Daily Current Affairs- 31st August 2025

Daily Current Affairs- 31st August 2025

Cabinet approves India’s 2030 CWG bid, says Ahmedabad ideal host

In the News: The Union Cabinet of India, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, granted approval for submitting India's formal bid to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games. Ahmedabad was endorsed as the ideal host city owing to its world-class sports infrastructure and vibrant sporting ethos. The Cabinet also approved signing the Host Collaboration Agreement (HCA) and providing grant-in-aid to the Gujarat government contingent on a successful bid.

Key Points:

• Cabinet Approval : The Union Cabinet approved the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports’ proposal to submit a bid for the 2030 Commonwealth Games, positioning Ahmedabad as the chosen venue.
• Host Collaboration Agreement & Financial Support : The government sanctioned the signing of the Host Collaboration Agreement and pledged necessary guarantees and grant-in-aid to the Gujarat government if the bid succeeds.  
• Ahmedabad: Ideal Host City: Ahmedabad was described as an ideal host city with state-of-the-art stadiums, advanced training facilities, and a passionate sporting culture. The Narendra Modi Stadium—the world's largest cricket stadium, which successfully hosted the 2023 ICC World Cup Final—underscores the city’s readiness.
• Benefits to Economy and Youth: Hosting the Games is expected to generate a lasting impact—boosting tourism, creating jobs, and stimulating business across sectors like sports science, event management, logistics, broadcasting, IT, and communications. It’s also seen as a catalyst to inspire a new generation of athletes and promote enhanced engagement in sports nationwide.
• Legacy and Olympic Aspirations : The 2030 bid is part of India's broader vision to demonstrate its sporting capabilities and pave the way towards hosting the 2036 Olympic Games.
•  International Competition and Context : India is competing with other nations—such as Canada and Nigeria—for hosting rights. The Commonwealth Games have faced hosting challenges in recent editions, with Victoria (Australia) and Durban (South Africa) having withdrawn from prior commitments.

Exercise Achook Prahar 2025

In the News: Indian Army’s Spear Corps (specifically the SpearHead Division) and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) carried out a major joint firepower exercise—Exercise Achook Prahar—in central Arunachal Pradesh. The four-day drill, conducted under simulated battlefield conditions, showcased coordinated use of mortars, machine guns, rockets, and grenades, strengthening operational readiness and interoperability in high-altitude terrain.

Key Points:

•  Participants & Duration: The exercise, held from 25–28 August 2025, involved infantry troops from the Indian Army’s SpearHead Division (Spear Corps) collaborating with the ITBP.
• Firepower Integration: Joint drills featured integrated firepower operations, leveraging mortars, machine guns, rockets, and grenades to validate tactical coordination and battlefield accuracy.
• Operational Environment: Conducted in central Arunachal Pradesh, the exercise was tailored to the region’s rugged, high-altitude terrain, testing the forces under challenging environmental and logistical conditions.
• Interoperability & Readiness: Achook Prahar reaffirmed the seamless interoperability between the Army and ITBP, spotlighting their combined capability to respond swiftly and effectively in simulated frontline combat.
• Public Safety Action: During the exercise, the Spearhead Division’s unexploded ordnance disposal team safely demolished 15 unserviceable 81 mm mortar bombs at Manigong in the Siang District. The swift and professional operation ensured civilian safety with no collateral damage.

PM to address plenary session at SCO summit

In the News: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the plenary session of the 25th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin, China, delivering a strong message against terrorism and outlining India’s policy vision based on the pillars of "Security, Connectivity, and Opportunity". His remarks highlighted global unity against terror, underscored India's strategic priorities within the SCO framework, and affirmed India's commitment to balanced regional diplomacy.

Key Points:

• Plenary Address & Diplomatic Context:PM Modi delivered his plenary speech at the SCO Summit in Tianjin on September 1, 2025, followed by a bilateral meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
• Three Pillars—SCO Vision:He articulated India’s agenda for the SCO around three guiding cornerstones: Security, Connectivity, and Opportunity.
• Firm Stance on Terrorism: Modi denounced terrorism, stating that "no double standards on terror are acceptable," calling for a unified global front—a message delivered in the presence of Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
•  Highlighting Pahalgam Attack & Global Solidarity: He referenced the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 lives, calling it an affront to humanity and expressing appreciation for nations that stood with India in solidarity.
• Connectivity with Sovereignty: PM Modi emphasized that meaningful connectivity must respect national sovereignty, warning that initiatives bypassing this principle “lose trust and meaning” — a veiled critique of China’s Belt and Road Initiative.  
• India-China Diplomatic Thaw: On the sidelines, Modi met with President Xi Jinping and affirmed that the two countries are "development partners, not rivals." Discussions covered trade, visa, pilgrimage, flight restorations, border peace, and reducing India's trade imbalance.
• Affirmation of SCO’s Role: Modi portrayed the SCO as a platform for “Security, Connectivity, and Opportunity,” reinforcing its potential for regional stability and cooperative development.

