🌍 27 August 2025 – Top 8 Current Affairs for UPSC, BPSC, SSC & State PCS

1) India–China Border Trade Revival: Shipki-La Pass Set to Reopen

Story:
India and China agreed in principle to reopen the historic Shipki-La trade route in Himachal’s Kinnaur, paused since 2020 due to COVID-19. The move followed Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s visit and sustained lobbying by HP CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu and talks led by EAM S. Jaishankar. Reopening all three designated border points — Shipki-La, Lipulekh, Nathu La — is on the table. It can revive local economies, deepen people-to-people links, and ease Kailash Mansarovar Yatra logistics via a shorter Tibetan approach and better Indian connectivity.

One-Liner Q&As (incl. static GK):

1. Shipki-La Pass is in which district/state? — Kinnaur, Himachal Pradesh
2. Trade via Shipki-La was suspended in which year? — 2020
3. Shipki-La was designated for border trade under which agreement/year? — 1994 India–China bilateral agreement
4. Name the three India–China designated border trade points. — Shipki-La, Lipulekh, Nathu La
5. Which Indian minister confirmed ongoing talks with China to reopen routes? — S. Jaishankar (EAM)
6. Which Chinese leader’s India visit preceded the move? — Wang Yi
7. Which HP CM pushed for Shipki-La reopening? — Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu
8. Which pilgrimage could use Shipki-La as an additional route? — Kailash Mansarovar Yatra
9. Nathu La is located in which Indian state? — Sikkim
10. Lipulekh is located in which Indian state? — Uttarakhand
11. Shipki-La historically connected India with which region? — Tibet
12. Nodal Union Ministry for border trade procedures? — Ministry of Commerce & Industry

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2) CISF Launches First All-Women Commando Unit

Story:
The CISF raised its first all-women commando unit in 2025, with ~30 women undergoing an 8-week intensive course at RTC Barwaha, Madhya Pradesh. Training spans weapons, live-fire, rappelling, survival, forest ops, and a 48-hour confidence module. A second batch of 100 is planned. They’ll serve in QRT/STF at airports, metros, and critical infrastructure — a concrete step toward 10% female representation by 2026 (from ~8% now).

One-Liner Q&As (incl. static GK):

1. Which CAPF launched India’s first all-women commando unit? — CISF
2. Current women’s share in CISF personnel (2025)? — ~8% (≈12,491)
3. Targeted female representation in CISF by 2026? — 10%
4. Training location for the first batch? — RTC Barwaha, Madhya Pradesh
5. Duration of the advanced commando course? — 8 weeks
6. Strength of the first and next batches? — ~30 now; ~100 next
7. Two key deployment roles for the unit? — QRT and STF
8. Likely deployment sites? — Airports, metros, sensitive PSUs/private critical sites
9. Name one key training module besides live-fire. — Rappelling / Survival / Forest training
10. What is the 48-hour module designed to test? — Decision-making & teamwork under stress
11. Full form of CISF? — Central Industrial Security Force
12. CISF primarily protects what type of assets? — Critical infrastructure & key installations

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3) Nepal Joins the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA)

Story:
Nepal joined the IBCA in Aug 2025 — an India-led platform launched by PM Narendra Modi on 9 April 2023 (Mysuru) to conserve seven big cats: tiger, lion, leopard, snow leopard, cheetah, jaguar, puma. The Union Cabinet approved setting up the IBCA in Feb 2024 with HQ in India. Nepal hosts tiger, snow leopard, common leopard, making it pivotal for transboundary conservation and corridor security.

