Daily Current Affairs- 26th August 2025

Daily Current Affairs- 26th August 2025

CISF Launches First All-Women Commando Unit

In the News: The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) has launched its first all-women commando unit, with training underway at the Regional Training Centre (RTC) in Barwaha, Madhya Pradesh. This initiative marks a breakthrough, as women are being equipped for frontline, counter-terrorism and Quick Reaction Team (QRT) deployment—especially at airports and other sensitive installations. The move underscores CISF’s commitment to advancing gender parity in operational roles within India’s security forces.

Key Points:

• Training Programme & Scope: An eight-week advanced commando course, beginning in August 2025, involves rigorous training in physical fitness, weapons handling, live-fire under stress, rappelling, obstacle courses, forest survival, and a 48-hour confidence-building exercise designed to test decision-making and teamwork under hostile conditions. The first batch of 30 women will train from August 11 to October 4, followed by a second batch from October 6 to November 29, with around 100 women expected to complete the programme in this initial phase.
• Deployment Strategy: Post-training, these women commandos will be deployed with Quick Reaction Teams (QRTs) and Special Task Forces (STFs) at high-risk sites, including civil airports, metro systems, Parliament, and other critical national infrastructure.
• Gender Representation & Recruitment Goals: Currently, women make up about 8% of CISF's workforce (approximately 12,491 personnel). CISF plans to recruit an additional 2,400 women by 2026 to fulfill the Ministry of Home Affairs’ target of achieving at least 10% female representation.
• Significance & Institutional Impact: This milestone makes CISF the first Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) to establish a dedicated all-women commando unit focused on combat and frontline operational roles. The initiative signifies a significant shift in policy—moving from symbolic roles to substantive involvement in missions traditionally dominated by male personnel. It also positions all-women commando training as a regular feature in CISF’s operational calendar going forward.

India, WFP Join Hands to Combat Global Hunger

In the News: On August 25, 2025, the Government of India, through the Department of Food and Public Distribution (DFPD), and the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) to strengthen collaboration in addressing the global hunger crisis. Under this agreement, India will provide fortified rice for humanitarian distribution in vulnerable, crisis-affected regions across the world. The initiative reflects India’s commitment to the principle of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” (the world is one family).

Key Points:

• Commitment Details: India has committed to supplying fortified rice to WFP, targeting the nutritional needs of the most vulnerable populations during emergencies. The decision builds upon discussions held during the February 2025 WFP Executive Board meeting in Rome.
• Strategic Significance: The collaboration highlights India’s role as an agricultural surplus provider and its growing global humanitarian outreach. It aligns with India’s philosophy of shared responsibility and leadership in food aid.
• Expanded Collaboration: Beyond supplying fortified rice, the LoI also opens avenues for cooperation in supply chain optimisation, smart warehousing, grain ATMs, mobile storage units (Flospans), and “Jan Poshan Kendra” initiatives.
• WFP’s Role in India: The WFP has worked with India to strengthen the Public Distribution System (PDS), improving efficiency, accountability, and transparency. The system currently serves over 800 million beneficiaries.
• Financial and Logistical Model: India has committed USD 100 million in assistance over the first five years, with long-term plans for financial self-reliance of the alliance through membership fees and international contributions.

Women’s Equality Day 2025

In the News: On August 26, 2025, the United States observed Women’s Equality Day, marking the 105th anniversary of the certification of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which granted women the right to vote. Governors across several states—including Michigan—issued proclamations honoring the day and reaffirming their commitment to advancing women’s rights.

• Key Points:
  Historical Significance: Women’s Equality Day commemorates the August 26, 1920, certification of the 19th Amendment, a pivotal milestone ensuring that voting rights could not be denied on account of sex. The date was first designated as a day of celebration in 1971 and officially recognized by Congress in 1973.
• Presidential Recognition: Each year since 1973, the U.S. President has issued a formal proclamation honoring Women’s Equality Day. In 2025, the White House reaffirmed the nation’s principles of liberty, equal justice under the law, and continuing recognition for the women who made suffrage possible.
• Modern Reflection: Beyond celebrating past achievements, Women’s Equality Day 2025 was framed as a moment to address ongoing gender inequities, including reproductive rights, economic disparities, and legal protections for women and girls. Advocates tied the commemoration to accountability mechanisms like the U.N.’s Universal Periodic Review.
• State-Level Celebrations: States such as Michigan issued official proclamations, recognizing suffragist legacies, current challenges, and the importance of women’s leadership in public life.
• Broader Cultural Impact: The day also overlaps with annual observances such as “Go Topless Day,” held near August 26 in parts of the U.S., to raise awareness about gender equality and body autonomy—challenging societal norms and legal inconsistencies.

Smart City Index 2025 Rankings

In the News: The IMD Smart City Index 2025, published by IMD Business School, assessed 146 global cities based on how well they integrate technology and infrastructure to improve urban living. The rankings reflect residents' perceptions across key areas such as health, safety, mobility, activities, opportunities, and governance. Swiss cities dominated the top positions, while Indian cities remained outside the top 100.

Key Points:

• Global Top Performers: The cities that secured the top three positions in the Smart City Index 2025 were Zurich (1st), followed by Oslo (2nd), and Geneva (3rd), showcasing Switzerland’s continued leadership in smart urban infrastructure and innovative governance.

