This is the current affairs of 25 & 26 September 2025. Here are questions and answers of daily current affairs for better preparation of competitive exams for government jobs.
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1. Which missile was tested for the first time by India from a ‘rail-based mobile launcher system’, thereby putting India in the category of select countries?
a. earth I
b. earth prime
c. Agni V
d. agni prime
Answer: d. agni prime
Who conducted the test?
– DRDO: Defence Research and Development Organisation
– SFC: Strategic Forces Command
About the Test
– DRDO and the Strategic Forces Command (SFC) jointly conducted a successful test of the Agni-Prime missile on September 25, 2025.
– The test was carried out using a rail-based mobile launcher system, which provides nationwide mobility with rapid deployment and low visibility.
– Through this, India achieved a significant milestone in its defense capabilities.
Significance of the Rail-Based Mobile Launcher System
– This successful test places India among the select nations equipped with rail-based canisterized launch capabilities.
– The test paves the way for the future induction of rail-mobile launch systems into the armed forces.
– The missile was launched from a specially developed rail-based mobile launcher, which provides rapid deployment, low visibility, and nationwide mobility.
– It is a canisterized system, meaning the missile is stored in a sealed container, making it weather-resistant and ready for instant launch.
– While the road-mobile version has already been inducted into the armed forces, the rail version marks a new achievement, placing India alongside countries like Russia, China, and North Korea.
Features of the Agni-Prime missile
– The Agni-Prime has a range of approximately 2,000 kilometres, making it an Intermediate-Range Ballistic Missile (IRBM).
– It is nuclear-capable, i.e., capable of carrying a nuclear warhead.
– The missile is a two-stage solid-fuel system that includes advanced guidance, improved propulsion, and a maneuverable re-entry vehicle (MARV), which helps it evade anti-ballistic missile defense systems.
– It is a two-stage canisterized missile.
– The missile’s length is 34.5 feet.
– It can be fitted with more than one warhead (can carry multiple warheads).
– It can carry warheads weighing between 1,500 kg and 3,000 kg.
Technical Significance
– Agni-Prime is lighter, more accurate, and cost-effective.
– It uses composite materials, which reduce weight and increase range.
– It employs a cold launch system, where the missile is first ejected and then ignited, enhancing the safety of the launcher.
Strategic Significance
– The rail-mobile launcher provides protection against an enemy’s first strike, as trains can be easily relocated.
– It strengthens India’s “No First Use” nuclear policy and enhances deterrence against neighbors like Pakistan and China.
– India has now joined the select group of nations (such as Russia, China, and North Korea) with rail-based canisterized launch capabilities.
– This successful test has increased the nation’s military strength.
– Indigenous Significance
– It is part of the Atmanirbhar Bharat (Self-Reliant India) initiative, with most of the technology developed indigenously by DRDO.
– The Agni series (Agni-I to Agni-V) forms the backbone of India’s missile program, developed under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Program (IGMDP).
Range of Other Agni Missiles:
– Agni I: Range of 700–800 km.
– Agni II: Range of over 2,000 km.
– Agni III: Range of over 2,500 km.
– Agni IV: Range of over 3,500 km; can be fired from a road-mobile launcher.
– Agni V: The longest in the Agni series, an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) with a range of over 5,000 km.
Strategic Forces Command (SFC)
– It was created on 4 January 2003 by the Vajpayee government.
– It is a command of the Indian Armed Forces (Army, Navy, and Air Force).
– The Strategic Forces Command (SFC) is also sometimes called the Strategic Nuclear Command.
– It functions as part of India’s Nuclear Command Authority (NCA).
– It is responsible for the management and administration of India’s stockpile of both non-strategic and strategic nuclear weapons.
DRDO
Formation: 1958
– Headquarters: New Delhi
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UPSC & State PCS Prelims Level Question
Q.1 Consider the following statements:
1. With a range of 1,000–2,000 km, the Agni-Prime missile falls under the category of an Intermediate-Range Ballistic Missile (IRBM), primarily targeting Pakistan but also capable of covering parts of China.
2. The successful test of the rail-based launcher places India alongside countries like Russia and China; this system is possible mainly because of solid fuel, as liquid-fuel missiles are unsafe on rail platforms.
3. From the joint test by DRDO and SFC, it can logically be inferred that the missile is now in the induction stage, while the road-mobile version has already been inducted.
Which of the following options is correct?
a. Only 1 and 2 are correct.
b. Only 2 and 3 are correct.
c. All are correct.
d. Only 1 and 3 are correct.
