School Assembly News Headlines: 14 August 2025

National News

1. Corporate Leaders Optimistic on India-US Tariff Talks, Stress Contingency Plans, 21-Day Off-Ramp, and Long-Term Growth Potential for Businesses.

2. UPI Transactions in India Soar to Historic 1,946.79 Crore in July 2025, Total Payment Value Hits Rs 261 Lakh Crore.

3. Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar to Meet Russian Counterpart Sergei Lavrov in Moscow on August 21, Discuss Bilateral and Defence Matters.

4. Lok Sabha Forms Committee to Probe Corruption Allegations Against Justice Yashwant Varma; Resignation Considered Key Option, Panel Includes Supreme Court Judge.

International News

1. Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif Warns India Against Taking Any Water, Emphasizes No Drop of Pakistan’s Water Amid Indus Treaty Tensions.

2. Ukrainian President Zelenskiy Visits Berlin to Meet European Leaders Ahead of US-Russia Alaska Summit, Safeguarding Kyiv’s Strategic Interests.

Sports News 

1. India’s Gulveer Singh Breaks Own National Record in Men’s 3000m, Clocking 7:34.49 at Gyulai Istvan Memorial in Budapest.

2. Shubman Gill Tops ICC ODI Rankings with 784 Points, Rohit Sharma Second, Showcasing India’s Dominance in Batting and Global Talent.

Business News

1. RBI Set to Get New MPC Member as Rajiv Ranjan Retires; Indranil Bhattacharyya to Take Monetary Policy Department Role.

2. China Extends Anti-Dumping Tariffs up to 30.6% on Indian Single-Mode Optical Fibre Imports, Initiates Final Review of 2013 Investigation.

1. Corporate leaders hopeful on India-US tariff settlement, stress contingency plans and long-term growth prospects.
Industry leaders at an MK event said companies affected by US tariffs are optimistic about lower rates. They highlighted contingency plans, the 21-day off-ramp, and India’s growth potential.

2. UPI Transactions Soar in India. Reach Historic 1,946.79 Crore in July 2025. Show Rapid Growth and Surge in Digital Payments.
UPI has expanded rapidly, from 92 crore transactions in 2017-18 to 18,587 crore in 2024-25. The total payment value rose to Rs 261 lakh crore, marking record digital adoption.

3. Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar to meet Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov in Moscow on August 21.
Jaishankar will discuss bilateral ties with Lavrov, following July SCO talks. Earlier, Defence Ministers addressed S-400 missile supplies, Sukhoi-30 MKI upgrades, and expedited military equipment procurement.

4. Lok Sabha forms committee to probe corruption charges against Justice Yashwant Varma; resignation remains key option.
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla announced a committee to investigate corruption allegations against Allahabad High Court judge Yashwant Varma. The panel includes Supreme Court judge Aravind Kumar, Madras High Court Chief Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava, and senior Karnataka High Court advocate B V Acharya

5. ABVIMS and Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital become first central government hospital fully accredited under NABH 5th Edition Standards.
ABVIMS and Dr RML Hospital received full NABH accreditation under the 5th Edition Standards. Key officials, including the Director, Medical Superintendent, Dean, Chairman, and Nodal Officer, announced the achievement at a press conference.

1. Indian Army foils infiltration bid in Uri; one soldier killed; Delhi government seeks Territorial Army deployment along Yamuna.
The Army stopped an infiltration attempt in Uri. One soldier was killed. Delhi requested Territorial Army deployment along Yamuna and urged public participation in cleanliness drives to prevent pollution.

2. Kerala to award grace marks to state school students for cultivating reading habits from next academic year.
State General Education Minister V Sivankutty announced that children in Kerala’s state-run schools will receive grace marks for engaging in reading activities. A dedicated period will be allocated for reading books, newspapers, and related exercises to encourage reading habits among students.

3. Floods in Bihar affect over 19 lakh people across 10 districts as major rivers swell above danger levels.
Continuous rainfall has caused rivers including the Ganga, Gandak, Sone, Kosi, Mahananda, and Bagmati to swell above danger levels. Bhagalpur, Munger, Begusarai, Vaishali, Bhojpur, Khagaria, and Patna are the worst-affected districts. Over 19 lakh people across 10 districts have been impacted.

