Daily Current Affairs – 25 August 2026

Staying updated with today's current affairs is essential for competitive exam aspirants preparing for SSC, UPSC, Banking, State PSCs, and Railway exams. The 25 August 2026 current affairs cover India's first indigenously made AK-203 'Sher' assault rifle test-fired at Korwa (Amethi), the first module of Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS) approved, Assam's AssamSAT Earth observation satellite under DBLOTT, Iran's discovery of a 7.5 TCF natural gas field in Fars Province, Singapore's biological data centre prototype with living neurons, IOC-IndianOil MoU with Mauritius STC, India-Japan Maritime Security Cooperation Agreement, Miss Grand International 2026 to be hosted in India (October 2026), Infosys CEO succession (Ashiss Dash), and key important days - all of which frequently appear in the General Awareness section of government exams.

India – National Current Affairs

• India's First 100% Indigenised AK-203 Assault Rifle 'Sher' Test-Fired at Korwa, Amethi – Indo-Russian Rifles Private Limited (IRRPL) has manufactured and test-fired India's first 100% indigenised AK-203 assault rifle, named Sher (meaning Lion/Tiger in Hindi/Urdu), at the Korwa ordnance facility in Amethi, Uttar Pradesh. Exam importance: The AK-203 is the most advanced variant of the legendary Kalashnikov AK-47 family - a 7.62mm assault rifle developed by Kalashnikov Concern (Russia); India signed a government-to-government agreement with Russia in December 2021 for production of 6.01 lakh AK-203 assault rifles at the Indo-Russian Rifles Private Limited (IRRPL) joint venture in Korwa, Amethi, UP; IRRPL is a JV between the OFB successor entities (Advanced Weapons and Equipment India Ltd, AWEIL and Munitions India Ltd, MIL) and Kalashnikov Concern (Russia) - Indian partner holds 51%; the Sher is to replace the ageing INSAS (Indian Small Arms System) rifle in the Indian Army; the Ordnance Factory Korwa is India's premier small arms factory, now rechristened as part of the 7 new DPSUs formed after OFB's corporatisation in October 2021; 100% indigenisation milestone was achieved in August 2026 (initial production was 70% indigenous, ramping up to 100% as per MoU with Russia).
• India Approves First Module of Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS) Planned for 2035 Completion – India approved the first module of the Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS), a proposed Indian space station planned for completion by 2035. The station is designed as a modular, low Earth orbit outpost.Exam importance: The Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS) was announced by PM Modi on 15 August 2018 as India's goal of establishing its own space station by 2035; BAS will be developed under ISRO's human spaceflight programme, leveraging Gaganyaan mission technologies; the station will orbit at approximately 400-450 km altitude; it will serve as a platform for scientific research, technology demonstration, and international cooperation in space; the first module approval is a significant step - the ISS (International Space Station) was assembled over 13 years (1998-2011) using 16 modules; ISRO Chairman: V. Narayanan; the BAS is aligned with India's Space Policy 2023 and the Vision 2047 space programme.
• Assam in Final Stage of Selecting Private Partner for AssamSAT Earth Observation Satellite Under DBLOTT Framework – Assam is in the final stage of selecting a private-sector partner for AssamSAT, a proposed Earth observation satellite system being developed under the DBLOTT (Design, Build, Launch, Operate, Transfer of Technology) framework under India's Space Policy 2023. Exam importance: AssamSAT will be India's first state-owned Earth observation satellite; the DBLOTT model allows private companies to design, build, and launch satellites for state governments - then transfer the technology and operational control to the government entity; Assam CM: Himanta Biswa Sarma; AssamSAT will serve Assam's needs for flood monitoring (Brahmaputra floods affect Assam annually), crop monitoring, forest cover tracking, urban planning, and disaster response; it aligns with India's Space Policy 2023 which enables states and private entities to own space assets; India has approximately 60+ Earth observation satellite-based applications under ISRO; IN-SPACe Chairperson: Pawan Goenka.
