16th-18th August 2025

1. Himalayan Kingfisher Unveiled as Mascot for Khelo India Water Sports Festival 2025 in Srinagar
2. Kargil’s Apricots Debut in Saudi Arabia: A Milestone for India’s Agricultural Exports and ODOP Initiative
3. PM Narendra Modi Surpasses Indira Gandhi’s Record with 12 Consecutive Independence Day Speeches
4. 1,090 Personnel Awarded Gallantry and Service Medals on Independence Day 2025
5. ICICI Bank Reduces Minimum Balance Requirement After Public Outrage
6. Ravi Narayanan Appointed CEO of SMFG India Credit Amid Strategic Leadership Overhaul
7. Vece Paes, Olympic Hockey Medallist and Sports Administrator, Passes Away at 80
8. Rajiv Pratap Rudy Retains Post CCI General Secretary of Constitution Club of India
9. India Officially Bids to Host 2030 Commonwealth Games: IOA Approval Confirmed
10. India and Singapore Reinforce Strategic Partnership at 3rd Ministerial Roundtable in New Delhi
11. Union Minister Launches ‘Bharat Steel’ Logo, Brochure & Website
12. India Poised to Become the World’s Most Sought-After Consumer Market: Morgan Stanley
13. MY Bharat Signs MoU with SOUL for Youth Leadership Development
14. IGNCA and BSIP Sign MoU for India’s Science-Culture Integration
15. Indian Oil Panipat Gets First ISCC CORSIA Certification for SAF in India
16. HDFC ERGO General Partners with PhonePe to Promote Health Insurance
17. SBI Life Launches Term Insurance Plan ‘SBI Life- Smart Shield Plus’
18. Zeenat Kureshi Becomes 1st Indian Woman Appointed as GCC-India Trade Commissioner in Luxury Diplomacy
19. Infosys to Acquire 75% Stake in Versent Group for USD 153 million
20. Astrophel Aerospace & IN-SPACe Signed MoU for Reusable Rocket Engine Development
21. China Launched Geely-04 Satellite Constellation for IoT and Vehicle Communication Services
22. Asian Surfing Championships 2025; India’s Performance Secures Full Quotas for Asian Games 2026
23. Rohith Krishna Becomes India’s 89th Chess Grandmaster
24. Njattyela Sreedharan, Self-Taught Linguist and Dictionary Creator, Passed Away
25. Partition Horrors Remembrance Day 2025 – August 14
26. Union Minister Kirti Vardhan Launched Forest Wildlife Crime Management System ‘HAWK’ in TN
27. NSIC Signs MoUs with Private Banks to Boost Credit Access for MSMEs
28. Indian Navy received the 3rd SVL Ship ‘Ikshak’ from GRSE in Kolkata
29. IBM Signs LoI with Maharashtra Government on Quantum Computing

National News

1. PM Modi Breaks Indira Gandhi’s Independence Day Speech Record

• What:
  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave his 12th consecutive Independence Day speech from the Red Fort, breaking Indira Gandhi’s record.
• Tell me more:
  • Jawaharlal Nehru holds the longest record with 17 consecutive speeches from 1947 to 1963.
  • Indira Gandhi gave 16 speeches in total, with 11 being consecutive during her two terms.
  • Modi also set the record for the longest Independence Day speech in 2023 lasting 98 minutes.

Source: TOI

2. 3rd India-Singapore Ministerial Roundtable Held in New Delhi

• What:
  • The 3rd India-Singapore Ministerial Roundtable was held in New Delhi with ministers from both countries discussing cooperation.
• Why:
  • To strengthen the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and set a new agenda for bilateral cooperation between India and Singapore.
• Tell me more:
  • Indian ministers included Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, External Affairs Minister Dr. S Jaishankar, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal, and Railways & I&B Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.
  • Singapore’s delegation was led by Deputy Prime Minister and Trade Minister Gan Kim Yong.
  • Discussions focused on six pillars: Digitalization, Skill Development, Sustainability, Healthcare & Medicine, Advanced Manufacturing, and Connectivity.
  • The roundtable is a unique platform promoting synergy between government and industry for advancing ties.

