1 12th World Para Athletics Championships begins at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi
The 12th World Para Athletics Championships has begun at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New
Delhi . The nine-day competition will feature a total of 186 medal events: 101 for men, 84 for women, and one mixed event, ranging from sprints to endurance races. The championships will conclude on the 5th of next month. Paris Paralympic club throw gold medalist Dharambir Nain and two-time bronze medalist sprinter Preeti Pal will be India’s flag bearers at the event. Gold medalist javelin thrower Sumit Antil will be a strong contender to complete a hat-trick of gold medals.
2 PM Modi inaugurates India’s fully indigenous 4G stack and 1 lakh BSNL indigenous 4G towers
Prime Minister
Narendra Modi inaugurated over 97,500 new 4G mobile towers across India as part of a major effort to expand digital infrastructure. Of these,
92,600 towers are equipped with fully indigenous technology. These towers, installed by
BSNL at a cost of approximately
₹37,000 crore, are expected to provide high-speed internet access to another 30,000 villages. Announcing the launch of this service during a day-long visit to Jharsuguda, Odisha, Prime Minister Modi noted that India was lagging behind in 2G, 3G, and 4G technologies. He stated that BSNL’s indigenously developed 4G network now places India among the few countries capable of building its own telecommunications network. The Prime Minister also flagged off
the Amrit Bharat Express between
Berhampur, Odisha, and Udhna, Surat, Gujarat, and announced the upgradation of two medical colleges: MKCG Medical College in Berhampur and VIMSAR in Burla-Sambalpur.
3 PM inaugurates the 4th edition of World Food India 2025
Prime Minister
Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated the fourth edition of
World Food India 2025 at Bharat Mandapam in
New Delhi on September 25, 2025. This major global event, organized by
the Ministry of Food Processing Industries , once again established India as the ”
food basket of the world ” and strengthened India’s leadership in food processing. The Prime Minister visited the World Food India exhibition pavilion and expressed satisfaction at the further improvement in nutrition, oil consumption reduction, and health aspects of packaging.
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Shri Dmitry Patrushev , Union Ministers
Shri Chirag Paswan and
Shri Prataprao Jadhav were also present on the occasion. On the first day of the event, the Ministry of Food Processing Industries signed MoUs worth over ₹76,000 crore with leading domestic and global companies in the food processing sector. These investments spanned key sub-sectors, including beverages, dairy, and confectionery, and covered a wide geography, from Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Uttar Pradesh to Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Punjab, West Bengal, and the Northeast region.
4 Gokul Reservoir and Udaipur Lake of Bihar got the status of Ramsar site
Bihar has achieved another landmark achievement in the field of
biodiversity and wetland conservation . The Gokul Reservoir (448 hectares) in the state’s
Buxar district and
the Udaipur Lake (319 hectares) in West Champaran district have been designated as
wetlands of international importance , or
Ramsar sites . This
increases the number of such sites in Bihar to five, and
the total number of Ramsar sites in India to 93. The Gokul Reservoir, located in the Buxar district, is an important wetland affected by the floods of the Ganges River. This reservoir is not only ecologically important but also a source of livelihood for local communities. Over 50 bird species are found here, reflecting its biodiversity. During floods, the reservoir acts as a natural buffer, protecting surrounding villages from disasters. Udaipur Lake, a natural oxbow lake located in West Champaran district, is known for its unique ecology. The lake is home to over 280 plant species, highlighting its rich biodiversity. Udaipur Lake is a wintering ground for 35 migratory birds, including species like the vulnerable Common Pochard. The lake is surrounded by the dense forests of the Udaipur Wildlife Sanctuary, adding to its conservation and natural beauty.
