1.Supreme Court Commences Hearings on Waqf (Amendment) Act 2025
SUBJECT: POLITY
The Supreme Court began hearings on challenges to the Waqf (Amendment) Act 2025, focusing on its provisions for central oversight of Waqf properties and potential violations of Article 26’s religious autonomy.
• Petitioners argue the Act’s board restructuring could undermine minority administration, drawing parallels to federalism debates under the Seventh Schedule.
• The bench, led by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, emphasized balancing reforms with constitutional safeguards for endowments and equality under Article 14.
• Legal scholars note risks of discriminatory impacts, urging alignment with secularism as a basic structure per the 1994 S.R. Bommai case.
• Amicus curiae submissions highlight social harmony implications, with hearings expected to influence future minority welfare legislation.
• The case involves multiple states, underscoring Centre-state tensions in religious affairs governance.
• Outcomes may set precedents for similar acts, like the Places of Worship Act, in upcoming sessions.
2. Himalayan Floods 2025 Highlight Disaster Preparedness Shortcomings
SUBJECT: NATIONAL
• Flash floods in Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, and Uttarakhand have resulted in over 200 fatalities and extensive infrastructure damage, valued at billions, amid heavy monsoon rains.
• The NDMA invoked the Disaster Management Act 2005 for coordinated response, but delays in satellite-based early warnings exposed systemic gaps.
• Army, NDRF, and IAF led rescues, with emphasis on rehabilitating high-risk mountain communities through climate-adaptive measures.
• Experts attribute the disaster to glacial lake outbursts and deforestation, advocating stricter Forest Conservation Act enforcement.
• Central relief packages announced, though affected states seek enhanced funding for sustainable reconstruction.
• Inter-state coordination issues surfaced, prompting calls for a unified national flood mitigation framework.
• Post-event analysis will shape the updated National Disaster Management Plan 2025-2030 for resilient ecosystems.
3. Trilateral Freedom Edge Exercise Kicks Off in Indo-Pacific Waters
SUBJECT: INTERNATIONAL
• The US, South Korea, and Japan launched the five-day ‘Freedom Edge’ naval exercise on September 15, 2025, near Jeju Island, emphasizing maritime interoperability and security in the Indo-Pacific region.
• India observed the drills closely, aligning with its QUAD commitments and SAGAR doctrine for open sea lanes.
• Focus areas include anti-submarine warfare and humanitarian assistance, countering regional tensions like North Korean provocations.
• The exercise builds on previous iterations, fostering trilateral ties amid China’s assertiveness in the South China Sea.
• Nepal’s ongoing Gen-Z protests against corruption prompted President Paudel’s dialogue call, with India monitoring SAARC and border migration effects.
• Sarnath’s nomination for UNESCO World Heritage in 2025-26 cycle underscores Ashokan Buddhist heritage, enhancing cultural diplomacy with Southeast Asia.
• US-India frictions over 50% tariffs on Russian oil imports intensified, with India citing WTO violations and energy security concerns.
4. India Ranks 38th in Global Innovation Index 2025
SUBJECT: ECONOMY
• India ascended to 38th in the GII 2025, leading lower-middle-income economies, propelled by AI patents, UPI ecosystem, and digital infrastructure advancements.
• Unemployment eased to 5.1% in August per PLFS, fueled by 8.2% GDP growth in manufacturing and services sectors.
• RBI’s UPI limit hike to ₹5 lakh for P2M transactions from September 15 supports high-value digital payments while capping P2P at ₹1 lakh.
• MNRE’s National Policy on Geothermal Energy 2025 targets 10 GW potential, integrating with net-zero ambitions by 2070 via public-private partnerships.
• Outward FDI to tax havens reached $20 billion in 2024-25, raising calls for BEPS 2.0 compliance to ensure transparent investments.
• FPI inflows grew 15% despite global volatility, aiding job creation in exports, though youth unemployment lingers at 12%.
• NITI Aayog’s AI for Viksit Bharat Roadmap and Frontier Tech Repository launched to drive innovation-led growth.
5. HAL Inks ₹62,700 Crore Deal for 156 Light Combat Helicopters
SUBJECT: DEFENCE
• HAL finalized a contract for 156 indigenous LCH Prachand helicopters, enhancing Army and Air Force capabilities in high-altitude terrains like LAC by 2033.
• The deal promotes Atmanirbhar Bharat, generating 5,000 jobs and technology transfers for stealth avionics.
• INS Nistar participated in Exercise Pacific Reach 2025 in Singapore, refining multinational search-and-rescue for Indo-Pacific operations.
• Indo-Russian Zapad 2025 at Mulino Training Ground simulated counter-terrorism and conventional warfare, strengthening 2000 defence pact.
• Army’s Spear Corps summited Mount Gorichen (6,488m) in Arunachal, boosting acclimatization for border defence.
• CCS approved Bofors howitzer upgrades with Cummins engines, improving artillery along northern frontiers.
• Defence Procurement Manual 2025 incorporates indigenisation, integrating MSMEs for self-reliant manufacturing.
