Daily Current Affairs - 29th August 2025

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In today’s Daily Current Affairs – 29th August 2025, we cover a wide canvas across governance, education, climate, economy, defence, and global diplomacy.

Highlights include:

• Road Accidents in India 2023 Report – a 4.2% rise in crashes underscores urgent reforms in road safety and transport governance.

• UDISE+ 2024-25 Report – India surpasses 1 crore teachers for the first time, with improved PTRs and declining dropout rates.

• Monsoon Extremes & Disaster Management – increasing flash floods, El Niño shifts, and climate risks demand resilient infrastructure and forecasting.

• Netala Bypass Approval – a sharp national security vs environment debate in Uttarakhand’s fragile Bhagirathi ESZ.

• UNGA’s new AI governance mechanisms – independent scientific panel & global dialogue to regulate AI risks and ethics.

• 11 years of PM Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) – 56 crore accounts, ₹2.68 lakh crore deposits, and 56% women beneficiaries.

• 2025 Air Quality Life Index (AQLI) – India could gain 3.5 years in life expectancy if WHO air pollution standards are met.

• Cotton import duty exemption till Dec 2025 – tackling demand-supply gaps in India’s “white gold” economy.

• IIP Quick Estimates July 2025 – industrial output grows at 3.5%, driven by manufacturing.

• Cultural & international updates – PM’s wishes on Nuakhai festival, U.S. approval of ERAMs for Ukraine, India–UAE LNG pact, and SEBI’s new Cybersecurity & Resilience Framework.

Together, these updates are not just facts, but analytical insights linked to GS Papers, Essays, Ethics case studies, and Prelims MCQs – making your UPSC preparation sharper, faster, and more holistic.

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

Road Accidents in India 2023: Rise in Crashes Highlights Need for Enhanced Safety Measures

1. The Road Accidents in India 2023 Report was released by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.

2. This annual publication presents the current state of road safety in India.

3. In 2023, a total of 480,583 road accidents occurred, marking a 4.2% increase compared to 2022.

4. Among the victims in 2023, young adults aged 18 to 45 years accounted for 66.4% of the casualties.

5. Among Indian states, Tamil Nadu recorded the highest number of road accidents in 2023, followed by Madhya Pradesh.

6. However, Uttar Pradesh had the highest number of fatalities, with Tamil Nadu ranking second.

7. A small portion of roads, approximately 5% of the total road network, are identified as accident-prone highways.

8. These accident-prone highways accounted for more than 53% of total accidents and 59% of fatalities.

9. In terms of road users, two-wheeler riders constitute the highest percentage of accident deaths, at 45%.

10. Pedestrians are the next most affected group in accident fatalities.

11. The major causes of road accidents are categorized into human error, road environment, and vehicular conditions.

12. Human error includes violations of traffic rules, driving without a valid license, and failure to use safety devices such as helmets and seatbelts.

13. The road environment factor includes accidents occurring due to geographical area features (e.g., residential zones), road design, and adverse weather conditions.

14. Vehicular conditions such as the age of the vehicle and overloading also contribute significantly to accidents.

15. To address these issues, the Ministry has implemented several mitigation measures.

16. Under education measures, the Ministry promotes road safety awareness through the Road Safety Advocacy Scheme and the observance of National Road Safety Month/Week.

17. Engineering measures include conducting road safety audits and identifying accident-prone spots on National Highways.

18. Vehicle engineering improvements, such as the installation of airbags and ensuring child safety features, are part of these engineering efforts.

19. Enforcement measures involve penalties under the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019, and the use of electronic monitoring to ensure compliance.

20. Lastly, emergency care measures include protecting good samaritans who help accident victims, providing compensation to victims, and improving ambulance services.

UDISE+ 2024-25 Report: India Surpasses 1 Crore Teachers, Shows Improved Enrollment and Dropout Rates

1. The Unified District Information System for Education Plus (UDISE+) 2024-25 Report was recently released by the Ministry of Education.

2. UDISE+ is a comprehensive data collection system that gathers detailed information on school education in India.

3. The 2024-25 report aligns its findings with the recommendations of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which aims to improve education quality and access.