5 Cold Desert Biosphere Reserve in Himachal Pradesh included in UNESCO’s World Biosphere Reserve Network
The Cold Desert Biosphere Reserve in Himachal
Pradesh has been included in
UNESCO ‘s
World Biosphere Reserve Network . The announcement was made at the World Biosphere Reserve Congress held in
Hangzhou, China , highlighting the region’s importance as a model of sustainable development. The biosphere reserve spans approximately 7,770 square kilometers in India’s western Himalayas. This high-altitude reserve is known for its rugged terrain,
alpine meadows , and rare wildlife such as
the snow leopard and Himalayan ibex . It was first declared
a National Biosphere Reserve in 2009 and is now
India’s 13th site in
the Cold Desert Global Network . It includes protected areas such as
Pin Valley National Park and
Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary , and is home to approximately 12,000 species.
6 India’s first dugong conservation reserve in Palk Bay, Tamil Nadu gets IUCN recognition
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has formally accepted a proposal to recognize
India’s first dugong conservation reserve in
Palk Bay , a major international endorsement of the country’s marine conservation efforts. The proposal , proposed by
the Omkar Foundation and adopted at the IUCN World Conservation Congress 2025 in
Abu Dhabi, received support from members worldwide. 98% of governments voted in favor, while 94.8% of NGOs, research institutions, and organizations supported the proposal. Chief Minister
M.K. Stalin hailed the sanctuary’s global recognition on September 25, 2025, and commended the efforts of the Tamil Nadu Forest Department and conservation partners. Established by the Tamil Nadu government on September 21, 2022, under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, the dugong conservation reserve covers 448.34 square kilometers in northern Palk Bay. The area contains over 12,250 hectares of seagrass meadows, which are important feeding grounds for the dugong (Dugong dugon), a species listed as vulnerable to extinction on the IUCN Red List. The seagrass also supports many other marine species, making the reserve ecologically important.
7 India designates IIT-Madras as UN AI Centre of Excellence
India has taken a significant step towards
global leadership in
Artificial Intelligence (AI) by designating the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras (IIT-Madras) as a
United Nations Centre of Excellence (COE) for
AI . The nomination, announced by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) at a high-level UN event in New York, signals India’s growing commitment to AI capacity building, skills development, and inclusive digital development, particularly in the Global South. Recognized as an institution of repute, IIT-Madras has been a leader in AI research, skills development, and innovation in India. Its designation as a UN Centre of Excellence is part of an initiative by the United Nations Office for Digital and Emerging Technologies (ODET) to create a network of global AI centres. ODET is an organization established to help the United Nations more effectively address the opportunities and challenges posed by the rapidly evolving technological landscape, including in the areas of AI governance. Countries will nominate an institution under ODET to create a network of centres of excellence.
8 Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation released Environment Accounts 2025 report on Forests
The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) compiled and released the eighth consecutive issue of its
publication on environmental accounting titled ” Environmental Accounting on Forests – 2025 ” on September 25, 2025, during the inaugural session of the
29th Conference of Central and State Statistical Organisations (CoCSSO) held in Chandigarh from September 25-26, 2025. This is the eighth consecutive issue of environmental accounting released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI). It is also the first dedicated publication on forest accounting based on
the United Nations System of Environmental Economic Accounting (SEEA) framework. From 2010-11 to 2021-22, India’s forest cover increased by 17,444.61 square kilometres (22.50%) to 7.15 lakh square kilometres (21.76% of the geographical area), indicating effective restoration and conservation efforts.
Major state-wise increases :
Kerala (4,137 sq km) ,
Karnataka (3,122 sq km) , and
Tamil Nadu (2,606 sq km) . Between 2013 and 2023, India’s forest cover account recorded a net increase of 3,356 sq km, primarily due to reclassification and boundary adjustments. States with significant increases in recorded forest area (RFA): Uttarakhand (6.3%), Odisha (1.97%), and Jharkhand (1.9%). A key indicator in forest cover accounts, accretion area reflects the amount of usable timber in living trees. Between 2013 and 2023, India’s acreage area increased by 305.53 million cubic meters (7.32%). Largest contributors: Madhya Pradesh (136 million cubic meters), Chhattisgarh (51 million cubic meters), and Telangana (28 million cubic meters); Among the Union Territories, Andaman and Nicobar Islands (77 million cubic metres).
