CURRENT AFFAIRS 17 September, 2025

CURRENT AFFAIRS 17 September, 2025

1. SUPREME COURT INTERIM STAY ON WAQF (AMENDMENT) ACT 2025 –

• The SC passed an interim order staying select provisions of the Waqf (Amendment) Act 2025, while refusing to impose a blanket stay on the entire entire Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025.
• Waqf Amendment Act 2025: Passed in the Parliament in April 2025, proposes significant changes to the governance and management of Waqf properties in India. This legislation seeks to amend the Waqf Act of 1995.

Challenge to the Act

• Petitioners: The case was brought by several political leaders and organisations. In total, around 65 petitions were clubbed together before the Supreme Court.
• Grounds of Challenge: The petitioners argued that the law violates Article 26 of the Constitution (the right to manage religious affairs) and encroaches upon the Muslim community’s autonomy in administering Waqf properties.

About Waqf

• Waqf (also spelled Wakf) is an Islamic legal concept referring to the permanent dedication of property for religious, charitable, or social welfare purposes.
• Once designated as Waqf, the property cannot be sold, inherited, or gifted, it remains dedicated in perpetuity to serve the community.
• Purpose: To serve the community and enhance the welfare of society, with particular emphasis on public welfare projects like mosques, schools, hospitals, or welfare organizations.

How is Waqf Created?

• Declaration: A Muslim (Waqif) donates property via a written deed (Waqfnama) or oral declaration.
• Registration: Must be registered with the State Waqf Board.
• Dedication: Property ownership is transferred to Allah (God) and managed for public good.

2. UNIFIED PENSION SCHEME (UPS) –

• The government has given central government employees the option to switch to the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS) by 30th September 2025. However, the adoption has been slow, with only 40,000 out of 23.94 lakh eligible employees opting for the UPS so far.

What is the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS)?

• About: The UPS, recommended by the T.V. Somanathan committee (2023) to review the National Pension System (NPS), was announced in August 2024 and came into effect on 1st April 2025 as an optional pension scheme for Central Government employees under the NPS.
• It provides assured, inflation-indexed, and adequate retirement benefits, addressing concerns related to longevity protection and pension predictability.
• UPS is regulated by the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA), and is available to both serving and retired employees, subject to specific conditions.

Eligibility:

• Central Government employees under NPS as on 1st April 2025.
• New recruits joining Central Government service on or after 1st April 2025.
• Retired NPS subscribers who superannuated or retired on or before 31st March 2025, with at least 10 years of qualifying service, provided retirement was not a penalty under Fundamental Rules (FR) 56(j) (relates to the premature retirement of government servant).
• Legally wedded spouse of a deceased NPS subscriber (who retired before opting for UPS).
• Contributions under UPS

Employee Contribution: 10% of Basic Pay + Dearness Allowance (DA).

• Government Contribution: Matching 10% of Basic Pay + DA.
• Additional Government Contribution (Pool Corpus): Around 8.5% of Basic Pay + DA, used to ensure assured payouts.
• PRAN (Permanent Retirement Account Number): All contributions and transactions are recorded under the employee’s PRAN account.

3. WOMEN’S ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT INDEX –

• India’s economic growth depends on including women fully in the workforce. Today, women contribute just 18% to the country’s GDP. Nearly 196 million employable women remain outside the labour force. While female labour force participation has improved to 41.7%, only a small fraction hold formal jobs.
• This gap limits India’s ambition to become a $30 trillion economy by 2047. Recent steps like the Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE) Index in Uttar Pradesh show how gender data can drive change.

Gender-Disaggregated Data

• India collects many economic and social statistics but rarely separates data by gender. This lack of visibility hides inequalities. Without clear data, reforms stall and exclusion deepens. The WEE Index tracks women’s participation across five key areas – employment, education and skilling, entrepreneurship, livelihood and mobility, and safety and infrastructure. It marks where women drop out and the barriers they face. This approach shifts focus from mere participation to structural challenges.

