Daily Current Affairs 2025  

15/08/2025

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CA-15/08/2025

Why in news?
Bharat Steel 2026 is India’s flagship international conference-cum-exhibition for the steel industry, organized by the Ministry of Steel, Government of India.
The event is scheduled to take place on 16–17 April 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.
It aims to showcase India’s capabilities in sustainable and technologically advanced steel production, foster innovation, and promote green steel practices.

Key highlights of Bharat Steel 2026:

• Brings together global industry leaders, policymakers, technology providers, and investors.
• Thematic sessions and discussions on policy, artificial intelligence, innovation, and green technology.
• Roundtables focused on states, countries, and CEOs, along with technology showcases and buyer-seller meets.
• Seeks to position India as a global hub for steel trade and investment, with a strong emphasis on sustainability and collaboration.
• Part of the nation's ambition to boost steel per capita consumption and production, underlining recent milestones such as India’s per capita steel consumption crossing 100kg for the first time.
• All participation, event schedules, and registration details are available at the official website, making it the central platform for updates leading up to the event.

The main themes and focus areas for Bharat Steel 2026 are:

• Sustainability: A strong emphasis on green, sustainable manufacturing practices across the steel industry. The event aims to highlight India's commitment to balancing industrial growth with environmental responsibility.
• Innovation: Showcasing technological advancements and the latest innovations in steel production and processing.
• Collaboration: Bringing together industry leaders, policymakers, technology providers, and investors to encourage partnerships and knowledge sharing within the global steel ecosystem.
• Growth of the Steel Value Chain: Focus on the entire steel value chain, including both primary and secondary sectors, to foster holistic development.
• Sector-specific Sessions: Thematic discussions, sector-specific roundtables, and conferences tailored for CEOs and major stakeholders.
• Global Trade and Investment Hub: Exploring opportunities to position India as a hub for global steel trade and investment.
• Technology & Buyer-Seller Showcases: Sessions and exhibitions dedicated to technological showcases and facilitating business interactions between buyers and sellers.

These themes reflect the strategic goals of Bharat Steel 2026: promoting sustainable practices, fostering innovation, and positioning India as a leader in the international steel industry.

 

Why in news?
Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan (NMBA) is a nationwide campaign to create a drug-free India. Launched on 15 August 2020 by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, it is a multi-pronged initiative targeting the prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation of those affected by substance abuse. Here’s an overview of the campaign as of 2025:

Objectives and Vision

• Preventive education and awareness generation to inform the public about the dangers of substance use.
• Identification, counseling, treatment, and rehabilitation of individuals with substance dependence.
• Training and capacity building for service providers.
• Reducing stigma and re-integrating affected individuals into society.
• Fostering community-level involvement to create sustainable change.

Key Strategies

• Supply Control: Operated by the Narcotics Control Bureau to restrict the flow of illicit substances.
• Demand Reduction & Awareness: Extensive outreach programs coordinated by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
• Treatment & Rehabilitation: Support by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare through a network of free centers and volunteers.

Reach and Impact (As of May 2025)

• Over 15.58 crore people have been sensitized, including more than 5.20 crore youth and 3.30 crore women.
• More than 27.76 lakh individuals received treatment.
• 730+ free de-addiction centers established across the country.
• 10,000+ Master Volunteers trained to support the de-addiction process.
• The campaign actively uses mobile apps, social media, and helplines for data collection, awareness, and support.

Implementation Structure

• District Level Committees (headed by District Collectors/Magistrates) implement local action plans.
• State Level Committees monitor district activities and provide strategic guidance.
• Master Volunteers are empowered to drive awareness and conduct outreach activities.

Notable 2025 Event

A special "Nasha Mukt Yuva for Viksit Bharat" Youth Spiritual Summit was held in July 2025 at Varanasi, uniting 500 youth from spiritual organizations alongside multiple ministries. The summit emphasized youth-led efforts and spiritual engagement for a drug-free India. It concluded with the adoption of the "Kashi Resolution," outlining an actionable roadmap toward a Nasha Mukt (drug-free) Bharat.

Conclusion

Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan is an ongoing, large-scale movement focused on eradicating substance abuse through education, community engagement, and robust support systems. It leverages government agencies, volunteers, technology, and cultural mobilization to move towards its ambitious goal—a drug-free India.



 

Why in news?
India has achieved a landmark milestone of 100 gigawatts (GW) of solar photovoltaic (PV) module manufacturing capacity enlisted under the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy's (MNRE) Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM).
This is a remarkable increase from just 2.3 GW in 2014, highlighting the country's rapid progress in building a robust, self-reliant solar manufacturing ecosystem aligned with the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) and the global imperative for clean energy transition.

Key points about this milestone:

• The ALMM order was issued by MNRE in January 2019 to ensure quality and compliance in solar modules used for government projects. The first list was published in March 2021 with an initial capacity of around 8.2 GW.
• As of 2025, India has reached 100 GW capacity under ALMM, with about 100 firms operating 123 manufacturing units.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi described this achievement as "yet another milestone towards self-reliance" demonstrating India's manufacturing strength and clean energy ambitions.
• Union Minister Pralhad Joshi emphasized the growth from 2.3 GW in 2014 to 100 GW in 2025, crediting transformative initiatives such as the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for high-efficiency solar modules.
• This milestone supports India’s target of achieving 500 GW of non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030.
• The growth reflects strategic policy interventions, industry participation, and regulatory mechanisms driving India’s solar manufacturing sector toward global leadership.
• This accomplishment marks a significant boost to domestic renewable energy capabilities, reducing import dependence and positioning India as a major player in the global solar value chain.

