Daily GK Update- 9th Aug, 2025

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Punjab becomes first to empanel sign language experts under juvenile law: Punjab has become the first state in India to empanel sign language interpreters, translators, and special educators under the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015, ensuring accessible and sensitive justice for children with speech and hearing impairments.The initiative, led by CM Bhagwant Mann and announced by Minister Dr Baljit Kaur, aims to eliminate communication barriers in legal and educational systems by deploying trained professionals district-wise to assist children with special needs, including during court proceedings.This move aligns with the POCSO Act, 2012, and reflects Punjab’s broader commitment to inclusive governance, as seen in earlier efforts like broadcasting Punjab Vidhan Sabha proceedings in sign language, thereby promoting equality, accessibility, and justice for all children.

 

2. S Radha Chauhan Appointed Full-Time Chairperson of Capacity Building Commission by ACC: The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved the appointment of S Radha Chauhan, a retired 1988-batch IAS officer from the Uttar Pradesh cadre, as the full-time Chairperson of the Capacity Building Commission (CBC) for a tenure of three years or until further orders.The ACC has also extended the tenure of Adil Zainulbhai as the part-time Chairperson of the CBC starting from August 1, until S Radha Chauhan assumes charge as the regular incumbent.The Capacity Building Commission (CBC) was constituted under the National Programme for Civil Services Capacity Building (Mission Karmayogi) and plays a critical role in driving reforms and enhancing the capabilities of India’s civil services.

 

3. Bimaplan Appoints Anurag Mishra as CEO to Drive Global Expansion and Profitability: Bimaplan has appointed Anurag Mishra as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to lead the company’s next phase of growth, with a strategic focus on profitability and global expansion into key markets like the Middle East and Africa.Anurag Mishra brings over 30 years of experience in global banking and financial services, having previously served as Regional Head for Global Trade at IFC (World Bank Group) and as the CEO of Standard Chartered Bank’s Nepal operations.

 

4. Rishi Kohli Appointed as CIO of JioBlackRock Mutual Fund: JioBlackRock Mutual Fund has appointed Rishi Kohli as its new Chief Investment Officer (CIO). He is an alumnus of both IIT and IIM, bringing strong academic credentials to the role.Prior to this role, Kohli served as Managing Director & CIO – Hedge Fund Strategies at InCred Capital and has nearly seven years of experience as Chief Mentor at Ekcle Ventures & Ekcle Advisory Services LLP.He played a pivotal role in setting up the quant investing division at Avendus, where he developed quant-based long-short strategies for the Indian hedge fund market.

 

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. FIFA Launches First-Ever Girls’ Talent Academy in India at Gachibowli Stadium: FIFA has launched its first-ever Talent Academy for girls in India, in collaboration with the All India Football Federation (AIFF) and the Telangana government, to offer elite training to young footballers from across the country.The academy, located at Gachibowli Stadium Complex in Telangana, will provide year-round high-performance training, residential facilities, education, medical care, nutrition, and mental wellness support for 60 elite players – 30 boys (U14), 30 girls (U16), along with 10 additional players from Telangana in each category.A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between FIFA, AIFF, and the Telangana government to promote structured and inclusive grassroots football development in India under FIFA’s global Talent Development Scheme.

 

2. 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.

 

3. 9 August – International Day of the World’s Indigenous People: International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples is observed every year on 9 August to raise awareness about the unique cultures, traditions, and rights of Indigenous communities, and to address their specific needs.The date marks the anniversary of the first meeting of the UN Working Group on Indigenous Populations held in Geneva in 1982.The 2025 theme, “Indigenous Peoples and AI: Defending Rights, Shaping Futures”, focuses on ensuring that technological advancements, especially AI, respect Indigenous rights and help build an inclusive future.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

DEFENCE

 

1. Defence Minister Lays Foundation Stone for ₹1,800 Crore BEML Rail Hub ‘Brahma’ in MP: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh laid the foundation stone for the ₹1,800 crore BEML Rail Hub in Umaria village, Raisen district, Madhya Pradesh, which will be spread over 60 hectares and generate employment for over 5,000 people.The facility, named ‘Brahma’ after the creator in Indian tradition, will manufacture coaches for Vande Bharat, Amrit Bharat, and Metro trains, contributing to India’s high-speed rail network.

 

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. Cabinet Approves ₹4,200 Crore MERITE Scheme to Boost Technical Education and Research Across India: The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the Multidisciplinary Education and Research Improvement in Technical Education (MERITE) Scheme with a total outlay of ₹4,200 crore for 2025–26 to 2029–30, benefiting 275 technical institutions (175 engineering and 100 polytechnics) across all States/UTs.The scheme, a Central Sector Scheme, will receive ₹2,100 crore as external assistance from the World Bank, aiming to enhance quality, equity, and governance in technical education in line with the National Education Policy 2020.Designed to foster innovation and upgrade academic and research standards, the MERITE scheme addresses modern challenges and supports sustainable, inclusive growth through reforms in higher education, in collaboration with the World Bank.

 

2. Eco-Friendly Virus Controls Teak Defoliator Pest: The Kerala Forest Research Institute (KFRI) has developed a groundbreaking biological solution to protect teak plantations from the destructive teak defoliator moth (Hyblaea puera). This pest has caused severe damage to teak forests for decades. The new technology uses a naturally occurring virus, Hyblaea puera Nucleopolyhedrosis Virus (HpNPV), which specifically targets and kills the pest larvae. This innovation promises a sustainable and eco-friendly alternative to chemical pesticides. The teak defoliator moth larvae feed on teak leaves, stripping trees up to six times annually. This repeated defoliation weakens trees and reduces timber growth. Trees expend energy regrowing leaves instead of increasing wood volume. The economic loss is substantial, estimated at 3 cubic metres of wood per hectare yearly. In Kerala alone, this translates to losses of ₹562.5 crore and ₹12,525 crore across India.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. 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.Building on past successes of MoS-based packages (for Bodo and Karbi groups), this initiative aims to mainstream affected communities, improve livelihoods, enhance peace, and attract tourists to the North Eastern region.

 

2. 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 on domestic 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.