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Daily News & Current Affairs - 04-09-2025

S.NoNews HeadlinePage NumberSubjectSyllabus (Prelims & Mains GS)Beginner Must KnowSource
1Two-rate GST to kick in on September 22 — Individual life & health policies move to 0% slab; prices likely to reduce for daily-use goods, medicines, cement.1Economy (Taxation, GST reforms)Prelims: GST, GST Council, tax slabs, effective date (22 Sep 2025). Mains: GS-3 (Indian Economy) — tax policy, public finance, impact on inflation and consumption.What changed: GST restructured into two main slabs (5% & 18%), certain items tax-free (life & health insurance premiums); effective Sept 22, 2025. Why it matters: affects prices, consumption, government revenue and fiscal balance.NCERT (Class 11 Economics) – Chapter on Government Budget/Revenue & 'Indian Economic Development' chapters for taxation; Government source: PIB press release on GST reforms (03 Sep 2025).
2Relentless rain, flooding claim dozens of lives, cause huge property loss across North India — rivers Sutlej, Beas, Ravi swollen, landslides; Punjab badly hit.1Disaster Management / EnvironmentPrelims: Floods, landslides, IMD alerts, river basin names (Sutlej, Beas, Ravi). Mains: GS-3 (Disaster Management & Environment) — causes, impacts, mitigation, river management.Beginner must know: Monsoon-linked heavy rainfall caused river swelling, flash floods and landslides; immediate issues — loss of life, evacuation, infrastructure damage and relief operations.Government sources where needed: IMD advisories and state government releases (Punjab).
3Governors must act ‘forthwith’ on Bills, States argue in SC1Polity (Centre-State Relations)Prelims: Article 200 (Governor's assent), Article 201 (reservation for President), key case: State of Tamil Nadu v. Governor (2025). Mains: GS-2 (Polity) — federalism, role of Governor, judicial review.Key point: States are arguing before a Constitution Bench that governors should not delay assent and must act promptly; relates to earlier SC rulings limiting 'pocket veto'.NCERT: 'Indian Constitution at Work' (Class 11 Political Science) — chapters on Federalism and Governor's role; Reference: Supreme Court judgments (Tamil Nadu v. Governor 2025) and related news coverage.
4Foreign companies halted India projects worth ₹2 lakh crore in Q11Economy (FDI, Investment climate)Prelims: FDI, CMIE (data source), Q1 cancellations, investment projects. Mains: GS-3 (Economy) — FDI trends, investment climate, impact of trade tensions.Beginner must know: Several foreign firms paused or cancelled projects (reported value ₹2 lakh crore) in Q1 — signals investor caution linked to global trade frictions and domestic/business factors.NCERT: 'Indian Economic Development' (Class 11 Economics) — chapters on foreign investment and globalization; Data source referenced in reports: CMIE.
5Rain and repeat (continuing coverage of heavy rains)6Environment / Disaster ManagementPrelims: Monsoon patterns, flash floods, landslides. Mains: GS-3 (Disaster Management & Environment) — adaptation, early warning systems, infrastructure resilience.Short: Recurrent heavy rains causing repeated flood events; focus on preparedness, drainage, embankments, and relief.NCERT: 'Natural Hazards & Disaster Management' (Class 10/NCERT booklets); IMD advisories for real-time data.
6Concealing a judge’s dissent, eroding judiciary’s authority6Polity / JudiciaryPrelims: Collegium system, judicial appointments, concept of dissent in collegium notes. Mains: GS-2 (Polity & Governance) — judicial independence, transparency and accountability of judiciary.Beginner must know: Reports that a judge’s dissent in a collegium recommendation was concealed — raises questions about transparency in judicial appointments and institutional trust.NCERT: 'The Judiciary' (Class 11 Political Science) — chapter on roles and independence of judiciary. (Opinion/editorial coverage in The Hindu and legal analyses.)
