05 Sep 2025: PRELIMS CURRENT AFFAIRS

Prelims Current Affairs includes International Day of Charity, Teachers’ Day (India), NIRF Rankings 2025, FDI in India rises 15% in Q1 FY26, Karma Puja, Securities Appellate Tribunal (SAT), Global Peace Index 2025 and Nalanda University.

IMPORTANT DAYS

1. INTERNATIONAL DAY OF CHARITY

Observed every year on 5 September by all United Nations member states.
Purpose: To promote and mobilize charitable efforts worldwide. Encourage donations, volunteering, and awareness activities to reduce poverty and support people during humanitarian crises.
Declared By: United Nations General Assembly in 2012 (Resolution 67/105).
Proposed By: Hungary.
Date Significance: Chosen to mark the death anniversary of Mother Teresa (Nobel Peace Prize laureate), known for her lifelong service to the poor and needy.

2. TEACHERS DAY (INDIA)

Celebrated on 5 September every year to honor Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, India’s second President and great philosopher.
Introduced In: 1962

About Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan

Born: 5 September 1888, Tiruttani (Tamil Nadu).
Education: Studied Philosophy (B.A. & M.A.) at Madras Christian College.

Academic Career

Professor of Philosophy at Mysore, Calcutta, and Oxford universities.
Vice-Chancellor: Andhra University and Banaras Hindu University (BHU).
Chancellor: Delhi University.

Diplomatic Career

India’s Delegate to UNESCO (1946–52), also Chairman of UNESCO Executive Board (1948–49).
Ambassador to the Soviet Union (1949–52).

Political Career

Vice President of India (1952–62): First person to hold this post.
President of India (1962–67): Elected with 98.25% votes; served till 1967.

Legacy & Honours

Bharat Ratna (1954): India’s highest civilian award.
Requested that his birthday be celebrated as Teachers’ Day instead of a personal celebration.
Many institutions are named after him, including medical, arts, and Ayurvedic universities.

REPORT

3. NIRF RANKINGS 2025

Current Context: Released by Ministry of Education on 4 September 2025.
IIT-Madras secured 1st position in the Overall category for the 7th consecutive year, followed by IISc Bengaluru and IIT-Mumbai.

About NIRF

Launched: 2015 by Ministry of Human Resource Development (now Ministry of Education).
Purpose: Provides a ranking framework for Indian higher education institutions.
2025 marks the 10th edition with evaluation across 17 categories.

Highlights of 2025 Rankings

Top Overall Institutions:
- 1st IIT-Madras
- 2nd IISc Bengaluru
- 3rd IIT-Mumbai
Engineering: IIT-Madras (1st), IIT-Delhi (2nd)
Innovation: IIT-Madras (1st)
Research Institutions: IISc Bengaluru
Medical: AIIMS Delhi
Law: NLSIU Bengaluru
Management: IIM Ahmedabad (1st), IIM Bangalore (2nd)
Agriculture: IARI Delhi
Sustainable Development Goals (New Category): IIT-Madras

ECONOMY

4. FDI IN INDIA RISES 15% IN Q1 FY26

Current Context: FDI inflows rose 15% YoY to USD 18.62 bn (April–June FY26), compared to USD 16.17 bn in same quarter last year.
USA emerged as largest investor, with inflows tripling to USD 5.61 bn.

About FDI

Meaning: Investment by a company/individual from one country into business interests in another country.
Law: Governed under FEMA.
Regulator: RBI.

Relevant Data

Total FDI (Equity + Reinvested Earnings + Other Capital): USD 25.2 bn.
Top Sources: USA (USD 5.61 bn), Singapore (USD 4.59 bn), Mauritius (USD 2.08 bn).
Top Sectors: Computer Software & Hardware (USD 5.4 bn), Services (USD 3.28 bn), Automobiles (USD 1.29 bn).
Top States: Karnataka (USD 5.69 bn), Maharashtra (USD 5.36 bn), Tamil Nadu (USD 2.67 bn).

HISTORY

5. KARMA PUJA

Current Context: The Prime Minister greeted the nation, especially tribal communities, on Karma Puja.

About Karma Puja

Also called Karam or Karam Parab.
Type: Tribal festival linked with harvest and fertility.
Sacred Symbol: Karam tree (represents prosperity and auspiciousness).

