India climbs to 38th position in Global Innovation Index 2025

1 India climbs to 38th position in Global Innovation Index 2025

India  has  made significant improvements in   the Global Innovation Index (GII) 2025 , now ranked 38th  . This report is published by  the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)  .  India’s rank in 2020  was 48th, a jump of 10 places in five years. India is also  ranked No. 1 among low-middle income countries and the Central and South Asia region  . This consistent improvement reflects India’s increasing focus on research, innovation ecosystems, and technology-led development. This topic is crucial for competitive exams in international reports, covering India’s global standing, science and technology, and economic development.  The World’s Top Innovative Countries (GII 2025)  :

2. Large reserves of lithium found in Nagaur, Rajasthan

 Rajasthan could soon play a key role in making the country self-sufficient in  lithium . This will provide significant relief for  the country’s production of  EV cars, laptops, and mobile batteries,  as well as for  use in nuclear reactors  . Following the discovery of lithium reserves in the Renwat Hills of  the Degana region  of Nagaur  district   in  Rajasthan  , the Central Government’s Ministry of Mines has initiated the auction process. The commencement of mining will significantly increase the state’s revenue and employment. Lithium reserves have been discovered in Rajasthan, Jammu and Kashmir, Chhattisgarh, and Karnataka, among other states, but mining has yet to commence. Currently, approximately 70 to 80 percent of India’s lithium imports come from China. The commencement of mining here will significantly reduce the region’s dependence on China.

3 Ujh River Multipurpose Project

 Jitendra Singh, Minister of State  in the Prime Minister’s Office  , stated that   the revival of  the Ujh River Multipurpose Project in Kathua district  will benefit Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir  . It will also  curb cross-border infiltration  . Singh stated that upon completion, the project  will increase the utilization of the waters of  the Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej rivers allocated to India under the Indus Water Treaty   and alleviate long-term water shortages. He stated that this will irrigate approximately 90,000 hectares of agricultural land in Gurdaspur and Pathankot in Punjab and Samba and Kathua in Jammu and Kashmir. The Ujh Project is a multipurpose (hydropower, irrigation, and drinking water) river valley project and  the first of its kind in Jammu and Kashmir  . The project is being constructed  on the Ujh River  ,   a  tributary of the Ravi .

4 Manipur hosts Hathai Chilli Festival to promote GI-tagged local crops

The 14th Sirarakhong Hathai Chilli Festival  was inaugurated with great fanfare in  Sirarakhong village  of  Ukhrul district  , Manipur  .  The  three-day festival is dedicated to the Geographical Indication (GI) tagged  Hathai  chilli  , renowned for its unique aroma, flavour and bright red colour. The GI tag has given Hathai chilli national recognition and has become a symbol of Manipur’s distinct agricultural identity.

5 Unmanned Aerial System Combat Exercises Concluded Between the US and Saudi Arabia

The largest  unmanned aerial systems combat exercise held in West Asia between the United States and Saudi Arabia   concluded  this week. The live-fire exercise  , held at the Shamal-2 range in northeastern Saudi Arabia , brought together 20 unmanned aerial systems in what US Central Command described as its most ambitious  Red Sands exercise to date  . The main objective of the exercise was to rapidly detect, track, and destroy advanced aerial threats, including drones.

6 Lupin gets US FDA approval for generic cancer drug

Pharmaceutical  giant  Lupin  has announced that  the US Food and Drug Administration  has  approved its new drug application for   Lenalidomide capsules   in  strengths of 2.5 mg to 25 mg for cancer patients  . The company said in an exchange filing that Lenalidomide is approved for the treatment of adult patients with multiple myeloma (a malignant blood cancer)  , especially when   used with  dexamethasone as maintenance therapy after autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Lenalidomide capsules are a generic version of Revlimid capsules   developed by  American multinational company Bristol-Myers Squibb Company . The statement said that this product will be manufactured at Lupin’s Pithampur plant in Madhya Pradesh. Lupin has announced that the company’s generic product will be an affordable alternative to Revlimid. The company said that Lenalidomide capsules in 2.5 mg, 5 mg, 10 mg, 15 mg, 20 mg and 25 mg (RLD Revlimid) have estimated annual sales of $7,511 million in the US. Lupin is headquartered in Mumbai. Lupin also recently received approval from the US administration for the generic contraceptive tablet Minzoya. This drug is the generic equivalent of Balcoltra developed by US-based Avion Pharmaceuticals LLC. Minzoya will also be manufactured at Lupin’s Pithampur plant.

