Daily Current Affairs - 12th August 2025

Welcome to your one-stop destination for crisp, reliable, and exam-relevant Daily Current Affairs. The PRESS Pad delivers daily updates and smart summaries that go beyond the headlines and align perfectly with the evolving pattern of UPSC and other state-level examinations.

Today's edition features key updates including Stray Dogs and Rabies, MMDR Amendment Bill, 2025, SVRAs, INR Internationalization, Taxation Laws and Income-Tax Amendment Bills, 2025, National Sports Governance and Anti-Doping Amendment Bills, 2025, OneWeb LEO Satellite, National Anubhav Awards, UNDP Equator Initiative Award and more...

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Supreme Court Directs Measures to Control Stray Dogs and Rabies in NCR

1. The Supreme Court of India has issued directions to control the menace of stray dogs in the National Capital Region (NCR).

2. These directions in a suo motu case include creating a dedicated force for the immediate pickup of stray dogs.

3. The court has also directed the establishment of dog shelters to house stray animals safely.

4. Additionally, a helpline is to be created to facilitate reporting and assistance related to stray dogs.

5. There is a focus on ensuring the availability of vaccines to prevent diseases spread by stray dogs.

6. Legal consequences will be imposed on those who obstruct the implementation of these directions.

7. The problem of stray dogs is significant in India, with nearly 1.5 crore (15 million) stray dogs as per the 2019 livestock census.

8. Stray dogs are the main source of rabies, a vaccine-preventable, zoonotic viral disease.

9. India accounts for 36% of the world’s rabies deaths.

10. To address this, the Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023, framed under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, aim to control the stray dog population through sterilisation.

    • Sterilisation is a surgical procedure preventing animals from reproducing, thus controlling population growth.

11. These rules also focus on curbing the spread of rabies by vaccinating stray dogs.

12. The Supreme Court, in the 2014 Jallikattu case, expanded the interpretation of the right to life and liberty under Article 21 of the Constitution to include animals.

13. In People for Elimination of Stray Trouble v. Animal Welfare Board of India, the Supreme Court suspended the killing of all street dogs, including troublemakers.

14. Article 243W of the Constitution mandates municipalities to control stray dog populations.

15. Article 51A(g) places a fundamental duty on citizens to have compassion for living creatures.

16. Despite these provisions, challenges in controlling stray dog populations persist.

17. There is a lack of adequate infrastructure, especially in terms of animal birth control centres and shortage of trained veterinary professionals.

18. Availability of anti-rabies vaccine (ARV) and rabies immunoglobulin (RIG) is low in primary healthcare centres.

    • Anti-rabies vaccine (ARV) prevents rabies infection after exposure, while rabies immunoglobulin (RIG) provides immediate passive immunity.

19. Ethical issues arise due to conflict between animal welfare and public safety concerns.

20. A balanced approach is necessary, involving intensive sterilisation and vaccination programs.

21. Developing dedicated shelters and facilities for stray dogs is essential.

22. Redefining human relationships with dogs, such as promoting service dogs, can also help address the issue.

Lok Sabha Introduces Mines and Minerals Amendment Bill, 2025

1. The Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2025 has been introduced in the Lok Sabha to strengthen India’s mineral sector.

2. The bill aims to secure supply chains for critical minerals amid global disruptions and high import reliance.

3. This initiative aligns with the government’s National Critical Mineral Mission focused on self-reliance in essential mineral resources.

4. A key amendment renames the National Mineral Exploration Trust as the National Mineral Exploration and Development Trust (NMEDT).

5. The NMEDT’s mandate now includes offshore and international exploration specifically for critical minerals.

6. To fund the NMEDT, the contribution from mining leaseholders is increased from 2% to 3% of the royalty payable.

7. The bill introduces Mineral Exchanges, which are electronic trading platforms for minerals, concentrates, and processed metals.

8. These mineral exchanges aim to foster a transparent and dynamic market to aid efficient price discovery.

9. The bill incentivizes extraction of critical minerals by simplifying the inclusion of new minerals into existing mining leases.

10. Importantly, no additional royalty payments will be required for critical minerals listed in the Seventh Schedule or Part D of the First Schedule when added to existing leases.

