Daily Current Affairs (DCA) 7&8 September, 2025

Daily Current Affairs Quiz
7&8 September, 2025

National Affairs

1. Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR)

Source: TH

Context:

In Assam’s Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR), 21 traditional products — including textiles, musical instruments, beverages, cuisine, and medicinal plants have received Geographical Indication (GI) tags. This youth-led initiative, supported by the BTR government, has created enthusiasm among 26 indigenous communities to preserve and promote their cultural heritage through GI registration.

Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR)

The Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR) in Assam is a special administrative area created under the Bodo Peace Accord of January 2020, replacing the earlier Bodoland Territorial Area Districts (BTAD). It is administered by the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) and aims to ensure political, economic, and cultural rights of the Bodo community while maintaining territorial integrity of Assam.

Bodo Tribes of Assam

The Bodos are the largest plains tribe of Assam and an integral part of the Bodo-Kachari group, considered one of the oldest Indo-Mongoloid ethnolinguistic groups in Northeast India.

About BTR

• What it is:
  • A territorial region in Assam governed under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.
    It represents a political settlement between the Government of India, Government of Assam, and Bodo groups.
• Headquarters: Kokrajhar, Assam.
• Administered by: Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC).
• Constituent Districts (earlier BTAD): Kokrajhar, Baksa, Chirang, Udalguri.

Background

• The Bodo movement was among the most prolonged ethnic struggles in Northeast India, demanding autonomy and recognition of Bodo identity.
• Multiple accords were signed:
  • 1993 Accord: Created Bodoland Autonomous Council.
  • 2003 Accord: Established Bodoland Territorial Area Districts (BTAD) under Sixth Schedule.
  • 2020 Accord: Created Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR) with greater autonomy, economic packages, and recognition of Bodo language.

2. National Industrial Classification (NIC-2025)

Source: BS

Context:

The government is preparing an update to the National Industrial Classification (NIC-2025), a standardised system maintained by the National Statistics Office (NSO). The revision aims to better capture new-age sectors like digital services, gig economy, and green industries, ensuring India’s economic data remains accurate and internationally comparable.

Background:

• Industrial classification first introduced in 1962, updated in 1970, 1987, 1998, 2004, and 2008.
• NIC codes are used in national accounts, surveys, investment data, and policymaking.
• With the rise of OTT platforms, EV charging, AI, and gig work, the existing 2008 codes risk becoming outdated.

Key Highlights of NIC-2025 Draft:

• Recognition of new sectors – OTT platforms, EV charging stations, AI, circular economy, and green jobs explicitly included.
• Better representation of gig economy – NITI Aayog estimates gig workforce to grow from 7.7 million (2020-21) to 23.5 million (2029-30).
• Policy relevance – Updated codes ensure policymakers capture where jobs and investments are flowing.
• Global alignment – NIC-2025 to align with International Standard Industrial Classification (ISIC), improving comparability and investor confidence.
• Use of digital data – Integration of GST filings and other digital platforms for more accurate classification.
• Continuity challenge – Need for concordance tables to match old and new codes, ensuring comparability with past datasets.

3. Operation Guddar

Context:

An encounter broke out in the Guddar forest of Kulgam, J&K, after terrorists opened fire on security forces during a search operation under Operation Guddar.

About Operation Guddar

• What it is:
  • A counter-terrorism operation launched jointly by J&K Police, Army (Chinar Corps), and CRPF in Kulgam district.
• Name Origin:
  • Named after the Guddar forest area, known for being a suspected militant hideout.

4. Sample Registration System (SRS) Statistical Report 2023

Source: BS

Context:

The Sample Registration System (SRS) Bulletin 2023 (Vol. 58 No.1) by the Office of the Registrar General of India highlights sharp declines in birth rate, death rate, infant mortality, and fertility compared to 1971 levels. While overall trends show progress in maternal-child health, family planning, and healthcare access, disparities persist across rural-urban regions and states.

Key Findings from SRS 2023:

Birth Rate (per 1,000 population)

• India (2023): 18.4 (↓ from 36.9 in 1971, 21.4 in 2013).
• Rural: 20.3 | Urban: 14.9.
• Highest: Bihar (25.8) | Lowest: Andaman & Nicobar Islands (10.1).

