4.5/5
Current Affairs 13 August 2025
1. Namrata Batra Wins Historic Silver in Women’s 52 kg at World Games 2025
-
Historic Win: Namrata Batra won a silver medal in the women's 52 kg category, marking India's first-ever medal in Wushu at the World Games.
-
Opponent and Result: She lost to local favorite Mengyue Chen 2-0 in the final.
-
Previous Performance: The 24-year-old had won silver at the Asian Championships last year and is a four-time national champion.
-
Road to Finals: Batra won 2-0 against Lebanon's Barbara El Rassi in the quarter-finals and Krizan Faith Collado of the Philippines in the semis.
-
India's Medal Count: This medal is India's second podium finish at the 2025 World Games, following Rishabh Yadav's bronze in men's compound archery.
2. Senior diplomat Chris Seed appointed as New Zealand's next ambassador to US
-
Appointment: Chris Seed, a senior diplomat, has been appointed as New Zealand's next ambassador to the United States, succeeding Rosemary Banks.
-
Background: Seed served as Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Trade from 2019 to 2024 and previously led New Zealand's High Commissions in Australia and Papua New Guinea.
-
Experience: He is considered one of New Zealand's most senior and accomplished diplomats, making him suitable for this vital role.
-
Timing: Seed will take up the role in January 2026, allowing for a smooth transition from Banks' second term as ambassador.
-
Importance: The US-New Zealand relationship is one of New Zealand's most critical bilateral relationships, and Seed's experience and influence are expected to effectively represent New Zealand's interests in Washington DC.
3. SHRESTH is India’s First State Health Regulatory Excellence Index
-
Purpose: SHRESTH aims to benchmark and strengthen state drug regulatory systems across India, ensuring drug safety and quality standards are consistently met.
-
Developer: The index was designed by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO), a national regulatory body for Indian pharmaceuticals and medical devices.
-
State Categorization: States are divided into two categories - Manufacturing States (evaluated on 27 indices) and Primarily Distribution States/UTs (evaluated on 23 indices).
-
Objective: The ultimate goal of SHRESTH is to enable targeted improvements in human resources, infrastructure, and digitization across states, ensuring drug safety for every Indian, regardless of geography.
4. India became the world’s third-largest automobile market
-
Ranking: India surpassed Japan to become the world's third-largest auto market in 2022, behind China and the US.
-
Sales Figures: India sold at least 4.25 million new vehicles in 2022, topping Japan's 4.2 million sales. This includes 4.13 million vehicles delivered between January and November 2022, with the remaining sales accounted for in December.
-
Growth Potential: With only 8.5% of Indian households owning a passenger vehicle in 2021, there's significant room for sales growth. India's large population, expected to surpass China's, and rising incomes contribute to this potential.
-
Market Trends: Most new vehicles sold in India were gasoline-powered, including hybrids, while electric vehicles had a minimal presence. The easing of the automotive chip shortage in 2022 supported the market's recovery.
-
Future Projections: S&P Global Mobility expects Indian light vehicle production to grow 5-8% in 2023, with sales reaching 4.4 million units in 2022, registering a 23.4% growth.
5. Delhi University awarded highest NAAC A++ grade in 2nd cycle of assessment
-
NAAC Grade: Delhi University has been awarded the highest NAAC accreditation grade of A++ with a cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 3.55.
-
Accreditation Validity: The accreditation is valid for five years, until 2029.
-
Improvement from Previous Cycle: This is an improvement from the previous cycle in 2018, where DU secured an A+ grade with a CGPA of 3.28.
-
Recognition: The university's vice-chancellor, Yogesh Singh, called this recognition a "landmark moment" in DU's history, reflecting its continued focus on quality enhancement, innovation in teaching and research, and strong institutional governance.
-
Commitment to Excellence: DU remains committed to maintaining the highest standards in education, research, and community engagement, reaffirming its position among India's leading institutions of higher learning.
