Current Affairs 13, 14 & 15 September 2025

We are here for you to provide the important Recent and Latest Current Affairs 13, 14 & 15 September 2025, which have unique updates of Latest Current Affairs 2025 events from all newspapers such as The Hindu, The Economic Times, PIB, Times of India, PTI, Indian Express, Business Standard and all Government official websites.

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NATIONAL AFFAIRS

Union Minister Amit Shah Launches Fast-Track Immigration Facility at 5 AirportsIn September 2025, Union Minister Amit Shah, Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), launched the Fast Track Immigration-Trusted Traveller Programme (FTI-TTP) at five additional international airports across India, through video conferencing.
Expansion of FTI-TTP to 13 Airports:
Newly Added Airports: Lucknow International Airport in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh(UP); Thiruvananthapuram International Airport in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala; Kozhikode International Airport in Kozhikode, Kerala; Tiruchirappalli International Airport in Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu(TN); and Amritsar International Airport in Amritsar, Punjab.
Expansion: This expansion brings the total number of airports participating in the program to 13, enhancing the convenience and efficiency of immigration processes for Indian citizens and Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) cardholders.
Background: FTI-TTP is designed to fast-track the immigration process for pre-verified Indian nationals and OCI cardholders.

• The initiative was first launched at Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi (Delhi) in July 2024. It was later extended to seven more airports:

>>Read Full News

Union Defence Minister Flagged-off ‘Samudra Pradakshina’, 1st ever Tr-Service All-women Circumnavigation from Mumbai, MaharashtraIn September 2025, Union Minister Rajnath Singh, Ministry of Defence (MoD) virtually flagged-off  ‘Samudra Pradakshina’, world’s 1st ever tri-service all-women circumnavigation sailing expedition from the Gateway of India in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
About Samudra Pradakshina:
Crew: The expedition comprises 10 women officers, including 5 women officers from Indian Army (IA), 1 woman officer from Indian Navy (IN) and remaining 4 women officers from Indian Air Force (IAF).
Sailing Vessel: The expedition will sail onboard the Indian Army Sailing Vessel (IASV) Triveni, a 50 foot- Class A yacht indigenously-built vessel in Puducherry.
Crossing 3 Great Capes: The team will cross the equator twice and sail around the 3 Great Capes i.e. Cape Leeuwin (in Australia); Cape Horn (in South America) and the Cape of Good Hope (in South Africa, SA).

• The most challenging part for the team will be to cross Southern Ocean and Drake Passage.

Port Calls: During the expedition, team will make 4 international port calls at Fremantle (Australia), Lyttelton (New Zealand), Port Stanley (Canada) and Cape Town (South Africa, SA).
About Indian Army (IA):
Chief of the Army Staff (CoAS) – General Upendra Dwivedi
Headquarters- New Delhi, Delhi
Established- 1895
Motto- Seva Paramo Dharma (Service Before Self)
>>Read Full News

NCSSR Signs MoU with IIT-Delhi to Promote Sports Science, Indigenous Innovation in IndiaIn September 2025, the National Centre of Sports Science Research (NCSSR) under the Sports Authority of India (SAI), Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports (MoYAS), has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Indian Institute of Technology-Delhi (IIT-D), to bolster cooperation in the domains of sports sciences, advanced technology, and indigenous innovation.

• This newly signed MoU is in alignment with the Government of India (GoI)’s ‘Garv se Swadeshi’ campaign, particularly within the sports sector.

Key Details of MoU:
Signatories: The MoU signed by Dr.Bibhu Kalyan Nayak, Director-cum-Head Brig of NCSSR, on behalf of SAI and Prof. K. Aggarwal, Dean (Research & Development, R&D) on behalf of IIT-D in the presence of Hari Ranjan Rao, Secretary of Sports, MYAS and Prof. Rangan Banerjee, Director of IIT Delhi in New Delhi (Delhi).

Key Priority Areas: This strategic collaboration aims to: provide high-quality research in sports science and engineering;

• Support innovation-driven projects for athlete performance enhancement;
• Provide knowledge sharing between leading scientists and sports experts and institutions;
• Contribute to injury prevention, athlete well-being and recovery solutions.

