National News

PM SVANidhi

• The Union Cabinet has approved the restructuring of the Prime Minister Street Vendor’s AtmaNirbhar Nidhi (PM SVANidhi) scheme and extended the loan disbursement period from 31st December 2024 to 31st March 2030.

Key features of the restructured scheme:

Approval of Rail Projects in 5 States

• Under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Union Cabinet has approved four major railway projects worth ₹12,328 crore.
• These projects will be implemented in five states — Gujarat, Karnataka, Telangana, Bihar, and Assam.

4 projects:

11 Years of PMJDY

• The Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) completed eleven years on 28th August 2025.
• Launched in 2014 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the scheme aims to promote financial inclusion by connecting the unbanked population with the formal banking system.

Related Facts:

Hosting of Commonwealth Games 2030

• Under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Union Cabinet on 27th August 2025 approved India’s bid to host the Commonwealth Games 2030.
• Earlier, India had hosted the Commonwealth Games in 2010 at New Delhi.

Commonwealth Games:

State News

State Teacher Awards 2025

• The Uttar Pradesh government has decided to honor 15 outstanding teachers and principals under the Department of Secondary Education.

These include:

Study Committee on the Impact of Pigeons

• In 2025, the Maharashtra government constituted a 12-member committee to study the diet of pigeons and their impact on human health.
• This committee has been formed in accordance with the directions of the Bombay High Court to conduct a scientific study on the effects of pigeons on public health.

Related facts:

First State to Launch Biochar Programme

• Himachal Pradesh has become the first state in India to launch a government-supported Biochar Programme.

Biochar:

International News

Ban on Mobile Phones in School Classrooms

• South Korea has passed a new law to ban the use of mobile phones and other digital devices in all school classrooms starting from March 2026.

South Korea :

‘Security Cooperation Declaration’

• During Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Tokyo, India and Japan agreed to upgrade the ‘Security Cooperation Declaration’ (2008).
• This upgrade will further broaden and deepen security and defense cooperation between the two nations.
• Prime Minister Modi will meet Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba during the 15th India-Japan Annual Summit in Tokyo on 29–30 August 2025.

Japan :

Defense News

Bright Star 2025

• India has decided to send over 700 soldiers to participate in the multilateral military exercise ‘Bright Star 2025’ being held in Egypt from 28th August to 10th September 2025.
• Personnel from the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force will take part in the exercise.

Key Facts:

Economy and Banking

India on Track to Become the World’s Second-Largest Economy

• According to a new report by professional services firm EY, based on IMF data, India is on course to become the world’s second-largest economy by 2038 in terms of Purchasing Power Parity (PPP).

Key Facts:

India-Africa Bilateral Trade 2024–25

• According to Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh, bilateral trade between India and Africa crossed USD 100 billion in 2024–25, a significant rise from USD 56 billion in 2019–20.

Key Facts:

nauguration of First Startup-Focused Branch

• Punjab National Bank (PNB) has inaugurated its first startup-focused branch in New Delhi.
• This branch has been established under the Startup India initiative to promote entrepreneurship and support innovation.

Punjab National Bank (PNB):

Science and Technology

Advanced Biosensor for Parkinson’s Disease Developed

• he Institute of Nano Science and Technology (INST), Mohali has developed an advanced biosensor for the early detection of Parkinson’s disease.
• This nanotechnology-based device can distinguish between the toxic and normal forms of the protein α-synuclein, thereby identifying early warning signs of the disease.

Parkinson’s Disease:

First Human Case of Flesh-Eating Parasite New World Screwworm: USA

• The United States has reported its first human case of the deadly flesh-eating parasite New World Screwworm in a man from Maryland, who had recently traveled from El Salvador.
• This parasite, which is the larva of a fly species, lays eggs in open wounds and then feeds on living flesh, causing painful infections.

New World Screwworm:

Person In News

Ravichandran Ashwin

• Indian cricket team’s off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin announced his retirement from the Indian Premier League (IPL) on 27th August 2025.
• Earlier, Ashwin had retired from international cricket in December 2024.

Indian Premier League (IPL) :

Kuttimathan Kani

• Kuttimathan Kani, the forest-dweller who played a key role in revealing the secret of the Arogyapacha plant, passed away at the age of 72. He introduced the world to this rare medicinal herb.

Key Facts:

Alok Aradhe and Vipul Pancholi

• The President of India has elevated Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice Vipul Pancholi as Judges of the Supreme Court of India.

Satish Kumar

• Satish Kumar, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Railway Board, has been granted a one-year extension in service.
• His tenure was set to end on 31st August 2025, but the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved his contract-based extension from 1st September 2025.

S. Krishnan

• J&K Bank has appointed S. Krishnan as its new Non-Executive Chairman.
• The bank’s board approved this appointment on 25th August 2025, and his tenure will continue until 26th March 2028.

Jammu & Kashmir Bank (J&K Bank):

Environment News

Decline of Old Forests Amid Rising Young Forests

• A study published in Nature Ecology & Evolution highlights a global shift towards younger forests, leading to a carbon imbalance as old, carbon-rich forests decline.
• While young forests absorb carbon quickly, they store less carbon compared to mature forests, resulting in net carbon loss.

Key Facts: