Daily Current Affairs - 29th September 2025

Preparing for UPSC 2026 or State PCS? This 29th September 2025 Current Affairs edition brings exam-focused updates with GS linkages, Prelims facts, and Mains insights.

Highlights include two new wetlands in Bihar—Gokul Reservoir and Udaipur Lake—added as Ramsar Sites, taking India’s tally to 93, and the inclusion of the Cold Desert Biosphere Reserve in UNESCO’s World Network of Biosphere Reserves.

On governance and disaster management, note the Karur political rally stampede, NDMA crowd-control guidelines, and the Delhi-NCR ozone pollution report ranking it worst in India.

In science and tech, track the launch of India’s first fully indigenous 4G (5G-ready) network, the NISAR satellite’s first radar images, and AstroSat’s 10 years in orbit. Also, note draft rules on AVAS for EVs from 2026, the SODAR system at IMD, and the PM E-DRIVE scheme for e-mobility.

In policy and international relations, follow India’s hosting of a Global South high-level meeting at UNGA, the RBI’s new WMA limit, and the Swachh Shehar Jodi urban sanitation initiative.

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Two New Wetlands in Bihar Recognised as Ramsar Sites

1. Gokul Reservoir and Udaipur Lake in Bihar have been designated as new Ramsar Sites.

   • With this addition, India now has 93 Ramsar Sites in total.

   • These 93 Ramsar Sites together cover a total area of 1,360,719 hectares.

2. Prior to this, Bihar had three Ramsar Sites: Kabar Jheel (Kabar Taal) in Begusarai, and Nagi and Nakti Bird Sanctuaries in Jamui district.

About the New Ramsar Sites in Bihar

Oxbow lake

1. Gokul Reservoir is located in Buxar district.

   • It lies on the southern edge of the Ganga River.

2. Udaipur Lake is situated in West Champaran district.

   • This lake is surrounded by the Udaipur Wildlife Sanctuary.

   • Udaipur Lake serves as an important wintering ground for many migratory bird species.

   • One key species found here is the pochard (Aythya ferina), a type of diving duck.

3. Both Gokul Reservoir and Udaipur Lake are oxbow lakes.

   • An oxbow lake is a crescent-shaped waterbody that forms alongside a winding river, created when a river meander is cut off from the main channel.

 Must Read | Ramsar Sites in India – State-wise list

About the Ramsar Convention (Convention on Wetlands)

1. The Ramsar Convention is an intergovernmental treaty focused on wetland conservation.

2. It was adopted in 1971 in the city of Ramsar, Iran, from where it gets its name.

3. It operates under the framework of UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization).

4. The primary objective of the convention is to promote the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources.

5. India ratified the Ramsar Convention in the year 1982.

6. For a wetland to qualify as a Ramsar Site, it must meet at least one of nine criteria.

7. These criteria include factors like regularly supporting 20,000 or more waterbirds, or supporting biodiversity conservation.

India’s Cold Desert Biosphere Reserve Included in UNESCO’s World Network of Biosphere Reserves (WNBR)

1. The Cold Desert Biosphere Reserve in India has been included in UNESCO’s World Network of Biosphere Reserves (WNBR).

2. This inclusion is part of the 26 new sites designated by UNESCO in the latest update.

3. With this addition, India now has a total of 13 Biosphere Reserves included in UNESCO’s WNBR.

4. These are part of a global network of 785 sites spread across the world.

5. Notably, São Tomé and Príncipe, a Central African island nation, has become the first country to have its entire territory designated as a biosphere reserve.

About Cold Desert Biosphere Reserve

1. The Cold Desert Biosphere Reserve is India’s first high-altitude cold desert biosphere reserve.

2. It is also one of the coldest and driest ecosystems in UNESCO’s WNBR.

3. It is located in the Himalayan region and spans from Ladakh in the north to Kinnaur in Himachal Pradesh in the south.

4. The Ladakh region includes Leh and Kargil districts.

5. The Himachal Pradesh part includes the Spiti Valley and Kinnaur district.

Protected Areas within the Reserve

1. The biosphere reserve includes the Pin Valley National Park and its surrounding areas.

2. It also covers Chandratal Lake, Sarchu, and the Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary.

Climate and Biome

1. This biosphere reserve falls under the Cold Desert biome, which is a type of ecological zone characterized by extreme cold and dryness.

