DEFENCE NEWS
- DRDO successfully conducted two consecutive flight tests of the Pralay missile on July 28–29, 2025, from Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Island, Odisha.
– These user evaluation trials validated the missile’s maximum and minimum range capabilities, confirming its high accuracy and reliability.
– The indigenously developed missile, equipped with advanced guidance and navigation systems, can carry multiple warhead types, significantly strengthening the Indian Armed Forces’ operational readiness. - India launched the Fast Patrol Vessel ‘Atal’, the sixth in a series of eight vessels designed by Goa Shipyard Limited, on July 29, 2025.
– Measuring 52 metres and weighing 320 tonnes, it is equipped for coastal patrols, anti-smuggling, anti-piracy, search and rescue, and offshore protection.
– The launch strengthens India’s maritime security and marks progress toward Atmanirbhar Bharat in shipbuilding. - The Madras Regiment commemorated the 284th anniversary of the Battle of Colachel (1741), where King Marthanda Varma of Travancore defeated the Dutch East India Company.
– Held at Colachel War Memorial, Kanyakumari, it honoured one of the earliest Indian victories over European colonial forces. - On July 31, 2025, the Indian Navy received INS Himgiri, a Nilgiri-class stealth frigate built under Project 17A by GRSE, Kolkata.
– Armed with BrahMos missiles, LR SAM systems, torpedoes, and advanced sensors, it enhances India’s maritime warfare strength.
– The ship aligns with India’s goal to become a 170–175 warship Navy by 2035 under Aatmanirbhar Bharat.
NATIONAL NEWS
- India is finalising a Green Steel Procurement Policy mandating 25% public steel purchases from low-emission sources.
– Key technologies include hydrogen-based DRI, electric arc furnaces, and renewable energy integration.
– The policy aims to position India as a leader in sustainable steel production. - NCERT is introducing new modules for Classes 3–12 covering Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla’s ISS mission, Operation Sindoor, and Mission LiFE, along with lessons on Partition history.
– Guided by the Ministry of Education, this initiative makes education more contextual, contemporary, and nationally rooted. - Operation Mahadev launched in J&K’s Dara region neutralised three Pakistani LeT terrorists after intense combat.
– Jointly conducted by the Indian Army, CRPF, and J&K Police, supported by drones and reinforcements. - PM Narendra Modi launched the ‘Gyan Bharatam Mission’ on July 27, 2025, to digitise and preserve over one crore ancient manuscripts through a National Digital Repository.
– Funded with ₹60 crore, the mission aims to make India’s civilisational knowledge globally accessible. - Remona Evette Pereira, a 20-year-old from Mangalore, set a world record by performing Bharatanatyam for 170 hours, breaking the previous 127-hour record.
– Her feat was hailed as a tribute to Indian dance heritage and cultural unity. - PM Modi celebrated Aadi Thiruvathirai at Gangaikonda Cholapuram, honouring Emperor Rajendra Chola I.
– He released a commemorative coin, performed rituals, and celebrated Rajendra Chola’s naval achievements. - Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia launched the Sanchar Saathi app in Hindi and 21 regional languages.
– The app helps users report cyber fraud, block lost phones, and track unauthorized connections, with 46 lakh downloads already. - According to CRISIL, India’s private sector will invest ₹77,000 crore in thermal power between FY26–FY28, led by Adani, Tata, JSW, and Vedanta.
– Total thermal investment to double to ₹2.3 lakh crore, driven by brownfield expansions and 25-year PPAs.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
- Syria to hold first parliamentary elections (15–20 Sept 2025) under interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa, after Bashar al-Assad’s fall.
– The People’s Assembly will have 210 seats, two-thirds elected, one-third appointed. - U.S.–EU reached a trade deal, reducing tariffs on EU exports to 15% from 30%, including $600B EU investments and $750B U.S. energy imports.
– Averts a trade war and redefines global trade relations. - Turkey unveiled Gazap, its most powerful non-nuclear bomb, weighing 970 kg, with a 3,000°C thermobaric blast.
– Compatible with F-16s, F-4s, and capable of drone deployment. - At the World AI Conference 2025 (Shanghai), China’s Premier Li Qiang called for global AI governance to avoid tech monopolies and ensure open-source collaboration.
- A massive 8.7-magnitude earthquake struck Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula, triggering tsunami alerts across the Pacific, including Japan and Hawaii.