4. INDIA’S FIRST BAMBOO-BASED ETHANOL PLANT –

• India recently inaugurated its first bamboo-based bioethanol plant in Golaghat, Assam. This milestone marks boost to the country’s green energy ambitions and industrial growth. The plant will source bamboo from Assam and northeastern states, benefiting farmers and tribal communities. Alongside, a polypropylene plant foundation was laid to strengthen regional manufacturing. These developments reflect India’s shift towards renewable energy and self-reliance.

Significance

• Bioethanol is a renewable, high-octane biofuel produced from biomass such as bamboo, sugarcane, and grains. Bamboo offers a sustainable raw material due to its fast growth and wide availability in the Northeast. The new plant will process about 5 lakh tonnes of bamboo annually. This development supports India’s goal to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and promote cleaner energy sources.

5. INDIA’S UNEMPLOYMENT RATE FALLS TO 5.1% IN AUGUST 2025 –

• India’s job market showed encouraging signs in August 2025, with the country’s overall unemployment rate declining to 5.1%, according to the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI).
• This marks the second consecutive monthly decline, down from 5.6% in June and 5.2% in July, signaling resilience in both urban and rural employment trends.

Key Highlights of the PLFS Data

• Overall Unemployment Rate (15+ years): Declined to 5.1% in August 2025, lowest in three months.
• Male Unemployment: Dropped to a five-month low of 5.0%.
• Urban male UR: 6.6% (July) → 5.9% (August)
• Rural male UR: 4.5% (lowest in 5 months)
• Rural Employment Recovery: Rural unemployment rate fell from 5.1% in May → 4.3% in August.

MCQ QUIZ

Q1.   Which organization will absorb the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) technology in the first two years, as per the recent technology transfer agreement ?

1. a) Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)
2. b) Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL)
3. c) NewSpace India Limited (NSIL)
4. d) Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe)

Q2.   Which two sites from Andhra Pradesh were recently added to the UNESCO Tentative List of World Heritage Sites ?

1. a) Tirumala Hills and Borra Caves
2. b) Erra Matti Dibbalu and Pulicat Lake
3. c) Tirumala Hills and Erra Matti Dibbalu
4. d) Araku Valley and Kolleru Lake

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.   Consider the following statements regarding Makhana (fox nuts):

1. Makhana is primarily grown in the states of Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal in India.
2. Makhana is rich in protein, fiber, and antioxidants, but low in fat.
3. The cultivation of Makhana requires wetland areas and shallow ponds for optimal growth.
4. Makhana is commonly consumed during religious fasts, especially in North India.

          Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

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

Explanation-

• Statement 1: Correct — Bihar is the largest producer of Makhana, especially the Mithilanchal region. Some cultivation also occurs in West Bengal and Eastern UP.
• Statement 2: Correct — Makhana is low in fat, high in protein, fiber, and antioxidants.
• Statement 3: Correct — Makhana is grown in shallow ponds or wetlands (2–4 feet deep). It needs stagnant water for proper flowering and seed formation.
• Statement 4: Correct — In Indian culture, Makhana is a popular fasting food (e.g., during Navratri), as it is considered satvik (pure) and light on the stomach.

Q5.   Consider the following statements regarding the bamboo-based ethanol plant in Assam:

1. The plant utilizes 1G (first-generation) bio-refinery technology, primarily using bamboo sap.
2. It is a joint venture between the Assam government and a private international corporation.
3. The project’s primary goal is to achieve 50% ethanol blending in petrol by 2030.

          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 plant uses advanced 2G (second-generation) bio-refinery technology. This technology is crucial as it allows the conversion of lignocellulosic biomass (like bamboo fibre) into ethanol through processes like enzymatic hydrolysis, which is more complex than 1G technology that uses sugars or starches.
• Statement 2 is incorrect. The plant is developed by Assam Bio-Ethanol Private Limited (ABEL), which is a collaboration involving Numaligarh Refinery Ltd (NRL), a public sector undertaking under the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas. It is not a venture with a private international corporation.
• Statement 3 is incorrect. The plant is a part of India’s Ethanol Blending Programme (EBP), but the national target is to achieve 20% ethanol blending in petrol by the year 2025, not 50% by 2030. The plant’s output will contribute to this more immediate and specific national goal.

Answer Key