Current Affairs 08/09/2025
1. Deepak Mittal has recently been appointed as India’s next ambassador to which country?
Answer : UAE
• Who is Dr. Deepak Mittal?
He is a senior Indian diplomat from the Indian Foreign Service (IFS), batch of 1998. He has previously worked in important positions in India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and abroad.
• His Career Highlights:
• Served as India’s Ambassador to Qatar (2020–2022), where he played a key role in India–Qatar relations, including energy, trade, and welfare of the Indian community.
• Represented India in the first official meeting with the Taliban in Doha, Qatar, in 2021 after the Taliban took control of Afghanistan.
• Has also worked on India’s policy towards Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Iran while serving in the Pakistan–Afghanistan–Iran (PAI) division of MEA.
• Held positions at India’s Permanent Mission to the UN in Geneva.
• India–UAE Relations:
- UAE hosts 3.5 million Indians, the largest Indian community abroad.
- It is India’s third-largest trading partner (after the US and China).
- Both countries signed the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) in 2022, boosting bilateral trade.
- Defence, space cooperation, renewable energy, and digital innovation are also major areas of partnership.
2. In 2025, India and which country completed 60 years of diplomatic relations?
Answer : Singapore
• India and Singapore established formal diplomatic relations in 1965, the year Singapore gained independence.
• In 2025, both nations celebrated the 60th anniversary of these ties.
• Key Highlights of the 60-Year Celebration
• Joint Logo Unveiled
A special commemorative logo was launched by the governments of both countries.
• It featured:
- Flags of India and Singapore,
- National flowers (Lotus for India , Orchid for Singapore ),
- The number “60”, symbolizing six decades of friendship.
• High-Level Visits
- Singapore’s Prime Minister Lawrence Wong visited India (Sept 2–4, 2025) to mark the anniversary.
- During his visit, both countries reaffirmed their partnership in trade, defence, digital economy, education, and people-to-people exchanges
Cultural and Diaspora Ties
- Around 650,000 Indians live in Singapore, making it a vital cultural and economic bridge.
- Both nations also collaborate through education exchanges and cultural events.
• Why It Matters
- Singapore is India’s gateway to ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations).
- Both countries share a vision for Indo-Pacific stability, maritime security, and economic growth.
- The 60-year celebration shows that the relationship is not just historic but also forward-looking, focusing on innovation, sustainability, and security
3. On which date will ‘PMAY-U Housing Day’ be observed to mark the first anniversary of PMAY-Urban 2.0 launch?
Answer : 17th Sept 2025
• What is PMAY-U?
- PMAY-U (Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Urban) is India’s flagship housing scheme that aims to provide “Housing for All” in cities.
- In September 2024, the government launched PMAY-Urban 2.0, which continued the mission with new features such as better subsidy, green housing, digital monitoring, and faster beneficiary support.
• PMAY-U Housing Day 2025
• Date: 17th September 2025
• Occasion: Marks the first anniversary of PMAY-Urban 2.0.
• Purpose: To celebrate the achievements of the housing scheme, raise awareness, and showcase success stories of beneficiaries
• Part of Angikaar 2025 Campaign :
Angikaar 2025 is a nationwide outreach program being run from 4th September to 31st October 2025.
• It aims to:
- Inform citizens about housing benefits.
- Promote environmental sustainability (energy-efficient and green homes).
- Strengthen community participation in the scheme.
• Why it Matters
- PMAY-U has already helped millions of urban poor get affordable housing.
- The 2.0 version makes housing more accessible and sustainable.
- Observing PMAY-U Housing Day annually will keep public attention focused on the mission of “Housing for All”.
4. Recently, the Supreme Court Collegium recommended the appointment of 26 new judges in which High Court?
Answer : Allahabad High Court
• What happened?
• In September 2025, the Supreme Court Collegium (headed by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud) recommended the appointment of 26 new judges to the Allahabad High Court.
• This is one of the largest batches of recommendations made for any High Court in recent years.
• Why Allahabad High Court?
• The Allahabad High Court (Uttar Pradesh) is the largest High Court in India, both in terms of sanctioned strength of judges and case load.
• It deals with a huge number of pending cases — more than 11 lakh cases, making judicial vacancies a serious issue.
• The High Court’s sanctioned strength is 160+ judges, but actual working strength has often remained much lower due to vacancies.
• About the Recommendation
• The 26 names include advocates and judicial officers with strong professional backgrounds.
• The recommendation has been sent to the Central Government, which will process it further before final appointments are notified by the President of India.
• Once appointed, these judges will help in:
• Reducing case backlog.
• Speeding up justice delivery in Uttar Pradesh.
• Strengthening the judicial system in India’s most populous state.
5. Who has been appointed as the honorary ambassador for gender equality by UNFPA India?
Answer : Kriti Sanon
• About the Appointment
• On 1 September 2025, Kriti Sanon, the National Award–winning actor and entrepreneur, was appointed as the Honorary Ambassador for Gender Equality by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) India.
• The announcement was made at a special event in Mumbai.
• Role & Responsibilities
• As UNFPA India’s Honorary Ambassador, Kriti Sanon will:
• Raise awareness about gender equality, women’s empowerment, and youth rights.
• Advocate for ending gender-based violence and harmful practices.
• Promote education and equal opportunities for women and girls.
• Support campaigns that focus on health, safety, and dignity of women.
• Engage in field visits to UNFPA-supported programs in India.
• Represent India globally by participating in international advocacy events.
• Why Kriti Sanon?
• Kriti Sanon has a strong youth connect and is admired as a role model for young Indians.
• She has often spoken about women’s empowerment, confidence, and equal opportunities.
• UNFPA believes her influence can inspire millions of young people to challenge gender stereotypes and embrace equality.