Daily Current Affairs - 26th August 2025

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In today’s Daily Current Affairs – 26th August 2025, we track major developments across governance, economy, judiciary, environment, and global affairs. Highlights include the U.S. government’s landmark 10% stake in Intel, signalling a historic debate between free-market and state-led capitalism. From the judicial front, we cover the Supreme Court’s call for stricter regulation of social media influencers, reinforcing the limits of free speech under Article 19(1)(a).

We analyse PLFS data showing women’s employment rate doubling to 40.3%, driven by rural participation, entrepreneurship, and rising financial inclusion. In tribal governance, the Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA) reaffirms the Gram Sabha’s sole authority over Community Forest Resources under FRA and proposes a separate Census for Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs).

First-ever national guidelines for animal blood transfusion and veterinary blood banks, India’s humanitarian flood warning to Pakistan for the Tawi River amid the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, and a new study highlighting the role of IgM antibodies in stabilising harmful proteins.

On the international stage, we track India’s collaboration with the World Food Programme (WFP) to combat the global hunger crisis.

Together, these updates provide not only facts but also contextual insights for UPSC Mains and Prelims, helping you link current events with GS Papers, Essays, and Ethics case studies.

Click Here to read the Monthly Current Affairs Pointers (CAP).

U.S. Government’s 10% Stake in Intel Signals Shift Towards State-Led Capitalism Amid Free-Market Debate

1. The U.S. government’s acquisition of a 10% stake in Intel marks a significant shift from traditional free-market capitalism towards a more state-led capitalism model.

2. This government investment in Intel is structured as a passive, non-voting ownership stake, indicating indirect involvement.

3. Historically, state-led capitalism has roots in the 1960s when European countries like France and Britain intervened in strategic sectors such as computers and aerospace.

4. Their goal was to create global competition and strengthen national industries through government involvement.

5. Similarly, in India, Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) were established post-independence to drive rapid industrialisation, maintain state control over strategic sectors, and promote balanced regional development.

6. State-led capitalism is defined as an economic system where the government exerts significant control over the economy, often via ownership of key industries and strategic resource allocation, while still operating within a market-based framework.

7. The pros of state-led capitalism include:

   • Ensuring strategic control over critical industries, such as Atomic Energy.

   • Promoting long-term investments in sectors unattractive to private investors.

   • Safeguarding national security and protecting employment.

8. The cons of state-led capitalism involve:

   • Risks of inefficiency, corruption, and political interference, exemplified by losses in Air India.

   • The potential to crowd out private sector competition and reduce innovation.

   • Imposing a fiscal burden on taxpayers due to government spending.

9. In contrast, free-market capitalism is an economic system characterized by private ownership of the means of production.

10. It features minimal government intervention, with economic decisions driven by supply and demand forces in the market.

11. The advantages of free-market capitalism include:

    • Encouragement of competition, innovation, and efficiency.

    • Attraction of global investment and fostering of entrepreneurship.

12. However, the disadvantages of free-market capitalism include:

    • Occurrence of market failures in essential sectors like health, environment, and infrastructure.

    • Potential to widen inequality and neglect strategic national needs.

Supreme Court Highlights Limits on Freedom of Speech for Social Media Influencers; Calls for Stricter Content Regulation

1. The Supreme Court recently heard a case against social media comedians accused of “abusing freedom of speech and expression” by making insensitive jokes about persons with disabilities.

2. The Court clarified that commercial speech and prohibited speech are not protected under the constitutional freedom of speech and expression (Article 19(1)(a)).

3. Commercial speech refers to speech related to advertising or promotions that have an economic intent.

4. Prohibited speech, including hate speech, covers expressions that promote or incite enmity, hatred, or violence against groups based on characteristics like religion, race, caste, or ethnicity.

5. The Court emphasized that influencers with large followings must exercise responsibility in their public communications.

6. It suggested that proportionate penal actions be taken under the Information Technology (IT) Rules and the Cinematograph Act for violations.

7. The Court also directed the government to draft comprehensive social media guidelines for regulating online content effectively.

8. In the Amish Devgan v. Union of India (2020) case, the Supreme Court distinguished between free speech and hate/prohibited speech.

9. The judgement highlighted the responsibility of influencers who have wide public reach.

10. In the earlier Shreya Singhal v. Union of India (2015) case, the Court ruled that legitimate online expression cannot be curtailed unless there is imminent harm.

11. The legal framework regulating online content in India primarily includes the Information Technology Act, 2000, and its amendments.

12. Under Section 69A of the IT Act, the government is empowered to block access to information considered harmful or threatening.

