15th August 2025

1. Foxconn’s Bengaluru Plant Begins iPhone 17 Production, Becomes Second-Biggest Unit Outside China
2. SBI to Impose Nominal Charges on Online IMPS Transfers Above ₹25,000 from August 15
3. Ambanis Lead 2025 Hurun India Most Valuable Family Businesses List with Valuation Near One-Twelfth of India’s GDP
4. Tata Sons Shareholders Unanimously Approve Noel N Tata’s Appointment as Director at AGM
5. PM Modi Inaugurates Urban Extension Road-II and Delhi Section of Dwarka Expressway to Decongest Capital
6. S&P Upgrades Ratings of 10 Indian Financial Institutions Following India’s Sovereign Rating Boost
7. Vincent Keymer Wins Quantbox Chennai Grand Masters 2025, Enters World’s Top 10
8. Former Australian Captain and Coach Bob Simpson Passes Away at 89
9. India to Host Asian Open Short Track Speed Skating Trophy 2025 for the First Time
10. Indian Tricolour Hoisted at Seattle’s Space Needle for 79th Independence Day — A Historic First
11. President Droupadi Murmu Inaugurates Plumeria Garden, Banyan Grove, and Babbling Brook at Rashtrapati Bhavan
12. Ajay Kumar Bhalla Appointed Nagaland Governor with Additional Charge After Demise of La Ganesan
13. Ten States and NCDRC Achieve Over 100% Case Disposal Rate in July 2025
14. Neeraj Ghaywan’s Homebound Wins Big at Indian Film Festival of Melbourne 2025
15. Microsoft Tops TopBrand 2025 Global Brands List; NVIDIA and Apple Follow
16. NFR, IIT-Guwahati Join Hands to Replace Plastics with Biodegradable Materials
17. ISRO Inaugurates Space Laboratory in Remote Arunachal Pradesh District
18. Real Madrid Named World’s Most Valuable Football Club in 2025
19. India Post Celebrates 50 Years of Sholay with Special Post Card Releases
20. Nagaland Governor La Ganesan Passes Away at 80 in Chennai
21. NHAI Launches FASTag Annual Pass for Seamless Highway Travel
22. Indian Naval Ships Arrived in Sri Lanka for SLINEX‑25
23. India to Set Global Standards in Data Quality: Chief Economic Adviser Nageswaran

National News

1. Indian Tricolour Raised at Seattle’s Space Needle

• What:
  • India’s national flag was raised at Seattle’s Space Needle for the first time on Independence Day.
• Why:
  • The flag hoisting celebrated India’s 79th Independence Day and honored the role of the Indian American community in the region.
• Tell me more:
  • The event saw participation from the Consul General of India in Seattle, Prakash Gupta, along with Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell and other city leaders.
  • A community reception was held at Kerry Park, attended by many Indian Americans and US dignitaries like congressman Adam Smith and Washington supreme court chief justice Debra L. Stephens.
  • Other Seattle landmarks, including Lumen Field, T-Mobile Park, the Westin, and the Seattle Great Wheel, were lit in the tricolour, and the flag was also raised at the Tacoma Dome, City Hall, and police and fire department headquarters.

Source: TOI

2. President Inaugurates Amrit Udyan Summer Annuals 2025

• What:
  • President Droupadi Murmu inaugurated the summer annuals of Amrit Udyan, opening the garden to the public from August 16.
• Why:
  • The garden opens to let visitors experience the summer annuals and new features like the Babbling Brook.
• Tell me more:
  • The summer garden is open until September 14, 2025, between 10:00 AM and 6:00 PM with free entry, and registration is required online or at kiosks near North Avenue Road.
  • Amrit Udyan now has ramps, sensory garden features, and Braille information for disabled and visually challenged visitors.
  • New garden attractions include a Babbling Brook, landscaped water streams, reflexology paths, panchtatva trails, plumeria garden, Bal Vatika, Herbal Garden, Bonsai Garden, Central Lawn, Long Garden, and Circular Garden.
  • Athletes and sportspersons will have special access on National Sports Day (August 29) and teachers on Teachers’ Day (September 5).

Source: ETV GOV

3. NCDRC and States Achieve 100%+ Disposal Rate for Consumer Cases

• What:
  • NCDRC and ten states resolved more consumer cases than were filed in July 2025, achieving over 100 percent disposal rates.
• Why:
  • The high disposal rate reflects strong efforts to ensure quick and efficient consumer justice in India.
• Tell me more:
  • NCDRC had a 122% disposal rate; Tamil Nadu led with 277%, followed by Rajasthan (214%), Telangana (158%), Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand (150% each), Meghalaya (140%), Kerala (122%), Puducherry (111%), Chhattisgarh (108%), and Uttar Pradesh (101%).
  • The e-Jagriti platform, launched in January 2025, has registered over two lakh users and 85,531 cases this year, improving accessibility and efficiency in grievance redressal.
  • e-Jagriti offers OTP-based registration, multilingual support, chatbot services, and voice-to-text features for differently-abled users and elderly people.
  • The platform allows online complaint filing, fee payments, case tracking, and virtual hearings, integrating legacy systems like OCMS, e-Daakhil, NCDRC CMS, and CONFONET.

