1. What is the approximate value of the development projects inaugurated or for which foundation stones were laid by PM Narendra Modi during his visit to Varanasi on August 2, 2025?
a) Rs. 1,500 crore
b) Rs. 1,800 crore
c) Rs. 2,200 crore
d) Rs. 2,500 crore
e) Rs. 2,800 crore
Answer: Rs. 2,200 crore
2. Under which scheme did PM Narendra Modi release the 20th installment worth Rs. 20,500 crore during his Varanasi visit on August 2, 2025?
a) Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana
b) Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN)
c) Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana
d) Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana
e) Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana
Answer: Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN)
3. How many farmers benefited from the 20th installment released by PM Modi in Varanasi on August 2, 2025?
a) Over 8 crore
b) Over 9.7 crore
c) Over 10 crore
d) Over 11 crore
e) Over 12 crore
Answer: Over 9.7 crore
4. Which of the following is NOT a key road infrastructure project mentioned in PM Modi’s Varanasi visit on August 2, 2025?
a) Widening of Varanasi–Bhadohi Road
b) Chhitauni–Shool Tankeshwar Road
c) Construction of a Railway Overbridge at Hardattpur
d) Widening of Lucknow–Kanpur Highway
e) None of the above
Answer: Widening of Lucknow–Kanpur Highway
5. How many Rural Drinking Water Schemes under Jal Jeevan Mission were inaugurated by PM Modi in Varanasi on August 2, 2025?
a) 35
b) 40
c) 47
d) 50
e) 55
Answer: 47
6. Which Union Ministers jointly launched the ‘Matri Van’ initiative in Gurugram on August 2, 2025?
a) Piyush Goyal and Nitin Gadkari
b) Manohar Lal Khattar and Bhupender Yadav
c) Ashwini Vaishnaw and Hardeep Singh Puri
d) Rajnath Singh and Amit Shah
e) Dharmendra Pradhan and Kiren Rijiju
Answer: Manohar Lal Khattar and Bhupender Yadav
7. What is the area covered by the ‘Matri Van’ initiative launched in Gurugram on August 2, 2025?
a) 500 acres
b) 650 acres
c) 750 acres
d) 850 acres
e) 950 acres
Answer: 750 acres
8. Under which programme was the ‘Matri Van’ initiative launched as part of Van Mahotsav 2025?
a) Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam
b) Harit Bharat Abhiyan
c) Green India Mission
d) Vriksha Mitra Yojana
e) Amrit Van Project
Answer: Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam
9. What does ‘Matri Van’ mean, and what is its primary focus?
a) Father’s Forest; Urban biodiversity
b) Mother’s Forest; Ecological and cultural space for biodiversity and sustainability
c) Sacred Forest; Religious heritage
d) Tribal Forest; Indigenous plant conservation
e) River Forest; Water conservation
Answer: Mother’s Forest; Ecological and cultural space for biodiversity and sustainability
10. Which invasive species is being replaced by Dhak/Amaltash Trees in the ‘Matri Van’ initiative?
a) Eucalyptus
b) Kabuli Kikar (Prosopis juliflora)
c) Lantana camara
d) Parthenium hysterophorus
e) Water hyacinth
Answer: Kabuli Kikar (Prosopis juliflora)
11. Which of the following is NOT a themed section in the ‘Matri Van’ initiative?
a) Bodhi Vatika
b) Bamboosetum
c) Aravalli Species Arboretum
d) Fruit Orchard Vatika
e) Medicinal Plants Vatika
Answer: Fruit Orchard Vatika
12. By when is the cooperative sector’s ‘Bharat’ Taxi Service expected to launch?
a) September 2025
b) October 2025
c) December 2025
d) January 2026
e) March 2026
Answer: December 2025
13. What is the authorised capital for the ‘Bharat’ Taxi Service initiative announced in August 2025?
a) Rs. 200 crore
b) Rs. 250 crore
c) Rs. 300 crore
d) Rs. 350 crore
e) Rs. 400 crore
Answer: Rs. 300 crore
14. How many cooperatives collaborated to form the Multi-State Sahakari Taxi Cooperative Ltd. for the ‘Bharat’ Taxi Service?
