APPOINTMENTS
Acharya Devvrat Given Additional Charge as Maharashtra Governor
• Gujarat Governor Acharya Devvrat has been assigned the additional responsibility of Maharashtra, as per a notification issued by President Droupadi Murmu.
• This move comes after C.P. Radhakrishnan vacated the Maharashtra Governor's post following his election as Vice-President of India.
• Radhakrishnan, aged 67 and nominated by the NDA, secured the vice-presidential position by defeating B. Sudarshan Reddy with a margin of 152 votes.
• The election was necessitated by the resignation of Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar on July 21, 2025.
• After the victory, Radhakrishnan officially stepped down from the gubernatorial post on September 11, 2025.
• Acharya Devvrat will hold dual charge until a permanent Governor for Maharashtra is appointed.
• The temporary arrangement ensures continuity in constitutional duties at the state level during the transition.
DEFENCE
India Launches World’s First All-Women Tri-Service Sailing Expedition – ‘Samudra Pradakshina’
• Defence Minister Rajnath Singh virtually flagged off Samudra Pradakshina on September 11, 2025, from the Gateway of India, Mumbai.
• This historic initiative marks the first-ever all-women Tri-service circumnavigation, featuring 10 officers from the Army, Navy, and Air Force.
• The team is sailing on the indigenous IASV Triveni, a 50-foot Class A yacht built in Puducherry.
• Led by Lt Col Anuja Varudkar and Sqn Ldr Shraddha P Raju as deputy, the crew will navigate 26,000 nautical miles over nine months.
• The voyage includes four global port calls at Fremantle, Lyttelton, Port Stanley, and Cape Town, and will see the team cross the Equator twice.
• Their route, recognized by the World Sailing Speed Record Council, involves passing Cape Leeuwin, Cape Horn, and the Cape of Good Hope.
• The Southern Ocean segment, especially Cape Horn (Dec 2025–Feb 2026), is expected to be the most challenging part of the journey, with return planned for May 2026.
SUMMIT AND CONFERENCES
India Strengthens Maritime Ties at 4th Coast Guard Global Summit in Rome
• India took part in the 4th Coast Guard Global Summit (CGGS) held in Rome from September 11–12, 2025, reaffirming its commitment to global maritime cooperation.
• A two-member Indian Coast Guard delegation, led by DG Paramesh Sivamani, represented the country at the summit.
• DG Sivamani presented on ICG’s tactical fire response in a session titled ‘Guardians Against the Blaze’, showcasing India’s maritime emergency capabilities.
• India announced its candidacy to chair the 5th CGGS and offered to host the next edition in 2027.
• The Rome summit brought together representatives from 115 countries and global maritime bodies under the theme ‘Guardians at Sea’.
• The event was co-chaired by Italy and Japan, reflecting strong bilateral maritime cooperation.
• High-level participation included Italian PM Giorgia Meloni in person and a virtual address by Japanese PM Shigeru Ishiba, emphasizing the summit's global significance.
India Showcases Gem & Jewellery Strength at SAJEX 2025 in Jeddah
• SAJEX 2025, held from September 11–13 at the Jeddah Superdome, was organised by GJEPC India to deepen trade relations with Saudi Arabia and tap into GCC and global markets.
• The event was backed by India’s Ministry of Commerce, the Embassy in Riyadh, and the Consulate in Jeddah.
• Over 200 Indian exhibitors presented their collections across 250 booths, featuring diamond jewellery, bridal sets, gemstones, and lab-grown diamonds.
• SAJEX 2025 also hosted the World Jewellery Investment Forum, focusing on investment, retail insights, trade trends, and transparency in the sector.
• India’s gem and jewellery exports reached $32 billion in FY 2024–25, highlighting the country’s dominance in the industry.
• India processes over one billion diamonds annually, representing 65% of the global trade by value and 92% by volume.
• The sector saw a 315% surge in FDI in 2024–25, significantly contributing to India’s total FDI inflow of $50 billion.
