Daily Current Affairs – 23-09-2025
Tamil Nadu News
Chennai One App: Unified Ticketing for All Public Transport
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin launched the ‘Chennai One’ app, India’s first unified ticketing system for all public transport, including buses, suburban trains, and metro rail. Developed under the Chennai Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority (CUMTA), the app enables passengers to register once and use a single platform for multiple transport modes. Available in multiple languages like Tamil, English, Telugu, and Kannada, the app aims to reduce waiting time and improve commuter convenience. The CM also inaugurated the second phase of CUMTA’s study building and approved a 25-year metropolitan transport plan for Chennai.
Launch: Tamil Nadu CM M.K. Stalin launched the ‘Chennai One’ app at the Secretariat.
First in India: Integrates all modes of public transport into one platform.
Coverage: Tickets for city buses, suburban trains, and metro rail.
Languages: Available in English, Tamil, Telugu, and Kannada.
Features:
Single passenger registration for all transport modes.
Tickets via bus ticket or fare card.
Eliminates queues, saves passenger time.
Additional Step: Alongside the app, CM inaugurated the 2nd phase of CUMTA’s study building and approved a 25-year transport plan for Chennai.
TN to Launch SHG-Run Canteens in Government Colleges under Mahalir Thittam
The Tamil Nadu government will soon launch canteens in all government colleges, to be operated by Self-Help Groups (SHGs) under the Mahalir Thittam scheme managed by the TNCDW.
In the first phase, 269 campuses covering Arts & Science, Polytechnic, Teachers’ Education, and Engineering colleges will be included. Colleges have been directed to allocate space and provide basic facilities such as water, electricity, and waste management. Menus and pricing will be fixed in consultation with principals, student representatives, and SHG members.
A student feedback system will monitor quality and hygiene, while SHGs will be trained in serving nutritious meals. District project officers will coordinate operations and arrange loans. The initiative follows consultations highlighting that many students attend classes without breakfast, and it aims to ensure access to healthy food. The plan will later expand to government-aided colleges.
Scheme: Mahalir Thittam (Tamil Nadu Corporation for Development of Women – TNCDW).
Implementing Body: Self-Help Groups (SHGs).
Coverage (Phase 1): 269 Government Colleges — Arts & Science, Polytechnic, Teachers’ Education, and Engineering.
National News
Kerala VC Appointments: SC to Review Governor’s Petition After Expert Panel Report
The Supreme Court has clarified that the petition filed by Kerala Governor Arif Mohammad Khan, seeking to exclude Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan from the Vice-Chancellor (VC) selection committee for two state universities, will be examined only after an expert committee submits its report.
Earlier, on August 18, 2025, the SC had ordered the formation of a selection committee headed by Justice Khanwilkar (Retd.), also allowing the CM’s participation. The Attorney General, appearing for the Governor, cited the West Bengal VC case, where an SC bench led by Justice Surya Kant quashed state interference and upheld that the Governor, as Chancellor, has sole authority over VC appointments.
The court, however, adjourned the matter, stating that a final decision will be made once the expert report is available. The dispute is part of a larger conflict across states like Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, and Kerala, over the role of Governors and state governments in university administration.
Amid U.S. Tariff Row, IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw Adopts Zoho
Union IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced that he is adopting Zoho’s software suite, developed by the Tenkasi, Tamil Nadu–based company, for preparing documents, presentations, and spreadsheets.
The Minister emphasized this shift as part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Swadeshi call encouraging the use of Indian products and services.
The announcement comes against the backdrop of ongoing U.S.-India trade tensions, with the U.S. recently imposing 50% tariffs on Indian imports. Zoho, a leading Indian SaaS company, has crossed $1 billion in annual revenue and continues to expand globally while also supporting government operations in India.
Important Points:
Minister: Ashwini Vaishnaw, Minister of Electronics & IT.
Company: Zoho, headquartered in Tenkasi, Tamil Nadu.
Navi Mumbai Set for FIA-Certified Night Race
This December, Maharashtra will mark a milestone in Indian motorsport as Navi Mumbai prepares to host the finale of the Indian Racing Festival (IRF). The event will be held on the State’s first FIA-grade street circuit, a 3.753 km-long, 14-turn track that will light up Palm Beach Road and Nerul Lake for a floodlit night race.
The racing weekend will feature the Indian Racing League (IRL) and the FIA-certified Formula 4 Indian Championship, with participation from leading international and Indian drivers.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis hailed the event as a “historic leap for Maharashtra’s sporting ambitions”, emphasizing its potential to promote tourism, job creation, and young racing talent.
International News
China to Launch K-Visa from October 1 as Alternative to US H-1B
China has announced the launch of a new K-Visa scheme from October 1, 2025, designed as an alternative to the US H-1B visa program. Unlike the H-1B, the K-Visa does not require an invitation from a Chinese company, making it easier for skilled workers to enter and work in China.
The initiative aims to attract young researchers excelling in science and technology to strengthen China’s innovation base.
The K-Visa will be added to the 12 existing visa categories already available for science and technology professionals, with additional benefits promised. The move comes as the US has significantly raised H-1B visa fees.
Currently, India dominates H-1B usage with 71% of approvals (2.8 lakh workers), followed by China at 11.7% (46,600 workers).
