Daily Current Affairs and GK | 30 August 2025

Topic: Reports and Indices

1. India has surpassed one crore school teachers for the first time in the 2024-25 academic year, as per the UDISE+ report.

• As per a report by Ministry of Education on Unified District Information System for Education Plus (UDISE +) on school education in India, this reflects a 6.7% rise in the number of teachers since the 2022-23 academic session.
• The country currently has approximately 15 lakh schools, educating more than 24 crore students.
• Nearly half of these students attend government-run schools, 41% are enrolled in private institutions, and the remainder study in government-aided schools.
• Women now constitute 54.3% of the total teaching population across the nation.
• Girls account for 48.3% of total school enrolments.
• Pupil-Teacher Ratios have seen improvement, now standing at 10 for Foundational, 13 for Preparatory, 17 for Middle, and 21 for Secondary levels.
• Indicators like student retention, enrolment ratios, and dropout rates have shown positive trends.
• The government has made efforts to eliminate schools with zero enrolment and those staffed by only one teacher.
• Schools are becoming more adaptive and student-focused, contributing to lower dropout rates and broader inclusion in education.

Topic: Sports

2. India has revealed its 73-member contingent for the upcoming World Para Athletics Championships.

• The championship is scheduled to be held at New Delhi’s Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium from September 27 to October 5.
• This marks the first occasion that India will serve as host for the prestigious para athletics event.
• The team features 19 female athletes and will be spearheaded by top javelin thrower Sumit Antil.
• Notably absent from the lineup is celebrated high jumper and triple Paralympic medallist Mariyappan Thangavelu.
• Sharad Kumar, a Paralympic bronze and silver medallist in high jump, has also been excluded from the squad.
• Paris Paralympics club throw champion Dharambir Nain and sprinter Preethi Pal, a two-time bronze winner, will lead India as flag bearers during the opening ceremony.

Topic: Summits/Conferences/Meetings

3. The 17th Biofach India 2025 began in Greater Noida with a focus on organic growth.

• The 17th edition of BioFach India is being organized from August 30 to September 1, 2025, at the India Expo Centre and Mart in Greater Noida.

• The Union Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare is participating in this organic trade fair, which is one of the largest in the country.
• More than 27 Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) from the North-Eastern Region, supported under MOVCDNER, will showcase a wide variety of organic products.
• Cardamom, ginger, king chilli, turmeric, millets, fruits, rice, and GI products are among the organic produce that will be presented at the fair.
• The participation of FPOs has been considered a step towards increasing their visibility in national and international markets.
• Policymakers, buyers, traders, businesses, and global stakeholders will gather at the event to deliberate on opportunities and challenges in the organic sector.
• The Mission Organic Value Chain Development for the North-Eastern Region (MOVCDNER), launched in 2015-16, is aimed at promoting sustainable organic farming.
• The scheme provides support for production, certification, processing, and marketing, with special focus on small and marginal farmers.
• FPOs are being linked directly with buyers to ensure better income opportunities and long-term resilience for farmers.
• The Ministry has emphasized that this participation reinforces India’s commitment to sustainable, climate-resilient, and inclusive agriculture.

Topic: Indian Polity

4. On 29 August, Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice Vipul Manubhai Pancholi were sworn in as judges of the Supreme Court of India.

• Chief Justice of India B. R. Gavai administered the oath of office in the Supreme Court premises.
• With their appointment, the top court has reached its sanctioned strength of 34 judges, including the CJI.
• The Supreme Court Collegium had recommended their names on August 25, and the Centre approved them on August 27.
• Justice Aradhe was serving as the Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court before his elevation.
• Justice Pancholi, who was the Chief Justice of the Patna High Court, is in line to become the Chief Justice of India in October 2031.
• Justice B. V. Nagarathna dissented in the collegium, expressing concern over Pancholi’s appointment as “counter-productive.”
• Justice Nagarathna is expected to become India’s first woman Chief Justice in September 2027.

Topic: Indian Economy

5. India's GDP growth rate increased to 7.8%, the highest in five quarters.

• India’s economy recorded a 7.8% GDP growth in the June quarter of FY 2025-26, the highest in five quarters.

