India is currently navigating a period of intricate international relations and significant internal developments, crucial for competitive exam aspirants to note. The nation is addressing heightened trade tensions with the United States, which has imposed a 50% tariff on Indian goods due to its continued purchase of Russian oil. Despite this, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has affirmed India's economic resilience, asserting that the country will not yield to pressure and is poised to leverage global trade restructuring, highlighting that India's exports reached a record $825 billion in 2024-25. Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs) have shown a trend of withdrawing over ₹17,900 crore from Indian equity markets in August, though they have simultaneously invested ₹3,432 crore in the debt market. The Government e-Marketplace (GeM) marked its ninth anniversary, achieving a Gross Merchandise Value (GMV) of ₹5.4 lakh crore in FY 2024-25, showcasing growth in public procurement.
In the realm of national security and diplomacy, the Indian Air Force (IAF) Chief, Air Marshal A.P. Singh, disclosed that the IAF successfully downed six Pakistan Air Force aircraft, including five fighter jets, during 'Operation Sindoor' in May. The DRDO Chief, Samir Kamat, underscored 'Operation Sindoor' as a significant declaration of India's self-reliance in the defense sector. On the diplomatic front, India has welcomed the forthcoming meeting between the United States and the Russian Federation in Alaska on August 15, expressing optimism for a resolution to the conflict in Ukraine. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin engaged in a phone conversation, discussing Ukraine and reiterating their commitment to the India-Russia Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership, with President Putin's visit to India anticipated later this year. Furthermore, India and the Philippines are bolstering their strategic ties, including the introduction of direct flights and a free e-tourist visa facility for Filipino nationals for a year starting August 2025.
Significant advancements in governance and social initiatives include the Election Commission of India (ECI) delisting 334 registered unrecognised political parties that failed to meet electoral participation norms since 2019. A major milestone in connectivity was achieved with the arrival of the first freight train in the Kashmir Valley, a development lauded by Prime Minister Modi as pivotal for commerce and connectivity in Jammu and Kashmir. Indian Railways also conducted a trial run of 'Rudrastra,' Asia's longest freight train (4.5 km), and introduced a 20% return fare rebate for round trip festival packages. Digital governance saw a boost as Aadhaar Face Authentication recorded a historic 19.36 crore transactions in July 2025. The Prime Minister's 'Mann Ki Baat' radio program has generated over ₹34 crore in revenue since its inception in 2014. Social welfare efforts under Mission Poshan 2.0 have led to the registration of over 72.22 lakh pregnant women. Culturally, India nominated the ancient Buddhist site of Sarnath to UNESCO for the 2025-26 cycle.
In sports, India's Annu Rani secured a gold medal in the women's javelin throw at the International Wiesław Maniak Memorial. Urban development saw Mangalore being ranked as the safest city in India and 49th globally, according to the Numbeo Safety Index 2025. Additionally, Prime Minister Modi paid tributes to the Kakori Heroes on their 100th anniversary, commemorating the 1925 incident.