CURRENT AFFAIRS 19 August, 2025

CURRENT AFFAIRS 19 August, 2025

1. NOBEL PEACE PRIZE NOMINATION –

• Recently, Cambodia’s Prime Minister nominated former U.S. President Donald Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize, praising his “extraordinary statesmanship” in helping resolve a border dispute between Cambodia and Thailand.

About Nobel Prize

• Established in 1895 under the will of Alfred Nobel.

These awards are presented annually by:

• Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences – Physics, Chemistry, Economics
• Nobel Assembly at Karolinska Institute – Medicine
• Swedish Academy – Literature
• Norwegian Nobel Committee – Peace
• Nobel Peace Prize: Considered the most prestigious of the five Nobel Prizes.
• Awarded annually to individuals or organizations that contribute significantly to peace efforts.
• Ceremony: Held on December 10 (Nobel’s death anniversary) in Stockholm and Oslo; laureates receive a medal, diploma, and cash award.

Who Can Nominate Nobel Peace Prize?

• As per the Nobel Committee’s rules, nominations can only be submitted by certain categories of people:

Members of national parliaments and governments.

• Heads of state and international courts.
• University professors in history, political science, law, philosophy, and theology.
• Previous Nobel Peace Prize laureates.
• Members of the Norwegian Nobel Committee.

2. S&P GLOBAL RATING ON INDIAN ECONOMY –

• Standard & Poor’s (S&P) Global Ratings upgraded India’s long-term sovereign credit rating to ‘BBB’ from ‘BBB-’ and its short-term rating to ‘A-2’ from ‘A-3’, with a Stable Outlook marking the first such upgrade in 18 years.

Key Highlights of S&P Global Ratings on India

• Strong and Buoyant Growth Prospects: S&P projected India’s GDP to grow from $3.9 trillion in 2024 to $5.5 trillion by 2028, with growth averaging around 6.8% annually.
• Commitment to Fiscal Consolidation: The agency highlighted India’s adherence to fiscal prudence, projecting the general government deficit to reduce from 7.3% of GDP in 2025-26 to 6.6% in 2028-29.
• Improved Quality of Public Spending: Greater emphasis on capital expenditure and infrastructure investment has strengthened the quality of spending, fostering long-term growth and productivity.
• Anchored Inflation and Monetary Stability: India’s adoption of an inflation-targeting regime has anchored inflation expectations, despite global shocks, ensuring greater price stability and credibility in policy.
• Strong External and Financial Position: Deepening domestic capital markets, resilient corporate balance sheets, and strong democratic institutions were recognised as enablers of financial stability and long-term policy continuity.

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.

Significance

• The dives mark India’s first ventures beyond 4,000 metres depth. They demonstrate India’s growing scientific and technological capabilities in deep ocean research. The missions contribute to the understanding of deep-sea environments and resource potential. The success boosts India’s global standing in marine exploration and supports its goal of becoming a leading economy.

4. CHAR DHAM ROAD PROJECT RISKS HIMALAYAN ECOLOGY –

• Recent concerns have emerged over the Char Dham all-weather road widening project in the Bhagirathi eco-sensitive zone (BESZ). Experts warn that the current plan could destabilise the fragile Himalayan terrain.
• Two members of a Supreme Court-appointed panel have brought into light risks based on their detailed surveys. Their findings link recent floods and landslides to slope instability caused by construction activities. They have urged the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways to reconsider the project design and enforce eco-sensitive protections strictly.

Bhagirathi Eco-Sensitive Zone

• The Bhagirathi watershed was declared an Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ) in 2012 under the Environment Protection Act, 1986.
• This zone covers over 4,179 sq km from Gaumukh to Uttarkashi.
• The ESZ aims to protect the fragile Himalayan ecosystem from industrial pollution and uncontrolled development.
• It restricts hydropower projects above 2 MW, riverbed mining, and land use changes.
• The 2018 amendment eased some restrictions to allow infrastructure development with prior state approval and environmental studies.

5. CABINET APPROVES ONLINE GAMING BILL TO REGULATE E-SPORTS AND BAN ONLINE BETTING –

• In a landmark move to regulate India’s rapidly growing digital gaming sector, the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the Online Gaming Bill, 2025. The proposed legislation seeks to promote e-sports and social online gaming while making online betting and money gaming punishable offences.
• The Bill is expected to be introduced in the Lok Sabha shortly, marking a decisive step against online fraud, financial crimes, and misleading celebrity endorsements of betting platforms.

Key Provisions of the Online Gaming Bill

• The Bill introduces a comprehensive legal framework for online gaming, with a dual focus on encouraging innovation in e-sports and curbing harmful betting practices.

1. Promotion of E-Sports and Online Social Games

• Establishes or designates a regulatory authority to oversee e-sports and online social gaming.
• Recognises e-sports as a legitimate competitive activity, encouraging growth of India’s gaming industry.

2. Prohibition of Online Money Gaming

• Offering or facilitating online betting, gambling, or money-based gaming is declared an offence.
• Activities such as aiding, abetting, or inducing participation in online money gaming are punishable.

3. Ban on Gaming Advertisements

• Any advertisements promoting online money games are strictly prohibited.
• Celebrities and influencers endorsing such platforms can face penalties.

4. Financial Restrictions

• Prohibits transfer of funds towards online betting through banks, financial institutions, or digital intermediaries.
• Ensures stricter monitoring of payment gateways to block illegal transactions.

5. Enforcement and Penalties

• Provides for search, seizure, and investigation powers to authorities.
• Includes fines, imprisonment, and harsher punishment for repeat offenders.
• Enables the blocking of online content related to money gaming platforms.

MCQ QUIZ

Q1.   PM SVANidhi Yojana was launched by which ministry ?

1. a) Ministry of Finance
2. b) Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs
3. c) Ministry of Commerce and Industry
4. d) Ministry of Rural Development

Q2.   Exercise SLINEX is a bilateral naval exercise between India and which country ?

1. a) Singapore
2. b) Sri Lanka
3. c) Australia
4. d) Bangladesh

Q3.   What is the name of the scheme announced by the Prime Minister on independence day to boost formal job creation ?

1. a) Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana
2. b) Atmanirbhar Rozgar Yojana
3. c) Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Rozgar Abhiya
4. d) Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maandhan Yojana

Q4.   Consider the following statements regarding the Samudrayaan Mission:

1. Samudrayaan is India’s first manned underwater project of India.
2. The mission aims to send a submersible with human crew up to a depth of 4,000 metres.
3. It is a part of the broader Deep Ocean Mission initiated by the Ministry of Earth Sciences.

          Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

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

Explanation-

• Statement 1 is correct: Samudrayaan is India’s first manned mission, and it falls under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES).
• Statement 2 is incorrect: The mission targets manned dives to 6,000 metres using a submersible.
• Statement 3 is correct: Samudrayaan is a major component of the Deep Ocean Mission.

Q5.   Consider the following statements regarding India’s total trade in FY 2024–25:

1. India’s total exports (merchandise + services) was about US$ 820 billion.
2. Services exports accounted for less than half of total exports.
3. Total imports (merchandise + services) exceeded US$ 900 billion.

          Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

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

Explanation-

• Statement 1 is correct: India’s total exports were US$ 820.93 billion in FY 2024–25.
• Statement 2 is correct: Services exports were US$ 383.51 billion, and total exports were US$ 820.93 billion. So, services accounted for ~46.74%, which is less than half.
• Statement 3 is correct: Total imports = US$ 915.19 billion, which is over US$ 900 billion.

Answer Key