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Every Monday, UPSC Current Affairs pointers bring a weekly roundup of important current affairs to help you in your Prelims and Mains preparation of UPSC, BPSC, UPPSC, and other competitive exams.
If you missed the UPSC Current Affairs Pointers of the past week | September 15 to September 21, 2025, read it here.
(FYI: The data provided in these reports can be used to substantiate your Mains answer and create a broad understanding of the topic.)
— The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) assessment report released recently reviewed the water quality data from 2022 and 2023, covering 2,116 locations. The last assessment of identifying polluted stretches was carried out in 2022, using data from 2019 and 2021.
— According to the report, Polluted river stretches in India have decreased marginally from 311 to 296, with a reduction in most polluted stretches as well.
— It found that 296 river stretches were polluted on 271 rivers across 32 states and Union Territories. Maharashtra continues to have the highest number (54) of polluted river stretches.
— Out of 296 stretches identified as polluted, 37 were classified as the most polluted, or Priority I. BOD concentrations exceeding 30 mg/L are categorised as Priority I or the most polluted stretches.
— These 37 stretches were identified across 14 states, with the highest number, five, in Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand; four in Gujarat, and three in Karnataka.
| A polluted river stretch refers to two or more polluted locations on a river in a continuous sequence.
Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) is a key indicator of water quality. It measures the oxygen needed to break down organic matter. Any location/stretch of the river having a Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) of more than 3mg/l is identified as polluted and unsuitable for outdoor bathing. |
— World Rhino Day is observed on September 22 every year. The day commemorates the global effort to protect rhinos and raise awareness to curb poaching. The word “rhinoceros” comes from the combination of two Greek words – “rhino” meaning nose and “ceros” meaning horn.
— The Indian rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis) is found only in the Brahmaputra valley, parts of North Bengal, and parts of southern Nepal. The Indian rhino is listed as vulnerable (better than endangered, worse than near threatened) in the IUCN Red List.
— The three species of rhino—black, Javan, and Sumatran—are critically endangered in the IUCN Red List.
— World Tourism Day is being celebrated on 27th September every year to highlight the importance of tourism in connecting people, fostering cultural exchange, and supporting economic development.
— The theme for this year is ‘Tourism and Sustainable Transformation’, which emphasises tourism’s power to promote positive change.
— The day commemorates the adoption of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation statutes in 1970. It was celebrated for the first time in the year 1980.
— Antyodaya Diwas is an annual occasion to commemorate the birth anniversary of Indian leader Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya, who was born on September 25, 1916.
— He was the co-founder of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh (BJS), the forerunner of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). He was also one of the thinkers of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).
— The term “Antyodaya” translates to “upliftment of the last person,” epitomising Upadhyaya’s mission to address the needs of the most disadvantaged individuals in society.
— He also propounded the idea of Integral Humanism which talks about unity and harmony among the various components that make up a human individual, and among individuals and society as a whole.
— Ayurveda Day was earlier celebrated on Dhanteras every year, in honour of Lord Dhanwantari, the physician of the gods. From this year, the government has fixed September 23 to be celebrated as the National Ayurveda Day starting in 2025.
— The theme for this year is “Ayurveda for People & Planet” and emphasises that Ayurveda is not just a healthcare system but a science rooted in the principle of harmony between the individual and the environment.
— The fourth edition of World Food India 2025 was organized at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.
— India’s growing leadership in the global food economy finds powerful expression through World Food India — the Ministry’s flagship international platform for investment, innovation, and collaboration.
— Prime Minister Narendra Modi has launched Bihar’s Mukhyamantri Mahila Rojgar Yojana on September 26. The Rs 7,500-crore scheme, an initiative of Bihar’s NDA government, is aimed at promoting women’s empowerment through self-employment and livelihood opportunities.
— Under the scheme, financial assistance will be provided to one woman from each family, for livelihood activities of their choice, fostering economic independence and social empowerment.
— Each beneficiary will receive an initial grant of Rs 10,000 via direct benefit transfer, with the possibility of additional financial support of up to Rs 2 lakh in subsequent phases.
— The government has approved the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research / Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR/CSIR) Scheme on “Capacity Building and Human Resource Development” for the period of the Fifteenth Finance Commission Cycle 2021-22 to 2025-26.
— The scheme is implemented by the CSIR and will cover all R&D institutions, national laboratories, Institutes of National Importance, Institutes of Eminence, and Universities across the country.
