RANKING AND INDEX
Urban Women's Safety in India: Key Insights from NARI 2025
• A national safety score of 65% reveals ongoing concerns, with 40% of women still feeling unsafe in their cities.
• Kohima, Visakhapatnam, and Bhubaneswar lead in safety due to stronger gender policies and better infrastructure, while Patna, Jaipur, and Delhi lag behind.
• Harassment remains a concern, with 7% of women affected—rising to 14% among those under 24, especially students and young professionals.
• Verbal harassment accounts for the highest share at 58%, followed by physical, psychological, economic, and sexual abuse.
• Neighbourhoods (38%) and public transport (29%) are the top harassment zones, especially unsafe after dark due to poor lighting and transit options.
• Safety in educational institutions is high during the day (86%) but drops significantly at night or off-campus.
• While 91% find their workplaces safe, over half are unaware of their organisation’s POSH policy, despite its proven effectiveness among informed employees.
• The report highlights age, time, and location as major factors influencing women’s safety, alongside gaps in legal awareness and redressal systems.
SPORTS
Oscar Piastri Triumphs at 2025 Dutch Grand Prix
• Oscar Piastri clinched victory at the 2025 Dutch Grand Prix held on 31 August at Circuit Zandvoort, Netherlands.
• The win earned Piastri 25 championship points, boosting his lead in the Drivers’ Standings.
• Lando Norris, Piastri’s McLaren teammate, retired seven laps before the finish due to mechanical issues and scored no points.
• With this result, Piastri now holds a 34-point lead over Norris in the title race, with nine races still to go.
• Isack Hadjar, representing Racing Bulls, earned his maiden Formula 1 podium by finishing third in the race.
• Red Bull’s Max Verstappen finished in second place, collecting crucial points for the championship standings.
• George Russell of Mercedes finished fourth, narrowly missing out on a podium spot.
• The race, officially titled the Formula 1 Heineken Dutch Grand Prix 2025, featured high drama and key championship implications.
SUMMIT AND CONFERENCES
Sharjah to Host 18th World Congress on Inclusion: A Landmark Event for Global Accessibility
• Sharjah will host the 18th World Congress on Inclusion from September 15–17, 2025, at the Expo Centre Sharjah, marking the event's first appearance in the MENA region.
• The congress will welcome delegates from over 70 countries, focusing on global challenges and solutions related to disability inclusion.
• Core topics will include inclusive education, healthcare, legal rights, employment, advocacy, and community engagement.
• A major theme will be the impact of research and innovation in creating fair and inclusive societies.
• The event aligns with the UAE’s national inclusion agenda, which supports over 80 institutions offering specialised services for persons with disabilities.
• The congress is being held amid growing concerns about inequality faced by people with disabilities, as highlighted by the World Health Organization.
• It aims to drive policy change by eliminating systemic barriers and encouraging inclusive legislation worldwide.
• Promoting the principle of “health and dignity for all,” the event underlines that inclusion is essential for sustainable global development.
GST Council Slashes Tax Rates to Ease Burden on Citizens and Boost Key Sectors
• The 56th GST Council meeting, chaired by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in New Delhi, approved a major overhaul of GST rates to benefit households, farmers, healthcare, and industry.
• Tax slabs have been simplified, reducing from four to just two—5% and 18%, with the 12% and 28% slabs eliminated for easier compliance.
• Essential daily-use items like soap, shampoo, toothpaste, bicycles, and utensils are now under 5% GST, down from 12% or 18%.
• All personal life and health insurance policies—including senior citizen and family floater plans—are now fully exempt from GST.
• Life-saving medicines (33 types) and three critical drugs for cancer, rare diseases, and chronic illnesses are now tax-free, while general medicines and medical devices now attract only 5% GST.
• Food items such as UHT milk, paneer, chena, and Indian breads are now zero-rated, while packaged products like snacks, chocolates, and noodles are reduced to 5%.
• Appliances like air conditioners, large TVs, and dishwashers now attract 18% GST, a drop from the earlier 28%; small cars and bikes also move to the 18% slab.
• All types of agricultural equipment will now be taxed at 5%, supporting the farming community; the new GST rates come into effect on September 22, aligning with Navratri celebrations.
STATE NEWS
Delhi Reaffirms Legal Definition of a Tree to Streamline Conservation Efforts
• The Delhi Forest Department has issued a fresh circular to clarify the official definition of a “tree” under the Delhi Preservation of Trees Act (DPTA), 1994.
• This step was taken to resolve confusion in tree identification, especially during pruning, plantation, and conservation activities.
• The clarification follows disputes with environmental groups, where branches were wrongly counted as individual trees.
• As per Section 2(i) of the DPTA, a tree is defined as a woody plant with branches supported by a trunk or main body.
• The trunk must be at least 5 cm in diameter, measured 30 cm above ground level, to be classified as a tree.
• Additionally, the plant must reach a minimum height of 1 metre from the ground to meet the legal criteria.
• This uniform definition is expected to ensure accuracy in tree records and better enforcement of tree protection laws in Delhi.
