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CUET Current Affairs: 18 August 2025

 

Standard & Poors Global Rating

India welcomes first sovereign rating upgrade in 18 Years to 'BBB' - The Tribune

News- S&P Global Upgrades India’s Sovereign Credit Rating to ‘BBB’ after 18 years.

  • What it is –S&P Global (Standard & Poors Global) Ratings is one of the world’s leading credit rating agencies, providing independent opinions on credit risk.
  • Headquarters – New York City, USA.
  • About India Rating Increase by S&P:
    • Upgrade from BBB- to BBB in long-term sovereign rating.
    • Short-term rating raised – from A-3 to A-2.
    • Transfer and convertibility assessment upgraded – from BBB+ to A-.
    • First sovereign upgrade for India by S&P since January 2007.

NDA’s Vice-Presidential candidate

CP Radhakrishnan named NDA's Vice Presidential candidate

News- CP Radhakrishnan named NDA’s Vice-Presidential candidate.

  • Announcement – BJP President JP Nadda named Maharashtra Governor CP Radhakrishnan as NDA’s Vice-Presidential candidate.
  • Date – 17 August 2025.
  • Decision Taken At – BJP Parliamentary Board meeting in New Delhi.
  • Key Attendees – PM Modi, Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh, and others.
  • Support – All NDA allies backed the decision; consensus efforts underway with opposition.
  • Election Date – 9 September 2025.
  • Reason – Vacancy due to resignation of Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar.

ISRO Space Laboratory

News- ISRO Space Laboratory Inaugurated At Mechuka School In Arunachal Pradesh.

  • Event – Inauguration of state-of-the-art space laboratory.
  • Location – Mechuka Government Higher Secondary School, Shi-Yomi district, Arunachal Pradesh.
  • Date – 16 August 2025.
  • Organisers – ISRO in collaboration with Muskaan Foundation.
  • Inaugurated By – Arunachal Pradesh Education Minister Pasang Dorjee Sona.
  • Purpose – To democratize access to space science education and inspire innovation.

Sarvottam Yudh Seva Medals

News- Sarvottam Yudh Seva Medals awarded by President Droupadi Murmu.

  • Event – Presentation of Sarvottam Yudh Seva Medals (SYSM).
  • Occasion – On the eve of 79th Independence Day (2025).
  • Awarded By – President Droupadi Murmu.
  • Number Awarded – Seven SYSM conferred.
  • Significance – First time awarded since the Kargil War (1999).
  • Recipients – Top military leaders of Operation Sindoor.
  • Origin:
    • Instituted in 1980, but awarded rarely.
    • Till 2025, only three officers had received it (Operation Pawan, Kargil War).
  • Features:
    • Design – Circular, gold gilt, 35 mm diameter.
    • Obverse – State Emblem with inscription “SARVOTTAM YUDH SEVA MEDAL”.
    • Reverse – Five-pointed star.
    • Ribbon – Golden with a central red stripe.
    • Repeat Awards – Represented by a bar and miniature insignia.

Chennai Grand Masters

Vincent Keymer wins Quantbox Chennai Grand Masters 2025 – International Chess Federation

News- Vincent Keymer Wins Chennai Grand Masters 2025

  • Event – Chennai Grand Masters 2025 (3rd edition).
  • Date – 7–15 August 2025.
  • Type – India’s premier classical chess tournament.
  • Organised By – MGD1.
  • Format – The event featured two elite round-robin sections—Masters and Challengers – with 10 players each.
  • Prize Pool – ₹1 Crore.
  • Champion: Vincent Keymer (Germany)
    • Clinched the title with a round to spare.
    • Final score: 7/9.
    • Earned ₹25 Lakhs and 24.5 FIDE Circuit points.
  • Runner-ups (Joint Second – 5 points):
    • Arjun Erigaisi – third consecutive runner-up finish.
    • Karthikeyan Murali.
    • Anish Giri.
  • About India’s premier classical chess tournament:
    • India’s only super tournament in classical chess – brings world elite Grand Masters to India.
    • Modeled on global classics – Similar to Tata Steel Chess (Netherlands) & Grenke Chess Classic (Germany).
    • First Edition (2023) – won by Arjun Erigaisi.
    • Second Edition (2024) – won by Dommaraju Gukesh.

MCQs

Q1. Who has been named as the NDA’s Vice-Presidential candidate for the 2025 election?
A) Jagdeep Dhankhar
B) CP Radhakrishnan
C) Rajnath Singh
D) JP Nadda

Q2. Where was the state-of-the-art space laboratory inaugurated by ISRO on 16 August 2025?A) Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh
B) Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh
C) Mechuka, Shi-Yomi district, Arunachal Pradesh
D) Kohima, Nagaland

Q3. On the eve of the 79th Independence Day (2025), how many Sarvottam Yudh Seva Medals (SYSM) were conferred?
A) 3
B) 5
C) 7
D) 9

Q4. Recently, S&P Global upgraded India’s sovereign credit rating after 18 years. What is the new long-term sovereign rating assigned to India?
A) BBB-
B) BBB
C) A-2
D) A-3

Q5. Who won the Chennai Grand Masters 2025 chess tournament?
A) Arjun Erigaisi
B) Anish Gir
C) Vincent Keymer
D) Karthikeyan Murali