Current Affairs One - Liner : 9th 10th & 11th August 2025

National:

• In August 2025, India nominated the ancient Buddhist site Sarnath in Varanasi to UNESCO’s 2025–26 World Heritage cycle. Known for Gautama Buddha’s first sermon, Sarnath features landmarks like the Dhamek Stupa, Ashokan Pillar, and Chaukhandi Stupa. The nomination aims to boost global recognition, conservation, and sustainable tourism.

• On August 7, 2025, the Maharashtra Government approved a pilot project to transform Satnavri village in Nagpur district into India’s first Smart Intelligent Village. The initiative, led by the Voice of Indian Communication Technology Enterprises (VOICE), integrates advanced technologies like drone-assisted farming, smart irrigation, mobile banking, AI-powered education, and digital health services.
• On August 8, 2025, Jammu & Kashmir and Maharashtra completed the first-ever interstate agricultural trade through the National Agriculture Market (eNAM) platform. A truck carrying 11 metric tonnes of apples and pears from Kashmir arrived at Gultekdi APMC in Pune, marking a milestone in digital agri-market integration.
• On August 7, 2025, National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) added chapters on Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw, Brigadier Mohammad Usman, and Major Somnath Sharma to the school syllabus. These are included in Class 8 (English), Class 8 (Urdu), and Class 7 (Urdu) textbooks, respectively. The move aims to instill patriotism and highlight India’s military legacy.
• On August 8, 2025, the Union Cabinet approved ₹4,250 crore under Special Development Packages for Assam (₹4,000 crore) and Tripura (₹250 crore). Funds align with peace accords signed with ULFA, Adivasi, Dimasa groups in Assam and NLFT, ATTF in Tripura. Projects include infrastructure, education, health, skilling, tourism, and cultural preservation across tribal regions. Aim: uplift marginalised communities, boost employment, and foster inclusive development in Northeast India.
• On August 7, 2025, the Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHI) extended the PM E-DRIVE Scheme by 2 years, now valid till March 31, 2028. Subsidies for e-buses, e-trucks, e-ambulances, and charging infrastructure will continue; those for e-2Ws, e-rickshaws, and e-3Ws end by March 2026. The scheme remains fund-limited to ₹10,900 crore, with no additional budget allocation approved.
• On 08 August 2025, IndiaAI and the National Cancer Grid (NCG) launched the Cancer AI & Technology Challenge (CATCH) Grant Program to support AI innovations in cancer care. The initiative offers up to ₹50 lakh per project for pilot deployment and ₹1 crore for scale-up across NCG hospitals.
• On 08 August 2025, the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG) partnered with Right to Services (RTS) Commissioners from 8 states to enhance e-service delivery under the NeSDA Way Forward framework. The meeting focused on improving services in land, labour, finance, and environment, aligning with Ease of Living and Ease of Doing Business goals.
• On August 8, 2025, Chhattisgarh Government signed an agreement with National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) and Chhattisgarh State Power Generation Company Limited (CSPGCL) for two Pumped Storage Projects (PSPs) totaling 1,800 MW. The Hasdeo Bango PSP (800 MW) in Korba will cost ₹3,417 crore, while the Kurund PSP (1,000 MW) will require ₹6,000 crore.
• On August 11, 2025, the Central Government digitally transferred ₹3,200 crore under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) to over 30 lakh farmers affected by natural disasters. This marks the first installment, with an additional ₹8,000 crore to follow soon.
• On August 9, 2025, the first freight train entered Kashmir Valley via Anantnag, carrying 1,380 MT of cement from Punjab. It connects Kashmir to India’s national freight grid, cutting transport time to under 18 hours. Boosts trade in horticulture, handicrafts, and perishables by reducing costs and improving market access.
• On August 9, 2025, the Election Commission of India delisted 334 non-functional Registered Unrecognised Political Parties (RUPPs). These parties hadn’t contested any election since 2019 and had untraceable addresses. The total number of RUPPs dropped from 2,854 to 2,520 after the clean-up
• On 09 August 2025, India announced a record ₹1.51 lakh crore defence manufacturing output for FY 2024–25, marking an 18% growth over the previous year. The public sector contributed 77%, while the private sector share rose to 23%, reflecting a 28% growth. Defence exports also surged to ₹23,622 crore, up 12% from FY 2023–24.
• On August 7, 2025, Indian Railways trialed ‘Rudrastra’, Asia’s longest freight train at 4.5 km with 354 wagons. It ran from Ganjkhwaja (U.P.) to Garhwa (Jharkhand), covering 209 km in 5 hours with 7 locomotives. Carried over 25,000 tonnes, boosting bulk transport efficiency and reducing fuel and crew requirements.