- UK PM Keir Starmer announced the UK will recognize Palestine unless Israel halts military actions and commits to a peace process.
- U.S. President Donald Trump imposed a 25% tariff on India effective Aug 1, 2025, citing India’s Russian ties and trade barriers.
- India sent 5 MT of humanitarian aid to Syria, including anti-cancer and essential medicines.
- Australia included YouTube in its under-16 social media ban, mandating age verification and penalties for noncompliance.
APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS
- • Anuradha Thakur, Secretary of Dept. of Economic Affairs, appointed Director, RBI Central Board, replacing Ajay Seth.
- Utpal Kumar Singh, Lok Sabha Secretary-General, appointed CEO, Sansad TV.
- Shailesh Jejurikar named Global CEO of P&G, effective Jan 1, 2026, becoming the first Indian to hold this post.
- Nikhil Ravishankar, Indian-origin tech executive, appointed CEO, Air New Zealand, from Oct 20, 2025.
- Anant Ambani appointed Executive Director, Reliance Industries, for a five-year term from May 1, 2025.
- Lt Gen Pushpendra Singh to assume Vice Chief of Army Staff (VCOAS) on Aug 1, 2025.
- Commodore Varghese Mathew became Naval Officer-in-Charge (Kerala), succeeding Commodore Jose Vikas.
- Vice Admiral Manish Chadha, AVSM, VSM, assumed command of the Indian Naval Academy, Ezhimala, on Aug 1, 2025.
AWARDS & HONOURS
• The Sansad Ratna Awards 2025 (July 26) honoured 17 MPs, including Supriya Sule, Ravi Kishan, Nishikant Dubey, and Arvind Sawant.
– Special Jury Awards went to Bhartruhari Mahtab, N.K. Premachandran, Supriya Sule, and Shrirang Barne.
SPORTS NEWS
- England Women’s Football Team won UEFA Euro 2025, defeating Spain in penalties — their first major title abroad.
- Oscar Piastri won the 2025 Belgian Grand Prix, extending his Drivers’ Championship lead.
- Hockey India, on its 100th anniversary, increased grants to ₹70L for seniors, ₹30L for juniors, and ₹25L per state.
- – A nationwide hockey festival is planned on Nov 7, 2025, with 1,000 matches and 36,000 players.
- India ranked 20th at the FISU World University Games 2025 (Germany) with 12 medals — 2 gold, 5 silver, 5 bronze.
- World Athletics Council to enforce SRY gene testing for female athletes from Sept 1, 2025, ensuring fair competition.
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
- ISRO to launch NVS-03, 04, and 05 by 2026, strengthening NavIC, India’s regional navigation system, with indigenous atomic clocks and L1 support.
- Latam-GPT, Latin America’s first regional AI model, to launch Sept 2025, promoting cultural diversity and indigenous language preservation.
- ISRO–NASA NISAR Mission launched via GSLV-F16, operating at 747 km orbit, using dual-band radar to monitor climate, disasters, and resources.
- On Aug 1, 2025, SpaceX’s Crew-11 mission launched two NASA astronauts, one Russian, and one Japanese astronaut to the ISS, continuing global cooperation in space.
AUGUST 2ND WEEK CURRENT AFFAIRS – NDA
DEFENCE NEWS
- • India received the final Airbus C-295MW transport aircraft from Spain, completing the delivery of the first 16 planes under the 2021 contract.
– The aircraft, capable of carrying 5–10 tonnes with 11-hour endurance, will replace the ageing Avro fleet of the IAF.
– The remaining 40 aircraft will be manufactured in India at the TATA Aircraft Complex, Vadodara, India’s first private Final Assembly Line for military aircraft.
– This programme strengthens India’s defence self-reliance under the Make in India initiative and marks a historic milestone in aviation manufacturing. - The Indian Navy and the Republic of Singapore Navy concluded SIMBEX 2025, held from July 28 to August 1, with joint exercises in the South China Sea.
– Featuring ships, aircraft, and professional exchanges, this 32nd edition strengthened maritime security cooperation as both nations marked 60 years of diplomatic relations. - The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, approved proposals worth ₹67,000 crore to bolster India’s military capabilities.
– For the Indian Army, Thermal Imager-based Driver Night Sights for BMPs were cleared to enhance night mobility.
