Important News - 2025-08-24
24 August 2025
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Schemes (2)
PM Modi Launches ₹1,400 Cr Railway Projects in Gujarat Under PM Gati Shakti Scheme
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated multiple railway projects totaling over ₹1,400 crore during his Gujarat visit on August 25-26, 2023. The projects include the doubling of the 65-km Mahesana-Palanpur rail line costing ₹537 crore, gauge conversion of the 37-km Kalol-Kadi-Katosan Road rail line at ₹347 crore, and gauge conversion of the 40-km Bechraji-Ranujr rail line at ₹520 crore. Aligned with the National Logistics Policy and PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan, these initiatives aim to enhance multimodal connectivity, reduce logistics costs, and boost Gujarat's standing in the Logistics Performance Index. They will improve regional transportation in districts like Mahesana, Banaskantha, and Patan, facilitating smoother passenger travel, higher-speed trains on the Ahmedabad-Delhi corridor, better freight operations, and socio-economic growth through increased tourism and employment opportunities.
Avasara Foundation Distributes Scholarships and Tablets Under Unnat Bharat Abhiyan in Adopted Villages
Under the Unnat Bharat Abhiyan, a Government of India initiative aimed at connecting higher education institutions with rural development, the Bengaluru-based Avasara Foundation distributed scholarships and tablet computers to schoolchildren in four villages—Kuruvinakoppa, Dhumwad, Gambhyapur, and Devalinganakoppa—adopted by Karnatak University, Dharwad. Chairman Anand Chaturvedi and other officials presented scholarships amounting to ₹3.60 lakh to 34 students and tablets worth ₹2.62 lakh to 15 girl students, emphasizing their use for academic improvement. The foundation, known for supporting rural girl students in higher education, has also collaborated with the Commerce Department at Karnatak College, Dharwad, to launch a logistics training program. Vice-Chancellor A.M. Khan expressed appreciation for the initiative, while Managing Director Malavika Chaturvedi, a former student of the university, highlighted her personal commitment to aiding students. The event included coordinators H.B. Neelagund from Mahayogi Veman Peetha and Chetan J.D. from the Unnat Bharat Abhiyan cell.
Ranks & Reports (1)
Monsoon Rains Achieve Surplus Storage in Telangana's Krishna and Godavari Basin Projects
The current monsoon season has proven highly beneficial for major irrigation projects and reservoirs in Telangana, primarily due to heavy rainfall in the upstream catchment areas of the Krishna and Godavari rivers, which flow through Karnataka and Maharashtra. Specifically, the Krishna basin has seen surplus water levels, with most reservoirs reaching full capacity by July. Approximately 60% of the 34,740 minor irrigation tanks in the state are also surplus, but 40% remain unfilled due to uneven rainfall distribution. In the Godavari Basin, 28 medium irrigation projects currently store 35.39 thousand million cubic feet (tmc ft) of water against their full capacity of 45.35 tmc ft, with a flood discharge of 1.29 lakh cubic feet per second (cusecs) compared to inflows of 1.23 lakh cusecs. Similarly, in the Krishna Basin, 8 medium projects hold 14.65 tmc ft against a capacity of 15.34 tmc ft, discharging 28,500 cusecs against inflows of 27,500 cusecs. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the state's average rainfall is 11% above normal, considered normal within a ±19% deviation range. However, district-wise deficits are notable: Nirmal at -44%, Peddapalli at -20%, Bhupalapally and Nalgonda at -12% each, Jagitial and Nizamabad at -11% each, Sircilla at -10%, and Mancherial at -9%. The State Planning and Development Society reports a 16% surplus by August 24, with deficits in Peddapally at -16%, Nizamabad at -14%, Jagitial at -13%, Nirmal at -12%, and Bhupalpally and Mancherial at -8% each. Flood monitoring officials in Jurala noted that inflows, especially in the Krishna Basin, are the highest in recent years, enabling optimal hydro-electric generation with all functional units active. Heavy flooding in the Jurala-Srisailam-Nagarjunasagar cascade is expected to continue for several more days despite reduced rainfall intensity.
Politics (1)
Political Clash in Karnataka Over Banu Mushtaq's Invitation to Inaugurate Dasara Festival
BJP leader and former MP Prathap Simha has criticized the Karnataka State Government's decision to invite Booker Prize-winning author Banu Mushtaq to inaugurate the annual Dasara festivities atop Chamundi Hills in Mysuru, arguing that the event is a religious Hindu tradition involving puja to Goddess Chamundeshwari and should not involve non-Hindus. This sparked a sharp response from Karnataka Labour Minister Santosh Lad, who condemned Simha's stance as communal and pointed out that the Constitution imposes no restrictions on such invitations. Lad cited examples of Muslim contributions, including Azim Premji's donation of over ₹2 lakh crore through his foundation for public welfare and former President APJ Abdul Kalam's respected service, while accusing the BJP of double standards in religious matters like the Dharmasthala controversy.