Answer: d. Only 1 and 3 are correct.
Brief Explanation:
– Statement 1: Correct. The 1,000–2,000 km range aligns with the definition of an Intermediate-Range Ballistic Missile (IRBM) as per MTCR (300–3,000 km). It fully covers Pakistan and can reach western/southern parts of China (e.g., Tibet), strengthening India’s two-front war strategy.
– Statement 2: Incorrect. While rail launchers are ideal for solid-fuel missiles (which are launch-ready), liquid-fuel missiles can also be deployed if the design allows, as seen in some Russian systems. The logical inference here is based on technical feasibility, not strict necessity.
– Statement 3: Correct. The joint DRDO-SFC test indicates operational readiness, and since the road-mobile version has already been inducted, this confirms the missile’s induction phase.
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Q2. Arrange the following events logically in the context of Agni-Prime missile testing, reflecting the development of India’s defense policy:
Options (Events):
A. Start of IGMDP (Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme)
B. First test of Agni-I
C. India’s membership in MTCR (Missile Technology Control Regime)
D. Rail-based test of Agni-Prime
E. Indigenous missile development under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative
What is the correct logical sequence?
a. A, B, C, E, D
b. A, B, E, C, D
c. A, E, B, C, D
d. E, A, B, C, D
Answer: a. A, B, C, E, D
Brief Explanation:
– (A) IGMDP was started in 1983, which laid the foundation of India’s missile program.
– (B) Subsequently, the first test of Agni-I took place in 1989, which was part of the IGMDP.
– (C) MTCR (Missile Technology Control Regime) membership was obtained in 2016, providing international recognition and export capability.
– (D) ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ was launched in 2020, which promotes indigenization (E).
– (E) Finally, the rail-based test of Agni-Prime was conducted in 2025, which is the result of all these efforts.
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UPSC & State PCS Level Mains Questions
GS Paper 3: Science and Technology, Defense and Security
Q1. “How does the recent rail-based test of the Agni-Prime missile strengthen India’s strategic deterrence policy? Discuss its implications for South Asian regional security.”
Q2. How has the successful test of the rail-based mobile launcher system changed India’s defense strategy? Critically evaluate its strategic benefits and challenges.
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2. When is World Environmental Health Day celebrated?
a. September 24th
b. September 25th
c. September 26th
d. September 27th
Answer: c. September 26th
Theme for 2025
– Clean Air, Healthy People
– Note – This theme focuses on air pollution, climate change, and respiratory diseases, and highlights the importance of clean air.
– Establishment: Declared in 2011 during the Council Meeting of the International Federation of Environmental Health (IFEH) held in Indonesia. IFEH is a non-profit organization, established in 1986 in London.
– First Observance: Officially celebrated on 26 September 2011.
– Purpose: To recognize the work of environmental health professionals and to promote actions for health protection against environmental hazards at the global level.
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3. Who inaugurated India’s first overseas defence facility in Morocco?
a. Narendra Modi and Abdelatif Loudiyi
b. Droupadi Murmu and Abdelatif Loudiyi
c. S. Jaishankar and Abdelatif Loudiyi
d. Rajnath Singh and Abdelatif Loudiyi
Answer: d. Rajnath Singh and Abdelatif Loudiyi
– India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his Moroccan counterpart Abdelatif Loudiyi inaugurated on 23 September 2025 a Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) defence manufacturing facility in Berrechid, Morocco.
– This is the first overseas plant established by any Indian company.
– The 20,000 sq. meter facility will produce the indigenously developed Wheeled Armoured Platform (WhAP) 8×8, jointly designed by TASL and India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
Wheeled Armoured Platform (WhAP)
– WhAP is a modular combat platform offering advanced protection, mobility, and adaptability.
– According to the Ministry of Defence, it includes variants such as infantry fighting vehicle, armoured personnel carrier, reconnaissance, command post, mortar carrier, and ambulance, along with options for remote weapon stations and anti-tank guided missile systems.
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4. Red-necked Phalarope, a rare bird species, was first sighted in which sanctuary in September 2025?
a. Kaliveli Bird Sanctuary
b. Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary
c. Nanjanayan Bird Sanctuary
d. Kanjirankulam Bird Sanctuary
Answer: c. Nanjanayan Bird Sanctuary (located in Tirupur, Tamil Nadu)
– According to ornithologists, the Red-necked Phalarope (Phalaropus lobatus) is a rare species, observed for the first time at the Nanjanayan Bird Sanctuary in Tirupur, Tamil Nadu.
