Current Affairs Quiz 16th September 2025 Quiz

Exp. SBI Raises Auto-Sweep (MOD) Threshold to ₹50,000

SBI has increased the auto-sweep (Multi Option Deposit – MOD) threshold from ₹35,000 to ₹50,000, meaning customers must now maintain a minimum of ₹50,000 in their savings account before surplus funds are converted into fixed deposits.

Under the facility, surplus funds above the threshold are transferred into fixed deposits in multiples of ₹1,000, earning higher interest at prevailing term deposit rates.

The scheme ensures easy liquidity through a reverse sweep, where funds are automatically moved back from MOD deposits if the savings balance falls short.

Interest on MOD deposits is compounded quarterly and payable at maturity; premature withdrawal is allowed with a small penalty, while senior citizens enjoy additional interest benefits.

The revision will mainly affect customers with balances just above ₹35,000, while those maintaining higher balances will still benefit from better returns with liquidity through the MOD facility.

Exp. AIIMS Delhi Becomes First Govt Medical College in India to Train Doctors on da Vinci Robotic Surgery System

AIIMS Delhi has become the first government medical college in India to install Intuitive Surgical’s da Vinci robotic system for training doctors in robotic-assisted surgery at its SET (skills, e-learning, and telemedicine) facility.

This is the second robotic platform at the SET centre, making AIIMS the only institute in the country with two robots exclusively dedicated to medical training.

The facility already supports medical students, residents, nurses, and faculty through simulators and mannequins for hands-on practice.

The da Vinci system will enable exposure to multiple specialities, including urology, gynaecology, general surgery, oncology, and head & neck surgery; older models of the robot cost between ₹8–20 crore, excluding service fees.

Exp. Former Bureaucrat Amit Khare Appointed as Secretary to Vice-President C. P. Radhakrishnan

The government has appointed former bureaucrat Amit Khare as Secretary to the new Vice-President C. P. Radhakrishnan, with a tenure of three years from the date of assuming charge.

Khare has been serving as Advisor to the Prime Minister since October 2021, handling social sector matters, and was part of the core team behind the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.

A 1985-batch IAS officer of Jharkhand cadre, Khare is an alumnus of St. Stephen’s College, Delhi, and holds an MBA from IIM Ahmedabad.

He is widely known for his role in exposing the Bihar fodder scam and has previously served as Secretary, Information & Broadcasting, and Secretary, Higher Education.

Exp. India to Host 89th International Electrotechnical Commission General Meeting in New Delhi

India will host the 89th IEC General Meeting in New Delhi from September 15–19, with over 2,000 experts from 100+ countries; Pralhad Joshi will inaugurate, and Piyush Goyal will unveil the IEC GM Exhibition.

This is the fourth time India is hosting the IEC General Meeting (earlier in 1960, 1997, and 2013), with focus on standards for a “sustainable, all-electric and connected world” through 150+ committee meetings and workshops on AI, e-mobility, and inclusivity.

India will serve as the Global Secretariat for LVDC standardisation, strengthening clean energy technology efforts; IEC leaders hailed India as a “sustainability champion” with strong global public support for green solutions.

Exp. Government Appoints L. Satya Srinivas as India’s Executive Director at ADB

The government has appointed L. Satya Srinivas, Special Secretary in the Commerce Ministry and a 1991-batch IRS officer, as Executive Director (ED), India at the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for a three-year term.

Srinivas will succeed Vikas Sheel and, as India’s ED, will also represent Bangladesh, Bhutan, Laos, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan on the ADB Board of Directors.

He is scheduled to retire from government service in February 2026, but will continue in the role on a contract basis under terms applicable to re-employed central government officers.

Recent Appointments

• Chairman of National Stock Exchange – Injeti Srinivas
• Head of PR and Corporate Communications by Sony Pictures Networks India – Gaurav Laghate
• Director of CSIR-National Institute of Science Communication and Policy Research (NIScPR) – Dr. Geetha Vani Rayasam
• MD & CEO of International Asset Reconstruction Company – Abhishek Maheshwari
• MD of Credifin Limited – Shalya Gupta; for 5 years

Exp. Justice M. Sundar Sworn In as 10th Chief Justice of Manipur High Court

Justice M. Sundar was sworn in as the 10th Chief Justice of the Manipur High Court, with Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla administering the oath at Raj Bhavan.

He was appointed Chief Justice, succeeding Justice Kempaiah Somashekar upon his superannuation.

Prior to this, Justice Sundar served as a judge of the Madras High Court, and the ceremony was attended by political leaders, judges, senior officials, and bar representatives.

