Daily Current Affairs and GK | 3 September 2025

Topic: Sports

1. Mitchell Starc has officially retired from international T20 cricket.

• He made this decision to focus on his Test and ODI career.
• Starc finishes as Australia’s most successful fast bowler in T20Is. He took 79 wickets in 65 matches.
• Only Adam Zampa, a spinner, has more T20I wickets for Australia.
• Starc made his T20I debut in 2012 against Pakistan.
• He played in five out of six T20 World Cups since then. He missed the 2016 edition due to injury.
• Starc played a key role in Australia’s 2021 T20 World Cup win.
• He claimed nine wickets in seven matches during that tournament.
• His overall T20I economy rate stands at 7.74.
• At 35 years old, he now aims to focus on the longer formats of the game.

Topic: MoUs/Agreements

2. An MoU signed by Indian Railways and SBI to enhance Insurance Benefits for Railway Employees.

• On 1 September, Indian Railways (IR), one of the largest rail networks in the world, and the State Bank of India (SBI), the country’s largest public sector bank, signed a landmark MoU.

• The signing ceremony was attended by Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, Hon’ble Minister for Railways, Information & Broadcasting, and Electronics & Information Technology.
• Under the MoU, insurance coverage for Railway employees maintaining salary accounts with SBI has been significantly enhanced.
• In case of accidental death, the insurance benefit has been increased to Rs 1 crore, while the current coverage for Group A, B, and C employees covered under CGEGIS is Rs 1.20 lakh, Rs 60,000, and Rs 30,000, respectively.
• Natural death insurance coverage of ₹10 lakh will also be provided to all employees holding only a salary account with SBI without any premium or medical examination requirement.
• Nearly 7 lakh Railway employees maintaining salary accounts with SBI are expected to benefit from this agreement.
• Key complimentary insurance covers under the MoU include an Air Accident (death) insurance of ₹1.60 crore, with an additional coverage of up to ₹1 crore on the RuPay Debit Card.
• Personal Accident insurance for Permanent Total Disablement has been set at ₹1 crore, while Permanent Partial Disability is covered up to ₹80 lakh.
• The MoU has been described as employee-centric and compassionate, particularly benefiting frontline Group C Railway personnel and other employees.

Topic: Government Schemes and Initiatives

3. AI-Powered Mobile App for India Mobile Congress 2025 launched by Scindia.

• On 1 September, an AI-powered mobile application for India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2025 was launched by Union Communications Minister Jyotiraditya M. Scindia.
• The minister described the app as a gateway to “connections, collaborations, and outcomes.”
• The 9th edition of IMC will be organized from October 8 to 11 at Yashobhoomi Convention Centre in Dwarka, New Delhi.
• The theme of the IMC is “Innovate to Transform.”
• The application has been equipped with features such as real-time live streaming of sessions and AI-driven personalized recommendations.
• Networking tools for startups and participants, along with a built-in chatbot for instant event support, have also been included in the platform.
• Short AI-generated video highlights, live polls, contests, and an interactive photo booth will be available on the app.
• More than 1,000 use cases in fields like 5G/6G, AI, IoT, quantum computing, clean tech, semiconductors, and smart mobility will be showcased at IMC 2025.
• The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) are co-hosting the event.
• Registrations for delegates, startups, academia, students, and media have already been opened on the official IMC website.

Topic: Summits/Conferences/Meetings

4. The 20th Global Sustainability Summit addressed by Union Minister Shri Bhupender Yadav in New Delhi on 2 September.

• The event was organized by the CII-ITC Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Development.
• Representatives from more than 10 countries and senior leaders from the industry were present at the gathering.
• Shri Yadav described India’s growth model as one that balances economic progress with ecological responsibility.
• He emphasized that sustainability should be treated not as a target but as a lifestyle rooted in resilience, regeneration, and responsibility.
• He informed that on August 29, 2025, the Government of India had notified the Environmental Audit Rules, 2025, which provide a formal framework for environmental audits across the country.
• The Minister informed that the revised methodology for the Green Credit Programme has been notified on 29th August 2025 to allow greater private participation and eco-restoration.
• On August 31, 2025, the ministry also amended the Forest (Conservation and Augmentation) Rules, 2023, to facilitate the objectives of achieving self-sufficiency in the critical minerals sector under the newly launched National Critical Minerals Mission, 2025.
• Under this mission, 24 minerals have been identified as critical and strategic, and 29 others have been identified as vital for strengthening the country's economy and national security.

Topic: Indian Economy

5. GST collection grew 6.5% to ₹1.86 lakh crore in August.

• According to government data released on 1st September, India’s Goods and Services Tax (GST) collections rose by 6.5% year-on-year to ₹1.86 lakh crore in August 2025.

• This marked the eighth straight month of revenues staying above ₹1.8 lakh crore, reflecting robust domestic consumption and steady economic activity.
• During August, gross domestic GST revenue grew 9.6% to ₹1.37 lakh crore, while revenue from imports contracted by 1.2% to ₹49,354 crore.
• Refunds of ₹19,359 crore were reported, representing a 20% decline from last year.
• Net GST revenue showed strong momentum with a 10.7% increase to ₹1.67 lakh crore.
• Collections under Central GST, State GST, Integrated GST, and cess all recorded year-on-year growth.
• Between April and August FY26, gross GST collections reached about ₹10 lakh crore, up from ₹9.13 lakh crore in the same period last year.
• GST revenues have steadily increased over the years, with FY25 recording an all-time high of ₹22.08 lakh crore.
• The GST Council will meet on September 3–4 in New Delhi to deliberate on rationalisation, including moving to a two-slab rate structure and a 40% tax on sin goods.
• The buoyant revenue outlook has prompted Morgan Stanley to revise India’s FY26 growth forecast upward to 6.7%, citing strong consumption and festive demand.