Source: NOA

3. Union Minister Unveils Official Logo of Bharat Steel Event

• What:
  • Union Minister of Steel and Heavy Industries, Shri H.D. Kumaraswamy, unveiled the official logo, brochure, and website of the Bharat Steel event in New Delhi.
• Why:
  • To promote growth, innovation, and sustainability in India’s steel sector through the upcoming flagship international conference and exhibition.
• Tell me more:
  • Bharat Steel is scheduled for April 16–17, 2026, at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, bringing together global industry leaders, policymakers, technology providers, and investors.
  • It will include thematic sessions, sectoral and country roundtables, CEOs’ conference, technology showcases, and buyer-seller meetings.
  • Bharat Steel aims to become the largest steel exhibition in India and beyond.

Source: PIB

State News

1. Kargil Apricots Launched in Saudi Arabia Under ODI Scheme

• What:
  • Fresh apricots from Kargil, Ladakh, were introduced to Saudi Arabian consumers for the first time at Lulu Hypermarket in Riyadh during India’s 79th Independence Day.
• Why:
  • To promote unique regional products globally under the One District One Product initiative and enhance India-Saudi agricultural trade relations.
• Tell me more:
  • The launch was part of “India Utsav” celebrations and was unveiled by Indian Ambassador Dr. Suhel Ajaz Khan.
  • Kargil apricots are known for their unique flavor and high quality due to the high-altitude growing region.
  • The initiative was a collaboration between the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority of India and Lulu Hypermarket.
  • Lulu Hypermarket is one of the largest retail chains in the Gulf region.

Source: DD

2. Tamil Nadu Launches HAWK System to Combat Wildlife Crime

• What:
  • Tamil Nadu Forest Department launched HAWK, a digital and centralized system to manage forests and wildlife crime.
• Why:
  • To improve wildlife crime monitoring, forest surveillance, and protect endangered species more effectively.
• Tell me more:
  • Tamil Nadu is the third state after Kerala and Karnataka to implement HAWK, developed by Wildlife Trust of India and NTT DATA.
  • HAWK includes four modules: Peregrine (crime management), Shikra (wildlife mortality reporting), Harrier (offender monitoring via mobile), and Kestrel (legacy data integration).
  • Peregrine and Shikra are already implemented, facilitating streamlined reporting of offences and wildlife deaths like elephant mortality.
  • Harrier and Kestrel modules are being integrated to monitor habitual offenders and manage older case information.
  • Features like Named Entity Recognition and predictive modelling help analyze offender networks and forecast poaching hotspots.

Source: TH

International News

1. China’s Smart Dragon-3 Rocket Launches 11 Satellites

• What:
  • The Smart Dragon-3 (SD-3) rocket launched 11 Geely-04 satellites into orbit from off the coast of Rizhao, China.
• Why:
  • To expand the Geely constellation for satellite Internet of Things (IoT), inter-satellite communication, and Earth observation services.
• Tell me more:
  • The launch was conducted by the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center using the SD-3 rocket, part of China’s Dragon rocket family.
  • SD-3 is designed for rapid, efficient commercial launches of small, low-orbit satellites and satellite networks.
  • The rocket measures 31 meters in length, weighs 140 tonnes, and this was its sixth flight.
  • After this mission, the Geely constellation has 41 satellites, expected to reach 64 in two months.
  • These satellites support applications in intelligent networking, marine fisheries, transportation, emergency communications, and environmental monitoring.

