Celestial Spectacle: Total Lunar Eclipse Graces Indian Skies
The night of September 7th and early hours of September 8th, 2025, presented a captivating celestial event as a total lunar eclipse, popularly known as a 'Blood Moon', became visible across India. This was the longest total lunar eclipse visible from India since 2022 and the first since July 27, 2018, to be observed from all parts of the country. The Earth's shadow completely covered the moon around 11:01 PM, turning it a coppery red, with the total lunar eclipse concluding around 12:23 AM. Skywatchers across major Indian cities and other parts of Asia, Australia, Europe, and Africa turned their gaze upwards to witness this rare phenomenon. The totality phase, where the moon displayed its deep crimson hue, lasted for 82 minutes.
Indian Sports Shine on the Global Stage
Indian athletes brought laurels to the nation with significant achievements in international sports. The Indian compound men's team clinched its maiden gold medal at the World Archery Championships in Gwangju, Korea, on Sunday. The trio of Rishabh Yadav, Aman Saini, and Prathamesh Fuge secured a come-from-behind victory against France. In hockey, the Indian men's team ended an eight-year wait by winning the Asia Cup, defeating Korea 4-1 in the final on Sunday, September 7th. This victory also secured India's spot in the 2026 World Cup.
Key Government Initiatives and Policy Updates
Several crucial government initiatives and policy decisions were in focus. The 56th meeting of India's Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council, held from September 2nd to 3rd, 2025, marked a landmark shift in the country's taxation framework with the unveiling of major tax reforms. The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) launched the 'Angikaar 2025' campaign on September 4th, aimed at accelerating the implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana ā Urban 2.0 (PMAY-U 2.0). Additionally, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the 4th edition of SEMICON India 2025 in New Delhi, an event organized jointly by the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM), MeitY, and SEMI. Furthermore, the Union Home Ministry and the Manipur government signed a revised Suspension of Operations (SoO) pact with 24 Kuki-Zo insurgent groups on September 4th, 2025. In infrastructure development, the first full span box girder for the bullet train corridor was successfully launched in Palghar. The 10th edition of the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) Rankings 2025 were also released, with IIT-Madras topping the 'Overall Category' for the seventh consecutive year.