1. Where was the 11th Session of the India-Russia Working Group on Modernization & Industrial Cooperation held?
a) Mumbai, Maharashtra
b) Vanijya Bhawan, New Delhi, Delhi
c) Bengaluru, Karnataka
d) Chennai, Tamil Nadu
e) Kolkata, West Bengal
Answer: b) Vanijya Bhawan, New Delhi, Delhi
2. Who signed the India-Russia Protocol on behalf of India to strengthen industrial and technological ties?
a) Alexey Gruzdev
b) Amardeep Singh Bhatia
c) Mikhail Mishustin
d) Rao Inderjit Singh
e) Sanjay Malhotra
Answer: b) Amardeep Singh Bhatia
3. What is one of the focus areas of the India-Russia Protocol signed on August 6, 2025?
a) Space exploration
b) Rare earth mineral extraction
c) Nuclear power generation
d) Artificial intelligence development
e) Renewable energy projects
Answer: b) Rare earth mineral extraction
4. Which state topped India’s export rankings in FY 2024-25 according to the FIEO’s “Overview of States’ Exports 2024-25”?
a) Maharashtra
b) Tamil Nadu
c) Gujarat
d) Karnataka
e) Uttar Pradesh
Answer: c) Gujarat
5. What is the export contribution of Jamnagar district to Gujarat’s total exports in FY 2024-25?
a) 26.6%
b) 36.91%
c) 63.07%
d) 71%
e) 15%
Answer: b) 36.91%
6. Which commodity has the highest share in Gujarat’s exports in FY 2024-25?
a) Cotton fabrics
b) Petroleum products
c) Organic chemicals
d) Ceramics and allied products
e) Iron and steel products
Answer: b) Petroleum products
7. What is the proposed new base year for GDP and IIP as per MoSPI’s announcement on August 6, 2025?
a) 2020-21
b) 2021-22
c) 2022-23
d) 2023-24
e) 2024-25
Answer: c) 2022-23
8. Which survey is MoSPI using to update the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the proposed base year 2024?
a) Annual Survey of Services Sector Enterprises
b) Household Consumption Expenditure Survey
c) CAPEX Intentions Survey
d) National Sample Survey
e) Economic Census
Answer: b) Household Consumption Expenditure Survey
9. What is the repo rate set by the RBI in its 3rd Bi-monthly Monetary Policy FY 2025-26?
a) 3.35%
b) 5.25%
c) 5.50%
d) 5.75%
e) 3.00%
Answer: c) 5.50%
10. Who is the chairman of the RBI’s Monetary Policy Committee meeting held from August 4 to 6, 2025?
a) Dr. Nagesh Kumar
b) Sanjay Malhotra
c) Dr. Poonam Gupta
d) Prof. Ram Singh
e) Dr. Rajiv Ranjan
Answer: b) Sanjay Malhotra
11. According to the RBI’s revised co-lending norms, what is the minimum percentage of each individual loan that Regulated Entities must retain?
a) 5%
b) 10%
c) 15%
d) 20%
e) 25%
Answer: b) 10%
12. When will the RBI’s revised co-lending guidelines come into force?
a) August 6, 2025
b) January 1, 2026
c) April 1, 2026
d) July 1, 2026
e) October 1, 2025
Answer: b) January 1, 2026
13. Which bank launched the RemitFIRST2India platform for NRIs in August 2025?
a) HDFC Bank
b) ICICI Bank
c) IDFC FIRST Bank
d) State Bank of India
e) Axis Bank
Answer: c) IDFC FIRST Bank
14. Which organization partnered with Amazon India to boost e-commerce exports for MSMEs?
a) Ministry of Commerce and Industry
b) Federation of Indian Export Organizations (FIEO)
c) Reserve Bank of India
d) Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.
e) Kerala State Disaster Management Authority
Answer: b) Federation of Indian Export Organizations (FIEO)
