Daily Current Affairs- 29th September 2025

Daily Current Affairs- 29th September 2025

DRDO Wins Business Line Changemaker of the Year

In the News: The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) was honored with the Business Line Changemaker of the Year award, recognizing its pivotal role in advancing India’s strategic defence technologies and contributions to national security.

Key Points:

• Award Recognition: DRDO secured the Changemaker of the Year award by BusinessLine, highlighting its transformative impact in the defence and technology sectors.  
• Leadership Acknowledgement: The award emphasized the role of DRDO’s Director General, Raja Babu Ummalaneni, in steering these innovations and strategic initiatives.
• Strategic Technologies: The recognition underscores DRDO’s advances in defence technologies that strengthen national security and respond to evolving threats.
• Operation Sindoor : One of the cited achievements was DRDO’s involvement in Operation Sindoor, where it helped neutralize hostile assets along India’s bord.
• National Impact: The award reflects DRDO’s contribution not only to military capability but also to boosting the country’s technological self-reliance.  
• Broader Recognition: Alongside DRDO, organizations like the Azim Premji Foundation were also acknowledged for their work in areas such as education and healthcare.

⁠India Opens First Integrative Oncology Centre at AIIA Goa

⁠In the News: The Ministry of AYUSH inaugurated India’s first Integrative Oncology Research and Care Centre at the All-India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA), Goa. This new centre brings together conventional cancer treatment with traditional healing systems such as Ayurveda and Yoga, aiming to offer holistic care for cancer patients.

Key Points:

• Centre Inauguration: The Integrative Oncology Research and Care Centre at AIIA Goa was officially opened in September 2025 under the supervision of the Ministry of AYUSH, marking a milestone in India’s health-care model.
• Integrative Approach: The centre combines mainstream oncology therapies with complementary modalities such as Ayurveda, Yoga and lifestyle support, to address both disease and patient well-being. 
• Research & Care Focus: Alongside treatment, the facility is intended to be a hub for research on integrative cancer care, generating evidence for combining traditional and modern methods.
• Patient Experience: The model aims to improve patient outcomes not only by treating tumors, but also by alleviating side effects, enhancing quality of life, supporting emotional health, and strengthening overall resilience. 
• Replicability: Goa’s integrative oncology model is being viewed as a potential template for other states in India to adopt, spurring collaboration between allopathy and AYUSH systems elsewhere. 
• Government Backing: The initiative enjoys support from central and state authorities, reflecting growing acceptance of integrative healthcare strategies in public policy.

AFSPA Extended In Manipur Arunachal Nagaland Regions

In the News: The Union Home Ministry announced an extension of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 (AFSPA) for six more months in parts of Manipur, Nagaland, and Arunachal Pradesh, citing persisting security challenges in these northeastern states.

Key Points:

• Extension Decision: The AFSPA has been extended for six months starting October 1, 2025, to maintain the “disturbed area” status in many districts and police station jurisdictions across the three states.
• Manipur Coverage: In Manipur, the Act continues to apply nearly across the state except for 13 police station areas in valley districts such as Imphal West, Imphal East, Thoubal, Bishnupur, and Kakching, which have been exempted. 
• Nagaland Coverage: In Nagaland, AFSPA is extended in nine full districts (including Dimapur, Mon, Phek) and 21 police station areas across five additional districts under the “disturbedarea”notification.
• Arunachal Pradesh Coverage: The Act remains valid in Tirap, Changlang, and Longding districts. Also, three police station regions (Namsai district: Namsai, Mahadevpur, Chowkham) bordering Assam are included in the extension. 
• Legal Powers & Rationale: Under AFSPA, armed forces are empowered to conduct searches, arrests without warrants, and use lethal force if needed. The extension is justified by the central government as necessary to combat insurgency, support law and order, and maintain internal security in those areas. 
• Controversies & Human Rights: AFSPA has long been controversial due to accusations of human rights violations, impunity for security forces, and criticisms from civil society. Yet, periodic extensions reflect the government’s assessment that peace is not yet restored sufficiently for full withdrawal.

Oil India Discovers Natural Gas Off Andaman Islands

In the News:  Oil India Ltd. (OIL) announced that it had discovered natural gas in an exploratory well off the coast of the Andaman Islands, marking the first confirmed hydrocarbon find in the region’s shallow offshore block.

Key Points:

• Exploration Well & Block: The discovery was made in the Vijayapuram-2 exploratory well drilled in the Offshore Andaman Block AN-OSHP-2018/1 under India’s Open Acreage Licensing Policy (OALP).
• Location & Depth: The well lies approximately 9.20 nautical miles (about 17 km) east of the Andaman shoreline in water depth of 295 metres, targeting depths down to 2,650 metres.
• Gas Detection & Testing: During preliminary production testing between 2,212 and 2,250 metres, intermittent gas inflow (flaring) was observed. Gas samples were subsequently tested and found to consist of about 87 % methane.
• Status of Commercial Viability: The discovery is at an early stage. The size and commercial viability of the gas pool are not yet confirmed. Additional isotope and evaluation studies are underway to understand its origin and potential.
• Broader Exploration Context: The Andaman basin had long been speculated to hold hydrocarbons because of its geological affinity with proven belts extending through Myanmar to Indonesia. This discovery gives concrete evidence of potential in this frontier region.

