Current Affairs - August 13, 2025 Current Affairs

The Union Cabinet, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved four new semiconductor projects under the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM), with a cumulative investment of around ₹4,600 crore. These projects will be established in Odisha, Punjab, and Andhra Pradesh, marking a significant step toward enhancing India’s semiconductor manufacturing ecosystem. The approved companies include SiCSem, Continental Device India Pvt Ltd (CDIL), 3D Glass Solutions Inc., and Advanced System in Package (ASIP) Technologies. By spreading the projects across multiple states, the initiative not only boosts local economies but also supports India’s goal of becoming a global hub in semiconductor production.

The 18th International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics (IOAA) was inaugurated in Mumbai, hosted by the Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education (HBCSE) at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR). The event witnessed participation from 288 high school students representing a record 64 countries, with 12 countries joining for the first time. Hosting such a large and diverse international academic competition highlights Mumbai’s role as a hub for science and education. It also reflects India’s growing contribution to global scientific collaboration, encouraging young minds to pursue research and innovation in astronomy and astrophysics.

The Multidisciplinary Education and Research Improvement in Technical Education (MERITE) scheme, with an outlay of ₹4,200 crore, has been introduced to enhance the quality, equity, and governance of technical education in India. Covering 275 institutions—175 engineering colleges and 100 polytechnics—the scheme will be implemented from 2025 to 2030 with support from the World Bank. Its focus is on boosting research, innovation, and employability skills through the establishment of research hubs, industry-academia collaborations, and modernised curricula. Additionally, MERITE aims to strengthen governance, promote multidisciplinary learning, and prepare institutions for digital transformation, benefiting over 7.5 lakh students nationwide.

Jharkhand’s women’s hockey team emerged victorious at the 15th Junior National Women’s Hockey Championship held in Kakinanda, Andhra Pradesh, defeating Hockey Haryana 2-1 in the final. This win marked their second consecutive junior national title and their fourth overall, with earlier victories in 2018, 2019, 2024, and 2025. More impressively, in 2025, Jharkhand completed a clean sweep by winning national titles across all three categories — Senior, Junior, and Sub-junior. This remarkable achievement highlights the state’s strong grassroots development system, consistent performance, and growing dominance in women’s hockey on the national stage.

The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) entered into a five-year partnership with the Indian Statistical Institute (ISI) to strengthen Aadhaar’s robustness, security, and reliability. The collaboration will focus on critical areas such as fraud and anomaly detection, development of biometric liveness detection tools, and refining biometric matching algorithms. This initiative is crucial for protecting Aadhaar from potential misuse while ensuring its efficient functioning as the backbone of India’s digital identity ecosystem. By involving ISI, a premier institute with expertise in advanced data science and statistical methods, UIDAI aims to bring cutting-edge research into national identity management.

The Ulchi Freedom Shield military exercise is a long-standing joint drill between the United States and South Korea. Originally beginning in the 1960s as the Taeguk Exercise, it evolved over time to strengthen readiness against potential threats in the region. In 2008, the exercise was renamed Ulchi-Freedom Guardian, and later became Ulchi Freedom Shield. The drills not only demonstrate military preparedness but also symbolise the close defence partnership between the U.S. and South Korea. Their collaboration ensures stability on the Korean Peninsula while reinforcing cooperation across land, air, sea, and cyber domains.

In July 2025, India recorded a significant drop in retail inflation, which fell to 1.55%. This marked the lowest level in eight years, with the last comparable figure seen in June 2017. The fall from 2.1% in June to 1.55% in July reflects easing price pressures across both rural and urban areas. Rural inflation stood at 1.18%, while urban inflation was 2.05%. Additionally, food prices experienced deflation, with the all-India Consumer Food Price Index falling to -1.76%, its lowest since January 2019. Such a sharp decline suggests improving supply-side conditions and stabilization in food prices.

The Border Security Force (BSF) launched ‘Operation Alert’ along the Rajasthan border to strengthen security measures in the lead-up to Independence Day. The operation focuses on enhancing vigilance through intensified patrols, conducting drills, and reviewing standard operating procedures (SOPs). Such measures are vital to ensure strict border management, prevent infiltration, and address emerging security challenges. The review and improvement of SOPs and instructions further demonstrate the BSF’s commitment to safeguarding the nation’s frontiers. This operation underscores the proactive steps taken by India’s primary border-guarding force to maintain peace, security, and readiness during sensitive national occasions.

The Supreme Court appointed its retired judge L. Nageswara Rao as the ombudsman of the Bihar Cricket Association (BCA). His role is to address allegations of illegal activities involving certain office bearers and ensure the association functions smoothly. The order was passed by a bench of Justices JB Pardiwala and R Mahadevan to prevent external interference and safeguard the integrity of cricket administration in Bihar. Such judicial interventions are crucial in maintaining transparency and accountability within sports bodies. Rao’s appointment highlights the judiciary’s proactive role in promoting fair governance in sports organizations across the country.

Namrata Batra created history at the 2025 World Games in Chengdu, China, by winning a silver medal in the women’s 52 kg wushu event. Although she lost the final 2-0 to local competitor Mengyue Chen, her achievement marked India’s first-ever medal in wushu at the World Games. At just 24 years old, Namrata has already established herself as a prominent athlete, being a four-time national champion and the previous year’s silver medalist at the Asian Championships. Her consistent performances on international platforms highlight her talent and determination, making her a significant figure in Indian martial arts.