1. What is the total financial outlay approved by the Union Cabinet for the Central Sector Scheme “Grant in aid to NCDC”?
a) Rs. 1,000 crore
b) Rs. 1,500 crore
c) Rs. 2,000 crore
d) Rs. 2,500 crore
e) Rs. 3,000 crore
Answer: Rs. 2,000 crore
2. Over how many years will the Rs. 2,000 crore grant to NCDC be disbursed?
a) Two years
b) Three years
c) Four years
d) Five years
e) Six years
Answer: Four years
3. Which ministry oversees the National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC)?
a) Ministry of Finance
b) Ministry of Cooperation
c) Ministry of Agriculture
d) Ministry of Commerce and Industry
e) Ministry of Rural Development
Answer: Ministry of Cooperation
4. What is the annual allocation for the “Grant in aid to NCDC” scheme starting from FY26?
a) Rs. 300 crore
b) Rs. 400 crore
c) Rs. 500 crore
d) Rs. 600 crore
e) Rs. 700 crore
Answer: Rs. 500 crore
5. How much funding is NCDC expected to raise from the open market based on the Rs. 2,000 crore grant?
a) Rs. 10,000 crore
b) Rs. 15,000 crore
c) Rs. 20,000 crore
d) Rs. 25,000 crore
e) Rs. 30,000 crore
Answer: Rs. 20,000 crore
6. For what purpose will NCDC provide loans to cooperatives under the “Grant in aid to NCDC” scheme?
a) Short-term credit for daily operations
b) Long-term credit for modernization and expansion
c) Emergency relief funds
d) Subsidies for agricultural inputs
e) Grants for rural infrastructure
Answer: Long-term credit for modernization and expansion
7. Where was India’s first indigenously-built 1 MW Green Hydrogen Power Plant inaugurated?
a) Mumbai, Maharashtra
b) Kandla, Gujarat
c) Chennai, Tamil Nadu
d) Vishakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh
e) Kochi, Kerala
Answer: Kandla, Gujarat
8. Who inaugurated the 1 MW Green Hydrogen Power Plant at Deendayal Port Authority?
a) Piyush Goyal
b) Sarbananda Sonowal
c) Nitin Gadkari
d) Jitin Prasada
e) Shantanu Thakur
Answer: Sarbananda Sonowal
9. What is the annual production capacity of the 1 MW Green Hydrogen Power Plant at DPA?
a) 100 MT
b) 120 MT
c) 140 MT
d) 160 MT
e) 180 MT
Answer: 140 MT
10. Under which mission does the 1 MW Green Hydrogen Power Plant at DPA fall?
a) National Solar Mission
b) National Green Hydrogen Mission
c) National Clean Energy Mission
d) National Renewable Energy Mission
e) National Maritime Mission
Answer: National Green Hydrogen Mission
11. Which company provided engineering support for the 1 MW Green Hydrogen Power Plant?
a) Tata Power
b) Larsen & Toubro Limited
c) Reliance Industries
d) Adani Green Energy
e) NTPC Limited
Answer: Larsen & Toubro Limited