13. Additionally, the Cinematograph Act, 1952 prohibits content that criticises, maligns, or slanders any person or group.

Women’s Employment Rate Doubles to 40.3% by 2023-24, Driven by Rural Growth and Entrepreneurship, Says PLFS

1. Recent data from the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) shows that the women’s employment rate (WPR) increased significantly from 22% in 2017-18 to 40.3% in 2023-24.

2. During the same period, the female unemployment rate decreased from 5.6% to 3.2%, indicating improved job opportunities for women.

3. The growth in female employment was particularly strong in rural areas, rising by 96%, compared to a 43% increase in urban areas.

4. There has been a notable rise in women-led entrepreneurship, reflecting women’s growing role as business leaders.

5. Female self-employment grew by 30%, increasing from 51.9% in 2017-18 to 67.4% in 2023-24.

6. In the startup ecosystem, nearly 50% of Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT)-registered startups have at least one woman director.

7. Women have improved their access to finance, receiving 68% of total MUDRA loans and constituting 44% of beneficiaries under the PM SVANidhi scheme.

8. These financial initiatives promote financial inclusion and self-reliance among women entrepreneurs.

9. The number of women-led Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) nearly doubled from 1 crore in 2010-11 to 1.92 crore in 2023-24.

10. These MSMEs have generated over 89 lakh jobs for women, contributing significantly to employment.

11. Gender budgets, which allocate resources specifically for women’s programmes, have increased by 429% over the last decade.

12. This increase reflects a paradigm shift from traditional women’s development to women-led development.

13. Women’s development typically involves programmes designed for women, without their direct participation in planning, implementation, or evaluation.

14. In contrast, women-led development sees women as leaders, decision-makers, and innovators in the development process.

15. Ensuring 70% female workforce participation is identified as a critical pillar for achieving the vision of a Viksit Bharat (Developed India) by 2047.

MoTA Affirms Sole Authority of Gram Sabhas in Managing Community Forest Resources under FRA

1. The Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA) has clarified the legal authority of Gram Sabhas in managing Community Forest Resources (CFRs).

2. According to MoTA, CFR Gram Sabhas, through their CFR Management Committees, hold sole authority to prepare Community Forest Resource Management Plans (CFRMPs).

3. This clarification is based on the provisions of the Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006.

4. The Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006 seeks to correct historical injustices faced by forest-dwelling communities.

5. It also aims to ensure their livelihood security and food sovereignty through rights over forest land and resources.

6. The clarification came after the Chhattisgarh Forest Department issued an order declaring itself as the nodal agency for implementing CFR rights.

7. This move by the Chhattisgarh Forest Department was seen as a contradiction to the FRA provisions, which legally empower local Gram Sabhas.

8. Community Forest Resource Management Plans (CFRMPs) are frameworks created by communities to sustainably manage and protect forest resources.

9. These plans aim to promote social equity by ensuring the participation of marginalised groups, including women and tribal youth, in governance and economic activity.

10. The structure of CFRMPs aligns with the FRA’s broader vision of environmental justice.

11. Each CFRMP must be designed according to the ecological, cultural, and socio-economic context of the community it serves.

12. This community-led approach marks a shift from traditional top-down forest governance systems.

13. It positions Gram Sabhas as the primary stewards of both sustainable forest management and resilient local livelihoods.

14. To support this decentralised process, the Union Government launched the Dharti Aba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyaan in 2023.

15. The Dharti Aba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyaan is a government programme aimed at empowering tribal communities in CFR governance.

16. Under this programme, State Governments were allowed to empanel NGOs to assist Gram Sabhas in preparing their CFR management plans.

17. This support ensures that Gram Sabhas receive technical guidance and capacity-building while retaining full decision-making authority.

Ministry of Tribal Affairs Proposes Separate Census for Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs)

1. The Ministry of Tribal Affairs has proposed a separate Census for Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs).

2. If this proposal is finalised, the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India (RGI) will independently enumerate PVTGs in the upcoming Census 2027.

3. The demand arises because PVTGs have historically remained underrepresented in national data sets.

4. In the 2011 Census, only about 40 out of the 75 identified PVTGs were listed as Scheduled Tribes (STs) and officially counted.

5. The remaining groups, often sub-sections within larger ST communities, were not distinctly enumerated in the data.

6. A separate headcount is considered essential for designing targeted and need-based programmes for PVTGs.

7. One such initiative is the PM-JANMAN programme, which aims to bridge socio-economic gaps for PVTGs across over 200 districts.

8. Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) are considered the most marginalised and vulnerable segments among tribal populations.

9. The concept of PVTGs was first recognised by the Dhebar Commission in the early 1960s.

10. Currently, 75 PVTGs have been identified across 18 States and the Union Territory of Andaman & Nicobar Islands.

11. A recent habitation-level survey by the Centre estimated the PVTG population at 45.56 lakh.

12. The states with the largest PVTG populations are Madhya Pradesh (12.28 lakh), Maharashtra (6.2 lakh), and Andhra Pradesh (4.9 lakh).

13. The criteria for identifying PVTGs include a pre-agricultural level of technology, which means use of primitive tools and no settled agriculture.

14. They also show a low level of literacy, indicating limited access to formal education.

15. Another criterion is economic backwardness, reflecting poor livelihood opportunities and income.

16. A declining or stagnant population is also a key marker for inclusion as a PVTG.

17. The Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India (RGI) is the designated authority for conducting population counts in India.

18. The RGI was established in 1949 and functions under the Union Ministry of Home Affairs.

19. One of its primary responsibilities is conducting the Housing and Population Census under the Census Act, 1948.

20. It also manages the Civil Registration System (CRS) under the Registration of Births & Deaths (RBD) Act, 1969, which mandates compulsory registration.

21. The Sample Registration System (SRS) is another key function, providing estimates of vital rates like Birth Rate, Death Rate, Infant Mortality Rate (IMR), and Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR).

22. The RGI is also responsible for maintaining the National Population Register (NPR), under the Citizenship Rules, 2003, framed within the Citizenship Act, 1955.

23. Additionally, the office conducts the Mother Tongue Survey, which documents linguistic features of selected mother tongues across the country.

DAHD Releases National Guidelines for Animal Blood Transfusion and Veterinary Blood Banks

1. The Guidelines/SOPs for Animal Blood Transfusion and Blood Banks have been released by the Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying (DAHD).

2. These guidelines aim to establish a national framework for animal blood transfusion practices.

3. The framework focuses on ensuring practices that are safe, ethical, and scientifically sound.

4. Blood transfusion is globally recognized as a life-saving intervention in veterinary medicine.

5. It is essential for treating conditions such as trauma, severe anaemia, surgical blood loss, infectious diseases, and coagulation disorders in animals.

6. Trauma refers to physical injury or wounds, while anaemia is a condition caused by a deficiency of red blood cells or haemoglobin.

7. Coagulation disorders are conditions where the blood’s ability to clot is impaired.

8. The guidelines set national standards for donor selection in animals.

9. They also cover protocols for blood collection, blood storage, and safe transfusion procedures.

10. The guidelines aim to integrate One Health principles into veterinary blood transfusion systems.

11. The One Health approach recognizes the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health, and promotes coordinated actions to reduce zoonotic risks.

12. Zoonotic risks refer to the possibility of diseases being transmitted between animals and humans.

13. The document also aims to lay the foundation for a national veterinary blood bank network.

14. A veterinary blood bank is a facility that collects, tests, stores, and distributes animal blood for transfusion purposes.

15. Additionally, the guidelines are designed to support veterinary education, training, and research in transfusion medicine.

India Issues Humanitarian Flood Warning to Pakistan for Tawi River Amid Indus Waters Treaty Suspension

1. India issued a flood warning to Pakistan regarding a potential rise in water levels in the Tawi River.

2. This alert was given as a “humanitarian gesture”, indicating it was done voluntarily for the sake of civilian safety.

3. India used diplomatic channels to communicate the warning to Pakistan.

4. Diplomatic channels refer to formal communication between governments through embassies or foreign ministries.

5. However, this communication was not routed through the Indus Waters Commission, the official platform for water-related coordination under treaty obligations.

6. The Indus Waters Commission is a bilateral body established under the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) to manage water-sharing and river-related issues between India and Pakistan.

7. The Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), signed in 1960, governs the sharing of six rivers of the Indus basin between India and Pakistan.

8. Currently, the IWT remains in abeyance, meaning it is temporarily suspended or inactive.

9. The suspension follows the Pahalgam attack, an incident that led to a breakdown in bilateral cooperation mechanisms.

10. The Tawi River originates from the Kailash Kund glacier, also known as Kali Kund, located near Bhaderwah in the Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir.

11. The Kailash Kund glacier is a high-altitude glacier that serves as the source of the river.

12. The Tawi River is a left bank tributary of the Chenab River.

13. A left bank tributary means the river joins the main river (Chenab) from the left side when facing downstream.

14. The Tawi River is considered the “Lifeline” of Jammu city due to its crucial role in water supply and daily life.

India Partners with World Food Programme to Combat Global Hunger Crisis

1. The Government of India and the World Food Programme (WFP) have announced a collaboration to address the global hunger crisis.

