Daily Current Affairs- 3rd September 2025

Daily Current Affairs- 3rd September 2025

Vikram-3201: India’s First Made-in-Bharat 32-Bit Microprocessor

In the News: On September 2, 2025, at the Semicon India 2025 conference in New Delhi, Union IT and Electronics Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw presented the Vikram‑3201, India’s first fully indigenous 32‑bit microprocessor to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, marking a pivotal milestone in the country's semiconductor self-reliance journey.

Key Points:

• Fully Indigenous Space‑Grade Processor: Vikram‑3201 is the country’s first fully home‑grown 32-bit microprocessor, explicitly developed for space applications like launch‑vehicle avionics and spacecraft systems.
• Development and Fabrication: Designed collaboratively by ISRO’s Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) and the Semiconductor Laboratory (SCL) in Chandigarh, the chip was fabricated using the 180 nm CMOS process at SCL.
• Validated in Real Space Scenario: The initial production lots were tested onboard the PSLV-C60 mission’s Mission Management Computer (POEM‑4 platform), confirming reliable performance in actual space-flight conditions.
• Technical Capabilities: The chip supports:
  • Floating‑point arithmetic
  • A custom instruction set architecture (ISA) developed by ISRO
  • High‑level language support for Ada, with a C‑compiler under development.
• Operational Environment Engineered to endure extreme temperatures—from –55 °C to +125 °C—and the intense conditions of rocket launches and space environments.
• Strategic and National Significance: This development underscores India’s push toward Atmanirbhar Bharat (self‑reliant India) in high‑reliability microelectronics and critical space technology. It symbolizes growing domestic capabilities and independence from imported semiconductors.

PM Modi Launched Rajya Jeevika Nidhi Saakh Sahkari Sangh Limited

In the News: On September 2, 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually inaugurated the Bihar Rajya Jeevika Nidhi Saakh Sahkari Sangh Limited, a cooperative aimed at empowering rural women entrepreneurs under the Jeevika program. To kickstart the initiative, he transferred ₹105 crore into the cooperative’s bank account.

Key Points:

• Objective & Purpose: The cooperative society is established to deliver easy and affordable financial access to women involved in Jeevika’s self-help groups in Bihar, reducing their reliance on high-interest microfinance alternatives.
• Funding & Government Support: Operations are backed by both the Central and Bihar state governments, with an initial transfer of ₹105 crore and a total sanctioned fund of ₹1,000 crore dedicated to sustaining the initiative.
• Digital-First Approach: The system operates entirely via digital platforms, enabling direct and transparent transfers into beneficiaries’ bank accounts. No physical visits are required. Additionally, 12,000 community cadres will be equipped with tablets to facilitate seamless operations.
• Scale & Reach: The initiative is poised to benefit around 20 lakh women across Bihar, strengthening rural women’s entrepreneurship and fostering community-led enterprise growth.
• Political and Symbolic Significance: PM Modi emphasized the critical role of women’s empowerment in building a “Viksit Bharat,” and praised the government’s focus on addressing challenges women face—ranging from sanitation to healthcare and housing.  He also referenced broader schemes such as Lakhpati Didi, Drone Didi, and Bank Sakhi, underscoring multiple interventions aimed at increasing women's incomes and agency.

NARI 2025 Report by the National Commission for Women (NCW)

In the News: The National Annual Report and Index on Women’s Safety (NARI) 2025 was released by NCW Chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar. The report, based on perceptions of urban women across 31 major cities, casts light on the gap between official safety measures and women's lived realities.

Key Points:

• National Safety Score & Scope
  • The NARI 2025 assigned a national safety score of 65%, based on surveys of 12,770 women across 31 Indian cities. Cities were categorized as “much above,” “above,” “below,” or “much below” the national benchmark.
• Overall Perception of Safety
  • While 6 in 10 women (≈60%) reported feeling safe in their cities, alarmingly 40% still feel “not so safe” or “unsafe.”
• City Rankings
  • Safest Cities: Kohima, Visakhapatnam, Bhubaneswar, Aizawl, Gangtok, Itanagar, and Mumbai.
  • Least Safe Cities: Patna, Jaipur, Faridabad, Delhi, Kolkata, Srinagar, and Ranchi.
• Harassment Statistics
  • 7% of women reported experiencing harassment in public spaces during 2024. Among women under 24, the rate doubled to 14%.
  • Common forms: Verbal harassment (e.g., catcalling, comments) was most frequent (~58%), followed by physical, psychological, economic, and sexual harassment.
• Hotspots & Responses Key areas of harassment: Neighbourhoods (38%) and public transport (29%).  Actions taken by women when threatened:
  • 28% confronted the harasser
  • 25% left the scene
  • 21% moved into crowds for safety
  • Only 20% reported the incident to authorities
• Under-reporting & Trust Deficit: Only 1 in 3 women reported incidents formally. Just 25% trusted authorities to act effectively.  Workplaces also saw safety concerns: though 91% felt safe at work, about half were unaware of mandated POSH (Prevention of Sexual Harassment) policies.
• Time-of-Day Safety Variation: Safety perceptions dropped sharply at night. While 86% felt safe at schools and colleges during the day, the sense of security at night—especially in streets, public transport, and recreational areas—was far lower.

GST Council Introduces Two-Tier Regime from September 22

In the News: On September 3, 2025, the GST Council, chaired by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, approved a significant overhaul of India’s Goods and Services Tax (GST) framework, moving from a four-tier structure to a streamlined two-tier regime—5% and 18%—along with a special 40% slab for luxury and “sin” goods. These reforms take effect on September 22, 2025, coinciding with the start of Navratri.

