Daily GK Update- 25th Aug, 2025

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. VinFast Auto Partners with SBI to Offer Seamless Financing Ahead of EV Launch in India: VinFast Auto India has partnered with the State Bank of India (SBI) to provide seamless loan and credit solutions for customers ahead of its first product launch in India.The collaboration enables VinFast to tap into SBI’s 23,000-branch network across urban and emerging markets, expanding its customer reach.VinFast, a subsidiary of Vietnam’s Vingroup JSC, is preparing to launch its VF 6 and VF 7 electric vehicle models in India.

 

2. Amit Shah Inaugurates All India Speakers’ Conference Marking 100 Years of Vithalbhai Patel’s Legacy: Union Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurated the two-day All India Speakers’ Conference at the Delhi Assembly, commemorating the centenary of Vithalbhai Patel’s election as the first Indian Speaker of the Central Legislative Assembly.Shah highlighted Patel’s role in laying the foundation of a democratic India and stressed the importance of upholding the dignity of the House and ensuring unbiased functioning in line with rules.The conference brings together Speakers, Deputy Speakers, and Chairpersons of State Legislatures to share best practices, with a special focus on digital innovations and AI-enabled tools to enhance transparency and efficiency in lawmaking.

 

3. 4th Semicon India 2025 to be organised from Sept 2: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate Semicon India 2025 in New Delhi on 2nd September, a three-day event showcasing India’s capabilities in the semiconductor and microelectronics value chain.For the first time, the exhibition will feature four International Pavilions from Japan, South Korea, Singapore, and Malaysia, with 350 companies from 18 countries and participation from nine Indian states.The event aims to boost global collaboration, domestic innovation, and semiconductor startups, including a dedicated Semiconductor Design Startup Pavilion to promote innovation-led chip design enterprises.

 

4. Yes Bank Extends Prashant Kumar’s Tenure as MD & CEO Till April 2026 : Yes Bank shareholders approved the extension of Prashant Kumar’s tenure as MD & CEO from October 6, 2025, to April 5, 2026.Kumar has been leading Yes Bank since its reconstruction in March 2020, and was reappointed in October 2022 for three years.The RBI had earlier approved a six-month extension of his term starting October 6, 2025, or until a new MD & CEO takes charge.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Ujjain to Host “रूहmantic” – PHDCCI’s 2nd Global Spiritual Tourism Conclave: Ujjain (Mahakal city) will host “रूहmantic” – PHDCCI’s 2nd Global Spiritual Tourism Conclave on 27 August 2025, organised by PHDCCI in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism and Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board.The conclave will be inaugurated by CM Dr. Mohan Yadav (Chief Guest) and Union Tourism & Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat (Guest of Honour), with Spiritual Leader Gauranga Das Prabhu delivering the keynote address.Key highlights include the release of the PHDCCI–KPMG Report on Spiritual Tourism “Faith & Flow”, a Govt–Industry Roundtable, and thematic sessions on temple economies, wellness, digital spirituality, Jyotirlinga circuits, and more.

 

2. India Elected Chairman of AIBD Executive Board at 23rd General Conference: India has been elected as the Chairman of the Executive Board of AIBD during the 23rd General Conference in Phuket, Thailand, regaining the position after 2016.Shri Gaurav Dwivedi, CEO of Prasar Bharati and President of AIBD GC, expressed gratitude to member nations and assured continued collaboration in AIBD programs and initiatives.Established in 1977 under UNESCO, AIBD has 92 member organizations from 45 countries, with India as a founding member represented by Prasar Bharati.

 

3. 68th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference to be Held in Barbados from October 5–12: Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla chaired an inter-ministerial briefing on the upcoming 68th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference, to be held in Bridgetown, Barbados, from 5–12 October 2025.The conference will include an important roundtable on youth empowerment, focusing on solutions to modern challenges such as gang violence and cyber-bullying.Participants will include the Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha, presiding officers, and secretaries of legislatures from 29 states and Union Territories.

 

4. Trump Nominates Close Aide Sergio Gor as Next U.S. Ambassador to India: S. President Donald Trump announced the nomination of Sergio Gor, Director of the White House Presidential Personnel Office, as the next U.S. Ambassador to India.Gor will also serve as a Special Envoy for South and Central Asian Affairs, overseeing relations strained by the planned doubling of U.S. tariffs on India next week.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

DEFENCE

 

1. INS Kadmatt Completes Port Call at Surabaya, Indonesia: Indian Naval Ship Kadmatt has successfully completed a three-day port call at Surabaya in Indonesia.The port call reinforces the long-standing maritime partnership between India and Indonesia under the shared vision of Partnership Across Sea.The participation of indigenously built Anti-Submarine Warfare Corvette reaffirms Navy’s role as the preferred security partner in the region. During the visit, several professional and cultural engagements, were conducted to enhance maritime cooperation and mutual understanding.

