Current Affairs Today: 21 August 2025

NATIONAL AFFAIRS

1. What is the total capital cost of the 6-Lane Access-Controlled Capital Region Ring Road (Bhubaneswar Bypass) project approved by the Cabinet in August 2025?
a) Rs. 6,000 crore
b) Rs. 7,200 crore
c) Rs. 8,307.74 crore
d) Rs. 9,500 crore
e) Rs. 10,000 crore
Answer: Rs. 8,307.74 crore

2. What is the total length of the Capital Region Ring Road (Bhubaneswar Bypass) corridor approved by CCEA?
a) 95.5 km
b) 100.25 km
c) 105.75 km
d) 110.875 km
e) 120.5 km
Answer: 110.875 km

3. Where will the newly approved Green Field Airport be developed by AAI with an estimated cost of Rs. 1,507 crore?
a) Ajmer, Rajasthan
b) Kota-Bundi, Rajasthan
c) Jaipur, Rajasthan
d) Udaipur, Rajasthan
e) Bikaner, Rajasthan
Answer: Kota-Bundi, Rajasthan

4. By which year has the Ministry of Power revised its target to develop an additional 97 GW coal-based electricity generation capacity?
a) FY2030
b) FY2032
c) FY2033
d) FY2034-35
e) FY2040
Answer: FY2034-35

5. What is India’s current installed electricity generation capacity as of June 2025?
a) 450 GW
b) 460 GW
c) 475 GW
d) 485 GW
e) 500 GW
Answer: 485 GW

6. According to the National Electricity Plan (NEP) 2023, India’s installed generation capacity is expected to reach how much by FY32?
a) 820 GW
b) 850 GW
c) 874 GW
d) 900 GW
e) 950 GW
Answer: 874 GW

7. Which company will manufacture the 97 Tejas Mark 1A fighter jets approved for purchase by CCS at Rs.62,000 crore?
a) Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL)
b) Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL)
c) DRDO
d) Larsen & Toubro (L&T)
e) Tata Advanced Systems
Answer: Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL)

8. What percentage of indigenous content will the new batch of Tejas Mark 1A fighter jets have?
a) 50%
b) 55%
c) 60%
d) 65%
e) 70%
Answer: 65%

9. In which year was the Tejas aircraft first flight-tested?
a) 2012
b) 2014
c) 2015
d) 2016
e) 2017
Answer: 2016

10. What is the total investment cost for the nationwide rollout of IT 2.0 – Advanced Postal Technology (APT) announced by Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia?
a) Rs. 3,200 crore
b) Rs. 4,500 crore
c) Rs. 5,000 crore
d) Rs. 5,800 crore
e) Rs. 6,200 crore
Answer: Rs. 5,800 crore

11. Which cloud platform hosts India Post’s Advanced Postal Technology (APT) system?
a) Cloud India 1.0
b) MeghRaj 2.0
c) BharatNet Cloud
d) Digital India Cloud
e) Gati Shakti Cloud
Answer: MeghRaj 2.0

12. Which institute partnered with FedEx to launch the SMART Centre for AI-driven logistics in Chennai, TN?
a) IIT Bombay
b) IIT Delhi
c) IIT Kanpur
d) IIT Madras
e) IISc Bengaluru
Answer: IIT Madras

13. What is the financial support provided by FedEx for the SMART Centre at IIT-M?
a) USD 2 million
b) USD 3 million
c) USD 4 million
d) USD 5 million
e) USD 6 million
Answer: USD 5 million

14. Centum Electronics Ltd signed an MoU with which defence PSU for advanced defence electronics projects?
a) BDL
b) HAL
c) BEL
d) MDL
e) GSL
Answer: BEL

15. What will be the main focus of the Centum-BEL partnership?
a) Space research
b) Nuclear technology
c) Defence electronics (EW, radar, secure communications)
d) Artificial Intelligence
e) Cybersecurity
Answer: Defence electronics (EW, radar, secure communications)

BANKING & FINANCE

16. EXIM Bank signed a USD 40 million commercial credit line deal in August 2025 with which African institution?
a) African Development Bank (AfDB)
b) ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID)
c) West African Monetary Bank (WAMB)
d) African Union Financial Council (AUFC)
e) Pan-African Investment Bank (PAIB)
Answer: ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID)

17. Who signed the USD 40 million credit line agreement on behalf of India Exim Bank in London?
a) Harsha Bangari
b) Ramesh Subramanian
c) Ashok Kumar Vartia
d) D.K. Sunil
e) Manoj Jain
Answer: Ashok Kumar Vartia

18. How many facilities aggregating to USD 1.14 billion have Exim Bank of India extended to EBID since 2006?
a) 4
b) 5
c) 6
d) 7
e) 8
Answer: 6

19. Which Public Sector Bank (PSB) became the first in India to migrate its corporate website to the ‘.bank.in’ domain in August 2025?
a) State Bank of India (SBI)
b) Bank of Baroda (BoB)
c) Punjab National Bank (PNB)
d) Union Bank of India (UBI)
e) Canara Bank
Answer: Punjab National Bank (PNB)

