Daily Current Affairs and GK | 19 September 2025

Topic: National Appointments

1. Amit Khare appointed as Secretary to Vice-President C. P. Radhakrishnan on September 14, 2025.

• Since October 12, 2021, he has worked as Advisor to the Prime Minister.
• In this role, he focused on social sector policies within the PMO.
• He played a central role in drafting and executing the National Education Policy, 2020.
• Khare belongs to the 1985 batch of the Jharkhand cadre of IAS.
• He completed his undergraduate studies at St. Stephen’s College, Delhi.
• He pursued a postgraduate degree in Business Administration from IIM Ahmedabad.
• He is well known for unearthing the fodder scam in Bihar.
• He has served as Information and Broadcasting Secretary.
• He has also held the post of Higher Education Secretary.
• His new role as Secretary to the Vice-President will last three years from the date he takes charge.

Topic: Infrastructure and Energy

2. The first National Policy on Geothermal Energy notified by the government.

• India’s first National Policy on Geothermal Energy was notified by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).
• The policy laid down a framework for exploration, resource evaluation, and project development.
• The Geological Survey of India has so far identified 381 hot springs with surface temperatures ranging from 35°C to 89°C.
• These hot springs are spread across 10 geothermal provinces, including Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Odisha, Maharashtra, and Telangana.
• Geothermal energy was described as a baseload renewable option with capacity utilization factors above 80%.
• This makes it suitable for power generation as well as direct-use applications such as heating and cooling, agriculture, aquaculture, industrial processes, and geo-tourism.
• Support measures including concessional land allotment, priority transmission access, viability gap funding, concessional loans, sovereign green bonds, and import duty/GST exemptions were announced.
• Joint ventures between geothermal developers and oil and gas companies were encouraged to repurpose idle or abandoned wells and use drilling expertise.
• The policy permits 100% FDI in the geothermal sector and emphasizes indigenous technology development to reduce import dependence.
• Implementation will be carried out through international collaborations, R&D pilot projects, and Centers of Excellence in Geothermal Energy, with periodic progress reports mandated.
• The policy covers high-enthalpy resources for power generation and low-to-medium enthalpy resources for direct-use applications, positioning geothermal energy as a complementary resource in India's renewable energy mix.

Topic: State News/Bihar

3. A Rs 1,000 monthly allowance for unemployed graduates in Bihar announced by CM Nitish Kumar.

• The scheme is aimed at youth and first-time voters ahead of the Assembly elections.
• It is part of the Chief Minister’s Self-Help Allowance Scheme under the flagship 7 Nischay program.
• Previously, the allowance was only available to intermediate pass candidates.
• Graduates aged 20–25 years who are neither studying, employed, nor self-employed will benefit.
• The allowance will be given for up to two years.
• The CM set a target of providing jobs and employment to one crore youth in five years.
• The scheme aims to help youth pursue skill training and prepare for competitive exams.
• Earlier, Nitish Kumar also transferred ₹5,000 each to 16.04 lakh construction workers on the occasion of Vishwakarma Puja.
• Rs 802.46 crore has been transferred to the bank accounts of construction workers under the Annual Clothing Assistance Scheme of the Bihar government.
• A new “Pratigya” web portal for contractual workers was launched in Patna during the event.

Topic: State News/Madhya Pradesh

4. PM Modi laid the foundation stone of projects and launched health and tribal welfare initiatives in Dhar, Madhya Pradesh.

• Homage was paid to Goddess Vagdevi, the revered mother of Dhar Bhojshala, and salutations were extended to artisans and craftsmen engaged in nation-building by the Prime Minister.
• The ‘Swasth Nari Sashakt Parivar’ campaign was launched to provide free health screenings for women.
• The eighth National Nutrition Month was inaugurated by the PM.
• Schemes such as the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana were highlighted, under which over ₹19,000 crore has been disbursed to 4.5 crore pregnant women, including 15 lakh women.
• The one-crore Sickle Cell Screening and Counselling Card was distributed in Madhya Pradesh.
• PM Modi inaugurated the PM MITRA Park in Dhar, India’s largest integrated textile park, covering approximately 1,300 acres.
• The park is expected to generate 3 lakh jobs and has already secured investments worth ₹23,140 crore.
• He launched the Adi Seva Parv under the Adi Karmyogi Abhiyan to empower tribal communities.