Source: GT

Banking and Economy

1. ICICI Bank Reduces Minimum Balance After Public Outcry

• What:
  • ICICI Bank rolled back its earlier decision to raise the minimum monthly average balance five times and set new lower limits for metro, semi-urban, and rural accounts.
• Why:
  • To respond to massive public criticism and concerns about financial inclusion due to the steep hike in minimum balance requirements.
• Tell me more:
  • The new minimum balances are Rs 15,000 for metros (down from Rs 50,000), Rs 7,500 for semi-urban (down from Rs 25,000), and Rs 2,500 for rural accounts (down from Rs 10,000).
  • Earlier, the bank had planned higher minimum balances for new non-salary savings accounts from August 1, with penalties for not maintaining the required balances.
  • The sharp hike was criticized as being unaffordable for most Indians, especially those earning under Rs 25,000 monthly.
  • Public-sector banks have mostly waived such minimum balance requirements recently, while other private banks require much lower limits.

Source: IE

2. Morgan Stanley Sees India Emerging as Top Consumer Market

• What:
  • Morgan Stanley’s report states that India is set to become the world’s most sought-after consumer market while undergoing major economic changes.
• Why:
  • Economic trends like rising credit-to-GDP ratio, manufacturing growth, fiscal consolidation, and energy transition support this rise.
• Tell me more:
  • Falling oil intensity in GDP, increasing exports (especially services), and expected primary fiscal surplus will reduce India’s saving imbalance.
  • These improvements will allow structurally lower real interest rates and less volatile inflation and growth rates.
  • High growth combined with low volatility and lower interest rates may lead to higher price-to-earnings ratios, encouraging household investment in equities.
  • Despite current market softness, earnings growth is expected to rebound with support from central bank policies and improving economic indicators.

Source: TOI

3. Indian Oil to Start Sustainable Aviation Fuel Production

• What:
  • Indian Oil Corporation will begin producing sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) at its Panipat refinery by December 2025.
• Why:
  • To meet India’s SAF blending mandate for international flights and reduce environmental impact from aviation fuel.
• Tell me more:
  • The Panipat unit will produce 35,000 tonnes of SAF annually, enough to fulfill India’s SAF blending needs for international airlines by 2027.
  • India mandates 1% SAF blending in jet fuel for international flights by 2027, increasing to 2% by 2028.
  • SAF costs nearly three times more than conventional aviation turbine fuel, but airlines must comply with the blending rule.
  • Used cooking oil (UCO) will be the primary feedstock, with supply supported by an existing collection network from hotels and restaurants.

Source: ET ISCC

4. HDFC ERGO Partners with PhonePe to Launch Affordable Health Insurance

• What:
  • HDFC ERGO General Insurance has partnered with PhonePe to offer an affordable health insurance plan aimed at India’s ‘missing middle’.
• Why:
  • To provide easy and affordable access to comprehensive health insurance through a trusted digital insurer and a popular digital payment platform.
• Tell me more:
  • Premiums start at Rs 12 per day (around Rs 4,380 per year) for coverage of Rs 3 lakhs and additional benefits.
  • The insurance policy can be purchased directly via the PhonePe app.
  • The offering addresses the ‘missing middle’, referring to the segment of the population underserved by current insurance products.

Source: ET

5. SBI Life Launches Flexible Term Insurance Smart Shield Plus

• What:
  • SBI Life Insurance launched Smart Shield Plus, a term insurance plan with flexible coverage options to meet changing financial needs.
• Why:
  • To address evolving protection requirements as individuals face growing responsibilities across different life stages.
• Tell me more:
  • The plan offers three options: Level Cover, Increasing Cover (sum assured grows by 5% annually), and Level Cover with Future Proofing to increase coverage at key life events without medical checks.
  • Death benefit payout options include lump sum, instalments, or both for nominee convenience.
  • Optional features include the Better Half Benefit, offering additional cover to the surviving spouse up to age 60 after the life assured’s death.
  • Accident Benefit Riders cover accidental death and permanent disability for enhanced protection.
  • The product provides coverage up to 100 years with affordable premiums and is available via physical and digital channels.