15. What is the revised GDP growth projection for India in CY25 by Goldman Sachs?
a) 6.4%
b) 6.5%
c) 6.6%
d) 6.7%
e) 6.8%
Answer: b) 6.5%
16. Who topped the Fortune 100 Most Powerful People in Business List in 2025?
a) Mukesh Ambani
b) Jensen Huang
c) Sundar Pichai
d) Satya Nadella
e) Reshma Kewalramani
Answer: b) Jensen Huang
17. What is the rank of Mukesh Ambani in the Fortune 100 Most Powerful People in Business List 2025?
a) 56th
b) 62nd
c) 83rd
d) 6th
e) 11th
Answer: a) 56th
18. Which organization developed the Mechanical Minefield Marking Equipment Mark-II (MMME Mk-II) for the Indian Army?
a) DRDO
b) BEML Limited
c) ISRO
d) HAL
e) BEL
Answer: b) BEML Limited
19. What is the minimum operational speed of the MMME Mk-II?
a) 0.8 km/h
b) 1.0 km/h
c) 1.2 km/h
d) 1.5 km/h
e) 2.0 km/h
Answer: c) 1.2 km/h
20. What is the name of the new snake species discovered in Mizoram in August 2025?
a) Smithophis atemporalis
b) Smithophis mizoramensis
c) Smithophis leptofasciatus
d) Smithophis bicolor
e) Smithophis montanus
Answer: c) Smithophis leptofasciatus
21. In which journal was the discovery of the narrow-banded rain snake published?
a) Nature
b) Taprobanica: The Journal of Asian Biodiversity
c) Science
d) Journal of Herpetology
e) Biodiversity and Conservation
Answer: b) Taprobanica: The Journal of Asian Biodiversity
22. Who authored the biography “The Man Who Fed India” released in August 2025?
a) M.S. Swaminathan
b) Priyambada Jayakumar
c) HarperCollins
d) Amardeep Singh Bhatia
e) Rao Inderjit Singh
Answer: b) Priyambada Jayakumar
23. What is the theme of the 11th National Handloom Day celebrated on August 7, 2025?
a) Handloom Heritage
b) Weaving Innovation into Tradition
c) Sustainable Textiles
d) Swadeshi Pride
e) Craftsmanship Excellence
Answer: b) Weaving Innovation into Tradition
24. Where was the ‘Heat Resilient Moodadi’ project launched by the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority?
a) Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala
b) Moodadi Panchayat, Kozhikode, Kerala
c) Kochi, Kerala
d) Thrissur, Kerala
e) Alappuzha, Kerala
Answer: b) Moodadi Panchayat, Kozhikode, Kerala
25. Which technique is NOT used in the ‘Heat Resilient Moodadi’ project?
a) Heat-reflecting paints
b) Bamboo barriers
c) Window shades
d) Solar panels
e) Cooling pavilions
Answer: d) Solar panels
Current Affairs Today: 8 August 2025
NATIONAL AFFAIRS
- India-Russia Protocol on Industrial and Technological Cooperation
- Event: Signed on August 6, 2025, during the 11th Session of the India-Russia Working Group on Modernization & Industrial Cooperation at Vanijya Bhawan, New Delhi.
- Signatories: Amardeep Singh Bhatia (Secretary, DPIIT, MoC&I) and Alexey Gruzdev (Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade, Russia).
- Objective: Strengthen strategic partnership through collaboration in aluminium, fertilizers, railway transport, mining (equipment, exploration, waste management), aerospace (wind tunnel, small aircraft engines), carbon fibre, additive manufacturing, 3D printing, rare earth minerals, and underground coal gasification.
- Framework: Under the India-Russia Intergovernmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technological, and Cultural Cooperation; attended by ~80 delegates.
- Significance: Reinforces shared vision for industrial expansion amid global trade challenges, including US tariffs.
- FIEO Releases Overview of States’ Exports 2024-25
- Event: Released August 5, 2025, by FIEO (MoC&I) using DGCIS data.
- Top Exporter: Gujarat (Rs. 9.83 lakh crore, 26.6% of India’s total; slight decline from FY24’s USD 134.39 billion); Jamnagar district contributed 36.91% (Rs. 3.63 lakh crore, mainly petroleum).
- Key Commodities (Gujarat): Petroleum products (37.72%), cotton fabrics, ceramics, ships/boats, residual chemicals, iron/steel, agro chemicals, organic chemicals, drug formulations, pearls/precious stones (63.07% share).
- Top 5 States (71% of India’s Rs. 37.02 lakh crore exports):
| Rank | State | Exports (Rs. lakh crore) |
| 1 | Gujarat | 9.83 |
| 2 | Maharashtra | 5.57 |
| 3 | Tamil Nadu | 4.40 |
| 4 | Karnataka | 3.85 |
| 5 | Uttar Pradesh | 1.86 |
- Gujarat Destinations: USA, Netherlands, UAE, Singapore, Australia; exported 158/169 Indian commodities.
- MoSPI Proposes New Base Year for GDP, IIP & CPI
- Event: Proposed August 6, 2025, by MoS Rao Inderjit Singh in Lok Sabha.
- Details:
- GDP & IIP: Base year revised to 2022-23 (current: 2011-12); new GDP series releases February 27, 2026; IIP from 2026-27.
- CPI: Base year to 2024 (current: 2012); uses HCES 2023-24 for item basket/weights.
