Daily Current Affairs- 11th September 2025

Daily Current Affairs- 11th September 2025

Digvijay Diwas: Celebrating Swami Vivekananda’s Historic Chicago Address

In the News: Digvijay Diwas is observed annually on 11 September, commemorating Swami Vivekananda’s landmark address at the Parliament of the World’s Religions, Chicago in 1893. In 2025, India marks 132 years since that momentous speech, celebrating Vivekananda as a global spiritual emissary of Indian culture, unity, and universal tolerance.

Key Points:

• Date & Occasion: Digvijay Diwas is celebrated every year on 11 September to mark the day Swami Vivekananda delivered his famous Chicago address in 1893.
•  Historic Speech: At the World’s Parliament of Religions in Chicago, Vivekananda began his address with the greeting “Sisters and Brothers of America,” which won him thunderous applause and signaled his message of religious tolerance and universal brotherhood.
• Philosophical Emphasis: His speech emphasized the universality of religion, rejecting sectarianism, fanaticism, and intolerance, and presented India’s spiritual heritage—especially Vedanta—as a bridge between East and West.
• Legacy & Relevance: Digvijay Diwas serves as a reminder of Vivekananda’s ideals—unity in diversity, tolerance, spiritual strength, humanistic values, and the need for global harmony. His ideas continue to inspire youth and reinforce cultural pride in India. 
• Observance & Events: On this day, seminars, lectures, and cultural programs are held in different parts of India. These observances aim to reawaken Vivekananda’s message in contemporary times—his call for compassion, moral strength, and the importance of ethical living.

India Launches Indigenous Multi-Stage Malaria Vaccine

In the News: India has licensed its first indigenous multi-stage malaria vaccine, named AdFalciVax, under development by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), for manufacturing and commercialisation. This is being viewed as a significant step toward India’s goal of eliminating malaria by 2030.

Key Points:

• What & Developer: AdFalciVax is a recombinant, chimeric, multi-stage malaria vaccine targeting Plasmodium falciparum. It is developed by ICMR through its Regional Medical Research Centre (RMRC), Bhubaneswar, in collaboration with the National Institute of Malaria Research (NIMR) and the National Institute of Immunology (NII), New Delhi.
• Target & Action: The vaccine targets two critical parasite life stages — to prevent infection before the parasite enters the bloodstream, and to reduce the transmission from humans to mosquitoes. This dual-action (infection + transmission) aims to improve effectiveness over single-stage vaccines.
• Stability & Usability: AdFalciVax remains stable for over nine months at room temperature, which reduces dependency on cold chain logistics. This makes it suitable for remote, hard-to-reach, and resource-constrained areas.
•  Licensing & Commercialisation: ICMR has issued licenses / invited Expression of Interest (EoI) from companies to produce and commercialise AdFalciVax. Five companies have already been licensed: Indian Immunologicals Ltd, TechInvention Lifecare Pvt Ltd, Panacea Biotec Ltd, Biological E Ltd, and Zydus Lifesciences.
•   Public Health Impact: India contributes a large share of malaria cases globally — around 1.4% of global malaria cases and 0.9% of deaths. It also accounts for a majority of Southeast Asia’s malaria burden. The vaccine could significantly reduce both cases and transmission, especially in endemic and tribal regions.
•  Development Status & Timeline: Currently, AdFalciVax is at preclinical stage. Clinical trials, regulatory approvals, and large-scale production are still ahead, with estimates suggesting readiness for broader use in a few years.

India Launches UPI-UPU Project For Cross-Border Payments

In the News: India has launched the UPI-UPU Integration Project, a collaboration between the Department of Posts, NPCI International Payments Ltd (NIPL), and the Universal Postal Union (UPU), to enable faster, cheaper, and more secure cross-border remittances by linking India’s UPI with the UPU’s global postal payment network.