– The Indian Navy will procure Compact Autonomous Surface Craft, BrahMos Fire Control Systems, and upgrade the BARAK-1 Missile System.
– The Indian Air Force will get Mountain Radars and upgrades to SAKSHAM and SPYDER Weapon Systems.
NATIONAL NEWS
- The Deendayal Port Authority (DPA) commissioned India’s first indigenous 1MW green hydrogen plant at Kandla, marking a milestone in the nation’s clean energy journey.
– With plans to expand to 10MW by next fiscal year, the plant will initially power buses and lighting, eventually fueling all port operations.
– This Make in India initiative is a pivotal step toward maritime decarbonization, boosting India’s global leadership in sustainable port management. - India reaffirmed its strong position in the global fisheries sector, securing second rank in fish production worldwide, announced by Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh.
- The Western Railway restarted its heritage train service on the 155-year-old Patalpani–Kalakund line in Madhya Pradesh.
– Originally built under Maharaja Tukoji Rao Holkar II in 1878, this 9.5 km metre-gauge section remains both a tourism hotspot and historical landmark. - The Ministry of Health amended the Cosmetics Rules, 2020, effective July 29, 2025.
– The new rules mandate a clear distinction between “use before” and “expiry date”, batch-wise testing, and designate CDL as the Central Cosmetics Laboratory.
– Exporters gain flexibility to comply with importing nations’ norms, improving consumer safety and regulatory transparency. - The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas launched ‘Apna Ghar’, a nationwide initiative providing truck drivers with hygienic and safe resting spaces.
– As of July 2025, 368 units with 4,611 beds have been set up across highways, offering dormitories, dhabas, toilets, and purified water. - PM Narendra Modi’s Pariksha Pe Charcha (PPC) set a Guinness World Record with 3.53 crore registrations on MyGov, marking the highest participation on a citizen engagement platform in a month.
– The 2025 edition witnessed 21 crore viewership, promoting stress-free, experiential education under NEP 2020. - The Ministry of Textiles is promoting Geographical Indications (GI) for handloom and handicraft products through schemes like HMA and NHDP, managed by the Development Commissioners.
- PM Modi inaugurated Kartavya Bhavan, the first Common Central Secretariat (CCS) building under the Central Vista Project.
– Kartavya Bhavan-03 will house ministries like Home Affairs, External Affairs, Rural Development, MSME, etc.
– A total of 10 CCS buildings are planned, with CCS 10 expected by April 2026. - Under the National Green Hydrogen Mission, SECI conducted the first-ever Green Ammonia auction, discovering a record-low price of ₹55.75/kg, down from ₹100.28/kg in 2024.
- The Delhi Legislative Assembly became India’s first to run entirely on solar power, commissioning a 500-kilowatt rooftop plant, saving ₹1.75 crore annually.
– Also launched: National e-Vidhan Application (NeVA) for digital legislative functioning. - Punjab became the first Indian state to empanel sign language interpreters and special educators under the Juvenile Justice Act (2015) and POCSO Act (2012).
- Deccan Gold Mining Ltd discovered a significant Nickel–Copper–Platinum Group Elements deposit in Chhattisgarh, supporting India’s strategic mineral exploration efforts.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
- The Krasheninnikov Volcano in Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula erupted for the first time in 600 years, sending ash 4 km high after the recent 8.7-magnitude earthquake.
- Hong Kong launched a stablecoin regulatory framework requiring full reserves and selective licensing, reinforcing its digital finance leadership.
- The Philippines agreed to increase imports from India — rice, buffalo meat, fruits, and peanuts — to reduce reliance on Chinese products and strengthen Indo-Philippine trade ties.
- India and Russia signed a protocol on industrial cooperation, covering aluminium, fertilizers, railways, aerospace, and critical minerals, reaffirming strategic ties.
- Illinois became the first U.S. state to ban AI therapy without human supervision, ensuring ethical use of AI in mental health.
- The World Health Organization (WHO) officially classified Hepatitis D (HDV) as a cancer-causing virus, citing its link to liver cancer when co-infected with Hepatitis B.
- Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a historic peace deal at the White House, ending the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, establishing diplomatic ties and trade routes.
- GeM (Government e-Marketplace) celebrated its 9th anniversary, achieving ₹5.4 trillion GMV in FY 2024–25, with 1.5 lakh women-led and MSME enterprises onboarded.
