Current Affairs - August 23, 2025 Current Affairs

National Space Day is celebrated on August 23 every year to honour the historic achievement of Chandrayaan-3’s Vikram lander successfully performing a soft landing on the lunar surface on August 23, 2023. This milestone marked India as the first country to land near the Moon’s south pole, showcasing the nation’s growing space capabilities. The 2025 theme, "Aryabhatta to Gaganyaan: Ancient Wisdom to Infinite Possibilities," reflects India’s journey from its ancient astronomical heritage to ambitious modern space missions. The observance also highlights future endeavors such as the NASA-ISRO NISAR mission, reinforcing India’s global role in space exploration.

Exercise Samanvay Shakti 2025 was initiated by the Indian Army in the Tinsukia district of Assam. This 10-day long military-civil integration exercise is aimed at enhancing coordination between the armed forces, state agencies, and civil administration. The participation of the Indian Army, Indian Air Force, police, intelligence agencies, and district administration reflects its holistic approach toward strengthening cooperation and mutual understanding. Conducting such exercises in Assam also highlights the region’s strategic importance and the need for cohesive action in managing security, communication, and disaster response mechanisms effectively for both military and civil purposes.

India emerged as the leading office market in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region during the first half of 2025, accounting for 70% of the leasing demand and 48% of the new office supply. Alongside China and Singapore, India contributed nearly 80% of the total new office supply across the region. The strong momentum was driven by robust demand for Grade A office spaces, fueled by corporate expansions, the growth of Global Capability Centers (GCCs), and the overall resilience of India’s local market. This positioned India as the top-performing commercial real estate hub in APAC for H1 2025.

India and France have entered into a significant defence collaboration to co-develop a 120-kilonewton jet engine for India’s fifth-generation Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA). The project involves DRDO from India and Safran from France, with an estimated cost of $7 billion. While the initial batch of AMCA aircraft will use GE-414 engines, the indigenously co-developed engine with France will power future aircraft. The collaboration is expected to ensure 100% technology transfer, boosting India’s defence self-reliance and strengthening bilateral strategic ties. This initiative represents a major leap toward advanced indigenous capabilities in aerospace and defence technology.

The State Bank of India (SBI) has launched a Centre of Excellence for MSMEs at its State Bank Academy in Gurugram. This initiative is aimed at strengthening the MSME ecosystem by focusing on skill development, innovation, and knowledge sharing. It will provide significant support to MSME promoters, startups, and other stakeholders in the sector. Moreover, the Centre of Excellence is expected to foster collaboration between academia, industry, government institutions, and banking professionals. By doing so, SBI is contributing to the growth and sustainability of the MSME sector, which is a vital component of India’s economic development and employment generation.

The International Solar Alliance (ISA), launched jointly by India and France at COP21 in Paris in 2015, has its headquarters in Gurugram, India. With 123 Member and Signatory Countries, the ISA focuses on promoting solar energy as a clean and affordable source of power worldwide. Its initiatives emphasise supporting Least Developed Countries and Small Island Developing States, where energy access challenges are most acute. By facilitating cooperation with global institutions, ISA works toward large-scale deployment of solar solutions, enabling sustainable development, reducing carbon emissions, and contributing significantly to global climate action efforts.

The 1,200MW Kalai-II hydroelectric project is located in Anjaw district of Arunachal Pradesh, where a public hearing was conducted by the state’s Pollution Control Board to secure environmental clearance. With an investment of around Rs 14,000 crore, the project is being developed by THDC India Ltd and is designed as a run-of-river with pondage hydroelectric scheme. It is expected to generate free power worth Rs 318 crore annually, contributing significantly to both the state’s energy output and its revenue. This project highlights Arunachal Pradesh’s vast hydropower potential and its importance in India’s renewable energy landscape.

Nepal has achieved a landmark public health milestone by being verified for eliminating rubella, also known as German measles. This recognition by the World Health Organization highlights Nepal’s strong immunization campaigns and health system efforts. Rubella is a contagious viral disease that can lead to rashes, fever, and swollen lymph nodes, and while often mild, it poses serious risks to pregnant women, including congenital defects in newborns. The elimination was made possible largely due to the widespread use of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine. This milestone strengthens regional progress toward ending measles and rubella by 2026.

Air India has entered into a collaboration with Indian Oil to promote sustainable aviation practices through the use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). This partnership is significant as Indian Oil recently became the first Indian company to achieve ISCC CORSIA certification for SAF production at its Panipat Refinery, meeting international emission standards. The agreement between Air India and Indian Oil marks an important step in reducing the carbon footprint of India’s aviation sector. It highlights the industry’s commitment to adopting greener technologies, aligning with global environmental goals, and contributing toward long-term climate sustainability.

The Khavda Solar Energy Project is situated in Bhuj, Gujarat, where NTPC Green Energy Ltd has begun commercial supply of 49 MW as part of its broader 300 MW solar initiative. Earlier phases of 142.2 MW and 32.8 MW were also made operational in June 2025, highlighting steady progress in the project’s rollout. Gujarat has been a leading state in India’s renewable energy sector due to its favorable geography and policy support. This development underlines NTPC Green’s commitment to expanding its clean energy portfolio, aligning with India’s long-term renewable energy and sustainability goals.