4. Uttarakhand issues red alert for heavy to extremely heavy rainfall; schools and Anganwadi centres closed in multiple districts.
Red alert issued for several districts. Orange alert in remaining areas. Schools and Anganwadi centres in Dehradun, Almora, Bageshwar, Champawat, and Pauri Garhwal remain closed due to heavy rain warnings.

1. Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif Warns India Against Seizing Water, Stresses No Drop of Pakistan’s Water Will Be Taken Amid Treaty Tensions
Sharif joined senior leaders in strong statements. He warned India cannot take “even one drop” of Pakistan’s water. Remarks came after Pakistan urged resumption of the Indus Waters Treaty, paused since May.

2. Ukrainian President Zelenskiy visits Berlin ahead of US-Russia Alaska summit to safeguard Kyiv’s interests.
Zelenskiy met European leaders in Berlin before the US-Russia Alaska summit. The meeting aimed to protect Kyiv’s interests as Trump called the talks a feel-out for a potential ceasefire.

3. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar Greets Central African Republic on Independence Day, Highlights Role of Indian Peacekeepers in UN MINUSCA Mission
Dr. S. Jaishankar extended Independence Day greetings to Central African Foreign Minister Sylvie Baïpo Temon and the people. He highlighted Indian peacekeepers’ active role in the UN MINUSCA mission.

4. Sri Lanka Cabinet approves procurement process for consultants to develop floating solar power projects, boosting renewable energy capacity.
Sri Lanka’s Cabinet has approved hiring consultants for floating solar projects to increase renewable energy. The government aims for 70% electricity from renewables by 2030 and carbon-neutral power generation by 2050.

1. Shubman Gill Tops ICC ODI Player Rankings as Rohit Sharma Secures Second Place, Highlighting India’s Dominance.
India’s Shubman Gill has claimed the top spot in the latest ICC ODI player rankings with 784 rating points. Rohit Sharma follows in second place. Bowling and all-rounder charts reflect global talent competition.

2. India’s Gulveer Singh Breaks Own National Record in Men’s 3000m, Clocking 7:34.49 at Gyulai Istvan Memorial in Budapest.
India’s Gulveer Singh broke his own national record in the men’s 3000m race at the Gyulai Istvan Memorial in Budapest, clocking 7 minutes 34.49 seconds, improving on his February record.

3. Indian Olympic Association Approves India’s 2030 Commonwealth Games Bid, Submission Deadline Set for August 31, 2025.
The IOA approved India’s 2030 Commonwealth Games bid during its SGM. India is a favourite to host. The approval includes submitting documents to Commonwealth Sport and undertaking related actions.

1. RBI likely to get new MPC member as internal member Rajiv Ranjan retires ahead of October policy meeting.
The Reserve Bank of India’s monetary policy committee will see a new internal member following Rajiv Ranjan’s retirement. Indranil Bhattacharyya, currently executive director for Economic and Policy Research, is set to take over the Monetary Policy Department, pending central board nomination.

2. China extends anti-dumping tariffs on single-mode optical fibre imports from India, review of 2013 investigation to begin.
China will maintain up to 30.6% tariffs on Indian optical fibre imports. The final review of the 2013 investigation could take up to a year, following earlier extensions in 2020.

3. Crisil projects headline inflation to average 3.5% in current fiscal, down from 4.6% last year.
Ratings firm Crisil expects headline inflation to average 3.5% this fiscal, compared to 4.6% in the previous year. Healthy agricultural output and a 4% rise in kharif sowing are likely to keep food inflation under control.

4. CEA V Anantha Nageswaran urges India to boost AI and semiconductor efforts to compete with US and China.
Nageswaran highlighted the need for India to strengthen artificial intelligence and semiconductor manufacturing. He warned trade issues must not overshadow other crucial economic and technological challenges.

1. IMD issues red alert for extremely heavy rainfall in Uttarakhand, Bihar, Telangana, and Coastal Andhra Pradesh.
The India Meteorological Department has warned of extremely heavy rainfall in Uttarakhand, Bihar, Telangana, and Coastal Andhra Pradesh. Heavy to very heavy rain is expected over Odisha, Chhattisgarh, East Madhya Pradesh, and parts of North East India.

2. Typhoon Podul approaches southern Taiwan with 191 kph winds; thousands evacuated and flights cancelled.
Thousands of people have been evacuated, and hundreds of flights cancelled as Typhoon Podul, with gusts up to 191 kph, nears southeastern Taiwan. The storm is expected to hit Taitung today, move across the western coast, and then enter the Taiwan Strait towards China’s Fujian province.