Daily Current Affairs- 27th August 2025

Daily Current Affairs- 27th August 2025

Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice Vipul Pancholi Elevated to Supreme Court by the President

In the News: Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice Vipul Pancholi Elevated to Supreme Court by President
In the News: The Centre, through the Law Minister’s announcement on social media, confirmed that Chief Justices Alok Aradhe (Bombay High Court) and Vipul Manubhai Pancholi (Patna High Court) have been elevated to the Supreme Court of India, following the Collegium’s recommendation on August 25, 2025. The appointments were formalized by the President under Article 124(2) of the Constitution. Once sworn in, the Supreme Court will function at its full strength of 34 judges.

Key Points:

• Collegium Recommendation: The five-member Collegium led by Chief Justice B. R. Gavai recommended the elevations by a 4–1 majority. Justice B. V. Nagarathna dissented, citing Justice Pancholi’s low seniority (57th) and concerns over regional representation imbalance.
• Presidential Appointment: Within two days of recommendation, the appointments were approved by the President of India, bringing a rapid conclusion to the elevation process.
• Career Trajectories:

• Justice Alok Aradhe began as a judge in the Madhya Pradesh High Court (2009), served in Jammu & Kashmir, Karnataka, and as Chief Justice of Telangana, before becoming Chief Justice of Bombay HC in January 2025.
  • Justice Vipul M. Pancholi, elevated as an Additional Judge in Gujarat HC (2014), later transferred to Patna HC, becoming its Chief Justice in July 2025.
• Impact & Controversy: With the appointments, the SC gets back to full strength of 34 judges. Justice Pancholi’s elevation raised concerns — his transfer to Patna HC and being slated to become Chief Justice of India (2031–33) drew criticism from Justice Nagarathna, who feared it would erode Collegium’s credibility.

Centre Forms Committees to Honour Patel, Vajpayee, Birsa Munda

In the News: The Government of India has constituted three separate high-level committees, each chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to commemorate the 150th birth anniversaries of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and Birsa Munda, and the centenary (100th) birth anniversary of Atal Bihari Vajpayee. The Ministry of Culture issued gazette notifications between August 23–25, 2025. Each committee comprises over 100 members—including Union ministers, state governors, and chief ministers—tasked with national-level commemorations.

Key Points:

Committee Structure & Leadership: Each of the three high-level committees will be chaired by PM Narendra Modi and supported by over 100 members, including distinguished figures like former Presidents Pratibha Patil & Ram Nath Kovind and ex-PM H.D. Deve Gowda, as well as state governors and chief ministers.

Serialized Celebrations: The committees will plan and supervise year-long commemorative activities (seminars, cultural programmes, public outreach) that go beyond their native regions to reflect a pan-India tribute.

Sardar Patel’s Legacy (150th birth anniversary): Celebrations will celebrate his role in the integration of 565+ princely states and as India’s inaugural Deputy PM and Home Minister—reinforcing national unity and administrative foundations.

Birsa Munda’s Legacy (150th birth anniversary): The Libyan tribal freedom fighter, known for leading the “Ulgulan” uprising in the late 19th century, symbolizes tribal resistance and cultural pride; celebrations aim to spotlight underrepresented tribal history.

Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s Legacy (100th birth anniversary): The three-time Prime Minister will be honored for his statesmanship—from nuclear policy to infrastructure development (like the Golden Quadrilateral), and inclusive democracy—through year-long commemorations.

India Set to Become Second-Largest Economy in PPP Terms by 2038: EY Report

In the News: According to the August 2025 EY Economy Watch report, India is projected to become the world’s second-largest economy in purchasing power parity (PPP) terms by 2038, with an estimated GDP of USD 34.2 trillion. This projection is based on IMF’s medium-term growth estimates for 2028–2030.

Key Points:

• Projected Growth Trajectory: India’s GDP in PPP terms is expected to grow to USD 20.7 trillion by 2030, setting it on track to cross USD 34 trillion by 2038—enough to position it just behind China.
• Growth Drivers: The country’s youthful demographics (median age ~28.8 years), high savings and investment rates, growing domestic demand, and declining government debt-to-GDP ratio (from 81.3% in 2024 to a projected 75.8% by 2030) contribute to a sustainable growth path.
• Global Economic Comparison: While China is projected to remain the largest economy by 2030 (~USD 42.2 trillion PPP), India is seen as overtaking the U.S., Germany, and Japan in PPP terms by 2038. These countries face constraints like ageing populations, high debt, or reliance on global trade.
• Economic Reforms & Resilience: Structural reforms—including GST, IBC, UPI-led financial inclusion, production-linked incentives—and investments in infrastructure and emerging technologies (AI, semiconductors, renewable energy) are reinforcing India’s competitiveness and macroeconomic stability.
• Policy Outlook: EY India's Chief Policy Advisor, DK Srivastava, emphasized that India’s strengths—its young workforce, solid savings-investment regime, and improving public debt profile—equip it to sustain high growth through global volatility and inch closer to its Viksit Bharat ambitions by 2047.