Key Points:

• What is the UPI-UPU Project: This initiative connects India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) with the Universal Postal Union’s Interconnection Platform (UPU-IP), which is a global postal payments network spanning over 190 countries. 
• Objective & Benefits: To reduce remittance costs, speed up processing times, provide affordable and seamless international money transfers, especially benefiting migrant workers, people in rural or underserved areas, and those outside formal banking systems. 
• Launch & Venue: Unveiled by Minister Jyotiraditya M. Scindia during the 28th Universal Postal Congress in Dubai.
• Funding & Commitments: India has committed USD 10 million to support technology-driven innovation under this project, to ensure operational readiness and collaboration among postal operators.
• Implementation Partners: The project is being developed by Department of Posts (DoP), NPCI International Payments Ltd (NIPL), and UPU. It will leverage the postal network globally and UPI’s real-time, low-cost payment infrastructure. 
• Scope & Reach: The UPU network includes postal operators in 192 countries, which means people can send/receive remittances far more widely using postal services integrated with UPI. 
• Challenges & Considerations: Ensuring regulatory compliance (AML/KYC norms), managing foreign exchange, interoperability across postal payment systems, and making sure speed and security standards rise to expectations. (While specific challenges were indicated, detailed operational roadmaps are still being worked out.)

SPREE 2025

In the News: SPREE-2025 (Scheme for Promoting Registration of Employers and Employees) is an initiative by the Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) launched on 1 July 2025. It aims to expand social security coverage under the ESI Act by making it easier for unregistered employers and employees—including contractual and temporary workers—to enroll without facing inspections or demands for past dues. The scheme will remain active until 31 December 2025.

Key Points:

• What & Duration: SPREE-2025 is a special scheme under the ESI Act 1948, valid from 1 July to 31 December 2025.
•  Target Group: It covers unregistered employers as well as unregistered employees, including those working on contractual or temporary basis. 
• Portals for Registration: Employers can register using digital portals including ESIC Portal, Shram Suvidha Portal, and Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) Portal.
• No Past Penalties or Dues: Under SPREE-2025, no inspections or demands for backdated dues will be made for periods before registration. Employers / employees start receiving benefits from the date of registration (or declared date).
• Voluntary Compliance Emphasis: The scheme focuses on enabling voluntary registration rather than penalizing non-compliance, aiming to reduce litigation and build trust between employers and employees. 
• Relation with Amnesty Scheme: SPREE-2025 is complemented by an Amnesty Scheme-2025 which is designed as a one-time dispute resolution window to settle issues like damages, interest, and coverage under ESI Act.
•  Benefits: Newly registered employees will immediately become eligible for health & social security benefits under ESIC from the registration date. Greater formalization of workforce is expected, improving coverage and welfare.

Dharmendra Pradhan Launches First Overseas Atal Innovation Centre in UAE

In the News: Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan inaugurated India’s first overseas Atal Innovation Centre (AIC) at the IIT Delhi-Abu Dhabi campus during his two-day visit to the United Arab Emirates .The move is part of India’s expanding educational and innovation collaboration with the UAE.

Key Points:

• What & Where: The first overseas Atal Innovation Centre (AIC) under India’s Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) was launched at IIT Delhi-Abu Dhabi campus. 
• Academic Programmes Launched: Along with the AIC, new academic courses were introduced: a Ph.D. in Energy & Sustainability and a B.Tech in Chemical Engineering.
•  India-UAE Education Collaboration: Discussions during the visit included greater cooperation in innovation, youth exchange, curriculum alignment, teacher exchanges, and creating more Atal Innovation Labs in UAE schools.
• Scale & Ecosystem Strategy: The AIC aims to serve both Indian and UAE innovators, fostering start-ups in sectors such as AI, clean energy, deep tech, and joint research ventures, thereby strengthening India’s innovation footprint abroad.
•  Policy Context & Vision: The launch aligns with India’s National Education Policy 2020 goals of internationalization of education, promoting innovation & entrepreneurship, and also reflects the deeper educational partnership between India and the UAE.