• Leading Asian Representative: Among Asian cities, Singapore emerged as the highest-ranked, securing the 9th position globally—demonstrating its strong performance in urban technology and citizen-centric services.
• Indian Cities’ Performance: Indian metropolises featured in the global rankings but trailed behind most top-tier cities. Delhi ranked 104th, followed by Mumbai at 106th, Hyderabad at 109th, and Bengaluru at 110th, indicating room for improvement in governance, mobility, and service delivery.
• Why Indian Cities Lagged: Despite significant efforts under the Smart Cities Mission, Indian cities remain just beyond the 100 mark globally—a gap attributed to lingering challenges in infrastructure, public services efficiency, governance reforms, and sustainable urban mobility.
• New Entrants in 2025: The index this year welcomed several new contributors, including Al Ula (Saudi Arabia), Astana (Kazakhstan), Caracas (Venezuela), Kuwait City (Kuwait), Manama (Bahrain), and San Juan (Puerto Rico), expanding the diversity of the assessed urban landscape.

Indian Space Research Organisation’s Lunar Module Launch Vehicle (LMLV)

In the News: ISRO is developing its heaviest rocket, the Lunar Module Launch Vehicle (LMLV), which is expected to be ready by 2035. This rocket will be central to India’s future deep-space exploration, including the first crewed lunar mission planned around 2040. The project reflects India’s ambitions to establish itself as a global space power and achieve long-term self-reliance in human spaceflight technology.

Key Points:

Role & Purpose: The LMLV is designed specifically for lunar and interplanetary missions, including transporting astronauts to the Moon and enabling complex deep-space projects.

Payload Capabilities: The rocket can carry ~27 tonnes to the Moon and ~80 tonnes to Low Earth Orbit (200–2,000 km), making it the most powerful launch vehicle ever developed by India.

Timeline: ISRO has set 2035 as the target for LMLV’s readiness, aligning it with India’s 2040 goal for a crewed lunar landing.

Technical Design: The rocket will be about the height of a 40-storey building, with a three-stage configuration—two stages powered by liquid propellant and the third using a cryogenic propellant system.

Strategic Significance: The LMLV will succeed the current LVM3 (GSLV Mk-III), which launched Chandrayaan-3 and supports Gaganyaan. It will be crucial for missions to the Moon, Mars, and for building a future Indian space station.

Long-Term Vision: The development of LMLV is part of ISRO’s Next Generation Launch Vehicle (NGLV) roadmap, aiming to enhance payload capacity, ensure technological leadership, and support India’s goal of emerging as a major player in human space exploration.

Indian Navy to Commission Udaygiri and Himgiri

In the News: On August 26, 2025, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated two indigenously built Project 17A stealth frigates—INS Udaygiri and INS Himgiri—at the Eastern Naval Command in Visakhapatnam. This marked the first-ever simultaneous commissioning of frontline combat ships constructed at two separate Indian shipyards. The vessels were hailed as “floating F‑35s,” symbolizing a new era in India’s maritime self-reliance and operational capability.

Key Points:

• Project Legacy & Indigenous Content: These are the 100th and 101st warships designed by the Navy’s in-house Warship Design Bureau, built with over 75% indigenous content, involving hundreds of MSMEs and OEMs.
• Dual Shipyards: INS Udaygiri was constructed by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders (Mumbai), while INS Himgiri was built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (Kolkata)—a pioneering instance of cross-yard coordination.
• Advanced Capabilities: Both frigates showcase stealth design, reduced radar signatures, enhanced speed and endurance, and are equipped with BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles, surface-to-air missiles, torpedoes, advanced radar and sensor suites, and aviation facilities.
• Strategic Impact: Dubbed “invincible guardians of our seas,” these ships bolster India’s blue-water naval footprint, enhance deterrence, and significantly enhance maritime operations—ranging from piracy control to disaster relief.
• Namesake Tradition: The new ships carry forward the legacy of their predecessors—Udaygiri (1976–2007) and Himgiri (1974–2005)—symbolizing continuity between India’s naval heritage and its modern ambitions.

Khelo India Water Sports Festival 2025 Concludes: Here Are the Winners

In the News: The inaugural Khelo India Water Sports Festival (KIWSF) 2025 concluded at Dal Lake, Srinagar from August 21–23, 2025. It was held under the aegis of the Sports Authority of India in partnership with the J&K Sports Council. As India’s first consolidated, open-age national competition in kayaking, canoeing, and rowing, the festival not only marked a sporting milestone but also served as a platform for shaping India’s Olympic aspirations.

Key Points:

• Champion State – Madhya Pradesh: MP emerged as the dominant state with 18 medals (10 gold, 3 silver, 5 bronze). Particularly notable was its sweeping of all four golds in kayaking and canoeing on the penultimate day, followed by six more in different events on the final day. MP’s success was credited to rigorous training at its Water Sports Academy of Excellence.
• Runner-Up Performers – Odisha & Kerala: Odisha finished second with a strong showing from athletes trained at the SAI Jagatpur Centre, while Kerala placed third with seven medals. Both states benefited from structured, high-quality training infrastructure.
• Local Milestone – J&K’s First Gold: A 17-year-old shikara rower from Jammu & Kashmir made history by clinching the region’s first-ever gold medal in KIWSF, a landmark moment reflecting the rise of local talent.
• SAI’s National Impact: A total of 47 athletes trained at SAI Centres across India won 5 gold, 7 silver, and 3 bronze medals. The performance by Jagatpur’s contingent—spearheading their state’s success—was particularly highlighted.
• Olympic & Policy Significance: KIWSF 2025 served as a launchpad aligned with India’s Olympic ambitions for 2028 and beyond. The event was backed by schemes such as Khelo Bharat Niti, TOPS, and TAGG, aimed at providing strategic support and nurturing high-performance athletes.