August 2025 Current Affairs Part-2
- Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025 – Passed August 2025
Passed in August 2025, this Act establishes a national framework for online gaming regulation in India. It distinguishes between games of skill and chance, prohibits real-money gambling platforms, promotes e-sports, and sets up a central regulatory body—making India one of the few countries with a dedicated gaming law.
Key Points:
- Bans all real-money gaming involving chance, including betting and wagering.
- Allows certified e-sports and skill-based platforms to operate under regulation.
- Establishes the National Online Gaming Commission (NOGC) to license and monitor platforms.
- Mandates platforms to verify age, comply with data security, and ensure no addictive mechanics.
- Penal provisions include heavy fines and platform shutdowns for non-compliance.
The Act strikes a careful balance—protecting users from digital gambling addiction while nurturing the potential of e-sports and gaming startups. By creating a defined legal ecosystem, it brings legitimacy and order to a rapidly expanding but previously grey regulatory area.
UPSC Prelims‑style MCQs:
- The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025 prohibits:
- A) E-sports events
- B) Real-money betting platforms
- C) Skill-based puzzles
- D) Fantasy leagues with entry limits
- The Act empowers which regulatory body?
- A) TRAI
- B) National Gaming Commission of India
- C) National Online Gaming Commission
- D) Digital India Games Authority
- Which of the following is permitted under the Act?
- A) Online poker tournaments
- B) Educational quiz games
- C) Lottery apps
- D) Roulette and slot machine apps
- The Act was primarily passed to:
- A) Boost state tax revenue
- B) Promote fantasy cricket
- C) Curb gambling and support skill-based gaming
- D) Expand casinos across Indian states
- UN Regional SDG Centre for Central Asia and Afghanistan – Launched 3 August 2025
In a landmark development, the United Nations inaugurated a Regional Centre for Sustainable Development Goals in Almaty, Kazakhstan, on 3 August 2025. The centre aims to enhance regional cooperation, especially for fragile states like Afghanistan, in achieving Agenda 2030 targets.
Key Points:
- Functions as a multilateral platform for SDG planning, monitoring, and coordination across Central Asia.
- Focuses on education, gender equity, water security, and post-conflict resilience in Afghanistan.
- Operates under the UN Sustainable Development Division in collaboration with local governments.
- Expected to strengthen climate adaptation, urban resilience, and digital governance.
- Serves as a neutral bridge between Central Asian republics and global partners.
This centre enhances institutional capacity in a geopolitically volatile region. For India, it offers strategic convergence—supporting Afghanistan’s development while countering influence from other regional powers through multilateral frameworks and soft power diplomacy.
UPSC Prelims‑style MCQs:
- The UN SDG Regional Centre launched in August 2025 is located in:
- A) Kabul
- B) Dushanbe
- C) Almaty
- D) Tashkent
- One of the core goals of the centre is to:
- A) Build railways in Central Asia
- B) Provide military training
- C) Coordinate SDG efforts in fragile states
- D) Promote e-sports across Afghanistan
- Which of the following is NOT a focus area of the Centre?
- A) Water security
- B) Digital governance
- C) Arms trade regulation
- D) Post-conflict resilience
- The Centre works under:
- A) UN Security Council
- B) UN Development Programme
- C) UN Sustainable Development Division
- D) UNESCO
- Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi – 20th Installment (2 August 2025)
On 2 August 2025, Prime Minister Modi released the 20th installment of the PM-KISAN scheme in Varanasi. A total of ₹20,500 crore was disbursed via Direct Benefit Transfer to 9.7 crore farmers, reinforcing the government’s commitment to agricultural welfare and digital transparency.
Key Points:
- Mass Disbursement: ₹20,500 crore transferred to 9.7 crore beneficiaries—each received ₹2,000.
- Transparent Delivery: Funds credited instantaneously via DBT, minimizing leakages.
- Community Engagement: Event emphasized as both mission and festival, mobilizing KVKs, Drone Didis, Krishi Sakhis, and others.
- Agricultural Messaging: PM, amidst tariff tensions, reaffirmed support for farmers, promoted ‘Vocal for Local’, and inaugurated development projects alongside the disbursement.
- Potential Delays: Some farmers faced delays due to e‑KYC incomplete or land record linkage issues; advised to check status via portal or helplines.
The 20th installment exemplifies how digital infrastructure and community outreach can elevate welfare schemes. By linking monetary relief with developmental messaging and addressing procedural hurdles, it reinforces both pedagogical outreach and grassroots-centric governance.