Inauguration of Biomechanics Laboratory :
Laboratory : Hari Ranjan Rao, Secretary of Sports, MYAS, inaugurated the newly set up Biomechanics Laboratory at IIT-D campus.
Objective: It aims to bolster sports science infrastructure in India, and promote innovation to support both able-bodied and para athletes.
Significance: This newly inaugurated lab will conduct advanced sports science evaluations and biomedical research.

• The new lab will play an important role in delivering scientific information into athlete movement, optimizing performance, and reducing the risk of injuries.

About Sports Authority of India (SAI):
Director General(DG) – Hari Ranjan Rao
Headquarters – New Delhi, Delhi
Established – 1984

TCS  Signs MoU with C-DAC for India’s sovereign cloud development
In September 2025, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), the flagship company and a part of Tata group, signed a Memorandum of Understanding(MoU) with Centre for Development of Advance Computing (C-DAC), an Research and Development(R&D) institution under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), to to speed up the creation of India’s sovereign cloud ecosystem.

Key Details of MoU:
Goals: Under this partnership, the two organisations will provide Artificial Intelligence(AI)-enabled cloud platforms that comply with India’s data localisation requirements and enable the digital transformation of critical public sector services.
Aim: It aims to reduce dependence on global hyperscales by creating a future-ready sovereign cloud ecosystem based on OpenStack and indigenous technologies.
Integration : Indigenous technologies will be integrated into TCS’ SovereignSecure Cloud to securely host key government applications(app) like e-Sanjeevani and Dial 112, ensuring data protection compliance.

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

Overview of Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s Visit to UAE from September 10 to 11, 2025Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Ministry of Education (MoE), was on a two-day official visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from September 10 to 11, 2025.
Visit to Abu Dhabi :
Inauguration of AIC: During the visit, he inaugurated the first-ever Atal Incubation Centre (AIC) hosted in an Indian institution abroad at the IIT-Delhi Abu Dhabi campus.
Launch of Academic Programs: launched two new academic programs at IIT Delhi-Abu Dhabi: Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) program in Energy and Sustainability and a BBachelor of Technology (B.Tech) in Chemical Engineering.
Visit to Dubai:
Atal Tinkering Labs (ATL): On September 11, 2025, he inaugurated ATL in 12 Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE)-affiliated schools across the UAE as part of the Teachers’ Day 2025 celebrations.
IIM Ahmedabad Dubai Campus: Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Prime Minister(PM), UAE, in the presence of Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, inaugurated the Dubai campus of the Indian Institute of Management (IIM)- Ahmedabad in Dubai, UAE, marking the first overseas campus of IIM Ahmedabad.
Plantation Drive: Union Minister Pradhan participated in “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam” plantation drive at the Indian Consulate in Dubai, planting Ghaf trees, which are native to the UAE.
>>Read Full News

BANKING & FINANCE

TCIL Signs MoU with PNB to Strengthen Comprehensive IT Solutions
In September 2025, Telecommunications Consultants India Limited (TCIL), a Public Sector Undertaking (PSU), under Ministry of Communications (MoC), signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Punjab National Bank (PNB) to strengthen the Information Technology (IT) infrastructure of PNB.

• The MoU was signed by Sanjeev Kumar, Chairman and Managing Director (CMD), TCIL, and Manish Agarwal, General Manager (GM), PNB, in New Delhi, Delhi.

Aim: The partnership aims to leverage the expertise of TCIL in Information & Communication Technology (ICT) consultancy, system integration, and project management, along with the digital banking experience of PNB to deliver advanced solutions across multiple domains.
Focus Areas: The MoU will focus on areas such as Digital Transformation to upgrade banking infrastructure and services through innovative technologies, IT and Network solutions to deploy secure, reliable, and scalable IT systems, Cybersecurity to strengthen security frameworks for digital transactions and data protection, and capacity building.

