Current Affairs - September 26, 2025 Current Affairs

India’s first fleet of electric heavy-duty trucks with swappable batteries was launched at the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) on September 25, 2025. The initiative, flagged off by the Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, is a major step toward decarbonising port operations and promoting sustainable logistics. The EV fleet features quick battery-swapping technology to minimise downtime, improve energy efficiency, and reduce emissions. With plans to convert 90% of JNPA’s 600-truck fleet to electric by December 2026, the project demonstrates the commercial viability of green logistics, supports India’s maritime competitiveness, and aligns with national initiatives like PM Gati Shakti and Maritime India Vision 2030.

Dr. S. Jaishankar, India’s External Affairs Minister, hosted the Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC) Foreign Ministers' Meeting in New York. FIPIC, initiated by India in 2014, brings together 14 Pacific Island Countries to strengthen cooperation in areas such as trade, climate change, and sustainable development. Hosting the meeting in New York, a major diplomatic hub, underscores India’s commitment to enhancing its engagement with Pacific Island nations while facilitating discussions on regional and global issues. The gathering provided an opportunity for collaborative dialogue, reinforcing India’s strategic partnerships and promoting mutual interests in the Indo-Pacific region.

India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) has been launched in Qatar, beginning with Hamad International Airport’s duty-free stores. This makes Qatar the eighth country to accept UPI, facilitating real-time, cashless payments for Indian tourists and reducing dependency on foreign currency or international cards. The rollout is part of a collaboration between NPCI International Payments Ltd (NIPL), Qatar National Bank (QNB), and Japanese payments gateway NETSTARS. By enabling seamless transactions, UPI supports both Indian travelers and local Qatari businesses, promoting digital payment adoption and strengthening India’s international financial footprint while enhancing convenience and security for tourists in high-traffic commercial zones.

World Environmental Health Day is observed annually on September 26. Established by the International Federation of Environmental Health (IFEH) in 2011, the day aims to raise awareness about the importance of environmental health in promoting public well-being. The theme “Clean Air, Healthy People” emphasises the critical link between a clean environment and human health. IFEH, a nonprofit organization founded in 1986 and headquartered in London, uses this day to highlight global environmental challenges, encourage best practices, and foster collaboration among professionals, governments, and communities to ensure healthier and sustainable living conditions worldwide.

India and Australia signed a Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA) for organic products as part of the India-Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA). This arrangement enables both countries to mutually accept each other’s organic certification standards, reducing trade barriers and making it easier for certified producers to access markets. The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) from India and the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) from Australia are the implementing agencies. This collaboration strengthens trade relations, supports sustainable farming practices, and promotes greater consumer confidence in organic products across both nations.

Ahmedabad will host the 11th Asian Aquatics Championship from September 28 to October 11, 2025, marking the first time India is organizing this prestigious continental event. The Veer Savarkar Sports Complex in Narangpura serves as the venue, providing international-standard infrastructure for swimming, diving, artistic swimming, and water polo. Over 900 athletes from 29 Asian countries are expected to participate. Hosting this event not only gives Indian athletes the chance to compete at home but also strengthens India’s long-term aspirations to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games and potentially the 2036 Olympic Games, while promoting grassroots aquatic sports and talent development.

The 7th Future Food Forum 2025 took place in Dubai, a global hub for international conferences and innovation-driven discussions. The event brought together leaders from governments, businesses, and academia to explore crucial themes such as sustainable proteins, consumer trends, agri-tech, and food innovation. By hosting the forum, Dubai reinforced its position as a strategic center for fostering collaborations that address global food system challenges and opportunities. This builds on the forum’s legacy since its inception in 2019 in the UAE, further showcasing Dubai’s commitment to sustainable development and its leadership in advancing the global food ecosystem.

World Contraception Day is observed annually on September 26 to promote awareness about the full range of contraceptive methods and support reproductive autonomy globally. Established in 2007, the day encourages informed choice and access to contraception while addressing barriers such as social, cultural, and economic constraints. It emphasises preventing unintended pregnancies, reducing maternal mortality, advancing gender equality, and countering myths and stigma surrounding contraception. Governments, NGOs, health providers, and civil society participate in campaigns that educate individuals, expand access, and foster dialogue about reproductive rights, making it a crucial day for global public health and empowerment.

The Mukhya Mantri Mahila Rozgar Yojana aims to economically empower women in Bihar by providing ₹10,000 each to 75 lakh beneficiaries through Direct Benefit Transfer. Scheduled for September 26, 2025, the initiative targets women from economically weaker sections, enabling them to start micro-enterprises such as tailoring units, shops, or agriculture-related activities. A follow-up grant of ₹2 lakh is available after a six-month performance review. Managed by the Rural and Urban Development Departments and leveraging the Jeevika Self-Help Group network, the scheme supports self-employment, financial inclusion, and women’s entrepreneurship, while also aligning with Bihar’s socio-economic development and pre-election priorities.

IIT Madras has been nominated as a UN Centre of Excellence (CoE) for Artificial Intelligence, highlighting India’s growing influence in global AI development. This designation supports efforts to address the AI skills gap, foster ethical AI governance, and promote collaboration across the Global South. Under India’s AI Mission, initiatives include training 10 million people annually, deploying 38,000 GPUs, and making 300 open-source AI models available. IIT Madras’s recognition as a CoE strengthens its role as a leading research and education hub in AI, positioning India at the forefront of innovation and responsible AI deployment internationally.

India successfully tested the Agni Prime missile from a rail-based launcher, demonstrating a significant enhancement in mobile strategic defense capabilities. With a range of up to 2,000 km, the Agni Prime, also known as Agni-P, is a lighter, more accurate, and faster-to-deploy addition to India’s Agni missile series. The rail-based launchability enhances India’s second-strike nuclear capability and overall deterrence posture, while reducing vulnerability compared to fixed silos. Equipped with advanced communication systems, autonomous launch mechanisms, and protective safeguards, the test showcases India’s growing ability to integrate strategic assets with civil infrastructure, ensuring rapid, flexible, and secure missile deployment.