UPSC Daily Current Affairs for 25 August 2026

Gorkha Statehood Demand and the Issue of New State Formation in India

Context

The Union Ministry of Home Affairs constituted a high-level committee following a key meeting of Gorkha leaders with the Union Home Minister and West Bengal government representatives in Siliguri.

What are the Roots of the Gorkhas’ Demand?

The Gorkhas’ movement for a separate administrative identity is among the oldest of its kind in India.

Darjeeling and its adjacent areas—including Kalimpong, Kurseong, the Terai, and the Dooars—are culturally, ethnically, and linguistically distinct from the rest of West Bengal.

India Proposes Medical Device Rule Changes To Boost Ease Of Business

Context

The Union Health Ministry has proposed amendments to the Medical Devices Rules, 2017, to promote ease of doing business.

Key Proposed Amendments

Simplification of Outsourced Sterilisation (Amendment to Rule 44): Manufacturers outsourcing sterilisation to a facility, holding a valid licence under the Medical Devices Rules, 2017, will no longer require a separate loan licence for the sterilisation activity.

Traceability will be retained: manufacturers must mention the licence number of the sterilisation facility on the medical device label.

India can Become Global Shipbuilding Hub: Defence Minister

Context

The Defence Minister said that a vacuum created by the declining capacities of traditional shipbuilding industries across the world presents a major opportunity for India to emerge as a global shipbuilding hub.

About Shipbuilding

It refers to the construction, repair, and maintenance of vessels used for transportation, defense, and trade.

Shipbuilding is carried out in specialised facilities called shipyards, which are equipped to handle large-scale projects and complex assembly processes.

Illegal Migrants in India

Context

The Union Home Minister directed the security agencies to take strict measures against infiltration, asking the police chiefs to detect and deport illegal migrants.

Illegal Immigrants in India

In the last three Censuses, roughly 94% of all India’s Bangladesh-born residents lived in the five border States (West Bengal, Assam, Tripura, Meghalaya, and Mizoram).

India and Bangladesh share a 4,096.7-km-long border, which till recently was mostly porous.

In-principle Nod For Airports’ Privatisation

Context

Recently, the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) gained in-principle clearance for the third wave of airport privatisation for privatising 11 Airports Authority of India (AAI) airports.

About Airport Privatisation in India

Airport privatisation in India is predominantly through Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangements with private concessionaires operating, managing and developing airports for a defined concession period.

The Airports Authority of India (AAI) is responsible for key functions such as aviation infrastructure, air navigation services and airport development.

Potential of Floating Solar systems in India

In News

The recent approval of the Pradhan Mantri Surya Sarovar Yojana (PM-SSY) signals the Indian government’s intent to promote land-neutral solar applications.

Background and Need

India’s solar capacity has grown from 3 gigawatts (GW) in 2016 to more than 160 GW in 2026, mostly through utility-scale projects.

But with solar having to compete with urbanisation and agriculture for space, and ecological conservation a priority, land is becoming increasingly difficult to find for new projects.

News In Short 25-08-2026

Context

The Madhya Pradesh government has begun restoring Buddhist monuments linked to the Mauryan emperor Ashoka, starting with a fresh excavation at Vaishya Tekri in Ujjain.

About

The largest stupa, popularly called Vaisya Tekri, is about 350 feet at its base and 100 feet high. Nearby is a smaller stupa, called Kumbhar (or Kumhar) Tekri.

Initial excavations by the Department of Archaeology of the erstwhile Gwalior State in 1938–39 unveiled large bricks and punch-marked coins, prompting archaeologists to date the structures to the Mauryan period.