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Current Affairs 04 September 2025
1. Bhupender Gupta, a power sector veteran, appointed as Chairman & MD of NHPC
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Appointment Approval: The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved Bhupender Gupta's appointment as the new Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of NHPC Limited, a Schedule 'A' Navratna CPSE.
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Background and Experience: Gupta is a power sector veteran with over 33 years of experience. He currently serves as Director (Technical) at THDC India Limited and has also been holding the additional charge of CMD at SJVN Limited.
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Previous Role and Achievements: Before joining THDC, Gupta worked as Director (Technical) at Punatsangchhu Hydroelectric Project Authority in Bhutan and held senior leadership roles at REC Limited, including Additional Chief Executive Officer in its subsidiaries.
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Selection Process: Gupta was selected after a rigorous interview process involving nine candidates from various public sector undertakings (PSUs). The Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB) recommended his name for the top position at NHPC.
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Expected Contribution: With his extensive experience and technical acumen, Gupta is expected to bring continuity and strategic direction to NHPC's ambitious growth plans, focusing on expanding its renewable energy portfolio.
2. INS Trikand joins Multilateral Exercise In Egypt
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Exercise Details: INS Trikand, a stealth frigate of the Indian Navy, has arrived in Alexandria, Egypt, to participate in Exercise Bright Star 2025, a major multilateral drill scheduled from September 1 to 10.
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Participating Countries: The exercise involves multiple nations, including India, the United States, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Greece, Cyprus, and Italy, showcasing international cooperation and commitment to regional security.
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Tri-Service Participation: The Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force are participating in the exercise, which focuses on irregular warfare, hybrid challenges, and training together on air, land, and sea to enhance interoperability.
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Objectives: The exercise aims to promote regional security, cooperation, and understanding among participating nations, allowing them to work together seamlessly in case of common threats, whether traditional or non-traditional.
3. Rohit Rathish appointed as the next High Commissioner of India to the Republic of Seychelles
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Appointment Details: Rohit Rathish, a 2006 batch Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer, has been appointed as the next High Commissioner of India to the Republic of Seychelles, according to the Ministry of External Affairs.
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Current Role: Rathish is currently serving as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs and is expected to take up his new assignment shortly.
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Diplomatic Relations: India and Seychelles have historically enjoyed close diplomatic relations, with cooperation in areas like defense, security, and economic development. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Seychelles in 2015 marked a significant milestone in bilateral ties.
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Strategic Importance: The appointment highlights India's strategic interest in the Indian Ocean region, where Seychelles plays a crucial role. Strengthening ties with Seychelles is vital for India's maritime security and regional influence.
4. IIT-Madras Tops NIRF Rankings 2025 for 7th Consecutive Year
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Seventh Consecutive Win: IIT Madras has retained its top spot in the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) 2025 rankings for the seventh consecutive year, showcasing its consistent academic excellence.
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Top Rankings Across Categories: IIT Madras has secured the top rank not only in the overall category but also in engineering, innovation, and the newly introduced Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) category.
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Tenth Consecutive Year in Engineering: The institute has dominated the engineering category for the tenth consecutive year, solidifying its reputation as a leading institution in technical education.
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Parameters for Rankings: The NIRF rankings are based on five parameters: Teaching, Learning, and Resources; Research and Professional Practice; Graduation Outcomes; Outreach and Inclusivity; and Perception.
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Increased Participation: This year's rankings saw participation from 14,163 institutions across 17 categories, highlighting the growing competition and diversity in India's higher education landscape.
5. BOB launches 'bob Digi Udyam' digital financing scheme
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Digital Financing Platform: BOB's 'bob Digi Udyam' is a digital, collateral-free lending platform designed for Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs) to access working capital loans quickly.
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Loan Amount and Tenure: The scheme offers loan amounts ranging from ₹10 lakh to ₹50 lakh with a tenure of 12 months, providing Cash Credit and Overdraft facilities.
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Eligibility and Application: Both new and existing MSE customers of Bank of Baroda can apply for the loan online through the MSE banking portal or visit the nearest branch for assistance.
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Credit Assessment: The platform uses a digital scorecard based on various digital data points for quick risk assessment, enabling seamless credit decisions and reducing turnaround time for loan processing.