12. What is the financial outlay of the National Green Hydrogen Mission approved in January 2023?
a) Rs. 15,744 crore
b) Rs. 17,744 crore
c) Rs. 19,744 crore
d) Rs. 21,744 crore
e) Rs. 23,744 crore
Answer: Rs. 19,744 crore
13. Which ministry implements the National Green Hydrogen Mission?
a) Ministry of Power
b) Ministry of New and Renewable Energy
c) Ministry of Environment
d) Ministry of Science and Technology
e) Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways
Answer: Ministry of New and Renewable Energy
14. What is the target annual production of green hydrogen under the National Green Hydrogen Mission by 2030?
a) 3 MMT
b) 4 MMT
c) 5 MMT
d) 6 MMT
e) 7 MMT
Answer: 5 MMT
15. With whom did DPIIT sign an MoU to promote innovation in affordable housing and PropTech sectors?
a) Axis Bank
b) HDFC Capital Advisors Limited
c) ICICI Bank
d) SBI Capital Markets
e) Kotak Mahindra Bank
Answer: HDFC Capital Advisors Limited
16. What is the name of the programme launched by HDFC Capital to promote PropTech startups?
a) Innovate@HDFC
b) H@ART Programme
c) TechRealty Initiative
d) PropTech Accelerator
e) UrbanTech Hub
Answer: H@ART Programme
17. Who signed the MoU with DPIIT on behalf of HDFC Capital Advisors Limited?
a) Mohammad Isharar Ali
b) Vipul Roongta
c) Dr. Sumeet Jarangal
d) Rajwinder Mehdwan
e) Piyush Goyal
Answer: Vipul Roongta
18. Which company did DPIIT sign an MoU with to strengthen India’s healthcare and life sciences startup ecosystem?
a) Cipla India
b) Roche India
c) Pfizer India
d) Novartis India
e) Sun Pharma
Answer: Roche India
19. Which therapeutic area is NOT a focus of the MoU between DPIIT and Roche India?
a) Oncology
b) Neurology
c) Ophthalmology
d) Haematology
e) Cardiology
Answer: Cardiology
20. Which initiative launched by ICRISAT aims to assist smallholder farmers with AI-powered climate advisories?
a) Smart Farming Initiative
b) AI-powered Context-Specific Agromet Advisory Services
c) ClimateSmart Agriculture Program
d) AgroTech Mission
e) FarmerAI Project
Answer: AI-powered Context-Specific Agromet Advisory Services
21. Where was the inception workshop for ICRISAT’s AI-powered climate advisory initiative held?
a) New Delhi, Delhi
b) Hyderabad, Telangana
c) Bengaluru, Karnataka
d) Pune, Maharashtra
e) Chennai, Tamil Nadu
Answer: Hyderabad, Telangana
22. Which tool serves as the digital backbone for ICRISAT’s AI-powered climate advisory initiative?
a) AgroBot
b) Intelligent Systems Advisory Tool (iSAT)
c) ClimateGPT
d) FarmSense
e) WeatherAI
Answer: Intelligent Systems Advisory Tool (iSAT)
