05th August 2025

1. India Discovers World’s Rarest Blood Group ‘CRIB’
2. US Tariff to Impact India’s FY26 GDP Growth by 25–30 bps
3. Fitch Lowers India’s GDP Growth Forecast for FY26 to 6.3%
4. This Volcano Erupts After 600 Years, Ash Rises 4 km High
5. PM Modi’s ‘Pariksha Pe Charcha’ Sets Guinness World Record with 3.53 Crore Registrations
6. AB de Villiers’ Blazing Century Powers South Africa Champions to WCL 2025 Title
7. Indo-Burma Ramsar Regional Initiative (IBRRI)
8. A Book Titled The Conscience Network by Sugata Srinivasaraju
9. Lando Norris Clinches Hungarian Grand Prix After Thrilling Duel With Piastri
10. PNB Housing Finance Announces New Leadership Appointments After CEO Resignation
11. First-Ever BIMSTEC Traditional Music Festival Begins in New Delhi
12. Western Railway Resumes Heritage Train on This 155-Year-Old Line
13. India Post Payments Bank Launches Aadhaar-Based Face Authentication for Digital Banking
14. Sikkim Becomes First State to Launch Sabbatical Leave Scheme for Government Employees
15. ISRO Prepares for BlueBird Satellite Launch with U.S. Collaboration
16. India Receives Final Airbus C-295 Aircraft from Spain
17. BSNL and NRL Join Hands to Drive Industry 4.0 Adoption in India
18. Cloves Syndrome Awareness Day 2025: Understanding a Rare Genetic Disorder
19. National Doctors Day 2025
20. This Veteran Appointed Head Coach of the Indian Senior Men’s Football Team
21. Vice Admiral Manish Chadha Takes Command of Indian Naval Academy
22. Mayank Sharma Assumes Office as Financial Advisor (Defence Services)
23. UPI transaction volumes hit all-time high 19.47 b in July

State News

1. Patalpani-Kalakund Heritage Train Service Resumes in Madhya Pradesh

• What:
  • Western Railway resumed the operation of heritage trains on the 155-year-old Patalpani-Kalakund meter-gauge line in Madhya Pradesh after a temporary suspension.
• Why:
  • The service was restarted to revive tourist footfall and preserve the historical and scenic railway route amid difficult terrain preventing gauge conversion.
• Tell me more:
  • The line is one of six heritage lines of Indian Railways but still awaits official certification by the Railway Board.
  • The line was originally constructed in the late 19th century under Maharaja Tukoji Rao Holkar II as part of the Holkar State Railways.
  • The railway station Patalpani is named after Tantia Bhil, a revolutionary figure in Central India’s history.

Source: IE

2. Sikkim Becomes First State to Introduce Sabbatical Leave Scheme

• What:
  • Sikkim government has introduced a formal Sabbatical Leave scheme allowing employees to take extended leave with partial pay while retaining their seniority.
• Why:
  • The scheme aims to empower the workforce, especially youth, with opportunities for personal and professional growth and greater administrative flexibility.
• Tell me more:
  • Regular state government employees with five years of continuous service can avail leave from 365 to 1,080 days with 50% basic pay.
  • The government can recall employees on sabbatical with one month’s notice to ensure service continuity.
  • Temporary staff are now eligible after six months of continuous service under the same leave provisions.
  • Approval authority has been delegated to Heads of Departments for Group C and D employees, while Group A and B need Secretary-level approval.
  • Many youths have used this leave to pursue dreams, including starting new business ventures.

Source: NOA

International News

1. CRIB Blood Group Discovered in India and UK

• What:
  • A new and extremely rare human blood group called CRIB has been identified by scientists from India and the UK in a 38-year-old woman from Kolar, near Bengaluru, making her the only known person in the world with this blood type.
• Why:
  • The discovery aims to advance critical care, prenatal diagnostics, and global blood donation protocols by identifying blood group variations that impact transfusion compatibility.
• Tell me more:
  • CRIB is a newly discovered blood group that does not fit into the commonly known ABO and Rh systems.
  • This blood group is classified under the INRA (Indian Rare Antigen) system, which was officially recognized by the International Society of Blood Transfusion (ISBT) in 2022.

