Current Affairs One-liners — 08 August 2025

Fri, 08 Aug 2025

• The Union Cabinet on 8 August 2025 approved four new components under the Central Sector Scheme of Special Development Packages (SDPs) for Assam and Tripura, with a central outlay of ₹4,250 crore, to implement peace settlements with ethnic groups.
• The Union Cabinet on 8 August 2025 approved ₹30,000 crore as compensation to IOCL, BPCL and HPCL for under-recoveries on the sale of domestic LPG, to be paid in 12 tranches.
• The Union Cabinet on 8 August 2025 approved the Multidisciplinary Education and Research Improvement in Technical Education (MERITE) scheme with an outlay of ₹4,200 crore for 2025-26 to 2029-30, including a ₹2,100-crore World Bank loan.
• The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs on 8 August 2025 approved a 46-km, 4-lane Marakkanam–Puducherry section of NH-332A in Tamil Nadu on Hybrid Annuity Mode at a capital cost of ₹2,157 crore.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin on 8 August 2025; President Putin briefed him on developments concerning Ukraine and PM Modi invited him to India for the 23rd India–Russia Annual Summit later in the year.
• The Government e Marketplace (GeM) celebrated its 9th Foundation Day on 8 August 2025, reporting a Gross Merchandise Value of ₹5.4 lakh crore in FY 2024-25 and announcing seller-friendly reforms such as the end of caution money.
• The Ministry of Heavy Industries on 8 August 2025 extended the PM E-DRIVE scheme by two years, from 31 March 2026 to 31 March 2028, within the same outlay of ₹10,900 crore; support for e-2Ws, e-rickshaws and e-3Ws still ends on 31 March 2026.
• The Union Cabinet on 8 August 2025 approved continuing the targeted subsidy of ₹300 per 14.2-kg LPG cylinder, for up to 9 refills a year, for Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana beneficiaries in 2025-26 at a cost of ₹12,000 crore.
• IndiaAI and the National Cancer Grid launched the Cancer AI & Technology Challenge (CATCH) Grant Program on 8 August 2025, offering up to ₹50 lakh per pilot project for AI solutions in cancer screening, diagnosis and treatment.