One-Liner Q&As (incl. static GK):

1. Nepal joined which India-led wildlife alliance in Aug 2025? — IBCA
2. IBCA was launched on which date and where? — 9 April 2023, Mysuru
3. How many big cat species does IBCA focus on? — Seven
4. Name any three IBCA species. — Tiger, Lion, Snow Leopard (also Leopard, Cheetah, Jaguar, Puma)
5. IBCA HQ is proposed in which country? — India
6. Which Indian bodies are key to big cat conservation governance? — NTCA & MoEFCC
7. Nepal is home to which three big cats? — Tiger, Snow Leopard, Common Leopard
8. Cabinet approval for IBCA establishment came in which month/year? — Feb 2024
9. India’s flagship tiger programme is called? — Project Tiger (1973)
10. Cheetahs were reintroduced in India at which park? — Kuno National Park, Madhya Pradesh
11. Transboundary big cat conservation helps protect what ecological function? — Corridors & gene flow
12. Full form of NTCA? — National Tiger Conservation Authority

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4) Bloom Syndrome: Rare DNA-Repair Disorder, Indian Case Treated

Story:
A rare Bloom Syndrome case in Chennai saw a 12-year-old undergo a bone marrow transplant using a sibling donor. The disorder stems from BLM gene mutations affecting DNA repair, causing growth failure, sun-sensitive rashes, immune deficits, diabetes risk, infertility, and an extremely high cancer risk. It’s autosomal recessive, rarer globally (<300 cases), more common among Ashkenazi Jews, but occurs worldwide.

One-Liner Q&As (incl. static GK):

1. Bloom Syndrome is caused by mutations in which gene? — BLM
2. Mode of inheritance in Bloom Syndrome? — Autosomal recessive
3. Key pathophysiology feature? — Defective DNA replication/repair → genomic instability
4. Signature skin feature? — Sun-sensitive erythematous rash & pigment changes
5. Growth pattern in Bloom Syndrome? — Pre- and post-natal growth retardation; short stature
6. Two common systemic issues besides cancer risk. — Immune deficiency & insulin resistance/diabetes
7. Relative cancer risk compared to general population? — ~150–300× higher
8. Common early-life cancers in Bloom Syndrome? — Leukemia, lymphoma, GI & skin cancers
9. Diagnostic workup hallmark? — Cytogenetic analysis showing chromosomal instability
10. Is there a cure for Bloom Syndrome? — No; management is supportive/preventive
11. One preventive care recommendation. — Strict sun protection & regular dermatologic/oncologic screening
12. Recent India highlight in 2025 case? — Bone marrow transplant in Chennai with sibling donor

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5) ISRO’s IADT-1: Parachute System Proved for Gaganyaan

Story:
On 24 Aug 2025, ISRO completed IADT-1 — dropping a ~5-tonne dummy crew module from an IAF Chinook to validate the parachute-based deceleration for Gaganyaan splashdown. Sequenced chutes slowed the capsule to safe splash speeds, with joint ops by IAF, DRDO, Navy, Coast Guard. This builds confidence ahead of TV-D2, uncrewed G1, and aligns with plans for BAS by 2035 and a crewed Moon landing by 2040.

One-Liner Q&As (incl. static GK):

1. IADT-1 stands for? — Integrated Air Drop Test-1
2. IADT-1 date and purpose? — 24 Aug 2025; validate Gaganyaan parachute deceleration
3. Approximate mass of the dropped crew module? — ~5 tonnes
4. Drop platform used? — IAF Chinook helicopter
5. Which agencies partnered ISRO in IADT-1? — IAF, DRDO, Indian Navy, Coast Guard
6. What phase does the parachute system secure? — Final descent/splashdown
7. Name two upcoming Gaganyaan test missions. — TV-D2, uncrewed G1
8. Full form of CES in Gaganyaan? — Crew Escape System
9. ISRO’s planned space station name & target year. — Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS), 2035
10. Target year for India’s crewed Moon landing? — 2040
11. Gaganyaan nodal ministry & agency? — Department of Space; ISRO
12. Gaganyaan primary objective? — Demonstrate human spaceflight & safe crew recovery

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6) Arctic Sea Ice Loss: Temporary Slowdown, Not a Reversal

Story:
Studies show Arctic sea ice loss slowed during 2003–2023 to ~0.35 million km²/decade, versus the peak 1993–2012 loss of ~1.3 million km²/decade. Scientists attribute this to natural variability (e.g., PDO, AMV), not to a halt in warming. Models suggest the slowdown may persist ~5 years (50% odds), ~10 years (25% odds), before accelerating melt resumes, worsening albedo loss, ecosystems, and global weather patterns.

