Current Affairs 04 September 2025

PIB Current Affairs

Karma Puja (Karam Festival)

• Karam is a tribal festival celebrated in Jharkhand, Bihar, eastern Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, Assam, Odisha.
• People worship trees during this festival as they are a source of livelihood.

Cabinet Approves ₹1,500 Crore Incentive Scheme for Recycling Critical Minerals

The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has approved a ₹1,500 crore scheme to promote recycling of critical minerals in India.

• This scheme is part of the National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM).
• Duration: 6 years (FY 2025-26 to FY 2030-31).
• Sources for recycling: e-waste, lithium-ion battery scrap, catalytic converters in end-of-life vehicles, and other similar waste.
• Beneficiaries: Both large companies and start-ups (one-third of the funds are reserved for new/small recyclers).
• Incentives:
  • 20% Capex subsidy on plant & machinery.
  • Opex subsidy linked to incremental sales (40% in 2nd year, 60% in 5th year).
  • Maximum incentive: ₹50 crore for large entities, ₹25 crore for small entities.

India releases Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Feasibility Study

The Ministry of Civil Aviation, in partnership with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and with support from the European Union, has officially released the Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Feasibility Study for India.

• India aims to blend SAF into aviation fuel: 1% by 2027, 2% by 2028, and 5% by 2030 (as per CORSIA mandate).
• SAF can cut lifecycle CO₂ emissions by up to 80% compared to conventional jet fuel.
• India has large potential with 750 million metric tonnes of biomass and 230 million tonnes of surplus agri-residue.
• First milestones:
  • COTECNA Inspection India Pvt. Ltd. designated as first SAF certification body.
  • IOCL Panipat Refinery certified as India’s first SAF producer.

What is Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF)?

• Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) is a clean substitute for conventional aviation turbine fuel (ATF).
• It is made from renewable feedstocks such as Agricultural residue (like crop waste), Municipal solid waste, Energy crops, Used cooking oil, Biomass
• SAF is being promoted worldwide under the CORSIA (Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation) framework of ICAO.

GST Council Decisions – 56th Meeting Highlights

Effective Date:

• New GST rates (on most goods & services) → from 22nd September 2025.
• For cigarettes, chewing tobacco, zarda, unmanufactured tobacco and beedi → existing rates will continue for now. New rates will be notified later after clearing cess-related loan liabilities.

Registration Threshold:

• No change in GST registration threshold under CGST Act, 2017.

Input Tax Credit (ITC):

• ITC already availed at the old rate will continue to be valid.
• If supplies become exempt after 22nd September 2025, ITC must be reversed for such supplies.

Imports:

• IGST on imports will follow the revised rates in the notification, unless exempted separately.

Sector-specific GST rate changes:

• UHT Milk: Exempted. Plant-based milk (incl. soya milk) → reduced to 5%.
• Agriculture Machinery: Reduced from 12% to 5%.
• Medicines: All medicines at 5%, some at nil. Medical devices → 5%.
• Vehicles:
  • Small cars → reduced from 28% to 18%.
  • Mid & large cars, SUVs → 40% (no cess).
  • 3-wheelers, buses, ambulances, trucks → 18%.
  • Motorcycles ≤350 cc → 18%; above 350 cc → 40%.
• Daily-use goods: Soap bars, shampoos, face powder → 5%.
• Renewable energy equipment: Reduced to 5%.
• Bicycles & parts: Reduced to 5%.
• Luxury / Sin goods & services:
  • Betting, casinos, gambling, horse racing, online gaming → 40%.
  • Admission to IPL & similar events → 40%.
  • Other sporting events (recognized) → exempt if ticket ≤ ₹500; 18% if ticket > ₹500.

Operation Black Forest

Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah felicitated CRPF, Chhattisgarh Police, DRG, and CoBRA jawans in New Delhi for successfully carrying out ‘Operation Black Forest’ on Karreguttalu hill.

• The operation is being termed the biggest anti-Naxal operation in India.
• The government stated that it is committed to make India Naxal-free by 31st March 2026.

Hindu Current Affairs

India’s First Vulture Conservation Portal Launched in Assam

An Assam-based NGO, We Foundation India, has launched India’s first vulture conservation portal in collaboration with Gauhati University’s Department of Zoology.

• The portal is designed to build a network of individuals and organisations engaged in vulture conservation.
• The event was organised ahead of International Vulture Awareness Day, observed every year on the first Saturday of September.

Exercise Bright Star 2025

Indian naval stealth frigate INS Trikand has reached Alexandria, Egypt to participate in Exercise Bright Star 2025, a major multilateral military drill being held from September 1 to 10, 2025.

• Conducted under the U.S. Central Command.
• Participating countries are India, Egypt, United States, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Greece, Cyprus, and Italy.
• This year Egypt country is conducting the Exercise Bright Star 2025.

Reservation System

Constitutional Provisions

• Article 15 → Equality in state action, allows special provisions for SCs, STs, OBCs, and backward classes in education.
• Article 16 → Equality in public employment, allows reservations for disadvantaged groups.

Current Reservation at Central Level

• OBC: 27%
• SC: 15%
• ST: 7.5%
• EWS: 10%
• Total = 59.5%

Reservation Journey So Far

• 1950-51: Constitution of India (1950) provides Article 15 & 16 Allowed special provisions for SCs, STs, and socially/economically backward classes.
• 1982: Reservations for SCs and STs fixed at 15% and 7.5% respecctively in central educational institutions and PSUs.
• 1990: Mandal Commission Report submitted in 1980 recommending 27% reservation for OBCs in Central jobs.
• 2005: 93rd Constitutional Amendment Act inserted Article 15(5). Allowed the state to provide reservation in educational institutions (private aided/unaided, except minority institutions) for SCs, STs, and OBCs. Led to OBC reservation in Central Educational Institutions (like IITs, IIMs, Central Universities).
• 2019: 103rd Constitutional Amendment Act (2019) inserted Article 15(6) and Article 16(6) enabling 10% reservation for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) in education and government jobs. This pushed the total reservation at Central level to 59.5%.

Reflation Trade

Japanese financial markets were recently experienced a reflation trade, but unlike past cycles, the main push is coming from foreign investors rather than domestic ones. Tokyo’s Topix index surged 34.2% since April 2025, reaching record highs.

Reflation Trade Definition: A reflation trade is when investors reallocate funds towards growth-sensitive assets (like stocks and commodities) and away from safe assets (like bonds), expecting economic recovery and mild inflation.

Chrome Web Browser

Recently Google Chrome facing Antitrust alligations and US Federal Judge ruled that Google need not to sell the Chrome but it should Share search index data and user interaction info with rivals to ensure fair competition.

• Google Chrome is a free, open-source web browser developed by Google.
• It was first released on September 2, 2008 for Microsoft Windows.
• Built on the Chromium project (open-source).
• Platforms Supported: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS.

AP Current Affairs

Potti Sriramulu Memorial Park

• HRD and IT Minister Nara Lokesh laid the foundation stone for the Potti Sriramulu Memorial Park in Amaravati.
• Potti Sriramulu known as the “Father of Linguistic States.”

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Disclaimer: The subheading “Hindu Current Affairs” used in this article refers only to current affairs content sourced from The Hindu Newspaper. This section is provided solely for educational and informational purposes to assist competitive exam aspirants in their preparation. We do not claim ownership of the original reporting, and all credit belongs to The Hindu.