Current Affairs

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  • Awards & Honours – National and international recognitions

  • Culture & Heritage – Festivals, traditions, and notable cultural events

  • Science & Technology – ISRO, DRDO, space missions, innovations, discoveries

  • Polity & Governance – Constitutional amendments, committees, judicial updates

  • Important Days & Themes – Monthly observances and exam-relevant themes

  • Government Schemes – New initiatives, updates, launches, and budgets

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India Successfully Test-Fires Agni-5 IRBM with MIRV Capability

On 20 August 2025, India successfully test-fired the Agni-5 Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile (IRBM) from the Integrated Test Range (Chandipur, Odisha).

  • Technology: Equipped with MIRV (Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicle) capability, enabling deployment of multiple warheads.
  • Range: Over 5,000 km, covering Asia, parts of Europe, and beyond.
  • Conducted by: Strategic Forces Command, validating all parameters.
  • Developer: DRDO, marking it as the most advanced missile in the Agni series.

UIDAI–Starlink Tie-Up for Aadhaar-Based Customer Verification in India

On 10 August 2025, UIDAI partnered with Starlink Satellite Communication Pvt Ltd (owned by Elon Musk) to enable Aadhaar-based customer verification for Starlink’s satellite internet services in India.

  • Aadhaar e-KYC will allow paperless, secure onboarding.
  • Authentication is voluntary, as per regulations.
  • Starlink is now a Sub-Authentication User Agency (AUA) and Sub-eKYC User Agency (KUA).
  • Face authentication is being promoted for ease of use.

This move supports Digital India, helping provide high-speed satellite internet to rural and remote regions.

India–China to Resume Direct Flights

On 19 August 2025, India and China agreed to resume direct flight connectivity between the Chinese mainland and India and to finalise an updated Air Services Agreement.

The decision came after talks in New Delhi between Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar.

Direct flights, suspended since the COVID-19 pandemic and earlier tensions after the Doklam standoff and 2020 Galwan Valley clash, will now be restored.

INDIA Bloc Names Justice B. Sudershan Reddy as Vice Presidential Candidate

The INDIA bloc on 19 August 2025 named Justice B. Sudershan Reddy (former Supreme Court Judge) as its candidate for the Vice Presidential election on September 9.

The announcement was made by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge in New Delhi. Justice Reddy will file his nomination on August 21. All opposition parties, including TMC and AAP, are supporting him.

He will contest against NDA nominee CP Radhakrishnan. The VP post fell vacant after Jagdeep Dhankhar resigned (21 July).

BCCI announces India’s Squad for Asia Cup T20 (UAE, 2025)

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced India’s squad for the upcoming Asia Cup T20 on 19 August 2025. The tournament will be played in Abu Dhabi and Dubai from September 9 to 28, 2025.

India, the defending champions, will be led by Suryakumar Yadav, while Shubman Gill has been appointed vice-captain, marking his return to the T20 format.

India to Establish Bharatiya Antariksh Station by 2035; Crewed Moon Mission by 2040

On 16 August 2025, Science & Technology Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh announced India’s plan to set up an operational Bharatiya Antariksh Station by 2035 and send an Indian crewed mission to the Moon by 2040.

The announcement was made during a special Lok Sabha discussion on India’s first astronaut aboard the ISS. The Minister lauded IAF Group Captain Subhanshu Shukla for his historic mission to the International Space Station.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s India Visit (August 18–19, 2025)

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s visit to Indi from August 18–19, 2025. First visit by Wang Yi since Galwan Valley clashes (2020) and LAC disengagement (2024).

  • Meetings with EAM S. Jaishankar, NSA Ajit Doval, and PM Modi.
  • SR-level boundary talks (24th round) with Ajit Doval on LAC peace.
  • China pledged support in fertilisers, rare earths, and tunnel boring machines.
  • Visit precedes PM Modi’s likely trip to SCO Summit, Tianjin (China).
  • Symbolic goodwill: resumption of Indian pilgrimages to Mount Kailash (Gang Renpoche) & Lake Manasarovar (Mapam Yun Tso).

12th India–Sri Lanka Naval Exercise SLINEX-25 Underway off Colombo

The sea phase of the 12th Sri Lanka-India Naval Exercise (SLINEX-25) is underway in western waters off Colombo.

Indian Navy ships INS Jyoti (fleet tanker) and INS Rana (destroyer) are participating along with Sri Lanka Navy ships SLNS Vijayabahu and SLNS Sayura.

Drills include VBSS operations, gunnery, screening, vertical replenishment, flashing, and fuelling approaches.

The harbour phase (14–16 Aug 2025, Colombo Port) featured joint briefings, helicopter training, professional exchanges, sports, yoga, and ship visits for schoolchildren.

