School Assembly News Headlines: 20 August 2025

1. Wang Yi in Delhi says India, China should be ‘partners, not adversaries’, ahead of meeting with PM Modi
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met S Jaishankar in Delhi during his two-day visit. He called for cooperation, termed ties on a ‘positive trend’, and will meet PM Modi on Tuesday.

2. BJP fields C P Radhakrishnan as NDA’s VP candidate; Opposition names Justice (Retd) B Sudershan Reddy
BJP projects veteran Tamil leader C P Radhakrishnan as Tamil pride for VP post. Opposition unites behind Justice Reddy, calling the election an ideological battle ahead of September 9 polls.

3. Supreme Court hears Presidential reference on Governor and President timelines for State Bills
A five-judge Constitution Bench led by CJI BR Gavai examines President Murmu’s Article 143(1) reference on procedures and timelines for Governors and President in approving State legislature Bills.

4. China boosts Russian Urals crude imports as India cuts purchases amid US tariff pressure
Chinese refiners nearly doubled Urals crude imports to 75,000 barrels per day in August. Meanwhile, India’s intake dropped sharply to 400,000 barrels, down from its 1.18 million daily average.

5. IMD issues red alert for extremely heavy rainfall in Karnataka, Gujarat, Madhya Maharashtra, Konkan and Goa
The weather agency has also forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall across Chhattisgarh, Kerala, Telangana, Vidarbha, Northeast India, East Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, J&K, Ladakh, Odisha, Uttarakhand, and more regions.

1. VSSC holds Open House ahead of National Space Day; RH-200 rocket launch draws thousands
Over 5,000 students and visitors joined the Open House at Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, Thiruvananthapuram. The highlight was the RH-200 rocket launch from Thumba, witnessed from designated safe viewing points.

2. Bihar Cabinet slashes exam fees for BPSC, waives main exam charges for candidates
The Bihar cabinet, chaired by CM Nitish Kumar, approved reducing preliminary exam fees for BPSC and state competitive exams to ₹100 and waived main exam fees, offering major relief to aspirants.

3. Lok Sabha passes IIM Amendment Bill to establish IIM Guwahati with ₹555 crore funding
Lok Sabha cleared the IIM (Amendment) Bill, 2025, adding IIM Guwahati as an institute of national importance. The institute will receive ₹555 crore over five years for development.

4. CII report projects Bihar’s economy to double by 2030 and reach USD 1.1 trillion by 2046-47 with sustained growth
Industry body CII projects Bihar’s economy to grow to USD 219 billion by 2030. It further estimates long-term growth to USD 1.1 trillion by 2046-47.

5. IMD predicts extremely heavy rainfall in Mumbai; BMC declares holiday for all schools and colleges amid safety concerns
Continuous rains lash Mumbai with IMD forecasting very heavy rainfall and gusty winds. BMC announced a holiday for schools and colleges across the city.

1. US revokes over 6,000 international student visas for violations including overstays, assault, DUI and burglary under immigration crackdown
The US State Department cancelled 6,000 visas, with 4,000 linked to law violations. The move follows President Trump’s stricter immigration and education policies.

2. Israel reviews Hamas’ response to Gaza ceasefire plan proposing 60-day truce and release of half the Israeli hostages
Officials confirmed Israel is assessing Hamas’ reply to a US-backed ceasefire plan. Egypt and Qatar are mediating to restart indirect talks.

3. Centre approves ₹1507 crore project to develop Kota-Bundi greenfield airport in Rajasthan with capacity of 1000 passengers
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved AAI’s proposal. The terminal will cover 20,000 sq. m and manage peak-hour traffic.

4. UN Security Council debates French draft seeking one-year extension of UNIFIL mandate in Lebanon amid opposition
The proposal aims to extend UNIFIL until August 2025 with plans for withdrawal. Israel and the US oppose the renewal.

5. Trump pledges U.S. support to guarantee Ukraine’s security in potential Russia peace deal during White House summit
President Trump assured Zelenskiy of U.S. assistance in any future settlement, after meeting Putin in Alaska last week.

