SPORTS
India Shines at Asian Shooting Championships in Kazakhstan
• Anantjeet Singh Naruka clinched gold in the Men’s Skeet event held in Shymkent, Kazakhstan.
• He secured the top podium spot after defeating Kuwait’s Mansour Al Rashidi in the final.
• His win added a prestigious gold medal to India’s tally at the championship.
• Earlier in the day, Saurabh Chaudhary and Suruchi Inder Singh competed in the 10m air pistol mixed team event.
• The Indian duo won bronze by defeating Chinese Taipei’s Liu Heng-Yu and Hsieh Hsiang-Chen.
• They claimed victory with a commanding score of 17-9 in the bronze medal match.
ECONOMY NEWS
Mixed Performance in India’s Core Industries in July
• India’s Eight Core Industries index rose by 2% in July year-on-year, as per data from the Commerce and Industry Ministry.
• Steel led the growth with a sharp 12.8% rise, followed by cement at 11.7%, fertilizer at 2%, and electricity at 0.5%.
• On the downside, coal output dropped significantly by 12%, marking the steepest decline among sectors.
• Natural gas production decreased by 3.2%, while crude oil fell by 1.3% and petroleum refining slipped by 1%.
• Overall, four out of eight sectors showed positive growth in July.
• The final growth rate for June stood slightly higher at 2.2%, based on revised figures.
• From April to July 2025, the cumulative ICI growth was provisionally estimated at 1.6% year-over-year.
DEFENCE
Ministry of Defence to Host First-Ever Tri-Services Seminar "Ran Samwad"
• The Ministry of Defence is scheduled to host its first-ever Tri-Services Seminar, named 'Ran Samwad,' at the Army War College in Mhow (Dr. Ambedkar Nagar) on August 26 and 27."
• The seminar will explore the evolving impact of technology on modern warfare.
• Key sub-themes include emerging tech in future conflicts and reforms in training for tech integration.
• The forum will feature participation from military personnel, veterans, government officials, and industry leaders.
• Discussions will focus on how warfare’s changing dynamics influence strategy, planning, and execution.
• Ran Samwad aims to become an annual platform for strategic dialogue and defense sector reforms.
NATIONAL NEWS
Lok Sabha Passes Online Gaming Regulation Bill 2025
• On August 20, the Lok Sabha passed the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill 2025.
• The legislation aims to encourage e-sports and online social gaming, while prohibiting harmful online money games.
• It also provides for the creation of an Online Gaming Authority to manage regulation, development, and policy guidance in the sector.
• IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw cited rising fraud, financial distress, and 32 reported suicides linked to money gaming.
• The bill enforces a complete ban on offering or running online money games like Poker and Rummy.
• Offenders face up to 3 years in jail and ₹1 crore in fines, with stricter penalties for repeat violations.
• The legislation aims to protect youth and foster a secure, innovation-led digital ecosystem in India.