Source: DD

4. FASTag Annual Pass Sees Over Five Lakh Sign-ups in Four Days

• What:
  • The newly launched FASTag Annual Pass gained over five lakh users within four days of its Independence Day launch.
• Why:
  • The pass offers convenience and unlimited toll usage for a year at a fixed price, reducing waiting times and simplifying payments.
• Tell me more:
  • The pass is for non-commercial vehicle owners, allowing unlimited toll crossings or up to 200 tolls for Rs 3,000 annually.
  • Around 1.4 lakh passes were activated on the first day, with frequent app logins and 1.39 lakh toll transactions recorded.
  • Tamil Nadu leads in purchases, followed by Karnataka, Haryana, and Andhra Pradesh.
  • The pass can be activated through the Rajmarg Yatra App or the NHAI website, requiring vehicle verification and payment via UPI, cards, or net banking.

Source: TOI

State News

1. PM Modi Inaugurates Major Delhi-NCR Road Projects

• What:
  • PM Narendra Modi inaugurated key stretches of Urban Extension Road-II and the Delhi section of Dwarka Expressway, with a total cost of nearly Rs 11,000 crore.
• Why:
  • The new road projects aim to reduce traffic congestion and improve commuting in Delhi, Gurugram, and NCR.
• Tell me more:
  • The Delhi section of Dwarka Expressway is 10.1 km long and developed at a cost of around Rs 5,360 crore, connecting various parts of Delhi with multi-modal transport options.
  • The Urban Extension Road-II (UER-II), including new links to Bahadurgarh and Sonipat, cost around Rs 5,580 crore and will ease traffic on Delhi’s busy roads and ring roads.

Source: IE

2. Arunachal Pradesh Inaugurates ISRO Space Laboratory in Mechuka

• What:
  • A state-of-the-art ISRO Space Laboratory was inaugurated at Mechuka Government Higher Secondary School in Shi-Yomi district, Arunachal Pradesh.
• Why:
  • The lab aims to provide students practical experience in space science and technology to promote curiosity, innovation, and scientific thinking.
• Tell me more:
  • The laboratory was established in collaboration between ISRO and Muskaan Foundation.
  • It is named Pasang Wangchuk Sona ISRO Space Laboratory, after the Education Minister’s late father.

Source: ET

3. Maharashtra Postal Circle Releases Sholay Golden Jubilee Postcards

• Maharashtra Postal Circle issued specially designed picture postcards and a presentation pack to celebrate 50 years of the film Sholay.
• The release commemorates the Golden Jubilee of Sholay, marking its original release on August 15, 1975.
• G.P. Sippy was the film’s producer, and Ramesh Sippy directed the movie.

Source: NOA

Banking and Economy

1. Foxconn Starts iPhone 17 Production at Bengaluru Plant

• What:
  • Foxconn has started small-scale production of iPhone 17 at its second-largest factory in Bengaluru.
• Why:
  • The production aims to boost Apple’s iPhone output and support the company’s target of increasing shipments from India.
• Tell me more:
  • The Bengaluru factory in Devanahalli is Foxconn’s second-biggest unit outside China, set up with an investment of USD 2.8 billion (about Rs 25,000 crore).
  • The new production is in addition to iPhone 17 manufacturing at Foxconn’s Chennai unit.
  • Apple plans to increase iPhone production to 60 million units in 2025 from around 35–40 million in 2024–25.
  • In FY25, Apple assembled 60% more iPhones in India worth USD 22 billion, with most iPhones sold in the US in June 2025 coming from India.

Source: ET

2. SBI Revises IMPS Charges for Online Transfers

• What:
  • State Bank of India will introduce new charges for online IMPS transactions above Rs 25,000 from August 15, 2025, while smaller transfers remain free.
• Why:
  • The change aims to apply nominal fees for higher-value online transactions and maintain free service for lower amounts.
• Tell me more:
  • IMPS transfers up to Rs 25,000 online will not have any charge; transfers above Rs 25,000 up to Rs 1 lakh will be charged Rs 2 + GST, above Rs 1 lakh to Rs 2 lakh at Rs 6 + GST, and above Rs 2 lakh to Rs 5 lakh at Rs 10 + GST.
  • Salary package account holders, including Defence, Railways, and Government employees, will continue to get free online transfers under special schemes.
  • Charges for IMPS through SBI branches remain unchanged.
  • SBI IMPS charges are now similar or lower when compared to other banks, like Canara Bank, Punjab National Bank, ICICI Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank, and Indian Bank.