23. Which state is the pilot phase of ICRISAT’s AI-powered climate advisory initiative launched in?
a) Karnataka
b) Maharashtra
c) Gujarat
d) Andhra Pradesh
e) Tamil Nadu
Answer: Maharashtra
24. Which organization provides funding for ICRISAT’s AI-powered climate advisory initiative?
a) National Clean Energy Fund
b) Monsoon Mission III
c) National Agricultural Research Fund
d) Climate Change Adaptation Fund
e) Rural Development Fund
Answer: Monsoon Mission III
25. Which entities signed an MoU for collaborative biomedical research and training in July 2025?
a) ITBPF and ICMR
b) ITBPF and DBT
c) ITBPF and AIIMS
d) ITBPF and DRDO
e) ITBPF and CSIR
Answer: ITBPF and DBT
26. Where was the MoU between ITBPF and DBT signed?
a) Mumbai, Maharashtra
b) New Delhi, Delhi
c) Bengaluru, Karnataka
d) Hyderabad, Telangana
e) Chennai, Tamil Nadu
Answer: New Delhi, Delhi
27. What is one of the focus areas of the MoU between ITBPF and DBT?
a) Cybersecurity
b) Human adaptability to high altitudes
c) Agricultural biotechnology
d) Renewable energy
e) Urban planning
Answer: Human adaptability to high altitudes
28. Who signed the MoU on behalf of the Department of Biotechnology (DBT)?
a) Rahul Rasgotra
b) Rajesh S. Gokhale
c) Mohammad Isharar Ali
d) Dr. Sumeet Jarangal
e) Rajwinder Mehdwan
Answer: Rajesh S. Gokhale
29. Where were the Regional Process Labs (RPLs) of the Aadi Karmayogi Abhiyan launched in August 2025?
a) Bengaluru and Bhopal
b) Dehradun and Bhubaneswar
c) Mumbai and Chennai
d) Hyderabad and Kolkata
e) Jaipur and Lucknow
Answer: Dehradun and Bhubaneswar
30. How many tribal grassroots functionaries are targeted under the Aadi Karmayogi Abhiyan?
a) 10 lakh
b) 15 lakh
c) 20 lakh
d) 25 lakh
e) 30 lakh
Answer: 20 lakh
31. Which organization facilitates the 4th Regional Process Lab (RPL) under the Aadi Karmayogi Abhiyan?
a) Indian Council of Agricultural Research
b) Bharat Rural Livelihoods Foundation
c) National Skill Development Corporation
d) Ministry of Tribal Affairs
e) Council of Scientific and Industrial Research
Answer: Bharat Rural Livelihoods Foundation
32. Which states are represented in the cohort of the 4th RPL under the Aadi Karmayogi Abhiyan?
a) Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, and Jammu & Kashmir
b) Jharkhand, Bihar, and Odisha
c) Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh
d) Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Maharashtra
e) Punjab, Haryana, and Delhi
Answer: Jharkhand, Bihar, and Odisha
33. Where was India’s first-ever Grassland Bird Census conducted?
a) Bharatpur, Rajasthan
b) Kaziranga, Assam
c) Ranthambore, Rajasthan
d) Sundarbans, West Bengal
e) Chilika, Odisha
Answer: Kaziranga, Assam
34. How many grassland bird species were recorded during the Grassland Bird Census at Kaziranga National Park?
a) 33
b) 38
c) 43
d) 48
e) 53
Answer: 43
35. Which rare and endangered bird species’ nests were discovered during the Grassland Bird Census?
a) Great Indian Bustard
b) Finn’s Weaver
c) Bengal Florican
d) Sarus Crane
e) Black-necked Stork
Answer: Finn’s Weaver
36. Which technology was used to detect bird species during the Grassland Bird Census?
a) Drone Surveillance
b) BirdNET Software
c) Satellite Imaging
d) Thermal Imaging
e) GPS Tracking
Answer: BirdNET Software
37. Which ministry released the results of India’s first Grassland Bird Census?
a) Ministry of Agriculture
b) Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
c) Ministry of Science and Technology
d) Ministry of Rural Development
e) Ministry of Tribal Affairs
Answer: Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
38. Which port became the first Indian port to produce green hydrogen and surpass 1 MW of rooftop solar power?
a) Jawaharlal Nehru Port
b) V.O. Chidambaranar Port
c) Chennai Port
d) Mumbai Port
e) Kandla Port
Answer: V.O. Chidambaranar Port
39. Where was the ‘Green Ports and Shipping-Chartering Sustainable Maritime Future’ conference held?
a) Mumbai, Maharashtra
b) Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu
c) Kochi, Kerala
d) Vishakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh
e) Kolkata, West Bengal
Answer: Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu
40. Which ministry hosted the ‘Green Ports and Shipping-Chartering Sustainable Maritime Future’ conference?
a) Ministry of New and Renewable Energy
b) Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways
c) Ministry of Environment
d) Ministry of Commerce and Industry
e) Ministry of Power
Answer: Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways
41. When will the India Maritime Week 2025 be held?
a) August 2025
b) September 2025
c) October 2025
d) November 2025
e) December 2025
Answer: October 2025
42. What is the daily limit for manual bank account balance enquiries per UPI application as per the new NPCI guidelines effective from August 1, 2025?