4. One major change in UDISE+ is its shift to an individual student-wise data collection mechanism, improving accuracy and detail.

5. The total number of teachers in India crossed the 1 crore (10 million) mark in 2024-25, marking a 6% increase from 2022-23.

6. This is the first time since UDISE+ began that the number of teachers has reached this level.

7. The Pupil-Teacher Ratio (PTR) is an important metric that measures the average number of students per teacher.

8. PTRs in India have surpassed the NEP’s recommended ratio of 1:30, but the ratios vary by education level.

9. At the Foundational level, the PTR is 10 students per teacher.

10. At the Preparatory level, the PTR is 13 students per teacher.

11. At the Middle level, the PTR is 17 students per teacher.

12. At the Secondary level, the PTR is 21 students per teacher.

13. Drop-out rates, which indicate the percentage of students leaving school before completing a level, have decreased.

14. The drop-out rate at the Preparatory level is now 2.3%.

15. At the Middle level, it is 3.5%.

16. At the Secondary level, the drop-out rate is 8.2%.

17. The Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) measures the total enrolment in a level of education, regardless of age, expressed as a percentage of the official school-age population.

18. GER has improved to 90.3% at the Middle level and 68.5% at the Secondary level.

19. There has been a 6% decrease in zero-enrolment schools, which are schools where no students are enrolled.

20. Similarly, there has been a 38% decrease in single-teacher schools, which are schools with only one teacher, showing progress in improving education infrastructure.

Increasing Monsoon Extremes in India Highlight Urgent Need for Climate-Resilient Disaster Management

1. Recent extreme weather events like the Punjab floods, landslides, and flash floods in Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, and Jammu and Kashmir highlight the increasing frequency and intensity of monsoon-related extreme weather events in India.

2. The monsoon is a seasonal wind pattern that brings most of India’s annual rainfall, crucial for agriculture and water resources.

3. Research indicates that the monsoon winds are weakening, leading to erratic rainfall patterns.

4. Simultaneously, rising temperatures increase the atmospheric moisture content, which causes intense bursts of rainfall separated by frequent dry spells.

5. The relationship between El Niño—a climate phenomenon characterized by the warming of the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean—and monsoon rainfall over India is changing.

6. The correlation between El Niño and reduced monsoon rainfall is weakening due to shifts in global atmospheric circulation patterns—large-scale movements of air that influence weather worldwide.

7. Spatially, the distribution of monsoon rainfall is also changing, with humid regions becoming drier and dry regions becoming wetter.

8. For example, rainfall is decreasing along the Ganga basin states while increasing in Gujarat’s Saurashtra region and Rajasthan.

9. Climate change, driven by rising sea levels and increasing temperatures, is altering monsoon patterns.

10. This leads to clouds holding more water vapor—the gaseous form of water—which increases the intensity of rainfall events.

11. The changing monsoon patterns have caused an increase in monsoon disasters, with intense rains over short periods causing loss of lives and damage to infrastructure.

12. These frequent extreme events have overwhelmed existing disaster management systems in affected areas.

13. There are significant health implications due to changing monsoon patterns, such as increased risks of heat stress and diseases like dengue.

14. The variability and unpredictability of rainfall complicate weather forecasting, making it harder to prepare for disasters in advance.

15. Accurate forecasting is critical for disaster preparedness and minimizing losses.

16. Economically, the monsoon affects 51% of India’s farmed area, which accounts for 40% of the country’s agricultural production.

17. Nearly 47% of India’s population depends on agriculture for their livelihood, making monsoon variability a major socio-economic concern.

18. These shifts in monsoon behavior underscore the urgent need to transition from post-disaster response strategies to pre-disaster risk reduction.

19. This involves building sustainable infrastructure that can withstand extreme weather and developing effective early-warning systems to reduce vulnerabilities.

Uttarakhand’s Netala Bypass Approval Sparks Debate Between National Security and Environmental Protection

1. The Uttarakhand Government recently granted in-principle approval for the Netala bypass project in the fragile Bhagirathi Eco-sensitive Zone (ESZ).