7 RBI sets up Regulatory Review Cell for periodic monitoring

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI)  has  established  a Regulatory Review Cell  (RRC) to ensure  India’s financial regulatory system  remains modern, effective, and stakeholder-friendly. This cell will conduct a systematic and phased review of existing regulations every 5 to 7 years  . This initiative will  begin on October 1, 2025.  Additionally, an independent Advisory Group on Regulation (AGR) comprising external experts has been constituted. It will function under the RBI’s Department of Regulation.

8 Hindubhushan statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji in Pimpri-Chinchwad

Maharashtra  witnessed a historic cultural event in  Pimpri-Chinchwad  on  September 14 ,  2025  , when the 180-foot-tall bronze statue  of  Dharmaveer Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj —the “Hindubhushan Pratima”  —was honored with the largest-ever drum and cymbal salute. This thunderous event was a celebration of Sambhaji Maharaj’s sacrifice and valor, connecting Maratha heritage and cultural pride with public sentiments and bringing history to the masses.

9 SBI sells 13.18% stake in Yes Bank to Japan’s SMBC

 In a landmark   cross-border transaction in India’s banking sector ,  State Bank of India (SBI)  sold   its  13.18% stake in Yes Bank to  Japan  ‘s  Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC)  for a total consideration of ₹8,889 crore . The deal reflects global investor confidence in India’s banking reforms and lays the foundation for deeper strategic ties between Indian banks and global financial institutions.

10 Myntra and Sourav Ganguly launch ethnic wear brand ‘Saurgya’

India  ‘s fashion e-commerce giant,  Myntra,  has   partnered with former Indian cricket captain Sourav Ganguly to launch a new  premium ethnic wear brand,  ” Souragya .” The launch comes just ahead of Durga Puja, one of India’s biggest cultural and shopping festivals. The move is part of Myntra’s strategy to expand into regional luxury fashion through celebrity-led brands.

11 India to set up satellite tracking station near Diego Garcia

India and Mauritius  have signed a landmark agreement to  establish a satellite tracking and communication station at Diego Garcia  (home to a US-UK military base)  near  the Chagos Archipelago   in  the Indian Ocean Region (IOR)  . This move will strengthen India’s strategic presence amid growing Chinese activities in the Indian Ocean. The agreement was signed during the visit of Mauritius Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam to India. This station will enable India to track and receive data from its satellites and launch vehicles.

12 Sentient AI Launches Open AGI Network for 2 Million Users

 In a landmark move in  the global artificial intelligence (AI) space , AI startup Sentient  has launched  its  open-source Artificial General Intelligence (AGI)  network. The launch took place on September 17, 2025  , with access available to  2 million (2 million) waiting users  . This initiative has positioned India as a leader in open AI innovation, allowing it to compete directly  with global giants like OpenAI  and  Amazon Web Services (AWS)  . The platform features 40+ AI agents and models, which integrate with 50+ data sources and collaborate in real time. The AGI network is connected to multiple blockchains. A Sentient Chat interface has been made available to users. Being open-source, developers worldwide can contribute and monetize their models through a token-based rewards system.

13 Women and Child Development Minister Annapurna Devi inaugurated 502 Cradle-Anganwadi cum Child Care Centres

Women and Child Development Minister Annapurna Devi,  along   with  Delhi  Chief  Minister Rekha Gupta, inaugurated  502 Palna-Anganwadi cum Child Care Centers  in Delhi. These centers were established under the Seva Pakhwada initiative  . Speaking on the occasion, Mrs. Annapurna Devi stated that working women will benefit from these centers and that these centers will provide a safe place to raise children. She added that these centers will also provide nutritious food and education for children. Mrs. Annapurna Devi stated that the government is committed to the health and well-being of women.

14 Central Zone, Duleep Trophy champions for the seventh time: beat South Zone by 6 wickets in the final

Central  Zone  defeated South Zone  by 6 wickets to  win  the 2025 Duleep Trophy . The match was played at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru. With this victory, Central Zone won the title after 11 years (for the first time since 2014–15). The  team was captained by Rajat Patidar, who recently led Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) to their first IPL title.

15 World Bamboo Day 2025

 World Bamboo Day  2025  will be celebrated worldwide on  18 September , with the aim of promoting bamboo as a sustainable and multipurpose resource  . Bamboo is often referred to as ” Green Gold ” because it is vital for rural livelihoods, environmental protection, and innovation in industry and design. India, one of the world’s largest bamboo producers, plays a key role in promoting bamboo through initiatives such as the National Bamboo Mission. This day is particularly important for competitive exams in the context of the environment, rural economy, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). World Bamboo Day was first celebrated in Bangkok in 2009 (8th World Bamboo Congress).