CURRENT AFFAIRS 07&08 September, 2025

CURRENT AFFAIRS 07&08 September, 2025

1. 200TH BIRTH ANNIVERSARY OF DADABHAI NAOROJI –

• On 4 September 2025, the nation paid tribute to Dadabhai Naoroji, remembered as the “Grand Old Man of India” and pioneer socialist, on his 200th birth anniversary.

Early Life and Career of Dadabhai Naoroji

• Birth & Background: Born on September 4, 1825, in Bombay (Mumbai) into a priestly Parsi family.
• Education: Graduated from Elphinstone College; earned the Clare Scholarship and became the first Indian professor at Elphinstone College in 1845.
• Professional Journey: Moved to London, joined Cama & Co., and established his own firm, Naoroji & Co., in 1859.
• Academic Role: Served as Professor of Gujarati at University College London.

Political Contributions

• Indian National Congress: Served as President thrice—1886 (Calcutta), 1893 (Lahore), 1906 (Calcutta, where he declared the demand for Swaraj).
• Moderate leader: Advocated constitutional and peaceful methods like petitions, prayers, and protests.
• East India Association (1867): Founded in London to highlight Indian grievances before the British public.
• First Indian MP (1892): Represented Finsbury Central in the British Parliament, raising issues of taxation, administrative reforms, and Indian representation.

2. NATIONAL MARITIME HERITAGE COMPLEX –

• The Chief of the Naval Staff visited the National Maritime Heritage Complex (NMHC) at Lothal, Gujarat.

National Maritime Heritage Complex

• About: It is an ambitious cultural and tourism project in Lothal, Gujarat that aims to highlight India’s rich and diverse 4,500-year-old maritime heritage and establish the largest maritime heritage complex in the world.
• Key projects include a world-class Lighthouse Museum, coastal state pavilions, and a maritime-themed eco-resort.
• Development and Funding: Under India’s Sagarmala Programme, the Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways (MoPSW) is developing the NMHC, with its Directorate General of Lighthouses and Lightships (DGLL) funding the world’s tallest Lighthouse Museum.

Lothal

• About: It is one of the southernmost sites of the Harappan civilization, located in the Bhal region of Gujarat, between the Bhogavo and Sabarmati rivers near the Gulf of Khambhat.
• The name Lothal in Gujarati means “mound of the dead”, similar to Mohenjo-daro in Sindhi.
• The site was discovered in 1954 by S.R. Rao was nominated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in April 2014.
• Significance: It is famous for having the world’s earliest known dock, which connected the city to an ancient course of the Sabarmati river.
• It was also famous for bead workshops, and maritime trade links with Mesopotamia and Egypt dating back nearly 4,000 years.

3. JAPAN PM SHIGERU ISHIBA RESIGNS AFTER ELECTION DEFEAT –

• In a significant political development, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba announced his resignation on September 7, 2025, just weeks after his party’s historic electoral defeat in the July polls. Ishiba’s departure as President of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) comes less than a year after he took office, plunging Japan into a phase of renewed political uncertainty.

The Context Behind the Resignation

• The decision follows growing pressure from within the Liberal Democratic Party, after the ruling coalition, under Ishiba’s leadership, suffered its worst electoral setback in decades. Initially resistant to calls for resignation, Ishiba had cited the need to oversee the implementation of a crucial Japan-US tariff agreement as his priority.

4. INDIA LAUNCHES HYDROGEN-POWERED TRAIN –

• The Indian Railways successfully tested a hydrogen-powered train developed at the Integral Coach Factory in Chennai. This train will soon operate between Jind and Sonipat in Haryana. It is part of the National Green Hydrogen Mission, which aims to produce five million metric tonnes of green hydrogen annually by 2030. The mission supports India’s goal of net zero emissions by 2070.

Hydrogen Train Technology

• The train uses hydrogen fuel cells to generate electricity. Hydrogen is produced by a 1-MW polymer electrolyte membrane electrolyser in Jind. This electrolyser splits water into oxygen and hydrogen using electricity from renewable sources.
• The hydrogen is stored and used in fuel cells on the train. The fuel cells convert hydrogen back into water, producing electricity to power the train’s motors. This process emits zero carbon dioxide.

5. INDIGENOUS VIKRAM 32-BIT MICROPROCESSOR –

• India recently revealed the Vikram 3201, its first fully indigenous 32-bit microprocessor designed for space applications. Developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) with the Semiconductor Laboratory (SCL), Chandigarh, this chip marks step towards self-reliance in semiconductor technology. The processor is built to withstand extreme space conditions and will power critical functions in launch vehicles.

Vikram 3201 Microprocessor

• The Vikram 3201 is a semiconductor microprocessor specifically designed for rockets and satellites.
• It is the first Indian microprocessor fabricated at this scale and specification for launch vehicle avionics.
• Unlike consumer processors, it operates under harsh space conditions such as extreme temperatures, radiation, and vibration.
• It succeeds the Vikram 1601, a 16-bit chip used by ISRO since 2009.

MCQ QUIZ

Q1.   Where was National Ayush Mission (NAM) Summit 2025 held ?

1. a) New Delhi
2. b) Hyderabad
3. c) Bengaluru
4. d) Chennai

Q2.   According to Sample Registration Survey Statistical Report 2023, what is India’s Total Fertility Rate (TFR) ?

2. a) 2.1
3. b) 2.0
4. c) 1.9
5. d) 1.8

Q3.   Where was India’s largest lithium-ion battery manufacturing plant launched ?

1. a) Gujarat
2. b) Rajasthan
3. c) Madhya Pradesh
4. d) Haryana

Q4.   Which of the following statements is/are correct regarding the Beas and Sutlej rivers ?

1. Both rivers originate in the Himalayas within Indian territory.
2. The Beas river is a tributary of the Sutlej river.
3. The Bhakra Dam is constructed on the Beas river.

          How many of the above statements are correct ?

1. a) Only one
2. b) Only two
3. c) All three
4. d) None

Explanation-

• Statement 1 is incorrect. The Beas river originates near the Rohtang Pass in the Pir Panjal range in Himachal Pradesh and its entire course lies within India. However, the Sutlej river originates from the Mansarovar-Rakastal lakes in western Tibet, where it is known as Langqen Zagbo. It enters India through the Shipki La pass. Therefore, the statement that both rivers originate within Indian territory is incorrect.
• Statement 2 is correct. The Beas flows through Himachal Pradesh and Punjab and merges with the Sutlej at Harike in Punjab, making it a major tributary of the Sutlej.
• Statement 3 is incorrect. The Bhakra Dam, one of India’s largest, is constructed on the Sutlej river in Himachal Pradesh, not the Beas. It is a crucial project for irrigation and power generation in the region.

Q5.   With reference to the Lipulekh Pass, consider the following statements:

1. It is a trijunction point between India, Nepal, and Bhutan.
2. It serves as a gateway for the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra pilgrimage.
3. It was the first border trade post opened between India and China.

          How many of the above statements are correct ?

1. a) Only one
2. b) Only two
3. c) All three
4. d) None

Explanation-

• Statement 1 is incorrect. The Lipulekh Pass is located near the trijunction of India, Nepal, and China, not Bhutan. This strategic location is a key reason for its geopolitical significance and the ongoing border dispute between India and Nepal.
• The pass has been a traditional route for pilgrims and traders for centuries and is an important gateway for the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra. The Indian government has developed infrastructure to facilitate this pilgrimage.
• In 1992, Lipulekh was opened as India’s first border trade post with China, highlighting its economic importance in the region. It was followed by the opening of Shipki La in 1994 and Nathu La in 2006.

Answer Key