CURRENT AFFAIRS 21-22 September, 2025

CURRENT AFFAIRS 21-22 September, 2025

1. SELF-HELP GROUPS –

• Self-Help Groups (SHGs) are driving rural empowerment through financial inclusion, women’s leadership, and entry into non-traditional sectors like fuel retail, transport, and solar power as seen in Telangana’s Indira Mahila Shakti (IMS).

About Self-Help Groups (SHGs)

• Definition: Informal associations of 10–20 members, largely women, pooling savings and enabling access to formal credit.
• It represents voluntary association of people, usually from similar socio-economic backgrounds.
• Scale: With over 90.9 lakh SHGs covering 10.05 crore women households (as on January 2025) under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM), SHGs now form the largest community institution network in the world.

Integration with Government Schemes:

• Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA): SHG members involved as mates, social auditors, and project implementing agencies.
• Other departments (Rural Development, Women & Child, Agriculture) also integrate SHGs for livelihood projects.

2. CURBING FAKE NEWS IN INDIA –

• The Standing Committee on Communications and Information Technology in the Parliament has proposed several measures aimed at curbing the spread of ‘fake news’ and misinformation, highlighting the potential harm such content can cause to public order and democratic processes.

What are the Key Recommendations to Curb Fake News?

• Fact-checking Mechanisms: The committee favors making it mandatory for all media organizations to have a fact-checking mechanism and an internal ombudsman to oversee editorial content.
• Penal Provisions: It suggests amendments to laws to increase fines and hold media accountable for editorial content and discourage the spread of misinformation.
• The panel supports a clear definition of ‘fake news’ and incorporates it into existing media regulations while ensuring that such efforts do not infringe on freedom of speech or individual rights.
• Strengthening the Press Council of India: Create a complaint portal and an independent monitoring body for better oversight
• Regulation of AI-generated Content: Licensing for AI content creators and mandatory labeling of AI-generated material, such as videos, to enhance transparency and reduce the spread of deceptive material.

What is the Need to Curb Fake News?

• Threat to Democracy: Fake news can manipulate public opinion, especially during elections, undermining the democratic process.
• Fake news undermines citizens’ right to information, which is protected under Article 19 as upheld by the Supreme Court of India in Raj Narayan vs. Uttar Pradesh Government (1975).
• Disruption of Public Order: Misinformation can lead to violence and unrest, threatening social stability.
• In 2018, WhatsApp rumors about child kidnappers in India led to mob lynchings across several states, causing deaths and public disorder.

3. US IMPOSES $100,000 FEE ON NEW H-1B VISA ENTRANTS –

• The US government introduced a new $100,000 entry fee on H-1B visa holders entering the country after 21 September 2025. This unexpected move has caused concern among Indian tech workers and students, who form the largest group using this visa. The fee applies only to future applicants outside the US and excludes those already holding valid H-1B visas or changing their status within the country. The policy’s details remain unclear, sparking debate among immigration experts and major tech firms.

Scope and Applicability of the Fee

• The fee applies exclusively to new H-1B visa applicants outside the US after the effective date. It does not affect visa holders already in the US or those extending or transferring their status domestically. Individuals with valid H-1B stamps travelling abroad and re-entering may face the fee, but this is still uncertain. The fee is reportedly payable each time a person enters the US, not just once.

Impact on Current H-1B Visa Holders

• Current visa holders are exempt from this fee for extensions, transfers, or status changes within the US. They can travel without paying the fee if their visa is valid. However, confusion persists about re-entry after international travel. Tech firms like Amazon and Microsoft have advised employees to avoid travel until clarity emerges.

4. ANANDKUMAR VELKUMAR CREATES HISTORY WITH GOLD AT WORLD SPEED SKATING CHAMPIONSHIPS 2025 –

• In a landmark moment for Indian sports, Anandkumar Velkumar, a 22-year-old skater from India, scripted history at the 2025 World Speed Skating Championships in China. He clinched gold in the men’s 42km marathon, marking India’s first-ever world championship title in speed skating.

Anandkumar Velkumar’s Medal Tally at the Event

• Velkumar’s performance at the ongoing championships has been nothing short of extraordinary. He has so far secured,
• Gold in the 42km marathon
• Gold in the 1000m event, with a record time of 1:24.92
• Bronze in the 500m sprint
• This brings his total medal count to two golds and one bronze, cementing his status as one of the finest speed skaters in the world.