Larry Ellison Surpasses Elon Musk as World’s Richest

In the News: Larry Ellison, co-founder and executive chairman of Oracle Corporation, briefly overtook Elon Musk to become the world’s richest person. The surge in Ellison’s net worth was driven by an unexpected spike in Oracle’s stock, thanks to strong cloud & AI-related business results.

Key Points:

• Trigger Event: Oracle reported much better than expected financial results, especially driven by demand for AI & cloud infrastructure services. Oracle’s share price rose sharply (around ~40%), boosting Ellison’s net worth.
• Net Worth Figures: Ellison’s fortune climbed to about US$393 billion, narrowly edging out Elon Musk’s ~$384-385 billion at that moment.
• Duration & Reversal: The “richest person” title for Ellison was brief—by market close, fluctuations meant Musk reclaimed or tightened the gap.
• Reasons & Context:  Growing demand for AI is pushing up Oracle’s cloud infrastructure business. Ellison holds a large stake in Oracle (about 40-41%), so gain in share price has an outsized effect on his personal wealth.

Israel’s attack on Doha

In the News: Israel carried out an airstrike in Doha, Qatar, targeting senior Hamas political leaders who were meeting to review a U.S.-backed ceasefire proposal. The attack killed six people, including the son of senior negotiator Khalil al-Hayya, multiple Hamas staffers, and one Qatari security officer. Qatar condemned the strike, calling it a violation of sovereignty and a serious blow to ongoing mediation efforts with Hamas.

Key Points:

• Motives / Why It Was Carried Out:
  • Israel claims the strike was to target Hamas leaders engaged in orchestrating attacks including recent escalations against Israeli civilians and military.
  • The meeting in Doha was part of ceasefire negotiations, which Israel may have viewed as unfavorable or containing compromises it could not accept. Destroying negotiating leadership can shift leverage.
• Extent and Casualties:
  • Six people died in the strike, including Hamas members (one of them being the son of Khalil al-Hayya), a Qatari security official, and others. Some of the top leadership reportedly survived.
  • The strike took place in the Leqtaifiya district, Doha.
• Violation of Sovereignty & Law:
  • Qatar condemned the strike as “flagrant violation” of its sovereignty.
  • Many international actors viewed it as a breach of international law, particularly because the meeting was part of a mediation process.
• Possible Fallout / Implications:

1. Damage to Mediation & Peace Process:
   1. The strike threatens to derail ceasefire and hostage-exchange negotiations, with Hamas insisting demands remain non-negotiable.
   2. Qatar, which has been a key mediator, may lose credibility or pull back from talks.
2. Escalation of Regional Tensions:
   1. Gulf states like Saudi Arabia, UAE, and others have strongly condemned the strike. The trust between Israel and some of these states is likely to deteriorate.
   2. Possibility of retaliatory moves or increased cooperation among Arab states to pressure Israel.
3. Impact on Israel’s International Standing:
   1. Criticism from U.S., Germany, Russia, other major actors calling the attack counterproductive or unacceptable.
   2. Risk of isolation or reduced diplomatic latitude due to violation of a sovereign nation’s territory.
4. Domestic and Civilian Impact:
   1. Civilian casualties and damage increase humanitarian outrage and may galvanize support for Hamas or public dissent against ceasefire terms.
   2. Safety concerns for foreigners or diplomatic staff in Doha; potential destabilisation of local security.

ISRO Transfers SSLV Technology to HAL for Independent Production

In the News:  ISRO, NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), IN-SPACe, and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) signed a Technology Transfer Agreement that enables HAL to independently produce the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV), helping to commercialize ISRO’s SSLV technology and boost India’s launch capabilities.

