10th National Ayurveda Day at the All-India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA), Goa.

Dignitaries included Governor of Goa Shri Ashok Gajapathi Raju, Goa CM Dr. Pramod Sawant, Union MoS (I/C) for Ayush Shri Prataprao Jadhav, and Union MoS for Power & NRE Shri Shripad Yesso Naik.

Theme for the year 2025 is “Ayurveda for People and Planet” aligned with UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Key initiatives launched include DRAVYA Portal – digitized platform for Ayurvedic substances and Desh ka Swasthya Parikshan Abhiyan – nationwide health assessment campaign; over 1.29 crore citizens participated, setting 5 Guinness World Records.

Integrative Oncology Unit inaugurated at AIIA Goa in collaboration with Tata Memorial Centre for holistic cancer care.

MoUs signed for academic exchanges, research in integrative oncology, and global collaborations.

Government of India Notifies National Policy on Geothermal Energy 2025

Government of India notified the National Policy on Geothermal Energy (2025) to boost renewable energy and achieve the 2070 Net Zero Goal.

Policy framework covers exploration, development, and utilization of geothermal energy.

Applications include power generation, district heating, agriculture, aquaculture, tourism, desalination, and space cooling/heating via Ground Source Heat Pumps (GSHPs).

It promotes research, inter-ministerial collaboration, global best practices, and technological innovation such as hybrid geothermal-solar plants, Enhanced/Advanced Geothermal Systems (EGS/AGS), and retrofitting oil wells.

Focus on local innovation, public–private partnerships, and repurposing existing oil/gas infrastructure.

It encourages collaboration with international geothermal bodies, pioneering nations, state governments, oil & gas companies, and research institutions.

Ministry sanctioned 5 pilot and resource assessment projects as the first step in geothermal exploration.

Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) will monitor progress and provide a conducive environment for developers, industries, and researchers.

 

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

India Hosts BIMSTEC Young Leaders’ Summit 2025

India hosted the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) Young Leaders’ Summit from September 9–11, 2025 in Guwahati, Assam.

The summit highlighted the critical role of youth in the holistic development of the Bay of Bengal region.

The initiative is part of the 21-point action plan announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the 6th BIMSTEC Summit.

The event was inaugurated by Assam Governor Laxman Prasad Acharya and organized in association with Bharat Scouts & Guides.

Over 80 young leaders from all BIMSTEC countries (India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Bhutan, Nepal) participated.

It focuses on Leadership for the 21st century, entrepreneurship, design thinking, cross-cultural collaboration, and sustainable solutions.

The initiative aligns with India’s Neighborhood First, Act East, and MAHASAGAR visions for regional cooperation.

 

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Agnikul Cosmos Commissions Advanced 3D Printing Facility For Rocket Systems In India

Agnikul Cosmos commissioned an advanced facility in Chennai for aerospace and rocket systems, integrating design, simulation, 3D printing, post-processing, and finishing, reducing production costs by 50%.

The facility enables 3D printing of rocket components up to one metre in height and has an indigenously designed de-powdering machine for space-grade quality finishes.

Agnikul holds a US patent for single-piece 3D-printed rocket engines; the new facility allows printing one-metre engines delivering 7x thrust of earlier designs.

Agnikul Cosmos successfully launched the Agnibaan-SOrTeD rocket in May 2024 from Sriharikota, marking the world’s first rocket launch with a single-piece 3D-printed engine and the first semi-cryogenic engine used in an Indian rocket.

India To Launch ‘Bodyguard Satellites’

India is planning “bodyguard satellites” after a close encounter in 2024, when a foreign satellite came within 1 km of an Indian satellite with military applications.

The initiative is part of PM Modi’s ₹27,000 crore ($3 billion) programme to launch about 50 surveillance satellites, with the first launch expected in 2026.

India has over 100 satellites, compared to Pakistan’s 8 and China’s 930, and China’s growing military capabilities in space are viewed as a major threat.

India is partnering with startups to design satellite-protection technologies, including LiDAR satellites for early detection of threats.

LiDAR satellites will complement ground-based radars and telescopes, helping overcome India’s lack of round-the-clock space monitoring capability.     

 

BANKING

India, Asian Development Bank Ink $125 Million Loan Pact To Boost Urban Infrastructure And Resilience In Assam

The Government of India and Asian Development Bank (ADB) signed a $125 million loan agreement for the Assam Urban Sector Development Project.

The project will benefit 360,000 residents of Assam by ensuring continuous metered water supply and upgraded stormwater management systems.

Six district headquarters (Barpeta, Bongaigaon, Dhubri, Goalpara, Golaghat, Nalbari) will get six water treatment plants with a combined 72 MLD capacity and 800 km of distribution pipelines.

A real-time monitoring system will be deployed to keep non-revenue water below 20%.

In Guwahati, stormwater management in the Bahini Basin will be improved through flood diversion channels, upgraded drainage, and a nature-based retention pond.

The project will establish the Assam State Institute for Urban Development in collaboration with IIT Guwahati.

