Mann Ki Baat 125th episode: PM highlights Pratibha Setu, first Khelo India Water Sports Festival and 'Solar Didi'
In the 125th episode of Mann Ki Baat on 31 August 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke about the UPSC 'Pratibha Setu' portal, the first Khelo India Water Sports Festival on Dal Lake and Bihar's 'Solar Didi'.
Summary
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 125th Mann Ki Baat radio address on 31 August 2025 opened with the floods and landslides of the monsoon season. The Prime Minister described the 'Pratibha Setu' portal, which holds a databank of over ten thousand candidates who cleared all stages of UPSC exams but missed the final merit list, so that private companies can hire them. He hailed Pulwama's first-ever day-night cricket match and the country's first Khelo India Water Sports Festival on Dal Lake, Srinagar, where more than 800 athletes took part and Madhya Pradesh won the most medals, followed by Haryana and Odisha. He also praised Devki ji of Muzaffarpur, Bihar, called 'Solar Didi' for irrigating more than 40 acres with a solar pump, recalled Operation Polo ahead of Hyderabad Liberation Day in September, and urged Swadeshi during the festival season.
Key facts
- Episode / date
- 125th, 31 Aug 2025
- Pratibha Setu
- Databank of 10,000+ UPSC candidates who cleared all stages but missed final list
- Khelo India Water Sports Festival
- First edition, Dal Lake, Srinagar; 800+ athletes
- Top medal states
- Madhya Pradesh, then Haryana and Odisha
- Pulwama
- First-ever day-night cricket match (Royal Premier League)
- 'Solar Didi'
- Devki ji, Ratanpura, Muzaffarpur (Bihar); 40+ acres irrigated
- History
- Operation Polo; Hyderabad Liberation Day in September
Practice MCQs 3 questions
The country's first Khelo India Water Sports Festival, mentioned in Mann Ki Baat on 31 August 2025, was held at:
Show answer
Correct answer: B — Dal Lake, Srinagar
The Prime Minister said the first Khelo India Water Sports Festival was held at Dal Lake in Srinagar, with more than 800 athletes.
The 'Pratibha Setu' portal, highlighted in the 125th Mann Ki Baat, contains data of:
Show answer
Correct answer: B — Candidates who cleared all stages of UPSC exams but did not make the final merit list
Pratibha Setu holds a databank of over ten thousand candidates who cleared all UPSC exam stages but were not in the final merit list, so private companies can employ them.
Consider the following statements based on the 125th Mann Ki Baat (31 August 2025): 1. Madhya Pradesh won the maximum number of medals at the first Khelo India Water Sports Festival. 2. 'Solar Didi' Devki ji, praised by the PM, is from Muzaffarpur district of Bihar. Which of the above is/are correct?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
Both are correct. The PM congratulated Madhya Pradesh for the most medals (followed by Haryana and Odisha) and praised Devki ji of Ratanpura village, Muzaffarpur, as 'Solar Didi'.