Daily Current Affairs — 25 August 2026: Doval in Beijing, RBI FCNR(B) Success, Hockey WC Exit & UNCCD COP17

NSA Ajit Doval arrived in Beijing for the 25th round of India-China Special Representatives talks on the boundary question, focused on institutionalising bilateral stability.

Bihar government constituted a five-member expert committee, headed by a judge, to recommend comprehensive examination reforms following concerns over repeat paper-leak incidents in the state.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman departed for visits to Canada and the USA (August 25 to September 2) for bilateral financial discussions and economic forums.

Indian Railways launched a nationwide drive to clean and disinfect drinking water tanks at stations, aimed at ensuring passenger hygiene standards.

India's RBI-facilitated FCNR(B) forex swap mobilised approximately $73 billion in under 11 weeks, a record; the RBI advanced the window closure to 31 August 2026.

Bank of Baroda reached a $600 million out-of-court settlement in the NMC Health dispute, resolving a long-standing international credit exposure.

India bank credit growth hit approximately 20 percent year-on-year in the June 2026 quarter, highest in four-plus years, driven by industrial and services lending; deposit growth lagged, keeping loan-to-deposit ratios at historic highs (Bernstein).

MeitY notified a Rs 62,500 crore scheme to boost mobile handset manufacturing in India, aimed at attracting global OEMs and deepening the electronics supply chain.

India GDP growth projected at around 7.1 percent for April-June 2026 quarter by polls and reports, reflecting possible moderation due to global commodity price volatility.

EAM S. Jaishankar met Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss bilateral trade, energy, and high-tech cooperation, signalling continued strategic engagement.

India and New Zealand concluded their 2nd Defence Strategic Dialogue in Wellington, prioritising maritime security cooperation and joint military training.

Iran warned countries against joining US sanctions as tensions rose over the Strait of Hormuz, through which about 20 percent of the world oil transits daily.

NSTL signed Transfer of Technology agreements for the Submarine Fired Decoy Mohini with BDL and gas turbine technology with Vertex Engineering Systems, advancing indigenous naval defence manufacturing.

India-Thailand joint military exercise MAITREE-XV with 85 personnel from each side continues till 31 August 2026, strengthening defence cooperation and interoperability.

Andhra Pradesh approved a green AI data centre in Visakhapatnam by AM AI Factory Pvt Ltd with an investment of over Rs 31,387 crore, one of India largest state-level AI infrastructure commitments.

Defence startup DPropulse successfully tested a Rotating Detonation Engine (RDE) at a DRDO facility in Hyderabad, a milestone in indigenous supersonic propulsion applicable to missiles and aerospace.

NEET PG 2026 admit cards were released on 25 August 2026, allowing candidates to download hall tickets ahead of the exam conducted by the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences.

Union Minister Bhupender Yadav attended UNCCD COP17 in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, advocating sustained international finance for land restoration; he met Bangladesh counterpart on mangrove and Sundarbans tiger conservation.

Assam floods in 2026 monsoon season have killed over 100 people and displaced around 700,000; experts linked the severity to deforestation and coal mining in the Naga Hills that worsened runoff.

Indian men hockey team exited the FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 after a 3-5 defeat to Argentina; former goalkeeper PR Sreejesh criticised management after both teams failed to reach semifinals.

Rishabh Pant surpassed MS Dhoni to become India highest wicketkeeper run-scorer in away Tests during the 2nd Test vs Sri Lanka in Colombo, where India declared at 503/9.

East Bengal FC qualified for the AFC Women Champions League group stage after defeating Sabah FC 2-0, a historic milestone for Indian women club football.

S. Somanath (former ISRO Chairman), Syed Akbaruddin, and Annie George Mathew were appointed part-time non-official directors on the RBI Central Board for four-year terms by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet on 22 August 2026.

Parag Jain was appointed as the new Secretary of the Research and Analysis Wing, India primary external intelligence agency.

Uttar Pradesh Cabinet approved a policy allowing female state employees to avail 180 days maternity leave twice in their career, removing the mandatory two-year gap between leaves.

Tamil Nadu government issued orders for distribution of 1.28 lakh gold rings to newborns in government hospitals, with the scheme launching on 15 September 2026 to promote institutional deliveries.

NAMASTE-Swachhta Udyami Yojana is transforming the lives of sanitation workers by providing financial assistance and mechanised equipment like suction tractors, enabling them to become independent entrepreneurs.

Himachal Pradesh Governor Kavinder Gupta advocated modernisation and promotion of Sanskrit as a living language with contemporary relevance in technology and education.

National Gandhi Museum emphasised that Gandhi personal letters and manuscripts fetched over Rs 16 crore at auction and should be preserved in public institutions as part of common Indian heritage.

Preparations are underway for India Day 2026 in Ireland on 30 August, themed Bridges of Heritage, Gateways of Trade, celebrating global reach of Indian diaspora.