a) 25 times
b) 50 times
c) 75 times
d) 100 times
e) 150 times
Answer: 50 times
43. What is the consequence of non-compliance with NPCI’s new UPI guidelines?
a) Reduction in transaction limits
b) Restriction of access to UPI APIs
c) Suspension of bank accounts
d) Increase in transaction fees
e) Mandatory user verification
Answer: Restriction of access to UPI APIs
44. Which company received SEBI approval to start a Mutual Fund business on August 1, 2025?
a) Aditya Birla AMC
b) Choice AMC
c) SBI Mutual Fund
d) HDFC AMC
e) ICICI Prudential AMC
Answer: Choice AMC
45. What type of investment products will Choice AMC initially focus on?
a) Active Equity Funds
b) Debt Funds
c) Index Funds and ETFs
d) Hybrid Funds
e) Sectoral Funds
Answer: Index Funds and ETFs
46. Which AMC received SEBI approval to launch India’s first Specialised Investment Fund (SIF)?
a) HDFC Mutual Fund
b) Quant Mutual Fund
c) Axis Mutual Fund
d) Kotak Mutual Fund
e) Franklin Templeton
Answer: Quant Mutual Fund
47. What is the name of India’s first Specialised Investment Fund launched by Quant MF?
a) QSIF Growth Fund
b) QSIF Equity Long-Short Fund
c) QSIF Balanced Fund
d) QSIF Sectoral Fund
e) QSIF Dynamic Fund
Answer: QSIF Equity Long-Short Fund
48. What is the minimum investment required for the Specialised Investment Fund (SIF) as per SEBI norms?
a) Rs. 5 lakh
b) Rs. 7.5 lakh
c) Rs. 10 lakh
d) Rs. 12.5 lakh
e) Rs. 15 lakh
Answer: Rs. 10 lakh
49. What is the revised GDP growth forecast for India for FY26 by Fitch Ratings?
a) 6.1%
b) 6.2%
c) 6.3%
d) 6.4%
e) 6.5%
Answer: 6.3%
50. According to S&P Global Market Intelligence, what is the projected GDP growth for India in FY26 if the US tariff continues?
a) 6.0%
b) 6.1%
c) 6.2%
d) 6.3%
e) 6.4%
Answer: 6.2%
51. Which film won the Best Feature Film Award at the 71st National Film Awards for 2023?
a) Jawan
b) 12th Fail
c) Mrs. Chatterjee V/s Norway
d) Sam Bahadur
e) Kerala Story
Answer: 12th Fail
52. Who shared the Best Actor award at the 71st National Film Awards for 2023?
a) Ranbir Kapoor and Shah Rukh Khan
b) Vikrant Massey and Ranbir Kapoor
c) Vikrant Massey and Shah Rukh Khan
d) Shah Rukh Khan and Vicky Kaushal
e) Vicky Kaushal and Ranbir Kapoor
Answer: Vikrant Massey and Shah Rukh Khan
53. Which film won the Best Non-Feature Film at the 71st National Film Awards for 2023?
a) Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani
b) Flowering Man
c) Sam Bahadur
d) Kerala Story
e) 12th Fail
Answer: Flowering Man
54. Who was appointed as the Director of Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) on August 1, 2025?
a) S. Unnikrishnan Nair
b) A. Rajarajan
c) S. Somanath
d) K. Sivan
e) G. Madhavan Nair
Answer: A. Rajarajan
55. What is the specialization of Dr. A. Rajarajan, the new Director of VSSC?
a) Rocket Propulsion
b) Satellite Communication
c) Composite Materials
d) Space Navigation
e) Artificial Intelligence
Answer: Composite Materials
56. Which banks were involved in the merger approved by the RBI effective from August 4, 2025?
a) New India Co-operative Bank and Axis Bank
b) New India Co-operative Bank and Saraswat Co-operative Bank
c) Saraswat Co-operative Bank and HDFC Bank
d) New India Co-operative Bank and ICICI Bank
e) Saraswat Co-operative Bank and Kotak Mahindra Bank
Answer: New India Co-operative Bank and Saraswat Co-operative Bank
57. Under which section of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949, was the merger of NICBL and Saraswat Bank approved?
a) Section 42A
b) Section 43B
c) Section 44A(4)
d) Section 45C
e) Section 46D
Answer: Section 44A(4)
