Current Affairs - September 24, 2025 Current Affairs

Ahmednagar Railway Station in Maharashtra has been renamed ‘Ahilyanagar’ in honour of Devi Ahilyabai Holkar, one of India’s most respected women rulers. Ahilyabai Holkar, who ruled between 1725 and 1795, is celebrated for her progressive governance, support for women’s rights, and contributions to spiritual architecture, including temples and ghats across India. The renaming is a tribute to her legacy of justice, compassion, and cultural development. Although the station has adopted the new name, its operational code remains unchanged as ANG, ensuring continuity for passengers and railway operations. This change preserves history while modernizing identity.

In the Global Digital Nomad Report 2025, India secured the 38th position with a score of 84.85 among 64 countries evaluated. The report assesses nations on factors such as visa procedures, tax benefits, economic stability, quality of life, and digital infrastructure—crucial elements that attract digital nomads. While Spain emerged at the top, India’s 38th rank highlights both opportunities and challenges in becoming a preferred destination for remote workers. The ranking shows that India has potential due to its affordability and growing digital infrastructure but still needs to improve on aspects like streamlined visas and lifestyle offerings to rise further.

The debut book "Why the Constitution Matters" is authored by former Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and will be released in 2025 by Penguin Random House. Justice Chandrachud is recognised for his progressive and landmark rulings in areas such as privacy, gender equality, LGBTQ+ rights, and freedom of expression. With more than 25 years of judicial experience, his book aims to highlight the Constitution’s role as a living document shaping democracy, justice, and individual rights. This makes him an influential voice in the legal and constitutional discourse of India.

Nvidia has committed $100 billion to invest in OpenAI, aiming to deploy 10 GW of AI infrastructure by 2026. This strategic partnership will involve co-optimisation of hardware and software, enabling OpenAI to scale its AI models like GPT and Codex efficiently. The initiative positions Nvidia as the preferred compute and networking partner for OpenAI, strengthening its dominance in the AI chip market. By building dedicated AI infrastructure, OpenAI gains long-term access to the compute power required for next-generation AI models. This historic investment will also influence the global AI ecosystem, prompting other tech companies to rethink their AI infrastructure strategies.

China is introducing the K Visa starting October 1, 2025, to attract young STEM professionals and researchers worldwide. This visa offers flexible work rights, multiple entries, longer validity, and does not require a local employer or sponsor, distinguishing it from traditional Chinese work visas. The initiative is positioned as an alternative to the U.S., where recent H-1B visa restrictions and high fees have created challenges for global talent. By facilitating education, research, entrepreneurship, and cultural exchange, the K Visa aims to strengthen China’s innovation ecosystem and make the country an attractive destination for skilled professionals seeking international opportunities.

Karnataka has launched the Local Economy Accelerator Programme (LEAP) with a budget of ₹1,000 crore over five years. The initiative aims to create 5 lakh jobs and develop startup ecosystems beyond Bengaluru by supporting emerging tech clusters across the state, including Mysuru‑Chamarajanagar, Mangaluru‑Udupi, and Hubbali‑Belagavi‑Dharwad. LEAP provides infrastructure, funding, mentorship, and skill-building opportunities to startups from schools to global markets. The programme intends to distribute innovation more evenly across Karnataka, strengthen regional economies, and reduce migration pressures to major cities, positioning the state as a hub for sustainable, inclusive technological growth.

The 25th Interpol Asian Regional Conference, where India was elected as a member of the Interpol Asian Committee, took place in Singapore. This committee plays a crucial role in advising the Asian Regional Conference on pressing issues such as organised crime, cybercrime, terrorism, human trafficking, and drug trafficking. India’s delegation, led by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), secured its place through the election, reflecting its increasing influence in global law enforcement collaboration. The choice of Singapore as the host city further highlights its role as a strategic hub for international cooperation and security dialogue in the Asian region.

The 19th National Jamboree of the Bharat Scouts and Guides will be hosted by Uttar Pradesh from November 23–29, 2025, in Lucknow’s Vrindavan Scheme. The event will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on November 24. This is not the first time Uttar Pradesh is hosting; it also organised the 4th edition back in 1964, marking a long historical association with scouting activities. The Jamboree serves as a platform for thousands of scouts and guides across India to come together, share skills, and strengthen the spirit of unity, discipline, and service, making it a significant national event.

Jio Payments Bank has introduced the “Savings Pro” facility to help customers earn higher returns on idle funds. Under this scheme, account holders can set a minimum balance threshold starting from ₹5,000, and any surplus above this amount is automatically invested in select overnight mutual funds. The facility offers returns of up to 6.5% per annum, with flexible redemption options allowing up to 90% instant withdrawal (maximum ₹50,000) and full redemption within 1–2 working days. Savings Pro combines the liquidity of a savings account with the growth potential of short-term investments, enhancing customer convenience through a fully digital process via the JioFinance app.

Maitri 2.0 is the second edition of the India-Brazil Cross-Incubation Programme in Agritech, launched by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). The initiative is designed to promote collaboration between Indian and Brazilian innovators to strengthen the agri-food ecosystem. It emphasises sustainable agriculture, the use of digital technologies, and improved value chains to make food systems more resilient. Brazil’s strong agricultural base and India’s innovation potential make this partnership strategically important, as it enables knowledge sharing, joint research, and the adoption of best practices to address global food security challenges.

The Startup Conclave 2025 was inaugurated by Union Home Minister Amit Shah at Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. The two-day event brought together over 1,000 startups, 5,000 innovators, 100 industry mentors, and 50+ venture capital funds from across India. Organised by the Gujarat State Education Department, the conclave showcased innovations in sectors like agriculture, defence, AI, clean tech, fintech, and healthcare. It also facilitated 50 MoUs and distribution of funding cheques and Letters of Intent to promising ventures. Hosting this conclave highlights Gujarat’s commitment to becoming a leading startup hub while aligning with national initiatives like Startup India, Digital India, and Aatmanirbhar Bharat.

India’s core industries registered a 6.3% year-on-year growth in August 2025, the highest in more than a year. This strong performance was driven by significant increases in steel (14.2%), coal (11.4%), cement (6.1%), and fertilizers (4.6%). Such growth highlights positive momentum in infrastructure and construction activity, key drivers of the economy. Although the cumulative growth for April–August 2025 stood at 2.8%, the August surge indicates improving industrial activity and resilience in core sectors. Sustained growth in these industries is vital for enhancing supply chains, boosting investment, and supporting India’s broader economic development goals.