2. This approval came despite previous rejections by the Supreme Court’s high-powered committee (HPC), which had raised ecological and social concerns.

3. The Ministry of Defence has classified the project as strategically important, highlighting its national security relevance.

4. However, persistent concerns remain about the project’s environmental impact in the ecologically sensitive zone.

5. The recent Dharali flash flood and expert analysis suggest that the proposed bypass alignment is vulnerable to slope instability and subsidence.

6. Notably, a segment of the bypass route already collapsed during the flood, underscoring the risk factors.

7. This decision exposes a potential conflict between national security priorities and environmental protection mandates, especially in fragile ecological areas.

Development vs. Environment Debate:

1. Advocates for developmental parity argue that economic development is essential to reduce poverty and hunger.

2. They contend that the growing population demands increased resource utilization, implying that without people, environmental conservation loses relevance.

3. Conversely, proponents of environmental parity emphasize that development is meaningless if the environment sustaining life is irreversibly damaged.

4. They warn that even minor developmental activities, cumulatively, lead to significant environmental degradation.

5. Key drivers of environmental degradation include the imperatives of economic growth, large-scale projects, industrial zones and Special Economic Zones (SEZs), rapid urbanization, and policy loopholes.

6. Such loopholes include bypassing Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) to fast-track environmental clearances, further risking ecological damage.

Sustainable Development Approaches:

1. The Ecological Approach, based on biocentrism (valuing all living beings), envisions qualitative growth with humans living within finite ecological constraints.

2. Strong Sustainable Development argues that environmental protection is a precondition for economic development, focusing on regulation, intervention, and community participation.

3. In contrast, Weak Sustainable Development tries to integrate economic growth with environmental concerns, prioritizing growth but accounting for environmental costs via tools like green taxes.

4. The Treadmill Approach equates sustainable development with sustainable economic growth, often ignoring environmental limits and assuming that human ingenuity and technology can solve environmental problems.

UNGA Launches New Mechanisms to Strengthen Global AI Governance and Cooperation

1. The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) recently announced the establishment of two new mechanisms within the UN to enhance international cooperation on Artificial Intelligence (AI) governance.

2. These initiatives build upon the "Pact for the Future" and the "Global Digital Compact," representing a significant move toward international, non-military AI governance.

3. The first mechanism is the Independent International Scientific Panel on Artificial Intelligence, which will promote scientific understanding of AI.

4. This panel will issue evidence-based scientific assessments by synthesizing and analyzing existing research on AI’s opportunities, risks, and impacts.

5. The second mechanism is the Global Dialogue on AI Governance, designed as a platform for international cooperation on AI governance.

6. This dialogue aims to facilitate sharing of best practices, lessons learned, and enable open, transparent, and inclusive discussions on AI governance.

7. Alongside these, the UN has other existing mechanisms supporting global AI governance.

8. The Pact for the Future, adopted at the Summit of the Future in September 2024, charts a path to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) while addressing emerging global challenges and opportunities.

9. The Global Digital Compact is annexed as part of the Pact for the Future and serves as a comprehensive framework for digital cooperation and AI governance.

10. The AI for Good Global Summit, organized by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) since 2017, focuses on identifying AI applications that advance the SDGs and scaling them for global impact.

11. Other initiatives include the adoption of the first global standard on AI ethics in 2021 and the UNESCO Recommendation on the Ethics of AI, emphasizing ethical AI development and deployment.

Prime Minister Marks 11 Years of PMJDY, India’s Landmark Financial Inclusion Drive

1. The Prime Minister commemorated 11 transformative years of the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY).

2. The PMJDY is regarded as one of the largest financial inclusion initiatives globally.

3. It functions as a National Mission on Financial Inclusion, aiming to bring the unbanked population into the formal financial system.

4. Over 56 crore Jan Dhan accounts have been opened under this scheme to date.

5. These accounts collectively hold a total deposit balance of ₹2.68 lakh crore rupees.

6. More than 38 crore RuPay cards have been issued free of cost, enabling easy and secure digital transactions.

7. RuPay cards are India’s indigenous payment cards that facilitate cashless payments.

8. Approximately 67% of the accounts are opened in rural or semi-urban areas, helping to include underprivileged individuals in remote regions.