11. It permits a one-time extension of mining lease areas: up to 10% for deep-seated minerals located below 200 meters.

12. For composite licenses covering multiple minerals, lease extensions of up to 30% are allowed.

13. The bill removes the 50% cap on the sale of minerals from captive mines, which are mines operated by companies exclusively for their own use.

14. Additionally, state governments are empowered to authorize the sale of minerals recovered from old mineral dumps.

Standing Committee Flags Challenges and Reforms for CCI in Digital Economy

1. The Standing Committee on Finance has released a report on the evolving role of the Competition Commission of India (CCI) in the economy, focusing particularly on the digital landscape.

2. The report notes that the existing ex-post Competition Act, 2002 is ill-equipped to address challenges posed by the digital market.

3. To tackle these challenges, the Competition (Amendment) Act, 2023 introduced new provisions such as Deal Value Thresholds (DVT) and Settlement and Commitment Mechanisms.

4. The CCI has also constituted a specialized unit called the Digital Markets Division (DMD) to better address digital market complexities.

5. A key issue highlighted is the prevalence of anti-competitive practices like self-preferencing, predatory pricing, and tying/bundling by dominant firms, which stifle innovation.

6. The report identifies several regulatory limitations affecting CCI's effectiveness.

7. One such limitation is institutional capacity, with significant vacancies — only 113 out of 195 sanctioned posts filled — and a lack of specialized technical expertise, for example, in Artificial Intelligence (AI).

8. Another concern is enforcement effectiveness, as courts often stay or dismiss CCI-imposed penalties; out of Rs. 20,350.46 crore imposed, Rs. 18,512.28 crore penalties are stayed or dismissed.

9. The report also raises concerns about the Digital Competition Bill, including broad thresholds, absence of rebuttal mechanisms, and potential overlaps with the Digital Personal Data Protection Act (DPDP Act).

10. Vulnerability of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) is another issue, as the DVT of Rs. 2000 crore may allow unchecked acquisitions of MSMEs.

11. The report recommends reducing litigation delays by strengthening legal defense and enforcing the 25% pre-deposit for appeals.

12. It advises reviewing the DVT for MSMEs and enhancing investigations into predatory pricing to protect smaller enterprises.

13. A proactive approach is suggested, including expanding market studies on emerging areas such as AI and integrating consumer welfare, especially focusing on data privacy.

14. The report also recommends implementing the National Competition Policy (NCP) to provide a comprehensive policy framework.

15. About the Competition Commission of India (CCI): It was established in 2003 under the Competition Act, 2002 but became operational only in 2009.

    • The CCI’s composition includes a Chairperson and six Members, all appointed by the Central Government.

    • Its core functions are to eliminate practices adversely affecting competition, promote and sustain competition, protect consumer interests, and ensure freedom of trade.

    • Additionally, the CCI provides opinions on competition issues referred by statutory authorities established under any law.

RBI Eases Opening of Special Vostro Rupee Accounts to Boost INR Internationalization

1. The RBI has simplified the process for opening Special Vostro Rupee Accounts (SVRAs) by removing prior approval requirements for banks.

2. This change aims to speed up rupee-based trade settlements and support the internationalization of the Indian Rupee.

   • A Vostro Account is a foreign bank's account held in a domestic bank in the local currency.

   • For example, if a US bank (Citibank) holds an account in an Indian bank (SBI) denominated in Indian Rupees (INR), it is called SBI’s Vostro account.

   • Conversely, a Nostro Account is a domestic bank's account held in a foreign bank in the overseas country’s currency.

3. The internationalization of a currency refers to its use beyond national borders for international trade, finance, and as a reserve currency.

4. One major benefit of currency internationalization is the reduction in the need for foreign exchange (forex) reserves to manage external economic vulnerabilities.

5. It also leads to enhanced development of domestic financial markets by broadening and deepening financial instruments availability.

6. Another benefit is economic autonomy, allowing governments to finance deficits by issuing debt internationally in their own currency instead of foreign currencies.

7. It also reduces exchange rate risk as exporters and importers can invoice and transact in their own currency, avoiding currency fluctuation vulnerabilities.

8. Other steps taken to internationalize the Indian Rupee include promoting the internationalization of Indian payment infrastructure such as UPI (Unified Payments Interface).

