1. Supreme Court Empowers Pollution Control Boards
On 5th August 2025, the Supreme Court ruled that State Pollution Control Boards can impose compensation for environmental damage already caused or demand bank guarantees to prevent potential future harm. A bench of Justices set aside a Delhi High Court Division Bench order that had restricted the powers of Pollution Control Boards under Section 33A of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, and Section 31A of the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981. The Delhi High Court had earlier held that compensatory damages could be levied only by courts after taking cognisance of offences under the Acts. The Supreme Court clarified that Pollution Control Boards, in line with the Polluter Pays principle, can impose restitutionary or compensatory damages, or require bank guarantees, when environmental damage has occurred or is imminent. However, such powers cannot be used for every contravention and are permissible only when actual or imminent environmental harm is determined. The Court directed that these powers must be exercised under subordinate legislation, ensuring natural justice, transparency, and certainty, and linked them to citizens’ fundamental rights and the State’s duty to protect and improve the environment under Article 51A in the context of climate change.
2. Russia Withdraws from INF Treaty Commitments
On 5th August 2025, Russia formally declared that it no longer considers itself bound by the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, a landmark 1987 arms control agreement that banned ground-launched missiles with ranges between 500 and 5,500 kilometres. The Russian Foreign Ministry stated that the conditions for the INF Treaty have ceased to exist and confirmed that Moscow will no longer follow its restrictions on missile deployments. Russia accused the West of posing a direct threat to its national security, citing recent US actions such as the deployment of a Typhon missile system in the Philippines and missile drills during the Talisman Sabre exercises in Australia. It claimed these moves undermine global stability and increase security pressures. The INF Treaty had already been weakened after the US withdrew in 2019, alleging Russian violations — a charge Moscow denied, countering that the US itself was developing prohibited missile systems.
3. Lanyue Lunar Lander Test by China
On 6th August 2025, China carried out its first test of the Lanyue lunar lander, a key step towards landing its first astronauts on the moon before 2030, as announced by the China Manned Space (CMS) programme. The test in Hebei province comprehensively verified the lander’s ascent and descent systems at a site designed to simulate the moon’s surface with special coatings and terrain features such as rocks and craters. CMS described the trial as involving multiple operational conditions, extended testing time, and high technical complexity. The Lanyue (“embrace the moon” in Mandarin) spacecraft will transport astronauts between lunar orbit and the moon’s surface and serve as a living space, power source, and data centre after landing. The test comes as the US accelerates its Artemis programme, planning to send astronauts around the moon in April 2026 and attempt a lunar landing in 2027.
4. Government Amends Vegetable Oil Products Regulation Order
On 7th August 2025, the Department of Food and Public Distribution notified an amendment to the Vegetable Oil Products, Production and Availability (Regulation) Order, 2011. This amendment incorporates provisions from the Collection of Statistics Act, 2008, to strengthen data collection in the edible oil sector for improved monitoring and decision-making. The move is expected to benefit consumers and stakeholders across the edible oil value chain by improving market oversight, enhancing transparency, and supporting evidence-based policymaking. It will allow the Government to monitor domestic production, imports, and stock levels more closely, enabling timely policy interventions and ensuring the consistent availability of edible oils in the market.
5. Manipur GST Amendment and Appropriation Bills Passed
On 7th August 2025, the Lok Sabha passed the Manipur Goods and Services Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2025, and the Manipur Appropriation (No.2) Bill, 2025, to meet the state’s financial and administrative needs under President’s Rule. The GST Amendment Bill replaces an ordinance and ensures Manipur can continue collecting GST on items approved by the GST Council. The Appropriation Bill authorises payment and withdrawal from the Consolidated Fund of the State for FY 2025–26, with an additional ₹2,898 crore provided by the Government of India, including ₹1,667 crore for capital expenditure. Allocations include ₹523 crore for rehabilitating camp residents and ₹542 crore for strengthening security in the state. Both Bills were passed without discussion amid opposition protests.
6. WHO Classifies Hepatitis D Virus as Carcinogenic to Humans
In August 2025, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) reclassified the Hepatitis D virus (HDV) as a Group 1 carcinogen, confirming it as a known cause of liver cancer alongside Hepatitis B and C. Globally, Hepatitis B, C, and D affect over 300 million people and cause around 1.3 million deaths annually, primarily from liver cirrhosis and cancer. HDV infects about 5% of people with chronic HBV, or nearly 12 million people worldwide. High-risk groups include populations in HBV-prevalent regions such as parts of Asia, Africa, and the Amazon Basin, as well as people who inject drugs and haemodialysis patients. HDV can only infect individuals already carrying HBV and uses it to replicate. The virus spreads through infected blood, unprotected sex, unsafe injections, and sometimes from mother to child during birth. Symptoms can include fatigue, nausea, abdominal discomfort, dark urine, and jaundice, though they are often overlooked. While HBV can be managed with lifelong antivirals, treatment options for HDV remain limited.