 

2. Anish Dayal Singh Appointed Deputy NSA to Oversee Internal Security Affairs: Former CRPF and ITBP Director General Anish Dayal Singh has been appointed as the new Deputy National Security Advisor (NSA), tasked with handling internal affairs of the country.A 1988-batch IPS officer (Manipur cadre), he retired in December 2024 after serving nearly 30 years in the Intelligence Bureau (IB) and later heading ITBP and CRPF.As Deputy NSA, Singh will oversee internal security matters, including Jammu & Kashmir, Naxal issues, and Northeastern insurgency, joining the team alongside Additional NSA Rajinder Khanna and two other Deputy NSAs, T.V. Ravichandran and Pawan Kapoor.

 

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

 

1. Shipki-La Pass: Recent developments indicate a positive shift in India-China border trade relations. China has agreed in principle to reopen the Shipki-La trade route in Himachal Pradesh’s Kinnaur district. This follows diplomatic engagement during Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s visit to India. The route’s reopening is part of broader discussions to resume trade through all three designated border points between the two countries. Shipki-La is a historic trade pass located in the Himalayas. It has served as a traditional link between India and Tibet. The route was officially designated for border trade under the 1994 India-China bilateral agreement. Trade through Shipki-La was suspended in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, halting centuries-old economic and cultural exchanges. The Himachal Pradesh government actively pursued the reopening of the Shipki-La route. Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu personally intervened by writing to the Union government to revive this Indo-Tibetan trade link. The Union government then initiated formal talks with China. These efforts culminated in China’s agreement in principle to resume trade during Wang Yi’s visit.

 

2. Bloom Syndrome: Bloom Syndrome is a rare genetic disorder with fewer than 300 cases reported worldwide. Recently, a 12-year-old girl in Chennai underwent a bone marrow transplant using stem cells from her younger brother, marking medical intervention in India. This disorder affects DNA repair mechanisms, leading to multiple health challenges and a high risk of cancer. Bloom Syndrome is caused by mutations in the BLM gene. This gene produces a protein essential for maintaining DNA structure during replication and repair. When mutated, cells lose the ability to fix damaged DNA, causing abnormal cell growth. The condition is inherited in an autosomal recessive pattern. Both parents must carry the mutation for a child to be affected. It is most common among the Ashkenazi Jewish population but occurs worldwide.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. PFC Signs €150 Million Loan Pact with Germany’s KfW to Boost India’s Power Distribution Reforms under RDSS: Power Finance Corporation (PFC) signed a EUR 150 million loan agreement with German lender KfW to finance projects under the Government of India’s Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS).The loan highlights the long-standing Indo–German partnership in the energy sector, with KfW being Germany’s largest promotional bank committed to global economic, social, and environmental development.The RDSS scheme, launched in 2021 with an outlay of ₹3,03,758 crore, aims to improve the operational and financial efficiency of power distribution companies (discoms) across India.

 

2. South Indian Bank Launches “SIB Gold Xpress” Offering Quick & Digital Gold Loans up to ₹25 Lakh: South Indian Bank launched “SIB Gold Xpress”, a new gold loan product offering up to 90% of gold’s value with loan amounts ranging from ₹25,000 to ₹25 lakh and a flexible tenure of up to 3 years.The scheme is aimed at MSMEs, non-MSMEs, and small businesses, enabling them to meet business expansion, working capital, and personal needs with zero hidden costs.The loan process is fully digital, simple, and transparent, allowing even new-to-credit customers to avail loans through minimal checks.

 

3. SMBC gets RBI nod to buy upto 24.99% stake in Yes Bank: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has approved Japan’s Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC) proposal to acquire up to 24.99% stake in Yes Bank, with the approval valid for one year; however, SMBC will not be classified as a promoter.The approval is subject to compliance with Banking Regulation Act, 1949, FEMA 1999, RBI’s guidelines on shareholding, and other regulatory conditions, including lock-in requirements.As per Yes Bank’s earlier disclosure (May 2025), SMBC plans to acquire 20% stake via secondary purchase — 13.19% from SBI and 6.81% collectively from Axis Bank, Bandhan Bank, Federal Bank, HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, IDFC First Bank, and Kotak Mahindra Bank.