Current Affairs 22nd September 2025

Current Affairs 22nd September 2025

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1. Anandkumar bags gold in World Speed Skating Championships
  • Historic Win: Anandkumar Velkumar won India's first-ever gold medal at the 2025 Speed Skating World Championships, making him the first Indian athlete to be crowned World Champion in speed skating.
  • Event and Timing: He clinched the senior men's 1000m sprint title with a time of 1:24.924 seconds.
  • Double Medalist: Anandkumar Velkumar also won a bronze medal in the men's 500m sprint event at the same competition, finishing with a time of 43.072 seconds.
  • Previous Achievements: Before this win, he had bagged a bronze medal at the World Games in Chengdu and a bronze medal at the Asian Games 2023 in Hangzhou.
  • New Milestone: His gold medal marks a new milestone in Indian speed skating, expected to propel the sport to greater heights in the coming years .
2. India Sets Up First Defence Manufacturing Plant in Morocco
  • First Indian Defence Plant in Africa: The plant, set up by Tata Advanced Systems Maroc in Berrechid, Morocco, marks India's first defence manufacturing facility on African soil, reflecting the country's expanding defence industry footprint globally.
  • Manufacturing Focus: The facility will produce Wheeled Armoured Platforms (WhAP) 8x8, developed in collaboration with the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), designed for modern battlefield conditions with high mobility, amphibious capabilities, and modular configuration.
  • Strategic Partnership: The plant strengthens India-Morocco bilateral ties, opening avenues for joint training, technology sharing, and industrial cooperation, with potential for future cooperation in maritime security and advanced research.
  • Aatmanirbhar Bharat Initiative: The project supports Prime Minister Narendra Modi's initiative to promote self-reliance in defence manufacturing, marking a significant step in India's defence manufacturing expansion abroad and positioning India as a global defence supplier.
3. Bihar CM Nitish Kumar inaugurated the Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Science City
  • Science City Features: The Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Science City spans 20.5 acres near Moin-ul-Haq Stadium, featuring five galleries: BA Scientists Gallery, Basic Science Gallery, Sustainable Planet Gallery, Space and Astronomy Gallery, and Body and Mind Gallery.
  • Interactive Exhibits: The galleries house 269 exhibits across 26 themes, including interactive displays on harmonic strings, ripple tanks, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and binary systems, making science exciting and hands-on for visitors.
  • Amenities: The complex includes a 500-seat auditorium for 3D science films, a 4D theatre, multipurpose hall, pre-functional hall, cafeteria, parking facilities, and a dormitory for 150 students and three teachers.
  • Educational Hub: The Science City aims to inspire students and engage the public with science and technology, serving as a unique center for innovation and learning in Bihar.
4. Avinash Agarwal selected as CPO at SBI Cards & Payments Ltd.
  • Appointment Details: Unfortunately, the exact details of Avinash Agarwal's appointment as CPO at SBI Cards & Payments Ltd. aren't readily available.
  • Company Overview: SBI Cards and Payment Services Limited is a non-deposit accepting, systemically important non-banking financial company registered with the RBI, engaged in issuing credit cards to consumers in India.
  • Avinash Agarwal's Background: There's an Avinash Agarwal associated with AKGVG & Associates, Chartered Accountants, but it's unclear if this is the same person. However, a Prof. Avinash Kumar Agarwal is known for being the SBI Endowed Chair Professor at IIT Kanpur.
  • Role of CPO: As CPO, Avinash Agarwal would likely oversee product development and strategy for SBI Cards, driving innovation and competitiveness in the credit card market.
  • SBI Cards' Presence: SBI Cards offers various financial products and services, with investors able to access financial disclosures, annual reports, and other corporate information through their website.
Foot notes:
About SBI-
  • Chairman: C. Sreenivasulu Setty
  • Headquarters: Mumbai
  • Founded: 1955
5. India, Greece Hold First Bilateral Naval Exercise
  • Exercise Location and Dates: The maiden bilateral maritime exercise between the Indian Navy and the Hellenic Navy was held in the Mediterranean Sea, concluding on September 18, 2025. The exercise consisted of two phases: a harbour phase from September 13-17 at Salamis Naval Base, and a sea phase on September 17-18.
  • Participating Ships: The Indian Navy was represented by the guided missile stealth frigate INS Trikand, while the Hellenic Navy participated with the Elli class frigate HS Themistokles.
