Daily GK Update- 24th Aug, 2025

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Satish Golcha Takes Charge as Delhi Police Commissioner: Senior IPS officer Satish Golcha appointed as the new Commissioner of Police, Delhi, effective from the date he assumes charge, replacing Shashi Bhushan Kumar Singh.Golcha, an AGMUT (Arunachal Pradesh-Goa-Mizoram-Union Territories) cadre, 1992 batch officer, was previously serving as Director General (Prisons), Delhi.The appointment follows a rise in gun violence and crime in Delhi, and comes shortly after Chief Minister Rekha Gupta was assaulted, raising concerns over security lapses.

 

2. Ajay Singh re-elected as Boxing Federation of India president: Ajay Singh was elected as the Boxing Federation of India (BFI) President for a third consecutive term, defeating Jaslal Pradhan (Sikkim) by 40–26 votes.Pramod Kumar (UP unit) was elected as Secretary General, replacing Hemanta Kalita (Assam), while Pon Baskaran (Tamil Nadu) won the Treasurer’s post in a three-way contest.The elections saw participation from 34 state units (66 votes), but the results are subject to Delhi High Court’s decision on pending constitutional amendment challenges.

 

3. Haryana Defines Forests: The Haryana government issued a formal definition of forest in August 2025. This move follows directives from the Supreme Court of India, which required all states to clarify forest boundaries and conduct surveys. Haryana’s definition aims to align with judicial expectations but has drawn criticism from environmentalists for its narrow scope. The debate centres on the protection of ecologically sensitive areas like the Aravalli ridge. Recently, the Supreme Court mandated all states and Union Territories to define forest clearly. The court asked for expert committees to map forest areas using GIS-based tools. These mappings must include forest-like areas, unclassified forests, community forests, and eco-sensitive zones. The court warned that officials failing to comply would be held personally accountable. The Forest Conservation Act (FCA) 1980 restricts forest land diversion without central approval. The 1996 Godavarman case expanded the meaning of forest to include all forested lands, regardless of size or status. This broad definition aimed to protect even small forest patches. However, the 2023 FCA amendment narrowed it to only notified forests and government records, triggering legal challenges. The Supreme Court is currently hearing these challenges.

 

4. India’s Labour Productivity Gap: India’s government recently announced the creation of 17 crore jobs over the past decade. However, the nation’s ambition to reach a $36 trillion economy by 2047 depends heavily on closing the vast productivity gap between formal and informal workers. This divide limits income growth and economic inclusion, necessitating a major structural transformation of the labour market. Formal industrial workers generate an annual Gross Value Added (GVA) of around ₹12 lakh per worker. Informal sector workers produce only about ₹1.5 lakh annually. This eightfold difference marks the productivity chasm. Nearly 91 per cent of the workforce remains informal, while only 9 per cent are formally employed. The informal sector’s low productivity drags down average incomes and masks the true economic potential of India’s labour force.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Indian Oil, Air India sign agreement for sustainable aviation fuel supply: Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) signed an MoU with Air India to supply sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), marking a major step towards greener aviation and global decarbonisation goals.IOC will begin producing 35,000 tonnes of SAF annually from used cooking oil at its Panipat refinery starting December, sourcing waste oil from hotel chains like ITC and Haldiram’s.IOC became the first Indian company to receive ISCC CORSIA certification for SAF production, ensuring compliance with stringent international sustainability and carbon emission standards.SAF can be blended up to 50% with conventional jet fuel, and India has mandated 1% SAF blending in jet fuel for international airlines from 2027, supporting IATA’s net-zero 2050 target.

 

2. Bistable Gene Expression in Pseudomonas Aeruginosa: Recent research has uncovered that the bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa exhibits bistable gene expression, a phenomenon where identical cells show different levels of gene activity. This discovery sheds light on how this deadly pathogen adapts and survives in hostile environments such as hospitals. The study focuses on the glpD gene, which shows variable expression linked to the bacterium’s ability to cause infections. Understanding this mechanism is crucial because P. aeruginosa is a major cause of hospital-acquired infections and is often resistant to antibiotics. Bistability refers to the existence of two distinct expression states of the same gene within genetically identical cells. This variation can be inherited by daughter cells, a process called epigenetic inheritance. It allows bacteria to diversify their behaviour and adapt to changing environments. In Pseudomonas aeruginosa, bistability may help the pathogen survive immune responses and antibiotic treatments.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

DEFENCE

 

1. Assam Rifles sign MoU with IIT Manipur to promote drone technology: Assam Rifles signed an MoU with IIIT Manipur at Mantripukhri to promote drone technology for defence and security, with Maj Gen Ravroop Singh and IIIT Director present.An Advanced Drone Training and Refresher Course was launched for Assam Rifles personnel, covering flight operations, maintenance, and DGCA-certified training to boost operational efficiency.Around 80 participants, including defence personnel and IIIT faculty, attended, emphasizing defence-academia cooperation for innovation, surveillance, reconnaissance, and logistics support.