9 CSIR-AMPRI designed and developed Sodar System Facility inaugurated at IMD
On the auspicious occasion
of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) Foundation Day,
September 26, 2025 , the SODAR (Sound Detection and Ranging) System facility designed and developed by
CSIR-Advanced Materials and Processes Research Institute (AMPRI), Bhopal was inaugurated at the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Delhi by Dr. M. Ravichandran, Secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), Dr. Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, Director General of Meteorology, IMD and Prof. Dr. Thallada Bhaskar, Director, CSIR-AMPRI, Bhopal. A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between CSIR-AMPRI and IMD and documents were exchanged between Prof. Dr. Thallada Bhaskar, Director, CSIR-AMPRI, Bhopal and Dr. Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, Director General of Meteorology, IMD. The objective of this MoU is to enhance collaborative research work between CSIR-AMPRI and IMD in climate and environmental studies with emphasis on scientific and societal challenges related to weather, climate change, forecasting and disaster risk reduction.
10 Ministry of AYUSH launches country’s first Integrated Oncology Research and Care Centre at All India Institute of Ayurveda, Goa
In a landmark initiative towards
transforming cancer care through integrative medicine, the Ministry
of AYUSH inaugurated
the Integrated Oncology Research and Care Centre (IORCC) at
the All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA) in
Dhargal ,
Goa , on
the 10th National Ayurveda Day . This state-of-the-art centre, the first of its kind in India , has been established to provide patient-centered and evidence-based cancer treatment and rehabilitation through the integration of
traditional knowledge and modern medical systems . The centre was virtually inaugurated by Shri Pusapati Ashok Gajapathi Raju, Governor of Goa. The IORCC is one of the leading multidisciplinary centres in the country, integrating Ayurveda, Yoga, Physiotherapy, Diet Therapy, Panchakarma, and modern oncology treatment under one roof. It has been specifically developed to provide holistic and patient-centric care, with a special emphasis on providing cancer patients with complete support and improved quality of life through comprehensive rehabilitation services.
11 The Ministry of Panchayati Raj will launch the “Sabki Yojana, Sabka Vikas” campaign in the country from October 2.
The Ministry of Panchayati Raj will launch
the People’s Planning Campaign ”
Sabki Yojana, Sabka Vikas ” in the country from
October 2. The Ministry said in a statement that this nationwide campaign will initiate the process of preparation of Panchayat Development Plans for the financial year 2026-27. The Ministry said that the objective of the campaign is to strengthen participatory, transparent and accountable local governance for
better service delivery and improved outcomes in rural areas . The Ministry of Panchayati Raj said that this campaign will have a special focus on tribal empowerment under the Adi Karmayogi Abhiyan , so that Gram Sabhas can become the decisive platform for inclusive development in line with national goals.
12 Sheetal Devi creates history at the World Archery Para Championships in South Korea
Sheetal Devi created history by winning
the gold medal in
the women’s compound individual event at
the World Archery Para Championships in
Gwangju , South Korea , defeating
world number one para archer Oznur Cure Girdi of
Turkey . Sheetal is the only armless para archer in the competition . She uses her legs and chin to aim. This is
her third medal in the championship . Earlier, Sheetal and
Sarita won the silver medal in the compound women’s open team event . Apart from this, Sheetal also won
the bronze medal in the compound mixed team event along with
Toman Kumar .
13 Himanshi Tokas becomes the first Indian judo player to top the junior world rankings
At the young age of
20 , judoka Himanshi Tokas created history as she became
the first Indian judoka to be ranked world No. 1 in judo . Furthermore, Himanshi secured
the No. 1 judoka position in Asia by winning the gold medal at the Asian Junior Championships in Indonesia last week . The highlight also was the emergence of another judoka from Gujarat,
Shaheen Darzada , who is ranked world No. 4 in the junior women’s 57kg category . This is the first time that two Indian judokas are among the top five in the world rankings.