International:

• On August 7, 2025, Israel signed a record $35 billion deal to export 130 BCM of natural gas to Egypt by 2040. The gas will come from Israel’s Leviathan offshore field, with deliveries in two phases, starting in 2026. Phase 1 involves 20 BCM; Phase 2 adds 110 BCM after infrastructure upgrades including a new pipeline via Nitzana.

Banking:

• On August 7, 2025, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) granted in-principle approval to AU Small Finance Bank to transition into a Universal Bank—the first such upgrade in over a decade. This milestone reflects AU’s strong governance, financial resilience, and consistent regulatory compliance.
• On August 7, 2025, RBI imposed a ₹75 lakh penalty on ICICI Bank for regulatory non-compliance. Violations included improper property valuations and breaches in current account opening norms. The action was based on findings from RBI’s ISE 2024, referencing ICICI’s March 2024 financials.
• On August 7, 2025, DSP Mutual Fund launched the DSP Nifty500 Flexicap Quality 30 Index Fund, India’s first passive flexi cap index fund. It tracks the Nifty500 Flexicap Quality 30 Index, which selects 30 high-quality stocks—10 each from large-cap (Nifty 100), mid-cap (Nifty Midcap 150), and small-cap (Nifty Smallcap 250) segments.
• On August 7, 2025, Antfin Singapore Holding Pte Ltd, an affiliate of China’s Ant Group, sold 1.46% stake in Eternal—the parent company of Zomato and Blinkit—via open market transactions. The deal involved 14.13 crore equity shares sold at ₹289.91 per share, totaling ₹4,096.75 crore.

Science & Technology:

• Researchers from Berhampur University and Lovely Professional University discovered a new marine nematode species, Admirandus odishaensis, in Chilika Lake, Odisha. The specimen was collected near Satapada in November 2023, and the findings were published on August 5, 2025, in the Journal of Natural History.
• Archaeologists in northern Peru discovered 3,000-year-old remains of 14 individuals near a Cupisnique temple, suggestng ritual sacrifice. The bodies were buried face down with hands tied, lacking offerings or ceremonial artifacts. This points to violent spiritual practices in pre-Inca civilization.

Sports:

• On 08 August 2025, Victoria Mboko won her maiden WTA title at the Canadian Open held in Montreal, defeating Naomi Osaka 2–6, 6–4, 6–1. The event, part of the National Bank Open, is a premier tournament in women’s tennis. Mboko, just 18 and a wildcard entrant, stunned the field with victories over multiple Grand Slam champions.

Defence:

• On August 10, 2025, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh laid the foundation stone for Project BRAHMA—a ₹1,800 crore coach manufacturing facility by Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML) in Umaria village, Raisen district, Madhya Pradesh.
• On August 7, 2025, Paras Defence & Space Technologies Ltd. signed a teaming agreement with High Performance Space Structure Systems GmbH (HPS GmbH) of Germany to co-develop deployable antenna reflector systems for satellites in India.
• On August 8, 2025, Hyderabad-based Skyroot Aerospace Pvt. Ltd. conducted a successful static test of its KALAM-1200 solid rocket motor, the first stage of Vikram-1, India’s first privately developed orbital launch vehicle. The test was held at 09:05 AM at Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC-SHAR), Sriharikota, with technical support from ISRO.

