Current Affairs One - Liner : 1st October 2025

National:

• On the occasion of the 10th Ayurveda Day (27 Sept 2025), the Ministry of Ayush inaugurated PRAYAS – India’s first Integrated Paediatric Neuro-Rehabilitation Centre at the All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA), Goa. It blends Ayurveda, Yoga, Physiotherapy, Speech & Occupational Therapy, and modern Paediatrics to provide holistic care for children with neurological and developmental disorders.

• The Government of India (GoI) will make the Acoustic Vehicle Alerting System (AVAS) mandatory for EVs, as per the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH). From 1 Oct 2026, all new EV models in categories M (cars, buses) and N (goods vehicles) must have AVAS; from 1 Oct 2027, it applies to all existing EVs.
• On 29 Sept 2025, Tata Steel signed a pact with the Netherlands Government to decarbonise its IJmuiden plant. The project will replace Blast Furnace #7 and Coke Plant 2 with a Direct Reduction Plant (DRP) and Electric Arc Furnace (EAF). The Dutch Govt pledged €2 billion support, with additional funds from EU and Tata Steel. It will cut 5.4 million tonnes of CO₂ annually, marking a big step in Tata Steel’s green transition.
• On 30 Sept 2025, President Droupadi Murmu presented the Diamond Jubilee Silver Trumpet and Trumpet Banner to the President’s Bodyguard (PBG) at Rashtrapati Bhavan. The event marked 75 years of PBG’s service since 1950, though the regiment traces its origin to 1773. A multi-faith consecration ceremony was held, and retired charger ‘Viraat’ was also present.
• From 1 Oct 2025, the Government of India (GoI) scrapped paper arrival/disembarkation cards for foreigners. They must now submit a digital electronic‑Arrival (e‑Arrival) Card online with basic details. Indian citizens and Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) holders are exempt. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) move aims to reduce delays and support the Fast Track Immigration – Trusted Traveller Programme (FTI‑TTP).
• On 29 September 2025, Telangana’s iconic Bathukamma Festival earned international acclaim by setting two Guinness World Records — the world’s tallest Bathukamma (63.11 feet, 11 layers, 10.7 tonnes of flowers) and the largest Telangana folk dance with 1,354 women performing together at Saroornagar Stadium, Hyderabad.

Banking:

• On 29 Sept 2025, Bank of Baroda signed a Co-Lending Agreement with IIFL Finance. The tie-up aims to provide gold loans to small borrowers in semi-urban & rural India. IIFL Finance will originate & service loans, while BoB funds with joint underwriting. The partnership supports RBI’s co-lending model, boosting financial inclusion
• On 29 Sept 2025, TATA AIG General Insurance partnered with Equitas Small Finance Bank (SFB) under a bancassurance tie-up. The alliance will distribute motor, health, personal accident, travel, and other general insurance products. It aims to expand insurance penetration in semi-urban and rural markets, offering affordable protection.
• On 29 Sept 2025, Axis Bank, in partnership with Freecharge, launched India’s first Gold-Backed Credit on UPI. The facility allows customers to avail instant credit against gold holdings, repayable via UPI/UPI QR. Interest is charged only on the utilized amount, not the full sanctioned limit. It targets MSMEs, self-employed, and merchants, supporting NPCI’s Credit Line on UPI framework for financial inclusion.
• On 29 Sept 2025, PhonePe partnered with Mastercard to launch the ‘Tap & Pay’ feature in India. It enables contactless payments at NFC-enabled PoS terminals using Android smartphones via the PhonePe app. Users can save their Mastercard debit, credit, or prepaid cards and pay securely through tokenisation.
• On 30 Sept 2025, the CCI approved Jindal Power’s acquisition of Jaiprakash Associates under the IBC’s insolvency process. JAL, with debts of ~₹57,185 crore, has assets in real estate, cement, EPC, and hospitality. The approval allows Jindal Power to submit its resolution plan to the CoC.
• On 30 Sept 2025, the RBI imposed a ₹31.8 lakh penalty on Indian Overseas Bank (IOB). The action was for non-compliance with Priority Sector Lending (PSL) norms. IOB had wrongly collected loan-related charges on PSL loans up to ₹25,000. RBI clarified the penalty is for regulatory lapses, not customer transactions.
• On 30 Sept 2025, RBL Bank partnered with the Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) for a bancassurance tie-up. The alliance allows RBL customers to access LIC’s life insurance products through branches and digital channels. It supports the national vision of “Insurance for All by 2047.”
  
• On 27 Sept 2025, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) set the Ways and Means Advances (WMA) limit at ₹50,000 crore for H2 FY 2025‑26. WMA are temporary advances given by RBI to the Government of India to manage short‑term cash flow mismatches. The interest rate = Repo Rate, while Overdraft = Repo Rate + 2%. RBI may trigger market borrowings once 75% of the WMA limit is utilised.

