Daily Current Affairs and GK | 21 August 2025

Topic: State News/ Bihar

1. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the Aunta–Simaria project in Gaya, Bihar, on the 22nd August 2025.

• The project includes a new bridge that stretches nearly two kilometres across the Ganga River.

• This bridge will create a direct link between Mokama in Patna district and Begusarai.
• It has been constructed next to the existing Rajendra Setu.
• Rajendra Setu is an older two-lane bridge that serves both rail and road traffic.
• The new bridge will shorten the travel distance for heavy vehicles by up to 100 kilometres.
• It will improve traffic flow between North and South Bihar.
• The bridge will also reduce fuel usage and vehicle operating costs.
• Prime Minister Modi laid the foundation stone for this project in 2017.
• This development is expected to strengthen connectivity and boost regional growth in Bihar.

Topic: Sports

2. Rashmika Sehgal won gold medal in Asian Shooting Championship.

• Rashmika Sahgal has won gold in Junior Women’s Air Pistol at the 16th Asian Shooting Championship in Kazakhstan.

• Her score was 241.9, which was 4.3 points ahead of silver-winning Korean shooter Han Seunghyun.
• It was India’s third individual gold medal on the second day of the competition.
• Manu Bhaker won bronze in Women’s 10m Air Pistol with a score of 219.7.
• Rashmika (qualification score 582) also won the team gold medal in the event along with Vanshika Chaudhary (573) and Mohini Singh (565).
• Besides, Manu (583) also won the team bronze in women's air pistol along with defending Asian Games champion Palak (573) and Suruchi Phogat (574).
• India has now secured five gold, two silver and four bronze medals in total so far.
• The 2025 Asian Shooting Championships competition is being held from 16 to 30 August 2025 at Shymkent Shooting Plaza, Shymkent, Kazakhstan.

Topic: Indian Polity

3. Lok Sabha passed the Online Gaming Regulation Bill 2025.

• On 20 August, the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill 2025 was passed by the Lok Sabha.
• The legislation has been designed to encourage e-sports and online social games while prohibiting harmful online money gaming.
• An Online Gaming Authority will be set up to provide coordinated policy support, development, and regulatory oversight.
• Electronics and IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw stated that several start-ups are engaged in the fast-growing digital technology sector.
• The minister highlighted that online money gaming has caused financial distress, fraud, and cheating in society.
• It was mentioned that 32 suicides have been reported in the past 31 months due to online money gaming.
• The bill contains provisions for a complete ban on offering or operating online money games.
• Violations will attract imprisonment up to three years and fines up to one crore rupees.
• The penalty for repeat offenses will be increased, which will include imprisonment of 3 to 5 years and a fine of up to Rs 2 crore.
• The bill aims to safeguard youth from predatory online money games such as Poker and Rummy.
• The legislation has been described as a step towards building a safe, secure, and innovation-driven Digital India.

Topic: Summits/Conferences/Meetings

4. The Ministry of Defence will host the first tri-services seminar, "Ran Samwad."

• The Ministry of Defence announced the organization of a first-ever Tri-Services Seminar titled “Ran Samwad.”

• The seminar will be hosted at the Army War College in Mhow (Dr. Ambedkar Nagar) from the 26th to 27th of August.
• Its central theme will focus on the impact of technology on warfare.
• Sub-themes include Emerging Technologies and Impact on Future Warfare and Reforms in Institutionalized Training to Catalyze Technological Enablement.
• The event will bring together serving officers, veterans, industry experts, and government functionaries.
• The changing nature of war and its influence on planning, tactics, and strategies will be discussed.
• The aim of this annual seminar is to facilitate strategic debate and advance reforms in India's defense sector.

Topic: Indian Economy

5. The growth rate of Indian core industries increased by 2% in July compared to the same period last year.

• India’s Eight Core Industries index recorded a 2% increase in July compared to the same month last year.
• According to the provisional data released by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, four major sectors of India, including steel, cement, fertilizer, and electricity, registered positive growth last month.
• Steel production grew by 12.8%, marking the highest increase among the sectors.
• Cement output rose by 11.7% during the month.
• Fertilizer production was reported to have grown by 2%.
• Electricity generation showed a marginal rise of 0.5%.
• Coal production, however, declined sharply by 12%.
• Natural gas production fell by 3.2%, while crude oil production dipped by 1.3%.
• Petroleum refinery output also went down by 1% compared to July last year.
• Meanwhile, the final growth rate of the Index of Eight Core Industries for the month of June this year stood at 2.2%.
• The cumulative growth rate of ICI during the April-July period over the corresponding period of last year is provisionally recorded at 1.6%.