9. The issuance of rupee-denominated bonds, also called Masala Bonds, is another key initiative.

10. Additionally, the RBI has signed Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with central banks of countries like the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, and Maldives to encourage cross-border transactions in local currencies.

11. Furthermore, RBI has entered into bilateral currency swap agreements to facilitate the use of the rupee in international trade.

Lok Sabha Passes Taxation Laws and Income-Tax Amendment Bills, 2025

1. The Lok Sabha has passed two significant bills: the Taxation Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2025 and the Income-Tax (No.2) Bill, 2025.

2. These bills aim at the consolidation, simplification, and amendment of income-tax laws and the Income Tax Act, 1961.

3. The Income-Tax (No.2) Bill, 2025 addresses the complexity caused by over six decades of amendments to the 1961 Act.

4. Its objective is to simplify and modernize the Income Tax Act for improved administrative efficiency.

5. One key feature is that deductions will now be available to companies.

6. The Bill also extends Family Pension and Gratuity Deductions to eligible family members.

7. It revises Minimum Alternate Tax (MAT) and Alternate Minimum Tax (AMT) by separating them into two subsections.

8. Under the revision, AMT applies only to non-corporates who claim deductions.

9. Additionally, Limited Liability Partnerships (LLPs) with only capital gains income are exempt from AMT if they do not claim deductions.

10. To support the digital economy, the Bill adds “profession” to the list of taxpayers mandated to use electronic payment modes for receipts exceeding ₹50 crore.

11. The Bill also promises simplified tax language for easier drafting and better cross-referencing.

12. It updates key definitions such as “capital asset,” “micro and small enterprises,” and “beneficial owner.”

13. The Taxation Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2025 amends the Income-tax Act, 1961 and the Finance Act, 2025.

14. Its objective is to provide income tax exemptions and benefits aligned with recent developments.

15. One major reform is the introduction of the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS) with tax exemptions aligned to the New Pension Scheme (NPS) benefits.

16. The Bill also offers direct tax relief to the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia and its subsidiaries under foreign investment relief.

17. It aims to streamline procedures related to search cases, focusing on the treatment of pending assessments and reassessments under block assessment procedures.

Lok Sabha Passes National Sports Governance and Anti-Doping Amendment Bills, 2025

1. The Lok Sabha has passed two important bills: the National Sports Governance Bill and the National Anti-Doping Amendment Bill, 2025.

2. The National Sports Governance Bill aims to regulate various sports administrators in India.

3. Meanwhile, the National Anti-Doping Amendment Bill provides greater operational independence to India’s National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA).

4. This independence aligns with requirements prescribed by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

5. Under the Sports Governance Bill, National Sports Bodies (NSBs) will be established for their respective recognized sports organizations.

6. The National Olympic Committee (NOC) will serve as the sole governing body for Olympic sports in India.

7. The National Paralympic Committee (NPC) will be the sole governing body for Paralympic sports.

8. Other bodies include the National Sports Federation (NSF) and the Regional Sports Federation (RSF).

9. The Bill also creates the National Sports Board (NSB) with the power to grant recognition to any sports organization as a National Sports Body.

10. The Chairperson and Members of the NSB will be appointed by the Central Government.

11. To ensure speedy resolution of sports disputes, the Bill establishes the National Sports Tribunal.

12. The Tribunal has exclusive jurisdiction, and civil courts will have no authority over matters it handles.

13. The Central Government will also set up a national panel of electoral officers to oversee elections of national sports bodies.

14. Additionally, the government can exempt any national body or its affiliates from provisions of the Bill if necessary in the public interest to promote that sport.

15. Turning to the Anti-Doping Amendment Bill, the Central Government is empowered to constitute an Appeal Panel.

16. This Appeal Panel will hear appeals against decisions made by the Disciplinary Panel.

17. The Bill enhances the operational independence of both the National Anti-Doping Appeal Panel and NADA to ensure their decisions remain autonomous.

18. It aligns the provisions of the National Anti-Doping Act, 2022 with the World Anti-Doping Code.

19. Specifically, parts of the World Anti-Doping Code listed in the Schedule of the Bill will have the force of law in India.

