2 september 2025

HEADLINES

Bihar Rajya Jeevika Nidhi Saakh Sahkari Sangh Limited

Launched by: PM Modi, Virtually on Sept 02, 2025
Jeevika Nidhi aims to provide easy access to funds at affordable interest rates to community members associated with Jeevika. the operation of this institution, the Government of Bihar, as well as the Central government, will contribute funds.
Women entrepreneurs have often been compelled to depend on microfinance institutions charging high interest rates of 18%–24%. The Jeevika Nidhi has been conceived as an alternative financial system to reduce dependence on MFIs and ensure the timely availability of larger loan amounts at lower interest rates.
The system will operate entirely on a digital platform, ensuring faster and more transparent fund transfers directly into the bank accounts of Jeevika Didis. To facilitate this, 12,000 community cadres are being equipped with tablets.
This initiative is expected to strengthen entrepreneurship development among rural women and accelerate the growth of community-led enterprises.
The Prime Minister also transferred 105 crore rupees into the institution’s bank account.
Government is increasing the income of women through schemes like-
- Lakhpati Didi: August 2023,
- Drone Didi: November 30, 2023
- Bank Sakhi

In a significant outreach to support higher education among Afghan youths, India has announced 1,000 e-scholarships for Afghan nationals for the academic year 2025-26.
The initiative, part of the Special Scholarship Scheme for Afghan Nationals (SSSAN) through the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), allows students to pursue online undergraduate and postgraduate courses through the government’s e-VidyaBharati (e-VB) i-learn portal.
Afghan nationals aged between 18 and 35 years can apply for a wide range of online programmes offered by nine Indian universities, including Jamia Millia Islamia, Indira Gandhi National Open University, Anna University, and Kurukshetra University.

An Indian Army contingent has reached Alaska in the USA at Fort Wainwright to participate in the 21st edition of the India-US Joint Military Exercise Yudh Abhyas 2025.
The Indian contingent comprises personnel from a battalion of the Madras Regiment, who will be training alongside US soldiers from the 5th Infantry Regiment, also known as the “Bobcats” of the Arctic Wolves Brigade Combat Team.

New Delhi will host the Badminton World Championships in August 2026.
The announcement was made by the Badminton World Federation (BWF) during the closing ceremony of the 2025 Championships in Paris.
The competition will return to India after 17 years and to Asia after four years. In 2009, the World Championships were held in Hyderabad. The last time an Asian city hosted the championships was in 2018, when it was held in China’s Nanjing.

Australian fast bowler Mitchell Starc has announced his retirement from T20 international cricket.
Starc finishes as Australia’s second-highest wicket-taker in the T20 format.

A special Vedic clock has been installed in Bhopal, at the entrance of the Chief Minister's official residence.
It was inaugurated by CM Mohan Yadav.
The clock follows an ancient Indian time system from over 2,000 years ago, used during the time of King Vikramaditya of Ujjain.
Vedic Clocks provide Vedic time, GMT, IST, Panchang elements, weather data.

In this system:

A similar clock was already installed in Ujjain last year.

The Bhopal Vedic clock cost ₹1 crore to build.

Work on it began in 2017.

Along with the clock, a Vedic clock mobile app has also been launched.