Current Affairs 22 August 2025

We are here for you to provide the important Recent and Latest Current Affairs 22 August 2025, which have unique updates of Latest Current Affairs 2025 events from all newspapers such as The Hindu, The Economic Times, PIB, Times of India, PTI, Indian Express, Business Standard and all Government official websites.

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NATIONAL AFFAIRS

UIDAI Partners with Starlink for Aadhaar-based Customer Verification
In August 2025, the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) works under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has collaborated with American satellite internet provider, Starlink Satellite Communication Private Limited, to enable Aadhaar-based customer verification
which will make the entire process smooth, secure and very easy.

• This strategic partnership reflects the scalability and reliability of India’s digital infrastructure.

About Starlink and UIDAI Collaboration:
Designation: Starlink was appointed as a Sub-Authentication User Agency (SUA) and Sub-electronic Know Your Customer (e-KYC) User Agency, in the presence of Bhuvnesh Kumar, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of UIDAI; Manish Bhardwaj,  Deputy Director General (Dy-DG) and Parnil Urdhwareshe, Director of Starlink India.
Significance : This process will enable Starlink to seamlessly onboard users while ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements as it rolls-out high speed satellite internet to households, businesses and institutions across India.
Voluntary Authentication: UIDAI has clarified that Aadhaar authentication by users will continue to be voluntary as per the existing norms.

IEPFA Opens 3 Niveshak Seva Kendra in Hyderabad, Telangana
In August 2025, the Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority (IEPFA) which works under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MoCA) has successfully opened 3 Niveshak Seva Kendras in Hyderabad, Telangana.

About 3 Niveshak Seva Kendras:
Collaborating Agencies: The centres were launched in partnership with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), Central Depository Services (India) Limited (CDSL), National Securities Depository Ltd (NSDL), Bombay Stock Exchange Ltd (BSE), and National Stock Exchange of India Ltd (NSE).
Newly Opened Centres: The new centres are operational between 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM, situated at different locations in Hyderabad i.e. KFin Technologies Ltd., BSE Hyderabad Office, and NSE of India Limited.
Key Services: These centres offered various services such as: direct facilitation of unpaid dividend transfers (pending for last 6 to 7 years), seamless updates of KYC and nomination details,

• Update bank details with user Depository Participant (DP) to receive unpaid dividends, and
• Submit Investor Service Request(ISR)-1 or ISR-2 or ISR-3 forms to update  Know Your Customer (KYC), once these forms are updated, all pending dividends will be credited.

DEPwD, Nipman Foundation & YLAC Sign MoU to Launch ‘Breaking Barriers Fellowship’
On August 21, 2025, the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD), Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MoSJE), signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Nipman Foundation and Young Leaders for Active Citizenship (YLAC) to launch the ‘Breaking Barriers Fellowship’.

• The MoU was signed by Ashish Thakare, Director, DEPwD, MoSJE; Nipun Malhotra, Founder, Nipman Foundation; and Rohit Kumar, Co-Founder, YLAC.

About ‘Breaking Barriers Fellowship’:
Fellowship: The Breaking Barriers Fellowship is a program, designed to place young professionals across DEPwD offices to strengthen policy support and enhance the implementation of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016.
Selection :The fellows are selected on a merit-based, transparent process, and are required to provide quarterly reporting and comply with confidentiality under the Official Secrets Act, 1923.
Duration: The MoU is signed for a period of one year, with potential for extension by mutual agreement.
Objectives: The key objectives of the program are to strengthen the institutional capacity through professional placements, provide young people with mentorship and government experience, and incorporate fresh perspectives into policymaking.

BVFCL Signed 5-Year Pact with Bhutan’s NSC for Fertilizer Supply
In August 2025, Brahmaputra Valley Fertilizer Corporation Limited (BVFCL), a Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) under the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers (MoCF), has signed a 5-year Business-to-Business (B2B) agreement with the National Seed Centre (NSC) of Bhutan at Siliguri in West Bengal (WB).