• The GDP growth rate increased for the third consecutive quarter in the first quarter of FY 2025-26.
• This growth rate of 7.8% is 43 basis points (one basis point is one hundredth of a percentage point) higher than the March quarter figure.
• It is 1.3 percentage points higher than the 6.5% figure of the June quarter of the last financial year.
• The growth surpassed expectations, as a Bloomberg poll had estimated it at 6.7%.
• The increase was driven by strong performances across agriculture, industry, and services sectors.
• Agricultural growth rose to 3.7% compared to 1.5% a year ago, while industry grew at 7% and services at 9.3%.
• According to the quarterly estimates of GDP for the first quarter of the current fiscal year released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, the nominal GDP has witnessed a growth rate of 8.8% during the same period.

Topic: Summits/Conferences/Meetings

6. India and Singapore held the first Joint Consultation Meeting on Legal Cooperation.

• On 29 august, the inaugural meeting of the India–Singapore Joint Consultative Committee (JCC) was held in Singapore.
• It has been established under the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Cooperation in Law and Dispute Resolution.
• The meeting was co-chaired by India’s Minister of State for Law and Justice Arjun Ram Meghwal and Singapore’s Minister for Law Edwin Tong.
• Both sides discussed strengthening cooperation under the MoU signed for arbitration, mediation, and dispute resolution.
• Minister Edwin Tong highlighted the growth of legal ties alongside economic relations as the two nations mark 60 years of diplomatic ties.
• He urged India to ratify the Singapore Convention on Mediation, noting India was among its first signatories.
• Minister Meghwal underlined India’s reforms in arbitration and mediation, including the Mediation Act, 2023.
• He underlined the emerging role of the India International Arbitration Centre (IIAC) and key institutions such as the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC), the Singapore International Mediation Centre (SIMC) and the Singapore International Commercial Court (SICC) in shaping and enhancing this partnership.

Topic: Indian Economy

7. The central government’s fiscal deficit reached 29.9% of the annual target by the end of July 2025.

• This is according to Controller General of Accounts (CGA) data released on August 29, 2025.

• In the first four months of the previous financial year, it had reached only 17.2% of the 2024-25 Budget Estimates.
• The deficit was at 17.9% of the full-year target at the end of first quarter (April-June).
• From April to July 2025, the government recorded a fiscal gap of ₹4.68 lakh crore.
• For the entire 2025-26 fiscal year, the deficit is targeted at 4.4% of GDP. This equals a total of ₹15.69 lakh crore.

Topic: National News

8. Bharat Buildcon will be held in New Delhi from April 29 to May 2, 2026.

• Bharat Buildcon is an international trade fair focused on building materials.
• The event will attract over 30,000 Indian visitors.
• More than 1,000 international buyers from around 100 countries are also expected to attend.
• At the Curtain Raiser in the capital, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal spoke about the event.
• He said the exhibition brings together global buyers, domestic participants, and government procurement agencies.
• He described it as a major opportunity for Indian companies to showcase their products globally.
• The Minister also stressed the government’s support for industries during current challenges.
• Mr. Goyal encouraged businesses to become more independent and self-reliant.

Topic: Reports and Indices

9. The Ministry of Power has released the 2024 State Energy Efficiency Index (SEEI).

• This edition of the Index focuses on tracking and improving energy use at the state level.
• It helps establish a structured approach to monitoring energy performance.
• The Index also promotes the sharing of best practices across states.
• It encourages competition to enhance overall energy efficiency.
• Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Assam, and Tripura are the top-ranking states this year.
• The sixth edition includes a stronger focus on practical implementation.
• It features 66 indicators to assess performance in energy use.
• These indicators cover seven major sectors of energy demand.
• The sectors include buildings, industry, municipal services, transport, and agriculture.
• They also include electricity distribution and cross-sector initiatives.
• A total of 36 States and Union Territories were assessed in SEEI 2024.
• The evaluation reflects data from the 2023–24 fiscal year.
• States were classified into four performance categories.
• These categories are Front Runners (>60%), Achievers (50-60%), Contenders (30-50%), and Aspirants (<30%).

Topic: Sports

10. India unveiled its first-ever Mondo track on National Sports Day.

• Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya confirmed this achievement.

• With this, India joins 24 other countries as the 25th nation to have a Mondo track.
• The new track will provide world-class facilities for Indian athletes.
• The Union Cabinet approved India’s letter of intent to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games.
• India has also officially submitted its bid to host the 2036 Olympic Games.
• A three-day Khel Mahotsav began across the country on 29 August to mark National Sports Day.
• The event aims to promote India as a leading sporting nation.
• A Mondo track is a brand of high-performance, rubber-based synthetic track surface. It is developed by Mondo, an Italian company.