Daily GK Update- 18th Aug, 2025

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. NHAI Launches FASTag Annual Pass at 1,150 Toll Plazas Nationwide: NHAI launched the ‘FASTag Annual Pass’ facility on 15th August 2025 across 1,150 toll plazas on National Highways & Expressways, in line with PM Modi’s vision of promoting technology and ‘Ease of Living’.On the first day itself, around 1.4 lakh users purchased & activated the pass, recording 1.39 lakh transactions; the Rajmargyatra App saw 20,000–25,000 concurrent users at any given time.The annual pass, available for ₹3,000 with 1-year validity or 200 toll crossings, eliminates the need for frequent recharges; it is applicable for all non-commercial vehicles with a valid FASTag.User support strengthened with NHAI officials/nodal officers at toll plazas and an upgraded 1033 National Highway Helpline (100+ new executives), ensuring smooth and grievance-free travel.

 

2. Delhi CM Rekha Gupta Launches Atal Canteens to Serve Food at Rs 5: Delhi CM Rekha Gupta announced Atal Canteens in her first Independence Day speech, offering food at just Rs 5 for workers, and promised pucca houses for all slum residents.Atal Canteens plan details: 100 canteens will be set up in Delhi’s slum clusters, with a government allocation of Rs 100 crore, covering around 700 big and small slums.Objective of Atal Canteens: To enhance food security and improve the nutritional status of economically weaker sections, launched in honor of Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s birth centenary.

 

3. Indian Overseas Bank Partners with Mumbai Metro One to Launch Smart Ticketing Solutions: Indian Overseas Bank (IOB) has partnered with Mumbai Metro One Pvt Ltd to provide ticketing solutions, including smart cards, paper tickets, and QR-based ticketing for commuters.The system will be integrated with Mumbai Metro’s ticketing APIs, enabling real-time validation and instant confirmation for passengers.Mumbai Metro Line 1, connecting Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar, handles around 4.5 lakh daily commuters and over 3 lakh daily transactions, significantly easing traffic congestion in the city.Nagaland Governor La Ganesan Passes Dies at 80: Nagaland Governor La Ganesan passed away at 80 in Chennai.La Ganesan’s political career included serving as Governor of Nagaland (from February 2023), Governor of Manipur, and briefly holding additional charge of West Bengal.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. 15 August – The Day of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary: The Day of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary is celebrated every year on 15 August by Christians worldwide, especially by the Catholic Church.It commemorates the belief that the Virgin Mary was assumed body and soul into Heaven, marking her purity and divine grace.The day is a major feast in Christianity, observed with special prayers, masses, and cultural traditions in many countries.

 

2. Universal Rule of Biodiversity Patterns Discovered Globally: Recent research has revealed a universal pattern in how biodiversity arranges itself within the world’s major biogeographical regions. This discovery challenges earlier assumptions that species distribution inside each region would be unique and unrelated to others. The study analysed over 30,000 species from various taxa across the globe. It found a clear, repeating layered structure in biodiversity that transcends continents, climate zones, and organism types. The Earth is divided into large biogeographical regions, each hosting distinct species shaped by history, climate, and geographical barriers. Traditionally, scientists believed that biodiversity patterns inside these regions were idiosyncratic. Tropical zones are known for high species richness, while polar regions have fewer species. However, the new study sought to find if a universal internal pattern exists within these regions.

 

3. Bering Strait Shipping Cooperation Amid Political Strains: Recent research reveals that mariners navigating the Bering Strait are largely adhering to the 2018 shipping guidelines. These guidelines, established through a joint U.S.-Russia initiative under the International Maritime Organization (IMO), promote safe and environmentally responsible transit in this sensitive Arctic region. Despite escalating geopolitical tensions, especially following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, this study marks a rare instance of quiet cooperation between the two nations in a critical maritime corridor. Establishing new designated avoidance zones could reduce environmental stress and protect indigenous interests. Continued monitoring and adherence to voluntary measures remain crucial. Maintaining open channels for dialogue on maritime safety and ecology could prevent disasters and encourage long-term collaboration despite political challenges.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

DEFENCE

 

1. Navy win Armed Forces Inter Services Squash Championship: The Indian Navy has won the Armed Forces Inter Services Squash Championship 2025-26 by defeating Indian Air Force by 2-1 during the final match played at Indian Air Force’s Base Repair Depot at Chandigarh.The championship, which was held from August 10-14, 2025, having four teams – Army Red, Army Green, Air Force, and Indian Navy, was aimed to select the best players to represent the Services Squash Team in the upcoming National Squash Championship.

 

SPORTS

 

1. Abhinav Bindra Appointed as IOC Mental Health Ambassador to Promote Athlete Well-Being: Olympic gold medalist and former athlete Abhinav Bindra has been appointed as one of nine International Olympic Committee (IOC) Mental Health Ambassadors, recognising his long-time advocacy for athlete mental health.Mental Health Ambassadors are tasked with breaking stigma, promoting open conversation about mental health, and supporting athlete well-being through education, social media engagement, and one-on-one guidance.

