Daily Current Affairs

The Ministry of Power released the State Energy Efficiency Index (SEEI) 2024, which evaluates the performance of 36 states and UTs on energy efficiency.

The index assessed performance using 66 indicators across seven key sectors, including industry, buildings, transport, and agriculture, for the year 2023–24.

The aim is to encourage data-based energy planning, efficiency, and replication of best practices nationwide.

The Nuakhai Festival will be celebrated on 28 August 2025 (Thursday) across Odisha and other regions with Odia cultural traditions.

This harvest festival marks the consumption of the newly harvested rice (‘nua’ = new, ‘khai’ = food), representing prosperity and gratitude for farmers.

Even Odias living outside the state celebrate the festival with equal enthusiasm.

The Bihar government has introduced the ‘Mukhyamantri Mahila Rojgar Yojana’ to create job opportunities for women.

The initiative is designed to promote women’s financial independence, employment, and reduced migration from Bihar.

The plan also includes establishing haat bazaars (local markets) where women can sell their products.

This reflects CM Nitish Kumar’s continuing focus on women’s empowerment.

During the 48th AGM of Reliance Industries, Anant Ambani unveiled ambitious clean energy plans for Jamnagar and Kutch, aiming to transform them into global hubs.

The development is part of the Dhirubhai Ambani Giga Energy Complex, featuring solar, large-scale battery storage, and green hydrogen projects.

Reliance targets supplying 10% of India’s electricity over the next decade.

These initiatives are intended to position India as a global leader in renewable and green energy.

The Department of Posts has signed an MoU with MapmyIndia – Mappls to implement DIGIPIN, a digital address coding system.

DIGIPIN will provide standardized digital addresses to enhance accuracy in navigation and service delivery.

Through integration with the Mappls app, users will be able to search, locate, and navigate efficiently using their unique digital address.

This step is expected to strengthen India’s digital infrastructure and promote the concept of Address as a Service (AaaS).

The 15th Annual India-Japan Summit took place in Tokyo in August 2025, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening the Special Strategic and Global Partnership.

Both leaders reiterated support for a Free and Open Indo-Pacific, advocated for UNSC reforms, and emphasized collaboration in supply chains, startup ecosystems, and the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train.

Key agreements: Clean energy (hydrogen & ammonia), critical minerals, AI collaboration, space exploration (Chandrayaan-5), digital innovation, environmental conservation, and wastewater management.

Additional highlights include creation of an SME Forum, Next-Generation Mobility Partnership, and enhanced state-prefecture partnerships.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was presented with a Daruma doll by Rev. Seishi Hirose, the Chief Priest of the Shorinzan Daruma-Ji temple, during his Japan trip.

The doll symbolizes good fortune and perseverance, highlighting the deep-rooted civilizational and spiritual bonds between India and Japan.

Its origins trace back to Bodhidharma, an Indian monk from Kancheepuram, who is revered in Japan as Daruma Daishi.

Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has launched a specialized AI and services transformation unit to boost artificial intelligence adoption across domains.

Amit Kapur, a senior executive with over 20 years at TCS, has been appointed as the unit’s head effective September 2025.

The move comes amid slowing global IT spending, with Indian IT firms shifting focus towards AI-driven solutions.

This unit will consolidate TCS’s AI capabilities, drive innovation, and strengthen industry-specific applications.

The announcement follows TCS’s layoff of 12,000 employees earlier this year, aligning with similar AI-focused strategies adopted by Accenture and other firms.

On 31 August 2025, Educate Girls (officially the Foundation to Educate Girls Globally) became the first Indian organization to win the Ramon Magsaysay Award, Asia’s most prestigious honor.

The award recognizes the NGO’s outstanding efforts in transforming education access for out-of-school girls in India’s most remote and underserved regions.

On 29 August 2025, President Droupadi Murmu presented the SCOPE Eminence Awards 2022–23, celebrating the achievements of Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs).

The awards acknowledged CPSEs’ role in economic growth, sustainable development, and national progress.

The President highlighted that PSUs are vital pillars for Aatmanirbhar Bharat, playing crucial roles in defense, agriculture, mining, and infrastructure development.

Ajaya Babu Valluri won gold in the men’s 79kg category at the Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships by lifting a total of 335 kg.

With this victory, he secured his qualification for the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow.