The 10-day Ganesh Chaturthi festival (Aug 27–Sep 6, 2025) concluded on Anant Chaturdashi with Ganesh Visarjan across India.
Celebrations: Iconic mandals like Lalbaugcha Raja in Mumbai drew lakhs, while Ahmedabad and Hyderabad focused on eco-friendly immersions. Families performed Uttarang Puja at home before immersing idols.
Significance: The festival reinforced devotion, unity, and cultural heritage, ending with the promise: “Come back soon, Bappa!”
Bhutanese Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay, accompanied by his spouse Aum Tashi Doma, paid a four-day official visit to India from September 3–6, 2025 to deepen bilateral, cultural, and spiritual ties.
His visit included Ayodhya (Ram Janmabhoomi & Hanumangarhi Temples), Rajgir (Consecration of the Royal Bhutan Temple with Je Khenpo), and Nalanda University, where he highlighted Bhutan’s Vajrayana traditions.
In Delhi, he held talks with Indian leaders including EAM S. Jaishankar. The visit underscored India–Bhutan friendship, Buddhist spiritual heritage, and regional cooperation under India’s Act East Policy.
Onam 2025 was celebrated on September 5, 2025(Thiruvonam Day). It is Kerala’s biggest harvest festival, marking the annual return of King Mahabali, remembered for his golden reign.
The festival highlights values of unity, equality, and prosperity. Major traditions include Pookalam (floral carpets), Onasadya (feast with 20+ vegetarian dishes), Vallam Kali (snake boat race), Pulikali (tiger dance), and Kaikottikali (women’s dance). Onam is a symbol of abundance and cultural heritage, bringing families and communities together in celebration.
Teachers’ Day is Celebrated annually on September 5th to honor the birth anniversary of Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, philosopher, scholar, and second President of India.
Significance: Recognizes teachers as mentors, guides, and role models who shape knowledge, values, and character.
Qualities of a Great Teacher: Patience, empathy, passion for teaching, adaptability, integrity, and fairness.
On 3 September 2025, the Union Cabinet chaired by PM Narendra Modi approved a ₹1,500 crore Incentive Scheme under the National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM) to boost domestic recycling capacity for critical minerals.
On 3 September 2025, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Union WCD Minister Annapurna Devi launched the Guidelines for Co-location of Anganwadi Centres with Schools at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi.
The 56th GST Council Meeting, chaired by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in New Delhi on 3 September 2025, approved sweeping rate rationalisation reforms to benefit the common man, farmers, labour-intensive industries, and the health sector.
Financial Impact: Revenue loss of ₹48,000 crore, but deemed fiscally sustainable.
Meeting Participation: Attended by Union Ministers, State CMs, Deputy CMs, Governors & Finance Ministers from across India.
On the sidelines of Semicon India 2025 in New Delhi, On 2 September 2025, India unveiled its first fully Made-in-India semiconductor chip, named Vikram-3201, developed by ISRO’s Semiconductor Laboratory (SCL).
Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw presented the chip to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, marking a giant step in India’s semiconductor self-reliance journey under the India Semiconductor Mission (2021).
The 56th GST Council Meeting began in New Delhi on 3 September 2025, chaired by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. The two-day meeting focuses on next-generation GST reforms, including rate rationalisation and compliance simplification.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his Independence Day speech, emphasized the benefits of GST and announced that the new reforms would be unveiled on Diwali 2025, reducing taxes on essential goods and providing relief to farmers, the middle class, MSMEs, local vendors, and consumers.
On 2 September 2025, Tata Electronics Pvt. Ltd. and Merck signed an MoU to advance India’s semiconductor and electronics manufacturing. The collaboration focuses on semiconductor materials, fab infrastructure, and specialty chemical and gas distribution for Tata Electronics’ upcoming ₹91,000 crore (USD 11 billion) fabrication plant in Dholera, Gujarat.
Merck will provide high-purity materials, advanced gas/chemical systems, turnkey fab services, and AI-powered Material Intelligence™ solutions. The partnership also emphasizes safety, best practices, supply chain localization, warehousing, talent development, and industry standards.
Singapore’s Prime Minister Lawrence Wong paid a three-day official visit to India (September 2–4, 2025), marking his first trip as PM and celebrating 60 years of India–Singapore diplomatic relations.
He held talks with PM Narendra Modi, President Droupadi Murmu, and key Indian ministers on strengthening cooperation in digital innovation, fintech, green energy, advanced manufacturing, skill development, healthcare, and education.
On 1 September 2025, TCA Kalyani, a 1991-batch officer of the Indian Civil Accounts Service (ICAS), assumed charge as the 29th Controller General of Accounts (CGA) in the Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance. She brings over three decades of experience across key ministries including Defence, Telecom, Fertilizers, Finance, Social Justice & Empowerment, Information & Broadcasting, and Home Affairs.
Kalyani, a gold medallist from Lady Shri Ram College, Delhi University, with advanced degrees from JNU, has contributed significantly to reforms such as Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) for fertilizers, digital payment reforms at MTNL, and revival of the Fertilizer Corporation of India.
The 21st edition of the India–US Joint Military Exercise Yudh Abhyas 2025 is being held from 1–14 September 2025 at Fort Wainwright, Alaska. The Indian Army’s Madras Regiment is participating alongside the US 5th Infantry Regiment (Arctic Wolves Brigade, 11th Airborne Division).
Over two weeks, both sides will practice heliborne operations, mountain warfare, UAS/Counter-UAS tactics, artillery, aviation, and electronic warfare. Experts will also conduct sessions on information warfare, communications, and logistics. The exercise will conclude with joint tactical manoeuvres, live-fire drills, and high-altitude warfare training, focusing on UN peacekeeping operations and enhancing readiness for multi-domain challenges.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated Semicon India 2025 on 2 September at Yashobhoomi, New Delhi. The three-day conference (2–4 September) aims to strengthen India’s semiconductor ecosystem, positioning the country as a global hub for chip design, manufacturing, and innovation.
