CURRENT AFFAIRS 16 September, 2025

CURRENT AFFAIRS 16 September, 2025

1. INDIA, AS IT GROWS AS THE WORLD’S FASTEST-GROWING ECONOMY, FACES DEBATES OVER ITS GREAT POWER ASPIRATIONS, WITH CRITICS HIGHLIGHTING WEAK STRATEGY AND ITS LIMITED GLOBAL INFLUENCE WHEN COMPARED TO CHINA AND THE US –

What are the Key Constraints Hindering India’s Global Power Aspirations?

• Ambition vs. Strategic Capacity: While India aspires to global power status, critics argue it lacks the strategic clarity and institutional capacity to translate ambition into influence.
• For example, India’s military expenditure in 2024 stood at USD 86 billion, far behind China’s USD 314 billion, limiting its power projection capability.
• India remains one of the largest arms importers globally, accounting for 9.5% of global imports (2016–2020), highlighting its dependency and underdeveloped indigenous defence capabilities.
• India’s dependence on global supply chains for critical sectors like electronics and energy exposes it to external shocks and geopolitical tensions.
• Strategic Ambiguity in Global Alliances: India’s emphasis on strategic autonomy, demonstrated by its cautious stance on the Russia-Ukraine conflict and its balancing act between the Quad and Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), has been beneficial in preserving its independence.
• However, critics argue that this approach may undermine India’s image as a reliable partner in times of crisis.
• Human Development Constraints: In 2023, India ranks 130 out of 193 countries on the Human Development Index (HDI), indicating significant deficits in education, health, and income distribution.
• Its Inequality-Adjusted HDI (IHDI) drops further to 0.475, reflecting high social and regional inequality that impedes holistic development.
• Economic Power vs. Per Capita Strength: Despite being the 4th largest economy globally, in 2024, India’s per capita GDP was just USD 2,711, placing it among lower middle-income countries.
• Globally, India ranked 144th (out of 196) in per capita GDP at market exchange rates, and 127th in Purchasing Power Parity terms.
• This limits India’s global leverage in economic diplomacy and soft power influence.
• Technological Gaps and Innovation Challenges: India ranked 39th on the Global Innovation Index 2024, compared to China’s 11th and the US’s 3rd.
• While India has made digital strides (e.g., UPI, Aadhaar), gaps remain in cutting-edge sectors like semiconductors, quantum computing, and biotech.
• Internal Social Fault Lines: India’s rank in the World Press Freedom Index 2024 was 159 out of 180 countries, impacting its global democratic credibility.
• Within India, states like Goa (HDI ~0.75) and Uttar Pradesh (~0.60) show stark development gaps.
• Such disparities weaken national coherence and limit India’s ability to act as a unified global actor.

2. OPERATION POLO –

• The 77th anniversary of Operation Polo, marked on 13 September 2025, recalls the decisive military campaign that integrated Hyderabad into the Indian Union. This brief but decisive operation ended the Nizam’s bid for independence and shaped India’s territorial unity soon after independence.

Background

• At independence in 1947, Hyderabad was one of the largest princely states. Ruled by the Muslim Nizam Mir Usman Ali Khan, it covered over 80,000 square miles with a population of about 16 million. The majority were Hindus speaking Telugu, Kannada, and Marathi. The Nizam sought to remain independent rather than join India or Pakistan, a stance that alarmed Indian leaders. Hyderabad’s central location meant its independence could disrupt national unity.

3. ENGINEERS DAY 2025: CELEBRATING INNOVATION & SIR M. VISVESVARAYA –

• Engineers Day 2025 will be observed across India on 15 September, paying tribute to the unparalleled contributions of Sir Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya, one of the nation’s most respected engineers. Marking his 164th birth anniversary, the day honours the engineering community’s vital role in shaping the nation’s infrastructure, technology, and future. The 2025 celebrations are anchored in the theme “Deep Tech & Engineering Excellence: Driving India’s Techade,” reflecting the country’s ambition to lead the next decade of global tech innovation.

National Engineers Day 2025 & Why Observed on 15th September?

