Current Affairs : September 15, 2025

Daily Current Affairs Briefing: September 15, 2025

This current affairs briefing provides a comprehensive overview of the key news events from September 15, 2025, tailored for students preparing for competitive examinations.

Table of Contents

Top Story

India’s Supreme Court Upholds Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025

On September 15, 2025, the Supreme Court of India pronounced its verdict on a plea challenging the implementation of the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025. The court upheld the legality of the new law, which had been criticized by over 100 petitioners as a “creeping acquisition” of Muslim properties. The government had defended the act as a necessary measure to counter “rampant mismanagement” of Waqf properties across the country. The judgement is seen as a significant legal and political development concerning the administration of religious endowments in India.¹

National Affairs

1. PM Modi Unveils ₹40,000 Cr Projects in Bihar, Announces GST Relief

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for projects worth over ₹40,000 crore in Purnia, Bihar. During a public address, he announced that the government has drastically reduced the GST rate, which will come into force from Navratri, making daily use goods such as soap, paste, stationary, and garments cheaper. The Prime Minister also reaffirmed his government’s commitment to freeing the region of Bihar, West Bengal, and Assam from “intruders.”²

2. India’s Trade Deficit Narrows Significantly in August

The Ministry of Commerce and Industry released data showing that India’s trade deficit contracted by over 54% to $9.9 billion in August 2025. This was primarily driven by a surge in merchandise exports, which grew by 6.7% to $35.1 billion, and a 10.1% contraction in merchandise imports to $61.6 billion. The strong export performance, particularly in services, contributed to the overall trade deficit for April-August of the current financial year standing at $41.4 billion, a 20.1% decrease from the same period last year.³

3. Doordarshan Celebrates 66th Foundation Day

Doordarshan, India’s public service broadcaster, celebrated its 66th foundation day on September 15, 2025. Established in 1959 as an experimental television service under All India Radio, Doordarshan now operates 35 channels, including DD India for international broadcasts. A special cultural event titled “Shabdanjali: DD@66” was held in New Delhi to commemorate the milestone and highlight the broadcaster’s legacy of public service and digital innovation.⁴

4. India and Norway Hold First Maritime Security Dialogue

India and Norway held their inaugural Maritime Security, Disarmament, and Non-Proliferation Dialogue in Oslo. The discussions focused on sustaining a secure maritime environment in accordance with international law to promote economic growth and peace. The two nations reviewed their ongoing cooperation and agreed to strengthen their efforts to combat illicit maritime activities and protect critical maritime infrastructure.⁵

International Affairs

1. Qatar Hosts Emergency Summit on Israel-Hamas Conflict

An emergency summit of Arab and Islamic heads of state was held in Doha, Qatar, in response to an Israeli strike on Hamas officials in the Qatari capital. Qatar’s Prime Minister urged the international community to “stop using double standards” and hold Israel accountable for its actions. A draft resolution for the summit condemned what it described as Israel’s “genocide, ethnic cleansing, starvation, siege, and colonizing activities.”⁶

2. Poland and China Hold Intergovernmental Committee Meeting

The fourth meeting of the Poland-China Intergovernmental Committee was held in Warsaw, co-chaired by the foreign ministers of both countries. The ministers had a comprehensive exchange of views on bilateral relations and regional and international issues. Both sides agreed to further strengthen and expand cooperation within the framework of their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and affirmed their support for an international order based on principles of international law, including the UN Charter.⁷

3. Russian Drone Incursion into Romanian Airspace Sparks NATO Response

Romania’s defense ministry announced that a Russian drone had entered its airspace, prompting an interception by fighter jets. The drone eventually headed back towards Ukraine. In response, NATO has launched a new operation, “Eastern Sentry,” to bolster the alliance’s eastern defenses. The EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy described the incident as “yet another unacceptable breach of an E.U. member state’s sovereignty.”⁸