Top 5 States – Highest Birth Rates

1. Bihar – 25.8
2. Uttar Pradesh – 23.6
3. Rajasthan – 22.9
4. Madhya Pradesh – 22.5
5. Chhattisgarh – 22.3

Bottom 5 States – Lowest Birth Rates

• Andaman & Nicobar – 10.1
• Tamil Nadu – 12.0
• Kerala – 12.3
• Punjab – 13.8
• Maharashtra/West Bengal – 14.0

Death Rate (per 1,000 population)

• India (2023): 6.4 (↓ from 14.9 in 1971, 7.0 in 2013).
• Gender gap: Men – 7.2 | Women – 5.7.
• Rural: 6.8 | Urban: 5.7.
• Highest: Chhattisgarh (8.3) | Lowest: Chandigarh (4.0).

Top 5 States – Highest Death Rates

1. Chhattisgarh – 8.3
2. Odisha – 7.7
3. Kerala – 7.2
4. Punjab – 7.3
5. Andhra Pradesh/Karnataka – 6.9/6.8

Bottom 5 States – Lowest Death Rates

• Chandigarh – 4.0
• Delhi – 4.5
• Manipur – 4.5
• Nagaland/Sikkim – 5.5
• J&K – 5.6

Read more>>

5. CoWIN Portal

Source: The Hindu

Context:

India’s flagship CoWIN digital vaccination portal has been unavailable since early August 2025, disrupting access to COVID-19 vaccination certificates. Citizens who require vaccination records for travel, employment, and medical purposes are facing difficulties.

About CoWIN Portal

• CoWIN (COVID Vaccine Intelligence Network) is a government digital platform for:
  • Registration
  • Scheduling
  • Tracking
  • Certification of COVID-19 vaccinations.
• Serves as an end-to-end public health management tool from the national to the vaccinator level.

Launch & Ministry

• Launched: January 2021 (during India’s vaccination drive).
• Nodal Ministry: Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW).

Aim

• Provide a transparent, efficient, and real-time system for vaccination delivery.
• Ensure equitable access, identity verification, dose tracking, and certification for every beneficiary.

Key Features

• Five Modules:
  1. Orchestration module (overall management).
  2. Vaccination cold-chain module (logistics).
  3. Citizen registration module (self & bulk registration).
  4. Vaccinator module (session management).
  5. Certificate, feedback & adverse-event reporting module.
• Integration: Available via CoWIN website, Aarogya Setu app, UMANG app, DigiLocker.
• Authentication: OTP, biometric, and demographic verification.
• Real-Time Tracking: Beneficiaries, doses, wastage, and coverage monitored at national, state, district, sub-district levels.

Banking/Finance

1. Bima Sugam

Source: BS

Context:

The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) has announced the launch of Bima Sugam, a digital one-stop insurance marketplace, scheduled to debut in December 2025. The initiative is part of IRDAI’s broader “Bima Trinity” strategy to boost financial inclusion and achieve “Insurance for All by 2047.”

Key Highlights:

• Platform Features:
  • Unified marketplace for life, health, and general insurance.
  • e-KYC enabled digital onboarding.
  • End-to-end policy management and comparison tools.
  • Real-time claim tracking and dispute resolution integration.
• Objective:
  • Improve India’s insurance penetration (currently 3.7% vs global average of 7%).
  • Lower transaction costs and improve consumer trust.
  • Ensure transparency and efficiency in a sector often criticized for complexity.
• Challenges:
  • Multiple launch delays due to insurer alignment and tech integration.
  • Risk of market concentration, with smaller insurers fearing reduced visibility.
  • Low financial literacy in rural areas could limit adoption without targeted outreach and multilingual support.
  • Privacy and data security risks—a breach could erode trust.
  • Need for robust grievance redressal, especially around claim settlement.
• Bima Trinity – IRDAI Initiative
  • Purpose: Boost insurance penetration, inclusion, and digital adoption in India.
  • Three Pillars:
    • Bima Sugam – Unified digital platform for comparing, buying, and managing insurance.
    • Bima Vistaar – Development of affordable, inclusive, and composite insurance products.
    • Bima Vahak – Last-mile outreach through women entrepreneurs and community agents.

Significance:

If implemented effectively, Bima Sugam can:

• Democratize insurance coverage.
• Act as an equalizer, much like UPI in digital payments.
• Help India move towards universal risk protection and financial resilience.

