Daily Current Affairs- 2nd September 2025

Daily Current Affairs- 2nd September 2025

IEPFA Launches Niveshak Didi Phase II for Women

In the News: The Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority (IEPFA), under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, launched Phase II of the Niveshak Didi initiative in Hyderabad, aimed at advancing financial literacy among rural women through a “for women, by women” model.

Key Points:

• Programme Launch & Location : IEPFA officially launched Phase II of its flagship financial literacy initiative Niveshak Didi—at a financial awareness camp in Patelguda Panchayat, Hyderabad, Telangana.
• Programme Highlights : Phase II builds on the success of Phase I by extending outreach, introducing interactive training modules, and partnering with grassroots organizations. It emphasizes women-led financial empowerment, savings, investment safety, fraud prevention, and secure usage of digital platforms. The training sessions were delivered in local languages like Telugu for greater accessibility.
• IPPB’s Role in Outreach : IPPB’s extensive postal network plays a crucial role in last-mile delivery of financial education and services across villages and panchayats.
• Background:  MoA & Phase I Outcomes : Earlier, on April 8, 2025, IEPFA and IPPB signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) to jointly launch Phase II. Phase I had impacted over 55,000 beneficiaries roughly 60% of whom were women in rural and economically active age groups, with two-thirds in deep rural areas. Phase II is set to deploy over 4,000 financial literacy camps, conducted by nearly 40,000 trained women postal workers who serve as Niveshak Didis.

T.C.A. Kalyani Appointed as New CGA of  India

In the News: The Government of India appointed T.C.A. Kalyani, a 1991-batch officer of the Indian Civil Accounts Service (ICAS), as the 29th Controller General of Accounts (CGA) in the Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance.

Key Points:

• Appointment Details : T.C.A. Kalyani officially took charge as CGA on September 1, 2025, succeeding S.S. Dubey, who retired on August 31, 2025, after serving since March 2023.
• Professional Background & Education : She is a 1991-batch ICAS officer with over 34 years of experience in public financial management, accounting, governance, and administration. Kalyani is a gold medallist in Political Science from the University of Delhi (Lady Shri Ram College) and holds an M.A. in International Politics and an M.Phil. in West European Studies from Jawaharlal Nehru University.
• Career Highlights & Contributions
  • Prior Role: Served as Principal Chief Controller of Accounts (Pr. CCA) at the Ministry of Home Affairs, overseeing budgeting and accounting for one of India’s largest ministries.
  • Cross-Ministry Experience: Held positions in key ministries such as Defence; Telecom; Fertilisers; Finance; Social Justice & Empowerment; Information & Broadcasting; and Home Affairs.
  • Policy & Tech Leadership: Pivotal in initiating the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) scheme for delivering fertiliser subsidies directly to farmers.  At MTNL, spearheaded digital transformation efforts including online bill payments and installation of payment kiosks.  Contributed to the revival of the Fertiliser Corporation of India Limited, enhancing financial structures and transparency.

Supreme Court Revisits RTE Exemption for Minority Institutions

In the News: The Supreme Court of India expressed serious doubts over its 2014 Pramati Educational & Cultural Trust decision that granted blanket exemption to both aided and unaided minority educational institutions from complying with the provisions of the Right to Education (RTE) Act. The Court has referred the matter to a larger bench for reconsideration.

Key Points:

• Questioning the 2014 Verdict :  The Supreme Court bench, led by Justices Dipankar Datta and Manmohan, observed that the earlier ruling might have undermined universal, high-quality elementary education and fragmented the inclusive vision of a common schooling system. Exempting minority institutions may have inadvertently narrowed the reach of educational equity.
• Balancing Articles 21A and 30(1) : The bench emphasized that applying the RTE Act to minority schools does not erode their identity. Instead, broader inclusion aligns with the true intent of Article 30(1), and there is no inherent conflict with Article 21A (the right to education).
• Impact on School Demographics & Institutional Autonomy : While Section 12(1)(c) of the RTE Act mandates a 25% reservation for disadvantaged children, the Court noted it does not inherently alter the minority character of schools, provided there is financial neutrality through state reimbursement. The real concern is whether this transforms into a blanket exclusionary policy, which needs fact-based review, not blanket immunity.
• Reinforcing Divides Instead of Unifying : The Bench noted that the exemption may reinforce societal divides by diluting shared learning spaces and weakening the inclusive spirit envisioned under Article 21A. It cautioned that this exemption might be misused by institutions seeking to avoid compliance.
• Referral to Larger Bench  : The Court has referred the issue to the Chief Justice of India to decide whether a larger bench is warranted.

India-US Joint Military Exercise Yudh Abhyas 2025

In the News: India and the United States began the 21st edition of Exercise Yudh Abhyas in Alaska, marking another milestone in their enduring defense partnership. The two-week training is being held at Fort Wainwright, Yukon Training Area, and Donnelly Training Area, bringing together troops from both nations to enhance interoperability and readiness under challenging Arctic-like conditions.