GOI & ADB Sign USD 126 Million Agreement to Promote Sustainable Tourism in Uttarakhand
In September 2025, Government of India (GoI) and Asian Development Bank (ADB) signed a USD 126.4 million loan agreement to promote rural development through Sustainable, Inclusive, and Climate-Resilient Tourism Development(CRDT) at Tehri Lake Area Project in Uttarakhand.

Rural Development Project:
Focus: The project is focused on the Tehri Lake region, particularly in Tehri Garhwal District of Uttarakhand, the most climate-vulnerable and economically disadvantaged area in Uttarakhand.
Beneficiaries: Under this project, over 87,000 residents and 2.7 million annual visitors will benefit through improved tourism planning, upgraded infrastructure, enhanced sanitation and waste management, and disaster preparedness.
Key Interventions: It includes institutional strengthening, climate-resilient infrastructure, nature-based solutions to mitigate landslide and flood risks, and inclusive tourism services led by women, youth, and the private sector.

IFC Pledged USD 137 Million to JBM & GreenCell for e-Buses Roll Out in India
In September 2025, International Finance Corporation (IFC), the private sector arm of the World Bank Group (WBG), has pledged USD 137 million (Rs 1,210 crore) as financial support to JBM ECOLIFE (JBM), a subsidiary of JBM Auto Ltd specializing in electric buses, to promote electric public transport in India and enhance access to innovative urban mobility solutions.

• This deal is IFC’s biggest global e-bus investment and its first in Asia.

Key Details of Investment:
Funding Distribution: IFC will invest USD 100 million (Rs 883 crore) in JBM ; and remaining USD 37 million (Rs 327 crore) in GreenCell, backed by Eversource Capital.
Deployment of e-Buses: The funding will used to deploy 4,000 e-buses and charging stations across 39 municipalities in 8 Indian states/Union Territories (UTs) such as: Maharashtra, Assam, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh (AP), Bihar, Madhya Pradesh (MP), Puducherry, and Delhi.
Significance: These projects use a formal Payment Security Mechanism (PSM) to reduce payment risks for municipal and state transport undertakings, which enhances the bankability and replicability of future e-bus projects.
Target: India has over 2 million buses in operation, and the government targets 40% e-bus penetration by the Financial Year 2029-30(FY2030).

ECONOMY & BUSINESS

ICRA Raised India’s GDP Growth Forecast to 6.5% for FY26
In September 2025, India’s Credit Rating Agency, ICRA Limited, formerly Investment Information and Credit Rating Agency of India Limited, has raised India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth forecast to 6.5% from its previous estimate of 6% for Financial Year 2025-26 (FY26).

Key Findings:
Reason: This revised GDP projection for FY26 is based on the earlier-than-expected implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) rationalization at the onset of the heavy festive period, and sharper-than-expected 1st Quarter (Q1: April-June) GDP growth in FY26.
Increase in Demand: The agency further highlighted that this GST rationalization, along with income tax relief, has put Rs 3 lakh crore in the hands of households that will increase the demand and consumption.
Bank Credit and NBFC Credit: The agency has projected that bank credit will increase from Rs 18 lakh crore (in FY25) to Rs 19-20.5 lakh crore (in FY26), marking an increase of 10.4%-11.3% Year-on-Year (Y-o-Y).

• Further, NBFC credit, excluding infra-focused entities, is expected to expand from 17% (in FY25) to 15%-17% (in FY26).

Bharat Forge and UK Wind racers Signs a pact to bring UAV ‘s in India
In September,2025, Bharat Forge, a Forging and advanced engineering company, signed an agreement with United Kingdom(UK)- based Wind racers, an autonomous cargo drone manufacturer, for a collaboration of deployment of the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) ULTRA across India.

• The agreement was signed at the Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEI) 2025, a global defence exhibition and conference , held in London, UK.

About the MoU:
Objectives: The MoU commences with a two-year initial term, enabling both companies to drive localisation, undertake joint trials, and frame a definitive deployment plan for India.
Applications: ULTRA’s capabilities are expected to meet emerging needs across India’s military and civil sectors, including Carrier On Board Delivery (COD) for the Indian Navy(IN) and critical logistics support for the Indian Army(IA) and the Indian Air Force(IAF).
Alignment: The partnership aligns with the UK–India Free Trade Agreement(FTA) and Vision 2035, aimed at enhancing technology transfer and driving innovation between the two nations.

APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

C.P. Radhakrishnan Sworn in as 15th Vice President of IndiaOn September 12 2025, Former Governor of Maharashtra Chandrapuram Ponnusamy (C.P.) Radhakrishnan has officially sworn-in as the 15th Vice President (VP) of India, 2nd highest constitutional office in India and Chairman of the Rajya Sabha (Upper House of the Parliament).

• President of India Droupadi Murmu administered the oath to him at a brief ceremony held in Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi, Delhi.
• C.P.Radhakrishnan succeeded Jagdeep Dhankar, who resigned from the post of VP on July 21, 2025 due to health issues.

Vice-Presidential Election:
Present Composition: The current composition of Electoral College is 781 due to 6 vacant seats in Rajya Sabha and 1 in Lok Sabha (Lower House of the Parliament).
Voter Turnout: As per Rajya Sabha Secretary General PC Mody, total 767 out of 781 Member of Parliaments (MPs) casted their votes, registering a total voter turnout of 98.2%.
Election Result: On September 09 2025, C.P. Radhakrishnan, candidate of National Democratic Alliance (NDA), was elected as the 15th VP of India, securing 452 votes against opposition alliance, Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (I.N.D.I.A.) candidate, former Supreme Court Judge Buchireddy (B.) Sudershan Reddy, who got 300 votes.
>>Read Full News

Gujarat Governor Acharya Devvrat Given Additional Charge of Maharashtra GovernorOn 11 September 2025, President of India Droupadi Murmu appointed Acharya Devvrat, Governor of Gujarat, to additionally discharge the functions of Governor of Maharashtra after Chandrapuram Ponnusami (C.P.) Radhakrishnan resigned after his election as the Vice President of India.

About Acharya Devvrat:
Background: Acharya Devvrat, a politician and educationist, served as the principal of a Gurukul in Kurukshetra, Haryana, for over 35 years, transforming it into a renowned educational institution.

• He is an Arya Samaj devotee, promoting Vedic values, social reforms, and education.

Previous Role: He served as Governor of Himachal Pradesh (HP) from August 2015 to July 2019.
Current Position: Governor of Gujarat since 22 July 2019

• Serves as Chancellor of multiple universities in Gujarat, including Gujarat University, Sardar Patel University, Saurashtra University, Gujarat Technological University and Others.

Key Constitutional Positions:
Governor: The Governor of an Indian state is appointed by the President of India (Article 155) and serves a five-year term at the President’s pleasure (Article 156).

• The Governor takes the oath of office administered by the Chief Justice(CJ) of the State High Court(HC)(Article 159).

Vice President: The Vice President of India is elected by Members of Parliament (Article 66) and serves a five-year term (Article 67).

• He functions as the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha and takes the oath administered by the President (Article 69).

About Maharashtra:
Chief Minister (CM) – Devendra Fadnavis
Capital – Mumbai
Wildlife Sanctuary (WLS) – Bhimashankar WLS, Bhamragarh WLS

FSIB Recommends Ravi Ranjan for MD of SBIIn September 2025, the Financial Services Institutions Bureau (FSIB) recommended Ravi Ranjan, Deputy Managing Director (DMD) of State Bank of India (SBI), for the position of Managing Director (MD) of SBI. The final decision will be made by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC), led by Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi.

• If appointed, he will succeed Vinay M Tonse, whose term ends on November 30, 2025.

