Daily GK Update- 31st Aug, 2025

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. UNDP Report on Forest Rights Act Progress: The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) released a report in 2025 analysing the implementation of the Forest Rights Act (FRA) in India. The report marks the need for a consensus on a sunset clause to set an end date for recognising and vesting rights under the FRA. It also recommends measures for improved governance and management after rights are granted. The FRA, enacted in 2006, aims to recognise rights of Scheduled Tribes and other traditional forest dwellers over forest land and resources. The FRA recognises individual and community rights over forest land. So far, titles have been distributed over 2.32 crore acres, with 1.88 crore acres under community rights. However, this is only about 18% of the estimated 9.88 crore acres potentially eligible for community rights. The slow uptake is attributed to historical conflicts, policy gaps, and jurisdictional issues.

 

2. Uttarakhand Forest Clearance Sparks Environmental Concerns: Uttarakhand’s forest department approved the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) plan to build the Netala bypass. This road is part of the larger Char Dham infrastructure project. The approval allows the use of 17.5 hectares of forest land in the fragile Bhagirathi eco-sensitive zone. The decision has caused widespread protests from environmentalists and local communities. They claim the project violates Supreme Court orders and expert committee recommendations. The concern centres on the felling of thousands of deodar trees and the increased risk of landslides. The Netala bypass is an 8.07-kilometre road stretch between Hina and Tekhla on National Highway 34. It aims to improve connectivity under the Char Dham project. The project is managed by the BRO, a government agency responsible for road construction in difficult terrains. The bypass is designed to widen existing roads to 10 metres. However, the Supreme Court had previously limited road width to 5.5 metres in this eco-sensitive zone.

 

3. Delhi Heat Crisis: Delhi has been experiencing severe heat stress in recent years. The year 2025 recorded the hottest February and March on record. Summers have remained scorching with temperatures soaring above 45°C for multiple days. The India Meteorological Department issued several heatwave alerts, signalling an urgent public health and infrastructure challenge. A decade-long study from 2015 to 2024 shows Delhi’s summer temperatures have consistently exceeded normal levels. This prolonged heat impacts health, livelihoods, productivity, and the environment across the city. Certain groups suffer disproportionately from extreme heat. Children, elderly people, women, the poor, homeless, and outdoor workers such as construction labourers and street vendors face higher risks. About 80% of Delhi’s workforce is informal, lacking access to cooling or healthcare facilities. A ward-level vulnerability assessment shows many dense wards with little green cover are hotspots for heat stress. Nearly half the city’s population lives in wards with over 90% area under heat stress. These vulnerable zones require priority in heat action planning.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Global Greenhouse Gas Emissions Rise Despite Power Sector Decline: Recent data from 2025 reveals a complex picture of global greenhouse gas emissions. While some countries like India and China have reduced emissions in their power sectors, overall global emissions have increased. The main driver remains the continued heavy reliance on fossil fuels, especially in the United States. This trend poses serious challenges for meeting international climate targets and marks the urgent need for a global energy transition. Between January and June 2025, global greenhouse gas emissions reached 31 billion tonnes of CO2-equivalent. This represents a 0.13 per cent increase compared to the same period in 2024. June alone saw emissions rise by 0.29 per cent year-on-year. Methane emissions also increased by 0.49 per cent in June, indicating growing concerns beyond carbon dioxide. The power sector saw a global emissions drop of over 60 million tonnes CO2-equivalent. China led this decline with a 1.7 per cent reduction, followed by India with a 0.8 per cent decrease. These reductions reflect progress in renewable energy adoption and efficiency improvements. However, these gains are insufficient to counterbalance overall emission increases.