Key Points:

• Exercise Details & Purpose: The exercise spans September 1 to 14, 2025, and is hosted on U.S. soil. It emphasizes joint readiness in subarctic terrain, with a focus on high-altitude warfare and counter‑drone strategies, underlining both countries’ ability to adapt to modern threats.

• Participants & Forces Involved :
  • The Indian contingent, drawn from the Madras Regiment, is supported by personnel across arms and services.
  • The U.S. contingent includes troops from the 1st Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment (“Bobcats”) of the Arctic Wolves Brigade Combat Team, under the 11th Airborne Division.
• Training Scope & Focus Areas :
  • Activities include heliborne operations, surveillance and UAS (Unmanned Aerial Systems) integration, mountain warfare, casualty evacuation (CASEVAC), and combined employment of artillery, aviation, and electronic warfare systems.
  • Experts from both armies are collaborating in working groups on UAS/counter‑UAS, information warfare, communications, and logistics. 
• Strategic Objectives & Broader Context :
  • The exercise enhances interoperability, brigade-battalion level coordination, and air-to-ground integration doctrine. It supports U.S. Indo‑Pacific Command’s goals of maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific.
  • Despite ongoing trade and tariff tensions, Yudh Abhyas continues to reflect the resilience and depth of the India-U.S. defense relationship. 
• Exercise Evolution & Historical Significance : Since its inception in 2002, Yudh Abhyas has evolved from counterinsurgency drills to high-level brigade command post and field training, and now sophisticated domain-integrated training. The 2020s editions saw dramatic growth:
  • In 2024 (20th edition), each side deployed 600 soldiers and incorporated systems like HIMARS, Stryker vehicles, artillery, heavy machine guns, and attack helicopters.
  • 2025 continues this expansion, with advanced focus areas and a balanced, large-scale deployment in Arctic conditions.

China Pledges $2 Billion and AI Support at SCO Summit

In the News: At the 25th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit held in Tianjin, China, Chinese President Xi Jinping announced a substantial financial and technological support package, including a $2 billion commitment (roughly 2 billion yuan in grants plus loans) and expanded artificial intelligence cooperation, aimed at enhancing regional development and tech collaboration.

Key Points:

• Financial Commitments
  • China will provide 2 billion yuan (~$280 million) in grants to SCO member states this year.
  • An additional 10 billion yuan (~$1.4 billion) in loans will be extended to banks within the SCO Interbank Consortium over the next three years.
•  Technological & Scholarly Collaboration
  • China will double SCO-specific scholarships and launch an SCO Innovative PhD programme to nurture high-calibre talent in academics, science, and technology.
  • The plan includes establishing 10 “Luban Workshops” across SCO member states and offering 10,000 human resources training opportunities over five years.
• AI and Ethical Tech Cooperation
  • SCO member states, including India, committed to deepening cooperation in Artificial Intelligence (AI), focusing on security, accountability, transparency, inclusiveness, and fairness, as reaffirmed in the Tianjin Declaration.
  • The measures aim to ensure equal rights for all countries in the development and use of AI technologies.  
• Long-Term Development Vision
  • These initiatives are aligned with President Xi’s broader vision of a more inclusive global governance model, one that emphasizes multilateralism and supports a shared future for humanity under the SCO framework.
  • During the summit, China also showcased technological progress, including a humanoid AI robot named “Xiao”, which assisted attendees—a gesture highlighting AI’s growing role in diplomacy and public engagement.

Oscar Piastri Wins Dramatic 2025 Dutch Grand Prix

In the News: At Circuit Zandvoort in the Netherlands, Oscar Piastri delivered a stunning performance at the 2025 Dutch Grand Prix, securing victory from pole position while his McLaren teammate Lando Norris suffered a late-race retirement—a dramatic twist that reshaped the championship standings.

Key Points:

• Pole-to-Flag Win & Grand Chelem :  Oscar Piastri converted his pole position into a commanding race win, achieving a rare “Grand Chelem” (pole, fastest lap, and led every lap)—his first in Formula One and a milestone McLaren had not seen since Mika Häkkinen in 1998.
• Championship Implications : The victory extended Piastri’s lead in the Drivers’ Championship to 34 points over Norris, significantly tilting the title fight his way with nine races remaining.
• Podium Finishers : Max Verstappen finished second, delighting the home crowd, while rookie Isack Hadjar claimed his maiden F1 podium in third—marking the first such achievement for both him and the Racing Bulls team.
• Notable Incidents & Race Drama : The race saw multiple safety car periods due to accidents involving Ferrari drivers and Norris’ retirement. Piastri navigated the chaos with composure, while Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc also retired after incidents.