Key Points:

• Simplified Slab Structure: GST slabs reduced from four (5%, 12%, 18%, 28%) to two primary rates—5% (merit rate) and 18% (standard rate). A premium 40% rate applies to super luxury, sin, and demerit goods.
• Effective Date: All rate changes (except for some tobacco-related items) are implemented starting September 22, 2025, marking the beginning of Navratri.
• Rate Cuts for Daily-Use & Essential Items: 5% slab now covers many essentials previously taxed at higher rates, such as:
  • Packaged foods: packaged coconut water, condensed milk, butter, cheese, pasta, sausages, etc.
  • Personal care: hair oil, soap, shampoo, toothpaste, toothbrushes
  • Household goods: tableware, kitchenware, bicycles
  • Medical items: medical-grade oxygen, gauze, bandages, diagnostic kits
  • Dairy/food items: UHT milk, paneer/chhena, pizza bread, khakra, plain roti, erasers, etc.
  • Several of these items were previously in the 12%–18% brackets.
• 18% slab applies to:
  • Consumer durables: air conditioners, television sets, dishwashers
  • Automobiles: small cars (≤4 m length, petrol ≤1,200 cc; diesel ≤1,500 cc), motorcycles ≤350 cc, ambulances, auto parts
  • Cement and various automotive and appliance products
  • Previously taxed at 28%.
• 40% “Demerit” slab targets: Super-luxury items and sin goods: high-end cars, tobacco, cigarettes, pan masala, gutkha, carbonated beverages, racing cars, yachts, aircraft for personal use, etc..
• Exemptions: All individual life and health insurance policies (including term, ULIP, endowment, family floater, senior citizen plans) are made GST-free.
• Fiscal Impact & Economic Outlook: The reform is expected to reduce government revenue by approximately ₹480 billion (~US $5.5 billion), a figure lower than initial projections. Analysts estimate these tax cuts could lower inflation by up to 1.1 percentage points, while also potentially adding 100–120 basis points to GDP over the next year. The stock market responded positively—auto, consumer goods, and investor sentiment boosted by simplified slabs and spending stimulus.

Devastating Earthquake Strikes Afghanistan

In the News: On August 31, 2025, a powerful magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan, centered in Kunar province near the Pakistan border. A substantial aftershock of magnitude 5.2 followed, exacerbating destruction and complicating response efforts.  

Key Points:

• Scale of Disaster: At least 1,469 people were killed and over 3,700 injured across multiple provinces including Kunar, Nangarhar, Laghman, Nuristan, and Panjshir.  Earlier estimates reported 800–1,400 deaths and thousands injured, highlighting the evolving toll.
• Physical Destruction
  • Over 8,000 homes collapsed, with entire villages in Kunar—such as Wadir, Shomash, Masud, Areet, and Mazar-e-Dara flattened. In Mazar-e-Dara alone, 95% of homes were destroyed, resulting in massive casualties.
  • Terrain and vulnerable mud-brick housing led to amplified destruction and landslides, further isolating communities.
• Rescue Operations & Challenges: Rescue efforts are critically hampered by rugged terrain, road blockages from landslides, aftershocks, and adverse weather.  The government deployed commandos via airdrop into remote, mountainous zones to assist in rescue missions.
• Humanitarian Fallout: Food aid may run out within four weeks, according to the World Food Programme, due to dwindling funding.  Donor hesitancy—driven by political concerns over supporting the Taliban—further limits humanitarian capacity.
• International Aid & Response
  • The UK, India, Australia, and others have begun providing assistance:
    • Britain: £1 million aid via trusted international partners (UNFPA, Red Cross).
    • India: Sent 1,000 tents, food supplies, and relief materials.
    • Australia: Pledged aid through UN channels, including part of a $7.6 million emergency release.
• Worsening Context: Afghanistan’s ongoing humanitarian crisis marked by drought, conflict, donor withdrawal, and displacement amplifies the tragedy.

CEREBO: Indigenous Brain Diagnostic Tool

In the News: India unveiled CEREBO, an indigenous handheld device developed to diagnose traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) quickly and non-invasively. Spearheaded by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) in collaboration with the Medical Device & Diagnostics Mission Secretariat (MDMS), AIIMS Bhopal, NIMHANS Bengaluru, and Bioscan Research, this innovation tackles diagnostic challenges in resource-limited settings.

Key Points:

• Technology & Functionality:  Utilizes near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) and machine learning to detect intracranial bleeding and edema in under a minute.  Provides color-coded outputs, enabling fast triage without requiring advanced technical expertise.  Entirely radiation-free, making it safe for infants, pregnant women, and frequent use.
• Operational Advantages:  Portable and user-friendly, designed for deployment in ambulances, trauma centers, rural clinics, and disaster response units—especially where CT/MRI access is limited.  Offers a cost-effective alternative to traditional imaging tools, priced significantly lower than CT/MRI.  Minimal training required; can be operated by paramedical staff or unskilled personnel after a short orientation (~30 minutes).
• Development & Validation: The result of a multi-institutional collaboration between ICMR-MDMS, AIIMS Bhopal, NIMHANS Bengaluru, and Bioscan Research.  Has undergone clinical validation, received regulatory approvals from DCGI/CDSCO, and completed multi-centre feasibility trials supported by ICMR’s mPRiDE initiative.
• Healthcare Impact
  • Addresses a critical need in India, where over 1 million serious TBIs occur annually and more than 100,000 lives are lost, with nearly 50% of fatalities within the "golden hour."
  • Early detection via CEREBO can dramatically lower trauma-related deaths and long-term disabilities.
  • Enhances pre-hospital care and triage, particularly in emergency, military, and rural healthcare systems.
• Global Potential: Designed to aid not only India but also potentially useful in low-resource countries, including those in Africa and Gulf regions, making it an export-ready innovation.