a) 5
b) 6
c) 8
d) 10
e) 12
Answer: 8
15. Which institute is developing the marketing strategy for the ‘Bharat’ Taxi Service?
a) IIM-Ahmedabad
b) IIM-Bangalore
c) IIM-Calcutta
d) IIM-Lucknow
e) IIM-Indore
Answer: IIM-Bangalore
16. Which of the following is NOT one of the 8 prominent cooperatives in the ‘Bharat’ Taxi Service consortium?
a) National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC)
b) Indian Farmers Fertilizer Cooperative Limited (IFFCO)
c) Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF)
d) State Bank of India Cooperative
e) National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd. (NAFED)
Answer: State Bank of India Cooperative
17. Which organization is the Chairman of NABARD as of August 2025?
a) Shaktikanta Das
b) Shaji K.V.
c) B.S. Sivaramman
d) Urjit Patel
e) Viral Acharya
Answer: Shaji K.V.
18. Under which regulations did FSSAI release the definitive list of Ayurvedic food preparations in August 2025?
a) Food Safety & Standards (Health Supplements) Regulations, 2016
b) Food Safety & Standards (Ayurveda Aahara) Regulations, 2022
c) Food Safety & Standards (Labelling and Display) Regulations, 2020
d) Food Safety & Standards (Prohibition and Restrictions) Regulations, 2011
e) Food Safety & Standards (Contaminants, Toxins and Residues) Regulations, 2019
Answer: Food Safety & Standards (Ayurveda Aahara) Regulations, 2022
19. What is the aim of the definitive list of Ayurveda Aahara products released by FSSAI in August 2025?
a) To ban certain Ayurvedic ingredients
b) To assist Food Business Operators (FBOs) in manufacturing
c) To increase import duties on Ayurvedic products
d) To regulate pricing of Ayurvedic foods
e) To promote export of Ayurveda Aahara
Answer: To assist Food Business Operators (FBOs) in manufacturing
20. With which ministry did FSSAI consult to release the list of Ayurvedic food preparations under Category A in August 2025?
a) Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
b) Ministry of AYUSH
c) Ministry of Commerce and Industry
d) Ministry of Consumer Affairs
e) Ministry of Tribal Affairs
Answer: Ministry of AYUSH
21. Who inaugurated India’s first AI-powered Anganwadi Centre in Nagpur in July 2025?
a) Prime Minister Narendra Modi
b) Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis
c) Union Minister Smriti Irani
d) Governor of Maharashtra
e) Education Minister of Maharashtra
Answer: Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis
22. Under which mission was India’s first AI-powered Anganwadi Centre launched in Nagpur?
a) Digital India Mission
b) Mission Bal Bharari
c) Beti Bachao Beti Padhao
d) Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan
e) POSHAN Abhiyaan
Answer: Mission Bal Bharari
23. What was the cost of establishing the pilot AI-powered Anganwadi Centre in Nagpur?
a) Rs. 7.5 lakh
b) Rs. 8.5 lakh
c) Rs. 9.5 lakh
d) Rs. 10.5 lakh
e) Rs. 11.5 lakh
Answer: Rs. 9.5 lakh
24. How many more AI-powered Anganwadi centres does the Maharashtra government plan to establish in Nagpur district?
a) 20
b) 30
c) 40
d) 50
e) 60
Answer: 40
25. Which of the following is a feature of the AI-powered Anganwadi Centre in Nagpur?
a) Solar-powered classrooms
b) AI smart dashboards and VR headsets
c) Automated meal distribution
d) Drone-based monitoring
e) Blockchain for attendance
Answer: AI smart dashboards and VR headsets
26. How many institutes were recognized as Centres of Excellence (CoEs) under the National Critical Minerals Mission by the Ministry of Mines in August 2025?
