DEFENCE NEWS
• The 12th edition of SLINEX-25, a bilateral naval exercise between India and Sri Lanka, was held from August 14–18, 2025.
• INS Tamal, the latest stealth frigate of the Indian Navy, arrived in Naples, Italy, on August 13, 2025.
• Ikshak (Yard 3027), the third of four Survey Vessel (Large) ships and the 102nd ship designed by the Indian Navy’s Warship Design Bureau, was delivered to the Indian Navy on August 14, 2025.
• China delivered the third of eight advanced Hangor-class submarines to Pakistan.
NATIONAL NEWS
• India achieved a historic milestone of 100 GW solar PV module manufacturing capacity, listed under the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM).
• Union Minister of Steel and Heavy Industries H.D. Kumaraswamy unveiled the official logo of Bharat Steel at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, along with the event brochure and official website.
• Parliament passed the National Sports Governance Bill 2025 and the National Anti-Doping (Amendment) Bill 2025, hailed as landmark reforms for sports governance and athlete protection.
• On August 15, 2025, during the 79th Independence Day address at the Red Fort, New Delhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced Mission Sudarshan Chakra, a decade-long national security initiative to secure India’s critical establishments through indigenous technology, aligned with Aatmanirbhar Bharat.
• To promote technology adoption and Ease of Living, NHAI launched the FASTag Annual Pass facility.
• The Uttarakhand Cabinet approved the Minority Educational Institutions Bill 2025 on August 17, 2025, marking the first-of-its-kind legislation in the state.
• PM Modi inaugurated two major National Highway projects worth ₹11,000 crore at Rohini, Delhi.
• The Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare (DoPPW) launched the ‘Anubhav’ portal (2015) to document India’s administrative history through memoirs of retired employees.
• Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal introduced the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill 2025 in the Lok Sabha after Cabinet approval.
• India’s unemployment rate fell to 5.2% in July 2025, as per the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) by MoSPI.
• The Rajya Sabha passed the Indian Ports Bill 2025, replacing the Indian Ports Act 1908, ending over a century of colonial regulations.
– NPA levels under PM Mudra Yojana for Scheduled Commercial Banks (SCBs) stood at 9.81% (March 2025) vs 5.47% (March 2018).
• West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee announced the ‘Sramashree’ scheme for rehabilitating migrant labourers allegedly harassed in BJP-ruled states.
• As of July 31, 2025, total PM Jan Dhan Yojana accounts reached 56.03 crore, with 13.04 crore (23%) inactive.
– The Cabinet approved the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill 2025 for Lok Sabha introduction.
• A Greenfield Airport at Kota–Bundi (Rajasthan) was approved at a cost of ₹1,507 crore.
• The Government of India implemented the “Anna-Chakra” digital supply chain tool in 30 out of 31 States/UTs, with Manipur pending.
• The Lok Sabha passed the Indian Institutes of Management (Amendment) Bill 2025, updating the IIM Act 2017.
• The Rajya Sabha passed the Mines and Minerals (Development & Regulation) Amendment Bill 2025, following Lok Sabha approval.
• The Election Commission of India (ECI) rolled out 28 initiatives over six months to improve election transparency and inclusivity.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
• The Krasheninnikov Volcano in Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula erupted for the first time in 600 years.
• The first World Humanoid Robot Games began in Beijing, China, featuring 500 robots from 280 teams across 16 countries.
• Dubai International Airport (DXB) launched the world’s first AI-powered passenger corridor for automated immigration clearance.
APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS
• Ajay Kumar Bhalla, Governor of Manipur, was given additional charge as Governor of Nagaland following L. Ganesan’s death.
• The BJP announced Maharashtra Governor C.P. Radhakrishnan as the NDA’s Vice Presidential candidate (election: Sept 9, 2025).
• The Odisha Government appointed Bollywood actor Madhuri Dixit as brand ambassador for the handloom industry.
