Current Affairs 19 September 2025

India Partners with FAO to Build World-Class Blue Ports.

• India and FAO signed a Technical Cooperation Programme to build Blue Ports.
• The Department of Fisheries aims to enhance fishing port infrastructure using advanced technologies like 5G, AI, and automation.
• Three pilot harbours in Diu, Puducherry, and Gujarat with a total investment of ₹369.8 crore have been approved under the Blue Ports framework.

SEBI Launches SWAGAT-FI to Attract Foreign Investment.

• SEBI launched SWAGAT-FI, a new framework to attract low-risk foreign investors like sovereign wealth funds and pension funds.
• The framework offers a 10-year registration period, replacing the earlier 3-year cycle, promoting stable investment.
• A digital portal has been introduced, reducing onboarding time to one week and simplifying access to GIFT-IFSC.

Saudi Arabia and Pakistan Sign Mutual Defence Agreement.

• Saudi Arabia and Pakistan signed a mutual defence agreement during PM Shehbaz Sharif's state visit to Riyadh.
• A key clause of the pact states that aggression against either country will be viewed as aggression against both.
• The deal follows an Israeli attack on Hamas leadership in Qatar, a US ally in the Gulf.

PM Modi Inaugurates Sex Sorted Semen Facility in Bihar.

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated a Sex Sorted Semen facility in Purnea, Bihar.
• The Rashtriya Gokul Mission (RGM), launched in 2014, focuses on improving bovine genetics and boosting milk production.
• The updated RGM with an increased budget of ₹3,400 crore aims to enhance the livestock sector.
• The semen sex-sorting technology helps produce more female calves.

ECI Revises EVM Ballot Paper Design for Better Voter Experience.

• Election Commission of India (ECI) announced changes to EVM ballot papers for better visibility and readability.
• Coloured candidate photos and uniform font enhance voter identification and clarity.
• A maximum of 15 candidates per sheet and NOTA placement after the last candidate ensures uniformity.
• The new design will first be used in the Bihar Elections (2025).