Daily Current Affair 15-September-2025

News at a Glance

Topic	GS Paper / Tag	Context & Key Facts (Explained)
National Industrial Classification (NIC) 2025	GS2 – MoSPI – Initiatives	MoSPI released the draft NIC-2025, updating NIC-2008 to reflect ISIC Revision 5 (UN, 2024) and India’s economic transformation. NIC is essential for surveys, economic research, and policy. Aligned with ISIC up to 4-digit class, the NIC now has around 1,900 sub-classes (up from 1,304), enabling better sectoral tracking in Finance, IT, Agri, Renewable Energy, AYUSH, Fintech, e-commerce, and the digital economy. Feedback is open until September 20.
GST on Delivery Services Through E-Commerce	GS2 – Governance – Issues	The GST Council’s 56th meeting imposed 18% GST on delivery services via e-commerce/quick-commerce operators under Section 9(5) of the CGST Act, while food (via platforms) remains at 5% . This clarifies tax liability (moving it to the platform), broadens GST coverage, but may burden consumers and gig workers. A disparity remains, as restaurant self-deliveries are only taxed at 5%. The Council recommends itemized billing and impact monitoring for balanced compliance.
Recognising India’s Waste Workers	GS2 – Governance – Issues	Informal sector waste workers recycle up to 20% of India’s urban waste and contribute 60% of plastic recycling, four times the global average . Despite their pivotal role in the circular economy and municipal cost savings, they face low pay, high risks, displacement due to mechanisation, exclusion from welfare, and social stigma. Pune’s SWaCH cooperative and Bengaluru’s Dry Waste Centres illustrate successful models; implementation of Solid Waste Rules, EPR, and CSR inclusion remains weak.
Household Finance & Farm Assessment Surveys	GS2 – Governance – Initiatives	The NSO will conduct the All-India Debt and Investment Survey (decadal, since 1951) on household debt, savings, and assets, and the Situation Assessment Survey (since 2003) on all farm households, including landless. Data shapes policy for credit, welfare, and rural development .
India’s e-Rupee Expansion	GS3 – IE – Banking	The RBI’s e-rupee (CBDC) aims to enhance inclusion by allowing direct wallet-based payments (no bank needed), enable traceable, secure blockchain transactions, and lower remittance barriers for migrants . With UPI and GST next-gen reforms, CBDC supports efficient, targeted welfare and compliance, boosting digital trust and cutting dollar reliance.
Kerala Urbanisation Model (KUPC)	GS3 – IE – Urbanization	Kerala’s Urban Policy Commission proposes risk-sensitive zoning, city cabinets, specialist cadres, real-time data observatories, and fiscal tools (municipal bonds, green fees) . With urbanisation to hit 80% by 2050, Kerala’s data-driven and participatory approach aims to pre-empt flooding, sea rise, and promote smart, climate-adaptive, and inclusive urban planning.
New Highway Concession Pact (BoT)	GS3 – Infra – Initiatives	The revised Model Concession Agreement for highways revives the Build-Operate-Transfer model with improved risk-sharing, early exits, lender protection, buyback options, and flexibility. After 2014, BoT lost favor to EPC due to risks and liquidity crunch . The new pact aims to bring long-term private capital into NPAs, reduce public fiscal burden, and revitalize PPP roads infrastructure.
India’s Path Towards Technological Independence	GS3 – S&T – Tech	To safeguard sovereignty and infrastructure, India must move toward software and hardware sovereignty—with secure, open-source OS, databases, and critical chips . The push involves a dedicated national mission, sustainable support models, industry-academia cooperation, and phased entry into semiconductors, reducing the vulnerability to external supply or cyber disruptions.

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