SBI Selection & Leadership:
Selection Process: On 11 September 2025, the Financial Services Institutions Bureau (FSIB) interviewed nine candidates and, based on their performance, experience, and eligibility parameters, recommended Ravi Ranjan as the most suitable candidate for the post.
Leadership: As of September 2025, SBI is led by a Chairman (Challa Sreenivasulu Setty) and four MDs, Ashwini Kumar Tewari, Vinay M. Tonse, Rana Ashutosh Kumar Singh, and Rama Mohan Rao Amara.
About Ravi Ranjan:
Current Role: DMD (Global Markets), SBI
Experience: Over 33 years in banking, having joined SBI as a Probationary Officer (PO) in 1991
Previous roles: Held key leadership roles at SBI, including Chief General Manager(CGM) of the Chennai Circle (Tamil Nadu, TN), overseeing 1,259 branches, Vice President (VP) at SBI Singapore, Deputy General Manager (DGM) at SBI’s Overseas Branch in New Delhi, Delhi, and General Manager (GM) in Project Finance and Leasing at SBI’s Corporate Centre, Mumbai, Maharashtra.
About Financial Services Institutions Bureau (FSIB):
Establishment: Constituted in July 2022, replacing the Banks Board Bureau (BBB).
Ministry: FSIB is the headhunter for directors of state-owned banks and financial institutions, established under the Department of Financial Service (DFS), Ministry of Finance (MoF).
Functions: Recommends names for Chairman, Managing Director (MD), Chief Executive Officer (CEO), and Whole-Time Directors in Public Sector Banks (PSBs), Public Sector Insurance Companies (PSICs), and other state-owned financial institutions.
Chairperson – Bhanu Pratap Sharma, Former Secretary, Department of Personnel & Training (DoPT), Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions (MOPP&P).

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

India’s TASL and Spain’s Indra Commissioned 3D-ASR Lanza-N into Indian Navy on INS MysoreOn September 10, 2025, Indra, a global aerospace and defence technology company headquartered in Spain, in collaboration with Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL), India’s leading aerospace and defence company, successfully delivered and commissioned the Lanza-N, India’s first indigenous Three Dimension Air Surveillance Radar (3D-ASR), into the Indian Navy (IN) on its Indian Navy Ship (INS) Mysore.

• It is one of the most advanced long-range air defence and anti-missile radars. It has the capable of detecting a variety of threats, including drones, supersonic aircraft, anti-radiation missiles, and naval platforms
• This is the first deployment of the Lanza-N radar outside Spain.

Background: In 2020, a contract was signed between TASL and Indra under Technology Transfer Programme (TTP), to deliver 23 naval radars by 2029. Indra will supply 3 complete radars and TASL will build and integrate the other 20 radars in the testing facility of TASL in Karnataka.
Lanza-N:
Detection: The radar, Lanza-N, provides 3D detection by measuring the distance, direction, and altitude of the targets. It can detect a variety of threats, including drones, supersonic aircraft, anti-radiation missiles, and naval platforms.
Range: It can detect targets at ranges of up to 256 nautical miles of approximately 474 Kilometre (Km).
Adaptation: The radar is designed for Indian climatic and regulatory requirements such as the ability to operate in extreme heat and high humidity.
Integration: The radar has been integrated with all onboard systems and underwent rigorous trials to test performance across various naval and aerial platforms.
Radar Assembly: To support production and future deployments, TASL has established a dedicated radar assembly, integration, and testing facility at its plant in Karnataka.

ENVIRONMENT

New Gecko ‘Cyrtodacylus Vanarakshaka’ Named After Assam’s Forest Department
In September 2025, Himanta Biswa Sarma, Chief Minister (CM) of Assam, announced that a newly discovered species of bent-toed gecko, ‘Cyrtodacylus Vanarakshaka’, has been named after the State’s Forest Department.

• The species was discovered in the montane forests of Dima Hasao district(Assam), bringing the total number of Cyrtodactylus species reported from the state to five.

About Cyrtodacylus Vanarakshaka:
Etymology: The name Vanarakshaka is derived from the Sanskrit words ‘vana’ (forest) and ‘rakshaka’ (protector).
Discovery & Publication: This new gecko species was described by a group of researchers, including Manmath Bharali, Mathipi Vabeiryureilai, Rupankar Bhattacharjee, and others, in the latest online issue of the ‘Journal of Asia-Pacific Biodiversity’.
Classification.: This newly discovered species belongs to the ‘Cyrtodactylus khasiensis’ group, widely known for high levels of endemism and limited distributions.