Economy & Business

1. BT Group Appoints Sunil Bharti Mittal and Gopal Vittal to Board

BT Group plc announced the appointment of Sunil Bharti Mittal, Founder and Chairman of Bharti Enterprises, and Gopal Vittal, Vice Chairman and Managing Director of Bharti Airtel Limited, as non-independent non-executive directors. The appointments are part of a new relationship agreement between BT Group and Bharti Global, a company wholly owned by Bharti Televentures UK Limited, reflecting Bharti’s significant shareholding in the British telecommunications company.⁹

Science & Technology

1. NITI Aayog CEO: AI to Add $2 Trillion to Indian Economy

B.V.R. Subrahmanyam, CEO of NITI Aayog, stated that Artificial Intelligence (AI) will play a transformative role and is projected to add $2 trillion to the Indian economy by 2035. He made the comments at the launch of the “Roadmap for AI for Viksit Bharat” and the “NITI Frontier Tech Repository” in New Delhi. The Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology also announced that India will host the next AI Impact Summit in February 2026.¹⁰

2. Endangered Sharks Found in U.S. Grocery Store Seafood

A new study has revealed a significant issue of mislabeling in U.S. seafood markets, with endangered shark species being sold to consumers. The research highlights the need for stronger regulations and better enforcement to combat the illegal trade of protected marine life and ensure the sustainability of global fish stocks.¹¹

Sports

1. Jaismine Lamboria Wins Gold at World Boxing 2025

Indian boxer Jaismine Lamboria made history by winning the gold medal in the 57kg category at the World Boxing Championships 2025 in Liverpool. She defeated Poland’s Julia Szeremeta in a 4-1 split decision. This victory marks a strong comeback for Lamboria, who had faced an early exit at the Paris Olympics. India’s women boxers secured a total of three medals at the championship, with a silver and a bronze also being won.¹²

2. Tom Brady Announces Return to Football for Saudi Arabia Tournament

Seven-time Super Bowl winner Tom Brady, who retired in February 2023, announced that he will return to competitive football for the Fanatics Flag Football Classic in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in March 2026. The former quarterback will be joined by other NFL stars in the Olympic-style flag football competition, which will be the first major competitive football event to be held in Saudi Arabia.¹³

Appointments

1. Sunil Bharti Mittal and Gopal Vittal Appointed to BT Group Board

As noted in the Economy & Business section, Sunil Bharti Mittal and Gopal Vittal have been appointed as non-independent non-executive directors on the board of BT Group plc.

2. Professor Pradeep Kumar Prajapati Named Director of AIIA

Professor Pradeep Kumar Prajapati has been appointed as the new Director of the All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA). The appointment is part of a series of administrative reshuffles by the central government.

Abbreviations

1. AI

Stands for Artificial Intelligence. Refers to the simulation of human intelligence in machines that are programmed to think and learn.

2. GST

Stands for Goods and Services Tax. It is an indirect tax used in India on the supply of goods and services.

3. AIIA

Stands for All India Institute of Ayurveda. An autonomous organization under the Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India, aimed at providing higher education and research in Ayurveda.

Quick Takes

ITR filing deadline was extended by a day to September 16, following complaints of glitches in the e-filing portal.
India’s Engineers’ Day was celebrated on September 15 to honor the birth anniversary of Sir Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya, a visionary engineer and Bharat Ratna awardee.
The Delhi High Court allowed a minor rape survivor to terminate her 27-week pregnancy, ruling that the victim’s mental well-being must outweigh the possibility of the fetus being born alive.

References

The Hindu (www.thehindu.com)
The Indian Express (indianexpress.com)
Press Information Bureau (PIB) (pib.gov.in)
Just Security (www.justsecurity.org)
DD News (ddnews.gov.in)
Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India (mea.gov.in)
BT Group plc Newsroom (newsroom.bt.com)
SciTechDaily (scitechdaily.com)
Times of India (timesofindia.indiatimes.com)

Question for Engagement:

The Supreme Court’s decision on the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, is a significant legal event. How do you think such legislative and judicial actions impact the management of religious institutions and their properties in a secular democratic country?

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