Exp. Indian Navy Receives 2nd Indigenously Built Anti-Submarine Warfare Ship ‘Androth’ from GRSE

Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Ltd. (GRSE), Kolkata, handed over the 2nd Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ANDROTH) to the Indian Navy, boosting its anti-submarine and coastal surveillance capabilities.

‘Androth’, the second of eight ASW-SWC ships, is indigenously built with ~77-metre length, diesel engine-waterjet propulsion, lightweight torpedoes, and indigenous anti-submarine rockets, reflecting India’s push for defence self-reliance.

The ship’s name is derived from Androth Island in Lakshadweep, symbolizing strategic maritime significance, and represents over 80% indigenous content, supporting the government’s vision of ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’.

Exp. NABARD to Launch Centralised Digital Lending Platform for Regional Rural Banks

NABARD is developing a centralised digital lending platform (CDCI) for Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) to enhance their competitiveness against NBFCs and microfinance institutions, streamlining end-to-end credit delivery.

Following the One State-One RRB policy, the number of RRBs has reduced from 43 to 28 through amalgamation, aiming to achieve scale efficiencies, cost rationalisation, and operational effectiveness.

The CDCI platform is designed to digitise, automate, and streamline credit processing, offering more agile and efficient solutions than current loan origination systems, with rollout expected by end of September 2025.

RRBs operate 22,158 branches across 26 states and 3 UTs, with 92% in rural or semi-urban areas; NABARD plans to support them in innovative loan products like housing loans with default guarantees and MSME financing to deepen financial inclusion.

Exp. Jal Shakti Ministry Hosts ‘Sarpanch Samvaad’ Conclave

The Ministry of Jal Shakti, in collaboration with the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, organised the Sarpanch Samvaad National Quality Conclave in New Delhi, themed ‘Viksit Gram se Viksit Bharat’, with 75 sarpanchs from 22 states discussing Localised Sustainable Development Goals.

The conclave announced a 100-Day Good Governance Challenge on the Sarpanch Samvaad app, running from September 17 to December 25 (Good Governance Day), to mobilise Sarpanch-led campaigns across the country.

Exp. INS Nistar Joins Multinational Exercise Pacific Reach 2025 in Singapore

INS Nistar, the Indian Navy’s latest indigenously designed Diving Support Vessel (DSV), is participating in the multinational Exercise Pacific Reach 2025 in Singapore, which includes over 40 nations.

Serving as the mothership for Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicles, INS Nistar will take part in submarine rescue exercises and Subject Matter Expert Exchanges (SMEE) with other participating countries.

The exercise is conducted in two phases – harbour and sea, with the harbour phase covering discussions, medical symposiums, and cross-deck visits, while the sea phase involves rescue operations in the South China Sea with the Submarine Rescue Unit (E).

Exp. India Hosts BIMSTEC Young Leaders’ Summit in Guwahati to Foster Inclusive Leadership and Regional Cooperation

India hosted the BIMSTEC Young Leaders’ Summit in Guwahati, bringing together over 80 participants from all member countries to discuss inclusive leadership and cross-cultural collaboration.

The summit, organized with Bharat Scouts & Guides and inaugurated by Assam Governor Laxman Prasad Acharya, featured sessions on entrepreneurship, design thinking, sustainable solutions, and cultural exchanges to foster mutual understanding.

The event highlighted India’s North East as a strategic land bridge in the Bay of Bengal region and is part of the 21-point action plan announced by PM Modi at the 6th BIMSTEC Summit, aligning with India’s ‘Neighborhood First’, ‘Act East’ and ‘MAHASAGAR’ visions.

Exp. 16 September – World Ozone Day

World Ozone Day, also known as the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer, is observed every year on 16 September.

It commemorates the signing of the Montreal Protocol in 1987, an international treaty designed to protect the ozone layer by phasing out ozone-depleting substances (ODS).

Theme 2025 – From science to global action.

The ozone layer is crucial as it shields Earth from harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation, which can cause skin cancer, cataracts, and harm ecosystems.

In 1994, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 16 September as World Ozone Day.

Exp. Professor Pradeep Kumar Prajapati Assumes Charge as Director of All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA)

Professor Pradeep Kumar Prajapati formally took charge as the new Director of the All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA), New Delhi, at a ceremony marked by traditional rituals and warm welcomes.

Before this role, he served as Vice-Chancellor of Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan Rajasthan Ayurved University, Jodhpur, and earlier contributed extensively to Gujarat Ayurved University, Jamnagar, besides starting his career at NIA, Jaipur.