- Cambodia and Thailand signed a border ceasefire agreement with U.S., China, and Malaysia as observers.
APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS
- PB Balaji appointed CEO, Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), effective November 17, 2025, succeeding Adrian Mardell.
- Rajiv Anand appointed MD & CEO, IndusInd Bank, for a three-year term starting August 25, 2025.
- Jürgen Westermeier appointed President & MD, Airbus India and South Asia, from September 1, 2025.
AWARDS & HONOURS
• At the M.S. Swaminathan Centenary International Conference (New Delhi), PM Modi launched the M.S. Swaminathan Global Award for Food and Peace.
– First recipient: Dr. Arenare (Nigeria), for fighting hunger and promoting peace.
SPORTS NEWS
- At the Hungarian Grand Prix 2025, Lando Norris won after a close battle with Oscar Piastri, cutting the championship lead to 9 points.
- Magnus Carlsen won the Chess Esports World Cup 2025 in Riyadh, defeating Alireza Firouzja (4–2–1), earning $250,000.
- In the World Championship of Legends 2025 (Edgbaston), AB de Villiers’ century powered South Africa Champions to victory over Pakistan Champions.
- The Archery Association of India launched the first Archery League (Oct 2025) at Yamuna Sports Complex, Delhi, supported by World Archery and Sports Ministry.
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
- After the NISAR mission, ISRO will launch the 6,500 kg BlueBird communications satellite via LVM3 from Sriharikota (late 2025).
- India identified the world’s rarest blood group — CRIB, found in a 38-year-old woman from Bengaluru, classified under the Cromer system.
- ICRISAT, with ICAR, launched an AI-powered climate advisory service for farmers in Maharashtra, using WhatsApp bots for hyperlocal weather data.
- India introduced iron-rich bio-fortified potatoes with International Potato Center (CIP) to combat nutrient deficiencies.
- ISRO launched a 10-day high-altitude mission simulation in Ladakh under Gaganyaan, studying human endurance at 14,000 feet.
- The BharatGen AI mission will support all 22 Eighth Schedule languages by June 2026, promoting digital inclusivity.
- IndiaAI and National Cancer Grid (NCG) launched the CATCH Grant Program offering ₹50 lakh–₹1 crore funding for AI-driven cancer research.
Law Exam MCQs – Current Affairs
1. DRDO conducted two consecutive flight tests of which missile on July 28–29, 2025?
A. Agni-I
B. Prithvi-II
C. Pralay
D. BrahMos
2. The Fast Patrol Vessel ‘Atal’, launched on July 29, 2025, was designed by—
A. Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders
B. Garden Reach Shipbuilders
C. Goa Shipyard Limited
D. Cochin Shipyard
3. INS Himgiri, received by the Indian Navy on July 31, 2025, belongs to which class?
A. Shivalik-class
B. Nilgiri-class
C. Talwar-class
D. Kamorta-class
4. Which policy mandates 25% public steel procurement from low-emission sources?
A. Clean Iron Policy
B. Zero-Carbon Steel Mission
C. Green Steel Procurement Policy
D. Sustainable Metals Policy
5. Who set a world record by performing Bharatanatyam for 170 hours?
A. Kavita Reddy
B. Remona Evette Pereira
C. S. Janaki
D. Swapna Pradhan
6. The Sanchar Saathi app was launched in how many languages besides Hindi?
A. 10
B. 18
C. 21
D. 25
7. Which country unveiled the 970-kg thermobaric bomb ‘Gazap’?
A. Russia
B. Turkey
C. Iran
D. Israel
8. Who was appointed Global CEO of P&G effective Jan 1, 2026?
A. Sundar Raman
B. Shailesh Jejurikar
C. Sanjeev Mehta
D. Anil Gupte
9. England Women’s Football Team won which tournament in 2025?
A. FIFA Women’s World Cup
B. Women’s Nations League
C. UEFA Euro 2025
D. SheBelieves Cup
10. ISRO–NASA’s NISAR Mission was launched aboard which rocket?
A. PSLV-C58
B. Falcon 9
C. LVM3
D. GSLV-F16
Answer Key
1 – C
2 – C
3 – B
4 – C
5 – B
6 – C
7 – B
8 – B
9 – C
10 – D
