Daily Current Affairs- 16th August 2025

Daily Current Affairs- 16th August 2025

Pasang Wangchuk Sona ISRO Space Laboratory Inaugurated in Remote Arunachal Pradesh

In the News: On August 16, 2025, the Pasang Wangchuk Sona ISRO Space Laboratory was inaugurated by Education Minister Pasang Dorjee Sona at Mechuka Government Higher Secondary School in the remote Shi-Yomi district of Arunachal Pradesh. The facility, a collaboration between ISRO and the Muskaan Foundation, is designed to provide students with hands-on exposure to space science and technology, thereby fostering curiosity, innovation, and scientific thinking. Inaugurated in honor of his late father, the lab aims to inspire local youth to dream bigger and explore science fearlessly.

Key Points:

• Remote and Strategic Location: Situated in the secluded Mechuka area within Shi‑Yomi district, the lab brings advanced space science education to one of India’s most geographically isolated regions.
• Collaborative Effort: This initiative is a joint effort between the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Muskaan Foundation, aimed at enhancing STEM education in rural and remote areas.
• Dedicated to a Legacy: Named the Pasang Wangchuk Sona ISRO Space Laboratory in memory of the minister’s father, the lab stands as a tribute to his unwavering faith in the transformative power of education.
• Minister’s Vision: Speaking at the inauguration, Minister Sona expressed deep pride and emotion, hoping the facility would become a space where children “dream bigger, explore science fearlessly, and reach for the stars.”
• Local Support and Participation: The inauguration was attended by key local officials, including Deputy Commissioner Liyi Bagra, Deputy Director of School Education Tade Dabi, Muskaan Foundation’s COO Pranesh Debnath, along with students, teachers, and community leaders.
• Educational Impact: The lab is envisioned as a hub for learning and innovation, designed to ignite scientific curiosity and encourage future generations in Shi‑Yomi to pursue excellence in science and technology.

India Achieves Historic Deep Ocean Dives in Atlantic

In the News: Two Indian aquanauts—Raju Ramesh and Commander (Retd) Jatinder Pal Singh—achieved record-setting deep-sea dives in the North Atlantic Ocean aboard the French submersible Nautile. Ramesh descended to a depth of 4,025 metres, followed the next day by Singh reaching 5,002 metres, marking the deepest human dives ever undertaken by India in oceanic waters.

Key Points:

• Elite Membership Achieved: With these dives, India joined the select group of fewer than six nations to have conducted human-crewed dives beyond 5,000 m.
• Indo-French Collaboration & Operational Training: The dives were conducted in collaboration with IFREMER, France’s premier marine research institute, aboard its submersible Nautile. A five-member NIOT (National Institute of Ocean Technology) team from Chennai gained hands-on experience in pre-dive operations, piloting, buoyancy control, sample collection, robotic manipulator operations, acoustic communication, and mission recovery protocols over these seven-hour dives. 
• Strategic Prelude to Samudrayaan Mission: These missions serve as vital preparation for India’s Samudrayaan Mission, part of the broader Deep Ocean Mission. The Samudrayaan project aims to deploy a three-person crew to a 6,000 m depth using the indigenously built MATSYA‑6000 submersible by 2027.
• MATSYA‑6000 Development Highlights:
  • Personnel Sphere: Completed after 700 welding trials, the personnel module for MATSYA‑6000 signifies a breakthrough in pressure-resistant deep-sea design.
  • Specifications: The submersible is a fourth-generation human-rated craft, boasting 12‑hour operational capacity and 96‑hour emergency endurance. It integrates advanced technologies like titanium hull, Li‑Po battery systems, acoustic communications, and emergency escape mechanisms.
  • Trials Timeline: Wet trials were concluded in early 2025 at L&T Shipyard, Tamil Nadu. Shallow-water tests up to 500 m are set for 2026, with deep-ocean trials in 2027.
• Blue Economy & Resource Potential: The dive achievements underscore India's focus on the blue economy—leveraging its 11,098 km coastline and vast Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) to sustainably harness marine resources. India has secured a contract with the International Seabed Authority to explore deep-ocean mineral resources at depths between 4,000–5,500 m.

