CURRENT AFFAIRS 17-18 August, 2025

CURRENT AFFAIRS 17-18 August, 2025

1. NEXT-GENERATION GST REFORMS –

• The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi addressed the Nation on the 79th Independence Day from the Red Fort, Delhi.
• He announced next-generation GST reforms as a “Diwali gift” to reduce tax burdens and stimulate economic activity.

Key Highlights of PM’s Independence Day Speech

• Viksit Bharat 2047 Vision: PM Modi outlined a roadmap for a $10 trillion economy by 2047, emphasizing self-reliance, innovation, and citizen empowerment across defense, semiconductors, clean energy, and agriculture.
• Mission Sudarshan Chakra: A decade-long initiative to develop an indigenous defense shield by 2035, inspired by Shri Krishna’s Sudarshan Chakra, to protect strategic and civilian sites.
• GST Reforms: Next-generation reforms by Diwali 2025 to reduce taxes on essentials, simplify slabs, and support MSMEs, startups, and consumers for economic growth.
• PM Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana: ₹1 lakh crore scheme to create 3 crore jobs, offering ₹15,000 monthly incentives to first-time employees, boosting youth employment.
• Semiconductor Production: “Made-in-India” chips to be launched by end-2025, with six operational plants, reducing import dependence.
• Clean Energy Milestone: Achieved 50% non-fossil fuel electricity by 2025, with plans for tenfold nuclear energy expansion by 2047 and investments in solar, hydrogen, and hydro energy.
• National Deepwater Exploration Mission: To harness offshore energy resources, reducing fuel import dependency.
• Demography Mission: High-powered mission to address demographic imbalances due to infiltration in border areas, ensuring security and citizens’ rights.
• Women and Youth Empowerment: 3 crore women to become ‘Lakhpati Didis’ via self-help groups; youth urged to innovate in AI, jet engines, and space tech.

2. PRADHAN MANTRI VIKSIT BHARAT ROZGAR YOJANA –

• On 15th August 2025, the Prime Minister launched the Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana (PM-VBRY).

About Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana (PM-VBRY)

• A flagship employment generation programme aligned with the Viksit Bharat Vision to promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth through employment-led development, particularly in the manufacturing sector.
• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Labour and Employment
• Objectives: Support first-time employees entering the formal workforce.
• Incentivize employers to generate new, sustained employment.
• Promote financial literacy and savings among youth.
• Accelerate formalization by expanding EPFO-linked jobs.

Targets & Coverage:

• Outlay: ₹99,446 crore
• Duration: 1 Aug 2025 – 31 Jul 2027
• Total Jobs Targeted: More than 3.5 crore
• First-time workforce entrants: 1.92 crore beneficiaries
• Employers incentivized: Expected to generate about 2.6 crore new jobs

3. INDIA ACHIEVES HISTORIC DEEP OCEAN DIVES IN ATLANTIC –

• India reached a new milestone in ocean exploration in August 2025. Two Indian aquanauts descended to depths of 4,025 and 5,002 metres in the Atlantic Ocean. This achievement places India among fewer than six nations to explore such extreme ocean depths.
• The expedition was part of an Indo-French collaboration using the French submersible Nautile. It sets the stage for India’s upcoming Samudrayan Mission, which aims to reach 6,000 metres using the indigenous submersible MATSYA-6000 by 2027.

4. DELHI FACES STRAY DOG CRISIS –

• The Supreme Court of India recently directed the removal of all stray dogs from Delhi’s streets within two months. This order has thrown the city’s civic authorities into turmoil.
• Delhi lacks permanent shelters, accurate data, sufficient manpower, and funds to manage its estimated million-strong stray dog population. Experts warn the task is near impossible and could lead to animal suffering and public health risks.

Current Stray Dog Population

• Delhi’s last official dog census was in 2009, recording 560,000 animals. A 2019 estimate put the number at 800,000. Officials now believe it nears one million. No recent, formal survey exists, making planning difficult. Without precise data, authorities cannot allocate resources or design effective strategies.

5. RAJASTHAN PIONEERS DRONE-BASED ARTIFICIAL RAIN TRIAL –

• Rajasthan has initiated India’s first drone-based artificial rain trial at Ramgarh Dam. This marks shift from traditional aeroplane-assisted cloud seeding to the use of unmanned aerial vehicles. The trial involves around 60 drones and is a joint effort by the state agriculture department and GenX AI, a technology firm based in the US and Bengaluru. The experiment aims to enhance rainfall using advanced cloud seeding techniques.
• The project was originally scheduled for July 31 but was postponed due to heavy rain alerts. Since then, multiple tests have been conducted in Jaipur to ensure the drones’ operational readiness.
• The initiative has received approvals from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the India Meteorological Department, district authorities, and the agriculture department. The launch event near Ramgarh Dam is open for public viewing and will be inaugurated by the state agriculture minister Kirodi Lal Meena.

MCQ QUIZ

Q1.   Palamau Tiger Reserve is located in which state ?

1. a) Karnataka
2. b) Kerala
3. c) Jharkhand
4. d) Maharashtra

Q2.   The Tato-II Hydroelectric Project is located in which state ?

1. a) Arunachal Pradesh
2. b) Assam
3. c) Sikkim
4. d) West Bengal

Q3.   India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) operates under which ministry ?

1. a) Ministry of Science and Technology
2. b) Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology
3. c) Ministry of Commerce and Industry
4. d) Ministry of Heavy Industries

Q4.   With reference to India-Singapore relations, consider the following statements:

1. Singapore is India’s largest trading partner in ASEAN contries.
2. India and Singapore have a tri-service defence cooperation including naval exercises like SIMBEX.
3. Tamil is one of the official languages of Singapore.
4. The India-Singapore CECA was signed in 2024.

          Which of the statements given above are correct?

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

Explanation-

• Statement 1 is correct: Singapore is India’s largest trading partner in ASEAN. Globally, it’s the 6th largest (as of 2023–24).
• Statement 2 is correct: Defence cooperation includes tri-service exercises like SIMBEX (Navy), Agni Warrior (Army), and Joint Military Training (Air Force).
• Statement 3 is incorrect: Tamil is one of the four official languages of Singapore.
• Statement 4 is incorrect: The CECA between India and Singapore was signed in 2005, not 2024.

Q5.   Which of the following are key objectives of the Public Distribution System (PDS) in India ?

1. Providing food security to vulnerable sections
2. Ensuring minimum nutritional standards
3. Stabilizing food grain prices
4. Offering universal food coverage

          Select the correct answer:

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

Explanation-

The PDS aims to:

• Ensure food security
• Provide basic nutrition
• Stabilize prices during inflation or scarcity
• Universal food coverage is not a PDS objective.

Answer Key