2. The World Food Programme (WFP) is the world's largest humanitarian organization focused on food security.

3. It is dedicated to saving lives during emergencies such as conflicts, disasters, and climate-related crises.

4. WFP uses food assistance as a tool to build pathways toward peace, stability, and long-term prosperity.

5. The organization supports people recovering from conflicts, natural disasters, and the impacts of climate change.

6. It provides both essential food aid and technical assistance to help communities rebuild and become self-reliant.

7. The WFP has a global presence, operating in over 120 countries, including India.

8. In recognition of its critical role in promoting peace through food security, the WFP was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2020.

IgM Antibodies Found to Mechanically Stabilize Harmful Proteins, Revealing New Protective Role

1. A new study has shown that IgM antibodies can act as mechanical stabilisers of harmful proteins.

2. This means IgM can physically prevent harmful proteins from unfolding or aggregating, adding a new protective role beyond immune defense.

3. Immunoglobulin M (IgM) is a type of antibody, which are protective proteins produced by the immune system to identify and neutralize harmful invaders.

4. IgM is the largest antibody in terms of molecular size among all antibody types.

5. It is also the first antibody produced by the immune system in response to an infection by viruses, bacteria, parasites, or other pathogens.

6. IgM is the first antibody that the immune system begins to develop during fetal development.

7. These antibodies are primarily found in the blood and lymph, which are key fluids in the immune system for transporting immune cells and responses.

Study Reveals Common Leopards Encroaching Snow Leopard Habitats in J\&K, Likely Due to Climate Change

1. A recent study in Jammu and Kashmir has revealed that common leopards are encroaching into snow leopard habitats.

2. This encroachment is possibly driven by climate change, altering the distribution of species in high-altitude ecosystems.

3. The Snow Leopard (Panthera uncia) is a reclusive big cat species found in the high-altitude regions of India.

4. In India, snow leopards are largely found in Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh.

5. Snow leopards have a smokey-grey fur coat with dark rosettes, which provides camouflage in rocky, snowy terrains.

6. They are solitary animals, meaning they live and hunt alone rather than in groups.

7. Snow leopards are crepuscular, meaning they are most active during dawn and dusk.

8. Unlike other big cats like tigers and lions, snow leopards cannot roar, due to the structure of their larynx.

9. The snow leopard is the state animal of Himachal Pradesh.

10. It is also the state animal of the Union Territory of Ladakh.

11. The IUCN Red List categorizes the snow leopard as Vulnerable, meaning it faces a high risk of extinction in the wild.

12. It is listed under Appendix I of CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species), which includes species threatened with extinction and prohibits international trade except under exceptional circumstances.

13. In India, the snow leopard is protected under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.

14. Specifically, it is listed under Schedule I, which provides the highest level of protection, and Schedule IV, which includes species requiring protection but with relatively lower penalties for violations.

Automakers Face Shortage of Rare Earth Magnets Critical for Electric Vehicles and Electronics

1. Automakers are facing a shortage of rare earth magnets, which has forced them to cut features and look for alternatives.

2. Rare Earth Magnets are a type of permanent magnet.

3. Permanent magnets are materials that retain magnetism without the need for an external electric field.

4. These magnets are made from alloys of Rare Earth Elements (REEs).

5. Rare Earth Elements (REEs) are a group of 17 elements found in the periodic table, mainly the 15 lanthanides plus scandium and yttrium.

6. Rare earth magnets are valued for their exceptional magnetic strength.

7. They also have high density, meaning mass is concentrated in a small volume.

8. They possess high conductivity, which allows better transfer of heat and electricity.

9. They also provide high energy density, which means they store more magnetic energy per unit volume.

10. There are two main types of rare earth magnets.The first is Neodymium-Iron-Boron (NdFeB) magnets, which are the strongest and most widely used.

11. The second is Samarium-Cobalt (SmCo) magnets, which are more resistant to heat and corrosion.

12. These magnets make it possible to create compact yet powerful magnetic devices.

13. Their unique properties enable use in electronics such as headphones, hard drives, and smartphones.

14. They are crucial in clean energy technologies, especially in wind turbines and electric vehicle motors.

15. They are applied in healthcare equipment, including MRI machines and medical sensors.

16. They are also vital in the automotive industry, powering electric motors and hybrid vehicles.

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