• 01 Sep 2025

Urjit Patel Appointed as ED at IMF

Why in News?

The Government of India has approved the appointment of former Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Urjit Patel as the Executive Director (ED) at the International Monetary Fund (IMF). 

• He will be representing India, which is part of a four-country constituency along with Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Bhutan.
• The Executive Board of the IMF consists of 25 directors, who are elected by the member countries or groups of countries. 

Key Points

• About: The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet approved his appointment for a term of three years from the date of assuming charge or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
  • He will replace K.V. Subramanian, former Chief Economic Advisor, whose term was cut short by six months amid allegations of impropriety. 
• Role: As an Executive Director at the IMF, he will:
  • Be part of the Executive Board, which discusses and influences global and regional economic policies, national economic policies, and the Fund’s capacity development efforts.
  • Help approve financing packages to support member countries in addressing temporary balance of payments issues.
  • Play a key role in overseeing the IMF’s support to countries’ economic reforms and initiatives.

Background of Urjit Patel:

• About: Urjit Patel served as the 24th Governor of the RBI from 2016 to 2018, succeeding Raghuram Rajan, after previously holding the position of Deputy Governor, where he oversaw key areas like monetary policy, economic research, and deposit insurance.
  • After resigning from the RBI, Patel served as Vice President for Investment Operations at the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), based in Beijing, until his resignation in January 2024 due to family health reasons.
  • He has been the Chairman of the National Institute of Public Finance and Policy (NIPFP) since June 2020.
• Reforms at RBI:
  • Under his leadership, the RBI introduced significant reforms in monetary policy, including the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) formed in October 2016 to decide on interest rates.
  • Flexible Inflation Targeting: The RBI adopted a flexible inflation targeting framework recommended in January 2014, with Patel playing a key role as Deputy Governor.

Neeraj Chopra Finishes Runner-up in Diamond League 2025

Why in News?

Neeraj Chopra finished runner-up at the Diamond League Finals in Zurich, Switzerland, marking his third consecutive second-place finish in the prestigious event. 

• Julian Weber of Germany claimed his first-ever Diamond League title with a world-leading throw of 91.57m.

Key Points:

• Neeraj Chopra's best throw was 85.01m in the final round, which helped him move from 3rd to 2nd place, overtaking Keshorn Walcott (84.95m).
  • Despite his performance not being at his usual level, Chopra expressed optimism for the World Championships in Tokyo (13th- 21th September 2025).
• Weber, a European Champion, dominated the competition with two 90m-plus throws, solidifying his place as a top contender for the World Championships.

Wanda Diamond League

• Series Overview: The Wanda Diamond League, launched in 2010, is an elite global athletics competition featuring 15 prestigious events across four continents and 13 countries, offering athletes the chance to compete for the sport’s most prestigious title outside major championships.
• Road to the Final: Athletes compete across 14 series meetings from April to September, earning points based on their performance. The top athletes from each discipline, along with wildcard entries, qualify for the two-day Wanda Diamond League Final.
• Wanda Diamond League Final: Held in Zurich, the two-day event features athletes competing in a winner-takes-all format. Champions in each discipline receive a Diamond Trophy and a wildcard entry to the World Athletics Championships (with conditions).

Ramon Magsaysay Award 2025

Why in News?

An Indian non-profit organisation, ‘Foundation to Educate Girls Globally’, dedicated to mobilising community and government resources for girls’ education in rural and educationally disadvantaged areas of India, has been named a 2025 Ramon Magsaysay Awardee.

• The other 2025 awardees include Shaahina Ali from the Maldives for her environmental work and Flaviano Antonio L Villanueva from the Philippines for his efforts to uplift the poor and marginalised.