2. The region experiences harsh climatic conditions due to two major factors.

   • First, it lies on the leeward side of the Himalayas, making it a rain-shadow zone with very low precipitation.

   • Second, it has a very high elevation, contributing to cold desert conditions.

Cultural Significance

1. The region is dominated by a distinct Buddhist culture.

2. Prominent cultural features include Gompas (Buddhist monasteries), Chorten (a type of Buddhist stupa), and Mani Walls (rows of inscribed stones with prayers).

3. The Buddhist Chanting of Ladakh is also notable and is inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Wildlife and Biodiversity

1. The reserve is home to important and rare fauna such as the Snow Leopard.

2. Other key species include the Himalayan Ibex, Blue Sheep, Himalayan Wolf, and Golden Eagle.

About the World Network of Biosphere Reserves (WNBR)

1. The WNBR was launched in 1976 by UNESCO.

2. It is managed under the Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme of UNESCO.

3. The MAB Programme was launched earlier, in 1971, as an intergovernmental scientific programme.

4. The objective of MAB is to establish a scientific basis for improving the relationship between people and their environments.

5. WNBR aims to promote synergies between human societies and natural ecosystems.

6. It also seeks to facilitate sustainable development by integrating conservation and human activity.

Stampede at Political Rally in Karur, Tamil Nadu

1. A stampede occurred during a political rally in Karur, Tamil Nadu, leading to crowd casualties.

   • A stampede refers to the impulsive and uncontrolled movement of a large crowd, often triggered by panic or excitement.

2. Such events frequently result in serious injuries or loss of lives due to trampling or suffocation.

Stampede Incidents in India

1. Over the last three decades, India has recorded nearly 4,000 stampede events.

2. Between 2000 and 2022, 3,074 people lost their lives in various stampede incidents across the country.

3. Studies reveal that a majority of stampedes in India have occurred during religious gatherings.

Causes and Triggers for Crowd Disasters

1. Human behaviour plays a major role in triggering stampedes.

2. Mintz's Theory explains that in a panic situation, cooperation among people functions only until it breaks down.

   • Once this cooperation collapses, it leads to chaos and worsens the panic, increasing the likelihood of a stampede.

3. Smelser's Theory introduces the concept of "craze", where a rush of people towards a gratifying goal can cause them to act irrationally, even against their own safety.

4. Structural issues such as blocked exits, inadequate evacuation routes, or poor lighting significantly contribute to stampede risks.

Flaws in Crowd Management

1. Management failures are often a major contributing factor in crowd disasters.

2. Miscommunication can cause panic, as seen in Tirupati (2025), where a false belief that ticket counters had opened led to a sudden crowd surge.

3. Other issues include lack of crowd segmentation, where separate paths are not created for different groups within the gathering.

NDMA Guidelines on Crowd Management

1. The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) provides a structured approach to prevent crowd disasters.

2. Capacity Planning is crucial and involves monitoring the flow of visitors, ensuring availability of basic facilities such as drinking water and rest areas, and using multiple entry and exit routes.

3. Risk and Vulnerability Analysis helps identify potential threats and hazards in mass gatherings, enabling advance planning and better emergency response.

4. Authorities must develop a detailed course of action, which includes outlining response options, identifying required resources, and matching them with what is available on-site.

India Marks Milestone with Launch of First Fully Indigenous 4G (5G-Ready) Network

1. India has launched its first fully indigenous 4G network, which is also 5G-ready.

2. The deployment has been carried out by Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL).

3. The technology has been developed collaboratively by C-DOT (Centre for Development of Telematics), Tejas Networks, and Tata Consultancy Services (TCS).

4. This development provides India the capability to rapidly adopt 5G and lays the foundation for future 6G technologies.

Significance of Indigenous 4G Stack

1. The indigenous 4G stack enhances Strategic Autonomy by allowing India to control its telecom infrastructure.

2. This reduces dependency on foreign technologies and vendors, thereby strengthening national security.

3. The network is cloud-native, which means it is designed for cloud environments, enabling scalability, faster upgrades, and seamless transition to 5G.

4. It is expected to improve digital accessibility in tribal areas, remote villages, and hilly regions.

5. This ensures quality digital services reach underserved and geographically challenging regions.

6. The project is also driving localised manufacturing and deployment.

7. This is contributing to employment generation, building a robust supplier ecosystem, and nurturing a skilled domestic workforce.

8. With this achievement, India joins the league of only five countries globally with the capability to deploy fully indigenous 4G technology.