- New Initiatives: Forward-Looking CAPEX Survey (Nov 2024–Jan 2025) for investment trends; Pilot Study on Annual Survey of Services Sector Enterprises (ASSSE) for services insights.
- Purpose: Reflect structural economic changes; incorporates GST, E-Vahan, UPI data for GDP; aligns with inflation/IIP.
BANKING & FINANCE
- RBI’s 3rd Bi-Monthly MPC FY2025-26 Highlights
- Event: Meeting August 4–6, 2025; unanimous decision by MPC (chaired by Sanjay Malhotra).
- Key Decisions:
- Repo Rate: Unchanged at 5.50%; SDF at 5.25%; MSF/Bank Rate at 5.75%.
- Stance: Neutral (allows flexibility for growth support).
- Rationale: Assess transmission of prior 100 bps cuts (Feb–Jun 2025); resilient domestic growth amid global uncertainties (e.g., US tariffs).
- Projections:
- GDP: Retained at 6.5% for FY26 (Q1: 6.5%, Q2: 6.7%, Q3: 6.6%, Q4: 6.3%).
- Inflation: CPI at 3.1% for FY26 (down from 3.7%; Q1: 2.8%, Q2: 3.0%, Q3: 3.2%, Q4: 3.5%); FY27 at 4.9%.
- Other Measures: Doorstep banking camps (Jul–Sep 2025) for PMJDY 10th anniversary; simplified deceased claims; RBI Retail-Direct for T-Bill SIPs.
- Policy Rates:
| Category | Rate |
| Repo Rate | 5.50% |
| Reverse Repo Rate | 3.35% |
| SDF | 5.25% |
| MSF/Bank Rate | 5.75% |
| CRR | 3.00% |
| SLR | 18.00% |
- Outlook: Growth resilient; inflation easing (Jun CPI: 2.1%, 77-month low); merchandise trade deficit widened in Q1 FY26.
- RBI Issues Final Co-Lending Norms
- Event: Issued August 2025; effective January 1, 2026 (early adoption allowed).
- Key Changes:
- Scope: Extended to all commercial banks (excl. SFBs, RRBs, LABs), FIs, NBFCs (incl. HFCs); digital lending follows RBI Digital Lending Directions, 2025.
- Loan Retention: Minimum 10% of each loan on books (no draft minimum; deviates from prior 20% NBFC rule).
- Timeline: Originator transfers share to co-lender within 15 days post-origination.
- DLG: Max 5% of portfolio (not for credit enhancement; complies with digital norms).
- Asset Classification: Uniform (borrower-level); real-time info sharing (next working day).
- Agreement: Pre-disbursement; covers revenue/risk sharing, compliance; KFS issuance mandatory.
- Reporting: Quarterly/annual disclosures on websites/financials (volumes, rates, sectors, DLG).
- Purpose: Enhances risk sharing, transparency; repeals 2020 priority sector circular.
- IDFC FIRST Bank Launches RemitFIRST2India
- Event: Launched August 2025 for NRIs; partners with SingX (MAS-licensed).
- Features: Zero transfer fees; competitive FOREX rates; real-time tracking; paperless; transfers from Singapore/Hong Kong (expanding to others).
- Access: Existing NRIs via mobile app; new users via web portal (digital onboarding).
- Benefits: Instant to any Indian bank; no min/max limits; secure/compliant.
- Significance: Simplifies remittances; supports investments/family support; aligns with Digital India.
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
- Amazon India & FIEO MoU for MSME E-Commerce Exports
- Event: Signed August 6, 2025; aims to enable $80B cumulative e-commerce exports by 2030.
- Key Initiatives: E-commerce export task force for policy/infra roadmap; workshops/training for sellers (handicrafts, home textiles, apparel, toys, wellness, packaged foods); offline seller communities for peer learning/service access.
- Support: FIEO nominates high-potential MSMEs; Amazon aids onboarding/compliance/scaling on global marketplaces.
- Objective: Overcome barriers (customs, logistics, regulations); build export readiness; institutionalize ecosystem.
- Goldman Sachs Revises India’s GDP Forecast
- Event: August 2025 revision amid US 25% tariffs (effective Aug 1, 2025).
- Projections:
- GDP: CY25: 6.5% (down 0.1 pp); CY26: 6.4% (down 0.2 pp); potential 0.3 pp drag (India’s US export exposure ~4% GDP).
- Inflation: CY25/FY26: 3.0% (down 0.2 pp; driven by vegetable prices).
- CAD: Raised to 0.9% GDP (CY25/CY26; up 0.1 pp).
- RBI Alignment: Matches RBI’s FY26 GDP (6.5%) but lower CPI (3.1% vs. 3.0%).
- Outlook: Uncertainty > direct impact; tariffs may negotiate down; rural consumption resilient (strong monsoon, easing food inflation).
AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS
- Fortune 100 Most Powerful People in Business 2025
- Event: Released August 5, 2025; 2nd edition by Fortune magazine.
- Top Rank: Jensen Huang (NVIDIA CEO/President; AI chip dominance, $4T market cap).
- Indians/Origins:
- Mukesh Ambani (RIL CMD): 56th.
- Satya Nadella (Microsoft CEO): 2nd.
- Sundar Pichai (Alphabet CEO): 6th.
- Neal Mohan (YouTube CEO): 83rd.
- Dr. Reshma Kewalramani (Vertex Pharma CEO; Indian-origin woman): 62nd (debut).
- Top 10: Jensen Huang (1), Satya Nadella (2), Ren Zhengfei (Huawei Founder/CEO, 7), Sam Altman (OpenAI CEO/Co-Founder, 8), Jamie Dimon (JPMorgan Chase Chairman/CEO, 9), Mary Barra (GM Chair/CEO, 10).
- Women: 19 total (up from prior); Julie Sweet (Accenture Chair/CEO, 11), Jane Fraser (Citigroup CEO, 12), Lisa Su (AMD Chair/CEO, 14).
- Methodology: Size/health of business, innovation, influence, impact, career arc; spans 62 US, 17 Asia, 13 Europe, 1 Middle East firms.
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
- Indian Army Inducts BEML’s MMME Mk-II
- Event: Inducted August 6, 2025; ceremony with Lt. Gen. Arvind Walia (Engineer-in-Chief) and BEML Director Sanjay Som.
- Details: Semi-automatic minefield marker/fencer; jointly developed by DRDO’s R&DE (E) and BEML (MoD PSU); on TATRA 6×6 platform.
- Specs: Min. speed 1.2 km/h; 10–35m spacing (5m steps); 450mm picket depth; stores 500 pickets/15km rope; adaptable to plains/semi-deserts/deserts (Punjab/Rajasthan).
- Significance: Reduces manpower/time; enhances safety/efficiency; Atmanirbhar Bharat milestone.
ENVIRONMENT
- Discovery of Narrow-Banded Rain Snake in Mizoram
- Event: Discovered August 2025 by Mizoram University researchers and Help Earth (Guwahati); published in Taprobanica: Journal of Asian Biodiversity (Aug 5 issue).
- Details: Smithophis leptofasciatus (common: narrow-banded rain snake; Mizo: Ruahrul); glossy black body with narrow/incomplete creamish-white/yellowish-lime bands; non-venomous; semi-aquatic/nocturnal; earthworm diet.
- Habitat: Montane forests (900–1,200m) near streams/leaf litter; 6 eggs laid by gravid female in captivity.
- Significance: 3rd Smithophis species in Mizoram (after S. atemporalis, S. mizoramensis); 5th globally; genetic/morphological divergence (11.5%) from relatives; highlights Mizoram’s biodiversity hotspot status; calls for habitat surveys/conservation.
BOOKS & AUTHORS
- ‘M.S. Swaminathan: The Man Who Fed India’
- Event: Released August 2025 (centenary year) by Priyambada Jayakumar; published by HarperCollins India (Rs. 699, 324 pages, hardback).
- Focus: Biography of M.S. Swaminathan (1925–2023; Father of Green Revolution); from Kumbakonam childhood to Borlaug collaboration; Evergreen Revolution vision; awards (Bharat Ratna 2024, World Food Prize).
- Highlights: Anecdotes on food security, women’s roles, sustainable agriculture; humanizes scientist as conservationist/feminist/Gandhian.
- Significance: Tribute to averting famines; emphasizes “nations with grains, not guns.”
IMPORTANT DAYS
- National Handloom Day – August 7, 2025
- Theme: “Weaving Innovation into Tradition” (11th observance).
- Purpose: Honors handloom weavers’ contributions to socio-economic development; marks Swadeshi Movement’s role in freedom struggle.
- Origin: First observed 2015 by PM Modi in Chennai to promote handloom sector.
STATE NEWS
- Kerala Launches ‘Heat Resilient Moodadi’ Project
- Event: Launched August 2025 by KSDMA in Moodadi Panchayat, Kozhikode (after 40°C+ in 2024 summer).
- Details: First local Heat Action Plan; 1.5-year development with KILA/experts; pilot in 2 Anganwadis, expanding to 32 + health centers.
- Features: Heat-reflecting paints, bamboo barriers, window shades; cooling pavilions; resilient construction guidelines; carbon-neutral initiatives.
- Significance: Moodadi as KSDMA ‘Living Lab’ for climate adaptation; models for other panchayats; addresses heatwaves via sectoral interventions.