a) 5
b) 6
c) 7
d) 8
e) 9
Answer: 7
27. Which of the following is NOT one of the IITs recognized as CoE under NCMM in August 2025?
a) IIT Bombay
b) IIT Hyderabad
c) IIT Madras
d) IIT-ISM Dhanbad
e) IIT Roorkee
Answer: IIT Madras
28. Which R&D lab is NOT among the 3 recognized as CoE under NCMM in August 2025?
a) CSIR-IMMT, Bhubaneswar
b) CSIR-NML, Jamshedpur
c) NFTDC, Hyderabad
d) DRDO, Hyderabad
e) CSIR-NPL, New Delhi
Answer: DRDO, Hyderabad
29. Who co-chaired the Project Approval and Advisory Committee meeting for NCMM CoEs in August 2025?
a) V.L. Kantha Rao and Professor Abhay Karandikar
b) Rajesh S. Gokhale and T.K. Ramachandran
c) Piyush Goyal and Nitin Gadkari
d) Ashwini Vaishnaw and Hardeep Singh Puri
e) Dharmendra Pradhan and Jitendra Singh
Answer: V.L. Kantha Rao and Professor Abhay Karandikar
30. What is the primary function of the CoEs recognized under NCMM in August 2025?
a) Mineral extraction operations
b) Innovative research in critical minerals science and technology
c) Export promotion of minerals
d) Training of miners
e) Environmental impact assessment
Answer: Innovative research in critical minerals science and technology
31. According to the ICAR-CMFRI Annual Report 2024 released in July 2025, what was the percentage decline in India’s marine fish catch compared to 2023?