India’s Progress in 5G and 6G Technologies

1. India launched its 5G network in 2022, marking a major advancement in telecommunications.

   • As of now, 5G services have been rolled out across all states and Union Territories.

   • The 5G network is available in most districts throughout the country.

2. 6G technology is currently in the research and development phase.

   • The 6G rollout is expected by the year 2030.

   • To support 6G development, the government has released the Bharat 6G Vision Document.

3. Additionally, 100 dedicated 5G labs have been established in academic institutions to foster innovation.

4. The government is also facilitating the Bharat 6G Alliance, a platform to bring together academia, industry, and policymakers.

Delhi-NCR Reports Highest Ozone Pollution in India

1. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has reported that the Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR) has the highest levels of ozone (O₃) pollution in the country.

2. The Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) follows NCR as the second-most impacted area.

About Ozone (O₃)

1. Ozone (O₃) is a molecule made up of three oxygen atoms.

2. It occurs in two layers of the Earth’s atmosphere: the stratosphere and the troposphere.

   • In the stratosphere (upper atmosphere), ozone forms the ozone layer, which protects life on Earth by blocking harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the Sun.

   • In the troposphere (ground-level up to about 10 km), ozone behaves as a harmful air pollutant.

Ozone Pollution Standards

1. The safe eight-hourly average limit for ozone concentration is 100 micrograms per cubic metre (µg/m³).

2. The one-hour exposure limit is 180 µg/m³, beyond which it becomes dangerous to human health.

Ground-Level Ozone (GLO)

1. Ground-Level Ozone (GLO) is a secondary air pollutant, meaning it is not emitted directly, but formed through chemical reactions.

2. It is short-lived and stays in the atmosphere for only a few hours to weeks.

3. GLO is formed when oxides of nitrogen (NOx) react with volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the presence of sunlight.

Sources of Ground-Level Ozone Formation

1. Anthropogenic (human-made) sources of NOx and VOCs include transportation, power plants, residential emissions, and agricultural activities.

2. Natural sources include soil-based emissions of NOx, wildfire-induced carbon monoxide (CO), and biospheric emissions of methane (CH₄).

Impact of Ground-Level Ozone

On Human Health:

1. Ground-level ozone can worsen respiratory conditions such as bronchitis.

2. It can also trigger or exacerbate asthma attacks, especially in vulnerable populations like children and the elderly.

On Climate:

1. GLO absorbs radiation, making it a strong greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming.

2. It is also a major component of smog, especially in urban areas.

On Agriculture and Ecosystems:

1. Ozone pollution interferes with photosynthesis in plants.

2. It reduces crop yield and stunts the growth of several sensitive plant species. 

India Hosts High-Level Meeting of Global South at UNGA Week

1. During the UN General Assembly (UNGA) week, India hosted a high-level meeting of like-minded Global South countries.

2. At the meeting, India advocated for increased consultations among Global South nations.

3. India also called for a joint push for reforms in global governance institutions.

Understanding the Global South

1. The Global South refers to developing countries primarily located in Latin America, Africa, Asia, and Oceania.

2. These countries share common historical experiences of colonization, economic marginalization, and developmental challenges.

Role of Global South in the Emerging World Order

1. Global South countries are pushing for multilateral reforms to ensure a fairer and more equitable global order.

2. These reforms include restructuring institutions like the UN Security Council, World Bank, and World Trade Organization (WTO).

3. The Global South collectively contributes to a major share of global GDP growth.

4. They possess large consumer markets and young, dynamic workforces, which enhance their economic influence.

5. The region is actively contributing to strengthening multipolarity in global politics.

6. This is done by supporting or creating alternative institutions like the New Development Bank, African Union, and BRICS.

7. The Global South promotes sustainable development through South–South cooperation.

8. This cooperation includes partnerships in areas like poverty alleviation, food security, and environmental conservation.

India’s Engagement with the Global South

1. India is expanding economic cooperation with Global South countries.

2. This includes increased trade, especially with African and Latin American nations, and investments in sectors such as telecommunications and pharmaceuticals.

3. India provides development assistance in the form of infrastructure projects, lines of credit, and technical capacity building.

4. India also engages through multilateral platforms to amplify the voice of the Global South.

5. Key initiatives include the International Solar Alliance (ISA) and the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI).

