Current Affairs - September 27, 2025 Current Affairs

Dubai is preparing to launch a 15-km dedicated corridor for driverless transport, known as the Dubai Autonomous Zone (DAZ), by 2026. This initiative is part of the city’s ambitious goal to make 25% of daily trips autonomous by 2030. The corridor will connect major hubs such as Al Jaddaf Metro Station, Dubai Creek Harbour, and Dubai Festival City. It will integrate multiple transport modes including RoboTaxis, RoboBuses, autonomous shuttles, delivery bots, and self-driving marine abras. Partnerships with Uber and WeRide will also bring app-based RoboTaxi services to the public, reinforcing Dubai’s global leadership in smart mobility.

The ₹1.22 lakh crore development package was announced in Rajasthan by Prime Minister Narendra Modi from Banswara. This package emphasises clean energy, tribal welfare, better connectivity, and social welfare schemes. A major share of ₹90,000 crore is earmarked for projects across five states, with significant allocations for Rajasthan such as the ₹42,000 crore Mahi Banswara Atomic Power Project and multiple solar power projects in districts like Jaisalmer, Jalore, Sikar, and Phalodi. Additionally, ₹13,180 crore has been set aside for strengthening transmission infrastructure. These initiatives aim to boost Rajasthan’s energy sector and uplift tribal regions significantly.

World Tourism Day 2025 is observed on September 27, with the theme “Tourism and Sustainable Transformation,” under the leadership of the UNWTO. The date was specifically chosen to mark the anniversary of the adoption of the UNWTO Statutes in 1970, and the day has been formally celebrated since 1980. This global observance highlights the importance of tourism as a key driver of economic growth, contributing over 10% to the world’s GDP while supporting millions of jobs across diverse sectors. It also emphasises the need for sustainable practices to ensure long-term benefits for communities, cultures, and the environment.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has introduced its first Sovereign Mobility Cloud during the Dubai World Congress for Self-Driving Transport. This initiative is a significant step toward strengthening the country’s autonomous mobility strategy. The Sovereign Mobility Cloud serves as a secure and trusted infrastructure for mobility data and autonomous systems, ensuring that sensitive information is stored within the UAE’s jurisdiction and regulated by national laws. By doing so, the UAE enhances its technological sovereignty, reinforces data security, and establishes a foundation for future advancements in smart transport and autonomous vehicle ecosystems.

Dr. Kanad Das made history by becoming the first mycologist to assume the role of Director of the Botanical Survey of India (BSI), taking charge as its 13th Director. The BSI, functioning under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), has been a premier institution since 1890 for cataloguing, documenting, and conserving India’s vast plant biodiversity. Headquartered in Kolkata with 11 regional centres across the country, the BSI plays a crucial role in protecting floral resources. Dr. Das’s appointment highlights the growing recognition of mycology in India’s biodiversity conservation framework.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, and the official mascots—Clutch the Bald Eagle, Maple the Moose, and Zayu the Jaguar—were unveiled to symbolise these nations. Each mascot embodies the culture, values, and natural heritage of its respective country, emphasizing unity and diversity. This marks the first time FIFA has introduced multiple mascots for a senior men’s World Cup, aligning with the multi-nation hosting format. The tournament, the largest ever with 48 teams and 104 matches, will highlight North America’s role in global football and celebrate the shared spirit of the game.

The state that implemented this massive scholarship distribution is Uttar Pradesh. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath handed over scholarships in Lucknow to around 4 lakh students, with a total value of ₹2,825 crore allocated in the academic year 2025-26. These scholarships are primarily aimed at helping students from disadvantaged backgrounds continue their education. Since 2017, the state has consistently emphasised educational support by benefitting over 2 crore students through various scholarship schemes, reflecting its commitment to social welfare and inclusive growth in the education sector.

Turkey entered into a Strategic Civil Nuclear Cooperation Agreement with the United States during President Erdoğan’s visit to the White House. This agreement is designed to accelerate Turkey’s nuclear energy ambitions by focusing on both large-scale nuclear power plants and the integration of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs). It complements Turkey’s ongoing Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant project developed with Russia, showing the country’s strategy to diversify partnerships in the nuclear sector. Through this collaboration, Turkey strengthens its position in the global energy landscape, enhances energy security, and moves closer to achieving its long-term sustainability and energy diversification goals.

India’s first Dugong Conservation Reserve is situated in Palk Bay, Tamil Nadu, and has recently gained global recognition at the World Conservation Congress 2025 in Abu Dhabi. Established in 2022 under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, the reserve spans over 12,250 hectares of vital seagrass meadows, which serve as the primary feeding grounds for dugongs. Dugongs, also known as "sea cows," are listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, making their protection critical. This reserve not only safeguards the dugong population but also promotes the conservation of marine ecosystems, biodiversity, and sustainable livelihoods for coastal communities.

Russia proposed the establishment of a BRICS Grain Exchange during the 2024 BRICS Summit in Kazan, and the idea was later endorsed in the Kazan Declaration. The initiative is designed to strengthen agricultural trade within the BRICS grouping by creating independent grain pricing benchmarks. This would reduce reliance on existing Western-dominated exchanges such as the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME), thereby offering BRICS nations greater autonomy in agricultural trade. For India and other BRICS members, the exchange holds potential to stabilise pricing, enhance food security, and foster a more balanced global agricultural market.