Current Affairs 04/09/2025
1. Where did PM Narendra Modi inaugurate Semicon India 2025?
Answer : New Delhi (Yashobhoomi)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated Semicon India 2025 at Yashobhoomi (India International Convention and Expo Centre), Dwarka, New Delhi. This mega event brings together global leaders, industry giants, policymakers, and innovators from the semiconductor and electronics ecosystem. It is one of India’s most significant platforms to showcase its potential as a semiconductor manufacturing and design hub.
The focus of Semicon India 2025 is on building a strong and sustainable semiconductor ecosystem in India. With increasing global demand for chips in areas like 5G technology, artificial intelligence, electric vehicles, cloud computing, consumer electronics, defense, and space research, India is positioning itself as a key player in the supply chain.
The government has already launched the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) with an aim to attract billions of dollars in investment and encourage domestic as well as international companies to set up fabrication plants (fabs), assembly, testing, marking, and packaging (ATMP) units in the country. By organizing such global summits, India is not only highlighting its skilled workforce, cost competitiveness, and large market base, but also sending a message of policy stability and government support for the industry.
At the event, PM Modi underlined that semiconductors are the “building blocks” of the digital economy and are crucial for India’s technological self-reliance. He emphasized India’s ambition to become a semiconductor powerhouse, reducing dependence on imports and contributing significantly to the global supply chain disruptions witnessed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The summit also serves as a platform for global collaborations, bringing in technology partnerships, R&D tie-ups, and knowledge sharing between Indian startups, research institutions, and multinational corporations. It reflects India’s vision to transform into a semiconductor hub of the future, boosting job creation, innovation, and economic growth.
2. What is the name of India’s first fully made-in-India semiconductor chip?
Answer : Vikram-3201
What is Vikram-3201?
The Vikram-3201 is India’s first fully indigenous 32-bit microprocessor, developed by the Semiconductor Laboratory (SCL), Mohali under the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) in collaboration with the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC). It was formally unveiled at Semicon India 2025 in New Delhi, where it was presented to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Why is it important?
1. First fully made-in-India chip – Designed, developed, and fabricated entirely in India, using domestic expertise and infrastructure.
2. Strategic autonomy – Reduces dependence on foreign microprocessors, especially critical for defense, aerospace, and space missions.
3. Boost to Atmanirbhar Bharat – Marks a major milestone in India’s vision of becoming self-reliant in the semiconductor sector.
4. Global competitiveness – Positions India in the global semiconductor supply chain, at a time when chips are essential for everything from smartphones to satellites.
Key Features of Vikram-3201
• Architecture: Custom 32-bit RISC (Reduced Instruction Set Computer) processor architecture.
• Fabrication Technology: Produced at SCL’s 180 nm CMOS fabrication facility in Mohali.
• Radiation-hardened: Designed to withstand high radiation levels and harsh environments – crucial for space missions.
• Instruction Support: Initially supported Ada language, but is being upgraded to include C language, making it easier for wider applications.
• Toolchain: Comes with its own compiler, assembler, linker, and simulator, all developed indigenously.
• Validation: The first batch was successfully tested in ISRO’s PSLV-C60 mission, proving its reliability in space applications.
Applications of Vikram-3201
• Space Exploration: Can be used in satellites, launch vehicles, and deep-space missions.
• Defense Sector: Useful in radar systems, communication devices, and missile guidance systems.
• Automotive Industry: Can power navigation, automation, and control systems in vehicles.
• Consumer Electronics: Future adaptations may allow use in IoT devices, smart gadgets, and computing systems.
• Research & Supercomputing: Provides a foundation for future high-performance chips designed in India.
3. Where did the 21st India–US joint military exercise “Yudh Abhyas” begin?
Answer : Alaska
The 21st edition of the India–US joint military exercise “Yudh Abhyas” began on September 1, 2025, at Fort Wainwright, Alaska, USA. The exercise runs till September 14, 2025, and involves over 450 Indian Army soldiers alongside units of the US Army.
This edition is particularly significant because it is being conducted in the subarctic conditions of Alaska, which test the endurance, adaptability, and combat-readiness of soldiers in extreme cold-weather and mountainous terrain—conditions similar to those faced along the India–China border in Ladakh and the Himalayan frontiers.
Key Focus Areas of Yudh Abhyas 2025
1. High-Altitude Warfare Training – Training in survival, movement, and combat at high altitudes and freezing climates.
2. Counter-Drone Operations – Both armies are practicing techniques to detect, neutralize, and use drones in modern warfare.
3. Counter-Terrorism and Counter-Insurgency – Special drills on urban warfare, ambush operations, and hostage rescue missions.
4. Logistics in Harsh Terrain – Coordinating supply chains and medical evacuation in snowbound regions.
5. Joint Command Exercises – Enhancing interoperability by simulating real-world battlefield scenarios under a combined command structure.
4. When was Eid Milad-un-Nabi observed in 2025?
Answer : Sept 5
Eid Milad-un-Nabi, also called Mawlid al-Nabi, is the festival that marks the birth anniversary of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). In 2025, it was observed on Friday, 5th September, corresponding to the 12th day of Rabi’ al-Awwal in the Islamic lunar calendar. The celebrations generally start on the evening before, i.e., 4th September, continuing through the day of 5th September, depending on moon sightings in different regions.
Significance of Eid Milad-un-Nabi
1. Celebrating the Prophet’s Life:
• The day honors the teachings, life, and legacy of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
• It is a reminder of his principles of peace, justice, tolerance, and compassion.
2. Spiritual Practices:
• Muslims participate in special prayers (Salat al-Mawlid) in mosques.
• Recitation of the Quran, Naats (poetry in praise of the Prophet), and religious lectures are common.
• Devotees reflect on the Prophet’s message and how to implement it in daily life.
3. Community and Charity:
• Acts of charity (Zakat and Sadaqah) are encouraged, and many distribute food and sweets to the needy.
• Processions (Juloos) are organized in streets, with people singing devotional songs and carrying banners about the Prophet’s life.
4. Cultural Variations:
• While globally the date corresponds to the 12th of Rabi’ al-Awwal, moon sighting differences may shift celebrations by a day in some countries.
• In India, different states observe public holidays to enable participation in communal events.