One-Liner Q&As (incl. static GK):

1. Peak Arctic sea ice loss rate (1993–2012)? — ~1.3 million km²/decade
2. Slowdown loss rate (2003–2023)? — ~0.35 million km²/decade
3. Two variability modes affecting Arctic melt. — Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO), Atlantic Multidecadal Variability (AMV)
4. Primary long-term driver of sea ice decline? — Anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions
5. Cumulative sea ice volume loss since 1980s? — >10,000 km³
6. Probability slowdown lasts ~5 more years? — ~50%
7. Probability slowdown lasts ~10 years? — ~25%
8. Post-slowdown additional loss projected beyond average? — ~0.6 million km²/decade
9. Key feedback that accelerates warming as ice declines? — Albedo feedback (less reflectivity)
10. One global impact of Arctic sea ice loss. — Jet stream shifts/extreme weather pattern changes
11. Does the slowdown signal climate recovery? — No; temporary natural variability
12. Policy implication? — Urgent emissions cuts despite temporary pauses

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7) Exercise Maitree 2025: India–Thailand Infantry Drills Return to India

Story:
The 14th Exercise Maitree will run 1–14 Sept 2025 at Foreign Training Node, Umroi (Meghalaya), focusing on counter-terror operations in semi-urban/jungle terrain under UN mandate. Started in 2006, it alternates between India and Thailand. Typical company-level participation is ~50–76 soldiers per side, sharpening interoperability, TTPs, and joint planning. It dovetails with India’s Act East and Thailand’s Act West.

One-Liner Q&As (incl. static GK):

1. Exercise name and edition in 2025? — Maitree, 14th edition
2. Dates and location of Maitree 2025? — 1–14 Sept 2025, FTN Umroi, Meghalaya
3. First year of Exercise Maitree? — 2006
4. Core focus of Maitree? — Counter-terrorism in semi-urban/jungle under UN mandate
5. Usual scale per side? — ~50–76 troops
6. Which armies participate? — Indian Army & Royal Thai Army
7. 2024 edition venue? — Tak Province, Thailand
8. Policy frameworks aligning both nations? — Act East (India), Act West (Thailand)
9. Two regional fora both engage in. — ASEAN, BIMSTEC (also MGC, IORA)
10. India participates as observer in which Thai mega-exercise? — Cobra Gold
11. One past Indian location for Maitree. — Bakloh / Umroi
12. Aim of such exercises? — Interoperability, best-practice exchange, joint readiness

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8) SASCI Push for Tourism Capex: 40 Projects Sanctioned in 23 States

Story:
Under SASCI, the Tourism Ministry sanctioned 40 projects worth ₹3295.76 crore across 23 states in 2025, fully centrally funded but state-operated/maintained. SASCI (launched 2020-21) offers interest-free capex loans, with a multiplier of ₹3 GDP per ₹1. India’s FY26 Capex is ₹11.21 lakh crore (~3.1% of GDP). Reforms include ULPIN rollout, 90% geo-referenced cadastral maps, and 91% digitised RoR.

One-Liner Q&As (incl. static GK):

1. How many tourism projects were sanctioned under SASCI in 2025? — 40 projects
2. Total sanctioned amount and coverage? — ₹3295.76 crore across 23 states
3. First year tourism was included under SASCI? — 2025
4. SASCI launch year? — 2020-21
5. Nature of SASCI loans to states? — Interest-free loans for capex
6. SASCI capex multiplier effect? — ~₹3 GDP per ₹1 invested
7. India’s FY 2025-26 capex outlay and % of GDP? — ₹11.21 lakh crore; ~3.1% of GDP
8. SASCI envelope growth: 2020-21 vs 2024-25? — ₹12,000 cr → ₹1,50,000 cr
9. Three selection criteria for tourism projects? — Connectivity, ecosystem/carrying capacity, expected impact
10. Which level handles O&M for projects? — State governments
11. % of cadastral maps geo-referenced; % land with ULPIN; % digitised RoR? — 90%; 30%; 91%
12. ULPIN stands for? — Unique Land Parcel Identification Number