Daily Current Affairs- 29th August 2025

Daily Current Affairs- 29th August 2025

Minority Affairs Ministry Launches UMEED Module for Vulnerable Groups

In the News: The Ministry of Minority Affairs launched an additional module on the UMEED Portal, enabling widows, divorced women, and orphans to apply for maintenance support from Waqf-alal-aulad properties through a digitized platform .

Key Points:

• Module Launch: The Ministry introduced this new module under the Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency and Development Rules, 2025, implementing Rule 8(2) in alignment with Section 3(r)(iv) of the Unified Waqf Management Act, 1995.
• Target Beneficiaries: The digital system specifically facilitates maintenance support applications for widows, divorced women, and orphans, leveraging income generated from Waqf‑alal‑aulad—a special endowment category benefiting family members and deserving individuals.
• Digital Features:
  • Aadhaar‑based authentication for verifying beneficiary identity.
  • Fully online application & approval workflows, administered via State/UT Waqf Boards.
  • Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) ensures maintenance funds are transferred directly to beneficiaries’ bank accounts.
• Governance & Implementation: The move enhances the transparency, accountability, and efficiency of Waqf administration, reducing administrative delays and promoting good governance in line with inclusive welfare goals. The Ministry has urged State/UT Waqf Boards and Mutawallis (custodians of Waqf property) to ensure the module is widely implemented and to raise awareness among eligible beneficiaries.

India and Bhutan Sign MoU for Agricultural Cooperation

In the News: India and Bhutan formalized a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Thimphu, aimed at strengthening cooperation in agriculture and allied sectors. The agreement was signed by Devesh Chaturvedi, Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare (India), and Thinley Namgyel, Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (Bhutan).

Key Points:

• MoU Signing Event: The MoU was signed on August 28, 2025, in Thimphu by the respective Agriculture Secretaries of India and Bhutan, marking a renewed commitment to joint agricultural progress.
• Scope of Collaboration: The agreement serves as a structured framework for cooperation across multiple domains: Agricultural research and innovation, Livestock health and production, Post-harvest management, Value chain development & Exchange of knowledge, skills, and expertise
• Joint Technical Working Group (JTWG): Immediately following the signing, the first meeting of the JTWG was held. During this session, both countries agreed on the group's Terms of Reference and identified priority areas for immediate action.
• Discussion Areas and Indian Initiatives: The JTWG covered cooperation domains such as agricultural marketing and cooperatives, food processing, seed sector development, research and technology collaboration, and capacity building. Shri Chaturvedi emphasized India's ongoing efforts in digital agriculture, climate-resilient farming, risk mitigation strategies, and enhanced credit access for farmers.

India Launches First National Biofoundry Network under BioE3 Policy

In the News: Marking the first anniversary of the BioE3 (Biotechnology for Economy, Environment and Employment) Policy, Union Minister of Science & Technology, Dr. Jitendra Singh, inaugurated India’s first National Biofoundry Network and launched the BioE3 Challenge for Youth at an event held in New Delhi.

Key Points:

• Launch Event:The launch coincided with the one-year milestone of the BioE3 Policy. Dr. Jitendra Singh unveiled both the National Biofoundry Network and the BioE3 Challenge for Youth on August 27, 2025.
• National Biofoundry Network: Comprises six premier institutions:
  • International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB)
  • Biotechnology Research Innovation Council – National Agri-Food Biotechnology Institute (BRIC‑NABI)
  • Translational Health Science and Technology Institute (THSTI)
  • Institute of Pesticide Formulation Technology (IPFT)
  • National Centre for Cell Science (NCCS)
  • Advanced Centre for Treatment, Research and Education in Cancer (ACTREC)
  • Designed as an integrated end-to-end platform covering design, prototyping, testing, and scaling of biotech solutions—fostering indigenous biomanufacturing and innovation.
• BioE3 Policy and Bioeconomy Goals: BioE3 stands for Biotechnology for Economy, Environment and Employment. The policy frames biotechnology's role in national growth, eco-sustainability, and job creation.  India’s bioeconomy surged from USD 10 billion in 2014 to USD 165.7 billion in 2024, with an ambitious target of USD 300 billion by 2030.
• Complementary Initiatives and Milestones: Notable achievements under the BioE3 Policy include:
  • Launch of India’s first Biomanufacturing Institute in Mohali, Punjab
  • Establishment of Bio-Artificial Intelligence hubs
  • Creation of biomanufacturing hubs and additional biofoundries
  • More than a dozen joint research calls in areas like cell and gene therapy, climate-smart agriculture, carbon capture, and functional foods, with over 2,000 proposals received.
• BioE3 Challenge for Youth:
  • Launched at the same event, the challenge invites innovators (from school students to startups) across India to “Design Microbes, Molecules & More.”
  • Starting October 2025, the challenge will be announced monthly:
    • Top 10 winners each receive ₹1 lakh, mentorship, and recognition.
    • 100 selected innovators are eligible for funding up to ₹25 lakh via BIRAC, disbursed in two tranches to support proof-of-concept development.
  • The initiative follows the DESIGN framework:
    • Define needs → Evidence-first → Sustainability → Integration → Go-to-market → Net-positive impact.

