News of The Day : 18th August 2025

News of The Day – 18th August 2025

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

(Syllabus Relevance)

(Static + Dynamic Linkage)

‘Can’t assume powers Constitution has not vested’: Centre warns Supreme Court against judicial overreach

(GS 2: Polity and Governance)

IE

• Centre cautions SC against overstepping constitutional bounds under Article 142. 
• Recent federalism cases or Governors’ powers. 
• About separation of powers.

Progress was made in Trump-Putin summit, even as sticking points remain

(GS 2: International Relations)

Indian Express

• Outcomes of the Trump-Putin summit in Alaska. 
• Progress on arms control and energy deals 
• Implications for global geopolitics and India’s neutral stance in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. 
• About UN Charter on peace; 
• India’s multi-alignment policy.

India does not have the economic leverage vis a vis the US that China does 

(GS 3: Economy)

Indian Express

• Comparison of India-US and China-US economic relations. 
•  Recent US tariffs and India’s response
• Challenges: India’s limited leverage due to smaller market size and export dependence. 
• Way forward for India

Planning the next leap forward 

(GS 3: Economy)

Indian Express

• Strategies for India’s economic growth focusing on agriculture. 
• Need to rationalize subsidies, increase investments in agri-R&D, and build efficient value chains. 
• Significance for achieving Viksit Bharat by 2047. 
• Challenges: Farmer income disparities, climate resilience. 
• Way forward

PM Modi announces National Deep Water Exploration Mission to find oil under seabed 

(GS 3: Economy)

NIE

• Announcement of National Deep Water Exploration Mission to discover oil and gas under seabed.
• National Deep Water Exploration Mission
• Aims: Enhance energy security, reduce imports. Alignment with Atmanirbhar Bharat. 
• Challenges: Technological and environmental hurdles. 

S&P upgrades India’s Sovereign rating to BBB with a Stable Outlook

(GS 3: Economy)

PIB

• S&P upgraded India’s long-term rating to BBB and short-term to A-2.
• Factors: Robust economic growth, prudent fiscal policies, structural reforms. 
• Outlook: Stable, with potential for further upgrades. 
• About S&P Rating.
• Impact: Boosts investor confidence, aligns with India’s growth trajectory. 
• Static Linkage: Sovereign credit ratings; Dynamic Linkage: India’s economic reforms.

Grassland invaders stifle Assam’s island-like national park home to feral horses: study 

(GS 3: Environment)

The Hindu

• About Invasive species impacting grasslands in Dibru-Saikhowa National Park.
• Impact on feral horse population.
• Way forward: Invasive species management, conservation efforts. 

Unauthorised herbicide-tolerant cotton varieties circulate in Dhar district of Madhya Pradesh

(GS 3: Environment)

DTE

• Spread of unauthorised herbicide-tolerant (HT) cotton varieties in Dhar, MP.
• Reasons: Farmers adopting better weed control amid regulatory delays.
• Concerns: Biosafety risks, environmental impact, development of superweeds.
• Regulatory gaps: GEAC oversight.

Tiger cub deaths, missing mother in Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary raises concerns 

(GS 3: Environment)

NIE

• Death of two 10-day-old tiger cubs and missing mother in Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary, Karnataka.
• Possible causes: Poaching, disease, or natural factors. Raises concerns for tiger conservation.
• Way forward: Enhanced monitoring, anti-poaching measures. 
• About Project Tiger, WPA 1972

SLINEX – 25

(GS 3: Security)

PIB

• About India-Sri Lanka naval exercise SLINEX-25 in Colombo. 
• Phases: Harbour (14-16 Aug) and Sea (17-18 Aug).
• Objectives: Enhance interoperability, maritime security, and disaster response in the Indian Ocean Region. 
• Significance: Strengthens bilateral defence ties. 

India’s aquanauts dive to 5,000 meters in Atlantic, joining elite nations: Jitendra Singh 

(GS 3: Science and Technology)

DD News

• Indian aquanauts achieve dives to 4,025m and 5,002m in the Atlantic as prelude to Samudrayan Mission. 
• About the Deep Ocean Mission and  Blue Economy goals.

The future of learning: AI that makes students think harder, not less 

(GS 3: Science and Technology)

The Hindu

• Role of AI in education to foster critical thinking. 
• Examples of AI tools that challenge students 
• Alignment with India’s National Education Policy 2020 and digital education initiatives. 
• Challenges of implementation of AI 
• AI ethics guidelines
• Wayforward of AI in Education

New type of supernova detected as black hole causes star to explode 

(GS 3: Science and Technology)

DD News

• Discovery of a new supernova type.
• Observed in binary system.
• Implications: Advances understanding of stellar evolution and black holes. 
• Relevance for India: ISRO’s astronomy missions.
• Static Linkage: Astrophysics basics; Dynamic Linkage: Global space collaborations.