Sports (2)
NMDC Hyderabad Marathon 2025 Attracts Record 28,000 Runners, Claims Spot as India's Second-Largest
On a recent Sunday, Hyderabad hosted the NMDC Hyderabad Marathon 2025, drawing a record 28,000 participants and solidifying its status as India's second-largest marathon. The event began at dawn from People’s Plaza on Necklace Road, with the route covering prominent city landmarks such as Tank Bund, Punjagutta flyover, KBR Park, Jubilee Hills Check Post, Road No. 45, and the Durgam Cheruvu cable bridge before finishing at the G.M.C. Balayogi Stadium in Gachibowli. Participants included around 5,000 runners from over 150 Indian cities and 56 international athletes from India, Kenya, and Ethiopia. Notable achievements featured Edla Ramesh, an employee at NIMS Hyderabad, completing his second marathon, and Vikram Goud, a lead volunteer, highlighting the course's difficulty due to flyovers. Additionally, Sivabalan Pandian, a 67-year-old runner from Mumbai, marked his 951st marathon completion during the event.
Mysuru's 'Run for Ganesha' Campaigns Against Drug Abuse Ahead of Festival
On a recent Sunday in Mysuru, hundreds of runners participated in the 'Run for Ganesha' event to raise public awareness against drug abuse, organized ahead of the Gowri-Ganesha festival. The run was conducted by Sri Janajagarana Trust in collaboration with Kamakshi Hospital. Mysuru Member of Parliament Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar flagged off the event, addressing the ill-effects of substance abuse and urging youth to prioritize career development. The run featured multiple distance-based categories, starting from Kote Anjaneyaswamy temple and passing through key city landmarks including Silver Jubilee Clock Tower, Gandhi Square, Dufferin Clock, Devaraja Urs Road, JLB Road, Ramaswamy Circle, and Chamaraja Double Road, before reaching JC Circle and concluding at the starting point. Krishnaraja MLA T.S. Srivatsa was among the dignitaries present.
Awards (1)
Rakesh Sharma Receives Lifetime Achievement Award at IDSFFK 2025 for Documentary on 2002 Gujarat Riots
Filmmaker Rakesh Sharma was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 17th International Documentary and Short Film Festival of Kerala (IDSFFK) 2025. During the festival, held in Kerala, Sharma recounted his experiences with communal violence, including organizing relief efforts during the 1992 Mumbai riots. He emphasized that the 2002 Gujarat riots, which occurred in Ahmedabad and involved coordinated actions between vigilantes, police, and the state, profoundly impacted him due to their unprecedented scale and severity. This motivated him to create the documentary 'Final Solution' as a critical intervention to highlight the dangers of communal politics. Sharma detailed his filmmaking techniques, such as omitting voiceovers to present raw footage of victims and perpetrators, allowing viewers to independently assess the events. He also addressed the challenges faced by filmmakers today, including personal risks from threats and misinformation, stressing the need for contingency plans like habeas corpus petitions for safety.
Elections (1)
Anjali Bhardwaj Criticizes ECI's Non-Transparency and Partiality in Electoral Process
At the 14th memorial lecture commemorating Telangana ideologue Professor Jayashankar and Siasat Daily journalist Zaheeruddin Ali Khan, organized by Telangana Vidyavathula Vedika at Osmania University in Hyderabad, transparency activist Anjali Bhardwaj raised significant concerns about India's electoral processes. As co-convenor of the National Campaign for People’s Right to Information (NCPRI), Bhardwaj contended that the Election Commission of India (ECI) has exhibited partiality and lack of transparency over the past seven to eight years, posing a major challenge to electoral democracy. She cited instances like the unregulated appearance and disappearance of NaMo TV—a BJP propaganda tool before the 2019 general elections—and selective enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct. Bhardwaj also highlighted the ECI's secretive deletion of approximately 65 lakh voters during Bihar's special intensive electoral roll revision, potentially altering constituency outcomes. She further criticized the government for overturning a Supreme Court judgment on transparent ECI appointments and questioned the ECI's refusal to disclose absolute voter turnout data, polling station CCTV footage, and voter roll discrepancies. Separately, NALSAR University Vice-Chancellor Srikrishna Deva Rao discussed transformative constitutionalism as a framework for democratic equality, referencing Professor Jayashankar's legacy and Supreme Court jurisprudence since the 1970s.
Miscellaneous (2)
Bengaluru Residents Protest Road Safety Failures After Youth Injury and Child Fatality
On Sunday afternoon, an 18-year-old boy named Satyanarayana was severely injured after being hit by a truck while cycling in Maruthi Nagar, Bengaluru, prompting residents to stage a protest against poor road infrastructure and negligent driving. This incident occurred shortly after another tragedy on Thursday morning, where 10-year-old Tanvi Krishna was fatally struck by a BMTC bus near Kogilu Cross in Yelahanka, just one day before her 11th birthday on August 22. Satyanarayana was rescued by passersby and hospitalized in intensive care, while the Yelahanka traffic police detained the truck driver and seized the vehicle for investigation. Protesters, including local resident Muniraju, demanded immediate improvements in road safety measures, such as installing dividers and enforcing traffic discipline, to protect vulnerable groups like school children and senior citizens.
PFA Mysuru Clarifies Supreme Court Order on Stray Dog Feeding Fines and Misconceptions
On Sunday, animal welfare activists and care providers in Mysuru, under the organization People For Animals (PFA), convened to address and correct widespread public misconceptions about a recent Supreme Court order concerning the feeding of stray dogs. They clarified that the alleged penalties of ₹25,000 for individuals and ₹2 lakh for organizations are applicable only to parties seeking to implead in the specific court case, not to those who feed stray dogs responsibly in compliance with established guidelines. Additionally, discussions centered on identifying designated feeding spots to reduce human-animal conflicts and improve coordination with local civic authorities. The group emphasized their commitment to lawful animal welfare practices and fostering constructive cooperation with Mysuru's municipal bodies.
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