6. India also leads partnerships such as the India-Africa Forum Summit to deepen South-South ties.

7. India plays the role of a diplomatic bridge between the Global South and the developed West.

8. This strategic approach is rooted in India’s policy of strategic autonomy, enabling engagement on climate change, global trade, and security issues.

Ways and Means Advances (WMA) Limit Set by RBI for H2 of 2025–26

1. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has recently set the Ways and Means Advances (WMA) limit for the Central Government for the second half of the 2025–26 financial year.

2. The WMA limit is decided by the RBI in consultation with the Central Government.

About Ways and Means Advances (WMA)

1. WMA is a temporary advance facility provided by the RBI to the Central Government to cover short-term mismatches between receipts and payments.

2. It is important to note that WMA is not a tool for financing the fiscal deficit, unlike ad hoc Treasury Bills which are directly linked to deficit financing.

3. The WMA facility is also extended to state governments and Union Territories.

Legal and Financial Framework

1. The RBI Act, 1934 legally authorizes the central bank to provide WMA to the government.

2. The interest rate on WMA is linked to the RBI’s repo rate, which is the rate at which the RBI lends to commercial banks.

3. If the government’s borrowings exceed the WMA limit, the excess amount is treated as an overdraft, on which interest is charged at 2% above the repo rate.

Repayment Terms

1. The WMA advances must be fully repaid within three months from the date they are availed.

PM E-DRIVE Scheme: Boosting Electric Mobility in India

1. The Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHI) has issued operational guidelines for the deployment of Electric Vehicle (EV) public charging stations.

2. These guidelines are part of the PM E-DRIVE Scheme – short for Electric Drive Revolution in Innovative Vehicle Enhancement.

About PM E-DRIVE Scheme

1. The PM E-DRIVE Scheme is implemented by the Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHI).

2. The primary objective of the scheme is to accelerate the adoption of Electric Vehicles (EVs) across India.

3. It also aims to establish the essential EV charging infrastructure to support this transition.

4. The broader goal is to promote cleaner and more sustainable transportation systems in the country.

Major Components of PM E-DRIVE Scheme

1. One key component includes subsidies and demand incentives for various categories of electric vehicles.

2. These categories include electric two-wheelers (e-2Ws), electric three-wheelers (e-3Ws), electric ambulances, electric trucks, electric buses (e-buses), and other emerging EV technologies.

3. Another major component is the provision of grants for the creation of capital assets.

4. This includes funding for the acquisition of electric buses, aimed at boosting public transportation electrification.

5. It also covers the establishment of a wide network of EV charging stations to support nationwide EV adoption.

6. Additionally, grants will be provided for upgrading testing facilities under the Ministry of Heavy Industries to ensure quality and safety standards for EVs.

Detention of Sonam Wangchuk Under National Security Act (NSA), 1980

1. Sonam Wangchuk, a renowned education reformer and environmentalist, has been detained under the National Security Act (NSA), 1980.

2. He was leading a movement demanding statehood for Ladakh and constitutional protections under the Sixth Schedule.

   • The Sixth Schedule of the Constitution provides autonomous administrative protections to tribal-dominated regions, particularly in the Northeast.

About the National Security Act (NSA), 1980

1. The National Security Act (NSA) was enacted in 1980 to provide the government with preventive detention powers.

2. It empowers both the Central and State Governments to detain individuals to prevent actions that may threaten national interests.

   • Detention can be ordered if a person is acting in a way “prejudicial to the defence of India, the security of India, foreign relations, public order, or essential supplies and services”.

   • The term preventive detention means detention without trial to prevent a person from committing a possible future offense.

Authorities Under the NSA

1. Under NSA, District Magistrates (DMs) and Police Commissioners are authorized to issue detention orders.

2. These authorities can act independently but usually under authorization or guidance from the state or central government.

Procedural Safeguards in NSA

1. The law mandates that the grounds for detention must be communicated to the detainee within 5 days of detention.

2. In exceptional circumstances, this period can be extended to 15 days.

NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) Satellite

1. The NISAR satellite has recently sent its first radar images of the Earth’s surface.

2. NISAR is the world’s first Earth observation satellite to carry dual-frequency synthetic aperture radars (SAR), using both L-band and S-band on a single platform.

   • Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) is a form of radar used to create detailed images of landscapes regardless of weather or lighting conditions.

3. NISAR is placed in a Sun-synchronous orbit, which means it passes over the same part of the Earth at the same local solar time.