Key Details of Agreement:
Purpose: Under this agreement, BVFCL will supply essential fertilizers to Bhutan, including Urea, Suphala (NPK), Single Super Phosphate (SSP), Muriate of Potash (MOP), and Borax.

• This will guarantee timely and uninterrupted access to essential agricultural inputs, supporting Bhutan’s food security and agricultural productivity goals.

Significance: This strategic partnership marks a major milestone in India-Bhutan bilateral relations, especially in the agriculture and allied sectors, and is expected to further enhance cooperation in cross border fertilizer supply and food security.

EPFO Hikes Ex-Gratia Amount to Rs.15 Lakhs Under Death Relief Fund from April 1,2025
In August 2025, the Employees Provident Fund Organization (EPFO), under the Ministry of Labour & Employment(MoL&E), announced the hike of ex-gratia benefit under its Death Relief Fund for Central Board employees to Rs.15 lakhs, up from Rs.8.80 lakhs, with effect from April 1, 2025.

EPFO Death Relief Fund Update:
Disbursal: The ex-gratia amount will be disbursed to the family members (nominee or legal heirs) of the deceased employee of the Central Board from the Staff Welfare Fund.
Annual Increase:EPFO has announced that the ex-gratia amount will increase by 5% annually from April 1, 2026, to keep pace with inflation and rising living costs.
Simplification: EPFO, with an aim to streamline the procedures for subscribers, has nullified the need for No Guardianship Certificate when settling Provident Fund (PF) claims for minor children.

• The procedure for joint declarations has been streamlined.

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

India, EAEU Sign ToR to Begin Free Trade Agreement NegotiationsIn August 2025, India and Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), comprising Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, and Russia, signed the Terms of Reference (ToR) to launch negotiations on a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) in Moscow, Russia.

About Terms of Reference (ToR)
Signatories: The ToR was signed by Ajay Bhadoo, Additional Secretary, Department of Commerce(DoC) under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry(MoC&I), Government of India(GoI) and Mikhail Cherekaev, Deputy Director of Trade Policy Department, Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC).
Objective of FTA: The proposed Free Trade Agreement aims to increase India’s exports, support Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises(MSMEs), and diversify market access for Indian products.
Significance: This establishes the framework for negotiations and is anticipated to unlock untapped trade potential, enhance investment flows, and foster a stronger and more sustainable India–EAEU economic partnership.
Growth: The trade turnover between India and the EAEU reached USD 69 billion in 2024, marking a 7% rise from 2023. The proposed FTA is supported by the EAEU’s combined GDP of USD 6.5 trillion.
Current Trade Negotiations: India is actively negotiating a trade agreement with the United States of America (USA).
About Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU):
EAEU: The EAEU or EEU is an international economic union of countries located in northern Eurasia. It provides for the free movement of goods, services, capital, and labor.
Formed in: It was established via the Treaty on the EEU and entered into force on January 1, 2015.

• It succeeds the Eurasian Economic Community (EvrAsEs) as its successor organization.

Objective: The main objectives of the EAEU are to upgrade the competitiveness of the member states economies, increase cooperation among member states, and promote stable development to raise the standard of living in all member states.
Member States: It consists of five member states: Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Armenia. Currently, Belarus has taken over the presidency of the EAEU.

BANKING & FINANCE

AU SFB Launches UPI for NRE, NRO Account Holders with International Mobile Numbers
On August 20, 2025, AU Small Finance Bank (AU SFB) launched Unified Payment Interface (UPI) services for Non-Resident External (NRE) and Non-Resident Ordinary (NRO) account holders using international mobile numbers, following the directive of National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI).

UPI Access for NRIs:
Benefit: With this move, NRIs are benefitted with seamless, secure, real-time UPI transactions for transactions, including bill payments, merchant purchases, and money transfer without the need of an Indian Mobile Number.
Countries: The launched feature is available for NRIs across 12 countries, including Australia, Canada, France, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the United Kingdom (UK), and the United States of America (USA).