Two New Aspergillus Species Discovered in the Western GhatsIn September 2025, the researchers from the Maharashtra Association for the Cultivation of Science (MACS)-Agharkar Research Institute (ARI), Pune (Maharashtra) discovered two new black Aspergillus species (commonly known as black aspergillus), Aspergillus dhakephalkarii and Aspergillus patriciawiltshireae, in soil from the Western Ghats.

• The scientists also reported first geographic record of two black Aspergilli (A.) species, such as A. aculeatinus and A. brunneoviolaceus from soil samples collected from the Western Ghats.

Characteristics of Aspergillus dhakephalkarii

• Fast-growing colonies with pale to dark brown spores, yellowish sclerotia
• Uniseriate conidiophores with 2-3 branches
• Smooth, ellipsoidal conidia that differ from related species with spiny spherical conidia

Characteristics of Aspergillus patriciawiltshireae:

• Rapid growth with abundant yellowish-orange sclerotia
• Modest sporulation and echinulate (spiny) conidia
• Conidiophores branching into more than five columns
• Produces acid on specific growth media

Research Significance:
Conservation: The study highlights the need to continue exploration and conservation of the Western Ghats, a UNESCO biodiversity hotspot with scientific, ecological, and biotechnological importance.
Systematic Exploration: While several Aspergillus species are documented in the Western Ghats, records of the Aspergillus section Nigri are limited, stressing the need for further study and taxonomic research.
Industrial uses: Black Aspergilli are widely used in industries for citric acid production, food processing, fermentation, and agriculture.
Background:The researchers combined detailed morphological studies with molecular analyses using Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) and Calmodulin (CaM) genes for identification, and Ben-tubulin gene (BenA) and RPB2 genes for evolutionary relationships.

• It was carried out following the strict protocols set by international experts for Aspergillus species using a polyphasic (multistep) taxonomic approach.

About Agharkar Research Institute (ARI):
Director – Dr. Prashant Dhakephalkar
Headquarters – Pune, Maharashtra
Established – 1946

IMPORTANT DAYS

National Forest Martyrs Day 2025 – September 11India observes National Forest Martyrs Day on September 11 each year to honour the unsung heroes who laid down their lives protecting forests, trees, and wildlife.

Background:
Declaration: In 2013, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) declared 11 September as National Forest Martyrs Day.
Significance: The day was established to commemorate the ‘Khejarli Massacre of 1730’, which occurred in Khejarli, Rajasthan.
Event: The observance is held annually at the National Forest Martyrs Memorial in Dehradun, Uttarakhand.
About Khejarli Massacre:
Massacre: On 11 September 1730, over 363 Bishnoi villagers(Rajasthan), led by Amrita Devi Bishnoi and her daughters, sacrificed their lives in Khejarli, while resisting the felling of sacred Khejri trees ordered by Maharaja Abhay Singh’s representative.
Significance: The incident is considered one of the earliest examples of eco-feminism and environmental protest in India.The incident is regarded as one of the earliest examples of eco-feminism and environmental protest in India.
Khejri Tree: The Khejri (Prosopis cineraria), declared the state tree of Rajasthan in 1982-83, is known as the “Kalpavriksha of the Thar Desert” or the “King of Desert.”

• Covering nearly two-thirds of Rajasthan’s area, it plays a vital role in the socio-economic development of the Thar Desert.
• Commemoration: In 1988, the Department of Posts(DoP), Ministry of Communication released a commemorative stamp featuring the Khejri Tree.

Chipko Movement:
Movement: Inspired by the Khejarli Massacre, the Chipko Movement began in 1973 in Chamoli, Uttarakhand, as a women-led, non-violent protest against tree felling.
Leadership: Led by Chandi Prasad Bhatt, it resulted in a 15-year ban on green felling in the Himalayan forests of Uttar Pradesh(UP) in 1980.
Keyfacts:
Forests: Forests, often called the lungs of the Earth, play a vital role in producing oxygen, regulating rainfall, and storing carbon.
Statistics: India’s forest cover accounts for about 21.76% of its geographical area, while the combined forest and tree cover stands at nearly 25.17% (India State of Forest Report, ISFR2023).

