Application & Meaning:

• The Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA) of India with European Free Trade Association (EFTA) comes into effect on 1 st October 2025.
• This is the first FTA between India and a European union, which is a combination of Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein.
• The agreement is expected to boost trade, investment and technology cooperation between India and these high-income European countries.

Historical Significance:

• On 28th September 2025, the Indian Army held its 199 th Gunners Day.
• The day is marked by the raising of the 5(Bombay) Mountain Battery in the year 1827.
• The unit is the only active unit to have served continuously since its formation, and is considered one of the oldest active artillery units.

Event Overview:

• SODAR (Sound Detection and Ranging) system was developed by CSIR-AMPRI Bhopal and inaugurated on the Foundation Day of CSIR (26 th September 2025) in India Meteorological Department (IMD), Delhi.
• CSIR-AMPRI and IMD signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish cooperation.

Event Overview:

• The third HDSR Star Party will take place in September 18-23, 2025 at the Hanle Dark Sky Reserve (HDSR) in Ladakh.
• Co-hosted with Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA), Ladakh Wildlife Department and BARC.

Recent Conservation Action:
A major conservation effort has been taken by the District Magistrate of Baramulla who has ordered that 14 of the illegally operating gypsum mining units within the 1-kilometer prohibited zone around the Lachipora Wildlife Sanctuary be closed down. This move reiterates the importance of ensuring that the fragile ecosystem of the sanctuary is not damaged in industrialism.