Key Points:

• What & Who: The agreement involves ISRO, NSIL, IN-SPACe, and HAL. HAL won the contract (₹511 crore) to acquire SSLV tech under a competitive bidding process. 
• Scope & Timeline: HAL is to receive the full know-how, training, and technical support required for SSLV production. The technology transfer process is expected to be completed in 24 months.
• SSLV Capabilities: SSLV is a three-stage, all-solid launch vehicle, designed to launch satellites up to ~500 kg into Low Earth Orbit (LEO). It is intended to be quick turnaround, cost-competitive, and suitable for commercial & international customers.
• Significance for India’s Space Sector:
  • This is the 100th Technology Transfer Agreement facilitated by IN-SPACe, marking a milestone in India’s space reforms. Enhances self-reliance (Atmanirbhar Bharat) in space launch capabilities.
  • HAL’s ability to build SSLVs domestically reduces dependence on ISRO for such launches in future.
  • Improves competitiveness in the global small satellite launch market, by offering regular, cost-effective, on-demand launches.
• Challenges & Considerations:
  • HAL will need to upskill its workforce and establish production infrastructure. Technical support and quality control during the transfer and initial launches will be crucial.
  • Ensuring that commercial and regulatory frameworks (launch licensing, safety, export controls) are in place to support SSLV’s industrial and international operations.

India Secures Nine World Records in Space Exploration: ISRO

In the News: ISRO announced that India has secured nine world records in space exploration, spanning satellite launches, Moon missions, Mars exploration, and cryogenic technology. The reveal came from ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan, who also said India is aiming for 8–10 more records in coming years.

Key Points:

• Records Secured: The nine records include achievements such as launching 104 satellites in one mission (PSLV-C37, 2017), fastest maiden flight of LVM3’s cryogenic stage (between 2014–2017), and the successful lunar south pole landing by Chandrayaan-3 (2023).
• Domain Areas: Records spanned multiple domains: satellite launch count per mission, Moon exploration (particularly the south pole region), technology for cryogenic upper stages, and cost-effectiveness of missions. 
• Timeline & Examples:2014: Mars Orbiter Mission made India the first country to reach Mars orbit on their maiden attempt. 2017: PSLV-C37 set record for most satellites launched in single mission (104). Chandrayaan-3’s landing near the lunar south pole was another highlight.
•  Efficiency & Cost Factor: India’s space programme is noted for achieving these records while maintaining cost efficiency, especially in developing launch/cryogenic tech quicker than many global counterparts.
• Future Targets: ISRO intends to add another 8–10 world records in space exploration over the next few years. Additionally, broad ambitions include developing capabilities for more advanced missions and overall strengthening India’s position in global space tech.

ICC Launches ‘Will to Win’ Campaign for Women’s World Cup 2025

In the News: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has unveiled its flagship “Will to Win” campaign to promote the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025. The release coincides with the opening of general ticket sales. The tournament will be jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka, starting 30 September.

Key Points:

• Campaign Launch & Theme: The “Will to Win” campaign is built on the concept of determination, perseverance, and transformation. It seeks to celebrate the journey of women cricketers from early beginnings to international success.
•  Star Players Featured: The campaign film spotlights several leading women cricketers including India’s Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur, Sri Lanka’s Chamari Athapaththu, Australia’s Ellyse Perry, England’s Nat Sciver-Brunt, South Africa’s Marizanne Kapp, Bangladesh’s Nigar Sultana Joty, Pakistan’s Muneeba Ali, and New Zealand’s Amelia Kerr.
• Tie-in with Tickets & Access: The campaign release coincided with the opening of the general ticket sales window (starting 8 PM IST on 8 September) on Tickets.cricketworldcup.com. The broadcast of the campaign is intended to boost awareness, fan engagement, and stadium attendance.
• Tournament Details: Dates: 30 September to 2 November 2025 . Hosts: Jointly by India and Sri Lanka across five venues.
•  Messaging & Impact: The campaign emphasises resilience, belief and triumph over adversity. It is meant not just to showcase cricketing excellence, but also to inspire young girls, amplify women’s sports, and mark India’s role in championing women’s cricket as it hosts the Women’s World Cup after a gap of 12 years.
• Visual & Emotional Storytelling: The campaign film traces the players’ journeys—early struggles, perseverance, sacrifice—and connects emotionally with fans through evocative storytelling and strong visuals.