a) 1%
b) 2%
c) 3%
d) 4%
e) 5%
Answer: 2%
32. Which state led the marine fish landings in India in 2024 as per the ICAR-CMFRI report?
a) Kerala
b) Tamil Nadu
c) Gujarat
d) Andhra Pradesh
e) Maharashtra
Answer: Gujarat
33. What was the total marine fish catch in India in 2024 as per the ICAR-CMFRI report?
a) 3.27 million tonnes
b) 3.37 million tonnes
c) 3.47 million tonnes
d) 3.57 million tonnes
e) 3.67 million tonnes
Answer: 3.47 million tonnes
34. Which fish species had the highest catch in India’s marine resources in 2024?
a) Oil sardine
b) Indian mackerel
c) Penaeid shrimps
d) Anchovies
e) Tuna
Answer: Indian mackerel
35. What percentage of total marine landings in 2024 were accounted for by pelagic species as per ICAR-CMFRI?
a) 44%
b) 48%
c) 54%
d) 60%
e) 66%
Answer: 54%
36. Where is the headquarters of the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI)?
a) Chennai, Tamil Nadu
b) Mumbai, Maharashtra
c) Kochi, Kerala
d) Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh
e) Kolkata, West Bengal
Answer: Kochi, Kerala
37. How much did Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) raise through unlisted NCDs in August 2025?
a) Rs. 7,000 crore
b) Rs. 8,000 crore
c) Rs. 9,000 crore
d) Rs. 10,000 crore
e) Rs. 11,000 crore
Answer: Rs. 9,000 crore
38. What is the purpose of the funds raised by BIAL through NCDs in August 2025?
a) New airport construction
b) Refinance existing debt and support infrastructure expansion
c) Employee salaries
d) Marketing campaigns
e) Debt repayment only
Answer: Refinance existing debt and support infrastructure expansion
39. Which bank acted as the sole arranger for BIAL’s unlisted NCD issuance in August 2025?
a) HDFC Bank
b) ICICI Bank
c) State Bank of India (SBI) Capital Markets
d) Axis Bank
e) Kotak Mahindra Bank
Answer: State Bank of India (SBI) Capital Markets
40. In how many tranches is BIAL’s NCD fundraising divided, and what is the amount of the first tranche?
a) Two tranches; Rs. 4,362 crore
b) Three tranches; Rs. 3,000 crore
c) Two tranches; Rs. 5,000 crore
d) One tranche; Rs. 9,000 crore
e) Four tranches; Rs. 2,250 crore each
Answer: Two tranches; Rs. 4,362 crore
41. With which organization did ICAI sign an MoU in August 2025 to strengthen accreditation in the gold industry?
a) Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS)
b) Indian Association of Gold Excellence and Standards (IAGES)
c) Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC)
d) World Gold Council
e) National Accreditation Board for Certification Bodies (NABCB)
Answer: Indian Association of Gold Excellence and Standards (IAGES)
42. Who signed the MoU on behalf of ICAI with IAGES in August 2025?
a) Arjun Meghwal
b) Charanjot Singh Nanda
c) Kaushlendra Sinha
d) Smriti Irani
e) Piyush Goyal
Answer: Charanjot Singh Nanda
43. Under which ministry is ICAI administratively controlled as of August 2025?
a) Ministry of Finance
b) Ministry of Corporate Affairs
c) Ministry of Commerce and Industry
d) Ministry of Law and Justice
e) Ministry of Consumer Affairs
Answer: Ministry of Corporate Affairs
44. What is the estimated number of value chain partners in the gold industry covered by the ICAI-IAGES MoU in August 2025?
