Daily Current Affairs 5th August 2025, Important News Headlines (Daily GK Update)

National News

PM Modi’s ‘Pariksha Pe Charcha’ Sets Guinness World Record with 3.53 Crore Registrations

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Pariksha Pe Charcha (PPC) has set a Guinness World Record with 3.53 crore registrations on the MyGov platform, marking the highest participation on a citizen engagement platform in a month.
• The 2025 edition witnessed 21 crore viewership, transforming exam stress into a festival of learning.
• Aligned with NEP 2020, PPC promotes stress-free, experiential education, making exams a joyful experience and advancing the vision of a Viksit Bharat.

State News

Sawalkote Hydropower Project: India Revives J&K’s Largest Hydroelectric Plant

• The Sawalkote Hydropower Project, a 2,185 MW run-of-the-river plant on the Chenab River, is being revived by NHPC and JKSPDC at a cost of ₹22,704 crore.
• As J&K’s largest hydroelectric project, it aims to generate 7,000 million units annually, making the region power-surplus while also contributing to flood control.
• Its revival follows India’s decision to pause the Indus Waters Treaty, marking a significant shift in regional water and energy policy.

International News

This Volcano Erupts After 600 Years, Ash Rises 4 km High

• The Krasheninnikov Volcano in Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula erupted today for the first time in 600 years, sending an ash plume 4 km high. Authorities issued an orange aviation warning, citing risks to aircraft.
• The eruption is believed to be linked to a recent 8.7 magnitude earthquake and subsequent aftershocks in the region.
• Though no populated areas are at risk, officials have urged residents and tourists to avoid traveling near active volcanoes.
• The eruption, last seen around 1463, is being closely monitored as a historic geological event.

Hong Kong Rolls Out Stablecoin Regulations to Lead Global Digital Finance

• Hong Kong has launched a stablecoin regulatory framework requiring full reserves and selective licensing, reinforcing its ambition to become a leader in digital finance.
• The move ensures stability, transparency, and innovation, while aligning with global standards like the U.S. GENIUS Act and EU’s MiCA, marking a new era for programmable finance and asset tokenization.

Economy News

India’s Palm Oil Imports Decline While Soyoil Shipments Surge to 3-Year High

• India’s palm oil imports fell 10% in July 2025, totaling 858,000 tons, due to contract cancellations, while soyoil imports surged 38% to 495,000 tons, the highest in three years, aided by delayed shipments and competitive prices.
• With sunflower oil imports down 7%, India’s total edible oil imports still rose 1.5% to 1.53 million tons, the highest since November.

India’s Tea Production Falls 9% in June 2025 Amid Weather Woes and Pest Attacks

• India’s tea production dropped 9% in June 2025 to 133.5 million kg, compared to 146.72 million kg in June 2024, due to adverse weather and pest infestations.
• Output from both North and South India fell, impacting big planters and small growers alike. The fall was evident across all major tea types, including CTC, orthodox, and green tea, raising concerns for the industry.

Fitch Lowers India’s GDP Growth Forecast for FY26 to 6.3%

• Fitch Ratings has revised India’s FY26 GDP growth forecast to 6.3%, citing steady demand from infrastructure spending but cautioning against risks from US tariffs and redirected global supply.
• While cement, power, construction, and petroleum are set to benefit, export-driven sectors like IT, auto components, and pharma may face headwinds due to tariff uncertainty.
• Telecom, oil & gas, utilities, and construction remain relatively insulated. Fitch also noted India’s strong stance in trade negotiations with the US over agriculture and dairy concessions.

US Tariff to Impact India’s FY26 GDP Growth by 25–30 bps

• The US decision to impose a 25% tariff on Indian goods is projected by SBI Research to reduce India’s FY26 GDP growth by 25–30 bps.
• The tariff will mainly affect electronics, gems and jewelry, pharmaceuticals, and machinery, which together make up nearly half of India’s exports to the US.
• While this creates deflationary pressures, India’s diversified export base and support from PLI schemes and GST reforms may cushion the impact. Experts believe that the US economy faces higher risks than India due to this move.

Business News

LTIMindtree Bags ₹811.5 Crore PAN 2.0 Project from Income Tax Department

• The Income Tax Department has awarded the ₹811.5 crore PAN 2.0 project to LTIMindtree Ltd, aiming to digitally transform PAN and TAN management.
• Cleared in November 2024 and scheduled to go live in 18 months, the project will enhance security, efficiency, and taxpayer convenience, handling services like Aadhaar-PAN linking, allotment, reissuance, and validation on a unified digital platform.

Appointments News

Tata Motors’ PB Balaji Appointed as New CEO of Jaguar Land Rover

• Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), owned by Tata Motors, has appointed PB Balaji as its next CEO, effective 17 November 2025, succeeding Adrian Mardell, who will retire after a 35-year career.
• Balaji, currently Group CFO of Tata Motors, brings over 30 years of global leadership experience and has been a key force behind Tata Motors’ revival.
• His appointment is expected to accelerate JLR’s Reimagine strategy, focusing on luxury, sustainability, and electric mobility.

Agreement News

Ayush Ministry Signs Two Landmark MoUs to Boost Medicinal Plant Conservation

• The Ministry of Ayush, through its National Medicinal Plants Board, has signed two crucial MoUs—one with IshVed-Bioplants Venture for the conservation of rare medicinal plants through tissue culture techniques, and another with AIIA and AIIMS to set up a National Medicinal Plants Garden.
• These initiatives aim to preserve medicinal biodiversity, educate the public, and advance India’s journey towards a healthy and self-reliant future.

