CURRENT AFFAIRS 14-15 September, 2025

CURRENT AFFAIRS 14-15 September, 2025

1. SUSHILA KARKI: NEPAL’S FIRST FEMALE PM –

• Sushila Karki appointed as Nepal’s first female Prime Minister, after Gen Z-led protests toppled KP Sharma Oli’s government
• She was chosen via Discord public vote to lead the transitional government, gaining support of both youth & traditional parties.
• Nepal’s stability is crucial for India due to open borders, trade, Gorkha recruitment, hydropower & China factor.

About Sushila Karki

• Born: 07 June 1952, Biratnagar.
• Education: Master’s (Banaras Hindu University, India), LL.B. (Tribhuvan University, 1978).

Career milestones:

• Practised law since 1979; Bar leadership roles.
• 2009: Supreme Court Justice.
• 2016: First woman Chief Justice of Nepal, known for anti-corruption verdicts & judicial independence
• Faced 2017 impeachment attempt (political retaliation).
• Reputation: Integrity, Gandhian lifestyle, anti-corruption stance.
• Significance: First woman to hold both top judicial & executive posts in Nepal.

2. SAMUDRA PRADAKSHINA –

• Defence Minister flagged off ‘Samudra Pradakshina’, the world’s first-ever Tri-service all-women sailing circumnavigation expedition, symbolising Nari Shakti, jointness of Armed Forces, Aatmanirbhar Bharat, and India’s maritime vision.
• It builds on India’s earlier circumnavigation milestones by Captain Dilip Donde (2009–10), Commander Abhilash Tomy (2012–13), and the Indian Navy’s Navika Sagar Parikrama (2017–18) and Navika Sagar Parikrama-II (2024–25).
• Expedition: The crew, led by Lt Col Anuja Varudkar, consists of 10 women officers who will sail on the indigenously built Indian Army Sailing Vessel (IASV) Triveni for 9 months, covering 26,000 nautical miles.
• Their route crosses the Equator twice and rounds the three great Capes (Leeuwin, Horn, and Good Hope), including the challenging Southern Ocean and Drake Passage.
• They will make international port calls at Fremantle (Australia), Lyttelton (New Zealand), Port Stanley (Canada), and Cape Town (South Africa), strengthening India’s maritime diplomacy.
• It also has a scientific component, with collaboration from the National Institute of Oceanography to study microplastics, marine biodiversity, and ocean health.
• Global Standards: The expedition adheres to the World Sailing Speed Record Council, requiring the crossing of all longitudes, Equator crossings and completion of over 21,600 nautical miles under sail alone, without use of canals or powered transit, making it a true test of endurance.

3. MIZORAM’S FIRST RAILWAY LINE –

• The inauguration of Mizoram’s first railway line marks a historic milestone in India’s northeastern infrastructure development. The Bairabi–Sairang broad-gauge railway, spanning 51.38 km, was opened by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2025. This project is a key enabler of the government’s Act East Policy and enhances connectivity for the region’s capital, Aizawl, linking it directly to India’s vast railway network for the first time.

Project Overview

• The railway line was sanctioned in 2008-09 and construction began in 2015. It cost approximately Rs 8,070 crore. The route includes 45 tunnels, 55 major bridges, and 87 minor bridges. About 54% of the alignment runs through tunnels and bridges, reflecting the difficult terrain.
• Bridge No. 144 near Sairang stands as the tallest pier railway bridge in India at 114 metres. Engineers faced complex Himalayan geology, including the need to stabilise loose sand into rock for tunnel safety.

4. INDIA BACKS UN RESOLUTION ON PALESTINE TWO-STATE SOLUTION –

• India recently voted in favour of a United Nations General Assembly resolution endorsing the New York Declaration. This resolution calls for a peaceful settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through the implementation of a two-state solution.
• The resolution was adopted with 142 countries supporting, 10 opposing, and 12 abstaining. India’s vote reflects its longstanding foreign policy stance supporting Palestinian self-determination and dialogue-based peace.

Background

• The New York Declaration was introduced by France and co-chaired with Saudi Arabia during a high-level UN conference in July 2025. It aims to end violence in Gaza and establish a sovereign Palestinian state alongside Israel. The declaration urges collective international action for a lasting peace in the region.

5. WHY HINDI DIWAS IS CELEBRATED? HOW IT IS CELEBRATED –

• Every year, September 14 is celebrated as Hindi Diwas in India. It marks the day in 1949 when the Constituent Assembly decided that Hindi, written in the Devanagari script, would be the official language of the Union Government. Since 1953, this day has been observed to highlight the importance of Hindi and promote its use across the country.

History of Hindi Diwas

• In 1918, Mahatma Gandhi first suggested Hindi as the language of the people at the Hindi Literature Conference.
• On 14 September 1949, the Constituent Assembly formally declared Hindi as the official language under Article 343 of the Constitution.
• The date was also the 50th birth anniversary of Vyohar Rajendra Singh, a respected Hindi scholar.
• To honor this decision, Hindi Diwas began in 1953 and has been celebrated every year since then.

MCQ QUIZ

Q1.   Tipeshwar Wildlife Sanctuary is located in which state ?

1. a) Maharashtra
2. b) Gujarat
3. c) Andhra Pradesh
4. d) Rajasthan

Q2.   What is the name of the portal launched at the Gyan Bharatam International Conference to digitise and preserve India’s manuscript heritage ?

1. a) Manuscript India Portal
2. b) Gyan Bharatam Portal
3. c) Bharat Gyan Portal
4. d) Knowledge Heritage Portal

Q3.   What is the top speed of India’s fastest train, Namo Bharat, operating on the Delhi–Meerut Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) ?

1. a) 120 km/h
2. b) 140 km/h
3. c) 160 km/h
4. d) 180 km/h

Q4.   Why is childhood obesity rising faster in low- and middle-income countries compared to high-income countries ?

1. a) Aggressive marketing of junk foods on digital platforms
2. b) Easy access to cheap ultra-processed foods compared to healthy options
3. c) Weak regulations and policy enforcement around food environments
4. d) All of the above

Explanation-

• The surge in childhood obesity in low- and middle-income nations is driven by a combination of factors—digital marketing targeting children, widespread availability of cheap processed foods, and weak enforcement of food safety and marketing regulations.
• This makes “All of the above” the best explanation as it captures the structural, policy, and commercial determinants highlighted in the UNICEF report.

Q5.   Consider the following statements regarding India’s foreign exchange reserves:

1. Foreign Currency Assets (FCA) forms the largest component of the reserves of India.
2. SDRs are valued based on a basket of six major international currencies.
3. Forex reserves help stabilize a country’s exchange rate and meet external obligations.

          Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

1. a) 1 and 2 only
2. b) 2 and 3 only
3. c) 1 and 3 only
4. d) 1, 2 and 3

Explanation-

• Statement 1 is correct: FCA is the largest component of India’s forex reserves.
• Statement 2 is incorrect: The SDR basket includes five currencies:

1. USD
2. Euro
3. Chinese Yuan (RMB)
4. Japanese Yen
5. Pound Sterling

• Statement 3 is correct: Reserves are used to stabilize the currency, support the balance of payments, and build confidence in the economy.

Answer Key