Topic: Sports

6. India will host the Badminton World Championships in 2026 after 17 years.

• The Badminton World Federation (BWF) has announced that New Delhi will host the 2026 Badminton World Championships in August 2026.
• On1 September, the announcement was made during the closing ceremony of the 2025 Championships held in Paris.
• The event will return to India after 17 years, the last edition being hosted in Hyderabad in 2009.
• The Championships will return to Asia after four years, following the 2018 edition in Nanjing, China.
• Over the years, Indian shuttlers have consistently won medals at the World Championships.
• PV Sindhu has emerged as India’s most successful campaigner, with five medals including a gold, two silver, and two bronze.
• Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty have recently secured medals in men’s doubles events.
• H.S. Prannoy also clinched a medal for India in recent editions of the tournament.
• Earlier, Prakash Padukone, Jwala Gutta, and Ashwini Ponnappa had also won medals at this prestigious event.

Topic: Biotechnology and Diseases

7. A new compound to combat breast cancer has been developed by Indian Scientists.

• A new nitro-substituted organoselenium compound has been designed by Indian researchers.

• The compound will reduce the invasiveness of aggressive triple-negative breast cancer cells.
• Dr. Asis Bala at the Institute of Advanced Study in Science and Technology carried out the study jointly with Dr. Krishna P. Bhabak of IIT Guwahati.
• Institute of Advanced Study in Science and Technologyis an autonomous institute under the Department of Science and Technology. 
• The compound is identified as 4-nitro-substituted benzylic diselenide (diselenide 7).
• It was made through nucleophilic substitution of benzylic halides with selenium derivatives.
• In lab studies, it was observed that the compund targeted multiple survival mechanisms in cancer cells.
• It blocked Akt/mTOR and ERK pathways. These are important for cancer cell growth.
• The compund generates reactive oxygen species, and reduces inflammation.

Topic: Government Schemes and Initiatives

8. BHARATI initiative has been launched by Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority to boost agri-food exports.

• The initiative was launched by Union Commerce and Industry Minister Shri Piyush Goyal, UAE Minister of Foreign Trade Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi and Union Minister of Food Processing Industries Shri Chirag Paswan during the Food & Beverages Sector Stakeholders Meeting.
• BHARATI will empower 100 agri-food startups. It will boost exports towards $50 billion target by 2030
• The new initiative BHARATI was launched on the sidelines of the “Food & Beverages Sector Stakeholders Meeting”.
• BHARATI stands for Bharat’s Hub for Agritech, Resilience, Advancement and Incubation for Export Enablement.
• The BHARATI initiative is designed to complement industry and government-led incubation programmes in the agriculture, food and food processing sectors.
• It also aims to attract startups working on advanced technologies.
• It will connect agri-food innovators, tech-driven solution providers.
• A nationwide awareness campaign is also part of the initiative.
• This campaign will engage stakeholders and attract solution-oriented startups from across India.

Topic: Indian Polity

9. The Immigration and Foreigners (Exemption) Order, 2025, has been issued by the Central Government.

• It introduces significant exclusions from the regulations pertaining to valid passports, travel papers, and visas for particular groups of people and carriers.
• The order was announced by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) in accordance with Section 33 of the Immigration and Foreigners Act of 2025. 
• The Immigration (Carriers' Liability) Order of 2007 and the Registration of Foreigners (Exemption) Order of 1957 are superseded by the new order, unless those provisions have already been used. 
• The notification went into effect right away after it was published in the Indian Gazette on September 1. 
• The order outlines exceptions to several of the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025's requirements for valid passports, travel papers, and visas in order to enter, remain in, and depart India.
• The new regulations exempt Indian Armed Forces personnel traveling on government transportation and their accompanying family members from these requirements when they enter or depart the country on duty.
• Indian nationals who enter India by air or land through the borders of Bhutan or Nepal are likewise exempt. 
• Nepalese and Bhutanese nationals are also exempt from paying taxes when they enter India through their respective borders or when they travel to or from other countries with a valid passport, with the exception of China, Macau, Hong Kong, and Pakistan.
• Certain foreigners are exempt from visa requirements.
• The order also relieves carriers of certain responsibilities under the Act.

Topic: National Appointments

10. Dr. Deepak Mittal has been appointed as India’s next Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates.

• He is a 1998-batch officer of the Indian Foreign Service. He has also served in the Prime Minister’s Office under PM Modi.
• He was India’s Ambassador to Qatar between 2020 and 2022.
• He played a crucial role in establishing India’s first formal diplomatic contact with the Taliban.
• He will succeed Sunjay Sudhir, the current Ambassador to the UAE. Sunjay Sudhir is set to retire in September.
• UAE is among India’s closest strategic partners in West Asia.
• UAE is home to over 3.5 million Indian nationals, one of the largest expatriate communities in the region.
• India and the UAE established diplomatic ties in 1972.
• PM Modi visited UAE in 2015. This was the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister in over three decades.
• In February 2024, Mr. Modi inaugurated the BAPS Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi.
• This was his seventh visit to the UAE in nine years.