Source: ET

2. COP15 Conference Strengthens Global Wetland Conservation

• What:
  • The 15th Meeting of the Conference of the Contracting Parties (COP15) to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands was held in Zimbabwe to renew global commitments on wetland conservation and wise use.
• Why:
  • The conference aimed to address new challenges in wetland protection, adopt resolutions on restoration and governance, and promote cooperation among governments and organisations.
• Tell me more:
  • A new strategic plan for the Convention was adopted, covering four goals and 18 targets, with a modest 4.1% budget increase for 2025-2027.
  • Side events launched regional initiatives like the Southern African Regional Initiative and the Indo-Burma Ramsar Regional Initiative to enhance regional cooperation.
  • SARRI is a Ramsar Regional Initiative established under the Ramsar Convention to promote wetland conservation and sustainable use across the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region.
  • IBRRI is a collaborative, transboundary regional initiative under the Ramsar Convention aimed at halting and reversing wetland loss in the Indo-Burma region.

Source: IUCN

3. BIMSTEC Traditional Music Festival Held in New Delhi

• What:
  • The first-ever BIMSTEC Traditional Music Festival was held at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi with artists from seven member countries performing.
• Why:
  • The festival aims to strengthen regional cultural ties and celebrate the distinct musical heritage of BIMSTEC nations.
• Tell me more:
  • The event was inaugurated by External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar, who said music is a bridge between nations and represents the soul of society.
  • Artists from India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand participated in the festival.
  • The festival was organised by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) and named ‘SaptaSur: Seven Nations, One Melody.’
  • The idea for the festival came from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s announcement at the BIMSTEC Summit in Thailand in April 2025.

Source: NOA

Banking and Economy

1. India Faces US Tariff Threats but Business Stays Strong

• What:
  • US President Donald Trump has threatened heavy tariffs on Indian goods over India’s Russian oil purchases, but new business registrations in India continue to rise.
• Why:
  • The tariffs are meant to penalise India for buying Russian oil and military equipment, and selling oil for profits, while India aims to keep its economy strong and call out double standards.
• Tell me more:
  • Trump announced a 25% duty on all Indian goods and a penalty for Russian deals, raising the risk of economic impact.
  • India has not reacted with its own tariffs and accused the US and EU of being unfair by importing from Russia themselves.
  • New company registrations rose for the seventh straight month in July, rising 18% from last year to 17,555, and LLP registrations increased by 25% to 7,343.
  • Between April and July, company incorporations grew by over 26% and LLP registrations by 29% from last year.
  • The IMF raised India’s growth forecast to 6.4% for FY26 and FY27, though higher tariffs may slightly reduce GDP growth.

Source: ET

2. IPPB Launches Aadhaar-Based Face Authentication Nationwide

• What:
  • India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) has launched Aadhaar-based Face Authentication across the country to enable secure and convenient customer transactions.
• Why:
  • The initiative aims to make banking more accessible and inclusive for elderly, differently-abled people, and those facing challenges with fingerprint or OTP verification.
• Tell me more:
  • Face authentication allows customers to perform transactions using facial recognition without needing fingerprints or OTPs.
  • It supports all banking services such as account opening, balance check, fund transfers, and utility payments.
  • The feature promotes contactless and faster transactions, especially useful during health emergencies.
  • IPPB serves 11 crore customers in over 5.57 lakh villages and towns, with services available in 13 languages.
  • The bank operates through the postal network of about 1,65,000 post offices and 3,00,000 employees.

Source: PIB

3. UPI Transactions Reach Record High of 19.47 Billion in July 2025

• What:
  • UPI transactions in July reached a record 19.47 billion with a value of Rs 25.08 lakh crore, the second highest monthly value.
• Why:
  • The growth in UPI use shows that small businesses, local retailers, and last-mile users are increasingly adopting digital payments and reducing cash reliance.
• Tell me more:
  • UPI now accounts for 85% of all digital transactions in India and supports nearly 50% of global real-time digital payments.
  • UPI is operational in seven countries including UAE, Singapore, Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, France, and Mauritius, marking its first entry into Europe with France.
  • NPCI introduced limits on balance checks (50 times a day) and linked account queries (25 times per user per app per day) to reduce system load and failed transactions.
  • Inactive UPI IDs tied to mobile numbers unused for over 12 months are auto-disabled and new bank accounts face enhanced verification for security.