UPSC Prelims‑style MCQs:
- The 20th installment of PM‑KISAN, released on 2 August 2025, involved disbursement of approximately:
- A) ₹6,000 crore
- B) ₹20,500 crore
- C) ₹50,000 crore
- D) ₹3.6 lakh crore
- How much did each eligible farmer receive under the 20th installment?
- A) ₹500
- B) ₹2,000
- C) ₹6,000
- D) ₹10,000
- Which method was used to transfer the funds?
- A) Postal cheques
- B) Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT)
- C) Cash distribution at KVKs
- D) Through agricultural cooperatives
- Which of the following was not a reason for payment delay mentioned in media reports?
- A) Incomplete e-KYC
- B) Incorrect bank details
- C) Pending land record linkage
- D) Faulty biometric screening at village level
- Raksha Bandhan Event under Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (8 August 2025)
On 8 August 2025, as part of the fifth anniversary of the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (NMBA), Brahma Kumaris sisters tied rakhis to nearly 400 CRPF personnel at the Dr. Ambedkar International Centre in New Delhi. The event included a mass pledge against drug abuse, symbolizing the nation’s commitment to a drug-free society.
Key Points:
- Organized by the Department of Social Justice & Empowerment to honor Raksha Bandhan and reinforce NMBA goals.
- Brahma Kumaris tied rakhis to approximately 400 CRPF jawans, viewing them as defenders of society against drugs.
- Participants—including ministers, officers, and civil society—took a mass pledge committing to remain drug-free.
- NMBA, operational across all districts, focuses on raising awareness among youth, women, and educational institutions.
- The campaign includes tech-enabled initiatives such as NMBA mobile app, online pledges, Master Volunteers, and institutional collaborations.
Merging cultural symbolism with social messaging, this unique Raksha Bandhan initiative strengthened public outreach and emotional resonance of NMBA. By involving uniformed personnel and spiritual entities, it blended moral appeal with institutional partnership—enhancing public engagement with the anti-drug mission.
UPSC Prelims‑style MCQs:
- The special Raksha Bandhan event under Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan in August 2025 involved:
- A) Tying rakhis to BSF jawans
- B) A mass pledge to remain drug-free
- C) Launch of an anti-addiction TV campaign
- D) Release of a new de-addiction app
- Approximately how many CRPF personnel received rakhis at the event?
- A) 100
- B) 250
- C) 400
- D) 800
- Which organization’s members tied rakhis to the CRPF jawans?
- A) Art of Living
- B) ISKCON
- C) Brahma Kumaris
- D) Ram Chandra Mission
- The Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan campaign includes all of the following except:
- A) Mobile app-based pledge tracking
- B) Master Volunteer training programs
- C) Nationwide literacy camps
- D) Institutional collaborations with spiritual entities
- Mann Ki Baat 125th Episode – Announced 31 August 2025
On 31 August 2025, Prime Minister Modi hosted the 125th episode of Mann Ki Baat, delivering messages of unity, self-reliance, and citizen-driven development. Ahead of the broadcast, the government invited creative ideas from citizens nationwide to shape the script—fostering participatory governance and inclusiveness.
Key Points:
- Milestone Episode: Marked the 125th broadcast of this monthly radio address, a longstanding citizen outreach platform.
- Nationwide Call: Citizens were invited to submit suggestions and ideas, reinforcing democratic participation.
- Multimedia Engagement: Beyond radio, Mann Ki Baat continues across TV, digital platforms, and vernacular radio stations.
- Thematic Diversity: The episode spans themes like rural innovation, local entrepreneurship, sportspersons, and climate action.
- Citizen Recognition: Selected submissions are often featured on-air, amplifying grassroots stories and individual contributions.
Celebrating its milestone, Mann Ki Baat’s call for public ideas exemplifies a unique blend of mass outreach and two-way communication. By spotlighting ordinary citizens’ stories and perspectives, it reinforces emotional governance and narrative reciprocity.
UPSC Prelims‑style MCQs:
- What was special about the 31 August 2025 episode of Mann Ki Baat?
- A) It was the first televised edition
- B) It celebrated its 125th episode
- C) It was broadcast in English only
- D) It introduced a new signature song
- What unique feature preceded the 125th episode of Mann Ki Baat?
- A) Nationwide call for citizen suggestions
- B) Cash prizes for listeners
- C) Televised live coverage
- D) Joint address with President
- Mann Ki Baat is primarily a:
- A) Television chat show
- B) Radio broadcast by the Prime Minister
- C) Parliamentary briefing
- D) Press conference series
- Which of the following is typically featured in Mann Ki Baat?
- A) Foreign policy debates
- B) Citizen success stories
- C) Stock market analysis
- D) Military strategic plans