⁠World Food India 2025 Sees ₹1 Lakh Crore Investment Commitments

In the News: At the conclusion of World Food India 2025, held from September 25 to 28 in New Delhi, the government announced that domestic and international firms had committed more than ₹1.02 lakh crore in investment pledges (MoUs) for India’s food processing sector.

Key Points:

• Magnitude of Commitments: The summit resulted in MoUs worth ₹1.02 lakh crore across various segments of the food ecosystem, making it one of the largest investment announcements in India’s food processing history.
• Leading Investors & Sectors: Major players including Reliance Consumer Products, Coca-Cola India, Amul, Nestlé, Tata Consumer Products, Patanjali Foods, and Carlsberg signed pacts spanning dairy, processed foods, beverages, spices and condiments.
•  Job Creation & Economic Reach: The pledged investments are expected to generate over 64,000 direct jobs and support more than 10 lakh indirect employment opportunities, strengthening rural value chains.
• Pan-India Spread: Projects under the MoUs are slated to be located across more than 15 states, including Gujarat, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Assam, Tamil Nadu, and the Northeast, ensuring wide geographical impact. 
• Emphasis on Value Addition: The investments aim to enhance processing capacities, modernize supply chains, reduce post-harvest losses, and promote integration between farmers and industry.
• Policy & Institutional Support: The Ministry of Food Processing Industries, along with agencies like Invest India, played a central role in facilitating the deals and ensuring alignment with national goals of food security and agricultural transformation.

⁠Mukhi Becomes First India-Born Adult Cheetah at Kuno

In the News: Mukhi, a female cheetah born in Kuno National Park, officially reached adulthood, becoming the first India-born cheetah cub under Project Cheetah to survive to maturity.

Key Points:

• Birth & Parentage: Mukhi was born on March 29, 2023 to Jwala, a Namibian cheetah brought to India under the reintroduction program; of the four cubs born that time, Mukhi was the only one to survive past infancy. 
• Survival Against Odds: Her siblings died during a severe heatwave soon after birth, and Mukhi was abandoned by her mother; she was rescued and nurtured by forest authorities and veterinarians. 
• Milestone of Adulthood: At 915 days (approximately 30 months), Mukhi attained adulthood, enabling her to contribute to breeding and natural growth of India’s cheetah population.
• Significance for Project Cheetah: Mukhi’s survival and maturation validate the feasibility of cheetah reintroduction, showing some cubs can adapt to the Indian environment and persist. 
• Population & Mortality Data: Since the reintroduction began, India now has 27 cheetahs (24 in Kuno, 3 in Gandhi Sagar), of which 16 were born in India. However, 19 cheetahs (including nine imported adults and ten cubs) have died so far. 
• Survival Rate Comparison: The cub survival rate in Kuno is reported at 61 %, substantially higher than the global average (~40 %), indicating promising adaptation under managed conditions.
• Future Prospects: Mukhi’s achievement strengthens resolve to bring in more cheetahs to boost genetic diversity, expand habitats, and establish stable populations beyond Kuno.

⁠Environmental Accounting on Forest – 2025

In the News: The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) released the 8th edition of its environment-accounts publication titled Environmental Accounting on Forest – 2025. This is the first report completely dedicated to forest accounting under the United Nations’ SEEA (System of Environmental-Economic Accounting) framework.

Key Points:

•  Purpose & Framework: The report is designed to provide comprehensive forest ecosystem accounts at national and state levels, aligned with the SEEA framework, and is structured into two volumes—Volume I covering methodology and national data and Volume II focusing on state/UT-level accounts.
• Physical Asset Account: Between 2010-11 and 2021-22, India’s forest cover grew by 17,444.61 sq km, bringing the total to 7.15 lakh sq km, which constitutes about 21.76 % of the geographical area.
• Extent Account: From 2013 to 2023, the report records a net increase of 3,356 sq km in forest extent, largely driven by reclassification or boundary adjustments. States like Uttarakhand, Odisha, and Jharkhand showed notable gains in Recorded Forest Area (RFA).
• Condition Account: The growing stock—the volume of usable wood in living trees—rose by 305.53 million cubic metres, a 7.32 % increase over the decade. Key contributors included Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Telangana. 
• Services Account (Provisioning & Regulating): Provisioning services (timber, non-timber forest products) were valued at approximately ₹37.93 thousand crore in 2021-22, about 0.16 % of GDP. States such as Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Kerala were leading contributors. Regulating services (carbon retention, climate regulation) saw valuation rise to about 2.63 % of GDP in 2021-22, with states like Arunachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Assam among the top performers.
• Major State Contributors & Trends: In the physical asset account, Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu accounted for the highest gains. In the extent account, Uttarakhand led the increase in RFA share (~6.3 %), followed by Odisha and Jharkhand. 