4. The satellite will provide high-resolution, all-weather, day-and-night imagery of Earth’s land and ice surfaces.

5. NISAR will revisit each location on Earth every 12 days, enabling frequent monitoring.

6. Its applications include disaster management, climate monitoring, and environmental studies.

7. NISAR was launched aboard ISRO’s GSLV-F16 rocket.

8. This launch marked the first time a GSLV vehicle successfully placed a satellite into a Sun-synchronous Polar Orbit.

AstroSat Completes a Decade of Space-Based Astronomy

1. AstroSat, India’s first dedicated Space Astronomy Observatory, has completed 10 years of successful operations.

2. The mission marks a significant milestone in India's efforts to study the universe through space-based observatories.

About AstroSat

1. AstroSat is the first Indian astronomy satellite mission designed to study celestial objects in multiple wavelengths simultaneously.

2. It observes cosmic sources in the X-ray, optical, and ultraviolet (UV) spectral bands.

3. This capability enables simultaneous multi-wavelength observations of astronomical phenomena using a single satellite platform.

Launch Details

1. AstroSat was launched by ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) using the PSLV-C30 rocket.

2. The launch took place from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota.

3. It was placed into a 650 km low Earth orbit for its scientific operations.

Scientific Objectives of AstroSat

1. One key objective is to study high-energy activities in binary star systems that contain neutron stars or black holes.

2. It aims to investigate star-forming regions and understand energetic processes in evolving star systems.

3. AstroSat is also designed to detect new, short-lived, bright X-ray sources in the sky.

India to Mandate AVAS in Electric Vehicles from October 2026

1. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has issued a draft notification mandating the use of Acoustic Vehicle Alerting System (AVAS) in all new private and commercial electric vehicles (EVs).

2. This rule is proposed to come into effect from October 1, 2026.

Purpose of the Mandate

1. The move is aimed at enhancing pedestrian safety in response to a rising number of accidents caused by near-silent EVs.

2. Unlike internal combustion engine vehicles, electric vehicles produce little to no noise, especially at low speeds.

3. The absence of sound makes it difficult for pedestrians, especially the visually impaired, to detect the presence of EVs.

About Acoustic Vehicle Alerting System (AVAS)

1. AVAS is a safety feature in electric and hybrid vehicles designed to emit artificial sound using external speakers.

2. The system generates varying sounds based on vehicle speed to alert pedestrians of an approaching vehicle.

3. The sounds are engineered to be clearly audible but not overly disruptive, maintaining urban noise balance.

Global Context and Precedents

1. Countries like the United States, Japan, and several European Union (EU) nations have already mandated AVAS in electric and hybrid vehicles.

2. These regulations are part of global road safety measures to adapt to the increasing adoption of silent electric mobility.

SODAR System Inaugurated at India Meteorological Department, Delhi

1. The SODAR (Sound Detection and Ranging) system facility has been inaugurated at the India Meteorological Department (IMD) in Delhi.

2. This facility was designed and developed by CSIR–Advanced Materials and Processes Research Institute (AMPRI), Bhopal.

About SODAR

1. SODAR is a remote sensing technology that works by sending sound pulses into the atmosphere.

2. It then monitors the intensity and frequency of the sound waves that are reflected back.

3. The system is specifically used to determine the wind profile and temperature structure in the lower atmosphere.

Functions and Applications

1. SODAR provides critical data on the height of temperature inversion layers in the atmosphere.

2. It also measures the height of fog layers, which is important for weather forecasting and aviation safety.

3. Additionally, it assesses the strength of atmospheric turbulence, aiding in meteorological studies and environmental monitoring.

Swachh Shehar Jodi Initiative Launched by MoHUA

1. The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) has launched the Swachh Shehar Jodi (SSJ) initiative.

2. This initiative will be implemented under the larger framework of the Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban (SBM-U), which focuses on urban sanitation and cleanliness.

About Swachh Shehar Jodi (SSJ)

1. The SSJ is a structured mentorship and collaborative action program designed to improve urban sanitation and waste management.

2. It involves 72 mentor cities paired with around 200 mentee cities.

   • The mentee cities receive direct exposure to the best practices and systems of high-performing mentor cities.

Aim and Objectives

1. The main aim of SSJ is to foster knowledge sharing, peer learning, and collaboration among urban local bodies.

2. It seeks to replicate and scale best practices in sanitation and waste management across urban India.

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