S&P Upgrades India’s Sovereign Credit Rating to ‘BBB’

On 14 August 2025, S&P Global Ratings upgraded India’s long-term sovereign credit rating to ‘BBB’ from ‘BBB-’, the first upgrade in 18 years, citing strong economic growth, better monetary policy credibility, and sustained fiscal consolidation.

  • India’s last upgrade by S&P was in 2007.
  • India’s real GDP growth averaged 8.8% (FY 2022–24), the highest in Asia-Pacific, and is projected at 6.8% annually over the next three years.
  • India’s debt-to-GDP ratio expected to decline from 83% (FY 2025) to 78% (FY 2029).
  • Other agencies’ ratings: Fitch: BBB- (since 2006), Moody’s: Baa3 (since 2020).
  • The upgrade came despite U.S. tariffs on Indian exports (50%), citing oil imports from Russia.

Devika Sihag Wins International Challenge Title at Malaysia Open 2025

On 17 August 2025, Indian shuttler Devika Sihag (20 years) won the women’s singles title at the Malaysia International Challenge 2025 in Ipoh.

She defeated compatriot Isharani Baruah (5th seed) with scores 15-7, 15-12.

The tournament was held under BWF’s experimental 3×15 scoring system (games to 15 instead of 21).

CP Radhakrishnan Named NDA Candidate for Vice Presidential Election 2025

On 17 August 2025, BJP President JP Nadda announced that Maharashtra Governor CP Radhakrishnan will be the NDA’s candidate for the upcoming Vice Presidential Election.

  • The decision was taken at the BJP parliamentary board meeting in New Delhi, attended by PM Modi, Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh, and others.
  • All NDA allies supported the decision; efforts are being made to seek consensus with opposition parties.
  • The Vice Presidential Election will be held on 9 September 2025.
  • The election was necessitated by the resignation of Jagdeep Dhankhar.

Vincent Keymer Wins Chennai Grand Masters 2025

The Chennai Grand Masters 2025, held from August 7–15, marked the third edition of India’s premier classical chess tournament. Organized by MGD1 and sponsored by Quantbox, the event featured two elite round-robin sections—Masters and Challengers—with 10 players each, battling across nine rounds for a total prize pool of ₹1 Crore.

Masters Section Highlights

  • Champion: Vincent Keymer (Germany)
    • Clinched the title with a round to spare
    • Final score: 7/9
    • Earned ₹25 Lakhs and 24.5 FIDE Circuit points
  • Runner-ups (Joint Second – 5 points):
    • Arjun Erigaisi – third consecutive runner-up finish
    • Karthikeyan Murali
    • Anish Giri

PM Modi Sets Record with Longest Independence Day Speech

On 15 August 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered the longest-ever Independence Day speech from the Red Fort, lasting 1 hour 43 minutes.

  • Surpassed his own 98-minute record of 2024; his shortest was 56 minutes in 2017.
  • This was his 12th consecutive Independence Day address since 2014 (65 minutes).
  • Previous PMs’ speeches: Nehru (1947 – under 20 min), Indira Gandhi (shortest 14 min in 1966), Manmohan Singh (longest ~55 min in 2007).
  • Modi’s 2025 speech highlighted economic reforms, digital sovereignty, youth empowerment, and India’s global role.

Trump–Putin Alaska Summit Ends Without Deal on Ukraine Conflict

The high-stakes summit between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump in Anchorage, Alaska lasted nearly three hours but ended without a deal on the Ukraine–Russia conflict.

  • Putin called the war a tragedy, stressed removing the primary causes, and suggested the next meeting in Moscow. He also claimed the conflict would not have happened if Trump were president in 2022.
  • Trump termed the talks “extremely productive”, saying many points were agreed but “no deal until there’s a deal.” He added he would consult NATO allies and Ukraine’s Zelensky.

India Achieves 100 GW Solar PV Module Manufacturing Capacity

India has reached 100 Gigawatt (GW) of solar PV module manufacturing capacity under the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM), up from 2.3 GW in 2014.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed it as a step towards self-reliance and clean energy adoption. Union Minister Pralhad Joshi credited the success to initiatives like the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme and the 2019 ALMM Order.

Capacity surged from 8.2 GW in 2019 to 100 GW in 2025, with 100 manufacturers operating 123 units (up from 21 in 2021). This achievement supports the 500 GW non-fossil fuel target by 2030 and boosts India’s role in global decarbonization efforts.

India Bids to Host 2030 Commonwealth Games

The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) on 14 August 2025 approved India’s bid to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games. India will submit its final proposal by 31 August 2025. The Games will mark 100 years since the first edition in 1930 and 20 years since India last hosted (Delhi, 2010).