Index of Industrial Production Growth July 2025

In the News: Government data revealed that India’s Index of Industrial Production (IIP) grew by 3.5% year-on-year in July 2025, marking its strongest performance in four months and exceeding economists’ expectations.

Key Points:

• Overall IIP Growth : The Index of Industrial Production rose 3.5% in July 2025, up from 1.5% in June, signaling a recovery in industrial activity.
• Sectoral Performance
  • Manufacturing: Strong growth at 5.4%, up from June’s 3.7%, making it the main driver of the IIP expansion.
  • Electricity: Modest improvement with 0.6% growth, reversing June’s 1.2% decline.
  • Mining: Continued contraction but at a slower pace down 7.2% versus June’s 8.7% decline.
• IIP Index Values
  • The overall IIP index stood at 155.0 in July 2025, compared to 149.8 in July 2024.
  • Sector-specific indices: Mining: 107.7; Manufacturing: 156.9; Electricity: 221.5.
• Leading Manufacturing Contributors : Out of 23 manufacturing industry groups at the NIC 2‑digit level, 14 recorded positive growth year-on-year.
• Top contributors include:
  • Basic metals: up 12.7% (notably MS slabs, HR coils/sheets, alloy steel flat products)
  • Electrical equipment: up 15.9% (including electric heaters, switchgear, transformers)
  • Non‑metallic mineral products: up 9.5% (cement, cement clinkers, marble slabs)
• Use-Based Classification Trends: Growth by category in July 2025 over July 2024:
  • Primary Goods: –1.7% (decline)
  • Capital Goods: +5.0%
  • Intermediate Goods: +5.8%
  • Infrastructure / Construction Goods: +11.9%
  • Consumer Durables: +7.7%
  • Consumer Non-Durables: +0.5%
    The top performers were infrastructure/construction goods, intermediate goods, and consumer durables.
• Quarter-to-Date Growth (April–July 2025): Industrial output for April–July grew 2.3%, significantly lower than last year’s 5.4% for the same period.

Mapping India’s Education Landscape

In the News: The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) released results from the Comprehensive Modular Survey: Education (CMS:E), 2025, conducted as part of the 80^th Round of the National Sample Survey (NSS). The survey gathered data from 52,085 households and 57,742 students, focusing on household expenditure on school education and private coaching across India between April and June 2025.

Key Points:

