Current Affairs 26 August 2025

We are here for you to provide the important Recent and Latest Current Affairs 26 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

President Murmu gives assent to Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming BillIn August 2025, President Droupadi Murmu gave her assent to the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025, aiming to encourage electronic-sports (e-sports) and online social games while prohibiting harmful online money gaming services, advertisements, and financial transactions related to them.
Key Highlights:
Timeline: The bill was introduced in Lok Sabha on August 20, 2025 by Ashwini Vaishnaw, Minister of Railways (MoR), Information and Broadcasting and Electronics and Information Technology.
The Bill was passed by Lok Sabha without debate and passed by Rajya Sabha on August 21, 2025.
Objective: The objective of the Act is to protect individuals, especially youth and vulnerable populations, from the adverse social, economic, psychological and privacy-related impacts of such games.
Types: The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025 divides online games into four types: e-sports, social games, educational games, and online money games.
Offences and penalties: Offering online money gaming services will be punishable with imprisonment for up to three years, a fine up to Rs.1 crore, or both.

• Advertising online money games will be punishable with imprisonment up to two years, a fine up to Rs 50 lakh, or both.

>>Read Full News

Nepal Officially Joined India-led International Big Cat AllianceIn August 2025, Nepal has officially joined the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) which is India-led international initiative to protect 7 species of big cats, by signing the framework agreement.

• This new development will strengthen the international collaboration for big cat conservation.

Total Members: With the joining of Nepal, the total number of IBCA members reached to 13 (including India, Armenia, Bhutan, Cambodia, Ethiopia, Eswatini, Guinea, Liberia, Nicaragua, Rwanda, Somalia and Suriname).

• Nepal has successfully tripled its tiger population from just 121 (in 2009) to 355 (in 2022), the latest census carried out so far.

About International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA):
Background: The IBCA was launched by the Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi on April 09, 2023, during the event ‘Commemorating 50 years of Project Tiger’ held in Mysuru, Karnataka.

• In February 2024, the Union Cabinet chaired by PM Narendra Modi approved the establishment of IBCA with its headquarters in India, with budgetary support of Rs 150 crore for 5 years i.e. from 2023-24 to 2028-29.

Objective: It is an international alliance of 95 range countries as well as non-range countries, mandated to conserve 7 big cat species, namely Tiger, Lion, Leopard, Snow Leopard, Cheetah, Jaguar and Puma.

• It also aims to foster global collaboration for the sustainable future of big cats, as well as underscores India’s leadership and commitment to global wildlife conservation.

Treat-based Organisation: On January 23 2025, IBCA, headquartered in New Delhi (Delhi) attained legal status as a treaty-based intergovernmental organisation, after 5 countries namely: India, Nicaragua, Eswatini, Somalia, and Liberia, formally signed the Framework Agreement.
Nodal Organisation: It was formally established by the Government of India (GoI), through the nodal agency i.e. National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC).
About Nepal:
Capital- Kathmandu
Prime Minister (PM) – Khadga Prasad (K.P.) Sharma Oli
Currency- Nepalese Rupee (NPR)

Union Minister Amit Shah Inaugurates Two-Day All India Speakers’ Conference in New Delhi, DelhiOn August 24, 2025, Union Minister Amit Shah, Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Ministry of Cooperation (MoC) inaugurated the two-day All India Speakers’ Conference at the Delhi Legislative Assembly in New Delhi, Delhi, to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Vitthalbhai Patel, a freedom fighter, becoming the first elected Indian President (Speaker) of the Central Legislative Assembly.

• He also visited an exhibition, under the theme “Veer Vitthalbhai Patel Gaurav Katha”, on the life of Vitthalbhai Patel at the premises of Delhi Assembly.

Vittalbhai Patel:
Birth: Vittalbhai Patel was born on 27 September 1873, in Karamsad, Gujarat. He is the elder brother of Sardar Vallabhai Patel (also known as The Iron Man of India), a freedom fighter.
Politics: Initially, he was active in the Indian National Congress (INC) and advocated for constitutional reforms and self-governance.
Speaker: In 1925, he was elected the first Indian President (Speaker) of the Central Legislative Assembly, succeeding Frederick Whyte, a British civil servant.
Death: On October 22, 1933, he passed away in Geneva, Switzerland, during an international campaign for India’s independence.
Postal Stamp: Union Minister Amit Shah released a special Commemorative Stamp, issued in collaboration with India Post and the Ministry of Communications (MoC), to commemorate the 100th anniversary.

