Daily Current Affairs and GK | 3 and 4 August 2025

Topic: Sports

1. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar unveiled the official mascot for the Asia Rugby Under-20 (Sevens) Championship.

• The championship will be held in Rajgir on August 9 and 10.
• Both men's and women's teams from across Asia will participate.
• The matches will take place at the Rajgir Sports Complex.
• This is the first time Bihar is hosting the Asia Rugby Under-20 Championship.
• Besides India, eight top Asian rugby nations will take part in the event.
• These include India, Hong Kong, China, UAE, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, and Nepal.
• The championship will follow the rugby sevens format. Each team will have seven players on the field.
• The mascot  of the Asia Rugby Championship is a rabbit that has been named Ashoka.
• Ashoka symbolizes speed and agility, which are key traits in rugby.
• Chief Minister Nitish Kumar extended his best wishes to the players and organizers.
• Rahul Bose, actor and President of Rugby India, attended the unveiling ceremony.

Topic: National News

2. Ms. Sonali Mishra became the first woman Director General of the Railway Protection Force.

• Ms. Sonali Mishra, an IPS officer of the 1993 batch, has been appointed as the Director General of the Railway Protection Force (RPF).
• This marks the first time in the 143-year history of the Force that a woman has assumed the top position.
• Her appointment was approved by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet and is valid until her superannuation in October 2026.
• She brings over 30 years of service across various state and central police organizations, including the CBI and BSF.
• Ms. Mishra also has international experience, having served with the UN Peacekeeping Mission in Kosovo.
• Her past roles include Additional DG of Police Training & Research Institute and Director of MP Police Academy in Bhopal.
• She has been honored with the President’s Police Medal for Distinguished Service and the Police Medal for Meritorious Service.

Topic: National News

3. India commissioned the first green hydrogen plant in the port area at Kandla.

• On 3 August, PM Narendra Modi lauded the commissioning of India's first Make-in-India Green Hydrogen Plant in the port sector, established at Kandla, Gujarat.

• The initiative has been undertaken by the Deendayal Port Authority, marking a key step towards achieving India’s Net-Zero emissions target.
• The green hydrogen plant was inaugurated by Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on July 31.
• In May 2025, just four months after PM Modi laid the foundation stone of the 10 MW green hydrogen facility during his visit to Bhuj, the plant became operational.
• With this, Kandla has become the first Indian port to have an indigenous green hydrogen facility at megawatt scale, underlining Gujarat's growing role in renewable energy and sustainable infrastructure.
• The facility is expected to reduce carbon emissions and promote sustainable practices in India's maritime sector.
• India has committed to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2070, with green hydrogen playing a central role in that transition.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Government Schemes and Initiatives

4. The first projects under the “India-UN Global South Capacity Initiative” launched by India.

• On August 1, 2025, the first tranche of four development projects was launched under the "India UN Global Capacity Building Initiative."

• Secretary (West) Tanmaya Lal led the launch event in the presence of UN officials, foreign dignitaries, and MEA representatives.
• The initiative had been announced during the 78th UN General Assembly in 2023 by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar.
• These projects aim to accelerate Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through South-South cooperation, with technical support from Indian institutions.
• India is a leader in capacity-building efforts for the Global South.
• ITEC (Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation) is its flagship program, under which over 12,000 training slots are provided every year to around 160 countries in over 400 specialized courses.
• More than 225,000 training slots have been provided since its inception.
• In the first phase, four projects have been identified for implementation, including:
  • Rice Fortification and Supply Chain Management in Nepal with support of World Food Programme;
  • Digital health platform for Zambia and Laos PDR in collaboration with UNDP;
  • Census preparation in Belize, Barbados, St. Kitts and Nevis, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago in collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund; and
  • Vocational training program for South Sudan in collaboration with UNESCO.
• For these projects, ITEC training institutes have been identified, and the courses are expected to be implemented from September 2025.

Topic: National News

5. In July 2025, UPI recorded its highest ever monthly transactions.

• India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) system achieved an all-time high in July 2025, recording 1,947 crore transactions worth ₹25.1 lakh crore.
• The volume reflects a 35% year-on-year increase, while the value has seen a 22% rise compared to the same month last year.
• Daily UPI transactions averaged 62.8 crore, an increase from 61.3 crore in June, indicating consistent usage.
• The daily transaction value also grew to ₹80,919 crore in July, up from ₹80,131 crore the previous month.
• These numbers represent the highest monthly transaction count and value ever achieved on the UPI platform.
• The growing adoption of UPI in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities has been attributed to its user-friendly interface and reliability.
• Industry experts believe this sustained growth is driven by innovations such as credit on UPI, recurring payments, and government-led efforts to promote cashless transactions.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: National News