• Indranil Bhattacharyya, RBI Executive Director, joined the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC).
• Srinivasan K. Swamy, Executive Group Chairman, R.K. Swamy Ltd, elected President, Advertising Agencies Association of India (AAAI) for 2025–26.
AWARDS & HONOURS
• Telangana recorded the highest number of organ donations in India, recognized on National Organ Donation Day (Delhi).
• On Independence Day 2025, 1,090 personnel from Police, Fire, Home Guard & Civil Defence (HG&CD) and Correctional Services were conferred Gallantry and Service Medals.
• The Government of India announced Gallantry Awards for Armed Forces personnel recognizing bravery during Operation Sindoor, a tri-services mission conducted in retaliation to the Pahalgam terror attack (claimed by The Resistance Front – TRF, a proxy of Lashkar-e-Taiba).
• Filmmaker Neeraj Ghaywan’s drama ‘Homebound’ won Best Film and Best Director at the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) 2025.
• Manika Vishwakarma (Rajasthan) was crowned Miss Universe India 2025 in Jaipur.
SPORTS NEWS
• The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) formally approved India’s bid to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games (CWG) during its SGM in Delhi.
• Vincent Keymer clinched the Quantbox Chennai Grand Masters 2025 title with one round to spare, becoming the first sole champion in event history.
• The Himalayan Kingfisher was unveiled as the mascot for Khelo India Water Sports Festival 2025 to be held at Dal Lake (Aug 21–23, 2025).
• Real Madrid ranked as the world’s most valuable football club (Brand Finance Football 50–2025).
• India to host the Asian Open Short Track Speed Skating Trophy 2025, its biggest winter sports event.
• Devika Sihag won her first International Challenge title (Women’s Singles) at the Malaysia International Challenge 2025 (Ipoh).
• Carlos Alcaraz won his maiden Cincinnati Open title 2025 after Jannik Sinner retired in the final.
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
• Australian and Indonesian archaeologists discovered stone tools in Sulawesi Island’s Soppeng region, providing insight into prehistoric migration.
• Bose Institute researchers, led by Prof. Shubhra Ghosh Dastidar, found the TAK1 kinase protein may exhibit rudimentary intelligence-like behaviour.
• The IN-SPACe selected the Pixxel–Space India consortium to establish India’s first indigenous commercial EO satellite constellation.
• India achieved its deepest-ever human dive (5,002 meters) under the Deep Ocean Mission (DOM), launched by the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) on Sept 7, 2021.
• Russia is preparing to launch Venera-D, an interplanetary mission to Venus, to study atmosphere and geology.
• Nelco Ltd (Tata Group) partnered with Eutelsat to offer OneWeb LEO satellite connectivity services in India.
• The U.S. administration proposed shutting down the Orbiting Carbon Observatories (OCO) program, which monitors atmospheric CO₂.
• ISRO is developing a new 40-storey-tall heavy-lift rocket capable of carrying 75,000 kg payloads for deep-space missions.
• Marriott International and Flipkart partnered to launch India’s first dual loyalty program, integrating Marriott Bonvoy and Flipkart SuperCoins.
AUGUST 4TH WEEK CURRENT AFFAIRS – CDSE/OTA
DEFENCE NEWS
• The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully conducted the maiden flight tests of the Integrated Air Defence Weapon System (IADWS) off the coast of Odisha on August 23, 2025.
• INS Kadmatt, an indigenously built anti-submarine warfare (ASW) corvette, completed a three-day port call in Surabaya, Indonesia.
• The Indian Navy commissioned two Project 17A multi-mission stealth frigates, INS Udaygiri and INS Himgiri, marking a step toward naval self-reliance.
• The Indian Army initiated Exercise Samanvay Shakti 2025, a Military-Civil Integration Exercise in collaboration with Assam and Manipur.
• INS Tamal, a stealth frigate, visited Souda Bay, Greece, from August 19–22, 2025.