India Win 7th SAFF U-17 Football Title in Colombo

⁠In the News: India clinched their seventh SAFF U-17 Championship title by defeating Bangladesh in the final held in Colombo. The match was decided by penalties after a 2-2 draw in regulation time, and India won the shootout 4-1.

Key Points:

• Tournament & Venue: The 2025 SAFF U-17 Championship was hosted in Colombo, Sri Lanka from 15 to 27 September, featuring seven South Asian teams vying for regional supremacy. 
• Final Match Drama: In the final, India and Bangladesh were deadlocked 2-2 by the end of normal play, leading to a penalty shootout which India dominated 4-1.
• Game Flow: India started strong, leading 2-1 at halftime through goals by Dallamuon Gangte and Azlaan Shah KH, but Bangladesh equalised late in the second half, forcing the shootout.
• Penalty Shootout: India’s penalty takers displayed calm under pressure and converted four of their attempts, while Bangladesh faltered, granting India the title. 
• Historical Significance: This victory extended India’s dominance in the SAFF U-17 category, reinforcing their status as the most successful side in the tournament’s history with seven titles.
• Individual Accolades: Muhammad Abdullah of Pakistan was the top scorer of the tournament with 6 goals, while the best player award went to Nazmul Huda Faysal.

Mithun Manhas Elected 37th BCCI President

In the News: During the 94th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) held in Mumbai, Mithun Manhas was elected unopposed as the 37th President of the BCCI, succeeding Roger Binny.

Key Points:

• Election & Succession: Mithun Manhas assumed office as BCCI President taking over from Roger Binny, who stepped down after reaching the retirement age of 70 as per BCCI norms.
• Unopposed Mandate: His election was unopposed, signalling broad consensus among state associations and a smooth leadership transition.
• Milestones & Firsts: He becomes the first uncapped cricketer (i.e., who did not play an international match for India) to lead the BCCI, and the first individual from the region of Jammu & Kashmir to hold this prestigious post.
• Cricketing & Administrative Background: Manhas is a veteran of Indian domestic cricket, having played primarily for Delhi and later Jammu & Kashmir. After retirement, he took on coaching and administrative roles including stints in IPL teams and within cricket associations.
• Supporting Leadership: Alongside him, other key office-bearers were named: Rajeev Shukla continues as vice president, Devajit Saikia as secretary, Prabhtej Singh Bhatia as joint secretary, and A. Raghuram Bhat as treasurer. 

⁠Shirish Chandra Murmu Appointed as RBI Deputy Governor

 In the News: The Government of India announced the appointment of Shirish Chandra Murmu as a Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). His three-year term will begin from October 9, 2025, when he succeeds Rajeshwar Rao, whose extended tenure ends October 8.

Key Points:

• Appointment Details: Murmu will take office as Deputy Governor for a three-year term starting October 9, 2025, and will replace M. Rajeshwar Rao.
• Current Role & Experience: Before this appointment, Murmu was serving as an Executive Director at the RBI, overseeing the Supervision Department.
• Portfolio Not Yet Assigned: Though his appointment is confirmed, his specific departmental responsibilities at the RBI have not been publicly announced yet.
• Succession & Context: Rao’s term comes to an end on October 8 after multiple extensions. Murmu is considered the senior-most executive director within the RBI and was selected over other internal contenders.
• Structure Norms: As per the RBI Act, the central bank typically has four Deputy Governors. These are assigned oversight of major functions like monetary policy, banking regulation, financial markets, and supervision.
• Age & Selection Flexibility: Though the eligibility norms provide for an age ceiling, the Search Committee has discretionary power to waive it in exceptional cases; Murmu’s selection reflects trust in his experience and capability.

⁠R Venkataramani Reappointed Attorney General of India Till 2027

In the News: The Government of India announced the re-appointment of R. Venkataramani as the Attorney General of India for an additional two years, extending his tenure from 1 October 2025 through 30 September 2027.

Key Points:

• Tenure Extension: R. Venkataramani’s original three-year term as Attorney General was set to expire on 30 September 2025; the government approved a further two-year extension effective from 1 October 2025. 
• Constitutional Appointment: The Attorney General is appointed by the President of India on the advice of the Union Cabinet under Article 76(1) of the Constitution, and serves at the President’s pleasure.
• Legal Career & Background: Venkataramani is a senior advocate with over four decades of legal practice, spanning constitutional law, indirect taxation, human rights, civil and criminal matters. He was designated a senior advocate in 1997 and has served in various capacities, including member of the Law Commission of India.
• Previous Appointment: He succeeded K. K. Venugopal to become the 16th Attorney General on 1 October 2022.
• Role & Functions: As the chief law officer of the Union government, Venkataramani will continue to advise the government on legal issues, represent it in the Supreme Court, assist in preparing legal opinions, and participate in Parliament proceedings (without voting rights).