Current Affairs: August 17, 2025 – Key Updates for Competitive Exams

National Highlights

Parliamentary Proceedings & GST Reforms

The Lok Sabha passed the National Sports Governance Bill, 2025, and the National Anti-Doping Amendment Bill, 2025. {Link: The Hindu https://www.thehindu.com/news/top-news-of-the-day-august-17-2025/article69944262.ece} noted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged states to cooperate in implementing the proposed GST reforms before Diwali, emphasizing their consumer-centric nature. The Election Commission of India (ECI) addressed concerns regarding the Bihar electoral roll revision, stating utmost transparency, and published the list of excluded voters on district websites. {Link: The Hindu https://www.thehindu.com/news/morning-digest-august-17-2025/article69943031.ece} mentions the ECI countering charges of anomalies.

New Initiatives & Developments

  • The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, in collaboration with FSSAI, launched "Mauli" - India's first all-women Clean Street Food Hub in Mumbai.
  • The Department of Pension & Pensioner's Welfare plans a Nationwide Digital Life Certificate Campaign in November.
  • PM Modi inaugurated two major National Highway projects worth ₹11,000 crore in Delhi.
  • Bengaluru-based PixxelSpace is leading a consortium to build India's first fully-indigenous commercial earth observation (EO) satellite constellation.
  • The Union Cabinet cleared four new semiconductor assembly and testing plants under the India Semiconductor Mission.

International Relations

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi to Visit India

{Link: The Hindu https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/chinese-foreign-minister-wang-yi-to-meet-pm-modi-during-2-day-india-visit/article69944877.ece} reports that Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi will visit India from August 18-20, holding talks with External Affairs Minister Jaishankar and meeting Prime Minister Modi. This visit comes ahead of PM Modi's planned trip to China for the SCO summit and follows thawing relations between the two countries.

Foreign Secretary Misri's Nepal Visit

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri began a two-day visit to Nepal on August 17 to prepare for Nepalese Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli's planned trip to India next month.

US-India Trade Relations

{Link: Business Today https://www.businesstoday.in/india/story/no-reassessment-of-ties-with-us-india-in-wait-and-watch-mode-on-further-tariff-action-489747-2025-08-17} indicated that India is adopting a "wait-and-watch" approach on US tariffs, ruling out any immediate re-evaluation of its broader relationship with the US. A planned US trade delegation visit to New Delhi later this month has been deferred. India's purchase of Russian oil remains high, reaching 2 million barrels per day in August.

Other International Developments

  • European leaders are set to join Ukrainian President Zelenskyy at his meeting with US President Trump in Washington.
  • Protesters in Israel demanding a Gaza ceasefire and release of hostages escalated their campaign with a nationwide strike.

Economy

GST Reforms & Trade Impacts

Senior government sources stated that the proposed two-tier GST structure of 18% and 5% rates will be consumer-centric and aim for simplification. {Link: Bloomberg.com https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-08-18/modi-bolsters-india-s-economy-with-tax-cuts-ahead-of-us-tariffs} suggests these tax cuts are intended to boost the economy and offset potential impacts from US tariffs.

Science & Technology

Advances & Challenges

  • Scientists have created the first large sample of meteorite diamonds.
  • Researchers revealed that herbivores eat a broader range of plants than previously thought.
  • Ancient stone tools unearthed in Indonesia challenge human evolution timelines.
  • The second part of the fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on plastic pollution ended in Geneva without a full agreement on key provisions.

Sports

Indian Athletes & Upcoming Events

  • Neeraj Chopra qualified for the Diamond League 2025 Final.
  • Devika Sihag won her first International Challenge badminton title in Malaysia.
  • East Bengal leads Mohun Bagan 2-1 in the Durand Cup quarterfinal clash.
  • Anahat Singh reached her maiden World Events final at the NSW Squash Bega Open.
  • Jharkhand won the 15th Hockey India Junior Women National Championship 2025.

Important Days

Indonesian Independence Day

August 17, 2025, marks Indonesian Independence Day, commemorating its declaration of independence from Dutch colonialism in 1945.