Source: ET

GDP Forecasts

1. Fitch Cuts India’s FY26 GDP Growth Estimate to 6.3%

• What:
  • Fitch Ratings reduced India’s GDP growth projection for FY26 to 6.3% from 6.4% and highlighted minimal direct impact on Indian firms from new US tariffs.
• Why:
  • The revision reflects expectations of continued strong infrastructure spending supporting demand, even as US tariffs create new uncertainties for some sectors.
• Tell me more:
  • Fitch expects robust infrastructure spending to support sectors like cement, electricity, petroleum products, steel, and engineering and construction.
  • Indian companies’ credit metrics are expected to improve due to stronger EBITDA margins despite ongoing capital investment.
  • Most Fitch-rated Indian companies have low to moderate export exposure to the US, limiting the direct effect of new 25% tariffs effective from August 7.

Source: ET

Defence News

1. India Receives Last Airbus C-295 Military Transport Aircraft from Spain

• What:
  • India received the last of 16 Airbus C-295 military transport aircraft from Spain, marking a key step in enhancing its defence capabilities.
• Why:
  • The acquisition aims to replace the ageing Avro aircraft and strengthen the tactical transport capacity of the Indian Air Force.
• Tell me more:
  • The C-295 aircraft has a payload capacity between 5 to 10 tonnes and a flight endurance of up to 11 hours.
  • India signed a contract in September 2021 for 56 C-295MW aircraft; 16 were delivered directly by Airbus from Spain, and 40 will be manufactured in India.
  • The last aircraft handed over from Spain came two months ahead of schedule, reflecting efficient project execution.
  • The Tata Aircraft Complex in Vadodara, Gujarat, inaugurated jointly by Prime Ministers Modi and Sanchez, will assemble the 40 aircraft in India.
  • This facility is India’s first private sector Final Assembly Line for military aircraft, supported by major defence PSUs like Bharat Electronics Ltd, Bharat Dynamics Ltd, and private MSMEs.

Source: HT

Science and Technology

1. ISRO to Launch Block 2 BlueBird Satellite in Coming Months

• What:
  • ISRO plans to launch the Block 2 BlueBird communications satellite developed by US-based AST SpaceMobile within the next three to four months.
• Why:
  • The launch advances Indo-US collaborative efforts in space technology and strengthens India’s satellite communication capabilities.
• Tell me more:
  • The BlueBird satellite, weighing around 6,500 kg, is expected to arrive in India by September but faced delays due to developmental issues.
  • It will be launched from Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota, on ISRO’s heavy launch vehicle LVM3 (formerly GSLV-Mk III).
  • ISRO recently launched the NASA ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar Mission (NISAR) on July 30, which is now entering a critical 90-day commissioning phase.
  • ISRO plans the first of three uncrewed Gaganyaan missions in December 2025, with crewed mission targeted for early 2027.
  • India aims to complete the Bharatiya Antariksh Station, its space station weighing 52 tonnes, by 2035, with the first module launching around 2028.

Source: TH

Awards

1. Pariksha Pe Charcha Gets Guinness World Record

• What:
  • Pariksha Pe Charcha, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s initiative, received the Guinness World Record for most people registered on a citizen engagement platform in one month.
• Why:
  • The recognition highlights the participation and public trust in the initiative where the Prime Minister interacts with students, teachers, and parents to reduce exam stress.
• Tell me more:
  • The eighth edition registered three crore 53 lakh people on the MyGov platform in one month.
  • Over 21 crore people viewed the eight editions of Pariksha Pe Charcha across media platforms in 2025.
  • The official Guinness World Record certificate was presented at a ceremony in New Delhi attended by Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.

Source: NOA

Sports

1. AB de Villiers Leads South Africa to WCL 2025 Final

• AB de Villiers made a game-winning run-out on the last ball to help South Africa Champions win the semifinal against Australia by 1 run and reach the World Championship of Legends final.
• De Villiers is the top scorer of the tournament with two centuries and over 300 runs, almost double the next best player.

