• 15 Sep 2025

Indian Women Shine at World Boxing Championships 2025

Why in News?

Indian boxer Jaismine Lamboria etched her name in history by winning the featherweight (57kg) title at the Women’s World Boxing Championships 2025 in Liverpool, defeating Paris Olympics silver medallist Julia Szeremeta of Poland. 

• Alongside her, Minakshi Hooda won the 48kg gold, making this India’s best-ever performance at the World Championships held abroad.

Key Points

• Jaismine Lamboria’s Victory:
  • In her third World Championships appearance, she clinched her first-ever medal by defeating Poland’s Julia Szeremeta 4-1, becoming the ninth Indian boxer to win a world title.
  • She joined an illustrious list featuring six-time winner Mary Kom (2002, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2010 and 2018), two-time winner Nikhat Zareen (2022 and 2023), Sarita Devi (2006), Jenny RL (2006), Lekha KC (2006), Nitu Ghanghas (2023), Lovlina Borgohain (2023) and Saweety Boora (2023).
  • She overcame the disappointment of a first-round exit at the Paris 2024 Olympics. In the past, she had won a bronze medal at the 2021 Asian Championships, a medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, and a gold at the 2024 World Cup in Astana.
• Minakshi Hooda’s Triumph:
  • Minakshi avenged her Astana World Cup defeat (July 2025) by clinching gold in the women’s 48kg final (non-Olympic category). She stunned Kazakhstan’s Nazym Kyzaibay, a three-time world champion and Paris Olympics bronze medallist.
  • She had previously won an Asian silver medal in 2022 (52 kg).
• Other Medal Winners:
  • Nupur Sheoran (+80kg): Silver after a close 2-3 loss to Poland’s Agata Kaczmarska.
  • Pooja Rani (80kg): Bronze after semifinal defeat to England’s Emily Asquith.
• Significance: India recorded its best-ever World Championships performance outside the country, winning two golds, one silver, and one bronze, further strengthening its legacy in women’s boxing.

Read More: UP to Host India's First World Boxing Cup

New Naval Base Commissioned at Gurugram

Why in News?

On 12th September 2025, the Indian Navy commissioned its new naval base, INS Aravali, at Gurugram. The commissioning was presided over by Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi, Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS).

Key Points

• Role and Capabilities: Named after the enduring Aravali Range, the new base will play a pivotal role in:
  • Supporting information and communication centres of the Indian Navy.
  • Strengthening India’s Command, Control, Communications, and Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) framework.
  • Enhancing seamless coordination between naval units, MDA centres, and allied stakeholders.
• Motto: The base is guided by its motto:  ‘सामुद्रिकसुरक्षायाः सहयोगं’ (Maritime Security through Collaboration).
• Symbolism of the Crest: The crest of INS Aravali reflects its ethos and mission:
  • Central Mountain Imagery: Symbolises the steadfastness of the Aravali Range.
  • Rising Sun: Represents vigilance, resilience, and the dawn of technological capabilities.
  • Maritime Ethos: Embodies eternal vigilance in defending India’s maritime interests.
  • Together, the crest conveys the base’s commitment to resilience, technology, and collaborative security.
• Significance: 
  • Function as a hub of technology and collaboration, connecting platforms and partners across oceans.
  • Embody the Prime Minister’s vision of MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions).
  • Reinforce India’s position as the Preferred Security Partner in the Indian Ocean Region.

Inauguration of IBM Regional Office in Ranchi

Why in News?

The Union Minister of Coal & Mines, Shri G. Kishan Reddy, inaugurated the newly constructed Regional Office of the Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM) in Ranchi, Jharkhand.

• It will enhance regulatory oversight, expedite issue resolution, foster growth in the mining sector in line with ‘Viksit Bharat,’ and strengthen IBM’s institutional presence in eastern India.

