14th August 2025 Daily Current Affairs

National Developments

• Maharashtra Declares Partition Horrors Remembrance Day
  Maharashtra has officially designated 14 August as Partition Horrors Remembrance Day, honoring victims of the 1947 partition. Schools will observe this with special sessions during zero period, promoting historical awareness and unity

• India Issues Warning Amid Rising Tensions with Pakistan
  The Ministry of External Affairs condemned Pakistan’s “reckless, war-mongering” rhetoric and cautioned of “painful consequences” if such provocations continue

• Local Spotlight: Ahmedabad’s Olympic Ambitions
  Ahmedabad is emerging as a potential host for the 2030 Commonwealth Games—part of a broader strategy to position the city for the 2036 Olympics. Backed by a massive Rs 6,000-crore sports enclave, airport upgrades, new metro and BRTS networks, and enhanced hospitality infrastructure, the city is gearing up for international attention.

• Upcoming Independence Day Celebrations (15 August)
  India will mark its 79th Independence Day with the theme “Naya Bharat”—reflecting aspirations for a developed India by 2047. Flags will be hoisted at the Red Fort, accompanied by aerial displays, a 21-gun salute, and an NCC and volunteer logo formation.

• Deep-Sea Milestone: Indian Aquanauts Dive 5,000m
  India achieved a notable feat as aquanauts reached record 5,000-metre ocean depths, coinciding with its ongoing achievements in space exploration.

International & Diplomatic Affairs

• U.S.–India Relations Under Strain
  Diplomatic strains between India and the U.S. are intensifying. The Brookings-affiliated Rachman Review podcast explores the souring of the Trump-Modi friendship amid tariffs and perceived diplomatic missteps
  Meanwhile, commentary in The Washington Post highlights the growing acrimony over trade policies and geopolitical alignment

• MEA Reaffirms India–U.S. Partnership; Yudh Abhyas 2025 in Alaska
  In contrast to tensions, the Ministry of External Affairs affirmed the strength of the Indo–U.S. partnership and announced the 21st edition of the Yudh Abhyas joint military exercise, scheduled for Alaska.

Global Weather Watch

• Heatwave and Fire Risk in Cyprus
  A severe heatwave continues in Cyprus, with authorities issuing a red alert for forest fire risks

Additional Insights & Exam-Relevant Updates

Current Affairs for Competitive Exams

• SEBI Proposals for IPO Structure Reform
  The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has proposed reducing retail allocation in IPOs over ₹5,000 crore from 35% to 25%, while increasing institutional quotas, expanding anchor investor eligibility, and inviting insurance and pension funds into the mix
  In a related reform, SEBI also suggests raising limits for related-party transaction approvals

• Retail Inflation Drops to Eight-Year Low
  India’s retail inflation in July 2025 hit just 1.55%, marking the lowest level seen in eight years.

• Energy and Tech Updates

  • Tata Power & Suzlon: Collaboration on a 700 MW wind energy project in Andhra Pradesh to further clean-energy goals

  • Western Railway’s First 2×25 kV Traction Substation: Commissioned under the ‘Mission Raftaar’ initiative to modernize rail speed and efficiency

  • Ariane 6 Satellite Launch: Arianespace successfully launched Metop-SGA1, enhancing atmospheric data capability.

• Formation of HECI (Higher Education Commission of India)
  The government unveiled the Higher Education Commission of India (HECI), consolidating UGC, AICTE, and NCTE under one tech-driven regulator, focusing on institutional autonomy, outcome-based governance, and global competitiveness.

• RBI’s AI Ethics Framework—FREE-AI
  The Reserve Bank introduced the Framework for Responsible and Ethical Enablement of Artificial Intelligence (FREE-AI) in financial services—featuring seven guiding “sutras” and 26 strategic recommendations across six pillars.

UPSC-Focused Updates

• Key Prelims & Mains Pointers:

  • Cheque Truncation System (CTS): RBI’s move to continuous clearing, shortening cheque settlement timelines to hours

  • Ideonella sakaiensis: The PET plastic–degrading bacterium gaining attention for environmental implications.

• Other UPSC-relevant highlights:

  • Initiatives such as AI-powered elephant protection systems, digital property rating frameworks (TRAI), AI-powered assembly summarization (SabhaSaar), export promotion missions, and India’s first private Earth observation satellite constellation under PPP model were also featured in UPSC content today.

Summary Snapshot—14 August 2025