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Daily Current Affairs: Top Headlines from August 17, 2025
Stay informed with the latest daily current affairs from India and around the world. This weekly recap covers key updates in national and international news, from government schemes and awards to sports, science, and the economy. Master your current affairs knowledge with this concise, easy-to-read summary.
National and International Current Affairs Highlights
Awards and Honors
- Global MS Swaminathan Award for Food and Peace 2025: Nigerian scientist Dr. Ademola A. Adenle was honored for his significant work in combating hunger and malnutrition in Nigeria.
- Equator Prize 2025: The UN Development Programme awarded this prize to the BB Fatima Self-Help Group, a women-led initiative in India.
- Diversity in Cinema Award: Actress Aditi Rao Hydari received this prestigious award at the 2025 Melbourne Indian Film Festival.
New Government Schemes and Initiatives in India
- Viksit Bharat Rojgar Yojana: Launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, this ambitious scheme aims to create 35 million employment opportunities.
- Disha Abhiyan: Maharashtra became the first state to implement this campaign, which focuses on providing equal education for intellectually disabled students.
- Theyu Manavar Scheme: The Tamil Nadu government introduced this scheme for doorstep ration distribution.
- Nari Adalat Initiative: Launched in Sikkim to address issues specifically affecting women.
- Garuda Drishti Tool: This tool was introduced in Maharashtra to help detect fraudulent social media activities.
- Sabhasar AI Tool: Launched by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj on Independence Day 2025.
- Online Arms License: The Assam government has introduced an online system for indigenous people to obtain arms licenses for self-defense.
Education & Technology News
- ME-RITE Scheme: The Indian Cabinet approved a ₹4,200 crore budget for this scheme to improve technical education as part of the National Education Policy 2020.
- India’s First Drone AI-Based Rainfall Experiment: This innovative experiment was successfully conducted in Jaipur.
- ‘Sudharshan Chakra Mission’: Prime Minister Modi has initiated this program to develop an indigenous air defense system similar to Israel’s Iron Dome.
- Exercise ‘Suraksha Chakra’: The Indian Army conducted an integrated multi-state mock drill in the Delhi NCR region.
Science, Environment & Infrastructure Updates
Environmental and Scientific Discoveries
- Asian Lion Population: India’s Asiatic lion population has increased by 32.2% since 2020, now reaching a total of 891 in 2025.
- First Advanced Animal Stem Cell Biobank: Inaugurated by Dr. Jitendra Singh in Hyderabad.
- Rare Mushroom Discovery: Blue Pickling and Shuttlecock mushrooms were found in Telangana’s Kagaznagar Forest Division.
- Most Flood-Prone Districts: A new District Flood Severity Index identified Patna (Bihar) as the most flood-prone district in India.
- Festival Celebrations: The traditional Lapcha festival, Tendog Lo Ramphad, was celebrated in Sikkim.
Infrastructure and Business Headlines
- India’s First Smart Intelligent Village: Satnavri village in Nagpur, Maharashtra, is set to become India’s first smart village.
- Guwahati International Airport: The new terminal at Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport won the 2025 International Architecture Award.
- New Cricket Stadium: India’s second-largest cricket stadium, with a capacity of 80,000, will be built in Bengaluru.
- Zomato: Actor Shah Rukh Khan was named the new brand ambassador.
- Orissa Handloom: Actress Madhuri Dixit was appointed as the brand ambassador.
Sports, Banking, and International Affairs
Sports News
- UEFA Football Super Cup 2025: Paris Saint-Germain defeated Tottenham Hotspur to win the title.
- Chess: Rohit Krishna is now India’s 89th chess Grandmaster.
- Asian Women’s Rugby U27 Championship 2025: The Indian women’s team secured a bronze medal.
- Junior National Women’s Hockey Championship: The Jharkhand women’s team won the title for the second year in a row.
Banking and Finance Updates
- ICICI Bank: Became the first bank in India to set a minimum balance requirement of ₹500 for all accounts.
- New Income Tax Bill 2025: This bill was passed to replace the old Income Tax Act of 1961, aiming to simplify tax laws.
Key International Events
- Kenya: Has been declared free of sleeping sickness, becoming the 10th country to achieve this status.
- Australia: Formally recognized Palestine as a separate state at the UN General Assembly.
- Tuvalu-Australia Climate Migration Plan: Australia has launched the world’s first planned migration visa for climate change, allowing 280 Tuvaluans to settle in the country each year.