— The Scheme plays an important role in the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for the S&T sector in India by increasing the researchers per million population. The Scheme has demonstrated its relevance by building capacity and expanding the pool of high-quality human resources in the S&T sector.
(Source: PIB)
Visakhapatnam Declaration
— The 28th National Conference on e-Governance (NCeG) was held at Vishakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh on 22nd and 23rd of September. The conference concluded with the adoption of the “Visakhapatnam Declaration.”
— It was co-hosted by the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG), the Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY), and the Government of Andhra Pradesh.
— The theme of the conference was “Viksit Bharat: Civil Service and Digital Transformation.”
— The declaration called for a whole-of-government approach to strengthen civil services with digital competencies and agile, data-driven frameworks.
— It proposed scaling up AI-driven platforms like Digital India BHASHINI, Digi Yatra, and NADRES V2 to deliver multilingual, real-time, and sector-specific citizen services with a focus on ethical and transparent adoption of AI.
— The Visakhapatnam Declaration sets the tone for India’s digital governance strategy over the coming years, with an emphasis on inclusivity, security, and innovation to empower citizens and strengthen service delivery.
(Source: nceg.gov.in)
— In a first-of-its-kind launch, India successfully carried out the test firing of the Agni-Prime (Agni-P) missile from a rail-based mobile launcher system. Thus far, only Russia, the US, China, and possibly North Korea had the capability of launching long-range ballistic missiles from rail-based platforms.
—It has the capability to move on the Rail network without any pre-conditions, which allows the User to have cross-country mobility and launch within a short reaction time with reduced visibility.
— The mass of the Agni-P missile is 11,000 kg, and it is a two-stage solid-fuel propelled missile. It has an operational range of 1,000 km to 2,000 km. It can carry high explosive, thermobaric, or nuclear warheads.
— In the first week of October, the Army, Navy, and Air Force will conduct a joint exercise to test drones and counter-drone systems. It is named ‘Cold Start’ and likely to be conducted in Madhya Pradesh.
— The Indian Air Force (IAF) on September 26 bid farewell to its iconic MiG-21 fighter jets. Marking the occasion, Rajnath Singh released a special commemorative day cover and stamp honouring the legacy of MiG-21.
— India procured more than 700 MiG-21 aircraft of different variants from Russia, such as the Type-77, Type-96, BIS and the Bison, since the aircraft’s induction in the IAF in 1963.
— The MiG-21s are among the six fighter jets flown by the Indian Air Force (IAF), and have for long been the backbone of the IAF.
— The MiG-21s are single-engine, single-seater multi-role fighter/ground attack aircraft. While they were first inducted in 1963 as an interceptor aircraft, over the next few decades, they were upgraded to perform a variety of roles performed by a fighter aircraft, including ground attack.
— The first-ever Jamdani Exposition was organised at the National Crafts Museum.
— Jamdani is traditionally crafted from cotton, and is celebrated for its fine, airy texture and elegance. It is a centuries-old handwoven textile from the Bengal region.
— The name “jamdani” derives from the Persian words jam (flower) and dani (vase), describing its floral designs.
— In 2013, UNESCO recognized Jamdani weaving as an Intangible Cultural Heritage, underscoring its cultural and historical significance.
— Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the redeveloped five-century-old Tripura Sundari Temple at Udaipur in Gomati district on 22nd September.
— The Tripura Sundari Temple is one of the 51 Hindu shaktipeetha shrines across the country, and attracts lakhs of devotees every year.
— The Tripura Sundari Temple was built by Maharaj Dhanya Manikya Bahadur in 1501 when Udaipur, then known as Rangamati, was the capital of the erstwhile Manikya kingdom.
— The temple is built atop a hillock resembling the back of a turtle. It is located 60 km from Agartala.
— According to Tripura Rajmala, the royal chronicle of the Manikya kings, Maharaj Dhanya Manikya Bahadur constructed the temple in 1501 following a ‘swapnadesh’ or divine commandment from the Supreme Mother or Aadishakti in his dream.
— The Trump administration has announced to impose a 100 per cent tariff on branded or patented pharmaceutical products, a 50 per cent tariff on all kitchen cabinets, bathroom vanities, and associated products, and a 25 per cent tariff on heavy trucks. It will be imposed from October 1st, 2025.
— The US is India’s largest market for pharmaceutical exports, accounting for an almost 40 per cent share. India’s contribution of nearly 6 per cent of the total US imports is largely dominated by generic medicines. As the tariff is not on generic medicines, the Indian pharmaceuticals for now will not be impacted to that extent.
