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Current Affairs 20 August 2025
1. Rashmika Sahgal Wins Gold at Asian Shooting Championship
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Gold Medal Win: Rashmika Sahgal won the gold medal in the junior women's air pistol event at the 16th Asian Shooting Championship held in Shymkent, Kazakhstan, with a score of 241.9.
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Margin of Victory: She won by a significant margin of 4.3 points ahead of the silver medalist, Han Seunghyun from South Korea.
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Team Gold: Rashmika also won a team gold medal in the junior women's air pistol event along with her teammates Vanshika Chaudhary and Mohini Singh, with a total score of 1720 points.
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India's Medal Tally: This gold medal contributed to India's overall medal count, which reached five gold, two silver, and four bronze medals in the championship.
2. India’s electronics exports grew 47% in Q1 2025–26
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47% YoY Growth: India's electronics exports surged by 47% year-on-year in Q1 2025-26, reaching $12.4 billion, driven primarily by mobile phone exports.
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Mobile Phone Exports: Mobile phone exports grew by 55%, from $4.9 billion in Q1 FY25 to $7.6 billion in Q1 FY26, contributing significantly to the overall electronics export growth.
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Non-Mobile Electronics Growth: Non-mobile electronics exports also posted solid growth, rising 36% from $3.53 billion to $4.8 billion, with segments like solar modules, networking devices, and charger adapters performing well.
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Make in India Initiative: The growth in electronics exports is attributed to the success of the 'Make in India' initiative, which has led to an exponential growth in electronics production from $31 billion in 2014-15 to $133 billion in 2024-25.
3. Bandaru Wilsonbabu appointed as the next Ambassador of India to Turkmenistan
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Appointment: Bandaru Wilsonbabu, currently Ambassador of India to Madagascar, has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to Turkmenistan, as announced by the Ministry of External Affairs on August 19, 2025.
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Previous Experience: Wilsonbabu has extensive experience in Eurasian affairs, having served as Joint Secretary in the MEA's Eurasia Division before his appointment as Ambassador to Madagascar in September 2022.
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Diplomatic Role: As Ambassador to Turkmenistan, Wilsonbabu is expected to strengthen India's strategic interests in Central Asia, focusing on energy cooperation, regional security, and economic development.
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India-Madagascar Relations: During his tenure in Madagascar, Wilsonbabu fostered strong bilateral ties, with Madagascar consistently supporting India's candidature at international platforms like the UN Security Council.
4. Iga Swiatek wins 2025 Cincinnati Open, her first hard-court titleFirst Cincinnati
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Open Title: Iga Swiatek claimed her first Cincinnati Open title, defeating Jasmine Paolini in straight sets with a score of 7-5, 6-4. This victory marked her 24th career singles crown and 11th WTA 1000 title.
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Dominant Performance: Swiatek dominated the match, hitting nine aces to Paolini's zero and converting six break-point opportunities. She lost only one set throughout the entire tournament.
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Ranking Boost: With this win, Swiatek rose to number 2 in the WTA rankings, surpassing Coco Gauff. This achievement positions her as a strong contender for the upcoming US Open.
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Breaking Records: Swiatek's 11 WTA 1000 titles put her second only to Serena Williams, who has 13 such titles. She has now won 52 matches against top 10 players in her last 75 encounters.
5. Sumit Malik brags silver in U-20 World Wrestling Championships
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Silver Medal: Sumit Malik won a silver medal in the men's 57 kg category at the U-20 World Wrestling Championships held in Samokov, Bulgaria.
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Final Match: Malik lost to Magomed Odzamirov of Russia in the final with a score of 5-8, despite putting up a brave fight.
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Semifinal Win: Prior to the final, Malik had defeated Ion Bulgaru of Moldova 11-3 in the semifinal, showcasing his dominance.
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Comeback Story: Malik's journey to the final was marked by a remarkable comeback against Japan's Rin Sakamoto, where he trailed 1-10 but managed to reduce the margin and eventually won due to a singlet foul review.