 

2. Sathiyan Clinches Men’s Singles Title at World Table Tennis Feeder in Laos: India’s G. Sathiyan won the men’s singles title at the World Table Tennis Feeder in Vientiane, Laos, defeating top seed Ryoichi Yoshiyama of Japan 11-4, 11-6, 12-10 in the final.This victory marks Sathiyan’s second Feeder title and his fifth senior crown overall, highlighting his consistent performance at the international level.

 

3. Former Sri Lankan cricketer Saman banned from all forms of cricket: Former Sri Lankan domestic cricketer Saliya Saman has been banned from all forms of Cricket for five years after an ICC Anti-Corruption Tribunal found him guilty of breaching the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) Anti-Corruption Code.Saman was among eight people charged in September 2023 for breaching the Code during the 2021 Abu Dhabi T10 League, where attempts to corrupt matches in the tournament were disrupted by the ICC, the Designated Anti-Corruption Official (DACO) for the purposes of the ECB’s Code for the tournament.The ban, as per the ICC statement today, is backdated to 13 September 2023, when Saman was provisionally suspended.

 

4. Logo & Mascot of 1st Khelo India Water Sports unveiled: The first-ever Khelo India Water Sports Festival (KIWSF) logo and mascot were unveiled in Srinagar, with the Himalayan Kingfisher chosen as the mascot.The logo highlights Kashmir’s beauty, depicting a Shikara on Dal Lake with snow-capped mountains and pine trees in the background.The event will be hosted on Dal Lake from August 21-23, featuring 400+ athletes from 36 States/UTs competing in rowing, canoeing, and kayaking, organized by the J&K Sports Council and the Ministry of Youth Affairs.

 

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

 

1. Bihar Launches AI-Powered Bridge Management Training for Engineers Under New State Policy: Bihar Road Construction Department has partnered with IIT Delhi to launch a six-month advanced certification programme for engineers on AI-powered bridge management and real-time structural health monitoring, starting September 2025.The programme will train over 100 state engineers in AI/ML-based analysis of drone and sensor data, compute Bridge Health Index (BHI), implement real-time monitoring systems, and apply algorithm-driven Maintenance Priority Index (MPI) models for efficient resource planning.This initiative is part of the Bihar State Bridge Management & Maintenance Policy, 2025, aiming to build indigenous technical capacity, reduce reliance on external consultants, and ensure transparency through publicly accessible bridge data on the BIMS portal.

 

2. Gugga Naumi: Gugga Naumi is a vibrant folk religious festival celebrated in northern India. The festival honours Gugga Pir, a folk deity believed to have the power to protect against snakebites. Celebrated annually in the Bhadrapad month, it marks the syncretic traditions of India, where people from different religions participate in shared cultural practices. Gugga Naumi falls on the ninth day of Krishna Paksha in the Bhadrapad month of the Hindu lunar calendar. It usually occurs after Raksha Bandhan and before Janmashtami. The festival spans about nine days, beginning on Raksha Bandhan. The timing reflects its close association with the agricultural and seasonal cycles of northern India.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. HDFC ERGO Partners with PhonePe to Launch Affordable Health Insurance for Young Adults: HDFC ERGO has partnered with PhonePe to launch an affordable health insurance solution for India’s ‘missing middle’, combining a digital-first insurer with a popular digital payment platform.

Premiums start at Rs 12 per day (approx. Rs 4,380 per year) for Rs 3 lakh coverage, and the policy can be purchased directly through the PhonePe app.The policy primarily targets individuals aged 18–30 years, many of whom are first-time insurance buyers, to enhance accessibility and adoption of health insurance.

 

2. SBI Life Launches Smart Shield Plus Term Insurance with Flexible Coverage Options: SBI Life has launched Smart Shield Plus, a non-linked, non-participating, pure risk life insurance product designed to address the evolving protection needs of modern consumers.The plan offers three coverage options — Level Cover, Increasing Cover, and Level Cover with Future Proofing Benefit — allowing policyholders to tailor coverage according to life milestones and changing responsibilities.Key benefits include the Increasing Cover option, which raises the sum assured by 5% per year up to 200% of the original amount, and the Future Proofing option, which lets policyholders enhance coverage as their financial needs grow.

 

3. PhonePe Leads UPI in July 2025 with 8.93 Billion Transactions and 46% Market Share: PhonePe led the UPI ecosystem in July 2025 with 8.93 billion transactions worth ₹12.20 trillion, securing a 45.88% market share, ahead of Google Pay and Paytm.Google Pay followed with 6.92 billion transactions (₹8.91 trillion, 35.56% share), while Paytm processed 1.36 billion transactions (₹1.43 trillion, 7.02% share).Among emerging players, Navi handled 444.06 million transactions, and super.money processed 252.85 million transactions, indicating growing competition in the UPI space.