In Current Affairs for 21 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 21 August 2025
Online Gaming Bill
- Lok Sabha passed the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill 2025. The bill encourages e-sports and online social games while prohibiting harmful online money gaming services. It has the provision for the appointment of an Online Gaming Authority for coordinated policy support, strategic development and regulatory oversight of the sector. The bill is intended to protect individuals, especially youth and vulnerable populations, from the adverse impact of such games.
- While moving the Bill, Electronics and Information Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said, the digital technology sector has witnessed tremendous growth in the last 11 years. He said, several start-ups are working in the digital technology sector.
- The Minister highlighted that online money gaming posed a serious concern in the society as it creates addiction leading to financial frauds and cheating. He said, several families have faced financial distress due to online money gaming. Mr. Vaishnaw stated that several online games are also involved in money laundering and terror financing activities.
- Referring to a report, the Minister pointed out that 32 suicides have been reported in the past 31 months due to online money gaming. Mr. Vaishnaw highlighted that the bill has three segments namely E sports, online social games and online money games. He said the government wants to promote E sports, and the online social games sector. He said an authority will be established to provide support to game developers.
- Earlier, Speaker Om Birla termed the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill 2025 an important legislation saying that the country is witnessing suicides, and financial losses. He urged the protesting members to participate in the discussion over the bill. He said, several members have raised the online gaming issue and urged the government to frame legislation in this regard.
- The expansion of information and communication technologies in recent years has promoted the growth of new forms of digital entertainment tools, prominently in the form of online gaming. These activities have become an important means of engagement for the youth of the country. The absence of an enabling legal framework has adversely impacted the growth of the online gaming sector.
- The unrestricted and widespread proliferation of online money games, offering monetary returns in exchange for deposited funds has led to grave social, economic, and psychological consequences across the country. Online money gaming platforms often promote compulsive and addictive behaviour, resulting in financial ruin, mental health disorders, and increasing incidents of fraud and exploitation.
- The Bill has a provision of complete ban on offering, operating, or facilitating online money games. There is a provision of imprisonment up to three years and fine up to one crore rupees or both in case of violation of the law related to online money gaming. In case of repeat offences, it will attract enhanced penalties, including imprisonment of 3 to 5 years and fines up to two crore rupees.
- The bill will establish a uniform and national-level legal framework in the public interest. The Bill will protect the country’s youth from predatory online Real Money Gaming apps, like Poker, Rummy and other Card games, which manipulate them through misleading monetary return promises, that leaves entire families in financial distress. The introduction of the Bill reflects the Government’s commitment to a safe, secure, and innovation-driven Digital India that boosts creativity, safeguards citizens, and strengthens national security.
India, EAEU Sign ToR To Begin Free Trade Agreement
- India and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), comprising Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic and Russia, have signed the Terms of Reference (ToR) to launch negotiations on a Free Trade Agreement (FTA).
- The ToR was signed by Additional Secretary of the Department of Commerce Ajay Bhadoo and Eurasian Economic Commission’s Deputy Director of Trade Policy Department Mikhail Cherekaev in Moscow.
- The Ministry of Commerce and Industry, in a statement, said that the proposed FTA will boost exports, support Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and diversify market access. During the signing ceremony, both sides noted that trade turnover between India-EAEU reached 69 billion dollars in 2024, registering a 7 per cent increase over 2023.
- The two sides also reaffirmed their commitment to the early conclusion of the agreement and to building a long-term institutional framework for trade cooperation. The Ministry said that the ToR provides the framework for negotiations and is expected to unlock untapped trade potential, increase investments and establish a stronger, durable India-EAEU economic partnership.
Jan Vishwas Bill 2025
- Government of India introduced the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2025 in the Lok Sabha. This Bill proposes amendments to 355 provisions across 16 Central Acts. Its primary objective is to ease the applicability of laws by decriminalising 288 minor offences and amending 67 provisions to promote ease of living. The Bill builds on the Jan Vishwas Act, 2023, which decriminalised 183 provisions in 42 Central Acts. The Bill has been referred to a Select Committee for detailed examination.
- The Jan Vishwas Bill, 2025 is part of the Government’s ongoing effort to simplify laws and reduce regulatory burdens. The 2023 Act was the first consolidated legislation aimed at decriminalising minor offences to encourage trust-based governance. The 2025 Bill extends this effort by targeting more provisions and introducing proportionate penalties. The Government emphasises ‘Minimum Government Maximum Governance’ to improve ease of doing business and ease of living.
- The Bill proposes decriminalisation of 288 minor offences by replacing imprisonment clauses with warnings or monetary penalties. For 76 offences under 10 Acts, first-time contraventions will attract advisory or warning only. Penalties will be proportionate and escalate with repeated violations. Monetary fines will increase by 10% every three years after enactment. The amendments cover diverse laws including the Motor Vehicle Act, 1988 and the New Delhi Municipal Council Act, 1994.