• The stamp features the portrait of Vitthalbhai Patel, and image of Central Legislative Assembly building in the background.

Other Launches: Two flip books were also issued on Sunday during the event — one centered on Vithalbhai Patel, and the other chronicling the Delhi Vidhan Sabha’s transformative journey through the decades.
About Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA):
Union Minister – Amit Shah (Constituency – Gandhinagar, Gujarat)
Minister of State (MoS) – Nityanand Rai (Constituency – Ujarpur, Bihar), Bandi Sanjay Kumar (Constituency – Karimnagar, Telangana)

RRU Signs MoU with SSB to Strengthen Training and Academic Collaboration in National Security
In August 2025, Rashtriya Raksha University (RRU), the pioneering national university dedicated to national security and policing education under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Sahastra Seema Bal (SSB), Alwar (Rajasthan) of Central Armed Police Force (CAPF), MHA, to foster cooperation in the areas of training, research, and academic development related to national security.

Integration: The partnership will provide the trainees of SSB with exposure to cutting-edge academic and professional modules and enhance their preparedness to meet the evolving challenges of internal security, border management, and law enforcement with greater efficiency.
Role of entities: Under this collaboration, RRU will provide academic inputs and advanced training to strengthen the operational capabilities of SSB. The field experience of SSB will enhance the research and training framework of RRU.
Note: Rashtriya Raksha University (RRU), based in Gandhinagar (Gujarat), is a national security and policing university dedicated to teaching, research, and training in the areas of policing, national security, law enforcement, correctional administration, and strategic studies.

• It provides diploma and degree certification to personnel over various national security organizations.

BANKING & FINANCE

SEBI Approves Reclassification of LIC as a Public Shareholder in IDBI Bank
On August 24, 2025, Securities Exchange Board of India (SEBI) approved the request of Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) to be classified from a promoter shareholder to a public shareholder in Industrial Development Bank of India (IDBI) bank.

• This move is a pre-condition for the privatization of IDBI Bank, in which LIC holds 49% stake as of June 2025.

Conditions: SEBI has attached strict conditions such as the voting rights of LIC not exceeding 10%, no direct or indirect control over the bank, no Board Representation, reduction of stake in IDBI bank to 15% or less within 2 years.

• The non-compliance of LIC with the conditions will automatically cancel the reclassification.

Disinvestment Plan:

• The Government of India (GoI) and LIC together hold 94.72% stake in IDBI Bank (GoI – 45.48%, LIC – 49.24%).
• They will jointly divest 60.7% stake through the strategic sale.
• Financial bids are expected between Oct–Dec 2025.

Malaysia Launched Ryt Bank, World’s 1st AI-powered Bank
In August 2025, Malaysia scripted history with the launch of Ryt Bank, the World’s 1st Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered bank developed by Malaysians, for local users.

• This initiative was led Malaysia’s YTL in partnership with Singapore’s tech firm Sea Limited, marks a major step in the country’s digital future.

Multilingual App: The Ryt AI application (app) is currently available in 3 languages namely, Bahasa, Malaysia and English; with Mandarin support is expected to be available by September 2025.

• Ryt AI: It is an always-on banking assistant tool powered by ILMU, Malaysia’s 1st indigenously developed Large Language Model (LLM).

Licensed by: This new Ryt Bank is licensed by Bank Negara Malaysia.

ECONOMY & BUSINESS

Akums & Government of Zambia Announced JV to Setup Pharmaceutical Facility in Zambia
In August 2025, India’s Contract Manufacturing and Development Organisation (CDMO) Akums Drugs and Pharmaceuticals Limited has signed a framework agreement to incorporate Joint Venture (JV) with the Government of Zambia (GRZ) to establish a new pharmaceutical manufacturing facility in Zambia as well as to supply medicines for GRZ’s national health programs.

• This new project will be implemented through incorporation of a new JV company expected to be operational by December 2025 in Zambia.
• As per agreement, Akums will be a majority partner with 51% stake in new JV company, while the remaining 49% stake will be owned by Zambian state instrumentality.