9. About 56% of the total accounts are held by women, promoting gender inclusion in financial services.

2025 Air Quality Life Index: India Could Gain 3.5 Years in Life Expectancy by Meeting WHO Standards

1. The 2025 Annual Update of the Air Quality Life Index (AQLI) has been recently released.

2. The Air Quality Life Index (AQLI) is a specialized pollution index that measures how particulate air pollution impacts life expectancy.

3. Particulate air pollution refers to tiny particles suspended in the air, which can harm human health when inhaled.

4. The AQLI was developed by Professor Michael Greenstone and his team at the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago (EPIC).

5. According to the 2025 update, if India's air pollution levels met the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines, the average Indian’s life expectancy could increase by 3.5 years.

6. In Delhi, the capital city, the potential gain in life expectancy is even higher, estimated at 8.2 years, which is the highest recorded in India.

7. The report highlights that South Asia remains the most polluted region in the world, continuing to face severe air quality challenges.

India Extends Cotton Import Duty Exemption Till December 2025 Amid Demand-Supply Gap

1. Due to a persistent demand–supply gap, the Government of India has extended the import duty exemption on cotton until 31st December 2025.

2. Cotton is often referred to as “White-Gold” because of its high economic value and importance in the textile industry.

3. It is a natural fiber and classified as a semi-xerophyte tropical crop, meaning it can tolerate some drought conditions but requires tropical climates.

4. Cotton is primarily grown during the kharif season, which corresponds to the monsoon cropping period in India.

5. It thrives in semi-arid regions of the country, adapting to different climatic and soil conditions.

6. Cotton cultivation in India spans a variety of soils, including well-drained deep alluvial soils in the North, black clayey soils in Central India, and black-red soils in the Southern region.

7. The crop is semi-tolerant to salinity, indicating moderate resistance to salt in the soil or water.

8. However, cotton is sensitive to water logging, which can adversely affect its growth.

9. Ideal growth conditions for cotton include high temperature, light rainfall, around 210 frost-free days, and bright sunshine.

10. India is the second-largest producer of cotton globally, after China.

11. Notably, India is the only country that cultivates all four species of cotton, reflecting its agricultural diversity.

12. The major cotton-producing states in India include Gujarat, Maharashtra, Telangana, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh.

India’s Industrial Output Grows 3.5% in July 2025: IIP Quick Estimates

1. The Quick Estimates of the Index of Industrial Production (IIP) indicate a growth of 3.5% in July 2025.

2. The Index of Industrial Production (IIP) is a key economic indicator that measures the real growth of industrial output.

3. It is compiled by the Central Statistical Organisation (CSO) under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation.

4. The IIP is released on a monthly basis, ensuring regular tracking of industrial performance.

5. The base year used for calculation of the IIP is 2011–12, which serves as the benchmark for comparison.

6. The scope of the IIP is limited to three core industrial sectors: mining, manufacturing, and electricity.

7. Among these, the manufacturing sector holds the highest weight in the IIP calculation.

8. The electricity sector has the lowest weight in the index.

9. The IIP excludes sectors like construction, gas, and water supply, primarily due to data availability constraints.

Prime Minister Extends Wishes on Nuakhai, Odisha’s Festival of First Harvest

1. The Prime Minister of India extended heartfelt wishes to the people on the occasion of Nuakhai.

2. Nuakhai, also known as Navanna, is an agro-based religious festival.

3. It is celebrated primarily in the Western region of Odisha, reflecting the region’s deep agrarian culture.

4. The term "Nuakhai" literally means "new food", referring to the first harvest of the season.

5. According to oral tradition, the festival was introduced by Raja Ramai Dev of Patna.

6. Raja Ramai Dev ruled during the period 1355 to 1380 CE, and is considered a key historical figure in Western Odisha.

7. The core significance of Nuakhai lies in the worship of new food grains, especially freshly harvested rice.

8. The festival expresses gratitude for a good harvest, acknowledging the role of nature and divine blessings in agriculture.