Where Celebrated

States: Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, Assam.
Communities: Munda, Ho, Oraon, Baiga, Kharia, Santhal.

Celebration

Women sow seven types of grains a week before.
A Karam tree branch is planted in the courtyard/akhra.
Worship by pahan (tribal priest) with flowers and songs.
Ends with immersion of the branch in a river or pond.

ECONOMY

6. SECURITIES APPLLATE TRIBUNAL (SAT)

Current Context: Jane Street Group (US firm) filed an appeal in SAT against SEBI, alleging market manipulation.

About SAT

Established under: SEBI Act, 1992.
Type: Quasi-judicial statutory body.
Jurisdiction: Entire India.
Headquarters: Mumbai.

Functions

Hears appeals against orders of: SEBI, IRDAI, PFRDA.
Can be approached by any aggrieved person (companies, investors, intermediaries).

Composition

Presiding Officer: Retired/sitting SC Judge / Chief Justice / HC Judge (7+ years exp).
Judicial Members: HC Judges (5+ years).
Technical Members: Senior govt. officials/experts (15+ years exp in finance/securities).
Appointed by: Central Govt. in consultation with CJI.

Tenure & Powers

Tenure: 5 years (reappointment allowed, max age 70).
Powers: Same as a civil court (summon, examine, demand documents).
Appeals: Orders can be challenged in SC (on law questions).

REPORT

7. GLOBAL PEACE INDEX 2025

Current Context: Iceland again ranked most peaceful country in the world.

About GPI

Published By: Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP)
Coverage: 163 states & territories (99.7% of world population)
Indicators: 23 qualitative & quantitative
Main Domains:
1. Societal Safety & Security
2. Ongoing Domestic & International Conflict
3. Degree of Militarisation

Highlights 2025

Edition: 19th
Global Trend: Peacefulness continues to decline.
Conflicts: 59 active state-based conflicts (highest since WWII).
Deaths: 17 countries had 1,000+ conflict deaths in last year.
Conflict Resolution: Lowest success in 50 years.

Top 5 Peaceful Countries

Iceland (most peaceful since 2008)
Ireland
Austria
New Zealand
Switzerland

Least Peaceful Countries

Russia
Ukraine
Sudan
DR Congo
Yemen

Regional Highlights

Most Peaceful Region: Western & Central Europe
Least Peaceful Region: MENA
South Asia: 2nd least peaceful region. India ranked 115th (improved by 1 position from 2024).
Most Peaceful Asian Countries: Singapore (6th), Japan (12th), Malaysia (13th), Bhutan (21st), Mongolia (37th).

HISTORY

8. 200th BIRTH ANNIVERSARY OF DADABHAI NAOROJI

Current Context: India celebrated 200th birth anniversary of Dadabhai Naoroji (“Grand Old Man of India”).

About Dadabhai Naoroji (1825–1917)

Social Reform
- Founded Literary and Scientific Society (1848) – established 6 girls’ schools by 1849.
- Founded Rast Goftar newspaper.
- Co-founded Rahnumai Mazdayasan Sabha (1851) to reform Parsi society.
Economic Contributions
- Drain of Wealth Theory.
- Writings: Poverty of India (1876), Poverty and Un-British Rule in India (1901).
- Raised exploitation issues in forums like East India Association.
Political Contributions
- Moderate Leader – peaceful methods.
- Founded London Indian Society (1865) and East India Association (1866).
- First Indian MP in British Parliament (Liberal Party, 1892).
- As INC President (1906) – declared Swaraj (Self-Government) as Congress goal.
- Mentored Tilak, Gokhale, Gandhi.

9. NALANDA UNIVERSITY

Current Context: PM of Bhutan visited Nalanda University in Bihar.

About Nalanda University

Founded: 5th Century by Gupta Emperor Kumaragupta.
Type: World’s first residential university.
Location: Rajgir, Bihar (UNESCO World Heritage Site).
Patrons: King Harshavardhana (7th c.), Pala rulers (8th–12th c.).
International Scholars: From China, Japan, Korea, Tibet, Mongolia, Sri Lanka, SE Asia.
Chinese Scholar Xuanzang recorded Nalanda’s learning traditions.

Decline

Started in 9th century with changes in Buddhism.
Finally destroyed around 1200 CE by Bakhtiyar Khilji.

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