11.08.25 Current Affairs

ONE LINER CURRENT AFFAIRS

National Affairs

1. Parliament passed the Digital Competition Bill, 2025 to curb monopolistic practices by Big Tech platforms.
2. Cabinet approved the National Electric Freight Policy aiming to electrify 30% of freight vehicles by 2030.
3. Election Commission announced new remote voting system trial for migrant voters in upcoming state elections.
4. Ministry of Health rolled out a National Cancer Control Programme with AI-enabled screening in district hospitals.
5. Centre launched the Green Steel Mission to decarbonise the steel sector through hydrogen-based production.
6. Rural Development Ministry released MGNREGA performance report, showing 5% higher work demand in 2024–25.
7. Ministry of Railways announced Dedicated Freight Corridor expansion to southern states.
8. New National Policy on Ports to integrate inland waterways and coastal shipping.
9. Supreme Court issued guidelines on AI usage in judicial processes to ensure fairness and transparency.
10. Government launched Urban Flood Mitigation Mission to strengthen drainage in 100 vulnerable cities.

International Relations

1. India and Japan signed a defence cooperation agreement for joint anti-submarine warfare exercises.
2. India–EU High-Level Dialogue discussed cooperation on semiconductor supply chain resilience.
3. SAARC health ministers met virtually to coordinate disease surveillance systems.
4. India signed MoU with Kenya for digital public infrastructure in healthcare and payments.
5. BRICS foreign ministers called for reforms in global financial architecture.
6. Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) members agreed on clean energy investment targets.
7. India supported UNGA resolution on responsible AI governance.
8. Talks held with Bangladesh for joint dredging projects in transboundary rivers.
9. India’s humanitarian aid sent to earthquake-hit Papua New Guinea.
10. ASEAN-India maritime dialogue emphasised search and rescue cooperation.

Environment and Climate

1. IMD issued warning of above-normal monsoon withdrawal rainfall in northwest India.
2. Ministry of Environment launched Urban Biodiversity Index to assess city-level ecological health.
3. National Mission on Blue Carbon initiated to restore coastal ecosystems like mangroves and seagrasses.
4. New study showed Himalayan glaciers losing ice at double the global average rate.
5. Pollution Control Board mandated real-time effluent monitoring for textile industries.
6. Green Steel Mission expected to cut carbon intensity by 40% in steel sector by 2040.
7. Centre approved creation of National Climate Adaptation Fund for Agriculture (NCAFA).
8. MoEFCC announced National Coral Reef Monitoring Network in Lakshadweep and Andaman.
9. ISRO to deploy satellites for air quality monitoring in major Indian cities.
10. Rainwater harvesting made mandatory in all new government buildings from October 2025.

Science and Technology

1. ISRO successfully tested cryogenic engine with 100% indigenous components.
2. DRDO developed drone-based mine detection system for armed forces.
3. National Quantum Mission funded five new quantum research clusters in universities.
4. IIT-Kharagpur scientists developed bio-based flame retardant for textiles.
5. BARC began trials of thorium-based nuclear fuel assemblies.
6. NIC launched AI-powered legal research platform for government departments.
7. CSIR developed bio-degradable sensors for soil nutrient tracking.
8. India’s first AI model for predicting urban floods launched in Chennai.
9. Navy tested autonomous underwater vehicle for coastal surveillance.
10. Ministry of Science initiated Women in Deep-Tech Fellowship programme.

Governance and Public Policy

1. Digital Competition Bill introduces ex-ante regulations for large online platforms.
2. Supreme Court guidelines require human oversight for AI in courts.
3. National Electric Freight Policy to be implemented via public–private partnerships.
4. Remote voting trial to ensure inclusivity in electoral participation.
5. Green Steel Mission linked with Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme.
6. Urban Flood Mitigation Mission integrated into Smart Cities programme.
7. Dedicated Freight Corridor expansion to improve logistics efficiency.
8. NCAFA to support climate-resilient farming in vulnerable districts.
9. Ports policy to improve ease of doing business in shipping sector.
10. Election Commission to draft comprehensive migrant voter policy after trials.

Economy and Finance

1. Retail inflation eased to 4.8% in July 2025, within RBI’s comfort zone.
2. Industrial output grew by 6.2% in June 2025, led by manufacturing.
3. FDI inflows rose 15% year-on-year in Q1 2025–26.
4. Rupee strengthened to 81.9 per USD on robust capital inflows.
5. Steel sector expected to attract $10 billion investment under Green Steel Mission.
6. Ports policy reforms to reduce cargo dwell time by 30%.
7. EV freight transition to generate 1.5 million green jobs by 2030.
8. New incentives for domestic semiconductor manufacturing announced.
9. India–EU trade to benefit from organic product standards pact signed earlier.
10. Coastal shipping reforms expected to save ₹1,200 crore annually in logistics costs.