Source: ET

6. Infosys to Acquire 75% Stake in Australia’s Versent Group

• What:
  • Infosys announced its plan to acquire a 75% stake in Versent Group, an Australian cloud services company, for A$233.3 million ($153 million).
• Why:
  • To strengthen Infosys’s local presence in Australia and expand its cloud services offerings.
• Tell me more:
  • Versent Group is a wholly owned unit of Australia’s Telstra Group.
  • Versent provides cloud services to sectors like finance, energy, utilities, government, and education in Australia.
  • The deal is subject to approvals from Australia’s Foreign Investment Review Board and the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.

Source: RT

7. IBM Partners with Maharashtra to Boost Quantum Technology

• What:
  • IBM signed a Letter of Intent with the Government of Maharashtra to support the state’s quantum technology initiatives.
• Why:
  • To help Maharashtra build its quantum ecosystem and develop skills for quantum computing aligned with India’s National Quantum Mission.
• Tell me more:
  • The collaboration includes knowledge sharing, workshops, and skill development to develop quantum talent in the state.
  • IBM recently opened its India Client Experience Centre in Mumbai to support Indian businesses with emerging technologies.
  • The centre offers experiences in AI, data automation, cybersecurity, hybrid cloud, and consulting-led transformation.
  • Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis highlighted the role of AI, quantum computing, and semiconductors in building a developed Maharashtra and India.

Source: IBM

Defence News

1. Indian Navy Receives Survey Vessel Ikshak with Women Accommodation

• What:
  • The Indian Navy received the third Survey Vessel (Large), Ikshak, built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) Kolkata, on August 14, 2025.
• Why:
  • To conduct coastal and deep-water hydrographic surveys and gather oceanographic and geophysical data for defense and civil use.
• Tell me more:
  • Ikshak displaces about 3,400 tons, is 110 meters long, and is equipped with advanced hydrographic equipment like Autonomous Underwater Vehicle and Digital Side Scan Sonar.
  • The ship has over 80% indigenous content and completed harbor and sea trials before delivery.

Source: PIB

Awards

1. Gallantry and Service Medals Awarded on Independence Day 2025

• What:
  • A total of 1,090 personnel from Police, Fire, Home Guard, Civil Defence, and Correctional Services were awarded Gallantry and Service Medals on Independence Day.
• Why:
  • To honor rare acts of gallantry, distinguished service, and meritorious service in saving lives, preventing crime, and devotion to duty.
• Tell me more:
  • 233 personnel received the Medal for Gallantry, 99 awarded the President’s Medal for Distinguished Service, and 758 received the Medal for Meritorious Service.
  • The J&K Police led with a record 127 Gallantry Medals; CRPF got 20 and BSF 16 gallantry awards.
  • 15 Vir Chakras were awarded for Operation Sindoor, which responded to the killing of 26 civilians in Pahalgam.
  • Seven top armed forces officers received the Sarvottam Yudh Seva Medal for exceptional operational planning in Operation Sindoor.
  • Other awards included Kirti Chakras, Shaurya Chakras, Sena Medals, Nao Sena Medals, and Vayu Sena Medals.

Source: NOA IE

Important Days

1. Partition Horrors Remembrance Day 2025 – August 14

Sports

1. Khelo India Water Sports Festival Mascot Unveiled in Srinagar

• What:
  • The Himalayan Kingfisher mascot was unveiled in Srinagar for the first Khelo India Water Sports Festival happening at Dal Lake from August 21 to 23, 2025.
• Tell me more:
  • The festival is hosted by Jammu & Kashmir Sports Council with the Union Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports and Sports Authority of India.
  • It will feature rowing, canoeing, and kayaking as medal events, and water skiing, shikara race, and dragon boat race as demonstration events.
  • Over 400 athletes from 36 states and Union Territories are expected to participate.
  • Jammu and Kashmir previously hosted the Khelo India Winter Games in Gulmarg in March 2025.

