Current Affairs - September 14, 2025 Current Affairs

The Sahyadri Tiger Reserve is located in Maharashtra, spread across Kolhapur, Sangli, Satara, and Ratnagiri districts of the Western Ghats. Established in 2010, it was formed by merging Chandoli National Park and Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary. Although rich in dense forests and biodiversity, the reserve has largely been home to transient tigers without a stable breeding population. To revive its tiger population, the Union Environment Ministry and NTCA approved the capture and translocation of 8 tigers from Tadoba-Andhari and Pench Tiger Reserves. This initiative will help restore predator-prey balance, strengthen ecological corridors, and align with India’s wider Project Tiger conservation goals.

The SPREE-2025 (Scheme for Promoting Registration of Employers and Employees) has been launched under the provisions of the ESI Act, 1948. This Act forms the foundation of India’s Employees’ State Insurance framework, providing health insurance and social security benefits to workers. SPREE-2025, active from 1st July to 31st December 2025, encourages unregistered employers and employees, including temporary and contractual workers, to register voluntarily without the fear of retrospective penalties or inspections. By simplifying compliance and promoting wider registration, the initiative strengthens India’s social security net while ensuring that more workers receive the health and insurance benefits guaranteed under the ESI Act, 1948.

The 10th Ayurveda Day will be hosted in Goa on 23rd September 2025 at the All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA). Goa was chosen as the venue due to its global appeal, reputation in wellness tourism, and cultural diversity, making it an ideal international stage. The celebration carries the theme “Ayurveda for People & Planet,” aligning traditional medicine with modern sustainability goals. By selecting Goa, the Ministry of Ayush aims to highlight India’s commitment to advancing Ayurveda through world-class infrastructure and global outreach, strengthening its position as both a healthcare solution and a sustainable lifestyle practice.

AIIMS Delhi has created history by becoming the first government medical college in India to provide training on the da Vinci Robotic Surgical System. Installed at its Skills, E-Learning and Telemedicine (SET) Facility, this system marks a significant advancement in medical education and surgical innovation. Alongside the Hugo Robotic Trainer, AIIMS now has two dedicated robotic systems exclusively for training medical students, residents, faculty, and healthcare professionals. This initiative is vital as it democratises access to advanced surgical training, reduces dependence on foreign institutions, enhances patient care outcomes, and positions AIIMS Delhi as a global hub for surgical innovation and excellence.

India is now focusing on isobutanol blending with diesel as part of its biofuel strategy, following unsuccessful ethanol-diesel trials. Isobutanol (C₄H₁₀O) is a four-carbon alcohol with higher energy density than ethanol, making it more compatible with diesel. It is less hygroscopic, which reduces risks of corrosion in pipelines and engines. Trials by the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) are underway for 10% isobutanol–diesel blends, and its use is also being studied in CNG–isobutanol flex-fuel options for tractors. This initiative supports the National Biofuel Policy 2018, aiming to reduce oil imports, enhance farmer incomes, and promote sustainable energy solutions.

The Gyan Bharatam Portal, launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, on 12th September 2025, is a landmark initiative to digitise, preserve, and provide public access to India’s vast manuscript heritage. It functions as a national digital repository enriched with AI-driven tools for search, translation, and annotation. Beyond preservation, it encourages research, publication, capacity building, and global collaborations, making ancient knowledge accessible worldwide. This initiative supports India’s vision of cultural revival and aligns with the National Education Policy 2020, while strengthening the idea of a Viksit Bharat by valuing knowledge traditions as a foundation of future progress. The launch coincided with the International Conference on “Reclaiming India’s Knowledge Legacy through Manuscript Heritage,” highlighting the theme of reviving India’s ancient wisdom in a modern digital format.

The Supreme Court emphasised Articles 14 and 16 of the Constitution while questioning the practice of forcing meritorious Persons with Disabilities (PwD) to remain in reserved seats even when they qualify in the unreserved/general category. Article 14 guarantees equality before the law, while Article 16 ensures equal opportunity in matters of public employment. Denial of upward mobility to PwD candidates was termed “hostile discrimination,” as it unfairly restricts their opportunities compared to SC/ST/OBC candidates who enjoy such mobility. By invoking these provisions, the Court reinforced that reservation is about inclusion and enabling equality, not charity, and must ensure fairness, dignity, and true empowerment for PwDs.

The world’s first-ever Tri-service all-women sailing circumnavigation expedition has been named Samudra Pradakshina. It was flagged off by the Defence Minister and symbolises Nari Shakti, the jointness of the Armed Forces, Aatmanirbhar Bharat, and India’s maritime vision. Led by Lt Col Anuja Varudkar, a crew of 10 women officers will sail for nine months aboard the indigenously built IASV Triveni, covering 26,000 nautical miles. Their route includes crossing the Equator twice, rounding the three great Capes, and navigating the challenging Southern Ocean and Drake Passage. The mission also integrates scientific studies on microplastics and ocean health, while advancing India’s maritime diplomacy globally.

India is collaborating with the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) in Myanmar to secure rare-earth mineral samples and diversify its supply chain beyond China. The KIA, founded in 1961, controls the Chipwe-Pangwa mining belt in Kachin state, a key source of heavy rare earths such as dysprosium and terbium. These minerals are crucial for advanced technologies, including EVs, missiles, medical equipment, and renewable energy systems. As China dominates global rare earth production and processing, India’s partnership with Myanmar aims to strengthen supply security, reduce strategic dependence, and support the goals of the National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM) launched in 2025.

Purple Fest 2025 was organised in Noida on 10–11 September 2025 by the Indian Sign Language Research and Training Centre (ISLRTC) in collaboration with Amity University. The event aimed to celebrate the dignity, creativity, and empowerment of Divyangjan, featuring art exhibitions, entrepreneurship stalls, cultural programs, and rehabilitation education. It promoted a rights-based perspective that views disability not as a limitation but as a source of strength, aligning with the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016. By bringing together policy, purpose, and participation, the festival reinforced the importance of equality, inclusion, and respect as fundamental rights for persons with disabilities.