Source: BS

3. S&P Global Upgrades Ratings of 10 Indian Financial Institutions

• What:
  • S&P Global Ratings upgraded the long-term issuer credit ratings of seven Indian banks and three finance companies following India’s sovereign rating upgrade.
• Tell me more:
  • India’s sovereign rating was upgraded to ‘BBB/Stable/A-2’ from ‘BBB-/Positive/A-3’, marking the first sovereign credit upgrade in 18 years.
  • S&P expects India’s banks to maintain good asset quality, profitability, and capitalisation despite some stress pockets.
  • The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) initiated in 2016 has improved payment culture, reduced bad loan resolution time from 6-8 years to less than 2 years, and increased recovery values to over 30%.
  • India’s real GDP growth averaged 8.8% from fiscal 2022 to 2024, the highest in Asia-Pacific, with a projected average growth of 6.8% annually over the next three years.

Source: ET

4. India to Set Global Standards in Data Quality

• What:
  • India aims to set global benchmarks in data quality and statistics, becoming a standard for developed countries.
• Why:
  • The goal is to produce timely, credible, and user-friendly data to support efficient decision-making in government and corporate sectors.
• Tell me more:
  • The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) plans to introduce a Service Production Index alongside the existing Index of Industrial Production (IIP) to provide a clearer picture of the economy.
  • NITI Aayog is developing a new version of its National Data and Analytics Platform (NDAP) with AI capabilities to meet evolving data needs.
  • Improved data quality is vital for achieving the vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047 and ensuring accountability in performance and decision-making.
  • The initiative responds to global concerns over data accuracy, referencing recent incidents like the US labor statistics controversy and calls for reform in the UK statistical authority.

Source: ET

Reports and Indices

1. 2025 Barclays Private Clients Hurun India Most Valuable Family Businesses List

• What:
  • The Ambani family has topped the 2025 Barclays Private Clients Hurun India Most Valuable Family Businesses list for the second year with a valuation of Rs 28.2 lakh crore.
• Why:
  • The ranking highlights the most valuable family-owned businesses in India and recognizes their role in the country’s economy.
• Tell me more:
  • The top three family businesses are valued at USD 499 billion (INR 42.7 lakh crore), equal to the GDP of the Philippines.
  • Entry threshold for the top 10 has increased to Rs 2.2 lakh crore.
  • Energy, financial services, and software sectors are the main sources of family wealth.

Source: ET

2. TopBrand 2025 “Top 500 Global Brands list”

• What:
  • The 19th China Brand Festival was held in Shenzhen from August 7–11, 2025, with the release of the TopBrand 2025 “Top 500 Global Brands list”.
• Why:
  • The event promotes brand building and highlights the global influence of top brands, focusing this year on theme of “AI and Global Expansion”.
• Tell me more:
  • Microsoft was ranked as the world’s top brand with a value of USD 1,062.505 billion, followed by NVIDIA (USD 1,046.760 billion) and Apple (USD 997.685 billion).
  • Other top ten brands included Amazon, Alphabet (Google), Saudi Aramco, Walmart, Meta (Facebook), Berkshire Hathaway, and Broadcom.
  • PetroChina ranked 14th and is the highest-valued Chinese brand.

Source: PTI

3. Brand Finance’s “Football 50 2025 List”

• What:
  • Real Madrid’s brand value rose 14% to EUR 1.9 billion, and Barcelona’s increased 11% to EUR 1.7 billion in 2025.
• Why:
  • These increases highlight the growing global strength and popularity of the clubs’ brands.
• Tell me more:
  • Both clubs earned AAA+ ratings for brand strength and have the highest enterprise values: Real Madrid at EUR 6 billion and Barcelona at EUR 4.4 billion.
  • The Premier League is the world’s most valuable football league, with its top ten clubs’ combined brand value exceeding EUR 8 billion.
  • Premier League fans in the UK are highly engaged, with 90% watching matches on TV, 51% buying merchandise, and 56% placing bets.
  • Manchester City dropped to third in brand value, down 11% to EUR 1.4 billion, while Paris Saint-Germain rose 13% to EUR 1.4 billion, joining the global top five.

Source: BF

Defence News

1. Indian Naval Ships Participate in SLINEX-25 in Colombo

• What:
  • Indian Naval Ships INS Rana and INS Jyoti arrived in Colombo for the 12th Sri Lanka-India Naval Exercise (SLINEX-25).
• Tell me more:
  • SLINEX was launched in 2005 and is conducted regularly, with the previous edition held in Visakhapatnam in December 2024.
  • Harbour Phase (August 14–16) included professional interactions, cultural exchanges, yoga sessions, and sports to build camaraderie.
  • Sea Phase (August 17–18) involves gunnery firing, navigation drills, refuelling at sea, and Visit Board Search and Seizure (VBSS) operations.
  • Sri Lankan Navy ships SLNS Gajabahu and SLNS Vijayabahu and Special Forces from both navies also participate.