• The date marks the birth anniversary of Sir M. Visvesvaraya, born in Muddenahalli, Karnataka, on 15 September 1861. A pioneer in civil engineering, Visvesvaraya’s contributions to dam construction, flood management, and industrial development have had lasting national impact. He was awarded Bharat Ratna in 1955, India’s highest civilian honour, for his work in engineering and public service.
• India first observed Engineers Day in 1967, and it has since become a day to recognize engineering innovation and inspire future generations.

Engineers Day 2025 Theme

• The official theme for the 58th Engineers Day is: “Deep Tech & Engineering Excellence: Driving India’s Techade”
• Selected by the Institution of Engineers India (IEI), this theme highlights the vital role of deep technologies—including AI, quantum computing, robotics, advanced materials, and space engineering—in powering India’s transformation into a global tech leader.
• It encourages professionals and students to adopt cutting-edge tools while staying rooted in socially impactful, sustainable innovation.

4. 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.

5. INDIA’S URBAN SUSTAINABILITY CHALLENGES AND SDG 11 PROGRESS –

• India’s ranking in the Sustainable Development Report (SDR) 2025 improved to 99th among 167 countries. Yet, urban sustainability under Sustainable Development Goal 11 (SDG 11) remains a major challenge. SDG 11 aims for cities that are inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable. India’s progress on key urban indicators has been slow or negative. This marks persistent issues in urban living conditions, infrastructure and governance.

India’s Performance on SDG 11 Indicators

• SDG 11 covers four major urban indicators – slum population proportion, PM 2.5 pollution levels, access to improved piped water, and public transport availability.
• India’s scores for slum population and air pollution have stagnated.
• Access to piped water declined in 2025.
• Only about 65% of urban households had improved piped water in 2022.
• Water supply is irregular and often of poor quality. For example, Mumbai’s average water supply lasts just over five hours daily.
• Many urban households treat water before use, indicating contamination risks.

MCQ QUIZ

Q1.   Zircon is a scramjet-powered hypersonic cruise missile developed by which country ?

1. a) United States
2. b) Russia
3. c) Ukraine
4. d) India

Q2.   INS Androth is an Anti-Submarine Warfare–Shallow Watercraft (ASW-SWC) built by which shipyard?

1. a) Cochin Shipyard Limited, Kochi
2. b) Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited, Mumbai
3. c) Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited, Visakhapatnam
4. d) Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata

Q3.   The Ho tribe is mostly concentrated in which region ?

1. a) Kolhan region
2. b) Malwa Plateau
3. c) Western Ghats
4. d) Dooars region

Q4.   Which of the following statements about the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) is/are correct ?

1. The DAC is the highest decision-making body of the Ministry of Defence on procurement.
2. The Defence Minister is the Chairman of the DAC.
3. The DAC takes decisions regarding ‘offset’ provisions only for acquisition proposals above Rs 300 crore.
4. The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) is a member of the DAC.

          Select the correct answer :

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

Explanation-

• Statement 1 is correct: DAC is the highest procurement decision body in the Defence Ministry.
• Statement 2 is correct: Defence Minister is the Chairman of DAC.
• Statement 3 is correct: The threshold for offset provisions decisions is acquisition proposals above Rs 300 crore.
• Statement 4 is correct: CDS is a member of DAC.

Q5.   Which of the following is/are true regarding the UNESCO Tentative List and its role in the process of World Heritage Site nomination ?

1. A site must be included in the Tentative List at least one year before it is nominated for World Heritage status.
2. The Tentative List is a permanent record of all natural and cultural heritage sites nominated for World Heritage status.
3. The UNESCO Tentative List provides the first step in a nation’s effort to protect and preserve its significant heritage sites.

          Options:

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

Explanation-

• Statement 1 is correct: A site must be included in the UNESCO Tentative List at least one year before it is officially nominated for World Heritage status.
• Statement 2 is correct: The Tentative List marks the first step in a nation’s effort to preserve and protect heritage sites that they aim to nominate for World Heritage status.
• Statement 2 is incorrect: The Tentative List is not a permanent record of all nominated sites; it is an inventory of sites a country intends to nominate for inclusion in the World Heritage List.

Answer Key