Source: HT

2. Hungarian Grand Prix: Lando Norris Wins in Final Lap Duel

• Lando Norris won the Hungarian Grand Prix after a thrilling last-lap battle with teammate Oscar Piastri, securing McLaren’s 200th Formula 1 victory.
• This is McLaren’s 200th win in Formula 1 history.

Source: TOI

Memorandum of Understanding

1. BSNL and Numaligarh Refinery Launch India’s First 5G Captive Network

• What:
  • BSNL signed an MoU with Numaligarh Refinery to deploy India’s first captive non-public 5G network in the refinery sector.
• Why:
  • The network aims to enable secure, reliable, and real-time industrial connectivity to support critical refinery operations and technological advancements.
• Tell me more:
  • The MoU was signed during a workshop focused on adopting Industry 4.0 technologies like 5G CNPN, digital twins, 3D printing, AI, AR/VR/MR, IoT, and Big Data Analytics among central public sector enterprises.
  • The 5G captive network will improve operational efficiency, cybersecurity, and enable advanced applications such as AR/VR-based training and real-time IoT.
  • BSNL’s CMD: Robert J Ravi

Source: ET

Appointments

1. PNB Housing Finance Appoints New Senior Leaders After CEO Resignation

• Following the resignation of CEO Girsh Kousgi, PNB Housing Finance appointed Jatul Anand as executive director and Valli Sekar as chief business officer for affordable business.

Source: BS

2. Khalid Jamil Appointed Head Coach of Indian Men’s Football Team

• The All India Football Federation appointed Khalid Jamil as the head coach of the Senior Men’s Indian National Team in August 2025.
• Khalid Jamil has won AIFF’s Men’s Coach of the Year Award twice in recent years (2023-24 and 2024-25).

Source: AIFF

3. Vice Admiral Manish Chadha Becomes Indian Naval Academy Commandant

• Vice Admiral Manish Chadha took charge as Commandant of the Indian Naval Academy, succeeding Vice Admiral C.R. Praveen Nair.
• The Indian Naval Academy is located at Ezhimala.

Source: TH

4. Dr Mayank Sharma Appointed Financial Advisor (Defence Services)

• Dr Mayank Sharma took charge as Financial Advisor (Defence Services) on August 1, 2025.
• He has served as Controller General of Defence Accounts and held posts such as Under Secretary, Deputy Secretary, and Joint Secretary in the Cabinet Secretariat.

Source: PIB

Miscellaneous

1. Krasheninnikov Volcano Erupts After 600 Years

• The Krasheninnikov Volcano in Kamchatka erupted for the first time in 600 years, sending ash high into the sky and leading to an orange aviation alert.
• This is the first recorded eruption since about 1463, according to Olga Girina, head of the Kamchatka Volcanic Eruption Response Team.

Source: ET

2. The Conscience Network: Chronicle of Resistance to Emergency

• The book “The Conscience Network, A Chronicle of Resistance to a Dictatorship,” written by Sugata Srinivasaraju, was released in Bengaluru with key dignitaries present.
• The book highlights the important but lesser-known role of the Indian diaspora in the U.S. in opposing the Emergency and contributing significantly to resistance efforts.

Source: TH

3. CLOVES Syndrome: Rare Genetic Overgrowth Disorder Explained

• What:
  • CLOVES Syndrome is a very rare genetic disorder caused by mutations in the PIK3CA gene that leads to abnormal tissue overgrowth and vascular malformations.
• Why:
  • The purpose of understanding CLOVES Syndrome is to identify and manage its symptoms through an accurate diagnosis since it is rare and often misdiagnosed.
• Tell me more:
  • CLOVES stands for Congenital Lipomatous Overgrowth, Vascular malformations, Epidermal nevi, and Spinal/skeletal anomalies or Scoliosis.
  • It is part of a group called PIK3CA-related overgrowth spectrum (PROS) and affects males and females equally without hereditary transmission.
  • Symptoms present at birth and include fatty tissue masses, dilated veins prone to clots, large hands/feet, birthmarks, spinal issues, kidney problems, and sometimes asymmetrical growth.
  • CLOVES Syndrome was first described in 2007 and 2009 but an early case may date back to 1867.

Source: TH

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