• IndianOil Corporation Signs 5-Year LPG/Fuel Sales Agreement with Mauritius State Trading Corporation – IndianOil Corporation Limited (IOCL) and the State Trading Corporation of Mauritius (STC Mauritius) signed a five-year sales and purchase agreement on 20 August 2026 in Port Louis, Mauritius, for the supply of petroleum products (LPG, gasoline/petrol, diesel, aviation fuel) to support Mauritius's energy security.Exam importance: IOCL is India's largest PSU oil company (Maharatna) and the top-ranked Indian company on the Fortune Global 500 (ranked approximately 78th in 2026); CMD: Shrikant Madhav Vaidya; Mauritius is a priority partner for India under the SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) and MAHASAGAR frameworks; India-Mauritius CIPA (Comprehensive Economic Cooperation and Partnership Agreement) came into force in April 2021; UPI was launched in Mauritius in 2021; the 5-year petroleum supply agreement ensures energy security for Mauritius (a small island developing state with no domestic energy production) and strengthens India-Mauritius energy ties.
• India Launches 'DIGI Seva' Framework for Digital Governance of Village-Level Entrepreneurs (VLEs) – India's Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and the Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR) jointly launched the 'DIGI Seva' framework on 23 August 2026 to integrate Village Level Entrepreneurs (VLEs) operating at Common Service Centres (CSCs) with the BharatNet broadband infrastructure for enhanced digital service delivery in rural areas. Exam importance: Common Service Centres (CSCs) are citizen-centric service delivery points established under the CSC Scheme 2.0 under MeitY; there are approximately 5.59 lakh CSCs as of 2026 - covering every Gram Panchayat; VLEs (Village Level Entrepreneurs) are the frontline service providers at CSCs; BharatNet is India's flagship rural broadband programme targeting optical fibre connectivity to all 6.64 lakh villages; CSC e-Governance Services India Limited (CSC-SPV) is the implementing agency; DIGI Seva enables VLEs to offer 350+ G2C (Government-to-Citizen) and B2C (Business-to-Citizen) services via a unified digital dashboard.
• Rajya Sabha Passes Constitution (129th Amendment) Bill, 2026 - Uniform Civil Code for Union Territories – The Rajya Sabha passed the Constitution (129th Amendment) Bill, 2026 on 23 August 2026, providing a framework for implementing a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in Union Territories of India, following the Lok Sabha's passage on 12 August 2026 during the Monsoon Session. Exam importance: Article 44 of the Constitution (Directive Principles of State Policy) states: "The State shall endeavour to secure for the citizens a Uniform Civil Code throughout the territory of India"; this is one of DPSP's most contested provisions, involving the right of religious communities to their personal law traditions; the Bill covers UT Chandigarh, Puducherry, Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu, Lakshadweep, and Andaman & Nicobar Islands; Uttarakhand was the first Indian state to enact a UCC for its population through the Uttarakhand Uniform Civil Code Act, 2024 (effective January 2025); the 129th Constitutional Amendment requires Presidential assent after Parliament's approval.
• National Academy of Sciences India (NASI) and Indian Agricultural Research Council (ICAR) Host Joint Symposium on Climate-Smart Agriculture – The National Academy of Sciences India (NASI) and ICAR jointly hosted a two-day international symposium on "Climate-Smart Agriculture: Pathways to Resilience" on 22–23 August 2026 in Prayagraj (Allahabad), UP, bringing together 450+ scientists, agronomists, and policymakers from 28 countries. Exam importance: NASI was established in 1930 - India's oldest science academy; HQ: Prayagraj (Allahabad), UP; ICAR (Indian Council of Agricultural Research) was established in 1929; HQ: New Delhi (Pusa Campus); DG of ICAR: Himanshu Pathak; Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) is a global approach combining productivity, adaptation, and mitigation goals in agriculture; India has 54 ICAR research institutes and 101 All India Coordinated Research Projects (AICRPs); India's Climate-Smart Agriculture initiatives include Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF), Crop Insurance, Soil Health Card scheme, and the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY).