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Credit Guarantee: The scheme offers collateral-free loans backed by the Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for Micro and Small Enterprises (CGTMSE), aligning with the Government of India.
6. Mitchell Starc officially retired from international T20 cricket
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Retirement Announcement: Mitchell Starc has officially announced his retirement from T20 International cricket to focus on his Test and ODI career, prioritizing Australia's upcoming Test series against India and the 2027 ODI World Cup.
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T20 Career Highlights: Starc featured in 65 T20Is, taking 79 wickets, which places him second on Australia's all-time list for T20 wickets, showcasing his importance to the team.
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Future Focus: Starc's decision allows the Australian team to prepare for the T20 World Cup, giving younger players opportunities to shine, and enables him to extend his Test and ODI careers.
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Cricket Australia's Response: Cricket Australia CEO Todd Greenberg praised Starc's T20 career and decision, acknowledging his commitment to playing for Australia and the sacrifices he's made.
7. Tata, Merck Join Hands to Boost India’s Semiconductor Ecosystem
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Partnership Details: Tata Electronics and Merck have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen collaboration in semiconductor materials, fabrication infrastructure, and specialty chemical and gas distribution for Tata's upcoming semiconductor fab in Dholera, Gujarat.
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Investment and Production: Tata Electronics is investing ₹91,000 crore ($11 billion) in its Dholera fab, which will manufacture chips for automotive, mobile devices, AI, and other applications, supporting India's semiconductor ambitions.
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Merck's Contribution: Merck will provide high-purity electronic materials, advanced gas and chemical delivery systems, turnkey fab infrastructure services, and Material Intelligence solutions powered by AI to support Tata Electronics' fab.
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Goals and Benefits: The partnership aims to build a resilient ecosystem, accelerate the Dholera Fab's execution, and set new standards in quality, safety, and innovation, reducing India's reliance on imported chip-making resources.
8. IIFL Home Finance appoints Ajay Sachdewa as Group CBO
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Appointment Details: IIFL Home Finance has appointed Ajay Sachdewa as Group Chief Business Officer, effective recently, as part of a strategic move to strengthen its business leadership.
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Experience: Sachdewa brings over two decades of experience in financial services and housing finance, having held senior roles at Axis Bank, HDFC Limited, and HDFC Sales.
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Responsibilities: As Group CBO, Sachdewa will focus on driving business strategy, expanding distribution networks, enhancing sales productivity, and strengthening customer relationships.
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Leadership Role: His appointment highlights IIFL Home Finance's commitment to building a future-ready organization with a strong leadership team.
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Company Goals: With Sachdewa on board, IIFL Home Finance aims to scale operations, foster a people-first culture, and support its mission of financial inclusion and accessible home ownership.
9. Arvind Kumar Rawat appointed as Director of Sugarcane & Vegetable Oil
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Appointment Details: Arvind Kumar Rawat, a 2008 batch IRSS officer, has been appointed as Director in the Directorate of Sugarcane and Vegetable Oil under the Department of Food & Public Distribution.
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Tenure: The appointment is for a period of five years from the date of assumption of charge or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
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Approval: The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved Rawat's appointment based on the recommendation of the Civil Services Board.
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Background: As an IRSS officer, Rawat brings significant experience and expertise to his new role, which focuses on sugarcane and vegetable oil development.
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Role Significance: The Directorate plays a crucial role in implementing policies related to sugarcane and vegetable oil production, pricing, and distribution, impacting India's agricultural and food security landscape.
10. RRI Develops ‘PRATUSH’ to Detect Cosmic Dawn Signals
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Mission Objective: PRATUSH aims to detect faint radio signals from neutral hydrogen gas emitted during the Cosmic Dawn, a period when the first stars and galaxies formed in the universe.
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Unique Location: The mission will place a radiometer on the far side of the Moon, which is one of the most radio-quiet places in the inner Solar System, shielded from Earth's radio interference.
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Compact Design: PRATUSH features a compact single-board computer (SBC) similar to Raspberry Pi, optimized for size, weight, and power consumption, making it suitable for space deployment.
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Signal Detection: The mission will detect the 21-cm radio signal from hydrogen atoms, which carries information about the Cosmic Dawn and can provide insights into the universe's early evolution.
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