Topic: Economy/Banking/Finance

5. The IMF calls India's UPI a global model for digital payments.

• India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) handles over 20 billion transactions a month.
• UPI has emerged as the world's largest retail instant payment system and is gaining global recognition, including from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), for revolutionizing digital payments.
• The IMF, in its June 2025 fintech note titled “Growing Retail Digital Payments: The Value of Interoperability,” described UPI as a model that transformed India's payments landscape.
• Nearly 85% of India’s digital transactions last month were through UPI, worth ₹24.85 lakh crore.
• Effective September 15, NPCI has increased the transaction limit for person-to-merchant (P2M) payments to Rs 10 lakh per day for verified categories, enabling wider adoption for high-value purchases.
• India's success with UPI stems from its extensive "digital public infrastructure," which is based on Jan Dhan Yojana bank accounts, Aadhaar biometric identification, and affordable mobile internet.
• Its open architecture allows direct bank transfers and prevents monopolies.
• The system supports financial inclusion, with 89% of Indian adults holding bank accounts.
• UPI is linked with PayNow in Singapore for instant cross-border transfers.
• It is already operational in the UAE, Mauritius, Nepal, Bhutan, and at the Eiffel Tower in France.
• Unified Payments Interface (UPI) was launched in 2016 by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI).

Topic: Awards and Prizes

6. A new award category for content creators and influencers introduced by BEE under NECA 2025.

• The introduction of a new category—the “National Energy Conservation Awards for Content Creators and Influencers”—under the National Energy Conservation Awards (NECA) 2025 announced by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), Ministry of Power.
• This initiative seeks to harness the power of digital media to spread awareness about energy efficiency, conservation and sustainable living practices
• It aligns with the Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment) vision of the Prime Minister.
• The National Energy Conservation Awards (NECA) were instituted in 1991.
• Over the decades, NECA has recognized excellence in energy efficiency across industries and institutions.
• The new category invites creators with at least 10,000 followers on a major social media platform.
• Entries must be 90-second original videos in Hindi or Indian languages with transcripts.
• Themes include saving energy at home, AC at 24°C, 5-star appliances, green buildings, and responsible festivals.
• Winners will be honored at the NECA ceremony on 14 December 2025 in New Delhi by the President of India.
• BEE, set up in 2002, works under the Energy Conservation Act, 2021, to reduce India’s energy intensity.

Topic: Summits/ Conferences/ Meetings

7. The 13th meeting of the India-UAE High-Level Joint Task Force on Investments held in Abu Dhabi on 18 September 2025.

• The meeting was co-chaired by Sheikh Hamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Managing Director of Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA), and Piyush Goyal, India's Minister of Commerce & Industry.
• Senior officials from various government bodies, investment firms, and corporations from both nations attended the meeting.
• The Joint Task Force was established in 2013 to strengthen economic cooperation and explore investment opportunities between India and the UAE.
• At the meeting, discussions focused on accelerating bilateral investments and identifying new areas for collaboration.
• The Co-Chairs recognized the significant growth in trade since the India-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) took effect in May 2022.
• In the first half of 2025, non-oil trade between India and the UAE reached nearly $38 billion.
• This represented a 34% increase compared to the same period in 2024.
• The meeting also reviewed progress on major joint investment projects, including the Bharat Mart in Jebel Ali Free Zone.
• The Bharat Mart is a large-scale facility designed to promote Indian exports.
• The two sides explored potential future collaborations in maritime and space sectors, particularly in India.
• They also discussed strategic initiatives between the central banks of India and the UAE.
• These initiatives focus on enabling trade in local currencies, integrating payment systems, and working on digital currencies.
• The Joint Task Force also addressed challenges faced by investors and instructed their teams to resolve them swiftly.