• Exercise BRIGHT STAR 2025, a multilateral military exercise, began on August 28 and will continue till September 10, 2025.
• Raksha Rajya Mantri Sanjay Seth inaugurated MILMEDICON-2025 on August 28, 2025, at Manekshaw Centre, New Delhi.
• The 14th edition of Exercise Maitree, a bilateral military exercise between India and Thailand, is scheduled from September 1–14, 2025, in Umroi, Meghalaya.
• The Indian Army organized Exercise Aarogya Setu at Rupai, Doomdooma, Tinsukia district, Assam.
• ‘RAN SAMWAD-2025’, a two-day tri-service dialogue, began on August 26, 2025, at the Army War College, Dr. Ambedkar Nagar, Madhya Pradesh.
NATIONAL NEWS
• India Post launched IT 2.0 – Advanced Postal Technology (APT) under the Digital India Mission.
• Employees’ Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) released June 2025 payroll data, showing 21.89 lakh new members, the highest since tracking began in April 2018.
• Union Home Minister Amit Shah introduced three bills in the Lok Sabha:
– Constitution (130th Amendment) Bill, 2025
– Union Territories (Amendment) Bill, 2025
– Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2025
• UIDAI officially onboarded Starlink Satellite Communication Pvt Ltd to use Aadhaar Authentication for customer verification.
• Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority (IEPFA) under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, in collaboration with SEBI, CDSL, NSDL, BSE, and NSE, inaugurated three Niveshak Seva Kendras in Hyderabad.
• The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) approved renaming Jalalabad town (Uttar Pradesh) to Parashurampuri.
• Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis launched ‘Garuda Drishti’, a Social Media Monitoring and Cyber Intelligence Project, at Police Bhavan, Nagpur.
• According to IRENA, India generated 1,08,494 GWh of solar energy in 2025, surpassing Japan’s 96,459 GWh.
• Indian Railways advanced toward net-zero emissions by adopting solar energy as part of its sustainable transport strategy.
• Fijian PM Sitiveni Rabuka’s official visit to India marked a milestone in India–Fiji relations.
• GeM (Government e-Marketplace) achieved ₹15 lakh crore cumulative GMV since 2016.
• The Union Cabinet extended the Fortified Rice Scheme till December 2028 with an outlay of ₹17,082 crore.
• The Ministry of Tourism launched projects under the SASCI Scheme (Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment).
• CCPA fined VLCC Ltd ₹3 lakh for misleading ads on CoolSculpting treatments.
• Kerala became India’s first fully digitally literate state under the Digi Kerala project.
• PM Modi inaugurated projects worth ₹12,000 crore in Gaya, Bihar, covering energy, healthcare, railways, roads, and urban development.
• The fourth SEMICON India 2025 will be inaugurated by PM Modi on Sept 2, 2025, at Yashobhoomi, New Delhi.
• NITI Aayog and IAMAI released the report “Rethinking Homestays: Navigating Policy Pathways”.
• The Central Government set up two high-level committees under Rajiv Gauba to accelerate reforms toward Viksit Bharat Vision.
• National Space Day was celebrated on Aug 23, 2025.
• PM Modi inaugurated projects worth ₹5,200 crore in Kolkata, West Bengal.
• AP CM Chandrababu Naidu announced a comprehensive insurance scheme for municipal staff.
• PM Modi inaugurated projects worth ₹5,400 crore in Ahmedabad, Gujarat.
• The 3GPP RAN (Radio Access Networks) meetings (RAN1–RAN5) were inaugurated at Whitefield, Bengaluru.
• The Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying issued national guidelines for veterinary blood transfusion services.
• The Union Cabinet approved India’s bid to host CWG 2030.
• The Cabinet also extended PM SVANidhi Scheme till March 2030.
• NHAI, with Vertis Infrastructure Trust, launched ‘Project Aarohan’ for education of toll plaza employees’ children.
• PM Modi inaugurated Green Mobility Initiatives at Hansalpur, Gujarat.