1. Shubman Gill returns as vice-captain in India’s T20I squad for Asia Cup, replaces Axar Patel
Gill makes a comeback as Suryakumar Yadav leads the 15-member squad. Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson are also in contention as openers.

2. Carlos Alcaraz wins first Cincinnati Open title as Jannik Sinner retires due to illness in final
World No. 2 Alcaraz clinched his maiden Cincinnati Open crown. Defending champion Sinner retired trailing 0-5 after just 23 minutes.

3. 24-member Indian archery team begins campaign at World Youth Championships 2025 in Winnipeg, Canada
The tournament runs till August 24 with 570 archers from 63 countries. Competitions include recurve and compound across all categories.

4. Kiren Rijiju congratulates Arunachal bodybuilder Hillang Yajik for gold and silver at South Asian Championships 2025 in Bhutan
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju praised Hillang Yajik’s achievement at the 15th South Asian Bodybuilding & Physique Sports Championships in Thimphu.

1. Sebi considering review of intraday position limits in index options to curb excessive expiry day trading, says report
Sebi may revise intraday position rules in index options. Currently, exchanges monitor limits at end-of-day thresholds.

2. India needs 8% annual growth over next decade to sustain economy amid global uncertainties, says finance ministry
The finance ministry told lawmakers that domestic demand and investments will drive growth. Current estimates project 6.3%–6.8% expansion this year.

3. Economist says India’s monthly labor report misses full job picture due to dominance of informal sector employment
The latest survey showed unemployment fell to 5.2% in July from 5.6% in June. Experts argue data excludes large informal jobs.

4. Government disburses ₹21,689 crore under PLI schemes for 12 sectors, including electronics and pharma, since launch
The PLI initiative was announced in 2021 with an outlay of ₹1.97 lakh crore for 14 sectors. It aims to strengthen domestic manufacturing

5. GST reforms expected to cut rates, enhance affordability, and boost consumption across key sectors, says Systematix Research report
The report highlights that the food and beverages sector will gain from a GST reduction to 5%. Lower rates on packaged foods, dairy, and snacks are expected to drive higher consumption.

1. Torrential rains paralyse Mumbai, train services suspended between CSMT-Thane, IMD issues red alert, schools and offices remain closed
Train operations between CSMT and Thane were suspended. Services between Kurla and CSMT on the Harbour Line also stopped. Schools, colleges, government, and civic offices remained closed.

2. Heavy rains trigger flood-like situation in Telangana, low-lying areas inundated
Several districts in North and East Telangana were affected. Continuous rainfall flooded low-lying areas. Roads and crops suffered major damage.

3. Heavy rain disrupts normal life in Karnataka, red alert issued by Met department
Several districts in Coastal and Interior Karnataka were affected. The red alert was issued due to a low-pressure area in the Bay of Bengal. Schools and anganwadis in Udupi and Dakshina Kannada remained closed.

1. Which country has the most official languages written into its constitution?

Ans. South Africa (11 official languages)
Informative Insight: South Africa is one of the most linguistically diverse countries in the world. Recognising 11 official languages in its constitution ensures representation and equality among its many cultural groups.

2. Which is the only planet in our solar system that rotates clockwise (retrograde rotation)?

Ans. Venus
Informative Insight: Unlike other planets, Venus spins in the opposite direction, meaning the Sun rises in the west and sets in the east. Scientists believe this may be due to a massive collision early in its history.

3. What is the rarest blood type in the world?

Ans. Rh-null (also known as Golden Blood)
Informative Insight: Only around 50 people in the world are known to have Rh-null blood. It lacks all Rh antigens, making it universally accepted for those with rare Rh blood conditions.

4. Which element is the lightest metal and also used in batteries and aircraft?

Ans. Lithium
Informative Insight: Lithium is the lightest metal on Earth and is widely used in rechargeable batteries, especially in smartphones, laptops, and electric vehicles.

5. Which Indian mathematician is known for having created thousands of theorems in his short life, many of which are still being studied?

Ans. Srinivasa Ramanujan
Informative Insight: Despite having no formal training in pure mathematics, Ramanujan produced groundbreaking formulas and theorems. He worked with English mathematician G.H. Hardy and contributed to number theory, continued fractions, and infinite series