MoUs:

• On 29 Sept 2025, the Department of Posts (DoP) signed a strategic MoU with the Indian Institute of Packaging (IIP) in Mumbai. The pact aims to develop sustainable, eco-friendly, and durable packaging solutions for postal services. Focus areas include alternatives to corrugated boxes, airworthy packaging, global benchmarking, and cost analysis.
• On 30 Sep 2025, Goodluck India, BATL & Axiscades signed a tripartite MoU in Bengaluru to collaborate on the AMCA programme. The aim is to respond to ADA’s EoI and strengthen indigenous defence manufacturing. Goodluck brings forgings & structures, BATL adds aerospace expertise, and Axiscades provides engineering integration.
• On 29 Sep 2025 in New Delhi, Thomas Cook India signed a 3-year MoU with the Ministry of Tourism to collect real-time traveller feedback. The aim is to assess cleanliness, safety, accessibility, and service standards at top destinations. Feedback will be gathered via a co-branded form across Thomas Cook’s platforms and shared with MoT.
  

Reports:

• The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) released its “Crime in India 2023” report on 29 Sept 2025 under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Government of India (GoI). It gives nationwide data on crimes across all States and Union Territories (UTs). The report covers violent crimes, crimes against women/children, SCs/STs, cybercrime, economic offences, and road accidents. It notes a 7.2% rise in total crimes, with sharp jumps in cybercrime (+31.2%) and crimes against Scheduled Tribes (STs) (+28.8%).

Sports:

• On 30 September 2025, Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz defeated America’s Taylor Fritz in straight sets to win the Japan Open 2025 men’s singles title. The final was played at the Ariake Coliseum in Tokyo, Japan, as part of the Kinoshita Group Japan Open Tennis Championships (ATP 500). This victory marked Alcaraz’s first Japan Open crown and added to his growing list of titles in the 2025 season.

Important Days:

• World Rabies Day 2025 was observed on 28 Sept with the theme “Act Now: You, Me, Community.” It marks the 19th observance and commemorates Louis Pasteur’s death anniversary. The day raises awareness on rabies prevention and supports the Zero by 30 campaign. Rabies kills ~59,000 people annually, but is 100% preventable through vaccination.
• World Rivers Day 2025 was observed on 28 September 2025 (4th Sunday of September). Celebrated in 100+ countries, it raises awareness on the importance and conservation of rivers. Started in 2005 by Canadian conservationist Mark Angelo, inspired by the UN’s “Water for Life Decade.”

Appointments:

• On 30 Sept 2025, the Government of India (GOI) appointed Asheesh Pandey as MD & CEO of Union Bank of India (UBI) and Kalyan Kumar as MD & CEO of Central Bank of India (CBI). Pandey (ex‑ED, Bank of Maharashtra) succeeds A. Manimekhalai, while Kumar (ex‑ED, Punjab National Bank) succeeds M.V. Rao. Both will serve a 3‑year term, as recommended by the Financial Services Institutions Bureau (FSIB).
• On 30 Sept 2025, Praveer Ranjan, a 1993-batch IPS officer (AGMUT cadre), took charge as the 32nd Director General of CISF, succeeding R.S. Bhatti. He earlier served as Special DG, CISF, heading the Airport Security division. Ranjan has also held key posts in Delhi Police, CBI, and as DGP Chandigarh.
• Major General G. Srinivas took charge as the Commandant of the College of Defence Management (CDM), Secunderabad, on October 1, 2025. He succeeded Lieutenant General Harsh Chhibber, who was promoted to Director General of Information Systems. Maj Gen Srinivas is a distinguished Gunner Officer and an alumnus of CDM and the National Defence College.

Awards & Honours:

• Novotel Vijayawada Varun won the ‘Best 5-Star Deluxe Hotel’ Award on 30 September 2025 at the Andhra Pradesh Tourism Excellence Awards 2025. The award was presented by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu to General Manager Manish Pathak. The property is Vijayawada’s first international 5-star deluxe hotel with 233 rooms and top-class facilities.
• Prof. R. Arthur James of Bharathidasan University (BDU), Tiruchirappalli, received the Tamil Nadu Scientist Award (TANSA) 2022 in Environmental Science. The award, given by the Tamil Nadu State Council for Science and Technology (TNSCST), was presented on 29 Sept 2025 at Udhagamandalam. He was honoured for research on natural nanomaterials, wound-healing agents, and seaweed-based anti-corrosive pigments.

Questions:

Q.1 Which hotel received the ‘Best 5-Star Deluxe Hotel’ award at the Andhra Pradesh Tourism Excellence Awards 2025?
a) Taj Krishna Hyderabad
b) Novotel Vijayawada Varun
c) ITC Kakatiya Hyderabad
d) Oberoi Amarvilas Agra

Answer: b) Novotel Vijayawada Varun won the ‘Best 5-Star Deluxe Hotel’ Award on 30 September 2025 at the Andhra Pradesh Tourism Excellence Awards 2025.

Q.2 Asheesh Pandey was appointed as Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of which Public Sector Bank in September 2025?
a) Union Bank of India (UBI)
b) Central Bank of India (CBI)
c) Bank of Baroda (BoB)
d) Punjab National Bank (PNB)

Answer: a) The Government of India (GOI) appointed Asheesh Pandey as MD & CEO of Union Bank of India (UBI) and Kalyan Kumar as MD & CEO of Central Bank of India (CBI).