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4 September 2025 Current Affairs

56th GST Council Meeting, New Delhi

  • Chaired by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman

  • Focus: rate rationalisation to benefit

  • Common man, labour-intensive industries, farmers, healthcare, and key sectors of the economy.

  • All changes will come into effect from 22nd of this month, which marks the first day of Navratri.

GST slab structure simplified:

  • Scrapped the 12% and 28% rates

  • Retained only 5% and 18% slabs

Financial Impact:

  • Rate rationalisation will cost the exchequer ₹48,000 crore

  • Described as fiscally sustainable

 

Common Household Items-

  • Reduced to 5%

    • Hair oil, toilet soap, soap bars, shampoos, Toothbrushes, toothpaste, Bicycles, tableware, kitchenware

Food Items-

  • Reduced to 5% from 12% or 18%

    • Namkeen, bhujia, Sauces, pasta, instant noodles, Chocolates, coffee

Dairy & Bakery-

  • Reduced to NIL from 5%

    • Ultra-high temperature (UHT) milk. Chena, paneer, breads

agricultural equipment-

  • Reduced from 12% to 5%

    • All agricultural equipment

Consumer Durables-

  • Reduced to 18% from 28%

    • Air-conditioning machines, Televisions, Dishwashing machines, small cars and motorcycles

medical apparatus-

  • Reduced from 18% to 5%

    • Surgical/dental/veterinary

Life-saving Drugs & Medicines:-

  • Reduced from 12% to NIL

    • 33 life-saving drugs

  • Reduced from 5% to NIL

    • 3 cancer & rare disease drugs

  • Reduced from 12% to 5%

    • Other medicines

GST Exemptions -

  • All individual life insurance policies

    • Term life, ULIP, endowment

  • All individual health insurance policies

  • Family floaters and senior citizens Reinsurance

Automobiles -

 Reduced from 28% to 18%

  • Petrol & Petrol Hybrid, CNG, LPG Cars (not exceeding 1200cc and 4000mm)

  • Diesel & Diesel Hybrid Cars (not exceeding 1500cc and 4000mm)

  • 3 wheeled vehicles, motorcycles (<350cc)

  • Motor Vehicles for goods transport

Incentive Scheme to promote Critical Mineral Recycling

  • The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved One thousand 500 crore rupees Incentive Scheme to develop recycling capacity in the country for the separation and production of critical minerals from secondary sources.

  • This scheme is part of the National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM)

  • Aimed at building the domestic capacity of and supply chain resilience in critical minerals.

  • The Scheme will have a tenure of six years from Financial Year 2025-26 to Financial Year 2030-31.

  • The incentives under the Scheme will comprise 20 percent Capex subsidy on plant and machinery, equipment and associated utilities for starting production within specified timeframe, beyond which reduced subsidy applicable and Opex subsidy, which will be an incentive on incremental sales over the base year like 40 percent of eligible Opex subsidy in the 2nd year and balance 60 percent in the 5th year from Financial Year 2026-27 to Financial Year 2030-31 on achievement of specified threshold incremental sales. 

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Jarosite Discovery in Kutch

  • Matanomadh village in Kutch, Gujarat, has become important for space research

  • Scientists found Jarosite, a rare mineral, in this village

  • Jarosite is also found on Mars, so this area is like a "mini-Mars" on Earth.

  • The jarosite found here is about 55 million years old.

  • Studying this area helps scientists understand Mars-like conditions on Earth.

  • This discovery can support future space missions, like ISRO’s Mangalyaan-2.

  • It helps scientists learn more about Mars' past climate and environment.

  • Matanomadh can now be used as a terrestrial analogue – a place on Earth similar to Mars – for research and testing.

  • What is Jarosite: Jarosite is a yellow mineral formed through the interaction of iron, sulphur, potassium, and water. t is rare on Earth and usually linked to volcanic activity. The jarosite in Matanomadh formed during the Paleocene period, around 55 million years ago, when volcanic ash Imixed with marine water.

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65th Foundation Day of NCERT

         NCERT, or the National Council of Educational Research and Training, was established in India on September 1, 1961, by the Government of India. It was formed as an autonomous body to help and advise the central and state governments on policies and programs for the qualitative improvement of school education. 

Initiatives on 65th Anniversary –  

Bal Vatika DTH Channel:

  • PM eVidya Channel No. 35 is a special DTH TV channel.

  • It is made for young children aged 3 to 6 years. The channel shows fun and engaging videos.

  • The aim is to build basic reading, writing, and number skills.

  • It helps improve foundational literacy and numeracy.

DIKSHA 2.0:

  • It is the upgraded version of the learning platform.

  • It now includes artificial intelligence (AI) features.

  • Offers structured lessons and adaptive assessments.

  • Gives personalised feedback based on student performance.

  • Key tools include:

  1. Read Aloud

  2. Closed Captioning

  3. Text translation in 12 Indian languages.

Inclusive Education Tools and Resources

  • PRASHAST 2.0 is an improved tool for early disability screening. It is linked with UDISE+, APAAR, and the Swavlamban Card system. It helps provide timely support for divyang (children with disabilities).

  • Kitab Ek Padhe Anek follows Universal Design of Learning (UDL). It offers accessible textbooks for Classes 1 and 2 to support all learners.

Additional Educational Innovations

  1. Virtual Reality (VR) labs launched by NCERT in schools for immersive learning.

  2. PM eVidya mobile app launched for easy access to digital learning content.

  3. New primers (textbooks) introduced in Hindi, Sanskrit, Ho-Hindi, and Koya languages.

  4. A book titled Utkal Jananinkara Sujogya Santana highlights 100 personalities from Odisha.

  5. PSSCIVE released a vocational education handbook to boost skill development under NEP 2020.

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