6. Shubman Gill appointed as Vice Captain of Asia Cup
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Appointment: Shubman Gill has been appointed as the vice-captain of the Indian team for the Asia Cup 2025, with Suryakumar Yadav leading the side.
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Previous Experience: Gill has previously served as vice-captain in T20Is, including a series against Sri Lanka in July 2024, and has led India in Test matches, showcasing his leadership qualities.
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Leadership Qualities: According to chief selector Ajit Agarkar, Gill's consistency and temperament make him a natural leader, and his form in England was a key factor in his appointment as vice-captain.
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Squad Dynamics: Gill's inclusion brings added excitement, and he'll work alongside captain Suryakumar Yadav, who expressed confidence in the blend of youth and experience in the squad.
7. Dr. Jitendra Singh presents "National Anubhav Awards" to retirees
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Award Ceremony: Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, presented the National Anubhav Awards 2025 to retirees in a ceremony held at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, highlighting their contributions to nation-building.
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Awardees: Fifteen awardees from 11 ministries and departments were felicitated, including officers from a public sector bank (SBI) and a central public sector enterprise (BHEL) for the first time, showcasing a wide range of services represented.
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Purpose of Anubhav Awards: The awards aim to encourage retiring and retired employees to document and share their valuable work experiences and insights, fostering a culture of documentation and institutional memory in governance.
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Recognition: The awardees were selected from 1,459 write-ups published by 42 Ministries/Departments/Organizations, with five Anubhav Awards and ten Jury Certificates conferred. The awardees will receive a medal, certificate, and cash prize of Rs. 10,000.
8. PM Oli confers 'Outstanding RTI Activist Award' on Gaunle
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Award Ceremony: The award ceremony was held in Kathmandu, where PM Oli presented the 'Binay Kasaju Outstanding Right to Information Activist Award' to senior journalist Shiva Gaunle, recognizing his contributions to promoting transparency and accountability.
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Gaunle's Background: Gaunle is a former chair of the Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ), highlighting his experience and commitment to journalistic excellence and transparency.
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Other Awardees: Alongside Gaunle, journalists Arati Chataut, Amrit Nath Nimilsina, and Krishna Paudel received the 'Banay Kasajoo Best RTI Campaigner Award' for their outstanding work in promoting the Right to Information (RTI) in Nepal.
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Best RTI Officers: The ceremony also recognized five officials as the best RTI officers of the year, including Bipin Karki from Okhaldhunga, Yek Narayan Sharma from the Public Service Commission, and others from various municipalities.
9. Sadbhavana Diwas observed on 20th August 
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Birth Anniversary of Rajiv Gandhi: Sadbhavana Diwas is celebrated on August 20th to mark the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, India's youngest prime minister, born in 1944.
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Promoting Communal Harmony: The day aims to promote peace, unity, and national integration among India's diverse communities, emphasizing goodwill, tolerance, and inclusivity.
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Observance Activities: Various activities are organized, including pledge-taking ceremonies, cultural programs, debates, quizzes, essay competitions, and community drives to spread awareness about harmony and secularism.
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Significance: Sadbhavana Diwas serves as a reminder of Rajiv Gandhi's vision for a united and progressive India, focusing on youth empowerment, technological advancement, and communal harmony.
10. Veteran actor Achyut Potdar, known for 3 Idiots, passed away
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Career Span: Achyut Potdar had a prolific career spanning over four decades, with appearances in over 125 films and 100 TV shows across Hindi and Marathi cinema.
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Notable Roles: He was widely recognized for his roles in films like "3 Idiots," "Aakrosh," "Albert Pinto Ko Gussa Kyoon Aata Hai," "Ardh Satya," "Tezaab," "Parinda," and "Dabangg 2".
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Military and Corporate Background: Before becoming an actor, Potdar served in the Indian Armed Forces and later worked with Indian Oil Corporation for nearly 25 years, retiring as a captain and an executive, respectively.
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Tributes: Director Hansal Mehta paid tribute to Potdar, recalling his memorable performance in "Jayate" and his iconic line "Ae Jaggu" from "Angaar," which made him a permanent fan.
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