UPSC Current Affairs – News Summary of 29 August 2025

Published on September 3, 2025 · 6 minutes read

Image – X/@adgpi

Stay ahead in your UPSC CSE prep with our daily News Summary. Designed to save time, it highlights key national and international events from reputable sources like The Hindu, Indian Express, PIB, and Akashvani News.

India hosts international meeting on military medicine (MILMEDICON-2025)

• Inaugurated by Union Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth on 28 August 2025 in New Delhi → organised by the Directorate General of Medical Services (Army).
• “MILMEDICON-2025: international conference on physical and mental trauma in military settings” also commemorates the 100 years of the Military Nursing Service (MNS).

💡The British Indian government established the Indian Army Nursing Services (IANS) in 1888. The Indian Military Nursing Service was established in 1926. After Independence, the MNS was integrated into the Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS).

Effects of the US tariffs on Indian exports

• The 50% tariffs imposed by the U.S. from August 27 are expected to significantly disrupt India’s several export sectors, such as follows:
  • Shrimp exports: The US accounts for 32.4% of India’s shrimp exports (2024-25).
  • Gems, jewellery, and diamond sector: The US accounts for 40% of India’s exports in this sector.
  • Textile and apparel sector: The US accounts for 35% of India’s apparel exports.
  • Similarly, the US accounts for 58.6% of India’s total carpet exports, making this sector vulnerable to Trump Tariffs.
• Additionally, sectors such as handicrafts, leather and shoes, furniture and bedding, and the export of agricultural products, including basmati rice, spices, tea, pulses, and sesame, are anticipated to be significantly affected.
• Sectors such as organic chemicals, metals, and machinery and mechanical appliances face a moderate risk of disruption.
• India’s strategy to deal with the US tariffs:
  • Short-term strategy: a multi-ministry plan is being prepared to provide relief to exporters most exposed to U.S. tariffs.
  • Long-term strategy: the govt is encouraging exporters to diversify markets beyond the U.S., make fuller use of existing Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), and strengthen domestic resilience under the ‘Vocal for Local’/‘Swadeshi’ push.
  • RBI has also pledged to assist exporters through appropriate measures.

National Population Register (NPR)

• NPR is a database of all usual residents in India, created with the objective of establishing a comprehensive identity database containing both demographic and biometric details → aims to aid governance, ensure better targeting of welfare schemes, and strengthen national security.
• Usual resident: a person who has lived in an area in India for six months or more, or intends to reside there for the next six months or more → includes both Indian citizens and foreign nationals residing in India.
• NPR is the first step in creating a National Register of Citizens (NRC), as per the Citizenship Rules, 2003, under the Citizenship Act, 1955.
• NPR was first created in 2010, and data was collected during the first phase of the 2011 Census and updated in 2015-16 → has the details of 119 crore residents.
• NPR is maintained by the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India (MHA).
• No decision has yet been made to update the NPR during the 2027 Census.

24th Round of Talks on the India-China Boundary Question

• Held in Delhi on August 19 between India’s NSA Ajit Doval and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.
• A 10-point consensus was reached.
• Produced five concrete outcomes that included setting up an expert group under the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination to explore an early harvest in boundary delimitation.

Index of Industrial Production (IIP)

• Compiled and published by the Economic Statistics Division (ESD) of the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) on the 28th of every month (or the next working day if the 28th is a holiday).
• Covers three sectors, namely Mining, Manufacturing, and Electricity.
• The base year for the current series of IIP is 2011-12.

NARI-2025 names Kohima as the safest city for women

• Recently, the National Annual Report and Index on Women’s Safety (NARI) 2025 was released by the National Commission for Women → placed the national women’s safety score at 65%.
• Northeast performed strongly → Kohima (1st), Aizawl (4th), Gangtok (5th).

Infographic – TOI

• The NARI 2025 report assessed safety based on infrastructure, incidence of harassment and reporting, workplace security, trust in authorities, and perceptions of safety during the day versus at night.

India extends suspension of cotton import duty until 31 December

• Previously, import duty on cotton was suspended until 30 September.
• A 11% import duty on cotton was announced in the 2021 Budget → to protect the interests of Indian cotton growers.
• The 11% import duty was suspended w.e.f. 19 August 2025 until 30 September 2025. It was decided on 28 August to extend the suspension until 31 December.
• The decision aims to:
  • Enhance the availability of raw cotton in the domestic market.
  • Stabilize cotton prices, thereby reducing inflationary pressure on finished textile products.
  • Support India’s cotton textile export competitiveness by lowering production costs.
  • Protect SMEs in the textile sector.

UNSC decides to end peacekeeping operations in Lebanon 

• The UN Security Council voted unanimously to terminate the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) after 2026.
• UNIFIL was created in 1978 to monitor the withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon.

Miscellaneous

• Nuakhai: an agricultural festival celebrated in Odisha.
• Latest Unified District Information System for Education Plus (UDISE+) data released by the Education Ministry reveals that school enrollment for the 3-11 age group fell to an all-time low of 24.69 crore in 2024-25.
• Operation Naushera Nar IV: joint efforts by the Indian Army and J&K Police to foil infiltration attempts in the Gurez sector along the LoC.
• Registrar-General and Census Commissioner of India (RG & CCI): founded in 1961 → functions under the Ministry of Home Affairs.
• Census 2027 will be India’s first digital Census and the first to enumerate caste in Independent India.
• Canada appointed Christopher Cooter as its new High Commissioner to India, and Dinesh K. Patnaik has been appointed as India’s new High Commissioner to Canada → signals normalisation of diplomatic relations between the two nations.
• Rajasthan has become the first State in India to issue a detailed framework on the management of stray dogs, with guidelines for civic bodies. 
• Bilateral trade between India and Japan amounts to approximately $22.8 billion → Japan is India’s fifth-largest source of FDI.
• The 7th meeting of the India-Saudi Arabia Joint Committee on Defence Cooperation (JCDC) was held in New Delhi on 28 August 2025.

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