Semicon India 2025 has drawn 20,750+ participants, 2,500 delegates from 48+ countries, 150+ speakers (including 50+ global leaders), and 350+ exhibitors. Highlights include country pavilions, international roundtables, workforce development, and startup innovation showcases.
Following earlier editions in Bengaluru (2022), Gandhinagar (2023), and Greater Noida (2024), the New Delhi edition marks another milestone in advancing India’s semiconductor journey.
The Indian NGO Foundation to Educate Girls Globally (popularly Educate Girls) has been named a 2025 Ramon Magsaysay Awardee, often called Asia’s Nobel Prize.
Founded in 2007 by Safeena Husain in Rajasthan, the organisation focuses on mobilising communities and government resources to ensure girls’ education in rural and disadvantaged areas.
Educate Girls is the first Indian organisation to win this award.
The 67th Ramon Magsaysay Award will be presented on 7 November 2025 at the Metropolitan Theatre, Manila.
25th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit held in Tianjin from 31 Aug – 1 Sep 2025, the largest in history with leaders from 20+ countries and 10 international organizations.
GDP Growth: India’s economy grew 7.8% in April–June 2025, up from 6.5% in Q1 2024-25.
Key Drivers:
RBI Outlook:
Growth exceeded RBI’s projection of 6.5% for Q1. Full-year 2025-26 forecast remains 6.5%.
On 29 August 2025, India and Japan signed a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) to strengthen collaboration in the critical minerals and mining sector during PM Modi’s visit to Tokyo for the 15th India-Japan Annual Summit. The pact, signed between India’s Ministry of Mines and Japan’s METI, focuses on building resilient supply chains, joint mineral projects, sustainable deep-sea mining, stockpiling strategies, and investments in India and third countries.
PM Modi and Japanese PM Shigeru Ishiba also set a target of 10 trillion yen Japanese investment in India over 10 years, emphasizing cooperation in SMEs, start-ups, and eight pillars: investment, innovation, economic security, environment, technology, health, mobility, people-to-people exchanges, and state-prefecture ties. ISRO and JAXA to collaborate on Chandrayaan-5 under LUPEX programme.
India has appointed Dinesh K. Patnaik (IFS, 1990 batch), currently Ambassador to Spain, as the next High Commissioner to Canada.
Canada has named veteran diplomat Christopher Cooter as its new High Commissioner to India.
These appointments mark a step toward restoring diplomatic ties strained in October 2024 when India recalled High Commissioner Sanjay Kumar Verma after tensions with then-PM Justin Trudeau.
Relations began improving after Mark Carney became Canadian PM, leading to a positive Modi–Carney bilateral meeting at the G7 Outreach Summit (June 18, 2025).
Both sides agreed to reinstate High Commissioners as the first step in normalizing ties.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has embarked on two-nation tour from August 29 to September 1, 2025, visiting Japan and China to strengthen India’s strategic partnerships, enhance regional cooperation, and participate in high-level diplomatic engagements.
Japan (Aug 29–30, 2025):
China (Aug 31–Sep 1, 2025):
National Sports Day is observed annually on 29 August to commemorate the birth anniversary of Major Dhyan Chand, India’s hockey legend who won Olympic gold medals in 1928, 1932, and 1936.
The day promotes sportsmanship, fitness, and national pride, and prestigious awards like the Khel Ratna, Arjuna, and Dronacharya Awards are conferred.
The theme for 2025 is “Ek Ghanta, Khel ke Maidan Main” (One Hour on the Playground), encouraging daily physical activity.
On 27 August 2025, the Union Cabinet approved the restructuring of the Prime Minister Street Vendor’s Atma Nirbhar Nidhi (PM SVANidhi) Scheme, with an extension of the lending period until 31 March 2030.
The Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY), one of the world’s largest financial inclusion programmes, completed 11 years on 28 August 2025. Announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 15 August 2014 and launched on 28 August 2014.
PMJDY is a National Mission on Financial Inclusion, ensuring universal access to banking services. It provides:
On 27 August 2025, the President of India appointed:
The appointments followed the recommendation of the Supreme Court Collegium headed by Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai.
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued a draft notice implementing 50% tariffs on Indian imports, effective 27 August 2025, in line with President Donald Trump’s Executive Order 14329.
The move follows Trump’s earlier announcement of an additional 25% tariff, citing India’s high trade barriers and close energy and defense ties with Russia.
Ganesh Chaturthi, also known as Vinayaka Chaturthi, celebrates the birth of Lord Ganesha, revered as the remover of obstacles and the god of wisdom and prosperity.
Celebration Dates (2025): From 27 August to 6 September, ending with Ganesh Visarjan on Anant Chaturdashi.
Historical Significance: Though ancient in origin, it became a mass community festival in the late 19th century when Lokmanya Tilak used it to unite Indians during colonial rule.
PM Modi inaugurated Maruti-Suzuki’s first Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) e VITARA and the TDSG lithium-ion battery facility at Hansalpur, Ahmedabad on 26 August 2025.
Key Points:
According to Ministry of Labour and Employment, Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) 2023-24, Women workforce participation rate (WPR) nearly doubling from 22% (2017-18) to 40.3% (2023-24), and unemployment falling from 5.6% to 3.2%.
ISRO Successfully Conducts First Integrated Air Drop Test (IADT-01) for Gaganyaan Mission on 24 Aug 2025, at Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC), Sriharikota.
Indian weightlifter Mirabai Chanu clinched the gold medal in the women’s 48kg category at the 2025 Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships in Ahmedabad (25 Aug 2025).