6. Rajasthan launched India's first drone-based artificial rain trial
-
India's First Drone-Based Trial: Rajasthan launched India's first drone-based artificial rain trial at Ramgarh Dam in Jaipur, marking a shift from traditional airplane-assisted cloud seeding to unmanned aerial vehicles.
-
Objective: The trial aims to enhance rainfall using advanced cloud seeding techniques, potentially providing drought relief for Rajasthan's agriculture sector and helping save crops during dry spells.
-
Technology Used: The experiment involves 60 drones dispersing special chemicals like silver iodide into rain-bearing clouds to stimulate the formation of water droplets, triggering rainfall. This method allows for greater precision and flexibility compared to traditional aircraft.
-
Partnership: The trial is a joint project between the Rajasthan Agriculture Department and GenX AI, a tech company based in the US and Bengaluru, with approvals from various government departments.
7. Jharkhand Women’s Hockey team won 15th Junior National Women’s Hockey Championship 2025
-
Championship Title: Jharkhand Women's Hockey team emerged as champions in the 15th Hockey India Junior Women National Championship 2025, Division 'A'.
-
Final Match: They defeated Hockey Haryana 2-1 in the final match held in Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh.
-
Goals: Sweety Dungdung and Shanti Kumari scored early goals for Jharkhand in the first quarter, while Kirty scored a late goal for Haryana.
-
Bronze Medal: Uttar Pradesh Hockey won the bronze medal after defeating Chhattisgarh Hockey 2-0.
-
Dominant Performance: Jharkhand's win showcases their dominance in the tournament, with strong team efforts leading to their championship title.
8. SC appoints former judge Nageswara Rao ombudsman of BCA
-
Appointment: The Supreme Court appointed Justice L Nageswara Rao, a former judge, as the ombudsman of BCA to oversee its functioning and address internal disputes.
-
Objective: The appointment aims to ensure the smooth operation of BCA without external interference or internal conflicts, promoting transparency and accountability.
-
Background: The decision came after a division bench of the Patna High Court set aside the appointment of a former judge, Shaikesh Kumar Singh, as ombudsman, directing the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to appoint a new one.
-
Court's Observation: The Supreme Court criticized the division bench's order, questioning why BCCI was involved in appointing the ombudsman for BCA, and noted that such associations often get bogged down in "dirty politics".
9. Shyam Sundar Agrawal appointed as IFA in Indo Tibetan Border Police
-
Appointment: Shyam Sundar Agrawal, a 2011-batch Indian Cost Accounts Service (ICoAS) officer, has been appointed as IFA in ITBP, Delhi, under the Ministry of Home Affairs.
-
Tenure: He will serve at the Director level for a tenure of five years from the date he assumes charge or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
-
Central Staffing Scheme: The appointment is under the Central Staffing Scheme, which allows experienced officers to take on leadership roles in various ministries and organizations.
-
Background: ITBP is a specialized armed police force responsible for guarding the India-China border, stretching over 3,488 km in the Himalayan region.
-
Responsibilities: As IFA, Agrawal will play a crucial role in managing the financial aspects of ITBP's operations, ensuring effective utilization of resources, and supporting the force's mission to safeguard India's borders.
10. Bibi Fatima Women’s SHG Wins UNDP Equator Prize 2025
-
Award Winner: Bibi Fatima Women's Self-Help Group from Teertha village in Karnataka's Dharwad district won the prestigious Equator Initiative Award 2025, the only Indian winner among ten global recipients.
-
Nature-Based Solutions: The award recognizes community-led nature-based solutions for sustainable development and climate resilience, with this year's theme focusing on women and youth leadership for nature-based climate action.
-
SHG Achievements: Formed in 2018 by 15 women, the group now supports over 5,000 farmers in 30 villages, promoting millet-based mixed cropping, eco-friendly natural farming methods, and managing community seed banks.
-
Sustainable Practices: The SHG runs a solar-powered millet processing unit producing value-added products, enhancing food security, biodiversity conservation, and women's economic empowerment.
0 like |
0 comment