20. Which organization acts as the exclusive registrar for the ‘.bank.in’ domain as per RBI directions?
a) NIC
b) C-DAC
c) IDRBT
d) IRDAI
e) NITI Aayog
Answer: IDRBT

ECONOMY & BUSINESS

21. What is ICRA’s projected GDP growth for India in Q1 FY26 (April–June 2025)?
a) 6.2%
b) 6.5%
c) 6.7%
d) 7.0%
e) 7.4%
Answer: 6.7%

22. What was the RBI’s GDP growth forecast for Q1 FY26?
a) 6.2%
b) 6.3%
c) 6.5%
d) 6.7%
e) 6.9%
Answer: 6.5%

23. How much did the Centre’s Gross Capital Expenditure (CapEx) grow year-on-year in Q1 FY26?
a) 33.4%
b) 40%
c) 45%
d) 52%
e) 60%
Answer: 52%

24. Which company signed an MoU with Air India for the supply of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) in August 2025?
a) Bharat Petroleum (BPCL)
b) Hindustan Petroleum (HPCL)
c) Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL)
d) Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL)
e) ONGC
Answer: Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL)

25. Which Indian energy company became the first to join the global RE100 Initiative in August 2025?
a) Adani Green Energy
b) NTPC Ltd
c) Power Grid Corporation
d) Suzlon Group
e) Reliance Energy
Answer: Suzlon Group

ACQUISITIONS & MERGERS

26. Which US-based company’s acquisition by 3G Capital was approved by CCI in August 2025?
a) Nike
b) Puma
c) Skechers U.S.A., Inc.
d) Adidas
e) Reebok
Answer: Skechers U.S.A., Inc.

27. Platinum Jasmine A 2018 Trust acquired about 3.06% shareholding in which company?
a) Biocon Ltd
b) Serum Institute of India
c) Micro Life Sciences Pvt. Ltd (MLSPL)
d) Sun Pharma Ltd
e) Cipla Ltd
Answer: Micro Life Sciences Pvt. Ltd (MLSPL)

28. The Phoenix Mills Ltd acquired the remaining 49% stake in Island Star Mall Developers Pvt Ltd (ISMDPL) from which entity?
a) Blackstone Group
b) GIC Singapore
c) Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPP Investments)
d) Brookfield Asset Management
e) Temasek Holdings
Answer: Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPP Investments)

IMPORTANT DAYS

29. Sadbhavana Diwas is observed every year on which date in India?
a) August 14
b) August 15
c) August 18
d) August 20
e) August 22
Answer: August 20

30. Whose birth anniversary is commemorated on Sadbhavana Diwas?
a) Jawaharlal Nehru
b) Lal Bahadur Shastri
c) Rajiv Gandhi
d) Indira Gandhi
e) Mahatma Gandhi
Answer: Rajiv Gandhi

31. World Mosquito Day commemorates the 1897 discovery that malaria is transmitted by mosquitoes. Who made this discovery?
a) Louis Pasteur
b) Sir Alexander Fleming
c) Sir Ronald Ross
d) Robert Koch
e) Joseph Lister
Answer: Sir Ronald Ross

32. Sir Ronald Ross won the Nobel Prize in 1902 in which category for his malaria research?
a) Chemistry
b) Physiology or Medicine
c) Physics
d) Literature
e) Peace
Answer: Physiology or Medicine

STATE NEWS

33. Which government approved the launch of the ‘Delhi Mitra’ application in August 2025?
a) Maharashtra
b) Karnataka
c) Uttar Pradesh
d) Delhi
e) Haryana
Answer: Delhi

34. Who is the Chief Minister of Delhi under whom the ‘Delhi Mitra’ app was approved?
a) Arvind Kejriwal
b) Manish Sisodia
c) Rekha Gupta
d) Saurabh Bharadwaj
e) Atishi Marlena
Answer: Rekha Gupta

35. Through how many channels can residents of Delhi register complaints via the Delhi Mitra App?
a) 2
b) 3
c) 4
d) 5
e) 6
Answer: 4

Current Affairs Today: 21 August 2025

National Affairs

Cabinet Approvals on August 19, 2025

The Union Cabinet, chaired by PM Narendra Modi, approved several infrastructure and development projects.

MoP Plans for Coal-Fired Power Capacity

• Revised Target: Additional 97 GW coal and lignite-based capacity by FY35 (up from 90 GW by FY32).
• Purpose: To reach 307 GW thermal capacity by FY35, supporting 500 GW RE by 2030 and Net Zero by 2070.
• Key Facts:
  • Previous estimate: 283 GW by FY32.
  • November 2023 proposal: Minimum 80 GW by FY32.
  • Current installed capacity (June 2025): 485 GW.
  • Projected by FY32 (per NEP May 2023): 874 GW.
• Ministry of Power:
  • Union Minister: Manohar Lal Khattar (Karnal, Haryana).
  • MoS: Shripad Yesso Naik (North Goa, Goa).