Source: IE

Science and Technology

1. Indian Railways Introduces IIT Guwahati’s Eco-Friendly Green Bedroll Bags

• What:
  • Indian Railways started using eco-friendly green bedroll bags made of compostable bioplastic on a pilot basis in Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR).
• Why:
  • The initiative aims to reduce plastic pollution and promote environmental sustainability by replacing traditional plastic bedroll bags.
• Tell me more:
  • The new bags degrade in compost within approximately 180 days, unlike conventional plastics that take many years to degrade.
  • About 40,000 such bags will be distributed across 25 trains from Assam, West Bengal, Bihar, Tripura, and Arunachal Pradesh.
  • The bioplastic is developed by IIT Guwahati’s Research and Development facility and is ISO 17088-compliant.
  • The initiative involves recycling biodegradable waste at Kamakhya’s inoculum generation plant to reprocess used bedroll bags.

Source: ETV

Awards

1. Homebound Wins Big at Indian Film Festival of Melbourne 2025

• What:
  • Neeraj Ghaywan’s film Homebound won Best Film and Best Director at the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne 2025.
• Why:
  • The awards were given to honour outstanding storytelling, direction, and performances in Indian cinema on a global stage.
• Tell me more:
  • Homebound stars Ishaan Khatter, Vishal Jetwa, and Janhvi Kapoor and explores themes of belonging, displacement, and returning home.
  • Aamir Khan received the Excellence in Cinema Award for his long-standing contribution, and Abhishek Bachchan was named Best Actor (Male) for I Want to Talk, while Geetha Kailasam won Best Actor (Female) for Angammal, which also won Best Indie Film.
  • Black Warrant won Best Series; Jaideep Ahlawat was named Best Actor (Male) for Paatal Lok Season Two, and Nimisha Sajayan won Best Actor (Female) for Dabba Cartel.
  • Vir Das got the Disruptor Award, Aditi Rao Hydari was recognised for Diversity in Cinema, and Arvind Swamy won the Leadership in Cinema Award.

Source: IE

Sports

1. Vincent Keymer Wins Chennai Grand Masters 2025 Title

• Vincent Keymer won the Chennai Grand Masters 2025 by drawing the eighth round match and maintaining a 1.5-point lead.

Source: TH

2. India to Host Asian Open Short Track Speed Skating Trophy 2025

• What:
  • India will host the Asian Open Short Track Speed Skating Trophy for the first time from August 20 to 23, 2025, in Dehradun.
• Tell me more:
  • The competition will take place at Maharana Pratap Sports College in Raipur, Dehradun.
  • More than 11 Asian countries will participate, including China, Japan, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, Chinese Taipei, Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines, and India.
  • Athletes will compete in 9 different events, ranging from the 222-meter sprint to the 5000-meter relay.
  • Amitabh Sharma is the President of the Ice Skating Association of India (ISAI).

Source: NOA

Appointments

1. Tata Sons Appoints Noel Tata as Director

• Shareholders of Tata Sons have unanimously approved all six resolutions at the annual general meeting, including appointing Noel N Tata as director.
• Noel N Tata, the Chairman of Tata Trusts, was appointed as Additional Director after Ratan Tata’s death, and his appointment has been confirmed.

Source: ET

2. Ajay Kumar Bhalla Given Additional Charge as Nagaland Governor

• He is the Governor of Manipur at present.

Source: NOA

Miscellaneous

1. Former Australian Cricket Captain Bob Simpson Passes Away

• Bob Simpson, former Australian cricket captain and coach, died at the age of 89 in Sydney.
• Simpson was a revered cricketer and coach who led Australia to major victories and earned respect internationally.

Source: NOA

2. Nagaland Observes Seven Days of Mourning for Governor La Ganesan

• What:
  • Nagaland declared seven days of state mourning from August 16 to 22, 2025, following the death of Governor La Ganesan on August 15.
• Tell me more:
  • The national flag will be flown at half-mast on all official buildings during the mourning period, with no official entertainment by state departments.
  • Nagaland CM Neiphiu Rio, deputy CMs T.R. Zeliang and Yanthungo Patton, and other officials are flying to Chennai to pay last respects.
  • Ganesan served as Governor of Manipur (2021-2023) before his Nagaland appointment in February 2023.
  • La Ganesan also served as Member of Rajya Sabha and Governor of West Bengal.

Source: HT

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