a) 3 lakh
b) 4 lakh
c) 5 lakh
d) 6 lakh
e) 7 lakh
Answer: 6 lakh
45. Which Union Minister was present when ICAI signed the MoU with IAGES in August 2025?
a) Nitin Gadkari
b) Arjun Meghwal
c) Piyush Goyal
d) Nirmala Sitharaman
e) S. Jaishankar
Answer: Arjun Meghwal
46. Which award was conferred on Union Minister Nitin Gadkari in August 2025, and for what?
a) Padma Bhushan; Environmental conservation
b) 43rd Lokmanya Tilak National Award; Road and highway infrastructure
c) Bharat Ratna; Political leadership
d) Rajiv Gandhi National Sadbhavana Award; Social harmony
e) Gandhi Peace Prize; Non-violence promotion
Answer: 43rd Lokmanya Tilak National Award; Road and highway infrastructure
47. Where was the 43rd Lokmanya Tilak National Award ceremony held in August 2025?
a) Mumbai, Maharashtra
b) Pune, Maharashtra
c) New Delhi, Delhi
d) Nagpur, Maharashtra
e) Ahmedabad, Gujarat
Answer: Pune, Maharashtra
48. What does the Lokmanya Tilak National Award commemorate annually?
a) Birth anniversary of Bal Gangadhar Tilak
b) Death anniversary of Bal Gangadhar Tilak
c) Independence Day
d) Republic Day
e) Gandhi Jayanti
Answer: Death anniversary of Bal Gangadhar Tilak
49. What is the cash prize for the Lokmanya Tilak National Award?
a) Rs. 50,000
b) Rs. 1 lakh
c) Rs. 1.5 lakh
d) Rs. 2 lakh
e) Rs. 2.5 lakh
Answer: Rs. 1 lakh
50. Who instituted the Lokmanya Tilak National Award in 1983?
a) Government of India
b) Tilak Samark Mandir Trust
c) Indian National Congress
d) Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh
e) Bharat Scouts and Guides
Answer: Tilak Samark Mandir Trust
51. Who won the Hungarian Grand Prix 2025 on August 3, 2025?
a) Max Verstappen
b) Charles Leclerc
c) Lando Norris
d) George Russell
e) Fernando Alonso
Answer: Lando Norris
52. Which team achieved its 200th F1 victory with Lando Norris’s win at the Hungarian Grand Prix 2025?
a) Red Bull Racing
b) Mercedes
c) Ferrari
d) McLaren
e) Aston Martin
Answer: McLaren
53. Who finished second in the Hungarian Grand Prix 2025, behind Lando Norris?
a) Oscar Piastri
b) George Russell
c) Charles Leclerc
d) Max Verstappen
e) Lewis Hamilton
Answer: Oscar Piastri
54. What is the championship lead of Oscar Piastri after the Hungarian Grand Prix 2025?
a) 5 points
b) 9 points
c) 15 points
d) 20 points
e) 25 points
Answer: 9 points
55. Which driver finished third in the Hungarian Grand Prix 2025 after overtaking Charles Leclerc?
a) Fernando Alonso
b) Max Verstappen
c) George Russell
d) Sergio Perez
e) Carlos Sainz
Answer: George Russell
56. At what age did former Jharkhand CM Shibu Soren pass away on August 4, 2025?
a) 75
b) 78
c) 81
d) 84
e) 87
Answer: 81
57. Which political party was Shibu Soren the founding patron of?
a) Bharatiya Janata Party
b) Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM)
c) Indian National Congress
d) Rashtriya Janata Dal
e) Aam Aadmi Party
Answer: Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM)
58. How many times did Shibu Soren serve as Lok Sabha MP?
a) 5 times
b) 6 times
c) 7 times
d) 8 times
e) 9 times
Answer: 8 times
59. In which year was Shibu Soren designated as the “Founding Patron” of JMM?
a) 2020
b) 2022
c) 2023
d) 2024
e) 2025
Answer: 2025
60. What was Shibu Soren’s title among the tribal communities of Jharkhand?
a) Netaji
b) Dishoom Guru or Guruji
c) Sardar
d) Baba
e) Maharaj
Answer: Dishoom Guru or Guruji
61. Which organization observes Indian Organ Donation Day on August 3 annually?
a) Indian Red Cross Society
b) National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO)
c) All India Institute of Medical Sciences
d) Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
e) Indian Medical Association
Answer: National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO)
62. What historic medical event does Indian Organ Donation Day commemorate?
a) First kidney transplant in 1971
b) First successful heart transplant in 1994
c) First liver transplant in 1990
d) First bone marrow transplant in 1983
e) First cornea transplant in 1969
Answer: First successful heart transplant in 1994
63. In which year was Indian Organ Donation Day moved to August 3?
a) 2020
b) 2021
c) 2022
d) 2023
e) 2024
Answer: 2023
64. Who addressed the 15th Indian Organ Donation Day ceremony in 2025?
a) Prime Minister Narendra Modi
b) Union Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda
c) Health Secretary
d) Director of AIIMS
e) President of India
Answer: Union Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda
65. What is observed from August 4 to August 10 annually in India?
a) Bone and Joint Week
b) Heart Health Week
c) Diabetes Awareness Week
d) Cancer Prevention Week
e) Mental Health Week
Answer: Bone and Joint Week
66. Which organization initiated National Bone and Joint Day in 2012?
a) Indian Medical Association
b) Indian Orthopaedic Association (IOA)
c) World Health Organization
d) Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
e) All India Institute of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Answer: Indian Orthopaedic Association (IOA)
67. What is Peak Bone Mass (PBM) typically achieved by, according to bone health information?
a) Age 18-20 years
b) Age 25-30 years
c) Age 35-40 years
d) Age 45-50 years
e) Age 55-60 years
Answer: Age 25-30 years
68. Which condition is characterized by low bone density and increased fracture risk?
a) Osteoarthritis
b) Rheumatoid arthritis
c) Osteoporosis
d) Gout
e) Fibromyalgia
Answer: Osteoporosis
69. Who is the President of the Indian Orthopaedic Association (IOA) as of August 2025?
a) Dr. Ajit Shinde
b) Dr. Rajendra Arlekar
c) Dr. Himanshu Pathak
d) Dr. Sumeet Jarangal
e) Dr. A. Rajarajan
Answer: Dr. Ajit Shinde
70. When was the Indian Orthopaedic Association (IOA) founded?
a) 1945
b) 1950
c) 1955
d) 1960
e) 1965
Answer: 1955
71. Who launched the Annadata Sukhibhava-PM KISAN Scheme in Andhra Pradesh in August 2025?
a) Prime Minister Narendra Modi
b) AP CM Nara Chandrababu Naidu
c) Governor of AP
d) Union Agriculture Minister
e) Finance Minister of AP
Answer: AP CM Nara Chandrababu Naidu
72. Where was the Annadata Sukhibhava-PM KISAN Scheme launched in August 2025?
a) Amaravati
b) Veerayapalem in Prakasam district
c) Visakhapatnam
d) Guntur
e) Vijayawada
Answer: Veerayapalem in Prakasam district
73. How much was disbursed to farmers in the first installment of the Annadata Sukhibhava-PM KISAN Scheme in August 2025?