 

2. Impact of US De Minimis Rule on India-US Trade: The United States ended its century-old De Minimis exemption on 29 August 2025. This rule allowed shipments valued under $800 per person per day to enter the US without duty or tax. The change has disrupted postal and e-commerce trade between India and the US. India Post suspended most mail services to the US from 25 August 2025. The new regulations require stricter customs checks and duties on all shipments, affecting businesses and consumers alike. The De Minimis exemption allowed low-value shipments to enter the US duty-free. It applied to goods valued below $800 per person per day. This rule simplified customs for small parcels and boosted cross-border e-commerce. The US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) processed over 1.36 billion such shipments in fiscal year 2024. The exemption helped reduce compliance costs for exporters and facilitated faster delivery.

 

3. Daruma Doll: The Daruma doll is cultural symbol in Japan, recently brought into light during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the country. Presented by Rev Seishi Hirose, chief priest of Daruma-ji temple, the doll embodies perseverance, good luck and goal-setting. Rooted in history and spirituality, the Daruma doll connects Japan’s Zen Buddhist traditions with Indian origins. The Daruma doll is modelled after Bodhidharma, a 5th-century Indian monk from Kancheepuram. Known in Japan as Daruma Daishi, he founded Zen Buddhism. Bodhidharma is famed for meditating nine years facing a wall in China after travelling from India. His intense meditation inspired the doll’s design – rounded shape, no limbs and blank eyes. The name Daruma derives from the Sanskrit word Dharma, meaning cosmic law or duty, reflecting its spiritual roots. Made of papier-mâché, Daruma dolls range from a few inches to several feet tall. Their rounded bottom allows them to return upright when tilted, symbolising resilience. The phrase Fall seven times, stand up eight is linked to this feature. Traditionally, one eye is coloured when setting a goal. The other eye is filled in upon achieving that goal. This ritual encourages persistence and focus on personal ambitions.

 

4. Japan Releases AI Video Showing Mount Fuji Eruption: Japan has recently released an AI-generated video simulating an eruption of Mount Fuji. The video depicts ash clouds covering Tokyo, disrupting transport and communication, and causing power outages. It advises residents to prepare by stocking food and wearing protective gear. The release coincides with Volcano Disaster Prevention Day, as part of Japan’s ongoing efforts to raise awareness about volcanic hazards despite no immediate eruption threat. Mount Fuji is an active volcano, last erupting in 1707. Though currently quiet, it remains capable of erupting in the future. Active volcanoes have a magma supply beneath the surface. Dormant volcanoes have not erupted for centuries but can still awaken. Extinct volcanoes no longer connect to magma stores. Japan’s authorities use such occasions to remind people of preparedness measures.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

DEFENCE

 

1. Myanmar Military Labels Karen National Union Terrorist: The Myanmar military government declared the Karen National Union (KNU) a terrorist organisation in August 2025. This move criminalises nearly all activities linked to the KNU, including contact by third parties. The KNU is a major ethnic rebel group that has fought for autonomy since Myanmar’s independence in 1948. The designation comes amid ongoing civil war and political unrest following the 2021 military coup. The KNU represents the Karen ethnic minority in Myanmar’s southeast. It has waged intermittent armed struggle for self-rule since 1948. The group signed a ceasefire in 2015 with the then quasi-civilian government but resumed resistance after the 2021 military takeover. The KNU’s armed wing, the Karen National Liberation Army, has trained urban activists for combat. The group opposes military dominance and demands federal democracy and international mediation.

 

2. Exercise Achook Prahar 2025: The Indian Army’s Spear Corps and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) conducted a major joint firepower exercise named Achook Prahar in central Arunachal Pradesh from 25 to 28 August 2025. This drill tested their combat readiness and operational synergy under simulated battlefield conditions. The exercise demonstrated integrated use of mortars, machine guns, rockets, and grenades, denoting the forces’ ability to operate cohesively in high-altitude terrain. The ITBP was established in 1962 following the Sino-Indian War to guard India’s border with Tibet. Initially part of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), it became an independent central armed police force under the Ministry of Home Affairs in 2004. Its motto is Shaurya-Dridhata-Karma Nishtha meaning Valour, Determination, and Devotion to Duty. The ITBP is specialised in mountain warfare and operates across a 3,488 km border with China at altitudes from 9,000 to 18,750 feet.