 
SBI Life Smart Shield Plus is an individual, non-linked, non-participating life insurance pure risk product designed to evolve with your growing needs and provide financial protection for your family. Here are its key features and details:

It offers 3 plan options:

1. Level Cover Benefit
2. Increasing Cover Benefit
3. Level Cover with Future Proofing Benefit

• It provides life cover up to 100 years (Whole Life) or up to 79 years for other terms.
• There is flexibility in premium payment: you can pay regularly throughout the policy term (Regular Pay), for a limited period (Limited Pay), or one-time (Single Pay).
• The Sum Assured starts from ?25,00,000 with no upper limit (subject to underwriting policy).
• Enhanced protection with an optional rider: SBI Life – Accident Benefit Rider, which covers accidental death and partial permanent disability.
• Optional Better Half Benefit for spouse life cover in case of the insured's death.
• Premiums are lower for higher Sum Assured and lower rates are available for female lives.
• Entry ages vary depending on the plan option, starting from 18 years up to 60-65 years for different pay and term options.
• Premium payment modes include Single, Yearly, Half-yearly, and Monthly.
• The plan is aimed to provide peace of mind by financially securing your loved ones in case of your untimely demise with benefits crafted for your changing life stages.

     

• The Geely-04 satellite constellation consists of 11 communication satellites launched on August 9, 2025, by Geely Automotive's aerospace arm, Geespace.
• The launch used a Smart Dragon-3 rocket from a sea platform near Rizhao, Shandong Province, China.
• These satellites serve inter-vehicle communication services and ocean observation as part of a broader plan to develop a low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite network supporting autonomous driving, high-precision positioning, and global connectivity.
• Geespace aims to build a constellation of around 72 satellites by the end of 2025, with long-term plans for nearly 6,000 satellites to create a global satellite IoT coverage network.
• The Geely-04 launch increased Geespace's operational satellites to 41, advancing their integrated earth-space mobility ecosystem supporting intelligent mobility, connected vehicles, and maritime operations worldwide.
• This constellation is part of Geely's broader push into commercial space to enable autonomous driving technologies, precise positioning, and global communication networks, with partnerships in over 20 countries and commercial satellite communication chips and modules now in mass production for Geely's vehicle platforms. The Geely-04 satellites represent a significant milestone for Geely's ambition to transform transportation through integrated satellite and ground technologies.

The main functions of the Geely-04 satellites include:

• Satellite Internet of Things (IoT): Supporting IoT connectivity for various strategic industries including connected vehicles, maritime operations, energy infrastructure, and more.
• Inter-satellite communication: Enabling communication between satellites for data relay and network robustness.
• High-precision positioning: Providing crucial data to assist autonomous driving platforms and advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), improving navigation and vehicle safety.
• Global communications: Offering wide-coverage communication services to support global connectivity.
• Earth-observation remote sensing: Conducting remote sensing for ocean observation, ecological and environmental monitoring, and marine fisheries, including monitoring oil spills, algae blooms, and floating debris.
• Emergency communications: Supporting emergency response systems with reliable communication capabilities.
• Supporting Geely's integrated mobility ecosystem: Enhancing Geely’s automotive products with satellite-enabled technologies like precision positioning and communication, showcased at events like the World Games 2025 in Chengdu.

These functions position the Geely-04 satellites as integral components of a low-Earth orbit network facilitating autonomous driving, environmental monitoring, global IoT coverage, and reliable connectivity across multiple sectors.
The Forest Wildlife Crime Management System called "HAWK" (Hostile Activity Watch Kernel) is a cutting-edge, real-time crime management platform designed to curb forest and wildlife crimes in India.
Developed in collaboration with the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI), state forest departments, and NTT Data, HAWK serves as a centralized intelligence and monitoring system that integrates advanced technology, data analytics, and artificial intelligence.

Key features and details of HAWK:

• HAWK digitizes and centralizes wildlife crime data across states, enabling real-time sharing of information between forest ranges and divisions that previously operated in silos.
• It comprises modules such as "Shikra," which records wildlife mortality incidents, and "Peregrine," the core module that tracks all crime-related data from initial reports to court judgments.
• The system is cloud-based and includes strong data security measures, mobile and desktop interfaces, and scalability for customization by different states.
• HAWK helps forest officials analyze data, generate actionable intelligence, and respond proactively to wildlife crimes and threats to habitats.
• It maintains extensive databases including wildlife death records, details of wildlife crime suspects, vehicles, and firearms involved in crimes.
• Since its initial launch in Kerala in 2019 and subsequent implementations in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, HAWK has trained hundreds of forest officials and managed tens of thousands of wildlife crime cases effectively.
• The platform supports early prosecution by tracking pending criminal cases and has been recognized as a pioneering wildlife protection initiative.
• The system also addresses challenges such as staff adaptation to digital tools, secure handling of sensitive crime data, internet connectivity in remote areas, and continuous technical support.
• HAWK is planned to be expanded to other states like Odisha and is recommended for national-level implementation by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.

Overall, HAWK represents a transformative technological solution empowering forest departments to improve efficiency, transparency, and effectiveness in the fight against wildlife crime and illegal wildlife trade in India.
 

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