Social and Cultural Issues

1. Cancer Control Programme to provide free screening for 5 common cancers.
2. Digital cancer registry to integrate with Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission.
3. Urban Flood Mitigation Mission includes community-based early warning systems.
4. Women in Deep-Tech Fellowship aims to bridge gender gap in STEM.
5. National Biodiversity Index to engage citizens in urban ecological conservation.
6. Green jobs from EV freight and green steel sectors expected to benefit youth.
7. Remote voting will help migrant workers maintain electoral rights.
8. Cultural exchanges planned with ASEAN nations under maritime cooperation.
9. SAARC health coordination to improve regional outbreak response.
10. Public awareness campaigns on coral reef conservation in coastal schools.

Defence and Strategic Affairs

1. India–Japan ASW agreement to enhance anti-submarine capabilities in Indo-Pacific.
2. DRDO’s drone-based mine detector to improve troop safety.
3. Navy’s autonomous underwater vehicle boosts maritime domain awareness.
4. IAF to integrate AI-assisted mission planning software.
5. Andaman & Nicobar Command to host tri-service amphibious drill in September 2025.
6. Indigenous cryogenic engine to strengthen space-based defence applications.
7. Quantum-secure communications being tested in naval command chains.
8. Coastal radar coverage expansion to monitor busy sea lanes.
9. Indo-Pacific partnerships to enhance maritime surveillance sharing.
10. Thorium-based fuel tech has potential dual-use for civilian and defence reactors.

Art and Culture

1. Ministry of Culture announced restoration of Konark Sun Temple’s main hall.
2. Archaeologists discovered 10th-century Chola inscriptions in Tamil Nadu.
3. Annual National Handloom Day celebrations highlighted GI-tagged products.
4. Exhibition on ancient maritime trade opened at National Museum.
5. UNESCO to assist in conservation of Himalayan monasteries.
6. Digitisation of rare manuscripts in Persian and Sanskrit underway.
7. Tribal art promotion under ‘One District, One Craft’ scheme.
8. Virtual reality tour of Ajanta-Ellora caves launched.
9. Restoration of old lighthouses as heritage tourism sites.
10. Collaboration with France on cultural heritage management training.

Infrastructure

1. Dedicated Freight Corridor expansion to southern states approved.
2. Ports policy to modernise infrastructure for multimodal integration.
3. Urban Flood Mitigation Mission to upgrade stormwater systems.
4. EV charging stations planned along National Highways under freight policy.
5. New airport terminal inaugurated in Patna with green building certification.
6. Railway stations modernisation to include renewable energy integration.
7. National Maritime University campus location finalised in Gujarat.
8. Coastal shipping corridors to link industrial clusters.
9. Inland waterways terminals under construction in Assam.
10. BharatNet Phase-III expansion to remote tribal areas.

Geography

1. Lakshadweep and Andaman coral reef zones added to monitoring network.
2. Konark, Odisha — site of Sun Temple restoration.
3. Tamil Nadu — discovery of Chola-era inscriptions.
4. Assam — new inland waterway terminals.
5. Gujarat coast — planned site for Maritime University campus.
6. Patna, Bihar — new green-certified airport terminal.
7. Himalayas — glaciers melting at double global average.
8. Lakshadweep — focus of blue carbon restoration.
9. Chennai — launch site of AI urban flood model.
10. Andaman & Nicobar Islands — upcoming tri-service amphibious drill location.

Places in the News

1. New Delhi — Digital Competition Bill passed in Parliament.
2. Patna — green-certified airport terminal inaugurated.
3. Lakshadweep — coral reef monitoring project launched.
4. Tamil Nadu — Chola inscriptions discovered.
5. Konark — Sun Temple restoration announced.
6. Assam — inland waterway projects initiated.
7. Andaman & Nicobar — tri-service amphibious drill planned.
8. Gujarat — Maritime University campus finalised.
9. Papua New Guinea — Indian humanitarian aid sent.
10. Japan — signed ASW cooperation pact with India.

History and Heritage

1. Konark Sun Temple restoration revives 13th-century Kalinga architecture.
2. Chola inscriptions shed light on 10th-century temple administration.
3. Exhibition on maritime trade links ancient India to Southeast Asia.
4. Heritage lighthouses restoration connects colonial-era navigation history.
5. UNESCO support for Himalayan monastery conservation.
6. Persian and Sanskrit manuscript digitisation preserves medieval literature.
7. GI-tagged handlooms represent traditional weaving heritage.
8. VR tours enhance accessibility to Ajanta-Ellora heritage.
9. National Museum maritime trade artefacts include Roman coins, amphorae.
10. Indo-French cultural training exchanges for heritage site management.