a) Rs. 2,500 crore
b) Rs. 2,800 crore
c) Rs. 3,175 crore
d) Rs. 3,500 crore
e) Rs. 3,800 crore
Answer: Rs. 3,175 crore
74. How many farmers benefited from the first installment of the Annadata Sukhibhava-PM KISAN Scheme in August 2025?
a) 40 lakh
b) 43.86 lakh
c) 46.86 lakh
d) 49.86 lakh
e) 52.86 lakh
Answer: 46.86 lakh
75. Under which programme is the Annadata Sukhibhava-PM KISAN Scheme launched in Andhra Pradesh?
a) Super Six
b) Viksit Bharat
c) Atmanirbhar Andhra
d) Jal Jeevan Mission
e) Digital India
Answer: Super Six
76. What is the annual financial assistance per eligible farmer under the Annadata Sukhibhava-PM KISAN Scheme?
a) Rs. 15,000
b) Rs. 18,000
c) Rs. 20,000
d) Rs. 22,000
e) Rs. 25,000
Answer: Rs. 20,000
77. What is the toll-free number for complaints regarding payments under the Annadata Sukhibhava-PM KISAN Scheme?
a) 14440
b) 155251
c) 1800-11-5555
d) 1962
e) 1076
Answer: 155251
78. Who is the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh as of August 2025?
a) Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy
b) Nara Chandrababu Naidu
c) Pawan Kalyan
d) Chandrababu Naidu’s predecessor
e) Jagananna
Answer: Nara Chandrababu Naidu
79. Which is the capital of Andhra Pradesh as of August 2025?
a) Hyderabad
b) Amaravati
c) Visakhapatnam
d) Kurnool
e) Guntur
Answer: Amaravati
80. Which of the following is a National Park in Andhra Pradesh?
a) Kaziranga NP
b) Papikonda NP
c) Jim Corbett NP
d) Sundarbans NP
e) Gir NP
Answer: Papikonda NP
Current Affairs Today: 5 August 2025
NATIONAL AFFAIRS
- PM Narendra Modi’s Visit to Varanasi, UP
- Event: On August 2, 2025, PM Modi inaugurated and laid foundation stones for projects worth ~Rs. 2,200 crore, spanning infrastructure, tourism, heritage, and water/sanitation.
- Key Initiatives:
- Infrastructure: Widening of Varanasi–Bhadohi Road (four-lane), Chhitauni–Shool Tankeshwar Road, and Railway Overbridge at Hardattpur to reduce congestion.
- Tourism & Heritage: Redevelopment of eight riverfront ghats; beautification of Kalika Dham, Rangildas Kutiya, Durgakund, and Kardameshwar Mahadev Temple.
- Water & Sanitation: 47 Rural Drinking Water Schemes under Jal Jeevan Mission.
- Farmer Welfare: Released 20th PM-KISAN installment of Rs. 20,500 crore to 9.7 crore+ farmers nationwide.
- ‘Matri Van’ Initiative Launch in Gurugram
- Event: Launched on August 2, 2025, by Union Ministers Bhupender Yadav (MoEFCC) and Manohar Lal Khattar (MoHUA/MoP) during Van Mahotsav 2025 under ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’.
- Details: 750-acre theme-based urban forest in Aravalli Hills along Gurugram-Faridabad Road to boost biodiversity, public well-being, and sustainability.
- Components: Replace invasive bushes (e.g., Kabuli Kikar) with native Dhak/Amaltash trees; themed sections like Bodhi Vatika, Bamboosetum, Medicinal Plants Vatika, Nakshatra Vatika, Cactus Garden, and Butterfly Garden.
- Significance: Acts as “lungs” for Delhi-NCR; promotes eco-tourism, green buildings; community-driven via CSR, RWAs, NGOs.