Topic: MoUs/Agreements

8. On September 17, 2025, the Department of Posts (DoP) and Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) signed a strategic agreement in New Delhi.

• The goal is to expand mobile service accessibility across the country.
• The Memorandum of Understanding was signed by Ms. Manisha Bansal Badal from DoP and Shri Deepak Garg from BSNL.
• Under the agreement, India Post’s vast network of over 1.65 lakh Post Offices will be used to distribute BSNL SIM cards.
• These Post Offices will also offer mobile recharge services.
• The partnership allows BSNL to expand its presence in both rural and urban areas.
• It uses the strong local reach of India Post to deliver telecom services more effectively.
• The initiative focuses on improving affordability and access to mobile connectivity.
• It targets remote and underserved regions of India.
• The program supports national missions like Digital India, financial inclusion, and rural digital empowerment.
• A pilot project was launched in Assam. The pilot showed strong success and proved the model can be scaled nationwide.
• Post Offices will serve as official Points of Sale for BSNL. They will handle SIM sales and mobile recharge services.
• BSNL will supply the required SIM cards to the Post Offices.
• It will also train postal staff to manage sales and customer onboarding.
• DoP will register new BSNL customers. It will also ensure that transactions are carried out in a secure and standardized way.
• People will be able to access mobile services at their local Post Offices.
• The agreement is valid for one year starting from September 17, 2025.  It may be extended beyond the initial term.
• DoP and BSNL will jointly monitor the rollout of the project.

Topic: Indian Economy

9. The Department of Consumer Affairs has released an updated advisory in view of the change in GST rates effective from September 22, 2025.

• The advisory is issued under Rule 33 of the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2011.
• The government has introduced relaxations to ease compliance for businesses.
• These changes also ensure that consumers benefit from the reduced GST.
• Manufacturers, packers, and importers can choose to add revised price stickers.
• This applies to unsold stock manufactured before the GST revision date.
• The original Maximum Retail Price (MRP) must remain visible.
• The new price label must not cover or obscure the original MRP.
• The use of revised stickers is voluntary and not legally required.
• Previously, companies had to publish revised MRPs in two newspapers.
• This requirement under Rule 18(3) has now been removed.
• Businesses now only need to share updated price lists with wholesalers and retailers.
• They must also send copies to the Director of Legal Metrology (Central Government).
• They must inform Controllers of Legal Metrology in States and Union Territories as well.
• This change simplifies compliance and reduces the paperwork for companies.
• Firms are allowed to continue using old packaging material.
• This applies to wrappers printed before the GST rate change.
• They can use such materials until March 31, 2026, or until stock is exhausted.
• Prices on old packaging can be corrected using stamps, stickers, or online printing.
• Corrections can be made anywhere on the package where clearly visible.
• The government has also urged businesses to spread awareness.
• Manufacturers, importers, and packers should inform dealers, retailers, and consumers.
• They should clearly communicate the revised GST rates.
• They are encouraged to use all available communication channels.
• This includes electronic media, print outlets, and social media platforms.
• The overall move supports ease of doing business.
• At the same time, it protects consumer interests.
• It ensures that consumers receive the benefits of lower GST.
• It avoids unnecessary compliance pressure on businesses.

Topic: Government Schemes and Initiatives

10. The Minister of Information and Technology, Ashwini Vaishnaw, announced plans to establish over 500 data labs across India.

• This is part of the India AI Mission. Eight companies have been selected for large language model development.
• These include Tech Mahindra, Fractal Analytics, and the IIT Bombay-led consortium BharatGen.
• The government allocated 988.6 crore rupees to the IIT Bombay consortium.
• They will develop a Large Language Model with 1 trillion parameters.
• The India AI Mission aims to develop self-reliant AI technologies.
• It focuses on sector-specific AI applications, sovereign large language models, GPUs, and skill-building programs.
• The mission was approved earlier this year. It has a total budget of 10,300 crore rupees.