Daily Current Affairs- 5th September 2025

Daily Current Affairs- 5th September 2025

PM Modi, PM Wong Inaugurate PSA Mumbai Terminal Phase-II

In the News: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, along with Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, virtually inaugurated Phase II of the PSA-operated Bharat Mumbai Container Terminal (BMCT) at the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) in Uran, Navi Mumbai. This launch doubles the terminal’s capacity and marks India’s largest container-handling facility.

Key Points:

• Virtual Inauguration & Bilateral Context : The inauguration was conducted virtually from Delhi, coinciding with PM Modi’s bilateral talks with PM Lawrence Wong. Several MoUs between India and Singapore were also signed as part of the event.
• Capacity Expansion : Phase II upgraded the terminal’s annual handling capacity from 2.4 million TEUs to 4.8 million TEUs. Combined with other facilities at JNPA, the total port capacity now exceeds 10 million TEUs, making it the highest in India.
• Infrastructure Enhancements
  • The terminal spans 200 hectares with a 2 km quay length.
  • Key equipment includes 24 quay cranes, 72 rubber-tyred gantry cranes, multiple rail-mounted gantry cranes, and six dedicated rail sidings. Deep-draft berths allow handling of container ships up to 18,000 TEUs.
• Green Energy & Multimodal Integration : This terminal is India’s first 100% renewable energy-powered container terminal. It features Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC)–compatible infrastructure with DFC rail tracks and connectivity to 63+ inland container depots (ICDs), bolstering the multimodal logistics network.
• Investment & Strategic Significance : Developed under a PPP with PSA International (Singapore) through a $1.3 billion FDI injection, this terminal is one of the largest port-sector foreign investments in India.  Maharashtra’s Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis hailed the development as the beginning of Maharashtra's journey as a maritime superpower, noting the upcoming Vadhavan Port will further elevate India’s global trade footprint

India’s First Vulture Knowledge Portal Launched in Assam

In the News: India launched its first-ever Vulture Knowledge Portal—named The Vulture Network—in Assam, coinciding with International Vulture Awareness Day. The initiative was spearheaded by We Foundation India in collaboration with Gauhati University’s Department of Zoology.

Key Points:

• Platform Overview : The Vulture Network is a cloud-based knowledge and awareness portal—a first in India—designed to build a network of individuals and organizations devoted to vulture conservation.
• Collaborators and Stakeholders : The initiative was developed by Assam-based We Foundation India along with the Zoology Department of Gauhati University, and supported by Assam Bird Monitoring Network, LASA Foundation, Suraksha Samitee, and independent conservationists.
• Purpose & Content : The portal compiles scientific information, raises public awareness, and offers freely downloadable outreach materials. It targets threats such as carcass poisoning, harmful veterinary drugs like diclofenac, and negative social perceptions that endanger vulture populations.
• Local Language Accessibility : Designed with grassroots impact in mind, the portal delivers content in local languages—beginning with Assamese—to better connect with local communities.
• Conservation Focus : The slender-billed vulture, with only about 800 mature individuals left, is a key focus. India is also home to eight other vulture species, all threatened by habitat loss, toxic drugs, and human disturbances.

India Synthesizes Rare Anti-Doping Reference Material for Global Use

In the News: India achieved a significant breakthrough in anti-doping science when the National Dope Testing Laboratory (NDTL), New Delhi, in collaboration with NIPER-Guwahati, successfully developed a rare and high-purity Reference Material (RM) — Methandienone Long-Term Metabolite (LTM). Union Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya officially launched this at the 22nd Governing Body Meeting of NDTL in New Delhi.

