Daily Current Affairs

The Ambani family has retained the top position in the 2025 Barclays Private Clients Hurun India Family Businesses list.

Their flagship, Reliance Industries, led by Mukesh Ambani, has a valuation of ₹28.2 lakh crore, nearly one-twelfth of India’s GDP.

Ranks 6–10: Nadar (HCL – ₹4.69L cr), Murugappa (Cholamandalam – ₹2.92L cr), Premji (Wipro – ₹2.79L cr), Anil Agarwal (Hindustan Zinc – ₹2.55L cr), Dani-Choksi-Vakil (Asian Paints – ₹2.21L cr).

On 17 August 2025, the Uttarakhand Cabinet cleared the Minority Educational Institutions Bill, 2025, the first such legislation in the state.

The Bill will be tabled in the Assembly session beginning 19 August 2025.

Its goal is to extend benefits earlier restricted to Muslim institutions to other minority-run institutions such as Sikh, Jain, Christian, Buddhist, and Parsi schools/colleges.

The Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare (DoPPW) started the ‘Anubhav’ portal in 2015 to preserve India’s administrative history through memoirs of retired government employees.

To boost participation, the National Anubhav Awards were instituted the same year.

The Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSME) has launched the Udyam Sakhi Portal to empower women entrepreneurs.

The portal helps women establish, expand, and sustain their businesses, aiming to make them self-reliant.

It provides detailed information on government schemes and financial programs such as PMEGP, CGTMSE, MUDRA, and TReDS, along with policies tailored to support women-led businesses.

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has suggested incorporating formal definitions of “algorithmic trading” and “proprietary trading” into stock broker regulations.

Algorithmic trading would be defined as orders generated or executed using automated logic.

Note: In July 2025, SEBI temporarily barred US-based firm Jane Street from the market for alleged manipulation of stock indices.

HDFC ERGO General Insurance has partnered with PhonePe to roll out an affordable health insurance policy.

The scheme primarily targets the ‘missing middle’, individuals generally excluded from health insurance coverage.

Indian Overseas Bank (IOB) has collaborated with Mumbai Metro One Private Limited to provide modernized ticketing services.

The initiative covers smart cards for frequent commuters, paper tickets, and QR-based ticketing solutions.

This partnership enhances commuter convenience and encourages digital payments in public transportation.

The Mumbai Metro Line 1 serves the Varsova-Andheri-Ghatkopar corridor.

Following the demise of L. Ganesan on 15 August 2025, Ajay Kumar Bhalla, Governor of Manipur, has been assigned additional responsibility as Governor of Nagaland.

The appointment was announced by the President of India on 16 August 2025.

Bhalla, a retired IAS officer and former Union Home Secretary, became Manipur’s Governor in 2024.

The BJP-led NDA has nominated C. P. Radhakrishnan, the Governor of Maharashtra, as its candidate for the Vice Presidential election on 9 September 2025.

A former Tamil Nadu BJP chief and long-time RSS member, he is the 24th Governor of Maharashtra since July 31, 2024.

The Vice Presidential post became vacant after Jagdeep Dhankhar resigned on 21 July 2025 due to health reasons.

The Odisha government has chosen Bollywood actress Madhuri Dixit as brand ambassador for its handloom sector.

The announcement was made by CM Mohan Charan Majhi during the inauguration of EKTA (Exhibition-cum-Knowledge Sharing for Textile Advantage).

The program coincided with the 11th National Handloom Day celebration in Odisha.

Launched on 7 September 2021 by the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), the mission focuses on exploring and sustainably utilizing oceanic resources.

With a vast Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), India holds a strong advantage in marine exploration.

Russia is preparing to launch the Venera-D interplanetary mission for in-depth study of Venus.

The mission is scheduled for launch before 2036, as part of Russia’s updated national space program.

Preliminary design work will commence in January 2026.

China has handed over the third of eight advanced Hangor-class submarines to Pakistan, enhancing Pakistan’s naval capability in the Indian Ocean.

The delivery ceremony was held in Wuhan, Hubei province, China.

Earlier, the second submarine was delivered in March 2025.

Celebrated annually on 19 August, the day honors the art, craft, science, and history of photography.

First celebrated in 2010, the day encourages global participation.

On World Photography Day, nearly 270 photographers shared their works in a global gallery.

India will host the Asian Open Short Track Speed Skating Trophy 2025 for the first time.

The event, the nation’s largest-ever international winter sports competition, will run from 20 to 23 August 2025.

Venue: Maharana Pratap Sports College, Raipur, Dehradun.

Bob Simpson, renowned Australian cricketer, captain, and coach, passed away at the age of 89.

His playing career included 62 Tests and 2 ODIs (1957–1978).

He is one of only seven Australians to score a triple-century in Test cricket.