Current Affairs 18 August 2025

In Current Affairs for 18 August 2025, we will see the latest national and international current affairs news. These important current affairs will be beneficial for your upcoming NDA, CDS, CDS OTA, AFCAT, TA, Agniveer Army, Agniveer Navy, Agniveer Air Force, Women Military Police, INET, MNS, ACC exams, SCO, PCSL, CAPF, and SSB interviews, and direct entries for Army, Navy, and Air Force like SSC Tech, TGC, JAG, NCC, TES, 10+2 Cadet. Download a PDF file about current events at the end of this article. Let us now see the Current Affairs.

Current Affairs 18 August 2025

‘Mission Sudarshan Chakra’

• On August 15, 2025, during the 79th Independence Day address from the Red Fort, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a landmark national security initiative — ‘Mission Sudarshan Chakra’. This ambitious decade-long mission aims to secure India’s critical establishments using indigenous technology, marking a decisive step towards Aatmanirbhar Bharat in defence and strategic infrastructure protection.

• PM Modi declared that “Every citizen must feel protected”, stressing that the mission will be research-driven and developed entirely within India. The initiative seeks to:
• Establish a multi-layered security framework against evolving threats.
• Reduce dependence on foreign security systems.
• Integrate surveillance, cyber defence, and physical protection in one comprehensive shield.
• Prepare India to anticipate and prevent threats rather than react to them.

• Cultural Inspiration
• PM Modi invoked the Mahabharata, citing the moment when Lord Krishna shielded the sun to help Arjun defeat Jayadrath. “That divine intervention changed the course of battle. We must similarly shield our vital institutions from emerging threats,”
• he said, linking India’s ancient ethos with modern strategic innovation.

• Key Features of Mission Sudarshan Chakra
• While complete operational details remain classified, initial indications suggest the mission will involve,
• Advanced Surveillance Systems – AI-enabled monitoring of sensitive sites.
• Cyber Protection Framework – Defence against cyber warfare and hybrid threats.
• Physical Security Enhancements – Fortified infrastructure and rapid-response systems.
• Integrated Threat Response Network – Real-time coordination between security forces, intelligence agencies, and research institutions.
• Public-Private Collaboration – Partnership with premier Indian R&D agencies, defence PSUs, and private innovators.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi To Visit India

• Chinese Foreign Minister and Member of the Politburo of the Communist Party of China, Wang Yi, will be on a two-day visit to India beginning today. He is visiting India at the invitation of National Security Advisor Ajit Doval.

• During the visit, the Chinese Foreign Minister will hold the 24th round of the Special Representatives’ Talks on the India-China boundary question with India’s Special Representative, Mr Doval. External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar will hold a bilateral meeting with his Chinese counterpart.

India’s 1^st  All-Women Operated Clean Street Food Hub

• Union Minister and North Mumbai MP Piyush Goyal inaugurated “Mauli – the very first All-Women Operated Clean Street Food Hub” in Kandivani near Mumbai. Referring to the uniqueness of this hub, which is entirely managed by women from Self-Help Groups (SHGs), Union Minister Piyush Goyal informed that these women have received training under the Food Safety Training and Certification (FoSTaC) program, and are now capable of running clean, safe, and hygienic food businesses.

• He added that this initiative has not only provided women with a dignified means of livelihood but has also strengthened local entrepreneurship. He also underlined that the Clean Street Food Hub is a fine blend of food safety, women’s empowerment, and community development. Describing this as a proud moment to him, Mr. Goyal expressed confidence that, like every home trusts aajji’s Dibba, this hub will be trusted by every Mumbaikar. Piyush Goyal stressed that FSSAI’s role for safety and trust is vital, with 405 certified hubs, 13 lakh+ vendors trained all over the country.

Venera-D Venus Mission

•  Russia is set to launch the Venera-D mission to revisit Venus before 2036. According to Oleg Korablev from the Space Research Institute (IKI), Preliminary design work will begin in January 2026 as part of the country’s new national space programme.

• The mission will include a lander, a balloon probe, and an orbital spacecraft, with the launch expected between 2034 and 2036. The design phase, in collaboration with the Lavochkin Association, will take two years to complete. The exact launch date will be determined after the design phase.

Space Laboratory In Remote Arunachal Pradesh

• ISRO has inaugurated a state-of-the-art space laboratory at Mechuka Government Higher Secondary School in the remote Shi-Yomi district of Arunachal Pradesh. The initiative, launched in collaboration with the Muskaan Foundation, was formally inaugurated by Arunachal Pradesh Education Minister Pasang Dorjee Sona on August 16, 2025.

• The newly established Pasang Wangchuk Sona ISRO Space Laboratory aims to,
• Provide hands-on learning opportunities in space science and technology.
• Foster curiosity, innovation, and scientific thinking among students.
• Encourage participation of rural youth in STEM education (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics).

• The facility is expected to bridge the gap between urban and rural educational opportunities, allowing students from remote regions to access modern scientific tools and training.
• The lab has been named after Pasang Wangchuk Sona, father of the Education Minister, in recognition of his lifelong commitment to the transformative power of education.
• Significance for Arunachal Pradesh
• Promoting Science in Remote Areas
• Arunachal Pradesh, with its geographical challenges, has often faced limited access to advanced educational infrastructure.
• Establishing a space lab in Mechuka, a remote town near the India-China border, symbolizes ISRO’s commitment to making scientific resources inclusive and accessible.