Key Details:
Products: The new green facility is expected to start its operations by 2028. It plans to manufacture general oral solids, liquids injectables, as well as beta-lactam products.
Procurement of Medicines: According to the agreement, GRZ will also procure medicines of minimum aggregate value of USD 50 million (Rs 425 crore) over the next two years (2026 and 2027).

• These medicines will manufactured and supplied from Akum’s and/or its subsidiaries’ facilities in India.

Exports: On the establishment of this new facility, the company will export medicines to neighbouring countries such as: Zimbabwe, Namibia, Botswana, Malawi, Tanzania, Mozambique, among others.
About Zambia:
Capital- Lusaka
President- Hakainde Hichilema
Currency- Zambian Kwacha (ZMW)

APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

Former CRPF DG Anish Dayal Singh Appointed as Deputy NSA
The Government of India (GoI) has appointed Anish Dayal, former Director General (DG) of paramilitary forces i.e. Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and Indo-Tibetan Force (ITBP), as the new Deputy National Security Advisor (NSA), effective August 24, 2025. He will report directly to NSA Ajit Doval.

About Anish Dayal:
Cadre & Batch: Anish Dayal is a 1988-batch IPS officer from Manipur cadre, and he retired from service in December 2024.
Current Role: He is entrusted with the responsibility to handle internal affairs which includes security in Jammu & Kashmir (J&K), the fight against Left-Wing Extremism(LWE), and insurgency in the Northeast.
Past Roles: He has an extensive experience of nearly 30 years in the Intelligence Bureau (IB), before leading ITBP and CRPF.

• He also monitored crucial deployments during the 2024 Lok Sabha (Lower House of the Parliament) general elections and the 1st assembly elections in J&K after its reorganization.

SEBI Appoints Amit Pradhan, Avneesh Pandey, Sanjay Chandrakant Purao as its Executive Directors
In August 2025, Securities Exchange Board of India (SEBI) appointed Amit Pradhan, Avneesh Pandey, and Sanjay Chandrakant Purao as its Executive Directors (EDs) to strengthen key functional verticals within the regulator.

• Earlier, they served as the Chief General Managers (CGM) of Sebi.

Legal Affairs: Amit Pradhan will take charge of the Legal Affairs Department (Vertical 1) and Prosecution & Settlement Department.
Information Technology (IT): Avneesh Pandey will oversee the Information Technology Department (ITD), with expertise in IT strategy, SupTech, Cybersecurity, Big Data Analytics, and Business process innovation.
Corporation Finance: Sanjay Chandrakant Purao will handle the Corporation Finance Investigation Department(CFID), Recovery & Refund Department, and Internal Investigation Department of SEBI.

ACQUISITIONS & MERGERS

Japan’s SMBC Received RBI’s approval to Acquire 25% Stake in Yes Bank
In August 2025, Japanese lender Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Inc. (SMGF) has received the approval from Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to acquire up to 24.99% paid-up capital and voting rights in Yes Bank Limited, India’s leading private sector bank.

• As per the RBI, this approval is valid for 1 year and has also clarified that SMBC will not be classified as a promoter of the bank.

Key Details:
Background: In May 2025, SMBC had signed a definitive agreement to buy 20% stake in YES Bank through a secondary stake purchase valued at around Rs 13, 483 crore, making it the largest cross-border investment in the Indian banking sector.

• This deal includes acquisition of 13.19% stake from the State Bank of India (SBI).
• While, remaining 6.81% stake collectively from 7 other existing shareholders of Yes Bank i.e. ICICI Bank Limited, HDFC Bank Limited, Kotak Mahindra Bank Limited (KMBL), Axis Bank Limited, IDFC First Bank Limited, Federal Bank Limited, and Bandhan Bank Limited.

Regulatory Compliance: The approval (2025) is subject to compliance with the Banking Regulation Act (BRA), 1949, the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) guidelines on acquisition of bank shares, the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), 1999, and other applicable laws.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

DRDO Successfully Conducts Maiden Flight Tests of IADWS in OdishaIn August 2025, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully conducted the maiden flight tests of the Integrated Air Defence Weapon System (IADWS) off the coast of Odisha.

System Overview:
System: Integrated Air Defence Weapon System (IADWS).
Components: It consists of

• QRSAM (Medium-Range): Quick Reaction Surface-to-Air Missile(QRSAM) for medium-range interception. It was developed by the DRDO, Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) and Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL).
• VSHORADS (Close-Range): Advanced Very Short Range Air Defence System(VSHORADS), developed by the DRDO’s Research Centre Imarat(RCI), for close-range engagement.
• DEW (Futuristic): High-power laser-based Directed Energy Weapon(DEW), developed by DRDO’s Centre for High Energy Systems and Sciences (CHESS), for futuristic interception.