– Ravindran Kamatchi, President of the Tirupur Nature Society, stated, “It is rare for this bird to stop at an inland water body.”
– On 19 September 2025, the bird’s presence in the lake was documented. The arrival was first noticed by the local forest inspector Manikandan.
Red-necked Phalarope Bird
– The Red-necked Phalarope, also called the Northern Phalarope or Hyperborean Phalarope, is a small aquatic bird.
– It breeds in the Arctic regions of North America and Eurasia.
– During the winter months, it mostly spends time in Southeast Asian countries.
Nanjanayan Bird Sanctuary
– This site is a freshwater lake located in the villages of Neruperichal and Sarkar Periyapalayam in Tirupur district, Tamil Nadu.
– It is named after King Nanjarayan, who constructed this reservoir 400 years ago.
– In 2022, the site was officially designated as a bird sanctuary.
– The lake and its surrounding areas are home to 191 bird species, 87 butterflies, 77 plants, 21 reptiles, 11 small mammals, and 7 amphibians.
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5. Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired which edition of the ‘PRAGATI’ meeting in September 2025, during which eight important projects worth approximately ₹65,000 crore were reviewed?
a. 51st
b. 50th
c. 49th
d. 48th
Answer: c. 49th
– PRAGATI Full Form: Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation
– Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 24 September reviewed eight key infrastructure projects during the 49th meeting of PRAGATI.
Features of the 49th PRAGATI Meeting
– The reviewed projects are spread across 15 states and union territories, with a total investment exceeding ₹65,000 crore.
– The Prime Minister directed officials to strictly adhere to timelines, strengthen inter-agency coordination, and promptly resolve implementation-related bottlenecks.
Sectors Covered by the Reviewed Projects:
– Mines
– Railways
– Water Resources
– Industrial Corridors
– Power Sector
About PRAGATI
– Launch: 25 March 2015
– Initiated by: Prime Minister’s Office (PMO)
– Platform Type: ICT-based multi-dimensional platform
– Full Form of PRAGATI: Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation
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6. SL Bhairappa, the famous writer of which language, died on 24 September 2025?
a. Hindi
b. Urdu
c. Kannada
d. Tamil
Answer: c. Kannada
– He was suffering from age-related illnesses and had been undergoing treatment for several months.
– He was one of the most widely read writers in Kannada.
– He was 94 years old and had been honoured with Padma Bhushan, Padma Shri, Saraswati Samman, Sahitya Akademi Award, among others.
Committed to Novels
– During his writing career spanning over six decades, he remained dedicated to novels.
– His first novel, Bheemkaya, was published in 1958.
– He wrote 25 novels, many of which were translated into multiple languages; his last novel, Uttarkand (2017), is a retelling of the Ramayana from a woman’s perspective.
– After Uttarkand, he retired from writing.
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7. The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) banned the import of which type of jewellery in September 2025 without explicit authorisation to prevent misuse of India’s various free trade agreements?
a. Gold
b. Silver
c. Diamond
d. None of these
Answer: b. Silver
Reason for the Restriction:
– According to the DGFT, the restriction was imposed due to a sharp increase in imports of plain silver jewellery during the April–June 2025 quarter compared to the same period last year.
– The Government of India issued a notification on 24 September, stating that imports of plain silver jewellery will be restricted until 31 March of the next year.
India’s Silver Jewellery Imports
– According to The Hindu newspaper, India’s imports of silver jewellery rose to $235.1 million in April–June 2025, compared to $63.4 million in the same quarter last year, marking a 270.6% increase.
Major Share of Imports from Thailand
– Investigations revealed that most of India’s silver jewellery imports came from Thailand.
– Between April and June 2025, India imported approximately $51 million worth of silver jewellery from Thailand, which rose by 330% to $219 million during the same period this year.
– The same increase was observed in July 2025, when India imported a total of $148.5 million worth of silver jewellery, compared to $41.8 million in July 2024, marking a 255.6% rise.
– Imports from Thailand alone in July 2025 surged by 288.5% to $142.7 million.
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8. India has launched QR code-based UPI service in which Arab country in September 2025?
a. Qatar
b. Kuwait
c. Algeria
d. Bahrain
Answer: a. Qatar (peninsular Arab country)
UPI Meaning: Unified Payments Interface
– In September 2025, NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL) partnered with Qatar National Bank (QNB) to launch QR code-based UPI services in Qatar for Indians.