— Recently, Typhoon Ragasa, one of the strongest storms to hit Asia in years, made landfall in South China’s Yangjiang, in Guangdong province.
— A super typhoon is a very violent storm, equivalent to a Category 5 hurricane, packing winds of 253km/h (157 mph), BBC News highlighted.
— Typhoons, including a super typhoon, generally form in the West Pacific, close to places like China, Japan, and the Philippines, it noted. It is locally known as Nando in the Philippines.
—Two sites from Bihar — Gokul Jalashay (448 hectares) in Buxar district and Udaipur Jheel (319 hectares) in West Champaran district — were declared Ramsar sites.
— This brings the total to 93 Ramsar Sites, spanning 13,60,719 hectares, underscoring India’s resolve to safeguard its rich wetland ecosystems for biodiversity, climate resilience, and sustainable livelihoods.
(Source: pmindia.gov.in)
— The Delhi government will conduct a time-bound feasibility study on the use of “smog-eating” photocatalytic coatings on roads, pavements and public spaces to reduce pollutants such as nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) and harmful hydrocarbons.
— The field trials and evaluation of titanium oxide (TiO₂)-based surfaces will be carried out.
— Experts have noted that using titanium dioxide as a coating has its advantages for being low-cost and chemically stable. It is also known for its compatibility with traditional construction materials.
— The 2025 PN7 asteroid was spotted this summer. It has an orbit that’s similar to Earth’s trajectory around the Sun. It is known as a quasi-moon and could be the smallest of its kind, perhaps no longer than 52 feet.
— Quasi-moons orbit the Sun, not Earth, spending hundreds or thousands of years in lockstep with Earth’s orbit. This protracted proximity makes them good targets for planetary science missions.
— Earth has several mini-moons as well. Mini-moons are objects that orbit our planet, but they make for fickle fans: they tend to swing around Earth only for a few months.
|
MAINS VALUE ADDITION This is a case study of an IAS officer whose strategies during the COVID pandemic emphasised inclusion and trust, which became crucial to Tamil Nadu’s early success in containing the virus. This is Beela Venkatesan, a senior civil servant and physician who became the public face of Tamil Nadu’s fight against Covid-19, who recently passed away at the age of 55. Her stance, both scientific and humane, helped steer public discourse away from stigma. Her team traced thousands of potential contacts, enforced quarantines, and prevented an outbreak from engulfing the state. Doctors said her medical training allowed her to cut through bureaucratic clutter. Even as other states, including Kerala, barred the entry of migrant workers and returnees from high-risk zones like, Venkatesan chose a different path. She insisted no Tamil would be stopped at the state’s borders. Instead, she led a system of screening at checkpoints, on highways, railway stations, and bus depots, welcoming thousands while trying to minimise spread – which was seen as a high-wire act that balanced science, compassion, and political sensitivity. |
(Just FYI: The location of the place is important, considering that UPSC has asked several questions about places that were in the news, such as Aleppo and Kirkuk, in the 2018 UPSC Prelims. The best way to remember them is to plot them on a world map.)
— An expert panel of the Union Environment Ministry has recommended environmental clearance for the 2,220 MW Oju hydroelectric project proposed on the Subansiri river in Taksing near the China border.
— The Oju project is proposed on the Subansiri river, 5 km downstream of Redi village of Taksing block in Upper Subansiri district.
— The Subansiri River is a major tributary of the Brahmaputra.
— Recently, Donald Trump, in his Truth Social post, again demanded control over Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan.
— Bagram Air Base is the largest air base in Afghanistan, which lies some 60 km to the north of Kabul, in the strategic Parwan province.
— In Parwan lie the keys to controlling much of Afghanistan due to its linkages to key cities, including Kabul, Kandahar and Bamiyan.
— The air base was originally built by the Soviets in the 1950s, when both the US and the USSR were jockeying for influence in Afghanistan.
— After September 11, 2001, the US and its allies took over, as they toppled the Taliban regime. Today, the base is under Taliban control. However, the US has long been concerned about China making inroads into Afghanistan after its exit.
— The stalled Sawalkote dam on the Chenab River in Jammu and Kashmir, is back at the centre of India’s strategy to tap the river’s hydropower potential.
— First initiated in 1984, the project has faced delays due to Centre-state tussles. Under the IWT, the west-flowing Chenab, Indus and Jhelum rivers are under the control of Pakistan.