Foundation to Educate Girls Globally

• About: Educate Girls, also known as the Foundation to Educate Girls Globally, was founded in 2007 by Safeena Husain. 
  • It is the first Indian organization to receive the prestigious award, Asia’s equivalent of the Nobel Prize.
• Objective: The organization started in Rajasthan, focusing on addressing female illiteracy by bringing unschooled girls into classrooms and supporting them until they gained credentials for higher education and employment.
• Mission: The core mission, “one girl at a time,” is based on grassroots efforts, community mobilization, and partnerships to overcome barriers like poverty and household chores while fostering societal change in valuing girls’ education.
• Initiatives: In 2015, Educate Girls launched the world’s first Development Impact Bond (DIB) in education, linking financial aid to measurable outcomes, benefiting over 2 million girls across 30,000 villages.
  • The organization introduced Pragati, an open-schooling program for young women aged 15–29, expanding from 300 to over 31,500 participants, helping them complete their education.

Ramon Magsaysay Award

• About: The Ramon Magsaysay Award, established in 1958, honors individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions to human development in Asia and globally, addressing complex societal issues.
• Awardees are selected annually by the Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation (RMAF) and receive a medallion, certificate, and cash prize.
  • The 67th Ramon Magsaysay Award ceremony is scheduled for 7th November 2025 at the Metropolitan Theatre in Manila.
• Objective: The Award was created to recognize selfless service and the greatness of spirit, irrespective of race, gender, or religion, and celebrates transformative leadership and courage in Asia.
• Categories: From 1958 to 2008, the Award was given in six categories: Government Service, Public Service, Community Leadership, Journalism, Literature & Creative Communication Arts, Peace & International Understanding, and Emergent Leadership (for individuals under 40).
  • Since 2009, the Award no longer follows fixed categories, except for Emergent Leadership, which continues with support from the Ford Foundation.

UP to Set Up Welfare Board for Nomadic and Denotified Tribes

Why in News?

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced the creation of a dedicated welfare board for Vimukt Jati (denotified tribes) and nomadic tribes during the state-level 'Vimukt Jati Diwas' celebration in Lucknow.

• 31 August is now observed as Vimukt Jati Diwas, commemorating the abolition of the oppressive Criminal Tribes Act in 1952, which unjustly labeled communities as criminals and stripped them of their rights.

Key Points

• Welfare Board: The new board is expected to focus on providing housing, land leases, and voting rights for these historically marginalized communities.
• This board will focus on extending benefits similar to the Shamli and Vantangiya models, including land leases, housing colonies, and various social security benefits. 
• Social Welfare Minister Aseem Arun has been tasked with constituting the board.
• Criminal Tribes Act, 1871: In 1871, the British colonial government passed the Criminal Tribes Act, declaring certain tribes as "criminals by birth" and subjecting them to surveillance and discrimination.
• The Vimukt Jati and nomadic tribes include communities like the Nats, Banjaras, Bawariyas, Sasis, Kanjads, Kalbeliyas, Saperas, and Jogis, have a long history of resistance against foreign invasions. 
• It was after the repeal of the Criminal Tribes Act in 1952, with the efforts of Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar, that these communities were formally freed from this criminal label.

Denotified Tribes (DNTs), Nomadic Tribes (NTs), and Semi-Nomadic Tribes (SNTs)