- Impact on Governance and Business : By reducing fear of imprisonment for minor infractions, the Bill aims to boost business confidence and growth. It seeks to reduce judicial burden by encouraging settlement through compounding, adjudication, and administrative mechanisms. This will save time and resources for individuals and businesses. The Bill also supports business process reengineering and modernisation of regulatory frameworks in India’s socio-economic context.
- Ease of Living : The Bill aligns with the Government’s vision of enhancing ease of living through regulatory reforms. It recognises the role of technology in transforming compliance and governance. The amendments intend to unshackle outdated regulations and promote a trust-based relationship between the Government and citizens. This approach is seen as vital in India’s Amritkaal phase of development.
- Legislative Process : The Jan Vishwas Bill, 2025 was introduced by the Union Commerce and Industry Minister in the Lok Sabha. The Speaker referred it to a Select Committee for detailed scrutiny. The Committee is expected to submit its report by the first day of the next Parliament session. This step ensures wider consultation and refinement before the Bill is passed into law.
UIDAI Partners With Starlink
- Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has collaborated with a private satellite-based internet service provider, Starlink, for seamless Aadhaar-based customer verification. In a statement, the Ministry of Electronics and IT said that the use of Aadhaar authentication by a global satellite internet provider demonstrates the scalability and reliability of India’s digital infrastructure. It added that this collaboration emphasises how Aadhaar can enable innovation in service delivery while ensuring transparency and accountability.
- Referring to Aadhaar as a catalyst for ease of living and ease of doing business, the Ministry said that its face authentication solution is now gaining momentum faster due to its ease of usage and convenience for Aadhaar number holders.
Adi Karmayogi Abhiyan
- Adi Karmayogi Abhiyan is a national movement to build a decentralized tribal leadership and governance ecosystem. Spearheaded by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, it empowers 20 Lakh tribal changemakers across 1 Lakh villages in 550 tribal-dominated districts through capacity building, convergence, and community participation. It is a call to rebuild governance from the bottom up, guided by tribal values and led by local leaders.
- Key components of Adi Karmayogi Abhiyan
- Institutional Mechanisms
- Adi Sewa Kendra: To be set up in all tribal villages; officers and community members dedicate 1–2 hours fortnightly (Adi Sewa Samay) to address local issues, mentor youth, and support governance.
- Governance Lab Workshops: Multi-level workshops (state to village) engaging departments to co-create solutions for tribal development.
- Tribal Village Action Plan: Jointly developed plans with villagers for Tribal Village Vision 2030, aligned with SDGs and national development goals.
- Significance
- As part of Janjatiya Gaurav Varsh, it advances Viksit Bharat 2047 by empowering tribal communities, ensuring responsive governance, and fostering local leadership.
- It strengthens ongoing flagship schemes like the Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan, PM-JANMAN, and the National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission. Three Pillars of Leadership
- Adi Karmayogi — Government Officers – Key drivers of governance at State, District, Block, and Panchayat levels. They ensure convergence of schemes, institutional support, and responsive delivery.
- Adi Sahyogi — Youth, Teachers, Doctors – Motivated service providers and educated tribal youth who bridge access to education, health, awareness, and innovation.
- Adi Saathi — SHG Members (NRLM), Villagers, Tribal Elders – Grassroots changemakers and community anchors who mobilize people, preserve traditions, and uphold local wisdom.
- Who Can Register?
- Adi Karmayogis: IAS, IPS, IFS, BDOs, District Collectors, Govt / State Govt. Officers
- Adi Sahyogis: Youth, Teachers, Doctors, Anganwadi Workers
- Adi Saathis: SHGs, Tribal Elders, Community Leaders, Villagers
Afghanistan, China And Pakistan
- Foreign Ministers of Afghanistan, China and Pakistan have agreed to expand their cooperation in multiple fields, including the extension of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) to Kabul. Pakistan Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Afghanistan acting foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi took part in the 6th Trilateral Foreign Ministers Dialogue in Kabul, which focused on political, economic and security cooperation.
- The agreement on extension of the multi-billion-dollar CPEC comes as Islamabad and Beijing are expected to launch the second phase of the project later this month during Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s visit to China to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit.
- Three sides committed to strengthening joint efforts against terrorism. They also reaffirmed their commitment to deepening collaboration in trade, transit, regional development, health, education, culture, and combating drug trafficking, as well as, extension of CPEC to Afghanistan, it added. This is the first visit by the Chinese foreign minister to Afghanistan since the Taliban stormed to power in 2021, while the third by Dar to the Afghan capital since April.