Source: PIB

2. India’s Bid for Commonwealth Games 2030 Approved by IOA

• What:
  • The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has approved India’s bid to host the Commonwealth Games in 2030.
• Tell me more:
  • India submitted an Expression of Interest and has until August 31 to file the final bid.
  • Cities considered for hosting include Ahmedabad, Bhubaneswar, and Delhi, with venue inspections already done in Ahmedabad.
  • The final host decision will be made by the General Assembly of Commonwealth Sport in November 2025 in Glasgow.
  • IOA aims to make the 2030 Games a full-fledged event, including indigenous sports like kho kho and kabaddi.

Source: OC

3. India Secures Two Quotas in Surfing for Asian Games 2026

• What:
  • India secured two quotas—one each in men’s and women’s shortboard categories—at the Asian Surfing Championships 2025 held in Mahabalipuram.
• Why:
  • The quotas were earned based on ranking points from the continental meet, which served as the final qualifying event for Asian Games 2026.
• Tell me more:
  • India ranked third in men’s standings with 1,785 points and eighth in women’s with 1,200 points.
  • Over 150 surfers from 20 countries participated in the event, which was hosted by India for the first time.
  • Indian surfers Ramesh Budihal and Kishore Kumar reached the semi-finals, with Budihal winning India’s first individual bronze medal at the Asian Surfing Championships.
  • India’s total Asian Games surfing quotas are now four, with two previously earned in the 2024 championships in the Maldives.
  • The top four finishers in both open categories qualify for the Surf City El Salvador ALAS Global Finals in November 2025.

Source: OC

4. Rohith Krishna S Becomes India’s 89th Chess Grandmaster

• Rohith Krishna S secured his final Grandmaster norm at the Almaty Region Open Qonaev Cup, becoming India’s 89th Grandmaster.
• Rohith is currently playing in the 31st Abu Dhabi International Chess Festival.

Source: TOI

Memorandum of Understanding

1. MY Bharat, SOUL Partner to Develop 100,000 Youth Leaders

• What:
  • MY Bharat, Department of Youth Affairs, signed an MoU with the School of Ultimate Leadership Foundation (SOUL) to jointly promote youth leadership development across India.
• Why:
  • To create 100,000 youth leaders aged 18–29 through programs in governance, public policy, social entrepreneurship, digital and financial literacy, and more.
• Tell me more:
  • The MoU is valid for three years and includes leadership program design, workshops, conclaves, joint research, and capacity building of youth groups.
  • Participant selection will be pan-India and inclusive of rural, urban, tribal, women, aspirational, and marginalized communities.
  • Activities include training delivery, networking events, exchange of trainers, development of curricula, and merit-based online quizzes for participant selection.
  • A nationwide online leadership skills program is planned to start in September under this collaboration.

Source: PIB

2. BSIP and IGNCA Sign MOU to Showcase India’s Heritage

• What:
  • Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences (BSIP) and Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) will sign an MoU to integrate and showcase India’s scientific and cultural heritage.
• Why:
  • To foster interdisciplinary research and public outreach that highlight India’s rich scientific and cultural history globally.
• Tell me more:
  • The collaboration will focus on digitisation, education, climate change research under Project Mausam, conservation, documentation, museum development, and audiovisual projects.
  • The partnership aims to use innovative methods to preserve and present heritage, increasing national and global understanding.
  • The initiative spans from the Himalayas to the coastal areas of Kanyakumari, covering diverse cultural traditions.

Source: NOA TOI

3. Astrophel Aerospace Signs MOU with IN-SPACe for Rocket Technology

• What:
  • Pune-based startup Astrophel Aerospace signed an MoU with IN-SPACe to work together on reusable launch vehicle and cryogenic propulsion technologies.
• Why:
  • To enable affordable and flexible launch access across India by leveraging ISRO’s facilities and expertise.
• Tell me more:
  • The MoU grants Astrophel access to ISRO facilities for testing and certification of semi-cryogenic propulsion components like turbopumps and valves.
  • A Joint Project Implementation Plan allows close cooperation with ISRO experts on design validation and test campaigns.
  • Astrophel independently developed and tested a semi-cryogenic rocket engine in August 2023 at a record low cost of ₹6 lakh, without external funding.
  • The company is preparing for its first suborbital launch and aims to develop a reusable hopper prototype under its Astra launch vehicle program in 24–36 months.
  • Recently, Astrophel raised ₹6.84 crore in seed funding, with a $5 million round in progress to boost propulsion subsystem development for space, defense, and energy.