Topic: MoUs/Agreements

6. UIDAI partnered with Starlink for Aadhaar-based verification.

• The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has partnered with Starlink Satellite Communication Pvt Ltd for Aadhaar-based customer verification.
• Starlink will use Aadhaar authentication for customer verification.
• This will make the whole process smooth, secure, and very easy.
• Aadhaar, one of the most trusted digital identity systems, will ensure that customer onboarding is quick, paperless and compliant with Know Your Customer (KYC) norms.
• Starlink Satellite Communication Private Limited appointed as Sub-Authentication User Agency and Sub-eKYC User Agency.
• The announcement was made in the presence of UIDAI CEO Bhuvnesh Kumar and other officials.
• Aadhaar has been described as a key pillar of India’s digital public infrastructure.
• The tie-up demonstrates the scalability and reliability of Aadhaar-based authentication.
• Aadhaar was launched in India in 2009 by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI).

Topic: Defence

7. India has successfully conducted a test launch of the Agni-5 Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile from the Integrated Test Range in Chandipur, Odisha.

• The trial was overseen by the Strategic Forces Command.
• According to the Ministry of Defence, the test confirmed that the missile met all technical and operational standards.
• Agni-5 is capable of carrying nuclear warheads and has an estimated strike range between 5,000 and 7,000 kilometers.
• This extended reach enables it to target all of China as well as select regions in Europe.
• Though tested multiple times since 2016, the Agni-5 missile has not yet been inducted into active military service.
• India's missile arsenal already includes the Agni 1 through Agni 4 series, with ranges spanning from 700 km to 4,000 km.
• A longer-range missile, Agni-6, expected to reach up to 10,000 km, is currently in the development phase.

Topic: Miscellaneous

8. The Indian Army has launched a major civil-military collaboration with the governments of Assam and Manipur.

• This initiative aims to strengthen coordination and mutual understanding.
• Exercise Samanvay Shakti 2025 was officially inaugurated in Laipuli, in Assam’s Tinsukia district.
• The exercise is designed to build a unified framework for civil and military institutions.
• It brings together the Army, local administration, and other agencies to address regional challenges.
• The goal is to promote joint efforts in planning and response.
• The opening session saw participation from multiple sectors.
• These included the Indian Army, Indian Air Force, district officials, and police forces.
• Intelligence agencies, NDRF, SDRF, and medical teams were also involved.
• Officials from BRO, GREF, railways, and educational institutions took part.
• Security personnel from OIL India, IOCL, and Coal India also attended.
• A parallel exercise is being held in Manipur from August 20 to 30, 2025.
• This program focuses on strengthening civil-military coordination.
• It covers disaster management, healthcare, and education.
• Public works, forest protection, narcotics control, and irrigation are included.
• Road safety and sports promotion are part of the agenda.
• The exercise also promotes employment in the armed forces.
• It enhances coordination between state police, Army, and paramilitary units.
• The ten-day exercise includes practical drills and rehearsals.
• It aims to improve readiness and streamline communication channels.
• Standard operating procedures will be refined through joint activities.
• Samanvay Shakti 2025 also focuses on building public trust.
• It seeks to deepen the bond between citizens and national institutions.
• The broader mission is to support regional development and national integration.

Topic: Sports

9. Anantjeet Singh Naruka won the gold medal in the Men’s Skeet event.

• The event took place at the Asian Shooting Championships in Shymkent, Kazakhstan.
• He defeated Mansour Al Rashidi of Kuwait in the final.
• This victory secured him the top position on the podium.
• Earlier in the day, Saurabh Chaudhary and Suruchi Inder Singh competed in the 10m air pistol mixed team event.
• They won the bronze medal for India.
• The Indian pair faced Liu Heng-Yu and Hsieh Hsiang-Chen from Chinese Taipei.
• Saurabh and Suruchi defeated them with a score of 17-9.

Topic: International News

10. A 70-meter modular bridge was built over the Hewa Khola in Panchthar district, Nepal.

• Indian Ambassador Naveen Shrivastav and Nepal’s Transport Minister Devendra Dahal officially inaugurated the bridge.
• The bridge is located on the Mechi Highway.
• It is the longest modular bridge installed in Nepal so far.
• This bridge connects the northern and southern parts of Koshi Province.
• The construction was carried out by GRSE Limited, an Indian government-owned company.
• During the project, 35 Nepali technicians received hands-on training in modular bridge assembly.
• This helped improve local technical skills in bridge construction.
• About two hours away from Hewa Khola, another modular bridge was handed over in Ilam district, Koshi Province.
• The new 48.8-meter bridge crosses the Puwa Khola river.
• It replaces a bridge that was destroyed by flooding.
• Ambassador Shrivastav and Minister Dahal jointly inaugurated the Puwa Khola bridge as well.
• In response to the September 2024 floods, India donated 10 prefabricated steel bridges to Nepal.
• The bridges were given to restore key road connections damaged by the floods.