Anantjeet Singh Naruka
- India’s Anantjeet Singh Naruka clinched the gold medal in the Men’s Skeet event at Asian Shooting Championships at Shymkent in Kazakhstan today. Naruka defeated Kuwait’s Mansour Al Rashidi in the final. Earlier in the day, the Indian duo of Saurabh Chaudhary and Suruchi Inder Singh bagged the bronze medal in the 10 meter air pistol mixed team event. Saurabh and Suruchi defeated the Chinese Taipei pair of Liu Heng-Yu and Hsieh Hsiang-Chen 17-9.
Tapasya Wins Gold At U20 World Wrestling Championships
- Indian wrestler Tapsya clinched the nation’s first gold medal at the U20 World Wrestling Championships 2025 in Bulgaria. Tapasya defeated Norway’s Felicitas Domajeva 5-2 in the women’s 57kg category final yesterday. The Asian U20 championship gold medallist started her campaign by pinning Dolzhon Tsyngueva when she was already winning 6-0.
Current Affairs 21 August 2025 Question
- China-Pakistan Economic Corridor Launched In
A. 2012
B. 2014
C. 2015
D. 2019
ANSWER: C - Tapsya Clinched The Nation’s First Gold Medal In Which Category
A. 55 Kg
B. 57 Kg
C. 63 Kg
D. 67 kG
ANSWER: B - Anantjeet Singh Naruka Clinched _ Medal In The Men’s Skeet Event
A. Gold
B. Silver
C. Bronze
D. None Of The Above
ANSWER: A - Which Company Has Become The First In India To Join The International
Council On Mining And Metals
A. Hindustan Zinc Limited (HZL)
B. Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL)
C. Tata Steel
D. Vedanta Resources
ANSWER: A - Which State Government Has Launched KATALYST, An Ease Of Doing Business
(Eodb) Cell, To Support Global Capability Centers
A. Maharashtra
B. Karnataka
C. Odisha
D. Kerala
ANSWER: A - Which Port Has Become The First Indian Port To Produce Green Hydrogen
A. Jawaharlal Nehru Port
B. Cochin Port
C. Paradip Port
D. V. O. Chidambaranar (VOC) Port
ANSWER: D - SIGHT Scheme Is A Subcomponent Of Which National Mission
A. National Solar Mission
B. National Green Hydrogen Mission
C. National Electric Mobility Mission
D. National Wind Energy Mission
ANSWER: B - Which Organisation Has Launched The SHINE Initiative (Science & Health
Innovation For The Nextgen Explorers)
A. Department of Biotechnology (DBT)
B. Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)
C. Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)
D. Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
ANSWER: C - Which Institution Has Launched The India Electric Mobility Index
A. Reserve Bank of India
B. Bureau of Indian Standards
C. NITI Aayog
D. Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology
ANSWER: C - Mount Elbrus, Is Located In Which Country
A. India
B. China
C. France
D. Russia
ANSWER: D - Arogyam Health And Wellness Centre In Arunachal Pradesh Has Been
Launched Under Which Initiative Of The Indian Army
A. Operation Maitri
B. Operation Sadbhavana
C. Operation Rakshak
D. Operation Vijay
ANSWER: B - Dibru-Saikhowa National Park Is Located In Which State
A. Arunachal Pradesh
B. Nagaland
C. Manipur
D. Assam
ANSWER: D - Halman Apricot, Is Primarily Found In Which Region Of India
A. Maharashtra
B. Ladakh
C. Madhya Pradesh
D. Karnataka
ANSWER: B - E-Jagriti Platform Is An Initiative Of Which Ministry
A. Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food, and Public Distribution
B. Ministry of Science and Technology
C. Ministry of Agriculture
D. Ministry of Rural Development
ANSWER: A - Palmyra Palm Tree, Is Primarily Found In Which Region
A. Tropical Africa
B. South America
C. Southeast Asia
D. Australia
ANSWER: A - Where Was The Sliteye Shark Recently Recorded For The First Time
A. Red Sea
B. Great Chagos Bank, Indian Ocean
C. Bay of Bengal
D. Gulf of Mexico
ANSWER: B - Sahariya Tribe Is Primarily Found In Which States
A. Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh
B. Odisha, Jharkhand and Bihar
C. Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra
D. Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu
ANSWER: A - Rubella Disease, Is Caused By Which Agent
A. Bacteria
B. Virus
C. Fungus
D. Protozoa
ANSWER: B - Udyam Sakhi Portal Was Launched By Which Ministry
A. Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises
B. Ministry of Finance
C. Ministry of Science and Technology
D. Ministry of Commerce and Industry
ANSWER: A - ‘Naga King Chilli’ Or ‘Raja Mircha’ Festival,, Is Celebrated In Which
Northeastern State
A. Manipur
B. Mizoram
C. Nagaland
D. Assam
ANSWER: C