• School Enrolment Patterns : Government schools remain foundational to India’s education system: they account for 55.9% of total enrollments nationally—66.0% in rural areas versus just 30.1% in urban areas. Private unaided schools hold 31.9% of enrolments nationwide.
• Household Spending on Education : The average per‑student expenditure across all schools stands at approximately ₹8,382 in rural areas and ₹23,470 in urban areas, reflecting significant rural‑ urban disparities.  In government schools, households spend much less per student ₹2,863 compared to ₹25,002 in non‑government schools.
• Breakdown of Education Expenses : Across all school types, course fees emerge as the largest expense (average ₹7,111), followed by textbooks and stationery (₹2,002). Urban households spend significantly more: course fees average ₹15,143 in urban areas versus ₹3,979 in rural areas.
• Rising Prevalence of Private Coaching : Nearly 27.0% of students took private coaching during the academic year, with higher incidence in urban areas (30.7%) than in rural areas (25.5%).  Urban households spend significantly more on coaching ₹3,988 per student annually, compared to ₹1,793 in rural areas. Coaching cost increases with education level; for higher secondary, it’s ₹9,950 urban vs ₹4,548 rural.
• Funding Sources for Schooling : Household members are the primary source of funding for education, cited by 95% of students. Only 1.2% identified government scholarships as their main funding source.
• Survey Methodology & Caveats :The survey utilized Computer-Assisted Personal Interviews (CAPI) across a large, nationally representative sample. However, it's important to note that CMS:E's totals are meant for calculating rates and ratios only—not for extrapolating absolute population figures. They should thus be interpreted with caution (e.g., due to sample size and relative standard error). Also, CMS:E differs significantly from the 75th NSS Round (2017–18) in terms of classifications and definitions, such as treating anganwadis as pre‑primary and separately reporting private coaching expenses.

Google Launches ‘Nano Banana’ AI Photo Editing Tool

In the News: Google officially unveiled "Nano Banana", also known as Gemini 2.5 Flash Image, an advanced AI-powered photo editing model integrated into its Gemini app. The announcement was teased via CEO Sundar Pichai’s playful “three bananas” post and quickly captured public attention for its cutting-edge editing capabilities.

Key Points:

• Tool Launch & Accessibility : “Nano Banana” is the latest AI image editing upgrade in the Gemini app, rolling out globally for both free and paid users on mobile and web platforms.
• Core Capabilities:
  • Maintain Visual Consistency: Keeps faces, pets, and objects recognizable even after dramatic edits in style, background, or context.
  • Multi-Turn Editing: Enables iterative, step-by-step modifications like redecorating a room in phases—while preserving coherence across each edit.
  • Image Blending & Scene Creation: Users can combine multiple photos into one cohesive scene e.g., placing themselves with their pets in imaginative settings
  • Style Mixing: Apply textures or patterns from one image (e.g., butterfly wings or petals) onto another object (like rain boots or dresses).
  • Prompt-Based Local Edits: Control fine-grained transformations through simple text commands like “blur background,” “remove stain,” “change pose,” or “colorize black-and-white photos.”
  • Text-to-Image Generation: Beyond edits, the model supports image generation from text prompts and benefits from Gemini's broader world knowledge for more intuitive results.
• Developer Access & Pricing : Developers can tap into Gemini 2.5 Flash Image via the Gemini API, Google AI Studio, and Vertex AI. Pricing is set at $30 per 1 million output tokens, estimating around $0.039 per image.
• Watermarking & Safety Measures : All AI-generated or edited images include both visible watermarks and an invisible SynthID digital watermark for traceability and authenticity.  That said, subtle visible watermarks or their visibility may be cropped out, raising concerns about deepfake misuse

Urjit Patel Appointed IMF Executive Director for 3-Year Term

In the News: The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet officially appointed Dr. Urjit Patel, former Governor of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), as the Executive Director representing India at the International Monetary Fund (IMF), for a tenure of three years, succeeding Dr. Krishnamurthy V. Subramanian.

Key Points:

• Appointment Details: Dr. Urjit Patel has been chosen to represent India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Bhutan at the IMF's Executive Board for a three-year term.  He assumes the position following the early termination of Dr. Subramanian’s tenure in April 2025.
• Professional Profile & Previous Roles: Served as RBI Governor from September 2016 to December 2018, during which he led the implementation of the inflation-targeting framework and introduced key monetary policy reforms. Earlier, he held roles such as Deputy Governor at RBI and economist at the IMF, marking a return to familiar grounds.
• Notable Career Trajectory: His journey spans economic policy, central banking, international institutions, and the private sector including high-profile roles at RBI, IMF (early career), AIIB, and Reliance Industries.  His return to the IMF underscores a “full-circle” progression from his early years as an IMF economist to now being one of its Executive Directors.