 

2. Sustainable Power 1404: Iran conducted its first major naval exercise since the June 2025 conflict with Israel. The two-day drill, named Sustainable Power 1404, took place in the Gulf of Oman and the northern Indian Ocean. It involved missile launches from warships targeting sea-based objectives. This exercise marks Iran’s efforts to restore its military image and assert maritime strength after recent confrontations. The drill followed a 12-day war in June 2025 between Iran and Israel. During that conflict, Israel struck Iranian air defences and nuclear sites. Iran retaliated with missile attacks on Israeli cities and attempted strikes on a US base in Qatar. The exercise serves as a message of resilience and deterrence amid ongoing regional tensions. Iran’s navy aimed to improve combat readiness and enhance command coordination. The drill also sought to reinforce deterrence capabilities by demonstrating missile precision and warship coordination. Officials framed the exercise as proof of Iran’s ability to recover quickly from recent military setbacks.

 

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

 

1. NASA’s James Webb Telescope Discovers Uranus’ 29th Moon, S/2025 U1: ‘NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope discovered a new 29th satellite of Uranus, named S/2025 U1, identified on February 2, 2025, by a team led by the Southwest Research Institute (SwRI).The newly discovered moon has a diameter of approximately 10 kilometres and orbits Uranus at a distance of about 56,000 kilometres.According to Maryame El Moutamid of SwRI, while small in size, S/2025 U1 is a significant discovery for understanding Uranus’s satellite system.

 

2. 23 August – National Space Day: National Space Day is observed in India every year on 23rd August to commemorate the successful soft landing of Chandrayaan-3’s Vikram Lander and the deployment of the Pragyan Rover on the lunar surface in 2023.To honour this historic achievement, the Government of India officially declared 23rd August as National Space Day.Theme 2025 – Leveraging Space Technology and Applications for Viksit Bharat 2047With Chandrayaan-3’s success, India became the fourth country in the world to achieve a soft landing on the Moon and the first country to land near the Moon’s south polar region.

 

3. NASA’s Surya AI: NASA launched Surya, an advanced artificial intelligence model designed to transform space weather prediction. Developed alongside IBM and trained on nine years of Solar Dynamics Observatory data, Surya offers early and accurate forecasts of solar flares and eruptions. These solar events can disrupt satellites, power grids, aviation, and GPS systems on Earth. By making Surya open-source, NASA aims to encourage global collaboration to enhance protection against space weather hazards. Space weather originates from solar eruptions such as solar flares and coronal mass ejections (CMEs). These release charged particles and magnetic energy that travel through the solar system. When they reach Earth, they can damage satellites, cause power outages, disrupt aviation routes, and endanger astronauts. Predicting these events is vital for safeguarding modern technology and infrastructure. Surya uses machine learning to analyse vast solar data sets. Unlike traditional models, it detects subtle solar activity patterns and predicts eruptions up to two hours in advance. This improves forecast accuracy and lead time, offering better preparedness against space weather threats. Surya’s open-source nature encourages researchers worldwide to develop new applications and improve forecasting.

 

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. India’s GDP growth expected at 6.3% in 2025-26, lower than RBI’s projection of 6.5%, due to muted private capital expenditure, as per SBI Research Report. Quarterly growth estimates: Q1 at 6.8–7%, Q2 at 6.5%, Q3 at 6.3%, and Q4 at 6.1%, showing gradual slowdown across the year.

Economic fundamentals remain strong, supporting growth between 6.3–6.8% despite global headwinds, according to the Economic Survey.RBI projects Q1 at 6.5%, Q2 at 6.7%, Q3 at 6.6%, and Q4 at 6.3%, slightly higher than SBI’s quarterly estimates.Two-day meeting of GST Council to begin on Sept 3: The 56th GST Council Meeting will be held on 3rd and 4th September in New Delhi, chaired by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.The previous meeting was held in December 2024 at Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, where several GST-related decisions were taken.Key decisions included a rate cut on fortified rice kernels to 5% and a recommendation to amend the definition of pre-packaged and labelled items.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. ICAR-Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Wokha, Nagaland, Awarded Best KVK: In Nagaland, the ICAR-Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Wokha, has been awarded the Best KVK in the North Eastern Region.The recognition was conferred by ICAR-NRCB in acknowledgement of the team’s exemplary work and impactful contributions, selected from over 200 nominations. The award was presented during the 32nd Foundation Day and Kisan Mela held in Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu.A total of 19 farmers from Nagaland participated in the mela to gain insights for the upcoming banana festival in the state. They are undergoing training in Integrated Nutrient Management, Hi-Tech Banana Cultivation Practices, Integrated Pest and Disease Management, and Food Processing.