Daily GK Update- 10th Aug, 2025

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Indian Railways Successfully Trials Asia’s Longest 4.5 km Freight Train ‘Rudrastra’: Indian Railways successfully conducted the trial run of Asia’s longest freight train ‘Rudrastra’, measuring 4.5 km in length, from Ganjkhwaja (Uttar Pradesh) to Garhwa (Jharkhand), covering 209 km in 5 hours 10 minutes at an average speed of 40.50 km/h.The initiative, operated by the Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya Division of East Central Railway to the Dhanbad Division, aims to ensure faster loading and transportation of goods.Rudrastra was created by combining three long-haul racks (two goods trains each), comprising 345 wagons, with each empty wagon capable of carrying 72 tonnes of goods.The train used seven engines — two at the front and one after every 59 bogies in each rack — making freight movement quicker, more resource-efficient, and time-saving.

 

2. Cabinet Approves ₹4,250 Crore Special Development Packages for Assam and Tripura: The Union Cabinet, chaired by PM Narendra Modi, approved four new components under the Central Sector Scheme of Special Development Packages (SDPs) for Assam and Tripura with a total outlay of ₹4,250 crore, aimed at infrastructure and community development in areas inhabited by Adivasi, Dimasa, ULFA, and tribal groups.The fund allocation includes ₹500 crore for Adivasi areas in Assam, ₹500 crore for Dimasa-inhabited areas in the North Cacher Hills Autonomous Council, ₹3,000 crore for ULFA-affected areas, and ₹250 crore for tribal development in Tripura.The overall project outlay is ₹7,250 crore, with ₹4,250 crore from the central scheme and ₹3,000 crore contributed by the Assam State Government, to be implemented between FY 2025–26 and FY 2029–30.The scheme will boost employment, skill development, tourism, entrepreneurship, and socio-economic upliftment of vulnerable communities, benefiting youth and women in both states.

 

3. Cabinet Approves ₹30,000 Crore Compensation to OMCs for Domestic LPG Losses: The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved ₹30,000 crore compensation for public sector Oil Marketing Companies (IOCL, BPCL, HPCL) to cover under-recoveries ondomestic LPG sales, with the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas handling its distribution.The compensation will be provided in 12 tranches, ensuring that OMCs continue supplying LPG cylinders at regulated, affordable prices despite high international LPG prices in 2024–25.To protect consumers from global price fluctuations, the cost increase was not passed on, resulting in substantial losses for OMCs, yet they maintained uninterrupted domestic LPG supply nationwide.

 

4. Cabinet Approves ₹300 LPG Cylinder Subsidy for PMUY Beneficiaries in FY 2025–26: The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the continuation of a targeted subsidy of ₹300 per 14.2 kg LPG cylinder (up to nine refills annually) for Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) beneficiaries during FY 2025–26, with an estimated expenditure of ₹12,000 crore.

Launched in May 2016, PMUY provides adult women from poor households with a deposit-free LPG connection, including a free first refill, stove, and installation, with costs borne by the Government of India and Oil Marketing Companies; as of July 1, 2025, there are about 10.33 crore PMUY connections.To protect beneficiaries from global LPG price fluctuations, the government introduced a targeted subsidy of ₹200 per 14.2 kg cylinder in May 2022, later raised to ₹300 in October 2023.Average per capita LPG consumption among PMUY households has improved from 3 refills per household in 2019–20 to 4.47 refills in FY 2024–25, indicating increased adoption of clean cooking fuel.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Second Edition of UN Women’s ‘She Leads II’ Programme inaugurated in New Delhi: Union Minister Annpurna Devi inaugurated the second edition of UN Women’s flagship capacity-building programme SheLeads II in New Delhi, a two-day workshop organised by UN Women India Country Office.The programme follows the enactment of the Women’s Reservation Act, 2023, which mandates 33% reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies, aiming to strengthen women’s leadership in governance.SheLeads seeks to advance gender equality in public and political leadership by equipping women with skills, networks, and support to contest upcoming elections, bringing together grassroots leaders, elected representatives, and administrators from across India.

 

2. GAIL and HCL Join Hands to Explore and Develop Critical Mineral Resources: GAIL and Hindustan Copper Limited (HCL) have signed an MoU to jointly explore and develop critical mineral resources in India and abroad.The collaboration aims to boost India’s self-reliance in vital minerals and support the clean energy and technology sectors.BEML and TuTr Hyperloop Join Hands to Develop India’s First Indigenous Hyperloop Transportation SystemBSNL and NRL Sign MoU to Launch India’s First 5G CNPN in Refinery Sector DPIIT Signs MoU with HDFC Capital to Boost Innovation in Affordable Housing and PropTech through H@ART Programme

 

3. Zomato Appoints Shah Rukh Khan as Brand Ambassador for ‘Fuel Your Hustle’ Campaign: Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan has been roped in by Zomato as the face of its ‘Fuel Your Hustle’ campaign, which celebrates the hard work and determination of people across India who relentlessly pursue their dreams.Zomato’s marketing head, Sahibjeet Singh Sawhney, stated that SRK’s journey from struggle to becoming a global icon resonates with everyone who believes in “hard work and consistency.”

 

4. 9 August 2025 – World Sanskrit Day: World Sanskrit Day is celebrated annually on Shravana Purnima, and in 2025, it falls on 9 August, to promote the Sanskrit language and its cultural heritage.The day highlights Sanskrit’s role as one of the world’s oldest languages and the root of many Indian languages, as well as its importance in literature, philosophy, and science.It marks an auspicious occasion traditionally considered ideal for starting the study of Sanskrit and Vedic scriptures.

