Top Current Affairs of the day for 12th August 2025

 

1. Parliament approves Merchant Shipping Bill, replacing 1958 Act to align with global maritime norms.Parliament passed the Merchant Shipping Bill, 2025, replacing the outdated Merchant Shipping Act of 1958. The new law aligns India’s shipping rules with international treaties—incorporating conventions such as SOLAS (safety), MARPOL (pollution), and the Ballast Water Management Convention. It strengthens ship safety, seafarer welfare, environmental safeguards, and marine casualty investigations, while simplifying ownership norms and compliance procedures. Industry experts say it marks India’s stride toward a modern, treaty-compliant maritime framework.
2. Lok Sabha passes Income-Tax (No. 2) Bill, 2025 without debate, just hours after introduction. Lok Sabha swiftly approved the revised Income-Tax (No. 2) Bill, 2025—which aims to replace the six-decade-old Income Tax Act of 1961—without any debate, mere hours after Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman introduced it on August 11, 2025. The bill incorporates nearly all recommendations from a parliamentary Select Committee to simplify tax laws, ensure clarity, and modernize administration.
3. Parliament clears Goa ST reservation bill to bolster tribal representation. Parliament passed The Readjustment of Representation of Scheduled Tribes in Assembly Constituencies of the State of Goa Bill, 2025, with Rajya Sabha approving it on August 11, 2025. The law empowers the Census Commissioner to update Goa’s ST population figures and lets the Election Commission amend constituency boundaries to create reserved seats. Experts note that actual reservation may take effect after the next delimitation—likely post-2031.
4. Parliament approves Manipur Budget, GST Amendment and Appropriation bills under President’s Rule. Parliament passed the Manipur Budget 2025–26, the Manipur GST (Amendment) Bill, 2025, and the Manipur Appropriation (No. 2) Bill, 2025 to sustain governance under President’s Rule. The GST bill replaces an ordinance to align state taxation with GST Council decisions, while the Appropriation bill authorises ₹2,898 crore in additional funding, including ₹523 crore for displaced people and ₹542 crore for security. Both bills passed amid protests and without full debate.
5. Indian Railways introduces festive 20% round-trip fare rebate. Indian Railways launched an experimental “Round Trip Package” for the 2025 Diwali-Chhath season. Passengers booking both onward and return journeys together get 20% off the return journey’s base fare. Bookings open on August 14, 2025, for onward travel between October 13–26 and return between November 17–December 1. The rebate excludes flexi-fare premium trains like Rajdhani, Shatabdi, and Duronto. Return tickets booked under this scheme are non-refundable and non-modifiable, with no other discounts allowed. This scheme promotes advance planning and eases festival-season crowding.
6. NAL develops SARAS Mk-2 to boost regional aviation. The CSIR-NAL is designing the SARAS Mk-2, a 19-seater multi-role civilian aircraft. HAL will manufacture it to serve air ambulance, cargo, and passenger needs. The aircraft will connect remote regions under the UDAN scheme with minimal infrastructure. It uses domestic avionics and in-house systems for automation and safety. Experts expect its first test flight by 2026–27 and induction into IAF and civil use. This project boosts India’s self-reliance in aerospace and civil aviation.
7. HAL clears Nashik unit for Tejas Mk-1A production, boosting India’s fighter output. HAL’s Nashik Division received flight clearance to manufacture the indigenous LCA Tejas Mk-1A . This unit now serves as India’s third Tejas production hub, alongside two Bengaluru lines . The Nashik facility can produce eight aircraft per year, matching Bengaluru capacities . This expansion strengthens defence manufacturing resilience, supports Atmanirbhar Bharat, and accelerates fighter delivery to the IAF .
8. Mohit Suri’s Saiyaara turns mega-hit, crosses ₹500 crore worldwide. Mohit Suri directed the romantic drama Saiyaara starring debutants Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda. Yash Raj Films reported the film earned over ₹500 crore globally in just 18–20 days . The film became the highest-grossing love story in Indian cinema . The new pair emerged as the first debut leads to enter the ₹500 crore club .
9. India’s envoy meets Yemen’s leadership to reinforce ties. India’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Dr. Suhel Ajaz Khan, also accredited to Yemen, met Chairman Rashad al-Alimi of Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council in Riyadh. They discussed bilateral relations and shared challenges amid regional complexities. The delegation included Deputy Chief of Mission Abu Mathen and First Secretary Rishi Tripathi. They reaffirmed India’s continued engagement despite Yemen’s security and humanitarian crises. India emphasized its support for Yemen’s stability, humanitarian aid, and long-standing diplomatic ties. This visit highlights India’s sustained diplomatic outreach to conflict-affected regions.
10. China successfully completed an integrated landing and take-off test of its manned lunar lander, Lanyue (“embracing the moon”), at a Hebei test facility. The test verified systems such as guidance, navigation, control, propulsion, and engine shutdown at touchdown. Lanyue will transport two astronauts, a lunar rover, and scientific payloads. It will also serve as a habitat, power source, and data hub on the moon’s surface. This achievement marks China’s first-ever extra terrestrial landing and ascent trial and strengthens its goal to land humans on the moon before 2030.
11. IN-SPACe greenlights India’s first indigenous commercial EO satellite constellation. IN-SPACe selected a consortium led by Bengaluru-based Pixxel Space India for the EO satellite project. Consortium includes PierSight Space, SatSure Analytics India, and Dhruva Space under the EO-PPP model. They will invest over ₹1,200 crore over five years to design, build, and operate 12 EO satellites. The satellites feature panchromatic, multispectral, hyperspectral, and microwave SAR sensors for all-weather imaging. Pixxel-led bid came in at zero upfront cost from government.