Daily Current Affairs 25 August 2026 - Download Free PDF Here

International Current Affairs

• India and Japan Sign Maritime Security Cooperation Agreement – India and Japan signed a Maritime Security Cooperation Agreement on 23 August 2026 to enhance defence ties between the Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force (JMSDF) and the Indian Navy. The agreement focuses on strengthening information sharing, search and rescue (SAR) operations, humanitarian assistance, and joint maritime patrol protocols in the Indo-Pacific region. Exam importance: India-Japan have a Special Strategic and Global Partnership (elevated in 2014); the two navies conduct annual JIMEX (Japan India Maritime Exercise) and MALABAR exercises (trilateral with USA); Japan and India signed the Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement (ACSA) in September 2020 - enabling mutual logistics support; this Maritime Security Cooperation Agreement builds on the defence co-development agreement signed at the 16th India-Japan Annual Summit (2 July 2026); Japan PM: Sanae Takaichi; Japan's capital: Tokyo; the Indo-Pacific region's maritime security is a core concern for the Quad (India, USA, Japan, Australia).
• Iran Discovers Major Natural Gas Field in Fars Province - Over 7.5 TCF Reserves – Iran announced the discovery of a major natural gas field in Fars Province on 23 August 2026. The field contains over 7.5 trillion cubic feet (TCF) of gas, equal to approximately 5–7 months of Iran's current annual domestic gas production. Exam importance: Iran holds the world's 2nd largest natural gas reserves (approximately 34 TCF - after Russia); the South Pars field (shared with Qatar as North Dome) is the world's largest natural gas field; Fars Province is in southern Iran; Iran was the subject of intense geopolitical activity in 2026 - the Iran-USA war (escalated February 2026), the naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, and the Iran-USA ceasefire (June 2026); the gas discovery is significant for Iran's post-ceasefire energy-led economic recovery; Iran joined BRICS as an expanded member in January 2024; India has historically imported Iranian crude oil but suspended imports under US sanctions (resumed partially post-ceasefire, 2026); Iran's energy sector is managed by NIOC (National Iranian Oil Company).
• Singapore Launches First Biological Data Centre with Living Human Neurons at NUS – Singapore has launched a biological data centre prototype at the National University of Singapore's (NUS) Centre for Life Sciences. The system uses living human neurons grown from stem cells as biological computational units. Exam importance: A biological data centre uses biological cells (neurons) to store, process, and retrieve information - a paradigm-shifting concept in computing science; biological computing uses the brain's architecture of synaptic connections and neural networks; the system can potentially be 1,000 times more energy-efficient than silicon-based computing; NUS (National University of Singapore) is one of Asia's leading research universities; Singapore is a key technology and innovation hub in Southeast Asia with an AI strategy (National AI Strategy 2.0, 2023) that includes biotechnology; Singapore's capital: Singapore City; Singapore's PM: Lawrence Wong (since 15 May 2024); India and Singapore have a Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA, 2005).

Economy & Banking

• Infosys Appoints Ashiss Dash as Next CEO - Salil Parekh to Exit in 2027 – India's 2nd largest IT company, Infosys, appointed Ashiss Dash as its next Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, effective 1 April 2027, when incumbent CEO Salil Parekh exits the company after a successful tenure. Ashiss Dash currently serves as Executive VP and Global Head of Energy, Utilities, Resources, and Services at Infosys. Exam importance: Infosys was founded in 1981 by Narayana Murthy and 6 co-founders with USD 250 in capital; HQ: Bengaluru, Karnataka; Infosys is listed on BSE, NSE, and NASDAQ; market capitalisation: approximately ₹7.5 lakh crore (August 2026); Salil Parekh joined as CEO in January 2018 and delivered significant revenue growth (from USD 10.9 billion in FY18 to USD 21.8 billion in FY26); Ashiss Dash has 25+ years of experience in IT services; Infosys employs approximately 3.35 lakh employees globally; key Infosys services: IT consulting, digital transformation, cloud, AI engineering, and business process management.
• India's Banking Sector Q1 FY27 Results - PSB Net Profits Up 22% YoY – India's public sector banks (PSBs) collectively reported a 22% year-on-year rise in net profits for Q1 FY2026-27 (April-June 2026), totalling approximately ₹36,000 crore - a new quarterly record - driven by rising net interest income (NII), improved asset quality (record-low GNPAs of 2.6%), and strong loan growth. Exam importance: India's 12 PSBs include SBI (India's largest bank by assets - approximately ₹69 lakh crore), Bank of Baroda, Bank of India, Canara Bank, Punjab National Bank, and others; SBI MD & CEO: C.S. Setty; net interest margin (NIM) for PSBs: approximately 3.2% (Q1 FY27); the PSB Confluence 2026 (17-18 August, New Delhi) had highlighted this banking sector turnaround as a key agenda item; India's banking sector credit growth: approximately 14.3% YoY (August 2026); GNPA ratio at record-low 2.6% (March 2026 FSR).
• Zepto IPO Filing with SEBI - India's Fastest-Growing Grocery Delivery Startup Targets ₹10,000 Crore Raise – Quick-commerce platform Zepto filed its Draft Red Herring Prospectus (DRHP) with SEBI for its initial public offering (IPO) targeting a raise of ₹10,000 crore on 22 August 2026 (with a greenshoe option), at a valuation of approximately ₹85,000 crore (USD 10 billion). Exam importance: Zepto was founded in 2021 by Aadit Palicha and Kaivalya Vohra (both Stanford University dropouts); HQ: Mumbai; it pioneered India's 10-minute grocery delivery model using 'dark stores' (micro-fulfilment centres); Zepto competes with Swiggy Instamart, Blinkit (Zomato), and BigBasket (Tata); India's quick commerce market is projected to reach USD 10 billion by 2027; the IPO follows Swiggy's listing (November 2024) and aligns with India's booming tech IPO pipeline (Jio Platforms, PhonePe also targeting listings in FY27-FY28); SEBI regulates IPOs under SEBI (ICDR) Regulations, 2018; SEBI Chairperson: Tuhin Kanta Pandey.