International Day for South-South Cooperation  2025 – September 12The United Nations (UN) observes International Day for South-South Cooperation every year across the world on 12 September to promote collaboration among developing countries in the Global South across economic, social, cultural, technical, and political domains.

• South-South cooperation is a partnership among developing countries based on mutual respect, common objectives, and strong solidarity.

Theme:
2025 Theme: New Opportunities and Innovation through South-South and Triangular Cooperation
Focus: This year’s theme focuses on translating commitments into action and ensuring no country is left behind.
Background:
Proclamation: On 23 December 2003, the UN General Assembly(UNGA) adopted resolution A/RES/58/220, declaring 19 December as UN Day for South-South Cooperation.
First Observance: The first UN Day for South-South Cooperation was celebrated on 19 December 2004.
Change in the Date: In 2011, the UNGA moved the International Day for South-South Cooperation from 19 December to 12 September, marks the adoption of the 1978 Buenos Aires Plan of Action (BAPA) at the Buenos Aires conference for Technical Cooperation among Developing Countries (TCDC).
Formation of UNOSSC:
Formation: In 1974, the UNGA approved a special unit within UNDP to promote technical cooperation among developing countries.
Evolution: In 2013, this unit was restructured as the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC).
Guidance: The UNOSSC receives policy directions from the UNGA and its subsidiary, the High-level Committee on South-South Cooperation (HLCSSC).
Role: The UNOSSC promotes and facilitates South-South and Triangular Cooperation (SSTC) globally across the UN system, which can occur at bilateral, regional, intraregional, or interregional levels.
About United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC):
Director– Dima Al-Khatib
Headquarters– New York, the United States of America (USA)
Established– 1974

STATE NEWS

IIT Madras and Guidance Tamil Nadu Launches ‘INNOVATION-TN’ Platform
In September 2025, the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras, Tamil Nadu (TN), in collaboration with Guidance Tamil Nadu, launched ‘INNOVATION-TN’, India’s first state-level start-up and innovation dashboard.

About INNOVATION-TN Platform:
Objective: The platform acts as a one-stop source for information on Tamil Nadu’s start-up ecosystem.

• Helps startups identify incubators, investors, and banks, while enabling corporations to find innovation partners.

Background: The launch follows the agreement signed on 23 July 2025 between Guidance Tamil Nadu, IIT Madras, and YNOS Venture Engine CC Private Limited.
Development : The dashboard was developed by the Centre for Research on Start-ups and Risk Financing (CREST), an Institute of Eminence Research Centre at IIT Madras , with support from IIT-incubated YNOS Venture Engine.
TN Start-Up Ecosystem: As of August 2025, TN hosts 19,000 start-ups, creating 2.2 lakh jobs, attracting Rs.1.2 lakh crore, with 228 incubators and 45 start-ups raising over Rs.200 crore each.

NHSRCL Signs Rs. 4,468 Crore Contract with L&T for MAHSR Project
In September 2025, National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL), a wholly owned subsidiary of Indian Railways(IR), signed an agreement with Larsen & Toubro (L&T) Limited for the construction of 157 kilometer(km) tracks under the T-1 package of the Mumbai–Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail (MAHSR) Project, valued at Rs. 4,468 crores.

About T1 Project:
Overview:The project involves design, supply, testing, and commissioning of tracks from Mumbai station to Zaroli village (Maharashtra–Gujarat border), including four stations and a rolling stock depot at Thane(Maharashtra), marking a significant milestone in India’s first bullet train initiative.
Technology: The project adopts Japanese Shinkansen ballast-less slab track system, comprising RC track beds, Cement Asphalt Mortar (CAM), pre-cast slabs, and rails with fasteners.

• Japan Railway Technical Service (JARTS) trained 436 Indian engineers in advanced track-laying techniques

MAHSR Project: The project includes three track packages (T-1, T-2, T-3) awarded to Indian companies L&T and IRCON International Limited. It spans 508 km, features 12 stations and 2 depots, with an estimated cost of Rs.1.1 lakh crore.

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