6. India performed a record 18,900 organ transplants in 2024.

• On 2 August, Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda confirmed that India performed a record 18,900 organ transplants in 2024, making it the third-highest in the world after the US and China.
• The announcement was made during the 15th Indian Organ Donation Day event organized by National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization (NOTTO) at the Dr. Ambedkar International Centre.
• Nadda emphasized the need for awareness and better infrastructure to bridge the gap between organ demand and availability.
• Over 3.3 lakh citizens have pledged their organs through the Aadhaar-linked NOTTO portal launched in 2023.
• India now leads in hand transplants globally, showcasing the nation’s advanced medical capabilities.
• The government provides financial assistance up to ₹15 lakh under Rashtriya Arogya Nidhi and monthly post-transplant aid of ₹10,000.
• Kidney transplants are also covered under Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY for eligible patients.
• Nadda urged the public to adopt healthy lifestyles and reduce oil consumption, aligning with the PM’s health campaigns.
• NOTTO Annual Report 2024-25, an e-newsletter, awareness booklets were released and states, institutions and individuals who have contributed to organ donation were felicitated at the event.
• Tamil Nadu was awarded the Best State, Puducherry the Best Union Territory and Ratna North the Best Regional Organisation.
• Telangana was awarded for the highest rate of deceased organ donation.
• Ten donor families and four transplant recipients were felicitated, and an organ donation pledge was taken to promote this cause across the country.
• Organ Donation Month is celebrated every year in July in India under the Angdaan-Jeevan Sanjivani Abhiyan, under which a series of awareness drives, pledge drives and outreach activities are organised.

Topic: Art and Culture

7. The inaugural BIMSTEC Traditional Music Festival held on 4 August at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi.

• The event was formally launched by External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar.
• Musicians from the seven BIMSTEC member nations—India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand—performed at the event.
• The Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) hosted the festival.
• The event is named ‘SaptaSur: Seven Nations, One Melody’ to reflect regional unity through music.
• It highlights the unique cultural and musical heritage of the BIMSTEC countries.
• This marks a key step in enhancing cultural collaboration within the BIMSTEC framework.
• The initiative follows Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s pledge during the April 2025 BIMSTEC Summit in Thailand to promote cultural exchange through music.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: State News/ Delhi

8. Delhi Assembly has transitioned to a fully digital and solar-powered system ahead of the Monsoon Session that started on August 4, 2025.

• Minister of State for Law and Justice, Arjun Ram Meghwal, officially launched the National e-Vidhan Application (NeVA) and a 500-kilowatt rooftop solar installation at the Assembly complex.
• Mr. Meghwal highlighted that Delhi’s shift to renewable energy sets a strong precedent for legislatures and public bodies nationwide.
• According to Meghwal, NeVA will streamline legislative work and allow real-time digital access to proceedings.
• Assembly Speaker Vijender Gupta declared that Delhi is the first legislative body in the country to operate entirely on solar power.
• Chief Minister Rekha Gupta pointed out that the NeVA rollout will bring greater transparency and digital accessibility to legislative processes.
• National e-Vidhan Application (NeVA) is a project under the Digital India initiative aiming paperless and digital state legislative process.
• Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Shri Kiren Rijiju, laid the foundation stone for the National e-Vidhan Application (NeVA) at the Delhi Legislative Assembly on 14th June 2025.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Miscellaneous

9. Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), in partnership with the Ministry of Ayush, has unveiled an official compilation of Ayurvedic food products classified as “Ayurveda Aahara.”

• This move builds on the foundation laid by the 2022 Food Safety and Standards (Ayurveda Aahara) Regulations.
• The approved formulations are grounded in traditional recipes, ingredients, and preparation methods drawn from classical Ayurvedic texts listed in Schedule A.
• The list has been formally issued under Note (1) of Schedule B within the regulatory framework.
• It offers a reliable and authoritative resource for food industry players producing Ayurveda Aahara items.
• The effort reinforces the cultural and scientific legitimacy of Ayurveda-based dietary products.
• Prataprao Jadhav, Minister of State for both the Ministry of Ayush and Health & Family Welfare, advocated for incorporating Ayurveda Aahara into daily meals.
• This action strengthens regulatory transparency and facilitates the inclusion of traditional dietary practices in modern wellness systems.
• It is a strategic step toward mainstreaming Ayurvedic nutrition for improved public health across the nation.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Agriculture and Allied Sectors

10. India is now the world’s second-largest fish producer.

• This was announced by Union Fisheries and Animal Husbandry Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh.
• He made the statement during an event held in Kolkata.
• The minister led a meeting with officials from West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, and Chhattisgarh.
• The discussion focused on strengthening the fisheries sector.
• It also addressed challenges faced by the industry.
• Several government schemes were reviewed.
• These included the PM Matsya Sampada Yojana and the Kisan Credit Card.
• Singh highlighted the potential of rural ponds in West Bengal.
• He said these water bodies could significantly boost fish production.
• He shared that India’s fish output has grown by 103% in 2024–25.
• This is in comparison to production levels in 2013–14.
• Minister of State George Kurian also attended the event.
• As of February 2025, India's share in global fish production was 8%.
• In Union Budget 2025-26, highest ever total annual budgetary support of Rs. 2,703.67 crores was proposed for the fisheries sector.
• Fisheries contribute about 1.1% to India’s GDP and over 6% to agricultural GDP.
• The sector provides employment to over 14 million people, mainly in coastal and rural areas.