58. Which organization launched the Crew-11 mission to the ISS in August 2025?
a) NASA
b) SpaceX
c) ISRO
d) JAXA
e) ROSCOSMOS
Answer: SpaceX
59. Who is the Crew Commander of the SpaceX Crew-11 mission to the ISS?
a) Mike Fincke
b) Kimiya Yui
c) Oleg Platonov
d) Zena Cardman
e) Elon Musk
Answer: Zena Cardman
60. What is the duration of the SpaceX Crew-11 mission to the ISS?
a) 3 to 4 months
b) 4 to 5 months
c) 6 to 8 months
d) 8 to 10 months
e) 10 to 12 months
Answer: 6 to 8 months
61. With whom did the Indian Army sign an MoU for the procurement of 50-ton tank transporter trailers?
a) Tata Motors
b) Axiscades Aerospace and Technologies
c) Mahindra Defence Systems
d) Bharat Earth Movers Limited
e) Larsen & Toubro
Answer: Axiscades Aerospace and Technologies
62. What is the contract value for the procurement of 212 tank transporter trailers by the Indian Army?
a) Rs. 183.95 crore
b) Rs. 203.95 crore
c) Rs. 223.95 crore
d) Rs. 243.95 crore
e) Rs. 263.95 crore
Answer: Rs. 223.95 crore
63. Who won the first-ever Chess Esports World Cup in August 2025?
a) Alireza Firouzja
b) Hikaru Nakamura
c) Arjun Erigaisi
d) Magnus Carlsen
e) Nihal Sarin
Answer: Magnus Carlsen
64. Where was the first-ever Chess Esports World Cup held in 2025?
a) Dubai, UAE
b) Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
c) London, UK
d) New York, USA
e) Mumbai, India
Answer: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
65. What was the prize money for the winner of the Chess Esports World Cup 2025?
a) USD 150,000
b) USD 190,000
c) USD 250,000
d) USD 300,000
e) USD 350,000
Answer: USD 250,000
66. Which Indian Grandmaster secured fourth place in the Chess Esports World Cup 2025?
a) Viswanathan Anand
b) Nihal Sarin
c) Arjun Erigaisi
d) Praggnanandhaa R
e) Gukesh D
Answer: Arjun Erigaisi
67. Where will the World Table Tennis Championships (WTTC) 2026 be held?
a) Tokyo, Japan
b) London, UK
c) Beijing, China
d) Paris, France
e) Sydney, Australia
Answer: London, UK
68. How many quota spots were available per gender for the Asia region for WTTC 2026?
a) 12
b) 14
c) 16
d) 18
e) 20
Answer: 16
69. What is the theme of World Breastfeeding Week 2025?
a) Support Breastfeeding for a Healthier Planet
b) Prioritize Breastfeeding: Create Sustainable Support Systems
c) Breastfeeding: A Key to Sustainable Development
d) Empowering Mothers Through Breastfeeding
e) Breastfeeding for a Better Future
Answer: Prioritize Breastfeeding: Create Sustainable Support Systems
70. When was the inaugural World Breastfeeding Week observed?
a) 1990
b) 1991
c) 1992
d) 1993
e) 1994
Answer: 1992
71. What is the theme of World Wide Web Day 2025?
a) Connecting the World Through Web
b) Empowering the Future: Building an Inclusive, Safe, and Open Web
c) Web for All: Bridging the Digital Divide
d) Innovate with Web3 and AI
e) Safe Web for a Better Tomorrow
Answer: Empowering the Future: Building an Inclusive, Safe, and Open Web
72. Who developed the World Wide Web, celebrated on World Wide Web Day?
a) Bill Gates
b) Tim Berners-Lee
c) Steve Jobs
d) Mark Zuckerberg
e) Larry Page
Answer: Tim Berners-Lee
Current Affairs Today: 3,4 August 2025
NATIONAL AFFAIRS
- MoTA Launches RPLs under Aadi Karmayogi Abhiyan
- Event: Launched in August 2025 in Dehradun (Uttarakhand) and Bhubaneswar (Odisha) by Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA).
- Objective: Build a network of 20 lakh tribal grassroots functionaries across 1 lakh villages, 3,000 blocks, and 550+ districts in 30 states/UTs.
- Details:
- Dehradun RPL (3rd in series): Capacity-building for State Master Trainers (SMTs) from Uttarakhand, HP, J&K, UP; leads to State Process Labs (SPLs) and District Master Trainers (DMTs).
- Bhubaneswar RPL (4th): Cohort of 25 participants from Jharkhand, Bihar, Odisha; facilitated by Bharat Rural Livelihoods Foundation (BRLF).
- Previous RPLs: Bengaluru (Karnataka) and Bhopal (MP).
- India’s First Grassland Bird Census at Kaziranga NP
- Event: Released by MoEFCC in July 2025; conducted March 18–May 25, 2025, at Kaziranga National Park (Assam).
- Key Findings: Recorded 43 grassland species (1 Critically Endangered, 2 Endangered, 6 Vulnerable per IUCN Red List); discovered 85+ nests of endangered Finn’s Weaver.
- Methodology: Point-count surveys and passive acoustic monitoring at 29 locations using AI-based BirdNET software for spectrogram analysis.
- VOC Port Achieves Green Milestones
- Event: Announced in August 2025 by Chairperson Sushant Kumar Purohit at ‘Green Ports and Shipping’ conference in Thoothukudi (TN).