Source: ET

4. NSIC Signs MoUs with Banks to Improve MSME Credit

• NSIC signed agreements with five private banks to enhance credit access for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
• The MoUs were signed on August 11, 2025, involving Axis Bank, Dhanlaxmi Bank, Karnataka Bank, AU Small Finance Bank, and IndusInd Bank.
• NSIC Chairman Dr. S.S. Acharya

Source: KNN

Appointments

1. Ravi Narayanan Appointed New CEO of SMFG India Credit

• What:
  • Ravi Narayanan has been appointed as the new CEO of SMFG India Credit, effective August 28, 2025.
• Tell me more:
  • SMFG India Credit is an NBFC with assets under management (AUM) of over ₹60,000 crore and a customer base exceeding 30 lakh.
  • SMFG India Credit is part of the SMBC Group, which has a legacy of over 400 years.
  • Rajeev Kannan is the Chairman of SMFG India Credit.

Source: TH

2. Rajiv Pratap Rudy Re-elected General Secretary of Constitution Club

• What:
  • Rajiv Pratap Rudy retained his post as General Secretary (Administration) of the Constitution Club of India after defeating fellow BJP leader Sanjeev Kumar Balyan.
• Why:
  • The election was held to choose the key administrative leader of the Constitution Club, reflecting internal party dynamics and support.
• Tell me more:
  • The Constitution Club, opened in February 1947 near Parliament House, serves as a social and interaction platform for current and former MPs.
  • It is headed by the Lok Sabha Speaker as the ex-officio President, and includes other important parliamentary office holders.
  • More than 1,200 members belong to the Club.
  • Rajya Sabha MPs Tiruchi Siva and Rajiv Shukla were elected unopposed as secretary (culture) and secretary (sports), respectively.
  • Telangana’s A P Jithender Reddy was chosen as treasurer and is also a Special Representative for the Telangana government in New Delhi.

Source: IE

3. Zeenat Kureshi Appointed India’s First GCC Trade Commissioner

• What:
  • Zeenat Kureshi became India’s first woman GCC-India Trade Commissioner, promoting luxury diplomacy between India and Gulf Cooperation Council countries.
• Why:
  • To strengthen economic cooperation and strategic alliances in the luxury sector between India and the GCC nations.
• Tell me more:
  • The GCC includes Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, important trade partners for India.
  • The luxury trade between India and GCC is underdeveloped, and Zeenat aims to bridge this gap through collaborations and market development.
  • Zeenat Kureshi is the only Indian woman representing a GCC-India diplomatic trade body.

Source: TI

Miscellaneous

1. Dr Vece Paes, Former Olympian and Sports Doctor, Passes Away

• What:
  • Dr Vece Paes, member of the 1972 Indian Olympic hockey team and father of tennis player Leander Paes, passed away at age 80.
• Tell me more:
  • Vece Paes played as a midfielder in Indian hockey and won a bronze medal in the 1972 Munich Olympics.
  • He was president of the Indian Rugby Football Union from 1996 to 2002 and involved in anti-doping programs for cricket bodies.
  • Hockey India called him an “unshakable pillar of Indian sports” and a “charismatic midfielder from the golden era of Indian hockey.”

Source: IE

2. Linguist Njattyela Sreedharan Passes Away at 87

• Njattyela Sreedharan, a self-taught linguist who compiled a dictionary linking four Dravidian languages, died at the age of 87.
• His dedication earned him the nickname ‘Kannur’s Hermann Gundert’, referring to the famous linguist Hermann Gundert.

Source: TOI

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