Thomas Cook India Partners with Mastercard to Enable Contactless Cross-Border Payments Via Pay
On August 20, 2025, Thomas Cook (India) Limited, an omnichannel travel company, partnered with Mastercard to enable contactless cross-border payments via Google Pay (GPay), allowing users to make secure payments at merchant locations worldwide.

About Cross-Border Payments via Google Pay:
Payments for International Travel: With this move, the customers can add the prepaid foreign exchange cards (forex) of Thomas Cook to Gpay and make tap-and-pay transactions across the border.

• The initiative enables Indians to make secure international payments through their mobile phones for services, including hotel accommodation, dining, and other transactions.

Tokenization: The payments are protected through tokenization, where the card number is not shared with merchants.
Elimination: This initiative eliminates the need to carry physical cards, reducing the fear of theft or loss of card.

ECONOMY & BUSINESS

SBI Research Report Projects India’s GDP Growth at 6.8%-7.0% in Q1FY26In August 2025, SBI Research, the economic research division of the State Bank of India (SBI), India’s largest Public Sector Bank (PSB), released its latest Ecowrap report. The report has estimated that the Indian economy may have recorded a growth rate of around 6.8%-7.0% in 1st Quarter (Q1: April to June) of Financial Year 2025-26 (FY26), which is higher than Reserve Bank of India (RBI)’s forecast of 6.5%.

• The report highlighted this growth is supported by government capital expenditure (Capex) and resilient consumption, but with limited private investment holding back the growth trajectory.

Key Projections:
Real GDP & GVA: The report highlighted that its analysis results based on the estimated model showed India’s Real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth at 6.9% Year-on-Year (Y-o-Y) for Q1FY26.

• It has also estimated Gross Value Added (GVA) at 6.5% for the same quarter of FY26.

GDP for full FY26: The report has projected India’s GDP growth at 6.3% for full FY26, 20 basis points (bps) lower than RBI’s target of 6.5% for full FY26.

GDP projection for Remaining Quarters of FY26: The report has further reduced RBI’s GDP projection by 20 bps for Q2, Q3 and Q4 of FY26 i.e. to 6.5%, 6.3%, and 6.1%, respectively.

MOL, Suzuki, and TradeWaltz Sign MoU to Strengthen Automobile Trade between India and Africa
On August 21, 2025, Japanese companies Mitsui O.S.K Lines Limited (MOL), TradeWaltz Inc. and Suzuki Motor Corporation (Suzuki), signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen the cooperation in automobile trade between India and Africa.

• The MoU was signed at the 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 9) in Yokohama, Japan.

India-Africa Automobile Trade Enhancement
Aim: The MoU aims to identify the existing challenges in automobile trade operations between India and Africa, explore potential solutions including digitalization, and promote decarbonization.
Focus: The agreement will target two main priorities: Digitising documentation in vehicle trades and decarbonising transport links.
Alignment: The initiative aligns with the “Japan-India Cooperation Initiative for Sustainable Economic Development in Africa”, launched at the Japan-India-Africa Business Forum in February 2025.

IRFC Sanctions Rs. 199.7 Cr Loan to SITCO for Multi-Modal Transport Hub
In August 2025, Indian Railway Finance Corporation (IRFC), a Navratna Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE) and the financing arm of the Ministry of Railways (MoR), sanctioned a term loan of Rs. 199.70 crore to Surat Integrated Transportation Development Corporation Limited (SITCO), for developing India’s first international-standard Multi-Modal Transport Hub (MMTH) in Surat, Gujarat

About Multi-Modal Transport Hub (MMTH):
Developer: SITCO, a Joint Venture(JV) between MoR and the Government of Gujarat.
Integrated Connectivity: The hub will integrate rail, metro, Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS), city/regional buses, autos, and taxis, alongside upgrading passenger amenities and station infrastructure
Goal: Enhance connectivity, reduce congestion, and boost regional economic growth in Surat, one of Gujarat’s fastest-growing cities

EIL Signed MoU with NPCIL to Develop Bharat SMR
In August 2025, Engineers India Limited (EIL), a Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) under theMinistry of Petroleum & Natural Gas (MoPNG), has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with National Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL), a PSU works under the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), to develop Bharat Small Modular Reactors (BSMRs).

