Daily Current Affairs and GK | 27 August 2025

Topic: Sports

1. Indian weightlifter Mirabai Chanu won gold at the 2025 Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships in Ahmedabad.

• She lifted a total of 193kg. This broke the championship records in the snatch, clean and jerk, and overall total.
• Her snatch lift was 84kg. She lifted 109kg in the clean and jerk.
• Both lifts set new championship records.
• The win marked a strong comeback to competitive weightlifting for Mirabai.
• She also secured a direct qualification for the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games.
• Mirabai is a silver medallist from the Tokyo Olympics. She remains one of India’s top weightlifters.

Topic: Geography

2. Lava fountains erupted from Kilauea volcano in Hawaii.

• Recently, the Kilauea volcano on the island of Hawaii has attracted widespread attention due to a dramatic lava fountain eruption in which lava spewed up to 100 feet into the air.

• The eruption has been recorded as the 31st since December 2024.
• Kilauea has reinforced its reputation as one of the world’s most active volcanoes.
• The most recent eruption began on 22 August in the Crater Circle.
• Lava was flowing into the crater circle, creating a dramatic spectacle for both locals and tourists.
• No homes or infrastructure have been threatened by the eruption.
• Kilauea's eruptions occur in the Halemaumau Crater, which is part of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.

Topic: State News/Gujarat

3. The ‘Made in India’ battery electric vehicle ‘E-Vitara’ flagged off, and a hybrid battery electrodes plant inaugurated in Gujarat.

• On 26 August, the Made in India battery electric vehicles (BEVs), ‘E-Vitara,’ were flagged off from Hansalpur in Gujarat by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
• The vehicles are planned to be exported to more than 100 countries, including Japan and European nations.
• A two-day Gujarat visit of the Prime Minister included a tour of Suzuki Motor’s exhibition at Hansalpur in Ahmedabad.
• The hybrid battery electrodes production line at the TDS Lithium-Ion Battery Plant in Hansalpur was inaugurated by the PM.
• The plant has been developed as a joint venture of Toshiba, Denso, and Suzuki to boost clean energy innovation.
• It was highlighted that over 80% of the battery value will now be manufactured domestically in India.
• The Prime Minister posted on social media that the day marks a milestone in India’s journey towards self-reliance and green mobility.
• Addressing a gathering, he said that Make in India is also being transformed into Make for the World.
• He stressed that India’s democracy, demography, and skilled workforce offer a win-win opportunity for global partners.
• Companies such as Maruti Suzuki were described by the PM as brand ambassadors of the Make in India initiative.

Topic: Summits/Conferences/Meetings

4. The Global Spiritual Conclave organized in Ujjain by the Madhya Pradesh government on 27 August.

• Union Minister of Tourism and Culture Gajendra Singh Shekhawat inaugurated it in the presence of Chief Minister Mohan Yadav.
• Over 300 dignitaries, including spiritual leaders and thinkers from India and abroad, participated in the program.
• The keynote address was delivered by renowned spiritual leader Gauranga Das.
• The Tourism Department of Madhya Pradesh organized the conclave with the support of the Ministry of Tourism.
• The conclave aims to promote spiritual tourism and safeguard cultural heritage.
• It was underlined that the initiative will benefit not only tourism but also seekers of India’s spiritual legacy.
• The platform is being seen as a global stage to showcase India’s spiritual traditions alongside modernity.

Topic: Summits/Conferences/Meetings

5. The first International Pali Conference organized in Kandy by India and the University of Peradeniya.

• On 26 August, the first-ever international conference on the Future of Pali Studies was jointly hosted by India’s Assistant High Commission and the University of Peradeniya in Kandy.

• The conference was attended by scholars from Sri Lanka, India, and other nations.
• The presentations discussed Theravada traditions, manuscript studies, and Pali’s journey from being a classical scholarly medium to a living language.
• The Deputy Prelate of the Malwatta Chapter and senior Mahasabha members also graced the occasion.
• The event proved to be a milestone for the University of Peradeniya, which hosted the International Pali Conference for the first time.
• It also underlined the close cultural ties between India and Sri Lanka.
• Pali has been accorded the status of a classical language in India by the Government of India, further highlighting its enduring importance.