Sports

• India to Host Miss Grand International 2026 in October - Cities Jaipur, Agra, and New Delhi Selected – India has been officially confirmed as the host country for the 14th Miss Grand International 2026 pageant, scheduled for October 2026, with activities across Jaipur (Rajasthan), Agra (Uttar Pradesh), and New Delhi.Exam importance: Miss Grand International is one of the world's Big5 international beauty pageants (alongside Miss Universe, Miss World, Miss Earth, and Miss Supranational); it was established in 2013 in Thailand by Nawat Itsaragrisil; the 2025 winner: Emma Tiglao (Philippines) will crown her successor at the 2026 event in India; India's hosting is a significant tourism and soft power opportunity - the pageant showcases cultural heritage (Jaipur - Pink City, UNESCO World Heritage; Agra - Taj Mahal, UNESCO World Heritage) and Delhi's modern infrastructure (Yashobhoomi); India's last hosting of a major international pageant was Miss World 1996 (Bangalore) and Miss Universe 2024 (Mexico) - India doesn't officially participate in MU but competes; Lara Dutta (Miss Universe 2000) remains India's biggest pageant achievement.

Science & Technology

• DRDO Completes Design Review of AMCA (Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft) – DRDO's Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) completed the Critical Design Review (CDR) of the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) in August 2026, a milestone that clears the path for construction of the first metal cut prototype. Exam importance: AMCA is India's 5th-generation stealth multirole fighter aircraft programme - the most ambitious indigenous defence project in India's history; designed and developed by ADA (Aeronautical Development Agency), a DRDO laboratory; key features: internal weapons bay (for stealth), active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, supercruise (supersonic flight without afterburner), 2D thrust vector control nozzle, and all-composite fuselage; AMCA programme has two variants: AMCA Mk-1 (with GE-F414 engine, for first 40 aircraft) and AMCA Mk-2 (with indigenous engine under DRDP, for subsequent batch); CDR approval allows manufacturing of the 5 prototype aircraft; first prototype expected by 2028; first flight: approximately 2030; IOC (Initial Operational Capability): approximately 2034; HAL will manufacture AMCA; DRDO Chairman: Dr. Samir V. Kamat; ADA Director: Girish S. Deodhare.

Important Days

• 25 August - Ozone Layer Protection Day Countdown (World Ozone Day, 16 September) – India's awareness campaigns for World Ozone Day (observed on 16 September annually) begin building up in late August. The 2026 theme for World Ozone Day (16 September) is "Montreal Protocol: Advancing Climate Action." Exam importance: The Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer was adopted on 16 September 1987 (hence World Ozone Day is on 16 September); it entered into force on 1 January 1989; it is the world's only universally ratified UN treaty (all 197 UN members have ratified it); India acceded to the Montreal Protocol in September 1992; the Kigali Amendment (2016) to the Montreal Protocol phases down HFCs (hydrofluorocarbons); the ozone layer in the stratosphere (15–35 km altitude) absorbs 97-99% of the Sun's medium-frequency UV radiation; India's ODS (Ozone-Depleting Substances) phase-out is coordinated by MoEFCC under the Ozone Cell.
• 26 August - Mother Teresa Jayanti (Canonisation Anniversary) – 26 August marks the birth anniversary of Mother Teresa (born 26 August 1910, Skopje, then Ottoman Empire, now North Macedonia). She was canonised as a Saint by Pope Francis on 4 September 2016. Exam importance: Mother Teresa (birth name: Anjezë Gonxhe Bojaxhiu) founded the Missionaries of Charity in Kolkata in 1950; she won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979 for her work with the poor and destitute; she received the Bharat Ratna (India's highest civilian honour) in 1980; the Missionaries of Charity operates in 133 countries with approximately 4,500 nuns; Kolkata (formerly Calcutta) is Mother Teresa's adopted home and the location of her grave at Mother House, 54A AJC Bose Road; North Macedonia was formerly known as the Republic of Macedonia (renamed 2019 under the Prespa Agreement); canonisation of Mother Teresa makes her the 2nd most popular saint from Asia (after St. Francis Xavier).
• 29 August - National Sports Day 2026 (Major Dhyan Chand Jayanti - 121st Birth Anniversary) – National Sports Day is observed annually on 29 August - the birth anniversary of India's hockey legend Major Dhyan Chand (born 29 August 1905, Allahabad). Exam importance: 2026 marks Major Dhyan Chand's 121st birth anniversary; he scored 400+ goals in his international career; India won hockey gold at Amsterdam (1928), Los Angeles (1932), and Berlin (1936) Olympics under his leadership; he received the Padma Bhushan in 1956; the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award was renamed Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award in August 2021 by PM Modi; the National Sports Awards 2025 (announced 18 August 2026) will be conferred on 29 August 2026 at Rashtrapati Bhavan; NSD was first observed on 29 August 2012.