Thai court removes PM Paetongtarn Shinawatra for ethics violation over Cambodia

In the News: Thailand’s Constitutional Court dismissed Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra from office, concluding she violated ethical standards by prioritizing personal ties—particularly with Cambodia’s Senate President Hun Sen—over national interests during a sensitive border dispute. Her removal deepens a persistent pattern of judicial interventions wiping out Shinawatra-affiliated leaders.

Key Points:

• Ethics Violation Ruled: The court found that Paetongtarn’s conduct in a leaked phone call with Hun Sen was ethically inappropriate—she referred to him as "uncle" and pledged to "take care of" his requests, raising alarms that she subordinated Thailand’s interests to personal connections.
• Call Leaked Amid Border Tensions: The conversation came during an escalating border conflict with Cambodia, compounding national security concerns. The leak triggered public outrage, protests, and ultimately the withdrawal of key coalition support.
•  Judgment and Suspension Timeline: Paetongtarn was suspended from her duties on July 1, 2025, pending the court's verdict. The final decision was rendered on August 29, 2025, with a 6‑3 ruling in favor of removal.
• Caretaker Leadership: Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai stepped in as acting prime minister immediately following her removal. Pheu Thai’s remaining prime ministerial nominee, Chaikasem Nitisiri, is now the only candidate available to lead.  
• Dynastic Setback: Paetongtarn becomes the latest in the Shinawatra dynasty to be forced out—mirroring the fates of her father Thaksin, aunt Yingluck, and uncle Somchai—all removed through coups or legal rulings.  
• Political Fallout & Uncertainty: Her removal heightens political volatility in Thailand. Rival factions are scrambling to build a viable government, with early elections now a loomed possibility.

India-Bhutan Punatsangchhu-II Hydropower Project

In the News: Bhutan successfully completed the 1020 MW Punatsangchhu‑II Hydroelectric Project, with the final (sixth) unit synchronized to the national power grid. This milestone marks a 40% boost in Bhutan’s installed power capacity, elevating it to over 3500 MW. The project highlights deepening clean energy cooperation between India and Bhutan.

Key Points:

• Project Completion & Capacity Boost: The synchronization of the final unit (Unit 6, 170 MW) in August 2025 officially completed the project, lifting Bhutan’s power generation capacity by ~40% to over 3500 MW.
• Commissioning Timeline:
  - Units 1 & 2 were synchronized in December 2024,
  - Unit 3 in March 2025,
  - Unit 4 in May 2025,
  - Unit 5 in July 2025, and
  - Unit 6 in August 2025.  
• Project Overview & Funding: The project is a run-of-the-river hydroelectric facility (6 × 170 MW) on the Punatsangchhu River in Wangdue Phodrang District, Bhutan, with a 1,020 MW installed capacity. It is fully funded by India, with 30% as grant and 70% as a loan at around 10% interest.
• Technology & Technical Partners: It utilizes Vertical Francis turbines, the project’s design and execution involved major Indian agencies—WAPCOS (engineering/design) and NIRM (geotechnical modeling).
• Strategic Bilateral Cooperation: The project exemplifies longstanding hydropower collaboration between India and Bhutan—including prior projects such as Chukha, Kurichhu, Tala, and Mangdechhu, with Punatsangchhu‑II reinforcing this clean-energy partnership.  
• Sustainability & Regional Impact: As a clean energy source, the project enhances regional energy security and contributes to climate goals. Its run-of-river design minimizes displacement and environmental impact. Under the 2024 Joint Vision Document, further energy cooperation—including hydro and solar—is expected.

NGO ‘Educate Girls’ wins Ramon Magsaysay Award 2025

In the News:  Educate Girls, an Indian non-profit, became the first Indian organisation to receive the prestigious Ramon Magsaysay Award—Asia’s equivalent of the Nobel Prize—for its transformative work in grassroots girls’ education across rural India.

Key Points:

• Historic First: Educate Girls made history as the first Indian non-profit to win the Ramon Magsaysay Award in 2025. The award honors their impactful contributions to girls’ education and cultural empowerment.([turn0news19]) ([turn0news20])
• Impact Scope: Established in 2007, Educate Girls has operated in over 30,000 villages, re-enrolling more than 2 million girls into schools and providing remedial learning support to over 2.4 million children.([turn0news19]) ([turn0news21])
• Program Footprint: Originally piloted in Rajasthan’s Pali district in 2008 across 500 government schools, the initiative now spans 12 districts in Rajasthan. It has re-enrolled over 700,000 girls in the state and more than 2 million nationally.([turn0news20])
• Flagship Initiatives: The NGO runs two main programs:
  • Vidya: Focused on enrolling girls up to age 14 into formal schools.
  • Pragati: Offers a second-chance learning opportunity for adolescent girls and women aged 15–29 to improve education and employability.([turn0news20])
• Volunteer-Driven Model: A robust grassroots model—Team Balika—comprising over 23,000 community volunteers, identifies out-of-school girls and assists them in rejoining formal education leveraging government infrastructure.([turn0news20])
• Recognition & Ceremony Details: Educate Girls was acknowledged by the Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation for “addressing cultural stereotyping, liberating girls from illiteracy, and infusing them with courage and agency.” The award ceremony is scheduled for November 7, 2025, at the Metropolitan Theatre in Manila.