2. RBI’s New Co-Lending Guidelines

Context:

On 6 August 2025, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) issued revised guidelines on co-lending arrangements, expanding the framework to all regulated entities and beyond priority sector lending. The move aims to strengthen governance, transparency, and risk-sharing in co-lending but is expected to cause short-term disruptions, particularly for smaller NBFCs and fintechs.

Key Highlights:

• Mandatory Retention: Each lender must retain at least 10% of the loan on its own books.
• 15-Day Transfer Rule: Loan originator must transfer the loan to the co-lender within 15 days of origination, failing which it won’t qualify as co-lending.
• Escrow Accounts: Disbursements and collections must be routed through escrow-based mechanisms.
• Audit Inclusion: Loans under co-lending arrangements will now be subject to audits.
• Blended Rate: Clarification needed on calculation; lenders fear ambiguity could impact competitiveness.
• Deadline: Guidelines take effect from January 2026. Smaller NBFCs have requested an extension.

Operational Challenges:

• Increased compliance and operational costs due to escrow accounts, stricter KYC norms, and tech integration.
• Smaller NBFCs and microfinance players face hurdles in segments with cash-based collections.
• Risk of short-term moderation in co-lending volumes as lenders recalibrate systems.
• Fintechs warn of higher costs, slower deal execution, and need for process overhauls.

Long-Term Outlook

• Guidelines expected to improve transparency, governance, and lender confidence.
• Greater scope for partnerships beyond priority sector lending.
• With proper tech integration, co-lending books of banks, NBFCs, and fintechs expected to expand.
• Improved compliance frameworks may attract more structured capital into NBFC segments.

3. Deposit-Backed Credit Cards

Context:

Banks in partnership with fintechs are introducing secured credit cards backed by customer deposits, targeting first-time borrowers and financially underserved sections.

What are Deposit-Backed Credit Cards (Secured Credit Cards)?

A Deposit-Backed Credit Card, also known as a Secured Credit Card, is a type of credit card where the cardholder provides a fixed deposit (FD) as collateral with the issuing bank. The credit limit of the card is usually equal to or slightly less than the deposited amount.

These cards are primarily designed for:

• Individuals who are new to credit (no prior credit history).
• Those who have a low credit score or past credit challenges

Example:

• Customer: Ramesh, new to credit.
• FD with Bank: ₹50,000 at 6% interest.
• Credit Card Limit: ₹50,000 (secured against FD).
• Usage: Shops online for ₹10,000 and pays full bill on time.
• Benefits:
  • FD continues earning interest.
  • Builds credit score.
  • Can be upgraded to an unsecured card after 12 months.

RBI / Regulatory Perspective

• RBI categorizes deposit-backed credit cards as secured credit cards.
• Banks must report usage and repayment activity to credit bureaus.
• In case of default, banks can adjust the outstanding amount from the FD.

4. India’s Central Bank Digital Currency (e-Rupee)

Source: Mint

Context:

With UPI crossing 700 million daily transactions, questions arise on the need for a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC). Experts argue that the e-rupee can achieve financial inclusion, compliance, and efficiency in ways that UPI cannot.

e-Rupee (Digital Rupee)

e-Rupee is the digital version of India’s fiat currency (INR), issued and guaranteed by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). It is legal tender and functions like physical cash but exists in electronic form.

Key Features:

• Issuer:
  • Issued by RBI, ensuring trust and stability.
• Forms:
  • e-Rupee for Retail (e-R): For individuals and businesses.
  • e-Rupee for Wholesale (e-W): For interbank transactions and large-value settlements.
• Purpose:
  • Reduce cash dependency.
  • Promote financial inclusion and digital payments.
  • Lower transaction costs and improve efficiency.
• Technology:
  • Can be held in digital wallets or bank accounts.
  • Supports peer-to-peer (P2P) and merchant payments.
• Legal Status:
  • Fully backed by the Government of India and RBI, making it equivalent to physical rupees.
• Benefits:
  • Faster, secure, and traceable payments.
  • Reduces black money circulation.
  • No interest on holdings, but minimal transaction costs.

