CURRENT AFFAIRS 16 August, 2025

CURRENT AFFAIRS 16 August, 2025

1. ETHANOL-BLENDED FUEL IN INDIA –

• The adoption of E20 (20% ethanol-blended petrol) in India has sparked concerns about vehicle compatibility and insurance claim denials for engine damage caused by using incompatible fuel blends.

What is Ethanol (C2H5OH)?

• Ethanol is a renewable, bio-based alcohol fuel produced through the fermentation of sugars found in crops like sugarcane, maize, and rice.
• It serves as an alternative to fossil fuels, aiming to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and dependence on imported oil.

Sources of Ethanol Production

• First-Generation (1G): Sugarcane, maize, and rice.
• Second-Generation (2G): Agricultural residues, such as rice straw and corn cobs.
• Third-Generation (3G): Algae and other advanced biofuels.

How is Ethanol Produced?

• Fermentation: Sugars from feedstocks are fermented by yeast to produce ethanol.
• Distillation: The fermented mixture is distilled to separate ethanol from other components.
• Dehydration: The distilled ethanol is dehydrated to remove water, producing anhydrous ethanol suitable for blending with petrol.

Current Status of Ethanol Production in India

• Production Capacity: Ethanol production capacity has more than doubled in four years, reaching 16,230 million litres.
• Blending Achievements: Ethanol blending in petrol increased from 1.53% in 2013–14 to 20% in 2025.
• Economic Impact: Savings of approximately ₹1.36 lakh crore in foreign exchange due to reduced oil imports.
• Rural Development: Disbursement of ₹1.18 lakh crore to farmers and ₹1.96 lakh crore to distilleries, boosting rural incomes.

2. INDIA’S ELECTORAL INTEGRITY –

• Recently, the Leader of the Opposition claimed that over 1,00,000“fake votes” were created in the Mahadevapura Assembly seat under the Bangalore Central Lok Sabha constituency.

He outlines five categories of alleged electoral malpractices:

• Duplicate Votes: Identical Electors Photo Identity Card (EPIC) numbers used across different states.
• Fake and Invalid Address: Voters listed with non-existent or incorrect addresses
• Bulk Voters at Single Addresses: Unusually large numbers of voters registered at a single address, often without evidence of residence.
• Invalid Photos on Voter IDs: Voter IDs with missing, incorrect, or suspicious photos, questioning their authenticity.
• Misuse of Form 6 for Registration: Fraudulent use of the voter registration application form to add invalid voters to the electoral roll

3. MICROSOFT TOPS TOPBRAND 2025 GLOBAL BRANDS LIST; NVIDIA AND APPLE FOLLOW –

• At the 19th China Brand Festival, held in Shenzhen from August 7–11, 2025, the TopBrand Union unveiled its Top 500 Global Brands List 2025. The rankings highlighted the dominance of US tech giants, with Microsoft, NVIDIA, and Apple securing the top three positions.
• The event, themed “AI and Global Expansion”, drew over 10,000 participants, including entrepreneurs, policymakers, and brand leaders from across the globe.

Top 10 Global Brands of 2025

• According to the report, brand valuations (in USD) are as follows,
• Microsoft – $1,062.505 billion
• NVIDIA – $1,046.760 billion
• Apple – $997.685 billion
• Amazon
• Alphabet (Google)
• Saudi Aramco
• Walmart
• Meta (Facebook)
• Berkshire Hathaway
• Broadcom

4. SEVENTH DEATH ANNIVERSARY OF ATAL BIHARI VAJPAYEE OBSERVED ON AUGUST 16, 2025 –

• On 16 August 2025, India marks the seventh death anniversary of Atal Bihari Vajpayee, one of the most admired leaders in Indian politics. A poet, writer, orator, and statesman, Vajpayee served as the Prime Minister of India three times and was the first non-Congress leader to complete a full term in office. Beyond politics, he is remembered for his humility, poetic heart, and vision of a strong yet inclusive India.

Early Life and Education of Atal Bihari Vajpayee

• Atal Bihari Vajpayee was born on 25 December 1924 in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh into a middle-class Brahmin family. His father was a school teacher, and young Vajpayee excelled in academics, earning a master’s degree in Political Science from DAV College, Kanpur.
• Even during his student days, he was deeply interested in literature, poetry, and debates, which later shaped his political journey as a charismatic orator.

5. INDIA’S FOREX RESERVES SURGE BY $4.74 BILLION TO REACH $693.62 BILLION –

• In a strong sign of external sector stability, India’s foreign exchange reserves rose by $4.74 billion, reaching $693.62 billion for the week ending August 8, 2025, according to data released by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). The increase reflects positive movement in foreign currency assets, gold reserves, Special Drawing Rights (SDRs), and India’s reserve position with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Weekly Forex Movement Breakdown

Key Components Behind the Rise

• India’s forex reserves comprise multiple components that saw gains during the reporting week,

Foreign Currency Assets (FCA)

• Rose by $2.37 billion, now standing at $583.98 billion
• These assets are expressed in US dollar terms, which also reflect the changing value of other major currencies like the euro, yen, and pound

Gold Reserves

• Increased by $2.16 billion, bringing the total to $86.16 billion
• The value of gold is influenced by global market trends and dollar fluctuations

Special Drawing Rights (SDRs)

• Up by $169 million, totaling $18.74 billion
• SDRs are international reserve assets maintained by the IMF, valued based on a basket of currencies

Reserve Position with IMF

• Rose by $45 million, now at $4.73 billion
• This represents India’s quota contributions and drawdowns with the IMF

MCQ QUIZ

Q1.   Which ministry has launched the State Health Regulatory Excellence Index (SHRESTH) ?

1. a) Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
2. b) Ministry of AYUSH
3. c) Ministry of Women and Child Development
4. d) None of the Above

Q2.   What is the theme of International Youth Day 2025 ?

1. a) Local Youth Actions for the SDGs and Beyond
2. b) Green Skills for Youth
3. c) Intergenerational Solidarity
4. d) Transforming Food Systems

Q3.   Sea of Galilee, that was recently seen in news, is located in which country ?

1. a) Israel
2. b) Russia
3. c) France
4. d) China

Q4.   Consider the following statements regarding milk production in India:

1. India accounts for more than one-fourth of the world’s milk production.
2. Cows contribute a higher share to India’s milk output compared to buffaloes.
3. Uttar Pradesh is the highest milk-producing state in India.

          Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

1. a) 1 only
2. b) 2 and 3 only
3. c) 1 and 3 only
4. d) All of the above

Explanation-

• Statement 1 is incorrect – India accounts for 24% (less than one-fourth) of global milk production.
• Statement 2 is correct – Cow milk makes up 53.12%, while buffalo milk is 43.62%.
• Statement 3 is correct – Uttar Pradesh is the top milk-producing state with 37.46 million tonnes.

Q5.   Consider the following statements regarding the National Sports Governance Bill, 2025:

1. It establishes the National Sports Board (NSB) to regulate and oversee sports federations in India.
2. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is excluded from its jurisdiction.
3. Sports federations need NSB recognition to receive central government funding.

          Which of the above statements is/are correct ?

1. a) 1 and 2 only
2. b) 1 and 3 only
3. c) 2 and 3 only
4. d) 1, 2 and 3

Explanation-

• Statement 1 is correct – The NSB will oversee all national sports federations.
• Statement 2 is incorrect – BCCI is included under NSB’s oversight.
• Statement 3 is correct – NSFs must secure NSB recognition to access central funding.

Answer Key