Urban governance reforms include a GIS-based property tax database, digital water billing systems, and a volumetric water tariff structure for financial sustainability.

RBI Permits Standalone Primary Dealers To Trade In Indian Rupee Non-Deliverable Derivatives

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has allowed Standalone Primary Dealers (SPDs) to participate in non-deliverable derivative contracts (NDDCs) involving the Indian rupee.

Earlier, only Authorised Dealer Category-I (AD Cat-I) banks and International Financial Services Centre (IFSC) Banking Units could transact in such instruments with users, other AD Cat-I banks, and overseas banks.

With the amendment to the Master Direction on Risk Management and Inter-Bank Dealings, SPDs can now offer NDDCs to both residents and non-residents.

Non-deliverable Rupee derivative contracts (NDDCs) are financial instruments like forwards, options, and swaps, where settlement occurs in a freely convertible foreign currency (e.g., USD) rather than in Indian Rupees.

NDDCs are important for hedging against Rupee volatility, especially for entities unable to access onshore markets directly.

The directions are issued under Section 45W of the RBI Act, 1934 and Sections 10(4), 11(1), and 11(2) of FEMA, 1999.

UIDAI Launches New Aadhaar Authentication Framework

The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has introduced a new Aadhaar-based authentication framework to strengthen the role of cooperative banks in digital and financial inclusion.

The initiative was launched as part of the International Year of Cooperatives and aims to simplify Aadhaar adoption for 380 cooperative banks nationwide.

The framework was developed after consultations with the Ministry of Cooperation, NABARD, NPCI, and cooperative banks.

It will cover 34 State Cooperative Banks (SCBs) and 352 District Central Cooperative Banks (DCCBs) across India.

Under the new framework, only State Cooperative Banks (SCBs) will be registered with UIDAI as Authentication User Agencies (AUA) and eKYC User Agencies (KUA).

The initiative was announced under the leadership of UIDAI CEO Bhuvnesh Kumar.

RBI Revokes Registration Of Datta Finance And Trading Private Limited Over Irregular Lending Practices

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has cancelled the Certificate of Registration (CoR) of New Delhi-based Datta Finance and Trading Private Limited due to irregular lending practices.

The RBI cancelled the CoR as the NBFC violated guidelines on code of conduct in outsourcing of financial services in its digital lending operations.

The company was associated with KinCash app and DoLoan app (operated by Zest Top One Technology Pvt Ltd) and its in-house ZestCash app as service providers.

After the cancellation of the CoR, the company shall no longer transact the business of a Non-Banking Financial Institution (NBFI).

 

DEFENCE

Indian Coast Guard Ship Adamya, First Adamya-class Fast Patrol Vessel, Commissioned at Paradip Port

Indian Coast Guard Ship (ICGS) Adamya was commissioned at Paradip Port, Odisha.

ICGS Adamya is the first ship of the Adamya-class Fast Patrol Vessels (FPVs) in the series of eight.

The 51-metre FPV has been designed and built indigenously by Goa Shipyard Limited with over 60% indigenous content, reflecting Aatmanirbhar Bharat.

‘Adamya’ means ‘indomitable’, symbolising ICG’s commitment to safe, secure, and clean seas.

Crew strength includes 5 officers and 34 personnel.

The vessel displaces 320 tons and is propelled by two 3000 KW diesel engines, attaining a maximum speed of 28 knots with an endurance of 1500 nautical miles.

ICGS Adamya is the first ship fitted with indigenously developed Controllable Pitch Propellers and gearboxes, providing superior manoeuvrability and operational flexibility.

Armament includes a 30 mm CRN 91 gun and two 12.7 mm stabilized remote-controlled machine guns supported by fire control systems.

                                                                                                                                                

APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

New Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer IARC

International Asset Reconstruction Company (IARC) has appointed Abhishek Maheshwari as its Managing Director (MD) & Chief Executive Officer (CEO).

Abhishek Maheshwari was earlier a Partner at Boston Consulting Group (BCG), where he developed a debt collections and recovery practice for the Asia-Pacific region.

He also co-founded and served as the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Encore Asset Reconstruction Company, one of India’s first retail-focused ARCs.

IARC, founded in 2002 after the enactment of the SARFAESI Act, is a leading Asset Reconstruction Company in India with offices in New Delhi, Mumbai, and Chennai.

 

IMPORTANT DAYS

World Pharmacists Day

World Pharmacists Day is celebrated on 25th September of every year in order to appreciate the efforts of pharmacists as healthcare workers.

This day is observed in order to create awareness about pharmacists.

The theme for World Pharmacists Day in 2025 is "Think Health, Think Pharmacist".

In 2009, at Turkey’s Istanbul, The International Pharmaceutical Federation Council announced that World Pharmacists Day would be celebrated on 25th September.

In the year of 1912, the International Pharmaceutical Federation was established on September 25.

So the Turkish members council put forward the 25th of September as World Pharmacists Day.

The International Pharmaceutical Federation is the global federation of national associations of pharmacists and pharmaceutical scientists.