Topic: Summits/Conferences/Meetings

6. India and Kuwait held the 7th round of Foreign Office Consultations in New Delhi.

• On 26 August, the 7th round of Foreign Office Consultations between India and Kuwait was held in New Delhi.
• The talks were co-chaired by Aseem R Mahajan, Additional Secretary (Gulf), and Kuwaiti AFM Sameeh Essa Johar Hayat.
• The Kuwaiti Ambassador also met Arun Kumar Chatterjee, Secretary (CPV & OIA).
• Both sides reviewed bilateral ties and discussed regional and international matters of mutual interest.
• Strategic partnership areas such as trade, defence, energy, and culture were taken up for strengthening.
• The MEA stated that the discussions built on the roadmap drawn during PM Modi’s Kuwait visit in December 2024.
• Further, the Ministry of External Affairs highlighted the decision to hold meetings of the Joint Working Groups (JWGs) under the Joint Cooperation Commission (JCC) at the earliest on mutually convenient dates.
• Bilateral trade between the two countries currently stands at USD 10.2 billion annually.
• The presence of over one million Indians in Kuwait was noted as a strong people-to-people link.

Topic: Sports

7. Sift Kaur Samra won gold in the women’s 50m rifle 3 positions event at the 16th Asian Shooting Championships.

• The competition was held in Shymkent, Kazakhstan.

• She finished with a final score of 459.2 points.
• China’s Yujie Yang claimed the silver medal. Yang scored 458.8 points.
• Misaki Nobata from Japan secured the bronze medal. She ended with a score of 448.2 points.
• Indian shooter Ashi Chouksey also reached the final. She finished in seventh place with 402.8 points.
• In the qualification round, Sift placed second. Ashi ranked fifth in the same round. Both advanced to the final with improved rankings.
• Sift entered the final in first position. Ashi entered as the fourth-ranked shooter.
• Sift Kaur Samra is an Indian sport shooter. She holds the world record in the women’s 50 m rifle three positions event.

Topic: International Appointments

8. Rajiv Ranjan has been appointed as Vice President of the New Development Bank (NDB).

• He will serve a five-year term in this role.
• The appointment was announced by the NDB’s Board of Governors.
• The New Development Bank was created in 2015 by the BRICS countries.
• It focuses on financing infrastructure and sustainable development projects.
• The bank supports initiatives in BRICS nations and other emerging and developing economies.
• Rajiv Ranjan has over 35 years of experience in central banking.
• He began his career at the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in 1989.
• Since May 2022, he has served as an Executive Director at RBI.
• He has also been a Member of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC).
• From 2012 to 2015, he worked as an Economic Policy Expert at the Central Bank of Oman.
• Dilma Rousseff is the current President of New Development Bank (NDB).

Topic: International News

9. Inga Ruginiene has been confirmed by the Lithuanian parliament as the nation’s next Prime Minister.

• She represents the Social Democratic Party.

• At present, she holds the position of minister for social security and labour.
• With parliamentary approval secured, she now has a 15-day window to propose a cabinet lineup in consultation with the President.
• The new cabinet must receive parliamentary approval through a vote.
• Her appointment as Prime Minister will be formalized once the President signs the official decree.
• Ruginiene was elected to the Lithuanian parliament for the first time in 2024.
• Prior to her political role, she led the Lithuanian Trade Union Confederation as its chairperson.
• Lithuania lies on eastern shore of the Baltic Sea. Vilnius is the capital of and largest city in Lithuania. Euro is the currency of Lithuania. 

Topic: Summits/ Conferences/ Meetings

10. India and South Africa held their 5th Joint Working Group Meeting on Agriculture virtually.

• The meeting was seen as an important step in strengthening ties between the two countries in agriculture and related areas.
• Discussions focused on sharing knowledge and launching joint research projects.
• They also talked about building capacity and tackling issues related to market access.
• Both countries explored ways to deepen cooperation between the Indian Council of Agricultural Research and South Africa’s Agricultural Research Council.
• The meeting was co-chaired by Ajeet Kumar Sahu, Joint Secretary of India’s Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.
• Thapsana Molepo, Acting Director of International Trade Promotion from South Africa, co-chaired as well.