Current Affairs - September 1, 2025 Current Affairs

India’s first-ever mobile tempered glass factory was inaugurated in Noida on August 30, 2025, by Union Minister of Electronics and IT Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw. The facility, established by Optiemus Electronics in collaboration with Corning Incorporated, USA, will manufacture tempered glass under the premium “Engineered by Corning” brand. This milestone strengthens the Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat initiatives by reducing import dependence and creating jobs. With an initial investment of ₹70 crore, the plant begins with a 25-million-unit annual capacity and 600 jobs, while a planned ₹800 crore Phase 2 expansion is expected to significantly boost production and employment.

India is set to make history by sending its first official pickleball team to the World Cup in Florida, scheduled from October 27 to November 2. The Indian Pickleball Association (IPA) organised two-day national selection trials in Ahmedabad, with more than 140 players competing across Open, U-16, and 50+ categories. Following the trials, the selected players will undergo specialised high-performance training to prepare for the international challenge. The tournament is sanctioned by the Global Pickleball Federation, marking a significant step in India’s growing engagement with this fast-emerging sport.

The rare dragonfly species Crocothemis erythraea has been reconfirmed in the Western Ghats, specifically in the high-altitude Shola forests and montane grasslands of Kerala and Tamil Nadu. This rediscovery is significant because the species, usually found in Europe, Central Asia, and the Himalayas, was earlier misidentified due to its resemblance to the more common Crocothemis servilia. Scientists believe it may have reached South India during the Ice Age and survived in cooler highland habitats. The finding emphasises the Western Ghats’ status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the world’s top biodiversity hotspots, highlighting urgent conservation needs.

India’s first Multi-Lane Free Flow (MLFF) tolling system will be implemented at the Choryasi Fee Plaza on NH-48 in Gujarat. This advanced tolling technology eliminates physical barriers, using FASTag, RFID readers, and Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras for seamless, electronic toll collection. The system reduces congestion, saves travel time, lowers fuel consumption, and cuts vehicle emissions while ensuring transparent toll revenue collection. The initiative was formalised through an agreement between Indian Highways Management Company Limited (IHMCL), promoted by NHAI, and ICICI Bank. Gujarat thus becomes the first state to pioneer this barrier-free tolling system in India.

Odisha has secured the fifth position in India for electric bus adoption, currently operating 450 e-buses as part of its clean transport initiative. The state has ambitious plans to expand its fleet to more than 1,000 buses, strengthening its role as a green mobility leader in Eastern India. With urban operations already running in Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, and Puri, Odisha plans to extend services to cities such as Sambalpur, Jharsuguda, Keonjhar, Berhampur, and Angul. The initiative is supported by modern infrastructure, including charging stations and smart ticketing systems, aligning with India’s broader push toward sustainable urban transportation.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has entered into a strategic partnership with Google to enhance the global visibility and accessibility of women’s cricket. This collaboration leverages Google’s wide range of products, including Android, Google Gemini, Google Pay, and Google Pixel, to provide fans with live updates, highlights, personalised content, and localised experiences. With the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 in India and Sri Lanka, and the Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 in England and Wales approaching, this alliance is expected to significantly boost fan engagement, inspire younger audiences, and foster greater participation in women’s cricket worldwide.

National Nutrition Week 2025 in India will be observed from September 1 to 7 with the theme “Eat Right for a Better Life.” The initiative highlights the importance of balanced diets, mindful eating, portion control, and reducing junk food intake. It is aligned with government programs such as POSHAN Abhiyaan and the Mid-Day Meal Scheme, aiming to address malnutrition and promote healthier lifestyles across the country. The week-long observance will include workshops, health camps, and awareness drives, reinforcing India’s broader commitment to achieving Zero Hunger and ensuring nutritional security for its citizens.

Adi Vaani is India’s first AI-powered translator designed specifically for tribal languages. Launched by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, this innovative platform aims to preserve and promote India’s diverse linguistic heritage while ensuring cultural equity and digital inclusion. India is home to 461 tribal languages, many of which are endangered, and Adi Vaani provides tools like text-to-text, speech-to-speech, text-to-speech, and OCR for manuscript preservation. Initially supporting Santali, Bhili, Mundari, and Gondi, the platform is scalable to cover more dialects. Developed by a consortium of premier institutes including IIT Delhi, Adi Vaani ensures tribal communities actively participate in the nation’s digital transformation.

Educate Girls, an NGO founded by Safeena Husain in 2007, has been honoured with the 2025 Magsaysay Award, often regarded as Asia’s Nobel Prize for social impact. This milestone makes it the first Indian NGO ever to win this prestigious recognition. The organization has dedicated itself to enrolling out-of-school girls, ensuring their retention in classrooms, and working toward breaking the intergenerational cycle of poverty. The award ceremony is scheduled for November 7 in Manila, where recipients from countries like the Maldives and the Philippines will also be recognised for their contributions to society.

In the 2025 Global Peace Index, Singapore has been recognised as Asia’s safest country, securing the 6th position worldwide. Despite dropping one spot from the previous year, Singapore’s overall peace score improved to 1.357, reflecting its strong governance, social stability, and effective safety measures. The Global Peace Index, compiled by the Institute for Economics and Peace, evaluates 163 nations on parameters such as societal safety, conflict levels, and militarisation. Within Asia, Singapore led the rankings ahead of Japan, Malaysia, and Bhutan. Globally, Iceland retained the top spot as the most peaceful nation, while India ranked 115th.

The Indian Army and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) successfully carried out the high-altitude exercise Achook Prahar in Arunachal Pradesh. This exercise was conducted under simulated combat conditions to test interoperability, layered defence systems, and rapid response mechanisms in the eastern sector. It highlighted the preparedness of the armed forces to respond to potential challenges in difficult terrains. The exercise also follows earlier integrated drills such as Prachand Prahar and Poorvi Prahar conducted in the same region, reinforcing India’s strategic focus and operational readiness along its eastern borders.