Current Affairs One Liner : 7th August 2025

National:

• On August 5, 2025, CCI approved Dalmia Cement’s ₹5,666 crore acquisition of Jaiprakash Associates under IBC. ChrysCapital got clearance to acquire 90% stake in Theobroma Foods for ₹2,410 crore. INSCO’s green channel deal for Hindusthan National Glass was upheld, rejecting AGI Greenpac’s challenge. These approvals boost consolidation in cement, food retail, and packaging industries.

• Assam launched Nijut Moina 2.0 to support girl students and end child marriage by 2026. It offers monthly DBT: ₹1,000 (HS), ₹1,250 (UG), ₹2,500 (PG/B.Ed) to 4 lakh beneficiaries. Open to unmarried girls domiciled in Assam, with no income or caste restrictions. Excludes married girls (except PG/B.Ed), VIP daughters, and in-service B.Ed candidates.
• Parliament passed the Carriage of Goods by Sea Bill, 2025 on August 6, 2025, replacing the 1925 Act. It aligns Indian maritime law with global norms like the Hague-Visby Rules. The Bill simplifies shipping contracts, reduces disputes, and boosts ease of doing business.
• PM Modi inaugurated Kartavya Bhavan on August 6, 2025, under the Central Vista project to enhance governance efficiency. It is the first of 10 Common Secretariat buildings, designed to house multiple ministries centrally. The move aims to cut ₹1,500 crore in annual rent and streamline administrative coordination. Kartavya Bhavan features modern, green infrastructure aligned with the vision of “Viksit Bharat.”
• Kabak Yano from Arunachal Pradesh successfully scaled Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest peak, on August 4, 2025. This is her second milestone after climbing Mount Everest in 2024. Her expedition was flagged off by Governor KT Parnaik on July 28.

Banking:

• RBI launched the Financial Inclusion Saturation Campaign on July 1, 2025, targeting all Gram Panchayats by September 30. Within one month, it reached 1.05 lakh Gram Panchayats, promoting banking access and KYC updates. Over 6 lakh PMJDY accounts were opened and 14.22 lakh re-KYC updates completed. The drive boosted enrolments in PMJJBY, PMSBY, and APY, enhancing financial security.
• On August 5, 2025, Ant Financial exited Paytm by selling its entire 5.84% stake in One97 Communications for ₹3,803 crore via block deals. The shares were sold at a floor price of ₹1,020 each, marking a discount to market rates. Following the sale, Paytm’s stock dipped over 1% on NSE and BSE.
• On August 5, 2025, RBI granted in-principle approval to IRCTC Payments Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of IRCTC, to operate as an Online Payment Aggregator (OPA) under the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007. This allows IRCTC to process digital payments independently across UPI, cards, net banking, and wallets.
• On August 5, 2025, Bank of Baroda launched ‘bob FxOne’, a digital forex and derivatives platform tailored for corporate and MSME customers. It enables users to execute transactions online with real-time rates, instant confirmations, and a personalized dashboard featuring alerts and downloadable deal tickets. This move aims to enhance speed, transparency, and control in managing foreign exchange and derivative deals.
• On August 5, 2025, Axis Bank launched ‘Lock FD’, an industry-first feature to protect fixed deposits from digital fraud. Once activated via the mobile app or branch, it disables premature FD closures through internet or mobile banking. Customers must visit a branch for in-person verification to close locked FDs, adding a strong layer of security.

Economy:

• On 5th August 2025, The National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER) reported a rise in the Business Confidence Index (BCI) to 149.4, up from 139.3 in the previous quarter. Over 60% of firms showed optimism on economic conditions, financial position, investment climate, and capacity utilisation. 78.7% expect higher production, and 79.1% foresee increased domestic sales.

MoUs:

• On August 5, 2025, SAP Labs India signed an MoU with Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya (GSV) at its Innovation Park in Bengaluru. The aim is to digitally skill professionals in the logistics and transport sector through curriculum enhancement and tech integration. The initiative supports Digital India and Skill India missions. It also promotes industry-academia collaboration for innovation and workforce development.

Summits & Conferences:

• The M.S. Swaminathan Centenary International Conference 2025 was held from August 7–9 at ICAR-PUSA, New Delhi, organized by M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF) with support from ICAR and Ministry of Agriculture. It was chaired by Dr. Soumya Swaminathan and themed “Evergreen Revolution – The Pathway to Biohappiness.” The aim was to promote sustainable, climate-resilient, and inclusive agriculture in honor of Swaminathan’s legacy.

Apps & Portals:

• IIT Palakkad launched India’s first AI-powered learning app ‘Tutoz’ in July 2025 to support competitive exam aspirants. Developed by Revin Techno Solutions, it offers instant doubt-solving via text, voice, or image. The app includes gamified learning, smart notebooks, and works on basic smartphones. It aligns with India’s Digital Education Mission to make quality learning accessible nationwide.

Military Exercises:

• India and the Philippines conducted their first bilateral naval exercise on August 3–4, 2025, in the South China Sea, within the Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone. The Indian Navy deployed INS Delhi, INS Shakti, and INS Kiltan, while the Philippine Navy participated with BRP Jose Rizal and BRP Miguel Malvar. The drill aimed to enhance maritime cooperation, tactical coordination, and uphold freedom of navigation.

Appointments:

• Mrs. S. Radha Chauhan, retired IAS (1988 batch, UP cadre), has taken charge as Chairperson of the Capacity Building Commission (CBC) from August 6, 2025, for a 3-year term. She succeeds Adil Zainulbhai and brings expertise in digital governance and civil service reform.

Questions:

Q.1 The Carriage of Goods by Sea Bill, 2025 replaces which earlier Act?
a) Shipping Contracts Act, 1930
b) Maritime Transport Act, 1950
c) Carriage of Goods by Sea Act, 1925
d) Merchant Shipping Act, 1960

Answer: c) Parliament passed the Carriage of Goods by Sea Bill, 2025 on August 6, 2025, replacing the 1925 Act.

Q.2 Kabak Yano, who climbed Mount Kilimanjaro on August 4, 2025, hails from which state?
a) Arunachal Pradesh
b) Nagaland
c) Assam
d) Sikkim

Answer: a) Kabak Yano from Arunachal Pradesh successfully scaled Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest peak, on August 4, 2025.