Published on August 21, 2025 · 2 minutes read
Stay ahead in your UPSC CSE preparation with our daily News Summary. Designed in a time-saving format, it summarizes key national and international events from sources like The Hindu, Indian Express, PIB, and Akashvani. Read less, understand more, and align your preparation with UPSC demands.
Saltwater crocodile population increased in Sundarban Biosphere Reserve (SBR)
✅ The saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus) is the largest reptile in the world.
✅ Distribution in India: primarily found along the eastern coasts, especially in the Sundarbans mangrove forests of West Bengal and the coastal areas of Odisha and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
✅ Private sector companies contributed ₹33,979 crore (22.56%) to the total defence production of ₹1,50,590 crore in FY25 ⇒ highest share of private sector participation since 2016-17, when it stood at 19%.
✅ Defence public sector undertakings (DPSUs) accounted for 57.50% of the total defence production, while Indian ordnance factories contributed 14.49%, and non-defence PSUs 5.4%.
✅ The private sector’s share has been steadily increasing over the last three years.
✅ India’s defence budget increased from ₹2.53 lakh crore in FY14 to ₹6.81 lakh crore in FY26.
✅ In 2024-25, the country achieved its highest-ever defence production of ₹1.50 lakh crore.
Rajya Sabha passes the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2025
✅ Lok Sabha has already passed the bill ⇒ amends the original Act of 1957.
✅ Empowers the Union govt to promote development of market, including trading of minerals and their forms through mineral exchanges.
✅ Empowers mining leaseholders to add rare minerals such as lithium, cobalt, and nickel to their existing operations without paying additional royalty.
✅ Renames the National Mineral Exploration Trust as the National Mineral Exploration and Development Trust.
💡 Centre has identified 24 critical and strategic minerals and launched the National Critical Mineral Mission in January 2025 with an outlay of ₹34,000 crore to increase domestic production.
Miscellaneous
✅ Kerala will officially be declared the first fully digitally literate State of India on 21 August 2025.
✅ Naegleria fowleri: an amoeba that causes primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), a rare brain infection.
✅ Reservation in the boards of multi-State cooperative societies: two seats for women and one seat for SC or ST.
✅ EAM Dr S. Jaishankar will co-chair the 26th Session of the India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technological and Cultural Cooperation in Moscow on 20 August 2025.
✅ Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan will be organised from October 3-18, 2025, to promote direct interaction between farmers and agricultural scientists.
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