- Achievements: First Indian port to produce green hydrogen and exceed 1 MW rooftop solar power.
- Conference: Hosted by MoPSW’s NAVIC Cell-3; part of workshops ahead of India Maritime Week 2025 (Mumbai, October).
- Sessions: Decarbonisation in maritime and green financing/policy frameworks; aims for net-zero emissions.
BANKING & FINANCE
- NPCI’s New UPI Rules Effective August 1, 2025
- Details: Issued in May 2025; PSPs (e.g., GPay, PhonePe, Paytm) to comply by July 31.
- Key Changes:
- Balance Enquiry: Limited to 50 manual checks/day per app; no automated queries.
- List Account: Up to 25 checks/day per app per user.
- Autopay: Scheduled only during non-peak hours to reduce congestion.
- Penalties: Non-compliance leads to API restrictions, user onboarding pauses, and fines.
- Choice AMC Gets SEBI Approval for MF Business
- Details: Final approval on August 1, 2025, for Choice AMC (subsidiary of Choice International) to manage Choice Mutual Fund.
- Focus: Passive products like Index Funds and ETFs; targets retail, affluent, and institutional investors via SIPs and goal-based investing.
- Strategy: Tech-driven distribution with strong governance.
- Quant MF Approved for India’s First SIF
- Details: SEBI approval on August 1, 2025, for ‘QSIF Equity Long-Short Fund’ – first under new SIF category.
- Features: Bridges MFs and PMS; flexible strategies (long-short equity, sector rotation, leverage/derivatives) across equity, debt, hybrids.
- Norms: Minimum Rs. 10 lakh/investor; units frozen for debit if breached; 30-day rebalancing window or automatic redemption at NAV.
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
- Fitch Lowers India’s FY26 GDP Forecast to 6.3%
- Details: Revised in August 2025 from 6.4% (April GEO); cited limited direct US tariff impact on corporates (low US export exposure).
- Key Findings:
- Robust infra spending to boost core sectors (e.g., cement, steel).
- Corporate revenue decline: 3% in FY26.
- S&P Warning: GDP below 6.2% if 25% US tariffs persist post-September 2025 (July projection: 6.2%, down 30 bps from FY25’s 6.5%).
- About Fitch: HQ New York, USA; Established 1914; President Ian Linnell.
AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS
- 71st National Film Awards 2023
- Event: Announced August 1, 2025, at National Media Centre, New Delhi; presented by NFDC under MIB.
- Highlights:
- Best Feature Film: 12th Fail (Hindi, dir. Vidhu Vinod Chopra) – story of resilience and UPSC journey.
- Best Actor (shared): Vikrant Massey (12th Fail), Shah Rukh Khan (Jawan) – first for SRK; Rajat Kamal + Rs. 2 lakh each.
- Best Actress: Rani Mukerji (Mrs. Chatterjee vs Norway) – Rajat Kamal + Rs. 2 lakh.
- Best Non-Feature Film: Flowering Man (Hindi, dir. Soumyajit Ghosh Dastidar) – rural transformation theme.
- Best Popular Film: Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani (Hindi) + Best Choreography.
- Most Awards: Sam Bahadur (3: Best Film on National/Social Values, Costume Design, Make-Up).
- Best Director: Sudipto Sen (The Kerala Story) + Best Cinematography.
- MIB: Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw (Odisha RS); MoS Dr. L. Murugan (MP RS).
APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS
- Dr. A. Rajarajan as VSSC Director
- Details: Assumed charge August 1, 2025, succeeding S. Unnikrishnan Nair (retired July 31).
- Profile: ~40 years in ISRO; joined VSSC 1987; expertise in composites (lightweight structures for satellites/launch vehicles); established CoE in composite tech.
- Previous Roles: Director SDSC (Sriharikota, AP); Deputy Director (Composites, Propulsion & Space Ordnance, Structures Entity).
- Contributions: Modernized launch infrastructure for Gaganyaan, SSLV, Chandrayaan-3, Aditya L1, LVM3 M2/OneWeb; managed Vikram-S (private launch).
ACQUISITIONS & MERGERS
- RBI Approves New India Co-operative Bank Merger with Saraswat Bank
- Details: Effective August 4, 2025, under Section 44A(4) of Banking Regulation Act, 1949.