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

 

1. Digital Connectivity Rating Agencies: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) recently authorised eight agencies as Digital Connectivity Rating Agencies (DCRAs). This move follows the implementation of the “Rating of Properties for Digital Connectivity Regulations, 2024”. The registrations are valid for five years from August 27, 2025. These agencies will assess and rate properties based on their digital connectivity, helping stakeholders make informed decisions. Recently, TRAI released a draft manual to rate properties for digital connectivity. This was followed by the official Manual for Rating of Properties for Digital Connectivity in August 2025. The regulations set the first standardised framework in India to evaluate how buildings support high-speed and reliable digital access. The eight authorised DCRAs include Ardom Towergen Private Limited and TUV SUD South Asia Private Limited among others. They assess properties using a uniform methodology defined in the manual. Their evaluations result in a ‘Star Rating’ that reflects the quality of digital connectivity within buildings.

 

2. Crocothemis Erythraea: Recent research has confirmed the presence of the rare dragonfly species Crocothemis erythraea in the high-elevation areas of the southern Western Ghats. Earlier, this species was often confused with the widespread lowland species Crocothemis servilia. This rediscovery marks the significance of detailed field studies and modern scientific methods in biodiversity documentation. The genus Crocothemis in India includes two species – Crocothemis servilia and Crocothemis erythraea. C. servilia is common in lowland regions. C. erythraea, however, prefers cooler, high-altitude habitats. It is known from parts of Europe, Asia, and the Himalayas. The presence of C. erythraea in the Western Ghats was uncertain due to misidentification and lack of physical evidence. Between 2019 and 2023, multiple field expeditions were conducted in high-altitude sites such as Wagamon, Rajakumari, Pampadum Shola, and Parambikulam. Specimens were collected for detailed study. Identification used both morphological traits and DNA barcoding. Key features included the male genitalia, especially the hamule structure. Molecular analysis confirmed that the Western Ghats specimens matched C. erythraea from the Himalayas.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. Extension of ECHS Benefits: The Union government has recently approved the extension of the Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) benefits to officer cadets who are medically invalidated during training due to disabilities caused or worsened by military training. This decision aims to provide much-needed medical support and financial relief to cadets who are currently ineligible for such benefits as they do not hold ex-servicemen status. The scheme will cover both current and future cases of medically boarded-out cadets from premier defence training institutions like the National Defence Academy (NDA), Indian Military Academy (IMA), and Officers Training Academy (OTA). Officer cadets often face physical and medical challenges during rigorous military training. Those invalidated on medical grounds have not been entitled to ECHS benefits as they lack ex-servicemen status. The government’s recent approval changes this by allowing these cadets to access ECHS healthcare facilities. The move recognises the lifelong impact of disabilities acquired during training and seeks to reduce the financial and emotional strain on affected families.

 

2. Export Promotion Mission: India is set to launch a Rs 25,000 crore Export Promotion Mission (EPM) from 2025 to 2031. This flagship initiative aims to support exporters amid rising global trade challenges, including the recent hike in US tariffs on Indian goods. The mission focuses on easing credit access and enhancing export capabilities, especially for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). The EPM was announced in the Union Budget 2025-26 to ensure broad-based, inclusive, and sustainable export growth. It seeks to address key bottlenecks that Indian exporters face. The mission intends to shield exporters from uncertainties such as the US doubling tariffs on Indian imports to 50% from August 2025. This tariff hike affects sectors like textiles, chemicals, leather, and footwear. The mission will operate through two main sub-schemes – Niryat Protsahan and Niryat Disha. Niryat Protsahan, with over Rs 10,000 crore, focuses on financial support, including interest equalisation and alternative trade finance. It also plans to introduce a credit card for e-commerce exporters. Niryat Disha, with over Rs 14,500 crore, aims at export quality compliance, overseas market development, branding, warehousing, logistics, and capacity building.