Defense News

Navies of India and Singapore Successfully Conclude SIMBEX 2025

• The Indian Navy and the Republic of Singapore Navy concluded SIMBEX 2025, held from July 28 to August 1, with joint exercises in the South China Sea.
• Featuring ships, aircraft, and professional exchanges, this 32nd edition strengthened maritime security cooperation as both nations marked 60 years of diplomatic relations.

Ranks & Reports News

India Becomes World’s 5th Biggest Aviation Market

• India has become the world’s 5th largest aviation market in 2024, carrying 241 million passengers, a growth of 11.1% over 2023. The Mumbai-Delhi route ranked 7th among the busiest global air corridors, while premium class travel surged 11.8%.
• Aircraft like the Boeing B737 and Airbus A320 dominated global skies.
• The achievement highlights India’s expanding role in global aviation, with strong growth prospects in both domestic and international travel.

NITI Aayog Launches Report on Unlocking a $200 Billion Opportunity in Electric Vehicles

• NITI Aayog has launched the report “Unlocking a $200 Billion Opportunity: Electric Vehicles in India” on 4th August 2025, providing a blueprint to fast-track India’s Electric Vehicle transition.
• Released by Shri Rajiv Gauba, the report highlights India’s progress in EV sales—from 50,000 in 2016 to 2.08 million in 2024—and outlines actionable steps to achieve 30% EV penetration by 2030.
• It stresses the need for stronger measures, cross-sector collaboration, and data-driven decisions to overcome challenges and unlock India’s $200 billion EV opportunity.

Sports News

Archery Association of India Launches First-Ever Archery League

• The Archery Association of India has launched the country’s first Archery League, to be held in October 2025 at the Yamuna Sports Complex, Delhi. F
• eaturing six franchise teams with top Indian and foreign archers, the event has the support of World Archery, World Archery Asia, and the Sports Ministry.
• The league is set to transform the Indian archery landscape, boosting competitiveness and global recognition.

FIFA and AIFF Launch India’s First FIFA Talent Academy for Girls in This City

• India’s first FIFA Talent Academy for girls was launched in Hyderabad through a collaboration between AIFF, FIFA, and the Telangana Government under FIFA’s Talent Development Scheme.
• Hosted at the Gachibowli Stadium Complex, the academy will train and support 30 girls and 30 boys with residential facilities, education, medical care, and mental wellness programs.
• Leaders including Telangana CM Revanth Reddy and AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey called it a historic milestone, with hopes of paving the way for India’s qualification to the U17 FIFA World Cups.

Science & Technology News

ICRISAT Launches AI-Powered Climate Advisory to Support Small Farmers

• The ICRISAT, in partnership with ICAR and backed by the Monsoon Mission III, has launched an AI-powered climate advisory service to provide hyper-local weather insights for smallholder farmers.
• Starting in Maharashtra, the initiative will use tools like an AI WhatsApp bot to enhance climate resilience in agriculture, paving the way for a national rollout and international replication.

India Soon Introduces Bio-Fortified Potatoes to Fight Hidden Hunger

• India, with support from the International Potato Center (CIP), is introducing bio-fortified potatoes enriched with iron to combat hidden hunger and nutrient deficiencies.
• With similar efforts already underway for Vitamin A-rich sweet potatoes, the initiative—backed by ICAR’s biofortification drive across 61 crops—will boost nutrition security and make India a leader in climate-smart and health-focused agriculture.

India Discovers World’s Rarest Blood Group ‘CRIB’

• India has identified the world’s rarest blood group — CRIB, in a 38-year-old woman from Bengaluru, in collaboration with UK scientists.
• Classified under the Cromer blood group system, CRIB lacks a common antigen, making blood transfusions extremely difficult as no donor match exists.
• The woman’s blood showed panreactivity, forcing doctors to perform surgery without a transfusion.
• Experts say this discovery could revolutionize critical care, prenatal diagnostics, and rare blood donation systems globally.

Important Days News

Hiroshima Day 2025: Remembering Victims and Advocating Peace

• Hiroshima Day 2025 reminds us of the horrifying consequences of nuclear warfare while inspiring global advocacy for peace and disarmament.
• Observed annually on August 6, it honors victims and survivors through memorial ceremonies, educational initiatives, and calls for a nuclear-free future.
• The significance of Hiroshima Day in 2025 extends beyond remembrance—it is a moral, historical, and political call to action.
• As the world faces rising geopolitical tensions, this day urges nations to come together to prevent another nuclear catastrophe.

Shibu Soren, Former Jharkhand Chief Minister, Passes Away at 81

• Shibu Soren, veteran tribal leader, JMM founder, and former Chief Minister of Jharkhand, passed away on August 4, 2025, at the age of 81 after battling kidney ailments and a stroke at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Delhi.
• Confirmed by his son, Hemant Soren, the news triggered nationwide tributes. Known as “Dishom Guru”, Soren played a historic role in the creation of Jharkhand and served as its Chief Minister thrice.
• Leaders across the spectrum hailed him as a voice of the tribals, the poor, and the marginalized, marking his demise as an irreparable loss for Jharkhand and the nation.

Current Affairs Today | 5 August Current Affairs 2025 | Daily Current Affairs By Ashish Gautam