Current Affairs - September 20, 2025 Current Affairs

The India-AI Impact Summit is scheduled to take place in 2026, marking the first time a global AI summit will be hosted by a nation from the Global South. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) unveiled the official logo and initiatives for the event. The summit will focus on democratizing access to AI while ensuring safe and trusted ecosystems guided by the principles of People, Planet, and Progress. Flagship programs such as UDAAN Pitch Fest, YuvaAI, AI by HER, and the Global Innovation Challenge will encourage innovation, entrepreneurship, and inclusive participation in shaping AI’s future.

India’s sovereign credit rating was upgraded to BBB+ by Rating and Investment Information, Inc. (R&I), a well-known credit rating agency based in Japan. The upgrade reflects growing confidence in India’s strong domestic demand, prudent fiscal management, and external stability. This marks the third upgrade India has received in 2025, following earlier positive revisions by Morningstar DBRS and S&P Global Ratings. R&I also acknowledged India’s ongoing structural reforms, such as the two-tier GST system and infrastructure expansion. The move strengthens India’s global investment appeal while reinforcing Japan’s role in recognizing India’s growing economic resilience and potential on the world stage.

Daniel Katz, a senior U.S. Treasury official and Chief of Staff to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, has been nominated by IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva as the next First Deputy Managing Director, the second-highest position at the IMF. If approved by the IMF Executive Board, his appointment will take effect on October 6, 2025. Katz brings over a decade of experience in domestic and international economic policy, including work on U.S.-China trade, financial stability, and coordination with multilateral institutions like the IMF and World Bank. His nomination follows Gita Gopinath’s departure and reflects strategic leadership continuity in global finance.

Typhoon Mitag, the 17th typhoon of the year, made landfall in Guangdong Province, China, particularly affecting Shanwei City with strong winds of up to 25 m/s near its center. Authorities expect the typhoon to weaken gradually as it moves northwest at 10–15 km/h. In response to the threat, China’s State Flood Control initiated a Level-IV emergency to ensure preparedness and reduce potential damage. The event underlines the vulnerability of coastal provinces in China to seasonal typhoons and highlights the importance of early warning systems and effective disaster management to protect lives and infrastructure from severe weather events.

Oil India Limited and Hindustan Copper Limited entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to work together on the exploration of critical minerals. This collaboration particularly focuses on copper and its associated minerals, which are crucial for industrial growth and energy transition. The agreement also aligns with the objectives of the National Critical Mineral Mission, which is aimed at strengthening India’s mineral security. By engaging in this strategic partnership, Hindustan Copper and Oil India seek to ensure access to essential mineral resources, thereby supporting economic growth and technological advancement in the country.

The ‘Anbu Karangal’ (Hands of Love) scheme was launched in Tamil Nadu by Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on September 16, 2025. This welfare initiative provides ₹2,000 monthly financial support to orphaned children until they complete school education or reach the age of 18. In its first phase, over 6,000 children across Tamil Nadu will directly benefit. The scheme ensures uninterrupted education, protection under the Juvenile Justice Act, and access to digital resources such as laptops for college-bound orphans. Additionally, a mobile app developed with the Tamil Nadu e-Governance Agency enables transparency, real-time monitoring, and grievance redressal, ensuring effective implementation statewide.

The 10th Ayurveda Day will be celebrated on 23rd September at the All India Institute of Ayurveda in Goa. This year’s theme is "Ayurveda for People and Planet," which emphasises the significance of Ayurveda not only for individual health but also for the overall well-being of the planet. By choosing Goa as the host location, the government highlights its efforts to promote Ayurveda at a global scale. The event also underlines the growing recognition and acceptance of Ayurveda as a holistic system of health and healing worldwide.

International Red Panda Day 2025 will be observed on September 20, which falls on the third Saturday of September. This global observance was launched in 2010 by the Red Panda Network to highlight the urgent need for conservation of the endangered red panda, often referred to as the “Firefox.” With fewer than 10,000 individuals left in the wild, the red panda faces threats such as habitat loss, poaching, and low reproduction rates. Celebrating the day on September 20 draws international attention, generates support for conservation projects, and strengthens community-led initiatives to protect this rare and captivating Himalayan species.

Zubeen Garg, one of India’s most versatile and celebrated musicians, was an icon of Assam and the greater Northeast. Born in 1972, he built an extraordinary career spanning over three decades, with more than 38,000 songs recorded across 40 languages. He gained national recognition through the Bollywood hit “Ya Ali” from Gangster (2006), but his contribution to Assamese music and culture was unparalleled. Beyond singing, he was also a composer, actor, filmmaker, and philanthropist. His sudden passing in Singapore at age 52 left a deep void in Indian music. Leaders and fans across the country paid heartfelt tributes, acknowledging his role in carrying Assam’s cultural legacy to the national and global stage.

Arshdeep Singh achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first Indian bowler to claim 100 wickets in T20 Internationals. He reached the landmark during India’s Asia Cup 2025 group-stage match against Oman, dismissing Vinayak Shukla as his 100th wicket. Remarkably, Arshdeep accomplished this feat in just 64 matches and 1,329 deliveries, making him the fastest fast bowler globally to reach the milestone and the fourth-fastest overall. Known for his powerplay effectiveness and death-over dominance, he has consistently outperformed peers like Haris Rauf. His achievement cements his position as one of India’s finest modern-day T20 specialists and a global pace-bowling force.