India has proposed Ahmedabad as the lead host city, with Delhi and Bhubaneswar as alternatives. Plans include new sports complexes like the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Sports Enclave, and the inclusion of kabaddi, kho kho, shooting, wrestling, and archery.

With Canada withdrawing its bid, India’s chances have increased. The host country will be announced by the Commonwealth Sport General Assembly in November 2025 at Glasgow. The bid also supports India’s ambition to host the 2036 Olympic Games.

Partition Horrors Remembrance Day- August 14

Partition Horrors Remembrance Day, observed annually on August 14, was instituted by the Government of India in 2021 to honor the victims and survivors of the 1947 Partition, which caused one of the largest forced migrations in history—nearly 15 million displaced and 1–2 million deaths.

The day serves to commemorate suffering, educate future generations, preserve survivor testimonies, and promote healing. Initiatives include museum exhibits, school discussions, and storytelling by survivors, ensuring the tragedies and resilience of that era are remembered to inspire unity and compassion today.

India Bans Jute Imports from Bangladesh via Land Routes, Allows Only Through Nhava Sheva Port

On 12 Aug 2025, India banned imports of certain jute products from Bangladesh via land routes, restricting them to Nhava Sheva Seaport in Maharashtra. The ban covers bleached/unbleached woven jute fabrics, jute twine/ropes, and jute sacks/bags.

This follows earlier 2025 trade curbs and the April 9 revocation of Bangladesh’s transhipment facility (except for Nepal and Bhutan), amid diplomatic tensions after remarks by Bangladesh’s interim leader Muhammad Yunus in China.

The move aims to protect India’s jute industry, apply diplomatic pressure, and regulate import routes, impacting bilateral trade worth USD 12.9 billion in 2023–24.

Parliament Passes Income-Tax Bill, 2025 – Major Overhaul of 1961 Act

On 12 August 2025, Parliament passed the Income-Tax Bill, 2025, replacing the Income Tax Act of 1961. The new law, effective from 1 April 2026, aims to simplify tax administration by reducing sections from 819 to 536, cutting chapters from 47 to 23, and introducing a single “tax year.”

It provides taxpayer reliefs such as late refunds, shorter TDS correction limits, and clearer pension/gratuity deductions, without changing tax rates. Drafted in six months and reviewed by a Parliamentary Select Committee chaired by Baijayant Panda, the bill was passed by voice vote despite an Opposition walkout.

Merchant Shipping Bill 2024 Passed by Parliament

The Merchant Shipping Bill 2024 received Rajya Sabha approval on 11 August 2025, completing its passage in Parliament. It will replace the Merchant Shipping Act 1958 to align India’s laws with obligations under maritime treaties and international instruments to which India is a party.

The Bill aims to:

  • Promote the development of Indian shipping.
  • Ensure efficient maintenance of Indian mercantile marine.
  • Serve the national interest in maritime affairs.

Australia to Recognize Palestinian State at UNGA September 2025

Australian PM Anthony Albanese announced that Australia will formally recognize the State of Palestine at the 80th UN General Assembly, joining nations like France, Britain, and Canada in supporting a two-state solution. Nearly 150 UN member states already recognize Palestine.

The move comes amid public pressure and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Recognition is conditional on no Hamas role, Gaza demilitarization, and holding general elections. Albanese said the step is a practical contribution toward peace, coordinated with leaders from Britain, France, New Zealand, and Japan.

Namrata Batra Becomes First Indian to Enter Wushu Final at World Games 2025

On 11 August 2025, Namrata Batra became the first Indian to reach the women’s 52 kg Wushu final at the World Games in Chengdu, China, defeating Philippines’ Krizan Faith Collado 2-0.

This assured India’s first-ever World Games medal in Wushu, with at least a silver guaranteed. She will face Mengyue Chen of China in the final.

Earlier, Rishabh Yadav secured India’s first individual medal at the 2025 Games with bronze in men’s compound archery. Batra recently won gold at the Moscow Star International Wushu Championship ahead of the Games.

Indian Railways to Offer 20% Discount on Round-Trip Tickets

The Ministry of Railways announced a new round-trip package scheme offering 20% discount on fares for passengers booking both onward and return journeys for the same set of passengers.

Key points:

  • No fare refund will be allowed for tickets booked under this scheme.
  • Bookings start 14 August 2025 for travel from 13 October 2025 onwards.
  • The 60-day advance reservation rule will not apply for return journey tickets.

First Freight Train Reaches Kashmir Valley – Boost to Connectivity & Commerce

On 9 August 2025, the first-ever freight train arrived at the Anantnag Goods Shed, integrating the Kashmir Valley with India’s national freight network. Originating from Rupnagar, Punjab, it carried 21 BCN wagons of cement for infrastructure projects, covering ~600 km in under 18 hours via a WAG-9 electric locomotive.