9. It symbolizes life itself, as food is considered sacred and central to human survival and prosperity.

U.S. Approves Delivery of Precision Long-Range ERAMs to Ukraine

1. The United States has officially approved the delivery of Extended Range Attack Munitions (ERAMs) to Ukraine.

2. Extended Range Attack Munitions (ERAMs) are a next-generation class of air-launched, precision-guided missiles.

3. Being air-launched means these munitions are deployed from aircraft, enhancing their reach and flexibility.

4. Precision-guided missiles are designed to accurately strike specific targets, reducing collateral damage.

5. ERAMs have an operational range of 240 to 450 kilometers, allowing them to hit targets far behind enemy lines.

6. These munitions carry a 500-pound high-explosive warhead, making them highly destructive.

7. The warhead is capable of destroying hardened bunkers, fuel depots, and ammunition storage facilities.

8. ERAMs use a guidance system that combines GPS (Global Positioning System), inertial navigation, and a terminal seeker.

9. Inertial navigation relies on internal sensors to track position without external signals, useful in GPS-denied environments.

10. The terminal seeker is used in the final phase of flight to lock onto the target for pinpoint accuracy.

11. This combination of guidance technologies provides accuracy within about ten meters, ensuring high precision in strike missions.

UAE and India Sign 15-Year LNG Supply Deal to Strengthen Energy Ties

1. The United Arab Emirates (UAE), through the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), has signed a long-term supply agreement with India.

2. Under this agreement, ADNOC will supply 1 million tonnes per annum of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) to Indian Oil Corporation (IOC).

3. The agreement is for a duration of 15 years, ensuring long-term energy cooperation between the two countries.

4. Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) is a natural gas that has been cooled to a liquid state for ease of storage and transport.

5. LNG is cooled to approximately –260° Fahrenheit (–162° Celsius) during this process.

6. The conversion of natural gas into LNG is known as the process of liquefaction.

7. Liquefaction reduces the volume of natural gas by about 600 times compared to its original gaseous form.

8. This significant volume reduction makes long-distance transportation, safe shipping, and efficient storage of natural gas possible.

9. LNG is particularly suitable for countries that import energy over long distances due to its compact and transportable form.

10. The United States is currently the largest exporter of LNG globally.

11. Australia ranks as the second-largest exporter of LNG in the world.

12. Qatar holds the position of the third-largest LNG exporter, following the USA and Australia.

SEBI's Cybersecurity and Resilience Framework for Market Participants

1. SEBI (Securities and Exchange Board of India) has issued a Cybersecurity and Cyber Resilience Framework (CCSRF) to strengthen digital security in the securities market.

2. The CCSRF applies only to systems of entities that are regulated by SEBI.

3. If SEBI-regulated entities are already compliant with cybersecurity rules issued by RBI (Reserve Bank of India) or other competent regulators, SEBI will recognize such compliance.

4. The Cybersecurity and Cyber Resilience Framework (CCSRF) was first issued in 2015.

5. It was initially introduced for Market Infrastructure Institutions (MIIs).

6. Market Infrastructure Institutions (MIIs) include entities such as stock exchanges, clearing corporations, and depositories that form the backbone of the securities market.

7. The objective of CCSRF is to enhance cybersecurity measures across the Indian securities market.

8. It also aims to ensure cyber resiliency, which means the ability of an organization to anticipate, withstand, recover from, and adapt to adverse cyber events.

9. The CCSRF is designed to address and protect against cybersecurity incidents and attacks.

10. The framework is applicable to various market participants regulated by SEBI.

11. These include Stock Brokers and Depository Participants, who facilitate buying, selling, and holding of securities for investors.

12. It also covers Mutual Funds and Asset Management Companies (AMCs), which manage pooled investment funds from investors.

13. KYC Registration Agencies (KRAs), which maintain investor Know Your Customer records, are also included under the CCSRF.

14. The framework additionally applies to Portfolio Managers, professionals who manage investment portfolios on behalf of clients.

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