Daily Current Affairs (01/31 – Sep/Aug – 25)

Daily Current Affairs (01/31 – Sep/Aug – 25)

1. Exercise Bright Star 2025 –

• Indian Armed Forces personnel are participating in the 19th edition of Exercise Bright Star 2025, which is being held in Egypt.
• About: It is a biennial multilateral military exercise, recognized as one of the largest and longest-running tri-service drills in the Middle East–North Africa (MENA) region.
• Hosted by Egypt in partnership with the US since 1980,  it has evolved from a bilateral US-Egypt initiative into a full-scale multilateral military exercise.
• Objective: It aims to enhance jointness and interoperability among participating nations, promote regional peace, security, and stability, and strengthen multi-domain warfare preparedness through joint training.

2. SC Calls for Regulating Social Media –

• What are the Key Regulations Governing Social Media Usage in India?

Key Legislations:

• Information Technology Act, 2000 is the principal legislation governing electronic communication and social media.
• Section 79(1) provides “safe harbour” protection to intermediaries (e.g., Facebook, X, Instagram) against liability for third-party content, provided they act as neutral platforms and do not control or modify content.
• Section 69A of the IT Act, 2000 allows the Government to block online content for protecting sovereignty, security, defense, foreign relations, public order, and preventing incitement to offences.
• Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 mandates social-media platforms to ensure user safety, removal of unlawful content, and awareness on issues such as privacy, copyright, defamation, and national security.
• The 2023 Amendment to these rules obligated intermediaries to take down false or misleading content related to the Government of India. However, its enforcement has been stayed by the Supreme Court (SC), citing concerns of misuse. 

3. Ramon Magsaysay Award –

• The Foundation to Educate Girls Globally, known as Educate Girls, received the prestigious Ramon Magsaysay Award in 2025. It is the first Indian organisation to be honoured with this prize.
• The award recognises their efforts to fight cultural stereotypes by educating girls and young women. The organisation empowers them with skills and confidence to overcome illiteracy and realise their potential. Alongside Educate Girls, Shaahina Ali from the Maldives and Flaviano Antonio L Villanueva were also recipients for their public service contributions.

About the Ramon Magsaysay Award

• Established in 1957, the Ramon Magsaysay Award is Asia’s equivalent to the Nobel Prize.
• It honours outstanding leadership and community service across Asia.
• The award was created by the Rockefeller Brothers Fund and the Philippine government.
• Winners are announced annually on August 31, the birth anniversary of former Philippine President Ramon Magsaysay.
• A formal ceremony is held in Manila each November to present the medallion and certificate.

4. Ghaggar River Flood Risks and Management in Punjab –

• Recent heavy rainfall and the opening of floodgates at Sukhna Lake have caused the Ghaggar River in Punjab to cross danger levels, triggering alerts in Mohali and Patiala districts. The river’s overflow has affected several villages, though authorities report the situation is currently under control.
• The Ghaggar, a major rainfed river, poses recurrent flood risks in Punjab’s Malwa region due to its seasonal nature and lack of major storage infrastructure. Understanding the river’s characteristics, tributaries, and flood management challenges is essential for mitigating future disasters.

Ghaggar River

• The Ghaggar River is Punjab’s largest rainfed river.
• It originates in the Shivalik foothills near Dagshai, Himachal Pradesh, and flows through Haryana before entering Punjab near Dera Bassi.
• The river passes through key districts including Mohali, Patiala, Sangrur, and Mansa.
• It is seasonal and remains mostly dry outside the monsoon.
• Its wide catchment area in Himachal and Haryana causes sudden surges during heavy rains.
• The river eventually disappears into the Thar Desert along the ancient Hakra channel.

5. Exercise Achook Prahar 2025 –

• The Indian Army’s Spear Corps and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) conducted a major joint firepower exercise named Achook Prahar in central Arunachal Pradesh from 25 to 28 August 2025.
• This drill tested their combat readiness and operational synergy under simulated battlefield conditions. The exercise demonstrated integrated use of mortars, machine guns, rockets, and grenades, denoting the forces’ ability to operate cohesively in high-altitude terrain.

Background

• The ITBP was established in 1962 following the Sino-Indian War to guard India’s border with Tibet. Initially part of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), it became an independent central armed police force under the Ministry of Home Affairs in 2004. Its motto is Shaurya-Dridhata-Karma Nishtha meaning Valour, Determination, and Devotion to Duty. The ITBP is specialised in mountain warfare and operates across a 3,488 km border with China at altitudes from 9,000 to 18,750 feet.

MCQ Quiz

Q1. Every year, National Sports Day 2025 will be celebrated across India from August 29 to 31. The Fit India Movement was launched on National Sports Day in which year ?

1. a) 2017
2. b) 2018
3. c) 2019
4. d) 2020

Q2. Recently, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is developing a next-generation launch vehicle that will be over 120 meters tall, making it one of the tallest rockets ever built.  What is the name of India’s planned space station, expected to be completed by 2035 ?

1. a) Bharat Space Station (BSS)
2. b) Bhartiya Anthariksha Station (BAS)
3. c) Indian Orbital Platform (IOP)
4. d) Gaganyaan Station

Q3. Who is the current Chairman of SEBI who announced additional incentives for women who are first-time mutual fund investors ?

1. a) Ajay Tyagi
2. b) M. Damodaran
3. c) U.K. Sinha
4. d) Tuhin Kanta Pandey

Q4. Which of the following statements regarding the Chandrayaan-5 mission ?

• Chandrayaan-5 mission is joint mission between ISRO and JAXA
• ISRO is developing the rover while JAXA is developing the lander.
• The mission will be launched using ISRO’s GSLV Mk III launch vehicle.

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

Explanation-

• Statement 1: correct- Chandrayaan-5 mission is joint mission between ISRO of India and JAXA of Japan.
• Statement 2: Incorrect – ISRO is developing the lander, while JAXA is building the rover(350 kg class).
• Statement 2: Incorrect – The mission will be launched using JAXA’s H3-24L launch vehicle, not ISRO’s GSLV Mk III.

Q5. India and Japan are both members of which of the following multilateral initiatives ?

1. Quad
2. International Solar Alliance (ISA)
3. Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI)
4. Supply Chain Resilience Initiative (SCRI)

Select the correct answer using the code below:

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

Explanation-

India and Japan collaborate in all listed platforms:

• The Quad (Quadrilateral Security Dialogue)
  The Quad is a strategic forum of the US, Japan, India, and Australia focused on a free, open Indo-Pacific. Revived in 2017, it counters China’s regional influence and promotes rule-based order. Its scope includes joint military exercises, vaccine partnerships, climate change, technology, and supply chain resilience, supporting India’s “Act East” policy.
• International Solar Alliance (ISA)
  Co-founded by India and France in 2015, the ISA promotes global solar energy use. Headquartered in Gurugram, it aims to mobilize $1 trillion in investments by 2030. Programs focus on solar agriculture, mini-grids, rooftop solar, and affordable finance.
• Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI)
  Launched by India in 2019, the CDRI enhances infrastructure resilience to climate and disaster risks. Based in New Delhi, it includes governments, UN bodies, and banks. Initiatives like IRIS and IRAF support vulnerable nations and climate-proof development.
• Supply Chain Resilience Initiative (SCRI)
  Formed by India, Japan, and Australia in 2021, the SCRI strengthens Indo-Pacific supply chains by diversifying trade, reducing over-reliance on China, and boosting digital integration.