‘SabhaSaar’

• Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh will launch ‘SabhaSaar’, an AI-powered meeting summarisation tool by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, designed to automatically generate Minutes of Meeting (MoM) from Gram Sabha and Panchayat meetings’ audio/video recordings.

• SabhaSaar, powered by AI & NLP technologies, will transcribe discussions, capture key decisions/action points, and provide structured minutes. Integrated with Bhashini, it currently supports 13 Indian languages.
• The initiative aims to strengthen participatory democracy and improve efficiency in local governance by reducing manual documentation, ensuring transparency and accountability, and allowing Panchayat officials to focus more on service delivery.

Water Sports Festival 2025 In Srinagar

• The mascot and logo for the first-ever Khelo India Water Sports Festival (KIWSF) were unveiled in Srinagar on August 14, 2025. The event is scheduled to take place at the iconic Dal Lake from August 21 to 23, making it the first water games event under the Khelo India umbrella.
• This major sports initiative, held under the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports and organized in collaboration with the Jammu & Kashmir Sports Council and the Sports Authority of India (SAI), is expected to boost both sports culture and eco-tourism in the Kashmir Valley.

• Meet the Mascot: The Himalayan Kingfisher
• The colorful Himalayan Kingfisher was revealed as the official mascot of KIWSF 2025. Sporting bold hues of orange and blue, the bird symbolizes,
• Energy and vibrancy
• Tranquility and natural harmony
• The spirit of adventure and ecological balance
• As the face of the festival, the Kingfisher promotes youth engagement, environmentally friendly sports, and Kashmir’s cultural identity.

• Logo: A Tribute to the Valley
• The newly launched logo captures the essence of Kashmir’s landscape and its connection to water. It features,
• A traditional Shikara boat gliding on Dal Lake
• Backdrop of snow-covered mountains and pine trees
• Reflections in water symbolizing peace and beauty
• Integrated Khelo India colors, signifying the blend of tradition, nature, and sportsmanship

World Robot Games

• More than 500 humanoid robots from 16 countries, including Japan, showcased their skills at the World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing. The four-day event, which concluded today, featured a range of competitions in sports, tasks, and real-world scenarios.
• Robots competed in 26 events, including track and field, soccer, dancing, and kickboxing. A robot clocked an impressive 21.5 seconds in the 100-meter sprint. Others demonstrated remarkable agility in combat, managing to recover balance after taking hits in kickboxing.

• However, not all performances went smoothly. In the soccer competition, fully-autonomous robots collapsed unexpectedly, while others collided during the 400-meter relay. An observer noted that when one robot fell, others followed, unlike humans, who can recover individually. a
• The games demonstrated both the advancements and ongoing hurdles in the evolving world of humanoid robotics.

12th Men’s Asia Cup Hockey

• Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar unveiled the logo, mascot, and trophy of the 12th Men’s Asia Cup Hockey Championship at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat in Patna. Bihar is hosting the tournament for the first time and is scheduled to take place between the 29th of this month and the 7th of September at the Rajgir International Stadium in Rajgir.
• The Chief Minister also flagged off the Trophy Pride Journey, during which the Asia Cup Hockey torch will travel through every district of the state. Speaking on the occasion, Mr Kumar stated that hosting the  Asia Cup Hockey 2025 in Bihar is a matter of pride for all.

• The mascot of the Asia Cup Hockey, named “Chand,” is inspired by the national animal, the tiger. It symbolises the courage, agility, and skill of India’s national animal. The name “Chand” is inspired by hockey legend Major Dhyan Chand, who created history in the game by practising under moonlit nights. The mascot also draws inspiration from the majestic tiger of Bihar’s Valmiki Tiger Reserve, symbolising strength, agility, and confidence.

• The red cape in the mascot represents strength and enthusiasm, while the magician’s hat pays humble tribute to the extraordinary talent of Major Dhyan Chand. The tournament will commence on the 29th of August, coinciding with National Sports Day and the birth anniversary of the hockey legend .
• The Asia Cup 2025 will feature teams from India, China, Japan, Chinese Taipei, Malaysia, South Korea, Oman, and Bangladesh. The winner of the Hero Asia Cup will directly qualify for the Hockey World Cup.

Devika Sihag 

• Indian shuttler Devika Sihag claimed her first International Challenge title by winning the women’s singles event at the Malaysia International Challenge 2025 in Ipoh today. The 20-year-old defeated fifth-seeded compatriot Isharani Baruah 15-7, 15-12 in the final.

• The tournament is being played under the BWF’s experimental 3×15 scoring format, where games are played to 15 points instead of the usual 21. This victory adds to Sihag’s successful 2024 season, where she also won titles at the Swedish Open and Portugal International at the International Series level.
• The Malaysia International Challenge is a Grade 3, Level 1 event in the BWF’s Continental Circuit. Sihag’s recent success follows her victory at the senior National Badminton Championships in Bengaluru last year.

Current Affairs 18 August 2025 Question