Apps & Portals:

• On 08 August 2025, the Ministry of Tourism launched the revamped Incredible India Digital Platform (IIDP) to enhance digital tourism experiences. The portal offers AI-powered personalization, virtual tours, real-time weather updates, and seamless booking of flights, hotels, and ASI monument tickets.

Important Days:

• Nagasaki Day 2025, observed on August 9, marked 80 years since the atomic bombing of Nagasaki during World War II. The theme "Remembering to Prevent – Peace Through Memory" emphasized nuclear disarmament and global peace. Over 74,000 lives were lost, and survivors continue to bear the scars of radiation and trauma.
• World Sanskrit Day 2025 was observed on 09 August, coinciding with Shravan Purnima and Raksha Bandhan, marking the traditional beginning of Vedic studies. The day aims to promote Sanskrit learning, preserve India’s cultural heritage, and engage youth with ancient texts.
• National Javelin Day 2025 was celebrated on August 7 to honor Neeraj Chopra’s historic Olympic gold in javelin throw. The theme for 2025 was "Aim High, Throw Far", inspiring youth to pursue excellence in athletics. Neeraj’s record-breaking 90.23m throw in Doha further elevated India’s global stature in javelin.
• On 09 August 2025, the United Nations observed the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, commemorating the first UN Working Group meeting in 1982. The 2025 theme was “Indigenous Peoples and Artificial Intelligence (AI): Defending Rights, Shaping Futures”, focusing on ethical AI and indigenous inclusion
• World Biofuel Day 2025 was observed on 10 August to promote awareness about sustainable, non-fossil fuel alternatives like ethanol, biodiesel, and biogas. The day commemorates Sir Rudolf Diesel’s 1893 experiment with peanut oil, highlighting biofuels' potential. India’s initiatives include E20 ethanol blending, rural biofuel production, and climate-focused campaigns.
• On 09 August 2025, the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) celebrated its 9th Foundation Day, marking a milestone in India’s digital public procurement journey. Themed “Ease, Access and Inclusion,” the event highlighted reforms like removal of caution money, reduced vendor fees, and exemption of transaction charges for 97% of orders.

Appointments:

• On August 8, 2025, Zomato announced Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan as its new brand ambassador, launching the campaign “Fuel Your Hustle” to celebrate hard work, consistency, and ambition.

Awards & Honours:

• On August 7, 2025, PM Modi launched the M. S. Swaminathan Global Award for Food and Peace during his centenary conference in New Delhi. The first recipient was Prof. Ademola Adenle of Nigeria, recognized for combating hunger and empowering marginalised communities. The award celebrates Swaminathan’s legacy as the Father of India’s Green Revolution.

Obituaries:

• Japanese boxer Hiromasa Urakawa, aged 28, died on August 9, 2025, from brain injuries sustained during a bout on August 2 at Tokyo’s Korakuen Hall. He was the second fatality from the same event, following the death of Shigetoshi Kotari, also 28, due to a subdural hematoma.
• Myint Swe, who became Myanmar’s Acting President after the 2021 military coup, passed away on August 7, 2025, at age 74. He had been on medical leave since July 2024 due to neurological disorders and peripheral neuropathy.

Questions:

Q.1 Which bank became the first in over a decade to get Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in-principle approval to transition from Small Finance Bank (SFB) to Universal Bank?
a) Equitas Small Finance Bank
b) AU Small Finance Bank
c) Ujjivan Small Finance Bank
d) ESAF Small Finance Bank

Answer: b) On August 7, 2025, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) granted in-principle approval to AU Small Finance Bank to transition into a Universal Bank—the first such upgrade in over a decade.

Q.2 Who was the first recipient of the M. S. Swaminathan Global Award for Food and Peace in 2025?

a) Norman Borlaug

b) Prof. M. S. Swaminathan

c) Prof. Ademola Adenle

d) Verghese Kurien

Answer: c) The first awardee was Prof. Ademola Adenle of Nigeria, recognised for his work in combating hunger and empowering marginalised communities.