In Current Affairs for 25 August 2026, 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 25 August 2026
Kaziah Liz Mejo Crowned Miss Universe India 2026
Kaziah Liz Mejo from Kerala has been crowned Miss Universe India 2026. The 19-year-old emerged victorious from a field of 52 contestants at the grand finale held at Zee Studios in Jaipur on 23 August 2026.
With this achievement, Kaziah Liz Mejo earned the opportunity to represent India at the 75th Miss Universe competition, scheduled to be held in Puerto Rico in November 2026. She received the crown from Manika Vishwakarma, the Miss Universe India 2025 titleholder.
Kaziah had reportedly spent nearly three years preparing for the competition. Her victory marks an important milestone in her journey and places her on the international stage.
Other Major Winners
- Vaishnavi Gannesh – First Runner-up and Miss International India 2026
- Anushri Satavlekar – Second Runner-up
- Tejaswini Shrivastava – Third Runner-up
- Anubha Vashist Chaudhary – Fourth Runner-up
GM Pranesh M Wins Kanizsa Open 2026
Indian chess Grandmaster Pranesh M has won the Kanizsa Open 2026 Group A tournament in Nagykanizsa, Hungary.
The 19-year-old player from Karaikudi, Tamil Nadu, finished the nine-round competition with 7 points. He secured the title on the basis of superior tie-break scores after finishing level on points with other leading players.
In the final round, Pranesh defeated German Grandmaster Vadim Petrovskiy, securing the result needed to strengthen his position at the top of the standings.
Pranesh entered the tournament with an FIDE rating of 2673 and was ranked 44th in the August 2026 FIDE rankings.
Key Facts
- Winner: GM Pranesh M
- Tournament: Kanizsa Open 2026 – Group A
- Venue: Nagykanizsa, Hungary
- Score: 7/9
- Age: 19 years
- State: Tamil Nadu
UPI Completes 10 Years of Digital Payment Transformation
India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) completed a decade of operation after its introduction on 25 August 2016.
Developed by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) under the regulatory framework of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), UPI has transformed India’s digital payment ecosystem by enabling quick and convenient bank-to-bank transactions.
The scale of UPI’s expansion has been remarkable. Annual transaction volume increased from 1.78 crore transactions in FY 2016–17 to more than 24,162 crore transactions in FY 2025–26. Transaction value also increased from ₹0.07 lakh crore to approximately ₹314 lakh crore during the same period.
UPI has also expanded internationally and is currently operational in 11 countries, including the UAE, France, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Singapore, Mauritius, Qatar, Cambodia, Greece and the Maldives.
Important Exam Facts
- Full Form: Unified Payments Interface
- Launched: 25 August 2016
- Developed by: NPCI
- Regulator: RBI
- Countries: 11
- Major significance: Real-time digital payments
US Removes Syria from State Sponsors of Terrorism List
The United States Department of State removed Syria from its State Sponsors of Terrorism (SST) list on 24 August 2026. Syria had remained on the list since 29 December 1979.
On the same date, the United States also revoked the designation of al-Nusrah Front, also known as Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist organisation.
The State Sponsors of Terrorism designation is a US foreign-policy instrument associated with restrictions involving foreign assistance, defence exports and certain financial transactions.
The development represents a significant change in the US approach toward Syria and its sanctions framework.
US Launches Operation Economic Outcast
The United States announced Operation Economic Outcast on 24 August 2026 as a sanctions campaign targeting Iran.
Led by US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, the campaign expanded sanctions across several sectors of the Iranian economy and targeted 60 individuals, entities and vessels associated with areas including cyber operations, oil transactions and procurement networks.
The measures also covered areas such as:
- Digital assets and cryptocurrency
- Weapons-related technology
- Gold
- Airlines
- Shipping
The US also warned that foreign entities facilitating certain transactions with Iran could face secondary sanctions, potentially affecting their access to the US financial system.
NSG Launches First All-Women Commando Conversion Course
The National Security Guard (NSG) Training Academy has launched India’s first Mahila Commando Conversion Course (MCCC) at its training facility in Manesar, Haryana.
The programme began on 24 August 2026 and is designed for women personnel drawn from State Police Forces and Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs).
The 12-week residential course focuses on advanced operational skills required for specialised counter-terrorism duties.
Training Areas
- Physical conditioning
- Weapons handling
- Marksmanship
- Tactical intervention
- Hostage rescue
- Counter-terrorism operations
The first batch consists of 25 women constables from the Rajasthan Armed Constabulary’s 5th Battalion at Ghatgate.
The programme carries the theme “She Who Dares, Leads.”
Exam Point
NSG Headquarters/Training Academy: Manesar, Haryana
Course: Mahila Commando Conversion Course
Duration: 12 weeks
AIIA Introduces “GARBHINI MITRA” Course
The All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA), New Delhi, has introduced the Garbhini Mitra Course for the academic session 2026–27.
AIIA functions as an autonomous institution under the Ministry of Ayush. The new programme is designed as a healthcare skill-development initiative to train personnel who can provide health education, lifestyle guidance and community-level support to women during pregnancy and the postnatal period.
The programme is intended to complement regular clinical care rather than replace it. Routine medical check-ups, diagnostic investigations and monitoring remain essential components of pregnancy care.
Key Facts
- Programme: Garbhini Mitra Course
- Institution: All India Institute of Ayurveda
- Location: New Delhi
- Session: 2026–27
- Ministry: Ministry of Ayush
Review Questions
- Who was crowned Miss Universe India 2026?
A. Manika Vishwakarma
B. Vaishnavi Gannesh
C. Kaziah Liz Mejo
D. Anushri Satavlekar
Answer: C. Kaziah Liz Mejo - Kaziah Liz Mejo will represent India at Miss Universe 2026, which is scheduled to
be held in:
A. India
B. Puerto Rico
C. France
D. Singapore
Answer: B. Puerto Rico - Which Indian Grandmaster won the Kanizsa Open 2026 Group A title?
A. R Praggnanandhaa
B. Arjun Erigaisi
C. Pranesh M
D. D Gukesh
Answer: C. Pranesh M - UPI was introduced in India in which year?
A. 2014
B. 2015
C. 2016
D. 2017
Answer: C. 2016 - Which organisation developed the Unified Payments Interface (UPI)?
A. RBI
B. NPCI
C. SEBI
D. NABARD
Answer: B. NPCI - On which date did the United States remove Syria from its State Sponsors of
Terrorism list?
A. 20 August 2026
B. 22 August 2026
C. 24 August 2026
D. 25 August 2026
Answer: C. 24 August 2026 - Operation Economic Outcast, launched by the United States in August 2026, was
directed primarily against:
A. Russia
B. Iran
C. Syria
D. North Korea
Answer: B. Iran - Where was India’s first Mahila Commando Conversion Course launched?
A. Gurugram, Haryana
B. Manesar, Haryana
C. New Delhi
D. Jaipur, Rajasthan
Answer: B. Manesar, Haryana - What is the duration of the NSG’s Mahila Commando Conversion Course?
A. 6 weeks
B. 8 weeks
C. 10 weeks
D. 12 weeks
Answer: D. 12 weeks - The “GARBHINI MITRA” course was introduced by which institution?
A. AIIMS New Delhi
B. National Health Authority
C. All India Institute of Ayurveda
D. Indian Council of Medical Research
Answer: C. All India Institute of Ayurveda