Command & Control:The Centralised Command and Control Centre (CCC), developed by the Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL), Hyderabad (Telangana), was designed to oversee and manage the integrated operations of all weapon systems.
About maiden flight Test:
Targets Engaged: Included three different aerial targets – two high-speed fixed-wing Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and one multi-copter drone.
Outcome: All targets were simultaneously engaged and destroyed at varying ranges and altitudes.
Validation: Test data and results were validated by the Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur, Odisha.
Significance:
Air Defence Capability: Establishes India’s multi-layered defence system and strengthens protection of critical facilities against diverse aerial threats.
Strategic Alignment: Supports Mission Sudarshan Chakra announced by Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi on Independence Day 2025 (15 August 2025).
About Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO):
Chairman– Dr. Samir V. Kamat.
Headquarter – New Delhi, Delhi
Established – 1958
About Ministry of Defence (MoD):
Union Minister- Rajnath Singh (Constituency – Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, UP).
Minister of State (MoS)- Sanjay Seth (Constituency – Ranchi, Jharkhand)

ISRO Conducts First Integrated Air Drop Test for Gaganyaan MissionOn August 24, 2025, Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), Department of Space (DoS), successfully conducted its first Integrated Air Drop Test (IADT-1) of the Crew Module Recovery System as part of India’s first human spaceflight programme ‘Gaganyaan Mission’, at Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC), Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh(AP).

• IADT-1 was carried out to evaluate the parachute deployment sequence and capability of safe landing by the Crew Module during the re-entry and recovery operations.

About Integrated Air Drop Test (IADT):
Collaboration: The demonstration was carried out in coordination with the ISRO,  the Indian Air Force (IAF), the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), the Indian Navy (IN), and the Indian Coast Guard (ICG).
Test Duration & Location: The drop was conducted over the Bay of Bengal and lasted nearly an hour from take-off to recovery.
Air drop: During the trial, a dummy version of the capsule, weighing 5 tonnes, was lifted and air dropped by the IAF Chinook helicopter(CH-47F(I) Chinook) at an altitude of approximately 3 kilometre(km), simulating the conditions re-entry when it descends through the atmosphere.
Parachute Deployment Sequence: The parachute system is designed in a sequence, beginning with two drogue parachutes for initial stabilization and deceleration, followed by pilot chutes and three main parachutes to enable controlled descent and ensure a safe landing.
>>Read Full News

SPORTS

India Host 1st-ever Asian Short Track Speed Skating Trophy 2025 in Uttarakhand
For the 1st time, India will host the Asian Short Track Speed Skating Trophy 2025, the biggest international winter sports event, which was held at Himadri Ice Rink at the Maharana Pratap Sports College in Dehradun, Uttarakhand from August 20 to 23, 2025.

About Asian Short Track Speed Skating Trophy 2025:
Participants:  Skaters from 11 Asian nations participated: India, China, Japan, Thailand, Chinese Taipei, Vietnam, Singapore, the Philippines, Hong Kong, Indonesia and Malaysia

• A total of around 240 athletes and officials participated, while India fielded its largest-ever contingent of 95 members.

Sports Event: The tournament organises 9 different events, ranging from 222 metres (m) to 5000 m relay in both junior and senior categories.
Organsied by: The event was organized by the Ice Skating Association of India (ISAI). It serves as the official governing body for ice skating in India and is affiliated with both the International Skating Union (ISU) and the Asian Skating Union (ASU).
Medals : Thailand led the tally with 30 medals (15 Gold, 12 Silver, 3 Bronze), followed by India with 39 medals (9 Gold, 12 Silver, 18 Bronze). Japan secured third place with 23 medals (8 Gold, 8 Silver, 7 Bronze).

Indian Cricketer Cheteshwar Pujara Announces Retirement from All FormsOn 24th August 2025, veteran Indian cricketer Cheteshwar Arvind Pujara, widely regarded as one of India’s greatest Test specialists, announced his retirement from all formats of Indian cricket through social media.