CCS Approval for Tejas Mark 1A Jets

• Approval: Purchase of 97 LCA Tejas Mark 1A jets for IAF from HAL.
• Cost: Rs. 62,000 crore.
• Indigenous Content: 65%.
• Background: Builds on prior order of 83 jets (Rs. 48,000 crore). Replaces MiG-21 fleet.
• Features: Single-engine, supersonic, multi-role; includes AESA radar, BVR missiles, electronic warfare, air-to-air refueling.
• Note: PM Modi flew Tejas trainer in 2024.
• HAL Details:
  • CMD: Dr. D.K. Sunil.
  • Headquarters: Bengaluru, Karnataka.
  • Established: 1940.

Nationwide Rollout of IT 2.0 – APT

• Announcement: By Union Minister Jyotiraditya M. Scindia (Ministry of Communications).
• Project Cost: Rs. 5,800 crore under IT 2.0 program.
• Developed By: CEPT under DoP, MoC.
• Hosted On: MeghRaj 2.0 cloud platform; supported by BSNL.
• Key Features: Unified interface, QR-code payments, OTP delivery, 10-digit DIGPIN.
• Rollout: Phased across 23 circles; pilot in Karnataka (May-June 2025); completed August 4, 2025; covers 1.70 lakh offices.

IIT-M and FedEx Launch SMART Centre

• Location: IIT-M campus, Chennai, TN.
• Objective: Sustainable, AI-driven logistics solutions.
• Financial Support: USD 5 million (Rs. 44 crore) from FedEx over 5 years.
• Key Areas: Carbon-neutral operations, autonomous delivery, EV infrastructure, predictive analytics, AI worker safety.

Centum Electronics and BEL MoU

• Objective: Advanced defence electronics projects.
• Signatories: Suresh Kumar K V (BEL) and Apparao V Mallavarapu (Centum).
• Witnessed By: Manoj Jain (BEL) and Dr. Vinod Chippalkatti (Centum).
• Focus: Electronic Warfare, next-gen Radar, secure communications for Armed Forces.

Banking & Finance

EXIM Bank Credit Line with ECOWAS Bank

• Amount: USD 40 million.
• Purpose: Support developmental projects in Africa executed by Indian exporters.
• Signatories: Dr. George Agyekum Donkor (EBID) and Ashok Kumar Vartia (EXIM Bank, London).
• History: 6 facilities totaling USD 1.14 billion since 2006.
• EBID Details:
  • Members: 15 ECOWAS states.
  • President/Chairman: Dr. George Agyekum Donkor.
  • Headquarters: Lomé, Togo.
  • Established: 1999.
• EXIM Bank Details:
  • MD: Harsha Bangari.
  • Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra.
  • Established: 1982.

PNB Migrates to ‘.bank.in’ Domain

• Achievement: First PSB to migrate corporate website to https://pnb.bank.in.
• Alignment: Per RBI circular (April 2025).
• Purpose: Enhance cybersecurity, prevent phishing/fraud.
• Registrar: IDRBT.
• Future: ‘fin.in’ domain for non-bank financial entities.

Economy & Business

ICRA GDP Projection for Q1 FY26

• GDP Growth: 6.7% (higher than RBI’s 6.5%; lower than Q4 FY25’s 7.4%).
• GVA Growth: 6.4% (down from 6.8% in Q4 FY25).
• CapEx: Centre’s gross CapEx at Rs. 2.8 trillion (52% YoY growth).
• GDP-GVA Gap: 30 bps (down from 62 bps in Q4 FY25).

IOCL and Air India MoU for SAF

• MoU: For SAF supply.
• Achievement: IOCL first Indian oil company with ISCC CORSIA certificate for Panipat Refinery.
• Significance: Supports IATA Net Zero by 2050; exceeds CORSIA targets.

Suzlon Joins RE100 Initiative

• Achievement: First Indian energy firm to join.
• Commitment: 100% renewable energy by 2030 for 15 factories.
• Broader Goals: Carbon neutral (Scope 1 & 2) by 2035; Net Zero (all scopes) by 2040.
• RE100: Global initiative with over 400 companies.

Acquisitions & Mergers

CCI Approvals on August 19, 2025

Important Days

Sadbhavana Diwas – August 20

• Purpose: Promote peace, unity, harmony.
• Commemoration: 81st birth anniversary of Rajiv Gandhi (2025).
• Background: First observed in 1992; ‘Sadbhavana’ means ‘Goodwill and Bonafide’.
• Award: Rajiv Gandhi National Sadbhavana Award for communal harmony.

World Mosquito Day – August 20

• Purpose: Commemorate Sir Ronald Ross’s 1897 discovery of malaria transmission by female Anopheles mosquitoes.
• Significance: Annual event by LSHTM since 1930; India issued stamp in 1997.
• Discovery Details: In Secunderabad; published in BMJ; Nobel Prize in 1902.

State News

Delhi Govt Launches ‘Delhi Mitra’ App

• Approval: By Delhi Cabinet under CM Rekha Gupta.
• Nature: Unified integrated PGRS.
• Coverage: Complaints for Delhi Govt, Police, MCs, Cantonment Board, etc.
• Complaint Modes: Web portal, mobile app, WhatsApp, call centre; digitized handwritten complaints.
• Implementation: Nodal officers per department; weekly public meetings on Wednesdays.