4th August 2025 Daily Current Affairs

🌐 National & International Affairs

• The MEA has officially refuted online speculation that India may review its bilateral pacts with the U.S. or reconsider tariff exemptions. Officials labelled such rumours as “fake news” and reaffirmed policy continuity in Indo-U.S. relations

• Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. begins a five-day strategic visit to India (August 4–8), aimed at deepening maritime, trade, and defence cooperation amid rising Indo-Pacific security concerns. This underscores the growing India–Philippines partnership, with talks expected around BrahMos missile systems and regional alignment

🏦 Economy & Finance

• Ahead of the RBI’s policy meeting on August 6, a Reuters poll indicates that the Reserve Bank is likely to hold its benchmark rate at 5.50%. However, the probability of a rate cut has risen, given subdued inflation (2.10% in June, the lowest in six years) and risks from U.S. trade tariffs dampening growth confidence

• Hyundai Motor India Ltd. will trade ex-dividend on August 5, with ₹21 per share as the final dividend. Investors must purchase shares by August 4 to qualify. Over 21 other Indian companies follow the same ex-dividend schedule, prompting portfolio planning advisories

🛡 Energy, Environment & Sustainability

• A Wildlife Institute of India study revealed that rapid deployment of wind turbines in Rajasthan’s Thar Desert—over 3.5 GW added in early 2025—could be causing high bird mortality. The study cited over 124 carcasses, including critically endangered species like the Great Indian Bustard, raising concerns about ecological risks in renewable energy expansion

• The India–UK Free Trade Agreement, signed on 24 July 2025, has drawn scrutiny over its digital interoperability and IP provisions. Critics argue the deal may undermine India’s digital sovereignty and constrain public health safeguards via TRIPS‑plus commitments, raising questions about data localization and compulsory licensing rights

🚀 Governance & Public Policy

• The Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA) has inaugurated new Regional Process Labs (RPLs) in Dehradun and Bhubaneswar under the Aadi Karmayogi Abhiyan. These labs are designed to train State Master Trainers, cascading capacity-building across tribal-dominated villages in multiple states

• The VOC Port in Thoothukudi has emerged as the first Indian port to produce green hydrogen and exceed 1 MW of rooftop solar generation, signaling a push toward sustainable maritime infrastructure and energy self-sufficiency

🎓 UPSC & Governance Relevance

• In military modernization updates, the Indian Army is integrating drone technology at the battalion level through new UAV-equipped Bhairav battalions, Rudra brigades, and specialized artillery units post Operation Sindoor. This restructuring is aimed at enhancing operational readiness for future warfare

• Under sustainable infrastructure themes, the Wind Power–wildlife conflict study from Rajasthan spotlights the policy trade-offs between India’s renewable energy ambitions and biodiversity protection—relevant for GS 3 issues on environment and ecology

• The rollout of bio-fortified iron-enriched potatoes by CIP Peru is a major development in combating micronutrient deficiency without genetically modifying crop taste or yield, aligning with GS 3 concerns on nutrition security and agricultural innovation

💡 Summary Table