Daily Current Affairs Quiz
13 September, 2025
National Affairs
1. PM Launches Gyan Bharatam Portal
Source: PIB
Context:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the International Conference on Gyan Bharatam on the theme “Reclaiming India’s Knowledge Legacy Through Manuscript Heritage”. He stressed the importance of preserving India’s manuscript heritage and preventing intellectual piracy, as much of India’s traditional knowledge has historically been copied and patented abroad.
Gyan Bharatam Portal
- Launched as a digital repository of ancient manuscripts.
- Aims to accelerate digitisation, preservation, and wider access to India’s traditional knowledge systems.
- Supports the vision of Swadeshi and Aatmanirbhar Bharat.
India’s Manuscript Heritage
- India holds the world’s largest manuscript collection: nearly one crore manuscripts.
- Manuscripts reflect advancements in science, philosophy, medicine, mathematics, astronomy, and culture.
- PM called it a “renaissance of India’s golden past”, highlighting continuity of preservation, innovation, addition, and adaptation.
2. PSB Manthan 2025
Source: IE
Context:
At the PSB Manthan 2025 conclave (two-day event), the government set a long-term vision to make at least two public sector banks (PSBs) enter the world’s top 20 by 2047, aligning with the Viksit Bharat 2047 roadmap.
Global Positioning of Indian Banks
- Currently, only State Bank of India (SBI) and HDFC Bank feature in the top 100 global lenders by assets.
- Target: At least two PSBs in top 20 by 2047.
Focus Areas of PSB Manthan 2025
- Corporate Governance: Strengthening oversight and autonomy.
- Customer Experience: Personalised banking and service quality.
- Future-readiness: Adoption of AI, digital transformation, and modernisation.
- Cybersecurity & Workforce Transformation.
- Risk Management & Financial Stability: Part of EASErise agenda for FY26.
- CASA Ratio: Discussions on improving declining current account–savings account ratios.
Banking/Finance
1. SEBI Approves Key Reforms in Public Issues, FPIs, and Mutual Funds
Source: ET
Context:
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), under Chairman Tuhin Kanta Pandey, has introduced a set of reforms across IPO norms, foreign portfolio investors (FPIs), real estate investment trusts (REITs), and mutual funds. The aim is to deepen capital markets, boost primary issuance, and ease compliance.
IPO and Market Capitalisation Norms
- For companies with market capitalisation between ₹1 trillion and ₹5 trillion:
- Minimum Public Offer (MPO) set at ₹6,250 crore + 2.75% of post-issue market cap.
- If public shareholding <15% at listing:
- 5 years to reach 15% public shareholding.
- 10 years to achieve mandated 25% Minimum Public Shareholding (MPS).
- Public issue norms for issues below ₹50,000 crore remain unchanged.
- Anchor Investors:
- An anchor investor is an institutional investor. They enter the game right before an IPO (Initial Public Offering) and they are seen as a booster for companies looking for a successful listing.
- Overall reservation raised from 33.33% → 40%.
- One-third reserved for domestic mutual funds, remainder for life insurers & pension funds.
- Number of permissible anchor investor allottees increased for allocations above ₹250 crore.
Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs)
- Launch of SWAGAT-FI (single-window framework) for easier registration of low-risk FPIs (e.g., sovereign wealth funds, government-related investors).
- Eligible entities include regulated public funds (mutual funds, insurance cos., pension funds).
- Relaxations:
- Reduced documentation.
- One-time KYC fee of $2,500 for a 10-year block (instead of 3-year cycle).
- Exemption from 50% aggregate contribution cap for NRIs and OCIs.
- Expected to cover 70%+ of FPIs.
REITs and InvITs
- Re-classified as equity for mutual funds → eligible for equity index inclusion.
- Expanded scope of strategic investors to include:
- Provident funds
- Public financial institutions
- Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs)
- State industrial development corporations
Mutual Funds
- Maximum exit load reduced from 5% to 3%, benefiting retail investors.
- Incentives reintroduced for distributors for inflows from beyond top 30 cities (B-30 regions).
Related Party Transactions (RPTs)
- RPT transactions, or Related Party Transactions, are business dealings between a company and its related entities or individuals, such as a parent company and its subsidiary, or a company and the immediate family of its director.
- Scale-based thresholds (based on turnover of listed companies) approved to determine material RPTs.
Other Announcements
- SEBI to consult further on derivatives curbs—no immediate changes.
- Report on conflict-of-interest code expected by end of the month.
2. SEBI Stresses Transparency on Family Settlements
Context:
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) clarified before the Bombay High Court that:
- Deeds of Family Settlement (DFS) and similar family agreements must be disclosed by listed companies under LODR Regulations.
- However, such disclosures do not impose binding obligations on the company itself.
Deeds of Family Settlement (DFS)
- A legal agreement between family members concerning family-owned businesses, properties, or shares.
- Purpose:
- Resolve disputes among family members without litigation.
- Divide assets, shares, or responsibilities among heirs.
Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements (LODR)
- SEBI regulations that require listed companies to maintain transparency, accountability, and fair treatment of investors.
- Purpose:
- Protect investors’ interests.
- Ensure disclosure of material information affecting company performance or share price.
- Examples of Disclosures under LODR:
- Financial results, corporate governance reports.
- Changes in shareholding, promoter pledges, and agreements like DFS.
SEBI’s Stand on DFS Disclosure
- Disclosure is Mandatory:
- DFS agreements are considered material information under LODR.
- Shareholders must be informed to ensure transparency.
- No Binding Effect on the Company:
- Disclosure under Regulation 30A does not create or enforce private contractual obligations.
- Companies are not restricted or liable due to DFS disclosures.
- Management or control of the company is unaffected by these disclosures.
