Current Affairs

Hurun India Wealth Report 2025

India is currently experiencing a notable increase in wealth creation, with the number of millionaire households rising from 1,59,900 in 2017 to impressive levels in 2025. According to the Mercedes-Benz Hurun India Wealth Report 2025, this wealth remains primarily concentrated in major cities such as Mumbai, New Delhi, and Bengaluru. Nonetheless, emerging metropolitan areas including Gurugram, Surat, and Lucknow are rapidly advancing in this regard. Presented here are the top 10 Indian cities with the highest number of millionaire households in 2025.

The concurrently launched Mercedes-Benz Hurun India Wealth Report 2025 said 0.31 per cent of Indian households or 8.71 lakh families have a net worth of over Rs 8.5 crore or USD 1 million.

Among the states, Maharashtra leads with 1,78,600 millionaire households, reflecting concentrated wealth in finance and industry.



Union Minister K. Rammohan Naidu Launches Yatri Sewa Diwas Passenger Experience

Union Minister of Civil Aviation, K. Rammohan Naidu, launched the initiative Yatri Sewa Diwas at airports across the country. In a statement, the Civil Aviation Ministry said the Yatri Sewa Diwas campaign underscores the government’s continuous efforts to provide the best travel experience and world-class services to all passengers. It added that the occasion was marked by free medical check-ups and health awareness campaigns at airports, as part of the Swastha Nari, Sashakt Parivar Abhiyan.

Speaking at the launch event at Hindon Airport in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, Mr Naidu emphasised that this initiative is both a celebration of the ministry’s growth and a reaffirmation of its commitment to making every journey seamless and dignified.

He noted that the aviation sector sees every passenger as a priority and every journey as an opportunity to serve with dedication. Highlighting the unprecedented growth of the aviation sector, Mr Naidu stated that, under the Regional Connectivity Scheme (UDAN), air travel in the country has become more available, accessible, and affordable. He also mentioned that very soon, all airports across the country will be Wi-Fi enabled.



MeitY unveils logo, flagship initiatives for India-AI Impact Summit 2026

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) on Thursday officially unveiled the logo and key initiatives for the India-AI Impact Summit 2026, a landmark event set to position India as a global hub for responsible and inclusive artificial intelligence. This will be the first time a Global South nation hosts the prestigious summit, which will be guided by the principles of People, Planet, and Progress.

The newly unveiled logo draws inspiration from the Ashoka Chakra, representing ethical governance, justice, and India’s constitutional values. Radiating from the chakra are neural network flares symbolizing AI’s power to bridge linguistic, industrial, and geographical divides and create inclusive progress.



ECI revamps EVM ballot papers with colour photos, larger serial numbers ahead of Bihar polls

The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Wednesday announced a new design for Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) ballot papers to improve clarity and voter convenience, beginning with the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections.

For the first time, ballot papers will feature colour photographs of candidates. The redesigned format also includes larger serial numbers printed in bold, international Indian numerals with a font size of 30, aimed at making them easier to read.

The Commission said the revamp follows revised guidelines under Rule 49B of the Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961, and is part of 28 initiatives introduced in the last six months to streamline electoral processes and make them more voter-friendly.



Sebi's 'SWAGAT' reform offers 10-year licence, faster access to woo foreign funds

Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) has unveiled its most sweeping overhaul of foreign investor rules yet, offering 10-year registrations and a single digital gateway to slash red tape.

Cleared by the Sebi board on 12 September, the new Single Window Automatic & Generalised Access for Trusted Foreign Investors (SWAGAT-FI) framework aims to unify investment routes, cut onboarding times, and give investors greater regulatory certainty— a bid to draw long-term global capital into India.



Antim clinches historic Worlds bronze

Antim Panghal turned an otherwise lacklustre Indian challenge eventful when she clinched a bronze medal in the 53kg weight category at the World Championships in Zagreb, Croatia, on Thursday. The medal was India's first in the 2025 edition of the prestigious tournament. It was also Antim's second bronze at the Worlds. With this medal, she joined Vinesh Phogat as India's most successful woman wrestler in the World Championships.

The 21-year-old from Haryana, who had a forgetful Olympics in Paris last year, defeated Emma Jonna Denise Malmgren of Sweden 9-1 to pocket the medal. Incidentally, Antim defeated the same opponent in the 2023 edition to win her first bronze at the event. She had defeated the Sweden wrestler 16-6 two years ago.



Pakistan, Saudi Arabia ink defence pact for joint defence against aggression

Pakistan and Saudi Arabia on Wednesday (September 17, 2025) signed a defence pact under which any aggression against either country shall be considered as an act of aggression against both, according to media reports.

The ‘Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement’ was signed during Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s state visit to Riyadh, where he was received by Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman at Al-Yamamah Palace, Geo News reported.

According to the Dawn newspaper, a statement from PM Sharif’s office announced the signing of the pact, which stated that any aggression against either country shall be considered an act of aggression against both.



Marium Fatima becomes Bihar’s first Woman FIDE Master

Marium Fatima from Bihar has achieved a remarkable milestone by becoming the state’s first Woman FIDE Master (WFM). A brilliant chess player from Bihar, Marium, belongs to Muzaffarpur. She has earned several accolades in the sport of chess. Director General of Bihar State Sports Authority Ravindran Shankaran congratulated her for this achievement.



India and FAO Join Hands to Build World-Class Blue Ports for Sustainable Fisheries

India and the Food and Agriculture Organisation, FAO, of the United Nations, have joined hands to build world-class Blue Ports. Department of Fisheries under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying has signed a Technical Cooperation Programme agreement with FAO to strengthen Blue Port infrastructure in India. In line with this, the Department of Fisheries organised the first webinar today.

Addressing the participants of the webinar, Secretary, Department of Fisheries, Dr Abhilaksh Likhi, reiterated the government’s vision of developing ecologically healthy, economically viable, and socially inclusive fisheries systems to strengthen national food and nutritional security. He highlighted the role of advanced technologies such as 5G, artificial intelligence, automation, and digital platforms in enhancing efficiency and service delivery at fishing ports.

Our correspondent reports that under the Blue Ports framework, the Department of Fisheries is leading the development of Smart and Integrated Fishing Harbours that combine technological innovation with environmental stewardship. Three pilot harbours, namely Vanakbara in Diu, Karaikal in Puducherry and Jakhau in Gujarat, have been approved with a total investment of 369.8 crore rupees.



Portable ion chromatograph brings real-world practice to classrooms

Ion chromatography, or the process of separating ions from a sample by passing it through a long column, is usually carried out in a laboratory using expensive, sophisticated equipment. Now, scientists at the University of Tasmania in Australia have devised a simpler way to perform the technique out in the field — one that could benefit science classrooms, too.

Working with second-year undergraduate students, the scientists helped them analyse soil pore water, or water in between soil particles, immediately after collecting it using a portable ion chromatograph called Aquamonitrix. The students used it to separate and analyse concentrations of nitrate and nitrite ions in the sample as both these ions are known to be harmful for the environment in high concentrations. Then they took the samples back to the lab and analysed them using a conventional chromatograph.