1. India & Australia Discuss Disarmament, Non-Proliferation
On 12th August 2025, the 7th round of the India–Australia Dialogue on Disarmament, Non-Proliferation, and Export Control was held in New Delhi, covering a broad spectrum of security and arms control issues. Discussions included nuclear, chemical, and biological disarmament, non-proliferation, outer space security, conventional weapons, the role of artificial intelligence in the military domain, and multilateral export control regimes. Both sides exchanged views on global and regional developments, enhanced mutual understanding of national perspectives, and explored avenues to strengthen cooperation. The engagement is expected to advance the India–Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
2. India–Nigeria Bilateral Meeting on Defence Collaboration
On 12th August 2025, Raksha Rajya Mantri met Nigeria’s Minister of State for Defence in New Delhi to strengthen defence cooperation. The talks focused on counter-terrorism training, research and development, maritime cooperation, hydrography, anti-piracy measures, and defence industry collaboration. India showcased advanced defence platforms such as the Light Combat Aircraft, Light Combat Helicopter, and Offshore Patrol Vessels, offering full support to Nigeria’s defence needs. India also invited a Nigerian Defence Research and Development Bureau team for joint projects, while Nigeria invited an Indian delegation to explore defence industry investment opportunities. The Nigerian delegation, visiting India from 11–14 August 2025, will engage with Indian defence industries. India and Nigeria have maintained strong defence ties since the 1960s, being natural partners as the largest democracies in their respective continents.
3. Supreme Court to Examine ‘Creamy Layer’ Concept in SC/ST Reservations
On 12th August 2025, the Supreme Court agreed to examine a plea seeking the introduction of a “creamy layer” system within Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes (SC/ST) reservations to ensure equitable benefit distribution. The petition argues that reservation advantages are mostly availed by relatively well-off members, leaving the poorest still disadvantaged. The proposed reform suggests a two-tier system within SC/ST quotas, prioritising economically weaker members first, without altering the total reservation percentage. The Union Government has reiterated that the creamy layer concept does not currently apply to SC/ST quotas. The plea cites the 2024 seven-judge Constitution Bench decision in State of Punjab vs Davinder Singh, where Justice B.R. Gavai recommended setting criteria to identify and exclude the creamy layer. It highlights intra-community economic stratification, with a small affluent section gaining high positions and education while poorer members remain marginalised.
4. Cabinet Approves Semiconductor Manufacturing Units
On 12th August 2025, the Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved four new semiconductor projects under the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) to boost compound semiconductor and advanced packaging capabilities. The projects involve a cumulative investment of ₹4,600 crore, expected to generate 2,034 skilled jobs and numerous indirect employment opportunities. With these approvals, the total sanctioned projects under ISM rise to 10 across six states, with investments of around ₹1.60 lakh crore. These units will serve the growing demand in telecom, automotive, data centres, consumer electronics, industrial electronics, and defence, supporting India’s Atmanirbhar Bharat vision.
5. Kenya Eliminates Sleeping Sickness as a Public Health Problem
On 8th August 2025, the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed Kenya’s elimination of human African trypanosomiasis (HAT), or sleeping sickness, as a public health problem — its second success against a neglected tropical disease after eradicating guinea worm in 2018. Kenya becomes the 10th African country and one of 57 worldwide to eliminate at least one NTD, contributing to WHO’s goal of 100 countries by 2030. HAT, caused by Trypanosoma brucei and transmitted by tsetse flies, can be fatal within weeks if untreated. Kenya recorded only the rhodesiense form of the disease, mainly found in eastern and southern Africa. First detected in the early 20th century, the last indigenous case was in 2009, with two imported cases in 2012. The elimination followed enhanced disease surveillance in 12 health facilities across six historically endemic counties, supported by upgraded diagnostics, trained staff, and vector control measures.
6. Kakori Train Action Centenary
On 9th August 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tributes to revolutionaries of the Kakori Train Action, marking its centenary. On 9th August 1925, members of the Hindustan Republican Association (HRA) stopped the Number 8 down train near Kakori railway station and looted British Government Treasury funds from the guard’s cabin. Revolutionaries including Ram Prasad Bismil, Ashfaqulla Khan, Thakur Roshan Singh, Rajendranath Lahiri, and Sachindranath Sanyal played crucial roles in the operation, aimed at funding HRA activities using money taken from the British administration, originally collected through heavy taxation of Indians.
7. SHRESTH Index for Drug Regulation
On 12th August 2025, the Union Health Ministry launched the State Health Regulatory Excellence Index (SHRESTH) to benchmark and strengthen state drug regulatory systems via a transparent, data-driven approach. Developed by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) in consultation with states, the index will rank them in two categories — manufacturing states and distribution states/UTs. Manufacturing states will be evaluated on 27 parameters across five themes: human resources, infrastructure, licensing, surveillance, and responsiveness. Distribution states will be assessed on 23 parameters. States will submit monthly data, scored by the first day of the following month, with CDSCO sharing best practices from top performers to harmonise drug regulatory processes nationwide. The initiative aims to improve human resources, infrastructure, and digitisation, while encouraging cross-learning and best practice adoption.