News in Short – 9 October, 2025

Seneca Lake 

Syllabus:GS1/Geography

In News

• For centuries, residents near Seneca Lake in New York have reported mysterious booming sounds known as the “Seneca Guns” or “Seneca Drums”.
  • The mysterious booms near Seneca Lake, known as the “Seneca Guns,” may be caused by methane gas bursts from the lake bed.

Seneca Lake

• It is located in Ontario, Yates, Seneca, and Schuyler counties, and is centrally positioned in New York’s Finger Lakes region(US). 
• It has the largest water volume among the Finger Lakes, with Geneva at its northern end and Watkins Glen at the southern end.

Source: IE

NPCI Launches Biometric, Wearable Glass Authentication for UPI Payments

Syllabus: GS3/Economy

Context

• The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) and the Reserve Bank of India launched biometric and wearable glass recognition-based authentication for UPI transactions at the Global Fintech Fest 2025.

About

• Face & Biometric Authentication: Users can authenticate UPI payments using face recognition or biometrics stored in Aadhaar.
  • Authentication occurs entirely on the user’s device, ensuring data privacy and security.
• Hands-Free Payments via Smart Glasses: Wearable smart glasses enable small-value transactions using voice commands.
  • Users can scan a QR code and complete payments without using a phone, PIN, or touch.
• Multi-Signatory UPI Accounts: Allows joint account holders to authorize payments collectively.
  • Enhances convenience, transparency, and control for family or business accounts.
• NPCI’s Goal: To make digital payments more secure, accessible, and user-friendly across India.

The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI)

• NPCI is an umbrella organization for operating retail payments and settlement systems in India.
• It was established in 2008 under the guidance of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and Indian Banks’ Association (IBA).
• It is a not-for-profit company that aims to create robust payment and settlement infrastructure in India.
• Key Functions:
  • Develops and manages digital payment systems across the country.
  • Facilitates interbank transactions and promotes cashless payments.
  • Ensures standardization, efficiency, and security in payment systems.

Source: BS

Central, State co-op Banks Brought under Ambit of RBI’s Ombudsman scheme

Syllabus: GS3/Economy

Context

• State co-operative banks and central co-operative banks will come under the ambit of the Reserve Bank Integrated Ombudsman Scheme, 2021.

Reserve Bank Integrated Ombudsman Scheme (RB-IOS)

• It was launched in 2021, to provide customers of regulated entities (REs) a speedy, cost-effective, and expeditious grievance redress mechanism.
• Coverage: All commercial banks, regional rural banks (RRBs), state co-operative banks, central co-operative banks, and scheduled/non-scheduled primary (urban) co-operative banks with a deposit size of ₹50 crore or more.
  • All Non-Banking Financial Companies (excluding housing finance companies) with asset size of ₹100 crore or more that accept deposits or have a customer interface.
  • Credit information companies are also covered under the scheme.
• Key Features:
  • Integrated platform combining multiple ombudsman schemes.
  • Offers uniform, transparent, and faster grievance resolution across all regulated entities.
• Significance:
  • Strengthens consumer protection in the financial sector.
  • Enhances trust and accountability in banks, NBFCs, and CICs.
  • Supports financial inclusion and digital banking initiatives.

Co-operative Banks

• Co-operative banks are financial entities established on a co-operative basis, functioning under the co-operative principles of mutual help, democratic control, and service to members.
• They primarily aim to provide credit and banking services to farmers, small businesses, and weaker sections of society.
• Regulation:
  • Governed by the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 (as applicable to co-operative societies) and the Co-operative Societies Act of respective states.
  • Supervised by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) for banking operations.

Source: BS

PM-KUSUM Programme

Syllabus:GS3/Environment

In News

• The Union government is planning  to promote the PM-KUSUM in African and island nations through the International Solar Alliance. 

PM-KUSUM Scheme

• About: It is a flagship scheme launched by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy in 2019.
• Aim: To provide financial support (subsidies of up to 30% or 50% of the total cost for standalone solar pumps) to farmers for installing solar-powered irrigation systems like solar pumps and grid-connected solar plants.
  • To deliver affordable and reliable solar energy to the agricultural sector, reducing irrigation costs and cutting pollution caused by diesel use.
• Target: The scheme aims to add about 34,800 MW of solar capacity by March 2026.
• Scheme Components
  • Component A: Setting up 10,000 MW of decentralized, grid-connected solar power plants (ground/stilt-mounted) on barren or cultivable land, by individuals, groups, or cooperatives.
  • Component B: Installation of 14 lakh standalone (off-grid) solar agriculture pumps, replacing diesel pumps for irrigation.
  • Component C: Solarization of 35 lakh grid-connected agriculture pumps, including feeder-level solarization, enabling farmers to use solar energy and sell excess power.

Source:TH

93rd Air Force Day

Syllabus: GS3/Defence

Context

• The Indian Air Force (IAF) celebrated its 93rd anniversary with a ceremonial parade at Air Force Station Hindon.

Key Points

• About: Initially known as the Royal Indian Air Force (RIAF), the Indian Air Force was established on October 8, 1932, as an auxiliary air force under British rule. 
• Historical Background: The RIAF’s maiden operational flight took off on April 1, 1933, carrying six RAF-trained officers and 19 Havai Sepoys (air soldiers).
  • Due to its outstanding performance during World War II, the RIAF was granted the “Royal” prefix in 1945. The prefix was officially dropped and the force was renamed the ‘Indian Air Force’, when India became a republic in 1950, following its independence on August 15, 1947, following 200 years of British colonial rule.
  • The Indian Air Force has a distinguished history of being heavily involved in several of India’s most important wars. These include the Sino-Indian War of 1962 and the Indo-Pak wars of 1947, 1965, 1971, and 1999. 
  • Additionally, the force participated in important actions like Operation Safed Sagar during the Kargil war in 1999, Operation Poomalai in 1987 and the recent Operation Sindoor in May 2025.
• Motto: The motto of IAF is Touch the sky with Glory (Nabham Sparsham Deeptam), which has been taken from the eleventh chapter of the Bhagavad Gita. 
• Theme: The 2025 theme is focused on the IAF’s contribution to Operation Sindoor.

Source: BS