  • Exercise Activities: The exercise included complex maritime manoeuvres, tactical exercises, night Visit, Board, Search, and Seizure (VBSS) operations, replenishment-at-sea procedures, joint Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW), coordinated gun firing, and cross-deck helicopter operations.
  • Objectives: The exercise aimed to enhance interoperability, foster mutual understanding, and strengthen operational familiarity between the two navies. It also underscored the growing convergence of India and Greece on maritime security and cooperative engagement.
6. Smriti Mandhana Breaks Virat Kohli’s Record as Fastest Indian Century in ODIs
  • Record-Breaking Century: Smriti Mandhana scored a century in just 50 deliveries against Australia in the 3rd ODI, breaking Virat Kohli's record of 52 balls set in 2013.
  • Fastest Indian Century: Mandhana's 50-ball century is the fastest by an Indian batter in ODIs, surpassing Kohli's record and becoming a benchmark for Indian cricket.
  • Second Fastest Women's ODI Century: Mandhana's century is the second fastest in Women's ODIs, with only Meg Lanning's 45-ball century against New Zealand in 2012/13 being faster.
  • Consistent Dominance: Mandhana has been in phenomenal form, amassing 1,675 runs at an average of 62.03 and striking at 105.6 SR in ODIs since 2024, showcasing her exceptional skill and consistency.
7. B Sairam selected for Coal India Next CMD
  • Background: B Sairam is currently the Chairman and Managing Director of Northern Coalfields Limited (NCL) and has over 33 years of experience in the energy sector, with expertise in mine operations, planning, logistics, and corporate strategy.
  • Selection Process: He was recommended by the Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB) after a detailed interview process, where 11 candidates competed for the top post.
  • Leadership Experience: Sairam has demonstrated exemplary leadership in his previous roles, driving operational efficiency, fostering innovation, and ensuring a balance between business growth and environmental stewardship.
  • Academic Credentials: He is a distinguished graduate in Mining Engineering from NIT Raipur and holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Management (PGDM) in Energy Management from NTPC School of Business, Delhi.
8. IRTH Bags onboards Twinkle Khanna as brand ambassador
  • Brand Ambassador: Twinkle Khanna, known for her wit and humor as "Mrs. Funnybones," has been appointed as the first-ever brand ambassador of IRTH Bags, a women's accessories brand under Titan Company.
  • Campaign Launch: The brand has launched a new campaign featuring Khanna, which includes a series of short films highlighting common issues women face with handbags, such as unreliable zippers and impractical designs.
  • IRTH's Design Philosophy: The campaign promotes IRTH's design philosophy, "Perfect design isn’t just seen, it’s felt," showcasing the brand's focus on functional and stylish designs.
  • Initials Collection: Khanna introduces IRTH's new monogram collection, "Initials," which includes a range of handbag styles with thoughtful designs that emphasize functionality alongside aesthetic appeal.
9. Tesla Group Joins Forces with UK’s SRAM & MRAM
  • Partnership Details: Tesla Group has partnered with SRAM & MRAM Group in a $1 billion agreement to establish large-scale electric vehicle (EV) battery production plants in India and other countries.
  • Global Expansion: This partnership marks a significant expansion of Tesla's battery manufacturing footprint into emerging global markets, promoting clean energy and sustainable development.
  • Giga Factory Plans: The collaboration plans to establish over 20 giga factories worldwide, with five of them located in India, to revolutionize the green energy storage landscape.
  • Sustainability Focus: The partnership underscores the companies' dedication to combating climate change, fostering innovation, and building a sustainable future for communities worldwide.
Foot notes:
About Tesla-
  • CEO: Elon Musk
  • Headquarters: U.S.
  • Founded: 2003
10. Mohanlal Honoured with 2023 Dadasaheb Phalke Award
  • Award Recognition: Mohanlal has been selected for the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award 2023 for his outstanding contribution to Indian cinema, recognizing his iconic status as a Malayalam superstar with a career spanning over 40 years.
  • Award Ceremony: He will be formally conferred with the award on September 23, 2025, at the 71st National Film Awards ceremony in New Delhi, a momentous occasion celebrating his exceptional artistic achievements.
  • Contribution to Cinema: Mohanlal has acted in over 400 films across multiple languages, including Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Hindi, and Kannada, showcasing his versatility and unmatched talent, and earning him numerous accolades.
  • Previous Honors: He has won five National Film Awards, including two for Best Actor, and has been honored with the Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan, India's fourth and third-highest civilian awards, respectively.
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