– The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) stated that this move enables Indian travelers to make UPI payments easily at major tourist attractions and Qatar duty-free stores.
– Indians can now use UPI apps in Qatar, which has become the eighth country to allow this digital transaction system.
Eight Countries Offering UPI Services:
– Bhutan
– France
– Mauritius
– Nepal
– Singapore
– Sri Lanka
– United Arab Emirates
– Qatar (September 2025)
UPI and India-Qatar Partnership
– Full Form of UPI: Unified Payments Interface
– Agreement Date: 11 July 2024
– Parties Involved: NIPL and QNB
– Type of Service: QR code-based UPI service
– Launch Date: September 2025
– First Duty-Free Merchant: Qatar
Note: Duty-free means shops or merchants that do not charge customs duties, excise, VAT, etc.
About NPCL:
– NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL) is the international arm of National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), which developed UPI.
– NIPL promotes the use of UPI in foreign countries.
– In India, UPI is among the most popular digital payment options.
– NPCI was established in 2008 to operate retail payments and settlement systems in India.
What is NIPL?
– NIPL is a wholly-owned subsidiary of NPCI.
– It developed the world’s largest real-time payment solution in the form of UPI and RuPay card schemes.
What is UPI?
– Instant real-time payment system.
– Allows fund transfers between multiple bank accounts using a mobile app.
– Developed by NPCI and regulated by RBI and Indian Banks’ Association.
– Enables fast and efficient fund transfers.
About Qatar:
– Emir: Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani
– Prime Minister: Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani
– Capital: Doha
– Currency: Qatari Riyal (QAR)
AFC Futsal Asian Cup 2026 Qualifiers
9. India defeated which country in the AFC Futsal Asian Cup 2026 Qualifiers to register its first international futsal win?
Options:
a. Kuwait
b. Australia
c. Mongolia
d. Denmark
Answer: c. Mongolia
Details:
– Date: 24 September 2025
– Score: India 3 – 0 Mongolia
– Venue: Kushain Al-Mutairi Hall, Ardiya, Kuwait
Significance:
– India’s first international futsal win
– First clean sheet in Indian futsal history
– India had already lost to Kuwait and Australia and was eliminated from the qualifiers, but finished third in Group A after defeating Mongolia.
About AFC Futsal Asian Cup:
– Previously known as AFC Futsal Championship
– Major international futsal tournament for Asian national teams
– It was first held in 1999 and was played annually until 2008; since then, it has been held every two years.
About Futsal:
– Indoor, fast-paced, technical version of football
– Played on smaller courts with 5 players per team
– Uses small, heavy, low-bounce ball
– Objective: score goals against the opposing team
– Recognized by FIFA as official indoor football
– India’s First Dugong Conservation Reserve in Palk Bay
10. The IUCN formally adopted a proposal to recognize India’s first dugong conservation reserve in which Gulf region?
Options:
a. Bay of Bengal
b. Palk Bay
c. Persian Gulf
d. None of these
Answer: b. Palk Bay
Key Details:
– Proposal supported by 98% of governments and 94.8% NGOs, research institutions.
– Announced: September 2025
– Concerns Addressed in Proposal:
– Dugong population declining due to:
Habitat loss
– Harmful fishing practices
– Effects of climate change
– Immediate community-driven conservation actions recommended
IUCN Recognition of New Techniques:
– Use of bamboo and coconut rope structures to restore seagrass beds
– Scientific methods combined with local community involvement praised as a model for South Asian conservation
About Palk Bay:
– Semi-enclosed shallow water body between India and Sri Lanka
– Max depth: 13 meters
– Coordinates: 8°50′–10°N, 78°50′–80°30′E
– Width: 57–107 km; Length: ~150 km
Statements:
– Tamil Nadu CM M.K. Stalin appreciated international recognition on 25 September 2025 and praised efforts of the Forest Department and other conservationists
About Dugong:
– Large herbivorous marine mammal, listed as vulnerable on IUCN Red List
– In September 2022, Tamil Nadu declared 448 sq km area as India’s first Dugong Conservation Reserve
– Reserve includes 12,250+ hectares of seagrass beds essential for dugongs
– Protected under Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, Schedule 1
– Found mostly along Tamil Nadu coast, ~240 dugongs in India
– Population declining due to habitat loss
About IUCN:
– International Union for Conservation of Nature
– Established 1948
– Largest global environmental network
– 160+ member countries, 1,400+ member organizations
– 17,000+ experts including scientists, environmentalists, policy-makers
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