Gallantry Awards
News – 1,090 Personnel Awarded Gallantry and Service Medals on Independence Day 2025.
- Event – Independence Day 2025 Gallantry & Service Medal awards.
- Total Awardees – 1,090 personnel.
- Departments – Police, Fire, Home Guard & Civil Defence, Correctional Services.
- Purpose – Recognise bravery, distinguished service, and meritorious contributions.
- Significance – Honouring efforts in public safety and national security.
- Breakdown of Awards
1. Gallantry Medals (GM) – Total Awarded: 233.
2. President’s Medal for Distinguished Service (PSM) – Total Awarded: 99.
3. Medal for Meritorious Service (MSM) – Total Awarded: 758.
Asian Surfing Championships, 2025
News- Asian Surfing Championships 2025, India’s performance secure full quotas for Asian Games 2026.
- Event – Asian Surfing Championships 2025.
- Date & Venue – 3–12 August 2025, Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu.
- India’s First Medal – Ramesh Budihal – Bronze in Open Men’s Final.
- Other Indian Achievements – Kishore Kumar (Semifinalist), D. Srikanth (Quarterfinalist).
- Men’s Team Overall Rank – India ranks 3rd (1785 points) behind Indonesia (1980) & South Korea (1800).
- Women’s Team Overall Rank – 8th (1200 points).
- Asian Games 2026 Quotas – India secured 2 additional quotas.
S. Rohit Krishna
News-S. Rohit Krishna becomes India’s 89th Grand Master.
- Person – S. Rohith Krishna, 19-year-old engineering student from Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
- Event – Almaty Masters Qonaev Cup, Kazakhstan.
- FIDE Rating – 2516 (as of July 2025).
- Achievement – Became India’s 89th Chess Grandmaster (GM) in August 2025.
- Milestone – 85th male player from India to achieve GM title.
- Previous Title – International Master in 2022.
‘HAWK’ (Hostile Watch Activity Kernel)
News- HAWK: India’s 1st Centralised Wildlife Crime Management System Launched.
- Event – Launch of Wildlife Crime Management System ‘HAWK’ (Hostile Watch Activity Kernel).
- Launched by – Union MoS Kirti Vardhan Singh, MoEF&CC
- Launched for – Tamil Nadu (TN) forest department.
- Developed by – Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) and NTT DATA.
- Purpose – To combat wildlife crimes.
- States with HAWK – Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
79th Independence Day
News- 79th Independence Day of India 2025.
- PM Narendra Modi will lead the 79th Independence Day Celebration on August 15 from the historic Red Ford in New Delhi.
- Theme– “Naya Bharat”.
- In 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered his 12th consecutive address, surpassing Indira Gandhi’s record and standing only behind Jawaharlal Nehru’s 17.
- Less Known fact– “Tryst with Destiny” is the famous speech delivered by Jawahar Lal Nehru to the Indian constituent assembly on the eve of India’s independence, at midnight on august 14 ,1947.
Surya Dronathon 2025
News-Indian army launch drone competition ‘Surya Dronathon 2025’in Himachal Pradesh.
- Event – Surya Dronathon 2025, a pioneering drone competition.
- Organisers – Surya Command of the Indian Army & Drone Federation of India.
- Participants – Talented freelancers and OEMs from across India.
- Venue – Spiti Valley, Sumdo, Himachal Pradesh.
- Feature – One of India’s highest drone obstacle courses at 10,700 ft altitude.
- Schedule – To be held next month.
MCQs
Q1. On which occasion were 1,090 personnel awarded Gallantry and Service Medals in 2025?
a) Republic Day 2025
b) Independence Day 2025
c) Police Commemoration Day 2025
d) National Security Day 2025
Q2. Where was the Asian Surfing Championships 2025 held?
a) Goa, India
b) Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu
c) Bali, Indonesia
d) Colombo, Sri Lanka
Q3. For which state’s forest department was HAWK launched?
a) Kerala
b) Karnataka
c) Tamil Nadu
d) Maharashtra
Q4. At which event did S. Rohith Krishna achieve the Grandmaster title?
a) Chennai Open Chess Tournament
b) Almaty Masters Qonaev Cup, Kazakhstan
c) Asian Chess Championship, Dubai
d) World Junior Chess Championship, Moscow
Q5. What is the theme of the 79th Independence Day Celebration in 2025?
a) Viksit Bharat
b) Naya Bharat
c) Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav
d) Unity in Diversity
Q6. What is the name of the pioneering drone competition launched by the Indian Army in Himachal Pradesh?
a) Bharat Drone Fest 2025
b) Surya Dronathon 2025
c) Himalayan Drone Challenge
d) Aero India Drone Cup