- Impact: All NICBL branches become Saraswat Bank branches; full deposit access, no haircut for depositors.
- Background: NICBL under moratorium since February 2025 due to Rs. 122 crore embezzlement and governance issues (transaction bans).
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
- SpaceX Launches Crew-11 to ISS
- Event: Launched August 1, 2025, from Kennedy Space Center (LC-39A) via Falcon 9 and Crew Dragon Endeavour.
- Crew: Zena Cardman (NASA Commander, USA – first flight), Mike Fincke (NASA Pilot, USA), Kimiya Yui (JAXA Specialist, Japan), Oleg Platonov (Roscosmos Specialist, Russia – first flight).
- Mission: 6–8 months; relieves Crew-10; supports Expedition 73; objectives include human exploration research, plant/microgravity studies, stem cell production, ISS maintenance.
- Milestone: 25th anniversary of continuous human presence on ISS (November 2025); 11th operational NASA/SpaceX flight.
- About SpaceX: CEO Elon Musk; HQ California, USA; Est. 2002.
- Indian Army MoU for 50-Ton Tank Transporters
- Details: Signed in August 2025 with Axiscades Aerospace & Technologies; Rs. 223.95 crore for 212 trailers under Buy (Indian-IDDM) category (Aatmanirbhar Bharat).
- Specs: For 50-ton tanks/armored vehicles; hydraulic/pneumatic ramps, steerable/liftable axles for varied terrains and quick loading/unloading.
SPORTS
- Magnus Carlsen Wins First Chess Esports World Cup
- Event: August 2025, Riyadh (Saudi Arabia); organized by Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF); 16 players from 13 teams; $1.5M prize pool.
- Final: Carlsen (Norway, Team Liquid) defeated Alireza Firouzja (France, Team Falcons) 2-0 (3-1 each set in best-of-10).
- 3rd Place: Hikaru Nakamura (USA, Team Falcons) beat Arjun Erigaisi (India, Gen.G Esports) 3.5-2.5.
- Indians: Arjun Erigaisi (4th, $115K), Nihal Sarin (8th, $90K).
- Club: Team Liquid tops EWC standings (2,750 points).
- Format: Blitz (10+0); first chess at EWC; 3-year Chess.com partnership to 2027.
- Prizes:
| Position | Player (Country) | Prize (USD) |
| 1st | Magnus Carlsen (Norway) | 250,000 |
| 2nd | Alireza Firouzja (France) | 190,000 |
| 3rd | Hikaru Nakamura (USA) | 145,000 |
| 4th | Arjun Erigaisi (India) | 115,000 |
| 8th | Nihal Sarin (India) | 90,000 |
- EWCF: CEO Ralf Reichert; HQ Riyadh, SA; Est. 2023.
- Indian TT Teams Qualify for WTTC 2026
- Event: Qualified in August 2025 after winning 2025 South Asia Regional Championships (Kathmandu, Nepal; undefeated 3-0 vs. Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Maldives).
- Teams:
- Men: Akash Pal, Ronit Bhanja, Anirban Ghosh, P.B. Abhinand, Divyansh Srivastava.
- Women: Krittwika Sinha (leader), Selenadeepthi Selvakumar, Taneesha Kotecha, Sayali Wani, Syndrela Das.
- WTTC 2026: London, UK; Asia quota: 16 spots/gender (4 direct regional champions + 12 via Asian Championships).
IMPORTANT DAYS
- World Breastfeeding Week – August 1–7, 2025
- Theme: “Prioritize Breastfeeding: Create Sustainable Support Systems.”
- Purpose: Raise awareness on breastfeeding protection/promotion/support; coordinated by WABA, WHO, UNICEF.
- Background: Launched 1992 to mark 1990 Innocenti Declaration (co-sponsored by USAID, SIDA); first observance 1992.
- World Wide Web Day – August 1, 2025
- Theme: “Empowering the Future: Building an Inclusive, Safe, and Open Web.”
- Focus: Digital equity, transparency, privacy; advances in AI, blockchain, Web3, IoT.
- Origin: Honors Tim Berners-Lee’s WWW development; celebrates contributors to web evolution.