Simplified Two-Tier GST System Proposed

In the News: The Indian government unveiled plans for a sweeping Goods and Services Tax (GST) reform, dubbed GST 2.0. Speaking on Independence Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi described it as a "Diwali gift" promising lower taxes and streamlined compliance. The Finance Ministry has formally proposed a simplified two‑slab GST structure, moving away from the current multi-tier system, with rollout targeted by Diwali 2025.

Key Points:

• New Tax Slabs Proposed:
  • 5%: Targeted at essential goods—daily-use, aspirational, and common-man items.
  • 18%: Intended for most other goods and services.
  • A special 40% rate is earmarked for a limited subset of sin and luxury goods like tobacco and pan masala.
• Broad Redistribution of Goods: Approximately 99% of items currently in the 12% bracket would move to 5%. Around 90% of goods in the 28% bracket would shift to 18%. Only about 5–7 items may fall under the 40% category.
• GST 2.0—Beyond Rate Rationalisation: This reform isn't solely about rates. It targets deep-rooted issues such as classification disputes, inverted duty structures, procedural inefficiencies, and inter-agency misalignment to stabilize and simplify the system.
• Rationale & Expected Benefits: Aims to reduce compliance burdens and offer predictability to businesses. Supports Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and boosts consumer affordability. Expected to stimulate economic activity and strengthen demand amid global trade pressures.
• Implementation Timeline: Proposal has been forwarded to the Group of Ministers (GoM) and will be deliberated at upcoming GST Council meetings. Confirmation and rollout are anticipated by Diwali 2025.

Neeraj Ghaywan’s Homebound Wins Big at Indian Film Festival of Melbourne 2025

In the News:, At the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) awards night, Neeraj Ghaywan’s drama Homebound emerged as the evening’s biggest winner, clinching both Best Film and Best Director. The film, exploring themes of belonging, displacement, and the emotional complexities of returning home, will also serve as the festival’s closing film on August 24.

Key Points:

• Double Win for Homebound: The film garnered both the Best Film and Best Director awards, highlighting Neeraj Ghaywan’s compelling storytelling and vision.
• Star Cast: Homebound features Ishaan Khatter, Vishal Jethwa, and Janhvi Kapoor, whose performances were central to its acclaim.
• Closing Film Status: It will close the IFFM 2025 on August 24, giving it a high-profile platform to conclude the festival.
• Festival’s Global Prestige: IFFM 2025 marks the 16th edition of the festival, which is the largest Indian film festival held outside India.

Microsoft Tops TopBrand 2025 Global Brands List; NVIDIA and Apple Follow

In the News: At the 19th China Brand Festival held in Shenzhen from August 7–11, the TopBrand Union unveiled its 2025 “Top 500 Global Brands” ranking. Microsoft claimed the top spot with a brand value of USD 1,062.505 billion (approx. $1.06 trillion), followed closely by NVIDIA at USD 1,046.760 billion and Apple in third place with USD 997.685 billion.

Key Points:

• Top 3 Brand Values:
  • Microsoft: USD 1,062.505 billion
  • NVIDIA: USD 1,046.760 billion
  • Apple: USD 997.685 billion
• Broader Top 10: Rounding out the list from fourth to tenth were Amazon, Alphabet (Google), Saudi Aramco, Walmart, Meta (Facebook), Berkshire Hathaway, and Broadcom.
• Chinese Representation: PetroChina secured the 14th spot, making it the highest‑valued Chinese brand on the list.
• Representation Gap Highlighted: Dr. Wang Yong, Chairman of TopBrand Union and President of the China Brand Festival, pointed out that while China had almost as many companies as the U.S. in the “Fortune 2025 Global 500,” its presence in the TopBrand ranking was less than half that of the U.S.—highlighting a significant gap between economic scale and global brand influence.
• About TopBrand Union: Now in its fourth year, the “Top 500 Global Brands” list is published by TopBrand Union—a boutique branding consultancy that focuses on bridging China and the global market, offering expertise in brand strategy, events, research, and marketing.