- Against the backdrop of BRICS 2026 in India, a stronger India–Africa–UAE (IAU) trilateral framework is emerging with the entry of new members including the UAE, Egypt, and Ethiopia in the group.
- The India-Africa-UAE trilateral partnership is an evolving concept focused on strengthening economic cooperation and connectivity, particularly in the areas of trade, investment, and infrastructure development.
- Back in 2019, India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) signed a Memorandum of Understanding on development cooperation in Africa.
- The evolution is reflected in initiatives such as the Bharat Africa Setu, conceptualised in 2025.
- It is a trade ecosystem launched by India and DP World (UAE) to double India–Africa trade by leveraging logistics, export finance, and certification services. Read More
Home / Daily Current Affairs / 19-08-2025
Daily Current Affairs – 19 August, 2025
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- The recent Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla journey to ISS marks India's ascent as a major space power, aligning with the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047 and embracing the philosophy of Vishwabandhu Bharat in the space sector.
- Rising competition from private global giants (SpaceX, Blue Origin, etc.).
- Space debris and orbital congestion issues.
- Low R&D investment.
- Balancing commercialization with national security. Read More
Critical Role of the Space Programme for Viksit Bharat by 2047
In News
Challenges
- The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament has proposed major changes to toll collection on national highways, including a recommendation to end the practice of perpetual tolling.
- Under the National Highways Act, 1956, the government is empowered to levy user fees on national highways, with the policy governed by the 2008 NH Fee Rules.
- These fees are not tied to construction cost recovery but are based on fixed base rates, increasing annually by 3% and partially indexed to inflation (WPI).
- Toll collection can be done by the Union government for publicly funded roads or by concessionaires under BoT, or InvIT models.
- A 2008 amendment allows toll collection to continue indefinitely, even after concession periods end, with revenue then going to the Consolidated Fund of India. Read More
Public Accounts Committee on Toll Collection
In News
Laws linked to Toll Collection
- Indian states are reducing reliance on off-budget borrowings, with the Centre tightening norms by including such loans within states’ fiscal limits under Article 293(3) of the Constitution.
- Off-budget borrowing also known as extra budget financing is used by the government to finance its expenditures while keeping the debt off from its annual statement.
- Such borrowings are not counted in the fiscal deficit calculation, even though they have fiscal implications. Read More
Off Budget Borrowings
Context
Off-Budget Borrowings
- The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Water Resources raised concern over the continued presence of uranium contamination in drinking water sources in Punjab and called for urgent solutions to safeguard public health.
- According to the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) survey of 2019–20, out of nearly 16,000 groundwater samples, around 450 exceeded the World Health Organization’s (WHO) permissible limit.
- Uranium contamination is reported to be more prevalent in northwest India’s alluvial aquifers and in southern India’s hard-rock aquifers.
- The states of Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Gujarat were found to be the most affected. Read More
Radioactive Contamination in Punjab’s Groundwater
Context
Uranium contamination in India
- During World War I, shortages of animal fats and oils spurred chemists to find alternatives. This led to the development of synthetic cleaning agents: the first commercial “soap-like” detergents emerged in the mid-1930s.
- 2800 BC (Mesopotamia): Earliest recorded use of soap-like substances.
- Ancient India: Soap nuts, tree bark, leaves, and flowers were used as natural cleansers.
- Industrial Revolution: Mass production of soap began in Europe, though soaps remained luxury goods taxed heavily until the 19th century.
- World War I: Shortage of natural oils led to the birth of synthetic detergents, with commercial-scale detergent production beginning in the 1930s. Read More
Soaps and Detergents
In Context
Historical Background
- Recently, two Indian aquanauts successfully conducted deep-sea dives in the Atlantic Ocean, part of Samudrayaan Project, under the Deep Ocean Mission.
- It was launched by the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) with an investment of ₹4,077 crore over five years on September 7, 2021.
- It aims to develop technologies for exploring and sustainably utilizing deep ocean resources, and to support India's Blue Economy and scientific leadership.
- Blue Economy is a core growth dimension, with potential to push India’s maritime economy beyond ₹100 billion.
- It is being implemented in phases and aligns with the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021–2030). Read More
Deep Ocean Mission: India’s Gateway to the Ocean Floor
Context
About the Deep Ocean Mission
- The Union Minister for Commerce and Industry introduced the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2025 in the Lok Sabha.
- The Bill builds upon the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2023, which was the first consolidated legislation to decriminalise minor offences across multiple laws.
- The 2023 Act, notified in August 2023, had decriminalised 183 provisions across 42 Central Acts administered by 19 ministries and departments. Read More