In short:
- DFS → Family agreement on assets/shares.
- LODR → SEBI rules requiring disclosure of material information.
- SEBI clarification → Disclose DFS for transparency, but it doesn’t bind or limit the company.
3. SEBI Eases FPI Entry with Automatic Registration Window
Source: The Economic Times
Context:
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has approved the introduction of an ‘automatic window’ to simplify the registration process for Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs). The move aims to boost capital inflows into India by reducing procedural hurdles and enhancing ease of doing business.
Key Highlights:
- Automatic Window for Registration: SEBI will allow certain FPIs to register through a simplified, largely automated process, minimizing documentation and compliance requirements.
- Unified Access: The new framework provides a single registration route, replacing multiple existing compliance channels for FPIs.
- Eligibility Criteria: FPIs that are at least 75% owned by foreign governments or are regulated in their home jurisdictions can avail of this facility.
- Objective: The reform seeks to attract more foreign capital, particularly after significant equity outflows of over ₹83,000 crore since July 2025.
Agriculture
1. FPOs Critical to Agtech Adoption in Rural India
Source: BL
Context:
Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) are increasingly being recognised as vital platforms to accelerate the adoption of agricultural technologies (agtech) among small and marginal farmers in rural India. By consolidating farmers, FPOs help address key structural and financial challenges, enabling technology-driven productivity improvements.
Key Highlights:
- Collective Bargaining and Affordability:
- FPOs allow farmers to pool resources, making modern inputs, machinery, and digital agtech tools more affordable and accessible.
- Knowledge and Training:
- FPOs function as knowledge hubs, facilitating demonstrations, workshops, and training programs on precision agriculture, crop monitoring, and climate-resilient practices.
- Access to Finance and Credit:
- Through FPOs, farmers gain better access to credit, subsidies, and financial products necessary for technology adoption. FPOs also help engage with banks, NBFCs, and government schemes.
- Shared Infrastructure Development:
- FPOs invest in common assets like storage facilities, processing units, and transport logistics, which are critical for implementing agtech effectively across the supply chain.
- Data-Driven Decision Making:
- Aggregated data from member farmers allows FPOs to implement precision farming, monitor soil health, and optimise crop planning.
- Policy Advocacy:
- FPOs represent collective farmer interests, advocating for supportive policies, regulatory frameworks, and government programs promoting agtech.
Challenges:
- Low digital literacy among rural farmers.
- Infrastructure gaps such as poor internet and power supply.
- High initial investment costs for new technologies.
- Fragmented land holdings limiting large-scale agtech adoption.
2. AI-Powered Monsoon Forecasts Transform Kharif Farming in India
Source: PIB
Context:
Millions of Indian farmers depend on rainfall for Kharif crops, which form the backbone of their income and livelihood. Accurate and timely monsoon forecasts are crucial for decisions on crop selection, sowing schedules, irrigation, and risk management. In a first-of-its-kind initiative, the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare (MoAFW) has harnessed artificial intelligence (AI) to deliver advanced, farmer-centric monsoon forecasts across India.
Key Highlights:
- AI-Based Forecasting Models:
- The MoAFW integrated Google’s Neural GCM and ECMWF’s AI Forecasting System (AIFS) to create highly accurate predictions of monsoon onset, intensity, and progression, outperforming conventional weather models.
- Targeted Dissemination:
- Forecasts were sent via m-Kisan SMS platform to 3.8 crore farmers across 13 states, providing region-specific guidance up to four weeks in advance.
- Real-Time Monitoring:
- Weekly updates informed farmers of mid-season variations, such as pauses in rainfall, enabling timely agricultural interventions.
- Farmer-Centric Design:
- Teams from Development Innovation Lab – India and Precision Development ensured that information was understandable, actionable, and tailored to local farming needs.
Significance and Impact:
- Enhances farmers’ ability to plan Kharif crops efficiently and reduce climate-related risks.
- Strengthens resilience against climate variability, supporting sustainable agricultural practices.
- Positions India as a global leader in applying AI for real-world agricultural challenges.
- Empowers informed decisions on sowing, irrigation, and crop management, potentially improving yields and farmer incomes.
Facts To Remember
1. Karki is Nepal’s first woman PM
Nepal President Ram Chandra Poudel appointed former Chief Justice Sushila Karki as the country’s new Prime Minister and dissolved Parliament, as days of political turmoil showed signs of abating in the Himalayan nation.
2. C.P. Radhakrishnan takes oath as 15th Vice-President of India
Chandrapuram Ponnusamy Radhakrishnan was sworn in as the 15th Vice-President of India. President Droupadi Murmu administered the oath of office at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in the presence of several dignitaries.
3. Jagdeep Chhokar, co-founder of ADR, passes away at 81
Jagdeep S. Chhokar, co-founder of the non-governmental organisation Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), passed away in Delhi. He was 81.
4. Navy’s latest base INS Aravali commissioned in Gurugram
The Indian Navy commissioned its latest Naval Base, INS Aravali, at Gurugram on Friday, marking a major boost to its information and communication infrastructure.
5. Kerala capital to host two-day blue economy conclave
Representatives from 29 European countries are expected to attend a two-day blue economy conclave in the State capital on September 18 and 19, Minister for Fisheries Saji Cherian has said.
6. Albania PM appoints AI-generated ‘minister’ to tackle corruption
Albania’s Prime Minister Edi Rama on Friday tapped an Artificial Intelligence-generated ‘minister’ for his cabinet to take on corruption.
7. Mehuli Ghosh places 23rd in rifle 3-position event
Mehuli Ghosh shot 583 and placed 23rd in the 50-metre rifle 3-position event in the World Cup in Ningbo, China.
