State PCS - Maharashtra (MPSC)

• 26 Sep 2025

Asia's First Woman Train Driver

Why in News?

Surekha Yadav, Asia's first woman train driver, will retire from her remarkable 36-year career with Central Railway (CR) on 30th September 2025. 

• Throughout her career, she broke barriers in a male-dominated field, inspiring generations of women to pursue careers in railways.

Key Points

• Surekha Yadav began her career as an assistant driver in 1989 and rose through the ranks, becoming the first female train driver in Asia.
• She piloted various trains, including the prestigious Vande Bharat Express. 
• She was also the first woman to navigate the Deccan Queen on the steep Bhor Ghat stretch, one of India’s most treacherous rail routes.
• Her journey from a small town in Satara to becoming a trailblazer in Indian Railways reflects determination, resilience, and the changing perception of women’s roles in transportation.

World Para Athletics Championships (WPAC) 2025

Why in News?

The World Para Athletics Championships (WPAC) 2025 was inaugurated at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi, where the Prime Minister hailed para athletes as breaking barriers and setting new benchmarks, underscoring India’s identity as a sporting and inclusive nation.

Key Points

• About: This year's championship, scheduled from 27th September to 5th October 2025, boasts a record-breaking 2,200 participants from 104 nations, marking it as the largest para sports event ever hosted on Indian soil.
  •  The event will also feature India's largest-ever contingent of 74 athletes.
• India’s First: India will host the World Para Athletics Championships for the first time, becoming the fourth Asian nation to do so, following Qatar, the UAE, and Japan.
• Infrastructure: The event is being held on the newly-laid Mondo track at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, which was previously used at the Paris Paralympics 2024 and inaugurated on National Sports Day.
  • Alongside the main competition track, a Mondo warm-up track and a multi-speciality gymnasium, capable of training 200 athletes simultaneously, were also inaugurated, emphasising India's commitment to world-class sports infrastructure.
• Previous Achievement: India’s remarkable rise in para sports is evident, with the country achieving its best-ever performance at the 2024 World Para Athletics Championships in Kobe, Japan, securing sixth place overall with 17 medals, including six golds, five silvers, and six bronzes.
• Significance: This event is part of India’s long-term strategy to host major global sporting events, with plans already underway for the Commonwealth Games in 2030 and aspirations to host the Olympic Games in 2036.