• The MoU was signed in the presence of Vartika Shukla, Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of EIL; B.C. Pathak, CMD of NPCIL; and other senior officials from both organisations, at NPCIL’ s office in Mumbai, Maharashtra.

Key Details of MoU:
Purpose: As per the MoU, EIL will provide engineering services required for the development of conceptual design and engineering of structures, systems and components of BSMR.
Significance: This collaboration supports the Government of India (GoI)’s vision to drive nuclear power, enabling clean, green, and reliable energy to bolster India’s energy security.
Target: It also marks a major step towards the Nuclear Energy Mission for Viksit Bharat, targeting a nuclear power capacity of 100 Giga Watt (GW) by 2047.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

India Successfully Test-Fired ‘Agni-5 Ballistic Missile’ from OdishaOn August 20, 2025, India successfully test-fired its indigenously developed Intermediate-Range Ballistic Missile (IRBM) Agni-5 from the Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur, Odisha.

• The test was conducted under the aegis of the Strategic Forces Command (SFC) under the Nuclear Command Authority (NCA), validated all operational and technical parameters.

About Agni Missile: 
Overview: The Agni missile is a family of medium to intercontinental range ballistic missiles developed by India, named after Agni (Fire), one of the five elements of nature.
Capabilities: These are long-range, nuclear-capable, surface-to-surface ballistic missiles, designed to strengthen India’s strategic deterrence capability.
Origin & Development: The first missile in the series, Agni-I, was developed under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP) and tested in 1989.
Missiles in the Series: Agni-I (700 kilometer, km), Agni-II (2,000 km), and Agni-III & IV (2,500–3,500 km).
ICBM Capability: India became the 8th country to possess intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) capability, following the United States, United Kingdom, Russia, China, France, Israel, and North Korea.
About Agni-5:
Category: Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM)-class, with an operational range of over 5,000 km.
Payload: Nuclear-capable, the missile can carry up to 1.5 tonnes and has a total weight of around 50 tonnes.
Propulsion: Three-stage, solid-fuel propulsion system.
Navigation: Equipped with Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicle (MIRV) technology, Ring Laser Gyroscope-based Inertial Navigation System (RLG-INS), Micro Inertial Navigation System (MINGS), and supported by Navigation with Indian Constellation (NavIC) and Global Positioning System (GPS).
Technology: Designed for high accuracy with advanced avionics, composite materials, and improved re-entry shielding.
Deployment: Canister-launch platform for rapid deployment, mobility, and long-term storage.
 Previous Trials:
March 11, 2024: DRDO successfully tested Agni-5 with MIRV technology, under Mission Divyastra.

• A MIRV payload allows a single missile to deliver multiple warheads to different targets.

About Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO):
Chairman – Dr Samir V. Kamat
Headquarters – New Delhi, Delhi
Established – 1958

NASA and IBM Created ‘Surya’: Advanced-AI to Predict Solar StormsIn August 2025, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has introduced ‘Surya Heliophysics Foundational Model (Surya)’, an advanced Artificial Intelligence (AI) system designed to understand and forecast space weather.

• Developer: Surya, a groundbreaking open-source AI foundation model (helio-AI), was developed by Interagency Implementation and Advanced Concepts Team (IMPACT) under the Office of Data Science of NASA in collaboration with International Business Machines (IBM) Corporation and other partners.