5. PM MODI LAUNCHES NEXT-GENERATION GST REFORMS: A NEW ERA OF SAVINGS AND SELF-RELIANCE –

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the nation on 21 September 2025, unveiling Next-Generation GST reforms that come into effect from 22 September. Announcing the beginning of a “GST Bachat Utsav”, the Prime Minister emphasized that the new system will enhance savings for households, reduce costs of essential goods, and strengthen Aatmanirbhar Bharat by boosting MSMEs and local manufacturing.

Key Highlights of the Address

• The Prime Minister described the reforms as citizen-centric and a landmark step in India’s economic journey,
• New GST Structure: Only 5% and 18% slabs will remain.
• Lower Costs: Everyday items like food, medicines, soap, toothbrushes, toothpaste, health and life insurance will now attract either 0% or 5% tax.
• Savings Festival: Citizens expected to save over INR 2.5 lakh crore annually due to GST and income tax reforms combined.
• Support to MSMEs: Simplified tax structures to help small businesses, cottage industries, and entrepreneurs.
• Swadeshi Push: Citizens encouraged to buy and sell Made in India products to promote self-reliance.

MCQ QUIZ

Q1.   The National Maritime Heritage Complex (NMHC) is being developed at which ancient site in Gujarat ?

1. a) Dholavira
2. b) Lothal
3. c) Bhadra fort
4. d) Rani Ki Vav

Q2.   How many Rafale fighter jets has the Indian Air Force proposed to acquire under the ₹2 lakh crore ‘Made in India’ plan ?

1. a) 36
2. b) 26
3. c) 114
4. d) 176

Q3.   Where was the 44th meeting of the Council of Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) held ?

1. a) Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic
2. b) Cholpon Ata, Kyrgyz Republic
3. c) Dushanbe, Tajikistan
4. d) Tashkent, Uzbekistan

Q4.   Consider the following statements regarding the ‘India-AI Impact Summit 2026’:

1. It is the first global AI summit of its kind to be hosted by a Global South nation.
2. One of its flagship initiatives involves launching indigenous foundational AI models for sectors like agriculture and governance.
3. The IndiaAI Fellowship Programme, expanded under this initiative, is restricted to PhD and post-doctoral scholars to foster high-level research.

          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 correct: The summit is highlighted as the first of its kind hosted by a Global South nation, which positions India as a thought leader in shaping a global vision for responsible and inclusive AI adoption beyond the developed world.
• Statement 2 is correct: A major deliverable of the summit is the launch of 8 Indigenous Foundational AI Models. These models are tailored for critical sectors such as healthcare, agriculture, governance, industry, and multilingual applications, showcasing India’s capabilities in building core AI technologies.
• Statement 3 is incorrect: The IndiaAI Fellowship Programme has been significantly expanded, but it is not restricted to higher-level researchers. The program now covers 13,500 scholars across undergraduate (UG), postgraduate (PG), and PhD levels, aiming to create a broad and robust talent pipeline across various disciplines, not just elite research.

Q5.   With respect to a recent study on El Niño’s impact on the Indian monsoon, which of the following best describes its findings ?

1. a) El Niño uniformly suppresses all forms of rainfall across the entire Indian subcontinent.
2. b) El Niño increases the overall monsoon rainfall but reduces the number of rainy days.
3. c) El Niño causes a delayed monsoon onset but ensures an even distribution of rainfall throughout the season.
4. d) El Niño suppresses the total seasonal monsoon rainfall but increases the probability of extreme daily rainfall events in central India.

Explanation-

• Option (d) accurately reflects the study’s conclusion. It confirms the long-understood correlation that El Niño generally suppresses the overall quantum of Southwest monsoon rainfall, often leading to drought-like conditions. However, it adds a critical new insight: despite the overall deficit, the probability of extreme daily rainfall events significantly increases (by nearly 50%), particularly across central India. This paradox—less total rain but more intense downpours—raises new challenges for flood and disaster management.
• Option (a) is incorrect because the impact is not uniform.
• Option (b) is incorrect as El Niño generally reduces, not increases, overall rainfall.
• Option (c) is incorrect because it is associated with erratic, not even, distribution.

Answer Key