IMPORTANT DAYS
World Ozone Day 2025: Honouring Global Efforts to Protect the Ozone Layer
• The International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer, or World Ozone Day, is celebrated on 16 September to raise awareness about safeguarding the ozone layer.
• The 2025 theme, “From Science to Global Action,” highlights the journey from scientific research to international cooperation.
• This day commemorates the signing of the Montreal Protocol in 1987, a landmark agreement to phase out ozone-depleting substances.
• The United Nations officially designated 16 September as World Ozone Day in 1994.
• The Vienna Convention and Montreal Protocol became the first universally ratified treaties by 2009.
• In a major step, parties to the protocol agreed to gradually eliminate the use of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs).
• Protecting the ozone layer is critical, as its depletion leads to harmful UV radiation causing skin cancer and harming ecosystems.
APPOINTMENTS
Amit Khare Appointed as Secretary to Vice-President C. P. Radhakrishnan
• Amit Khare, a 1985-batch IAS officer from the Jharkhand cadre, has been named Secretary to the Vice-President for a three-year term.
• He previously served as Advisor to the Prime Minister from October 2021, focusing on social sector initiatives.
• Khare is recognized for his pivotal contribution to formulating and implementing the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
• He has held key roles, including Information and Broadcasting Secretary and Higher Education Secretary.
• An alumnus of St. Stephen’s College, Delhi, he also earned his MBA from IIM Ahmedabad.
• He gained national attention for exposing the infamous fodder scam in Bihar.
• With vast experience in governance and education reform, Khare now takes on a critical administrative role under Vice-President Radhakrishnan.
STATE NEWS
Uttarakhand Launches First NVIDIA-Powered AI-HPC Hub at Graphic Era University
• A cutting-edge AI and High-Performance Computing (HPC) centre powered by NVIDIA DGX B200 has been launched at Graphic Era University, Dehradun.
• The hub, featuring 8 powerful GPUs and 1.74 TB of GPU memory, is the first of its kind in Uttarakhand.
• The hub, featuring 8 powerful GPUs and 1.74 TB of GPU memory, is the first of its kind in Uttarakhand.
• Set up at a cost of over ₹10 crore, the facility aims to drive innovation across healthcare, agriculture, smart cities, and other sectors.
• An iOS Development Center has also been introduced in partnership with Apple and Infosys to support mobile app development.
• The center was inaugurated by Union Minister Jitendra Singh as a boost to Digital India, Startup India, and Skill India initiatives.
• Emphasis was placed on responsible AI use, with a strong warning against deepfakes and unethical practices.
• Graphic Era University is now India’s first generative AI-ready campus, backed by AWS, holding NAAC A+ status and ranked 48th in NIRF 2025.
Goa to Host 10th Ayurveda Day with Global Focus on Health and Sustainability
• Union Minister Prataprao Jadhav announced that Goa will host the 10th Ayurveda Day on September 23, 2025, at the All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA).
• This year’s theme, ‘Ayurveda for People & Planet’, emphasizes the connection between personal wellness and environmental health.
• For the first time, the celebration will follow a fixed date, moving away from its traditional link with Dhanvantari Jayanti.
• The event aims to highlight Ayurveda as a modern, science-backed healthcare system with eco-conscious roots.
• Goa was selected for its global tourism appeal and strong alignment with wellness-based living, offering an ideal venue for international participation.
• The Ministry of Ayush will organize awareness events across all states and union territories to ensure nationwide engagement.
• With over 150 countries involved last year, the 2025 edition seeks to further extend Ayurveda’s global footprint and reinforce India’s commitment to traditional medicine.
SPORTS
Vaishali Rameshbabu Creates History in Chess; Anandakumar Shines in Skating
• Indian Grandmaster Vaishali Rameshbabu clinched her second FIDE Women’s Grand Swiss title on 16 September in Samarkand.
• Her win secured a coveted spot in the Women’s Candidates Tournament, making her the third Indian woman to qualify after Divya Deshmukh and Koneru Humpy.
• The final match ended in a draw against China’s former world champion, Zhongyi Tan.
• Vaishali received a $40,000 prize, adding to her growing list of achievements.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi applauded her for her commitment and excellence in chess.
• She shared that both her 2023 and 2025 victories came at crucial points in her career.
• In another sporting success, Anandakumar Velkumar won gold in the Senior Men’s 1000m Sprint at the 2025 Speed Skating World Championships.
India Shines at 2025 World Boxing Championships in Liverpool
• Indian boxers Minakshi Hooda and Jaismine Lamboria captured gold medals at the prestigious tournament held in Liverpool, England.
• Minakshi triumphed 4-1 over Kazakh Olympic medalist Nazym Kyzaibay in the women’s 48 kg final.
• Jaismine secured the 57 kg title with a 4-1 victory against Poland’s Olympic silver medalist Julia Szeremeta.
• The Indian women’s boxing squad finished strong, earning a total of two golds, one silver, and one bronze.
• Nupur claimed silver in the +80 kg final after a narrow 3-2 loss to Poland’s Agata Kaczmarska.
• Pooja Rani took home bronze in the 80 kg category, falling short in the semifinals to England’s Emily Asquith.
• The championships, hosted from September 4–14, 2025, marked another milestone for Minakshi, who previously bagged an Asian silver in the 52 kg class in 2022.
SUMMIT AND CONFERENCES
World Food India 2025 to Spotlight India’s Global Food Leadership
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate World Food India 2025 on September 25 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.
• The four-day event, held from September 25 to 28, is being led by the Ministry of Food Processing Industries.
• Aiming to establish India as a global food hub, the event will attract participation from global investors, policymakers, researchers, and entrepreneurs.
• Innovation-driven sessions, expert panels, and exhibitions will highlight cutting-edge technologies in food processing.
• Business-to-business and business-to-government interactions will support new partnerships and strategic alliances.
• Culinary showcases and chef battles will celebrate India’s rich food culture alongside international cuisines.
• New Zealand and Saudi Arabia will be partner nations, with Japan, UAE, Vietnam, and Russia as focus countries; key parallel events include the Global Food Regulatory Summit by FSSAI and the India International Seafood Show.
National Conference of Parliamentary and Legislative Committees on women’s empowerment in Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh
• Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla inaugurated a two-day national conference on women’s empowerment in Tirupati, linking it to International Day of Democracy (15 September 2025).
• The event concluded with the adoption of the ‘Tirupati Resolution’, a comprehensive strategy for advancing gender equality across sectors.
• Andhra Pradesh Governor S. Abdul Nazeer delivered the closing address, marking the resolution's importance at both state and national levels.
• Birla emphasized democracy as an intrinsic Indian value and honoured reformers like Savitribai Phule for championing women’s rights.
• The resolution calls for Gender Responsive Budgeting, integrating women's needs into national planning and encouraging the formation of Gender Budget Cells in all ministries.
• It prioritizes increased funding for women’s health, education, entrepreneurship, and skill-building, alongside promoting digital literacy and online safety.
• A strong push was made to recognize women as leaders in tech innovation, reaffirming their central role in inclusive and sustainable development.