Key Points:

• Collaborative Development : The new Reference Material was jointly developed by NIPER-Guwahati (under the Department of Pharmaceuticals) and NDTL, reflecting India's progress towards self-reliance (Atmanirbhar Bharat) in sports science.
• Global Significance & Scarcity : RMs are highly purified, scientifically characterized substances essential for accurate anti-doping analysis. Only a handful of manufacturers globally (around 4–5) produce them, making them rare and often expensive. India aims to produce 22 such RMs — of which 12 have already been synthesized since 2020, with Methandienone LTM being the latest.
• Enhanced Detection of Doping : Methandienone LTM targets long-term metabolites (LTMs)—substances excreted in urine long after usage. This enables detection of Methandienone use even months or years after the fact, boosting the effectiveness of doping controls.
• Promoting Integrity in Sports :The RM supports transparency, fairness, and scientific rigor in sports by protecting clean athletes and deterring anabolic steroid misuse.
• Global Sharing for Collective Benefit : India plans to share Methandienone LTM with all 30 WADA-accredited laboratories worldwide, reinforcing international collaboration in anti-doping efforts.
• Strengthening Regional Leadership :During the launch, Dr. Mandaviya also emphasized expanding extramural grant support for anti-doping science, encouraged growth of the Athlete Passport Management Unit (APMU), and introduced a framework to recognize outstanding contributions in doping control research. These moves aim to position India as a regional hub for anti-doping innovation.

What Rajasthan’s coaching centre (Amendment) Bill says, why it matters so much

In the News: The Rajasthan Assembly passed the Rajasthan Coaching Centres (Control and Regulation) Bill, 2025, aimed at formalizing oversight of coaching institutes to safeguard student welfare and introduce regulatory accountability.

Key Points:

• Mandatory Registration & Applicability : All coaching centres enrolling more than 100 students must register separately for each branch.
• Registration & Oversight Infrastructure : The Bill establishes a two-tier governance structure: a State Authority and District Committees, comprising senior officials, parents, and coaching representatives, to ensure compliance and handle grievances.
• Infrastructure & Teaching Norms : Centres must adhere to standards including minimum space per student, regulated fees, weekly breaks, limited class hours (max 5 hours/day), employ graduate tutors, and offer co-curricular activities.
• Mental Health & Student Welfare Measures : Mandatory provisions include psychological counselling, stress management sessions, and parent-student interactions to support students' mental well-being.
• Fee Transparency & Refunds : Institutes can't charge excessive fees. They must offer payment in instalments, publicize fee structures, and provide fee refunds on a pro-rata basis if students discontinue.
• Penalties & Enforcement : Violation fines have been reduced to ₹50,000 for the first offense, ₹2 lakh for the second, and registration cancellation for repeated non-compliance.
• Omission of Age Restriction : The Bill notably omits the Centre’s guideline requiring coaching institutes to exclude students younger than 16 years—a key point of dissent.
• Criticism & Opposition : Critics argue the legislation falls short on student mental health protection, risks promoting bureaucracy, and may economically impact Kota’s coaching ecosystem. They also question the lack of stakeholder consultation.
• High Court Directive Pending Law : Until the Act comes into force, the Rajasthan High Court has instructed the state government to implement the Central coaching guidelines, with punitive enforcement reliant on enacted legislation.

ICC Women’s ODI World Cup Schedule 2025 Officially Announced

In the News: The International Cricket Council (ICC) unveiled the full schedule for the 2025 Women’s Cricket World Cup, to be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka from September 30 to November 2, 2025. The tournament begins with the opening match between India and Sri Lanka, followed by a round-robin stage, semi-finals, and the final.

Key Points:

• Tournament Dates & Hosts : The 13th edition of the Women’s Cricket World Cup will be held from September 30 to November 2, 2025, jointly hosted by India (for the first time since 2013) and Sri Lanka.
• Opening Match & Ceremony : The tournament launches on September 30 with India vs Sri Lanka, though sources differ on whether the venue is Bengaluru or Guwahati.
• Competition Format & Finals : Consisting of 8 teams, the format includes a round-robin stage, leading into semi-finals (scheduled for October 29 and 30) and concluding with the final on November 2. The top four teams from the group phase will advance to the semis.
• Venue Distribution : Matches will be held at five venues in India—Guwahati, Indore, Visakhapatnam, Navi Mumbai (DY Patil Stadium), and Bengaluru—as well as Colombo, Sri Lanka
• Local Highlight: Indore’s Role : Holkar Stadium in Indore will host five high-profile matches, including India vs England, Australia vs England, and more. This marks the return of women’s international cricket to Madhya Pradesh after 28 years.