Statistics (H-1B Visa):
India → 71% of H-1B workers (~2.8 lakh).
China → 11.7% (~46,600).
Russia Extends New START Nuclear Arms Treaty Implementation with US by One Year
Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced that Russia will continue to implement the New START nuclear arms control treaty for one more year, even after its scheduled expiry on February 5, 2026.
The treaty, originally signed in 2010 by Barack Obama and Dmitry Medvedev, limits each country to no more than 1,550 nuclear warheads and 700 deployed strategic missiles and bombers.
Putin emphasized that abandoning the treaty would destabilize global peace and encourage nuclear proliferation. He urged the United States to adopt the same stance and directed Russian intelligence agencies to monitor compliance closely, warning that any violation could undermine America’s current strategic edge.
Treaty: New START (Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty).
Signed in: 2010, by US President Barack Obama & Russian President Dmitry Medvedev.
British PM Keir Starmer Likely to Visit India in October for Summit Talks
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is expected to visit India between October 7–9, 2025, coinciding with the Global Fintech Fest in Mumbai. He will hold summit-level talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, focusing on trade, technology, and security.
The visit follows the signing of the India–UK Free Trade Agreement, which is pending ratification in the UK and will likely take effect in 2026. Both sides are also negotiating a bilateral investment treaty and had earlier launched a Technology Security Initiative.
The summit agenda will also include education cooperation, with UK universities like Southampton planning campuses in India. The visit comes amid shifting global geopolitics, with strained US–India trade ties due to tariffs and penalties, while the EU has expressed concerns about India’s engagements with Russia.
Super Typhoon Ragasa
Super Typhoon Ragasa, with sustained winds of 215 km/h and gusts reaching 295 km/h, has hit the Philippines and is now heading toward southern China.
The storm made landfall at Calayan Island in the Babuyan chain. Transport and schools have been suspended in affected regions, while Cathay Pacific plans to cancel more than 500 flights.
Who Named Ragasa?
"Ragasa" was contributed by the Philippines.
It is a Filipino word meaning "strong flow" or "rush" (often describing fast water or a surge).
Typhoon names in the Pacific are decided by the WMO Typhoon Committee, with member nations contributing words from their languages.
What is a Super Typhoon?
A Super Typhoon is an extremely powerful stage of a typhoon that forms in the Western Pacific Ocean.
It is classified as a “Super Typhoon” when the maximum wind speed reaches 241 km/h (150 mph) or above.
Example: Super Typhoon Haiyan (2013) – caused massive destruction in the Philippines.
Sports News
Team World Clinches 3rd Laver Cup Title Defeating Team Europe 15–9
At the 8th edition of the Laver Cup tennis tournament held in the United States, Team World defeated Team Europe 15–9 to claim the championship. This marks Team World’s third title in the history of the annual tournament. The event brings together leading players, with European players representing Team Europe and players from outside Europe forming Team World.
The competition, held over three days from September 19, awards 1, 2, and 3 points respectively on each day of play. Team Europe began strongly with a 3–1 lead on the first day, but Team World dominated Days 2 and 3, finishing with a decisive 15–9 victory.
Tournament: 8th Laver Cup Tennis, held in the United States.
Result: Team World beat Team Europe 15–9.
Achievement: Team World’s 3rd Laver Cup title.
Format: Annual tournament — Europe vs World.
Reports and Indices
CAG Report 2022–23: 16 States with Revenue Surplus, 12 States with Deficit
States with Revenue Surplus (16 States)
Uttar Pradesh – ₹37,263 crore (highest)
Madhya Pradesh – ₹5,310 crore
Kerala – ₹4,091 crore
Other Surplus States: (not all values given in report, but included in 16) – names not fully detailed in the news.
States with Revenue Deficit (12 States)
Tamil Nadu
Assam
Andhra Pradesh
Kerala (still deficit side too, depending on revenue-expenditure ratio)
Rajasthan
West Bengal
Plus others (total 12 deficit states)
The CAG report on State Finances (FY 2022–23) revealed that 16 of India’s 28 states recorded a revenue surplus, while 12 states faced a revenue deficit. Uttar Pradesh topped the list with a surplus of ₹37,263 crore, followed by Madhya Pradesh and Kerala.
States like Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Rajasthan, and West Bengal continue to register high revenue-to-expenditure ratios between 80–90%. Nearly 50% of fiscal grants provided to states were revenue deficit grants, with West Bengal (15.76%) receiving the highest share.
Along with Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Assam, and Punjab, 10 states accounted for 94% of such grants. In total, ₹1,72,849 crore was allocated as sectoral grants, mainly towards revenue deficit, panchayats, urban bodies, and disaster response funds.
Economy News
Bank of Baroda Launches ‘e-Gift BoB Digital Vouchers’ for Customers
The Bank of Baroda has launched a new digital gifting option called ‘e-Gift BoB Digital Gifts’, enabling customers to gift vouchers to relatives, friends, and others through the bank’s new mobile application.
The vouchers can be issued in denominations ranging from Re.1 to ₹10,000 and can be redeemed by recipients to purchase goods and services of their choice.
These vouchers are non-transferable, and if not redeemed before the expiry date, the value will be credited back to the sender’s account. The initiative strengthens Bank of Baroda’s push toward digital banking and customer convenience.