- 8 Cooperatives Launch ‘Bharat’ Taxi Service
- Event: Announced in August 2025; app-based service to rival Ola/Uber, launching December 2025 under Multi-State Sahakari Taxi Cooperative Ltd.
- Funding & Scale: Rs. 300 crore authorized capital; 200 drivers onboarded (50 each from Delhi, Gujarat, UP, Maharashtra); plans for nationwide rollout.
- Consortium: NCDC, IFFCO, GCMMF (Amul), NAFED, NCCF, KSCMF, RAJFED, MAHAFED; founding members include KRIBHCO, NABARD, NDDB, NCEL.
- Objective: Better driver income, affordable/safe rides; cooperative pricing model; IIM-Bangalore for marketing; tech partner selection underway.
- FSSAI Releases Ayurveda Aahara Products List
- Event: In August 2025, FSSAI (with MoAYUSH) released definitive Category A list under Food Safety & Standards (Ayurveda Aahara) Regulations, 2022.
- Details: Covers traditional preparations from authoritative texts; aids FBOs in manufacturing; excludes drugs/narcotics.
- Objective: Regulatory clarity, consumer trust, mainstream Ayurveda nutrition; future additions via FSSAI process.
- Significance: Promotes holistic wellness; MoS Prataprao Jadhav urged daily adoption for immunity/digestion.
- Maharashtra CM Inaugurates India’s First AI-Powered Anganwadi
- Event: Launched July 2025 in Waddhamna village, Nagpur, by CM Devendra Fadnavis under Mission Bal Bharari.
- Details: Cost Rs. 9.5 lakh (Zilla Parishad CESS fund); features AI dashboards, VR headsets, interactive tools for 0-6 year-olds.
- Impact: Attendance up from 10 to 25+ children; tracks progress, adapts content; workers trained in AI literacy.
- Expansion: 40 more centres planned in Nagpur; bridges rural-urban digital divide via Qolaba (IndiaAI partner).
- Ministry of Mines Recognizes 7 CoEs under NCMM
- Event: In August 2025, MoM approved 7 Centres of Excellence via PAC (co-chaired by V.L. Kantha Rao & Prof. Abhay Karandikar).
- Institutes: IITs (Bombay, Hyderabad, ISM Dhanbad, Roorkee); R&D Labs (CSIR-IMMT Bhubaneswar, CSIR-NML Jamshedpur, NFTDC Hyderabad).
- Functions: R&D in extraction/beneficiation to TRL 7/8; Hub-Spoke model (80+ partners); funded via govt schemes/industry.
- NCMM Background: Rs. 34,300 crore (7 years); secures 30 critical minerals for clean energy/defence.
- India’s Marine Fish Catch Drops 2% in 2024
- Report: ICAR-CMFRI’s “Annual Report 2024” (released July 2025) shows 3.47 million tonnes (down from 3.53 million in 2023).
- Leaders: Gujarat (7.54 lakh tonnes), Tamil Nadu (6.79 lakh), Kerala (6.10 lakh).
- Species: Indian mackerel (2.63 lakh tonnes, top); oil sardine (2.41 lakh); pelagic 54% of catch.
- Trends: Gains in lesser sardines/shrimps; declines in mackerel/ribbonfish; impacted by cyclones/heatwaves; 2.5 lakh trips monitored.
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
- BIAL Completes Rs. 9,000 Cr NCD Issuance
- Event: Bangalore International Airport Ltd. (BIAL) raised Rs. 9,000 crore via unlisted NCDs (largest in Indian airport sector) in two tranches: Rs. 4,362 crore (July 25, 2025), Rs. 4,638 crore (October 2025).
- Purpose: Refinance debt, fund Kempegowda International Airport expansion; 15-year tenure, AAA-rated, fixed rates (savings vs. MCLR-linked).
- Arranger: SBI Capital Markets; strong demand from banks/insurers/IDFs/PFIs.
- ICAI MoU with IAGES for Gold Industry Accreditation
- Event: Signed August 2025 between ICAI President Charanjot Singh Nanda & IAGES CEO Kaushlendra Sinha (witnessed by MoLJ Arjun Meghwal).