• About: The term De-notified Tribes refers to communities that were once classified under the Criminal Tribes Acts,1871 which were implemented by the British Government. 
  • The Acts were abolished by the Government of India in 1952, leading to the De-Notification of these communities.  
  • A few of these communities which were listed as de-notified were also nomadic. 
    • Nomadic and semi-nomadic communities are defined as those who move from one place to another rather than living in one place all the time. 
  • While most DNTs are spread across the SC, ST and OBC categories, some DNTs are not covered in any of the SC, ST or OBC categories. 
• Distribution: DNTs encompass a wide range of communities, each with unique cultural practices, languages, and socio-economic conditions. Communities include the Kanjar, Nat, Pardhi, and Sapera. 
  • South Asia is estimated to have the largest nomadic population in the world. In India, approximately 10% of the population comprises NTs, SNTs, and DNTs.  
  • While there are around 150 De-notified Tribes, the Nomadic Tribes population includes about 500 distinct communities.  
• Major Committees/Commissions for DNTs, NTs, and SNTs Communities: 
  • The Criminal Tribes Inquiry Committee, 1947 constituted in the United Provinces (now Uttar Pradesh). 
  • Ananthasayanam Ayyangar Committee, 1949. 
    • Criminal Tribes Act, 1871 was repealed based on the recommendation of this committee. 
  • Kaka Kalelkar Commission (also called first OBC Commission), 1953. 
  • B P Mandal Commission, 1980. 
    • The commission also made some recommendations related to the issue of NTs, SNTs, and DNTs Communities. 
  • The National Commission to Review the Working of the Constitution (NCRWC), 2002, held that DNTs have been wrongly stigmatised as crime-prone and subjected to high-handed treatment as well as exploitation by the representatives of law and order and general society. 
  • Renke Commission (2005): The commission had estimated their population to be around 10 to 12 crores at the time.   

Inauguration of Vikramaditya Vedic Clock

Why in News?

Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav unveiled the Vikramaditya Vedic Clock and launched its mobile app at the Chief Minister’s residence on 1st September 2025. 

Key Points

• About: The Vikramaditya Vedic Clock, the first clock based on traditional Indian timekeeping methods, was revived in Ujjain by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi in February 2024.
  • It is based on the Indian "Kaal Ganana" method, dividing the day into 30 muhurtas (each about 48 minutes) instead of the standard 24-hour format.
• Objective: It combines India’s traditional timekeeping methods with modern technological advancements, aiming to revive ancient systems of time calculation.
• Mobile App Features: The mobile app associated with the clock encompasses over 7,000 years of history, starting from 3179 BCE (the birth of Lord Krishna) to the present, offering details from the Mahabharata era.
• Features include:
  • Information on Panchang, Tithi, Nakshatra, Yoga, Karan, Vara, Maas, Vrats, and festivals.
  • Alerts and reminders for religious activities, fasts, and meditation.
  • Vedic time in a 30-hour format, Muhurta, sunrise/sunset timings, and weather updates (temperature, wind speed, humidity).
  • Available in more than 189 global languages for worldwide access.
• Significance:
  • Integration: The clock integrates the Indian calendar system and offers insights into various time-related aspects such as Yoga, Tithi, Nakshatra, and the timing of Hindu festivals.
  • Cultural Heritage: It represents India’s scientific and cultural heritage, symbolizing a blend of traditional knowledge and modern technology.
    • It serves as a cultural symbol, contributing to the resurgence of India’s timekeeping systems on the global stage.

Jaipur's Women's Safety Ranking in NARI 2025

Why in News?

Jaipur has ranked among the lowest-performing cities in the National Annual Report & Index on Women’s Safety (NARI) 2025. 

Key Points

• About: NARI 2025, prepared by Pvalue Analytics, surveyed 31 major cities across India on women's overall sense of safety, experiences of harassment, and variations in safety between day and night.
  • The report was released by Vijaya Rahatkar, Chairperson of the National Commission for Women (NCW), in Delhi.

Key Findings:

• Jaipur's Performance: Jaipur scored 59.1%, falling below the national average of 64.6%. The city ranked 25th out of 31 cities, placing it in the bottom group alongside cities like Patna, Faridabad, Delhi, Kolkata, Srinagar, and Ranchi.
  • 8% of women in Jaipur reported facing harassment in the past year, which is slightly higher than the all-city average of 7%.
  • 31% of respondents considered the city highly safe during the day while only 10% felt highly safe at night.
  • 17% rated Jaipur’s infrastructure as "highly safe", and 11% rated it as "safe".
  • 24% rated authorities as "highly safe", while 12% found authorities highly unsafe.
• Top Performers: Kohima, Visakhapatnam, and Bhubaneswar ranked highest in terms of safety, performing well above the national benchmark.