Key Points

• Objective: The IBM was initially established as an advisory body but has evolved into a premier national organization that promotes scientific development, conservation, and sustainable management of India’s mineral resources.
• Functions:
  • Inspects mines to ensure scientific conservation of mineral resources.
  • Scrutinizes and approves mining plans and schemes.
  • Conducts geological and environmental studies.
  • Prepares feasibility reports for mining and beneficiation projects.
  • Provides consultancy services and acts as a data bank for mines and minerals.
• Role in Mineral Conservation: IBM works to promote the upgradation and utilization of low-grade ores, prepares mineral maps, and maintains the National Mineral Inventory of resources, ensuring long-term sustainability.
• Research & Development: The organization engages in evolving technologies for ore beneficiation. It also operates a Modern Mineral Processing Laboratory and Pilot Plant at Nagpur, set up with UNDP assistance, for advanced research and pilot-scale experimentation.
• Presence & Outreach: IBM has offices in key mining regions such as Ajmer, Bangalore, Bhubaneswar, Kolkata, Chennai, Dehradun, Goa, Guwahati, Gandhinagar, Hyderabad, Jabalpur, Raipur, Nagpur, Ranchi, and Udaipur. 

Hindi Diwas

Why in News?

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath extended greetings on Hindi Diwas, emphasizing Hindi as a symbol of unity, culture, and identity.

Key Points 

• About: 
  • Hindi Diwas commemorates the Constituent Assembly’s 1949 decision designating Hindi in the Devanagari script as the official language of the Union of India.
  • This decision was shaped by the Munshi-Ayyangar formula, which led to Article 343 adopting Hindi while allowing English to continue for official purposes for 15 years.
  • After the 15-year period ended, protests against Hindi imposition resulted in the Official Languages Act, 1963, which ensured English continued as an official language alongside Hindi.
• Constitutional Status: 
  • Hindi is listed in the 8th Schedule, which includes 22 languages recognized for official use.
    • The language is named after the Persian word 'Hind', meaning 'land of the Indus River', and is a descendant of Sanskrit.
  • Article 210 states that the language to be used in the legislature can be the official language of the state, Hindi, or English.
  • Article 351 states that it shall be the duty of the Union to promote the spread of the Hindi language, to develop it so that it may serve as a medium of expression for all the elements of the composite culture of India.
• Significance: Hindi, with over 600 million speakers, is the third most spoken language globally, and the most spoken language in India.

Note: Vishwa Hindi Divas or World Hindi Day is celebrated annually on 10th January to expand Hindi's presence on the international stage. This date commemorates the historic moment in 1949, when Hindi was first spoken at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

Women’s Hockey Asia Cup 2025

Why in News?

The Prime Minister congratulated the Indian Women’s Hockey Team for their outstanding performance at the Women’s Asia Cup 2025, where they secured the Silver Medal and brought pride to the nation.

Key Points

• China’s women’s hockey team defeated India 4-1 in Hangzhou, China, to win the 2025 Asia Cup.
  • With this victory, China secured qualification for the 2026 Hockey World Cup in Belgium & Netherlands.
  • This marks China’s third Asia Cup title, after earlier wins in 1989 (Hong Kong) and 2009 (Bangkok).
• India secured the silver medal, while Japan claimed the bronze. 
  • However, India will now have to go through the World Cup Qualifiers to secure their place in the 2026 Hockey World Cup.
• India’s Past Performance:
  • Tokyo Olympics 2020: Historic 4th place finish.
  • Paris Olympics 2024: Failed to qualify.
  • Pro League: Struggled, finishing last and being relegated.
  • Asian Champions Trophy 2024: Winner

Read More: 12th Men’s Asia Cup Hockey Championship

Misaal Initiative

Why in News?

The Madhya Pradesh Higher Education Department has launched the Misaal Project, an ambitious initiative aimed at fostering leadership qualities among tribal youth. 

• Governor Mangubhai Patel inaugurated the programme virtually, stressing its role in shaping role models and instilling values of social responsibility.

Key Points

• Features:
  • Youth Empowerment: Focus on nurturing confidence, vision, and problem-solving skills among tribal students.
  • Capacity-Building Activities: Introduction of workshops, training camps, and community engagement programmes.
  • Community-Centric Approach: Encourages tribal youth to identify local challenges and innovate practical solutions.
  • Ethical and Value-Based Leadership: Promotes social responsibility, service, and ethical leadership.
• Collaboration with Gujarat:
  • Gujarat has achieved positive outcomes through youth-focused programmes, which Madhya Pradesh now seeks to replicate via shared learning and exchange.
  • This inter-state collaboration enriches policy implementation by combining best practices with diverse regional experiences.