 

5. 10 August – World Lion Day: World Lion Day is observed every year on 10 August to raise awareness about the conservation of lions and to highlight the threats faced by this majestic species.The day was first celebrated in 2013, initiated by Big Cat Rescue and partners, to educate people about the importance of lions in the ecosystem and the urgent need to protect their habitats.Lions are listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, with their population declining due to habitat loss, poaching, and human-wildlife conflict. The day aims to promote global action to conserve lions, especially African lions and the Asiatic lions found in India’s Gir Forest.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

DEFENCE

 

1. Ladakh’s Botanical Garden Project: In eastern Ladakh, the Shyok village is transforming 10 hectares of barren community land into the Union Territory’s first botanical garden. Located on the route to the Galwan Valley, this initiative aims to preserve Ladakh’s unique biodiversity. The project is supported by the Leh Hill Council and is part of the Go Green Go Organic campaign. Completion is expected by 2029. Shyok village lies on the way to the Galwan Valley, an area gaining attention for future war-zone tourism. The barren land here is being converted into a green zone to conserve local flora and fauna. The Leh Hill Council is providing civil works support including land tilling and water reservoir construction. It has allocated one crore rupees for the project. The garden aims to restore the ecological balance by conserving traditional fruit trees like apricots and apples. It will also protect medicinal plants and rare high-altitude flora. The project seeks to promote eco-tourism and provide a sustainable livelihood to local communities.

 

SPORTS

 

1. India to be ‘Guest of Honour’ at 38th Bogota International Book Fair 2026 in Colombia: India will participate as the ‘Guest of Honour’ country at the 38th Bogota International Book Fair (FILBo) in 2026, strengthening cultural and literary ties with Colombia.Indian Ambassador to Colombia Vanlalhuma highlighted that the event will serve as a bridge for deeper people-to-people connections between the two nations.India’s National Book Trust had earlier showcased a collective exhibit of Indian books at the 37th FILBo 2025 held from April 25 to May 11, marking its debut at the fair.

 

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

 

1. Nilgiri Tahr Population Surges : The 2025 joint census of Nilgiri tahr populations in Kerala and Tamil Nadu has recorded 2,668 individuals. Kerala accounts for 1,365 tahrs while Tamil Nadu has 1,303. This growth marks successful conservation efforts and calls for enhanced interstate collaboration. Controlled burning in ENP grasslands has been very important in sustaining the tahr population. This rotational burning is conducted every three years over 97 sq km to maintain nutritious grasslands suitable for grazing. Animals are temporarily relocated during burning to protect them. This practice, based on traditional knowledge from the Muthuvan tribal community, promotes fresh grass growth and enhances food security and reproductive success among tahrs. Nilgiri tahrs form a major prey base for apex predators such as tigers and leopards within ENP. Predator presence helps regulate tahr numbers naturally. The availability of prey inside the park reduces predator movement into human habitations, lowering human-wildlife conflict. The park’s ecosystem also supports species like dholes, Nilgiri langurs, and lion-tailed macaques, reflecting rich biodiversity.

 

2. Nickel, Copper, and Platinum Group Elements: The discovery of deposit of Nickel, Copper, and Platinum Group Elements (Ni-Cu-PGE) in Chhattisgarh’s Mahasamund district marks a key development in India’s resource sector. Awarded to Deccan Gold Mines Limited (DGML) under a 30 sq km Composite Licence, this find supports the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative by enhancing India’s self-reliance in critical minerals. The Bhalukona-Jamnidih block in Basna tehsil has yielded promising deposits of Ni-Cu-PGE. DGML received the licence on 1 April 2023 after winning an e-auction held by the state government. Initial exploration reveals a 700-metre-long mineralised zone within mafic-ultramafic rocks. Sulphide mineralisation extends up to 300 metres deep, indicating substantial reserves. Nickel and Platinum Group Elements are vital for green and high-tech industries. They are essential in batteries, electronics, and catalytic converters. This discovery strengthens India’s position in securing resources critical for future innovation and sustainable development. It aligns with the national goal of reducing dependence on foreign imports.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. ‘Nijut Moina 2.0’ Scheme: The Assam government has intensified its efforts to eliminate child marriage by 2026. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma recently launched the second edition of the ‘Nijut Moina’ scheme. This initiative aims to protect over 400,000 girls from early marriage and support their education across the state. The second phase of the scheme expands its reach to cover girls in higher secondary, undergraduate, and postgraduate courses. It offers monthly financial assistance ranging from ₹1,000 to ₹2,500 depending on the education level. This support aims to reduce financial barriers that often lead to early marriage. All girl students from various economic backgrounds are eligible. However, married girls (except certain postgraduate and B.Ed students), daughters of ministers, MPs, and MLAs, and those receiving scooter awards under another scheme are excluded unless they opt out. This ensures focused support for those most at risk.

 

2. Rising Income Disparity Among Indian States 2025: Recent data shows growing income inequality among Indian states. Richer states are advancing rapidly, while poorer states lag further behind. Southern and western states dominate the prosperity map, driven by manufacturing and investment-friendly policies. State per capita income estimates rely on net state domestic product and population data from 2011 Census. These figures do not fully account for migration and changing fertility rates. This causes inaccuracies in state-level income comparisons. Despite this, the broad pattern of widening income gaps remains clear. Manufacturing expansion fuels growth in richer states. These states benefit from skilled labour, supplier networks, and knowledge spillovers. Gujarat surpassed Maharashtra in manufacturing output since 2017-18 due to a more business-friendly climate. Southern states aggressively attract global firms like Foxconn and aerospace companies. Andhra Pradesh’s alignment with central policies and focus on high-tech sectors enhance its investment appeal.