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Daily Current Affairs
13 August, 2025
1. The Union Cabinet approved four new semiconductor projects under the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) with an investment of ₹4,600 crore. Which of the following is India’s first commercial Silicon Carbide (SiC) fab?
A) 3D Glass Solutions Inc. – Odisha
B) Continental Device India Pvt. Ltd. – Punjab
C) SiCSem Pvt. Ltd. – Odisha
D) ASIP Technologies – Andhra Pradesh
E) Vedanta-Foxconn – Gujarat
Answer: C) SiCSem Pvt. Ltd. – Odisha
Explanation: SiCSem Pvt. Ltd., in partnership with Clas-SiC Wafer Fab Ltd. (UK), is India’s first commercial SiC compound semiconductor fab in Odisha, for defence, EVs, solar inverters, etc.
2. The Mines and Minerals (Development & Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2025 has renamed the National Mineral Exploration Trust (NMET) to which of the following?
A) National Mineral Development Trust (NMDT)
B) National Mineral Exploration and Development Trust (NMEDT)
C) National Mining and Development Authority (NMDA)
D) Indian Mineral Exploration Mission (IMEM)
E) Mineral Resources Development Trust (MRDT)
Answer: B) National Mineral Exploration and Development Trust (NMEDT)
Explanation: The Bill renamed NMET → NMEDT, expanded mandate to include offshore & global exploration for critical minerals. Contribution of leaseholders also raised from 2% → 3% of royalty.
3. Which bill has replaced the colonial-era Indian Ports Act, 1908 to modernize port governance and promote eco-friendly operations?
A) Indian Maritime Bill, 2025
B) Indian Ports Bill, 2025
C) Coastal Trade and Ports Act, 2025
D) National Shipping Bill, 2025
E) Indian Seaports Bill, 2025
Answer: B) Indian Ports Bill, 2025
Explanation: The Indian Ports Bill, 2025 replaces the 1908 Act. It introduces modern regulations, digital port procedures, green & safe port norms, and creates bodies like MSDC & State Maritime Boards.
4. SHRESTH, recently launched by CDSCO & MoHFW, is related to which sector?
A) Renewable Energy Benchmarking
B) State Police Performance Ranking
C) State Health Regulatory Excellence Index
D) School Education Reform Index
E) National Highway Safety Evaluation
Answer: C) State Health Regulatory Excellence Index
Explanation: SHRESTH is India’s first State Health Regulatory Excellence Index, benchmarking state drug regulatory systems with WHO standards. It ranks states monthly and promotes uniform drug regulation.
5. The RBI granted in-principle approval to Paytm Payments Services Ltd. (PPSL) to operate as which of the following?
A) Payment Bank
B) Payment Gateway
C) Online Payment Aggregator
D) Digital Lending Platform
E) NBFC
Answer: C) Online Payment Aggregator
Explanation: RBI approved Paytm Payments Services Ltd. to function as an Online Payment Aggregator, allowing it to onboard merchants and enable them to accept multiple forms of digital payments.
6. Which amendment bill introduces reforms such as group insolvency, cross-border insolvency, and pre-packaged insolvency for large corporates?
A) Companies Amendment Bill, 2025
B) Banking Regulation Amendment Bill, 2025
C) IBC Amendment Bill, 2025
D) Financial Sector Reform Bill, 2025
E) Corporate Governance Bill, 2025
Answer: C) IBC Amendment Bill, 2025
Explanation: The Insolvency & Bankruptcy Code (IBC) Amendment Bill, 2025 aims to speed up resolution through group insolvency, cross-border insolvency, and pre-packaged insolvency for corporates.
7. NPCI announced it will discontinue UPI Pull (Collect) transactions from which date due to rising fraud cases?
A) June 30, 2025
B) July 31, 2025
C) August 31, 2025
D) October 31, 2025
E) December 31, 2025
Answer: D) October 31, 2025
Explanation: The ‘Pull/Collect’ UPI transaction feature will be discontinued from 31 October 2025 as fraudsters misused it to trick users into approving unauthorized payments.
8. The new Income Tax Bill, 2025 has replaced which decades-old legislation?
A) Income Tax Act, 1956
B) Income Tax Act, 1961
C) Direct Tax Code, 1963
D) Indian Taxation Act, 1971
E) Income & Corporate Tax Act, 1960
Answer: B) Income Tax Act, 1961
Explanation: The Income Tax Bill, 2025 replaces the Income Tax Act, 1961 after six decades. It introduces a “Tax Year” system, expands digital asset definitions, and mandates digital compliance.
9. Recently, RBI allowed foreign investors to invest surplus balances in Vostro accounts into which of the following?
A) Corporate Bonds
B) Central Government Securities
C) Indian Equity Markets
D) Mutual Funds
E) Infrastructure Bonds
Answer: B) Central Government Securities
Explanation: RBI permitted surplus balances in Vostro accounts (maintained by Indian banks for foreign banks) to be invested in Central Government Securities to promote INR trade settlements.
10. In July 2025, India’s retail inflation (CPI) fell to 1.55%, the lowest in 8 years. Which of the following is included in the CPI basket?
A) Only food items
B) Only fuel and light
C) Only wholesale goods
D) Food, housing, transport, fuel, clothing, miscellaneous services
E) Only housing and education
Answer: D) Food, housing, transport, fuel, clothing, miscellaneous services
Explanation: The Consumer Price Index (CPI) includes food & beverages, clothing, housing, fuel & light, and miscellaneous items (education, health, transport, etc.) to measure retail inflation.