• UN Secretary-General António Guterres welcomed the creation of new UN AI governance mechanisms.
• The Cabinet approved four Railway projects worth ₹12,328 crore.
• PM Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) marked 11 years since launch on Aug 28, 2014.
• GoI extended cotton import duty exemption till Dec 31, 2025.
• The Andhra Pradesh SIPB, chaired by CM Naidu, approved 30 new projects worth ₹53,922 crore.
• Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh launched National Biofoundry Network (NBN) under the BioE3 Policy.
• Delhi CM Rekha Gupta flagged off ‘U-Special’ buses for Delhi University students.
• The Ministry of Minority Affairs launched a UMMEED Portal module for widows, divorced women, and orphans.
• IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel inaugurated India’s first Semiconductor OSAT Pilot Line Facility (CG Power) at Sanand, Gujarat.
• The Bihar Government approved Mukhyamantri Mahila Rojgar Yojana.
• Amit Shah inaugurated the Brahmaputra Wing at Raj Bhavan, Guwahati, and launched 8 projects worth ₹322 crore.
• Akash Tripathi (BEE) released the State Energy Efficiency Index (SEEI) 2024.
• Ashwini Vaishnaw inaugurated India’s first Tempered Glass Manufacturing Facility at Noida.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
• India and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) signed Terms of Reference (ToR) to begin FTA negotiations.
• The 6th Trilateral Foreign Ministers Dialogue was held in Kabul, attended by Pakistan, China, and Afghanistan.
• India and the Netherlands established a Strategic Partnership on Water (SWP).
• On Aug 24, 2025, Nepal joined the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA).
• India and Japan set a ¥10 trillion investment target over 10 years, focusing on SMEs and startups.
• Oman will launch its revamped Golden Visa Programme on Aug 31, 2025, to attract global investors.
APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS
• Sudarshan Venu became Chairman & MD, TVS Motor.
• YES Bank reappointed Prashant Kumar as MD & CEO till April 5, 2026.
• BCCI extended Ajit Agarkar’s tenure as Chief Selector till June 2026.
• Vishwas Patel reappointed Chairperson, Payments Council of India.
• U.S. President Donald Trump nominated Sergio Gor as U.S. Ambassador to India.
• Rajiv Ranjan (RBI Executive Director) appointed Vice President & CRO, New Development Bank (NDB).
• Rajiv Anand became MD & CEO, IndusInd Bank.
• ACC approved postings of 15 senior IAS & IPS officers.
• Anish Dayal Singh appointed Deputy National Security Advisor (NSA).
• Teymur Abasguliyev appointed CEO, Nayara Energy.
• S. Krishnan became Non-Executive Chairman, J&K Bank till March 2028.
• Satish Kumar reappointed Chairman & CEO, Railway Board for one year (from Sept 1, 2025).
• Dinesh K. Patnaik appointed Indian Envoy to Canada.
• Amit Kapur became Global Chief AI and Services Transformation Officer, TCS.
• India successfully tested the Agni-5 IRBM on Aug 20, 2025, from ITR, Chandipur.
• ISRO plans to launch new remote sensing satellites by 2027–28 for Ladakh and India-wide coverage.
• NASA’s James Webb Telescope discovered a new 29th satellite of Uranus, designated S/2025 U1.
• ISRO is developing a next-gen 120-meter rocket, among the tallest ever built.
• Tata Motors re-entered the South African passenger car market after six years.
• The Department of Posts (DoP) signed an MoU with MapmyIndia to develop DIGIPIN.
• China introduced an AI chatbot Wukong AI aboard the Tiangong Space Station.
• Pixxel Space and Dhruva Space launched satellites aboard SpaceX’s Falcon-9 from Vandenberg Base, California.
• YouTube expanded its “Hype” feature to 39 countries, including India, the U.S., U.K., Japan, and Korea.
Current Affairs 2025
July 2025 1st & 2nd Week Current Affairs 2025 (CDSE/OTA)