- Objective: Robust framework for ~6 lakh value chain partners; objective evaluation, code of conduct, global standards.
- Role of ICAI: PDC to raise awareness, provide CA firm panels for empanelment; creates professional opportunities.
- Significance: Enhances governance/transparency; aligns with nation-building via ethics/standards.
AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS
- Nitin Gadkari Honoured with 43rd Lokmanya Tilak National Award
- Event: Conferred August 1, 2025, in Pune by Tilak Smarak Mandir Trust on Tilak’s death anniversary.
- Reason: Contributions to road/highway infrastructure, Swadeshi promotion, good governance.
- Prize: Rs. 1 lakh, citation, memento; past recipients include PM Modi, Manmohan Singh.
- Gadkari’s Remarks: Emphasized truth in politics, transforming Swarajya to Surajya; India’s youth as global leaders.
SPORTS
- Hungarian Grand Prix 2025: Lando Norris Wins
- Event: August 3, 2025, at Hungaroring (Round 14); Norris (McLaren) won from P3, holding off Piastri (McLaren) by 0.698s.
- Key Moments: Norris recovered from P5 start via one-stop strategy; Piastri (two-stop) closed late but couldn’t pass; McLaren’s 200th F1 win, 7th 1-2 (4th consecutive).
- Podium: Norris (1st), Piastri (2nd, leads championship by 9 pts), Russell (3rd, Mercedes).
- Standings (Top 5):
| Rank | Driver (Team) | Points |
| 1 | O. Piastri (McLaren) | 284 |
| 2 | L. Norris (McLaren) | 275 |
| 3 | M. Verstappen (Red Bull) | 187 |
| 4 | G. Russell (Mercedes) | 172 |
| 5 | C. Leclerc (Ferrari) | 151 |
OBITUARY
- Shibu Soren
- Details: JMM founder-patron, former Jharkhand CM (3 terms: 2005, 2008–10), died August 4, 2025, at 81 in Delhi’s Sir Ganga Ram Hospital (kidney issues/stroke).
- Legacy: ‘Dishom Guru’; led Jharkhand statehood movement (1972 JMM co-founder); 8x Lok Sabha MP, 2x Rajya Sabha; Union Coal Minister (2004–06).
- Tributes: PM Modi hailed tribal empowerment; 3-day state mourning in Jharkhand; funeral August 5 at Nemra village.
IMPORTANT DAYS
- Indian Organ Donation Day – August 3, 2025
- 15th Observance: By NOTTO (MoHFW); marks 1st deceased heart transplant (1994, AIIMS Delhi).
- Event: At DAIC, New Delhi; Union Minister JP Nadda presented awards, released booklets on awareness/Ayurveda/best practices.
- Theme: “Angdaan – Jeevan Sanjeevani Abhiyaan”; promotes pledges, preventive care.
- National Bone and Joint Day – August 4, 2025
- Observance: By IOA since 2012 (charter day 1971); raises awareness on musculoskeletal health, prevention (e.g., exercise, diet, no smoking).
- Bone & Joint Week: August 4–10; focuses on osteoporosis, osteoarthritis; peak bone mass by 25–30 years.
- Significance: Bones protect organs; calcium/Vit D key; >10,000 IOA members; President Dr. Ajit Shinde.
STATE NEWS
- AP CM Launches Annadata Sukhibhava-PM KISAN Scheme
- Event: Launched August 2025 at Veerayapalem, Prakasam, by CM N. Chandrababu Naidu; Rs. 3,175 crore disbursed (Rs. 2,343 crore state + Rs. 832 crore Centre) to 46.86 lakh farmers (Rs. 7,000 each).
- Details: Annual Rs. 20,000 (Rs. 14,000 state + Rs. 6,000 PM-KISAN) in 3 installments; part of ‘Super Six’ promises.
- Support: Sukhibhava portal/toll-free 155251 for issues; e-KYC/NCPI mapping; tech advisories, subsidies (e.g., Rs. 61 crore equipment to 26,000 farmers).