Daily Current Affairs and GK | 21 and 22 September 2025

Topic: Personality in News

1. Renowned Assamese singer and cultural icon Zubeen Garg has passed away.

• He died in a scuba diving accident in Singapore at the age of 52.
• He was rescued by Singapore Police from the sea in an unconscious state and immediately taken to a hospital.
• Despite intensive medical care, doctors could not revive him.
• Zubeen had travelled to Singapore to perform at the North East Festival.
• He gained recognition in Bollywood with the song “Ya Ali” from the 2006 film, Gangster.
• He had a prolific career, recording over 38,000 songs in 40 languages.
• His first music album, titled Anamika, was released in 1992.
• He was widely respected as a singer, lyricist, composer, actor, filmmaker, and humanitarian.
• Assam government has declared three days of state mourning from 20th to 22nd September over his death.

Topic: Important Days

2. World Alzheimer's Day 2025: 21 September

• World Alzheimer's Day is celebrated every year on 21 September.
• It is observed to raise awareness and challenge the stigma around Alzheimer's disease.
• German psychiatrist and pathologist, Alois Alzheimer described it for the first time in 1906.
• Its symptoms are memory-related difficulties, mood swings, and disorientation.
• It may be inherited genetically or caused by head injuries, depression, and hypertension.

Topic: Defence

3. The first-ever Indian Defence Manufacturing Plant inaugurated in Morocco under Aatmanirbhar Bharat.

• Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is on a two-day official visit to Morocco from September 22.
• This marks the first-ever visit of an Indian Defence Minister to the North African nation.
• Tata Advanced Systems Maroc’s new manufacturing facility at Berrechid inaugurated during the visit.
• The facility will produce the Wheeled Armoured Platform for defence use.
• It is the first Indian defence manufacturing plant in Africa, reflecting India’s global expansion under Aatmanirbhar Bharat.
• A bilateral meeting held between Rajnath Singh and his Moroccan counterpart Abdeltif Loudiyi.
• The Indian community in Rabat interacted with the Defence Minister.
• A Memorandum of Understanding on defence cooperation signed between both countries.
• This MoU will provide an institutional framework to expand and deepen bilateral defence relations, including exchanges, training, and industrial relations.

Topic: Summits/Conferences/Meetings

4. The 10^th All India CAT Conference inaugurated by Chief Justice of India B. R. Gavai.

• On 20 September, the 10th All India Conference of the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) was inaugurated in New Delhi by Chief Justice of India B. R. Gavai.
• CAT was described as a forum created to improve efficiency and access to justice for government officials.
• The Chief Justice highlighted that CAT has worked tirelessly over four decades since its establishment.
• The Chief Justice of India stressed the need for greater uniformity in the decisions of the tribunal and transparency in its functioning.
• It was emphasized that all litigants must feel tribunal decisions are well reasoned.
• Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal stated that officials often appeal even correct tribunal orders.
• He added that this tendency of automatic appeals needs to be reconsidered.
• Union Minister Jitendra Singh recalled that CAT was set up to provide ease of justice and reduce backlog in high courts.
• The conference aims to strengthen the judicial and administrative system through deliberations.
• The deliberations are expected to contribute to further enhancing the role of CAT as a cost-effective, accessible, and effective forum for service-related grievances.

Topic: Summits/Conferences/Meetings

5. India re-elected to UPU’s Council of Administration and POC.

• India has been re-elected to the Council of Administration and Postal Operations Council of the Universal Postal Union.
• The re-election took place during the 28th UPU Congress in Dubai.
• The Ministry of Communications stated that this reflects international confidence in India Post’s reforms.
• Innovative digital initiatives of India Post were recognised by the global community.
• Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said this milestone shows India’s growing global leadership.
• He credited External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar’s efforts for this achievement.
• India has been a UPU member since 1876 and has supported global postal development.
• The UPU serves as the main forum for cooperation among global postal stakeholders.
• The Council of Administration handles policy, governance, and regulatory issues.
• The Postal Operations Council works on technical and operational modernisation of postal services worldwide.

Topic: Environment and Ecology

6. Brazil became the first investor in the Global Forest Fund.

• Brazil will be the first country to invest in the Tropical Forests Forever Facility (TFFF).
• It is a multilateral funding mechanism that it has proposed to conserve globally threatened forests.
• The investment will be announced by President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva at the UN in New York on 23 September.
• The Brazilian government believes the TFFF will be its main target at the UN climate summit, known as COP30, which will be held in November in the Amazonian city of Belém.
• The exact value of Brazil’s contribution has not yet been disclosed.
• China had earlier indicated its intention to make an initial contribution to the fund.
• Support for the TFFF has also been shown by nations including the UK, France, Germany, Norway, Singapore, and the UAE.
• Policymakers envision the TFFF as a $125 billion fund, combining sovereign and private sector contributions, managed like an endowment, paying countries annual stipends based on the survival of their tropical forests.
• To achieve this lofty goal, Brazil needs a first $25 billion contribution from governments and major philanthropic institutions, followed by another $100 billion from private investors.