Part of the Udhampur–Srinagar–Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project, this milestone promises lower transport costs, better market access for Kashmir’s produce, and year-round connectivity despite winter highway closures.

World Sanskrit Day 2025 – Celebrating India’s Ancient Language

World Sanskrit Day (Vishva Samskrita Dinam) is celebrated annually on Shravana Purnima (full moon day in Shravana), coinciding with Raksha Bandhan, to honor one of the world’s oldest languages.

First observed in 1969 by the Government of India, the day promotes Sanskrit learning and preserves its heritage. Sanskrit is the liturgical language of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism, and the medium of ancient Indian texts like the Vedas, Upanishads, Ramayana, and Mahabharata.

In 2025, it is celebrated on 9 August, highlighting Sanskrit’s linguistic precision (Panini’s Ashtadhyayi), scientific relevance (AI and computational linguistics), and cultural continuity (Ayurveda, Yoga, astronomy, mathematics).

Rudrastra: Indian Railways’ 4.5 km Long Freight Giant Completes Successful Trial Run

Indian Railways has conducted a successful trial run of Asia’s largest freight train ‘Rudrastra’, measuring 4.5 km in length. The trial covered 209 km from Ganjkhwaja (UP) to Garhwa (Jharkhand) in 5 hours 10 minutes at an average speed of 40.50 km/h.

Rudrastra comprises 345 wagons with a capacity of 72 tonnes per wagon, powered by 7 engines. It was formed by coupling three long haul racks (two goods trains each), effectively lining up five goods trains.

The train, flagged from the Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya Division to the Dhanbad Division, aims to speed up freight loading and transportation, saving both time and resources.

Trump–Putin Alaska Meeting on August 15 in Alaska

US President Donald Trump announced he will meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on August 15 to discuss efforts to end the war in Ukraine.

This will be their first in-person meeting since Trump’s return to the White House in January, and Putin’s first US visit in a decade.
The announcement followed Trump’s unveiling of a peace framework between Armenia and Azerbaijan, part of his push to resolve multiple global conflicts.

Parliament Passes Coastal Shipping Bill, 2025 to Boost India’s Maritime Economy

The Coastal Shipping Bill, 2025 was passed by the Rajya Sabha on 7 August 2025, after clearance from the Lok Sabha on April 3, 2025.

  • The bill replaces Part XIV of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1958 with a modern legal framework aligned with global cabotage norms.
  • Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, who introduced the bill, stated it will help increase India’s coastal cargo share to 230 million metric tonnes by 2030.
  • Key Features:
    • Introduces a simplified licensing system for coastal shipping.
    • Provides a framework for regulating foreign vessels in coastal trade.
    • Mandates a National Coastal and Inland Shipping Strategic Plan to guide future policy and infrastructure.
    • Proposes a National Database for Coastal Shipping to support transparency and investment.
  • The bill aims to enhance supply-chain security, promote Indian vessel usage, reduce foreign dependence, and generate local employment.
  • With its passage, all three key maritime laws are now approved:
    1. Merchant Shipping Bill, 2025
    2. Carriage of Goods by Sea Bill, 2025
    3. Coastal Shipping Act, 2025

M.S. Swaminathan Centenary Conference: Honouring the Father of India’s Green Revolution

The M.S. Swaminathan Centenary International Conference 2025 was held from August 7–9, 2025, at ICAR-PUSA, New Delhi with the theme “Evergreen Revolution – The Pathway to Biohappiness.”

The event marked the birth centenary of Prof. M.S. Swaminathan, known as the Father of India’s Green Revolution, and celebrated his vision for sustainable agriculture, food security, and social equity.

👨‍🔬 Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the event, released a commemorative coin and stamp, and launched the M.S. Swaminathan Award for Food and Peace.

🌍 The conference featured global participation, focusing on:

  • Climate-resilient, nutrition-sensitive farming
  • Biodiversity conservation
  • Biohappiness – linking ecology with human well-being
  • Youth and women’s role in agriculture

🏆 The first Swaminathan Award was conferred on Prof. Adenle of Nigeria for work with marginalized communities.

The event emphasized a shift from food security to nutritional security, highlighting millets, soil health, and community seed banks as future priorities.

Vice-Presidential Election 2025: EC Announce Schedule

The Election Commission of India has notified the schedule for the Vice-Presidential Election 2025 on August 7, 2025.

📅 Key Dates:

  • Last date for nominations: August 21, 2025
  • Scrutiny of nominations: August 22, 2025
  • Last date for withdrawal: August 25, 2025
  • Voting date (if required): September 9, 2025
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