Tata’s Nelco Partners with Eutelsat for OneWeb LEO Satellite Connectivity in India

1. Nelco, a company under the Tata Group, has partnered with Eutelsat to provide OneWeb LEO satellite connectivity across India.

   • Eutelsat OneWeb is a subsidiary of the French group Eutelsat.

   • It offers broadband satellite Internet services using a network of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites.

   • LEO satellites operate in orbits around Earth at altitudes of 2,000 kilometers or less.

2. Bharti Enterprises from India is a major investor and shareholder in OneWeb.

3. This partnership aims to strengthen India’s digital infrastructure.

4. It also enhances national security by providing secure and reliable communication.

5. Furthermore, it ensures connectivity in underserved and remote areas where traditional internet infrastructure is weak or unavailable.

Oldest Wallacean Hominid Artefacts Discovered on Sulawesi Island, Indonesia

1. Scientists have discovered possible artefacts of the oldest known Wallacean hominids on Sulawesi Island in Indonesia.

   • Wallacean hominids refer to the earliest humans found in the Wallacea region of Eastern Indonesia.

2. These prehistoric humans are identified as Homo erectus, an early human species.

3. Previously, these hominids were believed to have settled only on Flores Island in Indonesia and Luzon Island in the Philippines around 1.02 million years ago.

4. They were thought to be incapable of distant sea travel, which limited their spread across islands.

5. The term Wallacea is named after the naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace.

6. Wallacea is a biogeographical region in Eastern Indonesia that includes several islands such as Sulawesi, Lombok, Flores, Timor, and Sumbawa.

7. Geographically, Wallacea lies between larger landmasses: Borneo and Java on the west, and Australia and New Guinea on the east.

National Anubhav Awards Mark 10 Years of Preserving Administrative Memoirs

1. The National Anubhav Awards are celebrating 10 years of contribution from 2015 to 2025.

2. These awards are instituted by the Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare.

3. The primary aim of the awards is to document India’s administrative history.

4. This documentation is done through memoirs submitted by retired employees.

5. These memoirs are collected via the Anubhav Portal, an online platform dedicated to this purpose.

6. The awards encourage participation from employees who are retiring within the next 8 months.

7. Additionally, employees who have retired within the last 3 years are also eligible to submit their write-ups.

8. This initiative helps preserve valuable first-hand experiences and insights from government servants.

Bibi Fatima Women’s SHG from Dharwad Wins UNDP Equator Initiative Award

1. The Bibi Fatima Women’s Self-Help Group (SHG) from a small village in Dharwad district has received the prestigious Equator Initiative Award.

2. The Equator Initiative Award is presented biennially under the Equator Initiative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

3. The UNDP Equator Initiative aims to provide opportunities for Indigenous Peoples and local communities to tackle issues like land degradation, biodiversity conservation, and livelihood improvement.

4. The award is often referred to as the Nobel Prize for Biodiversity Conservation due to its significance in recognizing environmental efforts.

5. The Bibi Fatima SHG has been recognized for introducing millet-based mixed cropping on rainfed farms.

   • Mixed cropping refers to growing two or more crops together in the same field to improve biodiversity and resilience.

6. The group has also promoted climate-resilient farming systems, which are agricultural practices adapted to withstand climate variability.

7. Additionally, the SHG practises livestock rearing and horticulture, contributing to diversified and sustainable livelihoods.

8. The group has played a key role in popularising millets, which are nutrient-rich, drought-resistant grains important for food security.

Expert Panel Recommends Environmental Clearance for 3,097 MW Etalin Hydroelectric Project in Arunachal Pradesh

1. An expert panel of the Union Environment Ministry has recommended granting environmental clearance for the Etalin Hydroelectric Project.

2. The Etalin Hydroelectric Project is located in Dibang Valley of Arunachal Pradesh.

3. The Dibang Valley lies within the Eastern Himalaya Global Biodiversity Hotspot, which is one of the world’s richest and most threatened reservoirs of plant and animal life.

4. The project involves the construction of concrete gravity dams on the Dri River and the Tangon River.

   • A concrete gravity dam is a structure that uses its own weight to resist the force of water pushing against it.

5. The Dri River joins the Tangon River near Etalin village, and their confluence forms the Dibang River downstream.

6. The total installed capacity of the Etalin project is 3,097 megawatts (MW), making it one of the largest proposed hydroelectric projects in India.

7. One of the major environmental concerns is the diversion of approximately 1,175 hectares of forest land for the project.

8. The affected forest includes a diverse mix of forest types, indicating a highly sensitive ecological zone.

9. These forest types include sub-tropical pine forests, wet evergreen forests, semi-evergreen forests, montane wet temperate forests, and moist alpine scrub forests.

10. These ecosystems support high biodiversity and are critical for the ecological balance of the Eastern Himalayan region. 

Registration for National Medical Register ID Voluntary, Clarifies Union Minister

1. The Union Minister has clarified that registration for a National Medical Register ID is voluntary.

2. The National Medical Register (NMR) is a centralized and digital record of licensed allopathic medical practitioners in India.

3. The NMR is maintained under Section 31(1) of the National Medical Commission Act, 2019.

4. As per this section, the Ethics and Medical Registration Board (EMRB) is responsible for maintaining the National Register.

   • The Ethics and Medical Registration Board (EMRB) is a statutory body under the National Medical Commission (NMC).

5. The register includes details such as the name, address, and all recognized medical qualifications of each registered doctor.

6. The primary objective of the NMR is to prevent duplication of doctor records.

7. It also aims to enable public access to verified information about medical practitioners.

8. The register is designed to be a dynamic database, which means it is continuously updated with new or revised information.

9. It will serve as a comprehensive national database for all registered allopathic doctors in the country.

10. Some of the data from the register will be made public to ensure transparency and accountability.

11. However, sensitive or personal information will be restricted and accessible only to authorized individuals or institutions.

Centre Extends Mahadayi Water Disputes Tribunal Tenure by One Year Under 1956 Act

1. The Central Government has extended the tenure of the Mahadayi Water Disputes Tribunal by one year.

2. This extension has been made under the Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, 1956.

3. The Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, 1956 provides a legal framework for resolving disputes over water sharing between two or more states in India.

4. The Mahadayi Water Disputes Tribunal was originally constituted in November 2010.

5. The purpose of the tribunal is to adjudicate the water-sharing dispute involving the Mahadayi River between Goa, Karnataka, and Maharashtra.

6. The Mahadayi River, also known as the Mandovi River, is a west-flowing river.

7. The river originates in the Western Ghats, specifically at Khanpur in Belgaum district of Karnataka.

8. It flows westward and eventually drains into the Arabian Sea at Panaji, the capital of Goa.

9. In Karnataka, the river is referred to as Mahadayi, while in Goa, it is known as Mhadei.

10. The river has several important tributaries, including Sarang, Mahainada, Udel, Lohi, Velvota Bicholim, Mapuce, Nanoda, and Khandepar.

11. The basin area of the Mahadayi River is spread across three states.

12. The majority of the basin area lies in Goa (78%), followed by Karnataka (18%), and Maharashtra (4%).

ECI Reviews 476 RUPPs for Potential De-Listing Amid Electoral Reforms

1. The Election Commission of India (ECI) has identified 476 Registered Unrecognized Political Parties (RUPPs) for possible de-listing.

2. This step is part of ECI’s ongoing efforts to clean up the electoral system and ensure transparency in political processes.

3. Registered Unrecognized Political Parties (RUPPs) are those political parties that are registered with the ECI.

4. However, RUPPs lack recognition as either State Parties or National Parties.

5. A recognized political party is one that fulfills certain criteria related to vote share or seats won in elections, defined by ECI.

6. The registration of political parties is governed by Section 29A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 (RPA, 1951).

7. According to Section 29A, any political party seeking to contest elections must register with the ECI.

8. However, the ECI does not have the power to de-register a political party under the current provisions of the RPA, 1951.

9. This limitation was clarified in the Supreme Court judgment in Indian National Congress vs. Institute of Social Welfare (2002).

10. In this case, the court ruled that ECI lacks statutory authority to de-register a political party for violating its internal party guidelines or failing to contest elections.

11. Despite this, the Guidelines for Registration of Political Parties issued by ECI provide some procedural authority.

12. As per these guidelines, a party that does not contest elections for six consecutive years can be removed from the register of political parties.

13. The ongoing review and potential de-listing of RUPPs by ECI is being conducted within the scope of these guidelines.

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