Topic: Awards and Prizes

7. Mohanlal has been chosen for the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for 2023.

• The award will be presented at the 71st National Film Awards ceremony on September 23, 2025.
• Mohanlal is being honored for his significant contributions to Indian cinema.
• In 2009, he was appointed as an Honorary Lieutenant Colonel in the Indian Territorial Army.
• Mohanlal has acted in over 400 films, spanning more than forty years.
• He has won five National Awards and many Kerala State honours.
• He was awarded the Padma Shri in 2001 and the Padma Bhushan in 2019.
• Dadasaheb Phalke Award is given for outstanding contribution to the growth and development of Indian cinema. It was started in 1969. It is the country’s highest cinema honour.

Topic: Summits/ Conferences/ Meetings

8. The 28^th National Conference on e-Governance is being held in Visakhapatnam on September 22 and 23, 2025.

• It is jointly organised by Department of Administrative Reforms & Public Grievances (DARPG), the Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY), and the Government of Andhra Pradesh.
• The theme of the conference is ‘Viksit Bharat: Civil Service and Digital Transformation.’
• Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh inaugurated the conference.
• The National e-Governance Awards 2025 will be presented during the conference.
• A total of 19 digital governance projects will be awarded.
• These include 10 Gold Awards, 6 Silver Awards, and 3 Jury Awards.
• Awardees include central and state departments, local bodies, and academic institutions.
• About 70 speakers will participate from government, academia, and industry.
• Topics will cover AI, cybersecurity, service delivery, agri-tech, and grassroots innovations.
• An exhibition will highlight key milestones in India’s e-Governance journey. A Wall of Fame will feature past award winners.
• Delegates from all 28 States and 8 Union Territories are attending.
• The conference is focused on using advanced technology for citizen-centric governance.
• Smt. Sarita Chauhan, Joint Secretary, Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances, Govt of India will present the Visakhapatnam Declaration on e-Governance 2025.

Topic: MoUs/Agreements

9. Five MoUs have been signed by Ministry of Rural Development with NIRD&PR, Hyderabad and four State Rural Livelihoods Missions (SRLMs) from Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, and Telangana.

• These MoUs have been signed to strengthen initiatives under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana–National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM).
• These states have been identified for their pioneering work in digitization.
• Bihar is also leading in Food, Nutrition, Health, and WASH (FNHW) interventions.
• The MoUs were signed on September 19, 2025, by Shri T.K. Anil Kumar, the Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Rural Development.
• National Institute of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj (NIRD&PR) will focus on building the skills of SRLM staff and community leaders. It will also create a diverse pool of resource experts.
• The initiative will provide technical and strategic support to strengthen community organizations. It will also focus on increasing livelihood opportunities.
• The goal is to foster social inclusion and drive innovation using digital solutions.
• National Resource Organizations (NROs) have been recognized for supporting the development of LokOS.
• LokOS is a digital platform designed for Self-Help Groups (SHGs).
• This platform will improve governance, transparency, and financial integration within SHGs and their federations.
• By leveraging technology, LokOS will empower rural communities and foster self-reliance.

Topic: State News/Tamil Nadu

10. Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin launched the issuance of identity cards for Women Self-Help Group (SHG) members on September 16, 2025.

• He also oversaw the distribution of ₹3,500 crore in loans to SHGs.
• The event was held at the Karuppur Engineering College campus.
• Tamil Nadu currently has over five lakh active SHGs.
• The idea of issuing ID cards was first raised by SHG members at a government event in Tiruvarur five months ago.
• Chief Minister M.K. Stalin responded to the request and announced the initiative on March 8.
• The ID cards were officially distributed in Salem district as part of this announcement.
• Tamil Nadu, which pioneered the Women SHG movement in 1989, is now the first state to provide official ID cards to SHG members.
• These ID cards allow women to transport their goods up to 100 kilometers free of cost in government buses.
• They will also receive discounts at outlets such as Aavin, Co-optex, and Mudhalvar Marunthagam.
• Under the Magalir Vidiyal Payanam scheme, women have taken 770 crore free bus rides in the last four and a half years.
• The Magalir Urimai Thogai scheme provides ₹1,000 in monthly assistance to 1.15 crore women.
• Eligibility criteria for the scheme have been relaxed to include more women.