News of The Day – 16th August 2025

Sources: The Hindu, Indian Express (IE) , Live Mint, Business Standard, Economic Times, PIB and AIR, etc

(Syllabus Relevance)

(Static + Dynamic Linkage)

(GS 1: History)

• About Partition Horrors Remembrance Day.
• Indian Independence Act, 1947.

(GS 1: History)

• About Sri Aurobindo’s contributions to India’s freedom struggle and spiritual philosophy.
• Significance: Promotes cultural heritage and integral yoga. 

(GS 1: History)

• Commemoration of Jyotiba Phule’s 200th birth anniversary.
• Contributions to social reform, women’s education, and anti-caste movements.
• Significance: Strengthens India’s social justice framework

(GS 1 : Art and Culture)

• Collapse of a wall near Humayun’s Tomb leading to six deaths. 
• About  Humayun’s Tomb
• Ancient Monuments Act, 1958; 

(GS 2: Polity and Governance)

• Key points from PM Modi’s 79th Independence Day speech. Focus on Viksit Bharat vision, self-reliance, and inclusive growth.
• Emphasis on GST,  digital governance, women empowerment, and green energy.
• Significance: Reinforces India’s development goals for 2047.

(GS 2: Polity and Governance)

• Differences between civil and criminal cases.
• Provisions to punish under different cases.
  • Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita
  • Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita
  • Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam

(GS 2: International Relations)

• About the Alaska Summit focusing on Arctic geopolitics and resource exploration.
• India’s observer status in the Arctic Council.
• Challenges: Balancing environmental concerns with strategic interests.

(GS 2: International Relations)

• About ASEAN–India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA).
• Committee to review ASEAN–India Trade.

(GS 3: Economy)

• Removal of central pricing for renewable energy projects.
• Shift to market-driven pricing to boost competition and investment. 
• Impact: Accelerates green energy adoption, supports net-zero goals. Challenges: Price volatility and rural grid connectivity. Static 

• About the PM Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana.
• Impact: Boosts employment, supports MSMEs, and aligns with Atmanirbhar Bharat.

(GS 3: Environment)

• About Arctic reindeer.
• Decline of Arctic reindeer due to climate change and habitat loss. Lessons for Himalayan biodiversity conservation.
• Challenges: Global warming and indigenous livelihood impacts. 

(GS 3: Environment)

• Unauthorised HTBt Cotton in Dhar District
• Reasons for Adoption of Illegal HTBt Seeds
• Regulatory Framework and Gaps
• Environmental and Health Concerns
• Linkages with Broader Agricultural and Policy Issues

(GS 3: Science and Technology)

• Development of bioactive peptides for health and nutrition applications. 
• Significance: Boosts India’s biotech sector and addresses malnutrition. 
• Challenges: Scaling production and ensuring affordability. 
• Biotechnology Policy