India–Africa Trade Crosses USD 100 Billion in 2024–25

In the News: Union Minister of State for External Affairs, Kirti Vardhan Singh, announced that India–Africa bilateral trade surpassed USD 100 billion during the 2024–25 financial year, nearly doubling from USD 56 billion in 2019–20. India has also emerged as one of the top five investors in Africa.

Key Points:

• Trade Surge Over Five Years: Bilateral trade grew from USD 56 billion in 2019–20 to over USD 100 billion in 2024–25, reflecting a robust expansion of economic ties.
• nvestment Footprint: Since 1996, India’s cumulative investments in Africa have exceeded USD 75 billion, positioning India among the top five largest investors on the continent.
• Development Assistance: India has extended over USD 12 billion in concessional loans and USD 700 million in grants to support infrastructure and capacity-building projects across African nations.
• Educational Outreach: The Government of India offered 50,000 scholarships to African youth, of which over 42,000 have been utilised, facilitating knowledge exchange and capacity development.
• Strategic Alignment and Shared Vision: Amplifying the economic ties, India endorsed a shift from project-driven cooperation to “Co-creating a Shared Future.” It invited African partners to join initiatives like the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure and International Solar Alliance, signaling deeper collaboration in sustainable development.

SpaceX Completes 10th Successful Starship Test Launch

In the News: On August 26, 2025, SpaceX executed its 10th Starship test flight from Starbase, Texas—a milestone marked by the first full achievement of all major objectives after a series of prior failures. The flight reached a suborbital altitude of approximately 192 km, achieved speeds exceeding 26,000 km/h, deployed eight Starlink simulators, and culminated with controlled splashdowns: the Super Heavy booster in the Gulf of Mexico and the Starship spacecraft in the Indian Ocean.

Key Points:

• Vehicle and Mission Performance: The 400-foot-tall Starship–Super Heavy system performed seamlessly—successful ignition of all 33 Raptor engines, clean stage separation, payload deployment, engine relight test, and controlled splashdowns of both stages. While minor heat shield and aft-flap damage occurred, the flight is considered a remarkable comeback.
• Milestone Achievements: This flight marked the first satellite deployment from Starship’s upper stage (via simulators for Starlink), the second in-space relight of a Raptor engine, and the first full success after several earlier failures, including a catastrophic explosion during testing in June.
• Strategic Importance: The success represents a critical leap toward realizing SpaceX’s vision of a fully reusable launch system for interplanetary missions, including NASA’s upcoming Artemis III lunar mission (2027) and eventual Mars missions.
• Public & Environmental Response: The launch attracted over 1.8 million live viewers, reflecting high public interest. However, it also sparked environmental concerns and local protests in Texas, alongside criticism from the Mexican government about debris, emphasizing the complex socio-political landscape surrounding rapid spaceflight development.

FIDE World Cup 2025 to Be Hosted in Goa

In the News: The International Chess Federation (FIDE) officially confirmed that the 2025 FIDE World Cup will be held in Goa, India, from October 30 to November 27, 2025. This marks the return of India as host after more than two decades, placing one of chess’s most prestigious knockout tournaments on Indian soil once again.

Key Points:

Tournament Scope & Stakes: The World Cup will feature 206 top players in an eight-round knockout format. Notably, the top three finishers will earn qualification spots for the 2026 Candidates Tournament, with a USD 2 million prize pool (approximately ₹17.5 crore).

Elite Participation: The tournament boasts a stellar lineup, including reigning World Champion D. Gukesh, Magnus Carlsen, Fabiano Caruana, and R. Praggnanandhaa. While Gukesh isn’t competing for a Candidates spot—being already the World Champion—he will participate for prize money and rating points

National Significance: Prime Minister Narendra Modi called this a “proud moment for Indian chess,” emphasizing the growing popularity of the game among youth and India’s emergence as a global chess powerhouse. He highlighted the tournament as a celebration of India’s rising stature in the game

Hosting Context: Originally, New Delhi had been considered as the host city, but procedural delays involving approvals from FIDE, AICF, and governmental bodies led to the final decision to host the event in Goa, offering a scenic backdrop for the global flagship chess event

Format & Broadcasting: The tournament structure follows an intense knockout format—each match begins with two classical games; tied matches proceed to rapid and blitz tiebreakers. The event format promises high drama with significant implications for the World Championship cycle.