7India’s recent maritime reforms need course correction6Security / Economy (Maritime policy)Prelims: Merchant Shipping Act (recent amendments), maritime boards, ownership rules. Mains: GS-3 (Internal Security & Infrastructure) and GS-2 (Foreign Policy implications) — maritime governance, trade security.Essentials: Recent maritime reforms (statutory changes) create procedural efficiencies but may raise concerns over ownership, dispute resolution and national security; calls for revisiting certain provisions.NCERT: 'International Trade' / 'Economic Development' (Class 11 Economics) for trade basics; Government sources: Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways notifications and Gazette/Policy releases when NCERT is not specific.
8Reviving MGNREGA in West Bengal7Social Justice / Rural DevelopmentPrelims: MGNREGA basics (2005), Section 27 (suspension of funds), Calcutta High Court order (June 18, 2025) on implementation. Mains: GS-1/GS-2 (Social Justice & Welfare schemes) — public employment schemes and centre-state relations in implementation.Beginner: Calcutta HC directed resumption of MGNREGA implementation prospectively from Aug 1, 2025; background — Centre had stopped funds in 2022 under Section 27; impact on rural employment and livelihoods.NCERT: 'Social Justice' and 'Rural Development' topics in Class 11/12 Political Science & Geography; Government: MGNREGA Act (2005) text and Calcutta High Court order (June 18, 2025).
9Less than 40% of disabled persons have ID needed for benefits7Social Justice / Welfare (Disability rights)Prelims: Disability ID schemes (unique ID for persons with disabilities), UDID scheme, percentage statistic (<40%). Mains: GS-2/GS-1 (Welfare Policies) — inclusion, access to benefits and implementation gaps.Beginner must know: Significant coverage gap — majority of persons with disabilities lack enabling ID/registration hindering access to welfare schemes; reasons include awareness, administrative hurdles and documentation.NCERT: 'Social Justice' sections in Class 11/12 political science/sociology; Government sources: Ministry of Social Justice reports and UDID scheme documentation where NCERT lacks specifics.
10Govt. plans to link 11 lakh anganwadis with schools10Education / Early Childhood CarePrelims: Anganwadi Centres (ICDS), co-location guidelines, figure — ~11 lakh centres to be linked. Mains: GS-2 (Polity & Social Sector) — NEP 2020, convergence of services, early childhood education.Beginner: New guidelines for co-locating Anganwadi Centres with primary schools to ensure better health, nutrition and early learning continuity; announced by Ministries of WCD & Education.Government source: Press Information Bureau / Ministry of Women & Child Development guidelines (03 Sep 2025).
11Flyers without mobility issues can pay for wheelchair: DGCA12Transport / Disability RightsPrelims: DGCA draft/guideline on paid wheelchair services, passenger rights, misuse concerns. Mains: GS-2/GS-3 (Governance & Infrastructure) — accessibility vs. misuse, regulatory balancing.Beginner must know: DGCA has proposed that passengers who don't have mobility issues but request wheelchair assistance could be asked to pay — an attempt to prevent misuse while preserving access for genuine users.NCERT: 'Rights and Duties' and sections on welfare in Class 11/12 political science/sociology; Government source: DGCA circular/news reports (news coverage Sept 2025).
12Cabinet approves ₹1,500 cr. scheme for critical minerals recycling13Economy / Industry / EnvironmentPrelims: Cabinet approval, amount ₹1,500 crore, objective — recycling critical minerals from e-waste and batteries. Mains: GS-3 (Industry & Infrastructure) — circular economy, resource security, strategic minerals.Beginner: The incentive scheme aims to build domestic recycling capacity for critical minerals (e.g., from e-waste, lithium-ion batteries), reduce import dependence and support green transition; implementation FY26–FY31.NCERT: 'Environment & Resource Economics' and 'Industrial Policy' topics in Class 11/12 economics; Government source: PIB press release (03 Sep 2025) and Cabinet notes.

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Based on 04-09-2025 News