About Surya: Advanced AI Model:
Significance of name: Surya, a Sanskrit word which means, ‘Sun’ analyzes massive streams of solar activity which will help the scientists to detect early signs of solar flares and eruptions and predict space weather that threatens satellites, power grids, and communication systems.
Design : The design of Surya is built on the success of NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO), launched in 2010.

• SDO has provided an un-broken, high-resolution record of the Sun for around 15 years through capturing images every 12 seconds in multiple wavelengths along with detailed magnetic field measurements.

Forecasting Capability:  It was trained on 9 years of continuous observations from SDO. This new system is capable of generating visual forecasts up to two hours in advance with greater accuracy than conventional methods.

• It enhances predictive accuracy by approximately 16% over existing models.

Protective Function: Designed to shield satellites, communication systems, aviation, power grids, and space missions from the disruptive effects of solar storms.
Supporting Partners: The development of Surya was supported by the National Artificial Intelligence Research Resource (NAIRR) Pilot, an National Science Foundation (NSF)-led initiative providing AI tools, datasets, and computing access. Industry partners like NVIDIA contributed additional computing power for advanced AI research.
About National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA):
Acting Administrator- Sean Duffy
Headquarters- Washington DC, the United States of America (USA)
Established- 1958

IMPORTANT DAYS

International Day of Remembrance and Tribute to Victims of Terrorism 2025 – August 21The United Nations (UN) observes the International Day of Remembrance and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism annually on 21st August to honour victims, support survivors, and promote human rights and fundamental freedoms.

• 21st August 2025 marks the 8th commemoration of the International
• 2025 Theme:  “United by Hope: Collective Action for Victims of Terrorism”.

Background:
Resolution: The 17th session of the Human Rights Council (HRC), through resolution A/HRC/RES/17/8 on 16 June 2011, proposed 19 August as the International Day of Remembrance and Tribute to Victims of Terrorism.
Proclamation: On 19 December 2017, the UN General Assembly (UNGA) adopted resolution A/RES/72/165, officially proclaiming 21 August of every year as the International Day of Remembrance and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism.
First Observance: The first International Day of Remembrance and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism was observed on 21 August 2018.
>>Read Full News

World Senior Citizen’s Day 2025 – August 21World Senior Citizen’s Day is observed every year on 21st August worldwide to honour and acknowledge the valuable contributions of senior citizens to society.

• 2025 Theme: ‘Empowering Elderly Voices for an Inclusive Future’ (This theme is not official but has been mentioned by several sources).

Background:
Proclamation: Ronald Reagan, the then former President of the United States of America(USA), officially announced World Senior Citizens Day, after he signed the Proclamation 5847, on August 19, 1988.
UNGA’s Designation:Subsequently, on 14 December 1990, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) designated October 1 as the International Day of Older Persons, to be observed annually.
Significance: Honors the achievements and wisdom of senior citizens while raising awareness of challenges like health issues, elder abuse, isolation, financial insecurity, and cyber risks, promoting their dignity and inclusion.
>>Read Full News

STATE NEWS

MHA Approves Renaming of Jalalabad  in UP to ‘Parashurampuri’
On August 20, 2025, Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) approved the renaming of Jalalabad town in Shajahanpur district of Uttar Pradesh (UP) as ‘Parashurampuri’, celebrating the cultural and religious heritage of the town.

Renaming of Jalalabad to Parashurampuri:
Significance: The town has been identified as the birthplace of Lord Parashuram, a Hindu mythological character.
Background: The UP Municipal Board had passed resolutions in March 2018 and September 2023 to initiate the renaming of the town.

• Subsequently, the UP government submitted a formal proposal on June 27, 2025, after which the MHA issued its “no objection” approval for the renaming.

Impact: The renaming of the town to Parashurampuri will boost the religious tourism linked to Lord Parashuram, strengthen the cultural identity of the town, and attract the attention of Government of UP and GOI for heritage development projects.

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