UPSC Current Affairs Summary – September 12, 2025
India-Mauritius Special Economic Package
On September 12, 2025, India announced a USD 680 million special economic package for Mauritius during the visit of its Prime Minister, Navinchandra Ramgoolam. This package aims to enhance development in sectors like health, education, and infrastructure. Key components include building a new national hospital, facilitating health and education cooperation through MoUs, and port redevelopment to strengthen Mauritius’s maritime capabilities. The strategic significance of this relationship lies in Mauritius’s location near crucial shipping lanes, which enhances India’s maritime awareness and counters Chinese influence in the region.
Great Nicobar Island Project
The Indian government cleared the Great Nicobar Island Project, aiming to transform the island into a logistics and defense hub. It includes the development of an International Container Transhipment Terminal and a Greenfield International Airport. The project, divided into three phases to ensure sustainability and minimize ecological impact, faces challenges such as ecological sensitivity and the need for tribal welfare compliance. The venture highlights India’s strategic objectives in the Indo-Pacific region.
Targets for Swadeshi Solar Cells by 2028
India aims to achieve a fully indigenous solar manufacturing ecosystem by 2028. This initiative, backed by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), focuses on reducing import dependence and promoting investments in solar energy. The plan includes cutting GST on solar products and leveraging Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes to enhance domestic capabilities, thereby contributing to job creation and economic growth.
Samudra Pradakshina Expedition
The Indian Defense Minister launched ‘Samudra Pradakshina’, the world’s first all-women tri-service circumnavigation sailing expedition. This initiative, involving 10 women officers from the Army, Navy, and Air Force, aims to showcase women empowerment and build international goodwill through military diplomacy.
AIDIS & SAS Surveys
The National Statistical Office (NSO) announced the conduct of the All India Debt and Investment Survey (AIDIS) and the Situation Assessment Survey (SAS) of Agricultural Households from July 2026 to June 2027. These surveys are pivotal for understanding household finance, farmer welfare, and informing agricultural policy.
Homage to Acharya Vinoba Bhave
On September 11, 2025, Prime Minister paid homage to Acharya Vinoba Bhave, a leader of the Bhoodan Movement and advocate of non-violence and rural upliftment. His contributions bridged spirituality and socio-economic reform in India.
Border Wing Home Guards (BWHGs)
In response to security needs along the China border, the government is considering the establishment of Border Wing Home Guards. This voluntary auxiliary force, derived from local populations, aims to support the military in emergencies and enhance community relations.
NASA’s Mars Discovery
NASA’s Perseverance rover found potential biosignatures in a rock sample from Mars, enhancing our understanding of past life possibilities. This discovery includes organic compounds and minerals ideal for preserving microbial life, possibly informing future Mars Sample Return missions.
Optical Computers
Researchers in Finland and France have developed light-based computers that outperform traditional computers in speed and energy efficiency for AI tasks. This technology utilizes photons for data processing, promising significant advancements in various fields, including telecommunications and defense.
Philippine Island of Pugad
The island faces severe environmental challenges, including land subsidence and rising sea levels, endangering its 2,500 residents. These issues highlight the urgent need for climate adaptation strategies in vulnerable regions.
Conclusion
The evolving dynamics in international relations, domestic energy strategies, and technological advancements presented in these current affairs emphasize India’s proactive approach towards sustainable growth, security, and global engagement as it navigates complex geopolitical landscapes.