Cryptocurrency vs e-Rupee

Feature	Cryptocurrency	e-Rupee (Digital Rupee)
Issuer	Decentralized, created by private entities	Centralized, issued by RBI
Legal Status in India	Not legal tender; investment allowed	Legal tender, backed by RBI
Value Stability	Highly volatile; depends on market demand	Stable; 1 e-Rupee = 1 INR
Underlying Technology	Blockchain, decentralized ledger	Digital ledger, controlled by RBI (CBDC)
Purpose	Investment, trading, peer-to-peer transfer	Digital payments, financial inclusion, faster settlements
Regulation	Partially regulated; no government guarantee	Fully regulated; government-backed
Interest / Incentives	None inherently	FD or bank account may earn interest (depends on storage method)
Risk	High (market risk, fraud, scams)	Low (regulated, government-backed)

Agriculture

1. NABARD Takes Steps to Secure GI Tag for Jharkhand’s Traditional Products

Source: TOI

Context:

The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) has initiated efforts to secure Geographical Indication (GI) tags for nine traditional products from Jharkhand. The move aims to protect local products, prevent imitation, and enhance market opportunities both nationally and internationally.

Key Highlights:

• Products Identified for GI Tag:
  • Atthe Mutton – Deoghar
  • Sweet Tamarind – Simdega
  • Biru Gamcha – Simdega
  • Kuchai Silk Sarees – Seraikela Kharsawan
  • Kuchai Turmeric – Seraikela Kharsawan
  • Bhagaiyya Silk Sarees – Godda
  • Tribal Jewellery – Ranchi
  • Bamboo Crafts – Ranchi and Deoghar
  • Karni Shawl – Khunti
• Objective of GI Tagging:
  • Prevent imitation and ensure authenticity.
  • Enhance market credibility for traditional products.
  • Open national and global market opportunities for artisans.
• NABARD’s Promotion Strategy:
  • Authorized user enrollment for GI products.
  • Branding and marketing support.
  • Market linkages and participation in fairs.

2. 5th Farmer Producer Organisation (FPO) Conclave by Samunnati & NABARD

Context:

Samunnati, in partnership with NABARD, organized the 5th National FPO Conclave at the Hyderabad International Convention Centre, themed “Partnerships for Sustainability towards a Future-Ready FPO Ecosystem.” The conclave brought together policymakers, industry leaders, and farmer collectives to discuss strategies for strengthening India’s FPO movement.

Key Highlights:

• Launch of ACCESS SAP Report on Social Procurement:
  • Focused on responsible procurement practices.
  • Aimed to integrate smallholder farmers into mainstream markets and promote rural entrepreneurship.
• Panel Discussions:
  • Inclusive Digital Advisory Services: Showcased farmer-centric technologies improving access to knowledge, finance, and markets.
  • Policy-Finance Linkages for Sustainable Horticulture: Highlighted the alignment of policy with financial mechanisms for innovation and investment.
  • Perspectives on Agri Marketing: Discussed the evolution from local haats to global value chains.

Facts To Remember

1. Japan PM resigns after party’s loss in July polls

Japan’s Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba announced on Sunday that he will resign, following growing calls from within his party to take responsibility for a historic defeat in parliamentary election in July.

2. Anuparna Roy wins best director award at Venice festival

Filmmaker Anuparna Roy, who made her debut with Songs of Forgotten Trees, has bagged the best director award at the Venice International Film Festival.

3. Thailand tycoon takes office as new PM after royal endorsement

Thai tycoon Anutin Charnvirakul took office as Prime Minister on Sunday, after an endorsement from the King. 

4. India rules Asia, books a World Cup spot

India ended an eight year wait to be crowned the continental champion, winning 4-1 against defending champion Korea in the final of the Asia Cup here on Sunday and assuring itself of a spot at the 2026 World Cup.

5. Indian men shoot gold in the compound event

The Indian compound men’s team held its nerve to beat France and claim its maiden gold medal at the World archery championships in Gwangju, Korea.

6. PSBs Shut 1.5 Million Inoperative Jan Dhan Accounts

Public-sector banks (PSBs) closed nearly 1.5 million inoperative zero-balance accounts under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) in April 2025 as a one-time exercise.

7. Nepal PM KP Oli Resigns!

Nepal’s Prime Minister KP Oli resigned , officials confirmed, stepping down amid mounting pressure after one of the deadliest crackdowns in years left at least 19 people dead and reignited nationwide protests.