• He represented India in 103 Test matches, scoring 7,195 runs at an average of 43.60, with 19 centuries and 35 fifties.
• He also played 5 One-Day Internationals (ODIs) for India.

About Cheteshwar Pujara:
Early Life and Domestic Career: Born on 25th January 1988 in Rajkot, Gujarat, Pujara made his First-Class debut for Saurashtra in December 2005. He became the first Indian to score three triple centuries in First-Class cricket.

• His last domestic appearance came in the Ranji Trophy 2025 quarterfinal against Gujarat.

Under-19: Represented India in the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup 2006 (Sri Lanka) and was named Man of the Tournament.
Franchise Cricket: In the Indian Premier League (IPL), Pujara featured for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), and later was part of Chennai Super Kings’ (CSK) 2021 title-winning squad.
International Career: Made his Test debut in October 2010 and Cemented India’s No. 3 position post-Rahul Dravid.

• He played a defining role in the 2018-19 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, India’s first-ever Test series victory in Australia, scoring 521 runs and earning the Player of the Series award.
• He was the second-fastest Indian to reach 1,000 Test runs (in 11 matches and 18 innings).

Last Appearance: He last represented India in the 2023 ICC World Test Championship (WTC) Final against Australia at The Oval, London, United Kingdom (UK).
County Cricket: He represented Sussex County Cricket Club, England, from 2022 to 2024 and was appointed captain in 2023.
Awards & Records:
Notable Achievements & Awards include,

• Emerging Cricketer of the Year 2013 by the International Cricket Council (ICC).
• Holds the record for most balls faced by an Indian in a Test innings – 525 balls.
• Fourth-highest run-getter for India in First-Class cricket history (21301 runs)
• Pujara has 57.01 List A average highest among Indians and 2nd Overall

Durand Cup 2025: NEUFC Retained Title by Defeating DHFC in Final Match Held in Kolkata, WB
In August 2025, North East United Football Club (NEUFC) has retained the Durand Cup trophy by defeating Diamond Harbour FC (DHFC) by 6-1 in the final match of 134th edition of the Durand Cup 2025 tournament held at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan (VYBK) in Kolkata, West Bengal (WB).

• The wining team, NEUFC won the trophy as well as monetary prize of Rs.1.21 crore, the highest champion’s purse in the history of Asia’s oldest football tournament, while, runner-up team received the cash prize of Rs.60 lakh.
• Also, losing semi-finalists and losing quarter-finalist won the cash prize of Rs 25 lakh and Rs 15 lakh each, respectively.

About Durand Cup 2025:
Background: Durand Cup 2025, the 134th edition of the Durand Cup tournament, the world’s 3rd oldest football cup tournament and the oldest in Asia was 1st held in 1888.
Participants: The tournament featured a total of 43 matches, with 24 teams were categorised into 6 different groups (Group A, B, C, D, E and F) of 4 sides each.
Other winners: Alaaeddine Ajaraie (NEUFC) won the Golden player (player of the tournament) award; Alaeddine Ajaraie who scored 8 goals in the tournament, won the Golden Boot (highest scorer) award;

• While, Gurmeet Singh (NEUFC) won the Golden Glove (best goalkeeper) award.
• Each winner received a cash prize of Rs 3 lakh and brand new Mahindra XUV 3XO SUV.

IMPORTANT DAYS

World Water Week 2025 – August 24 to 28World Water Week (WWW), the leading global conference on the water crisis, is observed annually during the last week of August. The event focuses on addressing critical water-related challenges such as access to clean water, sanitation, waste management, and sustainability.

• The 35th edition of WWW is observed from August 24 to 28.
• The day is observed with an aim to integrate the entire water cycle, from freshwater to oceans, emphasizing ecosystem protection, equity, and climate justice, to ensure the vulnerable communities are not left behind.

Theme: The 2025 theme of the WWW is “Water for Climate Action”, focusing on the interlinked crises of climate change, environmental degradation, and biodiversity loss, and emphasizing the role of water for mitigation and adaptation strategies.
Background:
First observance: WWW has been organized every year since 1991 by SIWI. Stockholm celebrated its clean waters with a public festival, which included the 1st Stockholm Water Symposium, gathering the world’s leading water scientists.
Renaming: In 2001, the Stockholm Water Symposium was renamed to World Water Week in Stockholm, the premium annual meeting place for discussing freshwater issues.
>>Read Full News

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