— The project will divert 846 hectares of forest in Udhampur, Mahore, Batote and Ramban. This will include cutting of 2,22,081 trees, with the maximum – 1,26,462 – to be felled in Ramban district. The project’s installed capacity will be 1,406 MW in Stage-I and 450 MW in Stage-II.
(Just FYI: With the unpredictability of the UPSC examinations and questions like the ICC World Test Championship question 2021, you can’t be sure of anything. It is wise to know what it is and not go into too much detail.)
— The 2025 World Para Athletics Championships is being organised in New Delhi from 27 September to 5 October. It is the 12th edition of the World Para Athletics Championships and the largest Para sport event ever held in India.
— Shailesh Kumar became World Champion in the men’s high jump T63 category. He is from Bihar’s Jamui district.
— Deepthi Jeevanji won the silver medal in the women’s 400m T20 class.
— Varun Singh Bhati (T42) grabbed bronze in Men’s high jump.
— The World Archery Para Championship, which is organised every two years, was organised in Gwangju, Republic of Korea, from 22 to 28 September 2025.
— Eighteen-year-old Indian armless archer Sheetal Devi made history, defeating Turkiye’s world No.1 Oznur Cure Girdi to bag the women’s compound individual category gold.
— Toman Kumar joined her as the men’s compound individual champion.
— Sheetal had earlier won a mixed team bronze in the compound event with Toman Kumar, defeating Great Britain’s Jodie Grinham and Nathan MacQueen 152-149.
— In the compound women’s open team event, Sheetal and Sarita won silver after losing to Turkey in the final.
— The National Film Awards were first given out in 1954, at that time it was called ‘state awards’. Nargis won the inaugural Award for Best Actress, for her performance as a schizophrenia patient in ‘Raat Aur Din’, while Uttam Kumar won the Best Actor award for both ‘Antony Firingee’ and ‘Chiriyakhana’.
— The first-ever Best Feature Film winner was the Marathi movie Shyamchi Aai. The most awarded film in the history of the awards remains Ashutosh Gowariker’s Lagaan, which received eight honours in 2002.
| Winners of the 71st National Film Awards | |
| Dadasaheb Phalke Award | Mohanlal |
| Best Feature Film | 12th Fail |
| Best Feature Actor | Shah Rukh Khan (Jawaan), Vikrant Massey (12th Fail) |
| Best Feature Actress | Rani Mukerji (Mrs. Chatterjee vs Norway) |
| Best Feature Director | Sudipto Sen for The Kerala Story |
| Best Debut Film | Ashish Bende for his film Aatmapamphlet (Marathi) |
| Best Popular Film providing wholesome entertainment | Karan Johar-directorial Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani |
| Best Feature Film promoting national, social, and environmental values | Meghna Gulzar’s Sam Bahadur |
| Best Children’s Film | Naal 2 (Marathi) directed by Sudhakar Reddy Yakkanti |
| Best Film in the animation, visual effects, gaming and comic | Hanu-Man (Telugu) |
— Zucman tax: This is a kind of wealth tax proposed in France where rich groups will be taxed a 2%on their net worth. The proposed tax would target assets valued at over €100 mn (roughly $118 mn). It would impact the country’s top 1,800 households, the economist says, and could potentially generate €20 bn annually.
(Note: The best way to remember facts for UPSC and other competitive exams is to recall them through MCQs. Try to solve the following questions on your own.)
(1) Consider the following statements about the Agni-Prime Missiles:
1. It was launched from a rail-based mobile launcher.
2. Russia, China, and Israel had the capability of launching long-range ballistic missiles from rail-based platforms.
3. It is a two-stage solid-fuel propelled missile with an operational range of 1,000 km to 2,000 km.
How many of the above statements are correct?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None
(2) Consider the following pairs:
| Wetlands | Location |
| 1. Udaipur Jheel | : Bihar |
| 2. Wadhvana Wetland | : Gujarat |
| 3. Bhoj Wetland | : Madhya Pradesh |
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
(3) Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) is a standard criterion for (UPSC CSE 2017)
(a) Measuring oxygen levels in blood
(b) Computing oxygen levels in forest ecosystems.
(c) Pollution assay in aquatic ecosystems
(d) Assessing oxygen levels in high altitude regions.
| Prelims Answer Key |
| 1. (b) 2. (d) 3. (c) |
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