23 August 2025

1. SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

➤ National Space Day 2025 Celebrations

News: India celebrates National Space Day on August 23rd to honor the historic success of Chandrayaan-3—India’s third lunar mission—which successfully soft-landed on the Moon’s south pole on August 23, 2023

Why in News? The day commemorates the successful soft landing of the Chandrayaan-3 mission’s Vikram Lander on the Moon’s south pole on August 23, 2023. This landing was historic, as it made India the only country to successfully land a spacecraft on the Moon’s southern polar region

Key Points:

• Theme 2025: “Aryabhatta to Gaganyaan: From Ancient Knowledge to Infinite Possibilities”
• Historical Significance: India became the fourth country to land on the moon and first to land near the southern polar region of the moon
• Mission Success: The soft-landing was followed by successful deployment of Pragyan rover
• Future Missions: Gaganyaan human spaceflight mission preparations ongoing
• International Recognition: Enhanced India’s position in global space community
• Scientific Achievements: Valuable data collection from lunar south pole region

📦 STATIC COMPONENT:

• ISRO Establishment: 1969, headquarters Bengaluru, Chairman Dr. S. Somanath
• Chandrayaan Program: Chandrayaan-1 (2008), Chandrayaan-2 (2019), Chandrayaan-3 (2023)
• Moon Landing Countries: Soviet Union (1959), USA (1969), China (2013), India (2023)
• Lunar South Pole Significance: Water ice deposits, permanently shadowed regions
• Vikram Lander: Named after Dr. Vikram Sarabhai, father of Indian space program
• Pragyan Rover: 6-wheeled rover, 26 kg weight, 14-day operational life
• Launch Vehicle: LVM3-M4 (Launch Vehicle Mark-3)
• Mission Cost: ₹615 crore, cost-effective compared to global missions
• Landing Site: Near lunar south pole at 69.367621°S, 32.348126°E
• Scientific Instruments: 5 instruments on lander, 2 on rover for lunar studies
• Space Budget 2025: ₹13,942 crore allocation for space programs
• Gaganyaan Mission: First Indian human spaceflight, ₹10,000 crore budget
• PSLV Success: Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle, 60+ missions success rate

Exam Perspective: Space technology, scientific achievements, international cooperation

TNPSC Mains Angle:

• Significance: How space achievements enhance national prestige and technological capabilities
• Economic Impact: Space technology applications in agriculture, communication, weather forecasting
• Future Prospects: India’s role in global space economy and lunar resource utilization

Tamil Nadu Relevance:

• ISRO centers in Tamil Nadu: Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre, Mahendragiri
• Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station influence on TN space research
• Tamil scientists’ contribution to Indian space program

2. POLITY & GOVERNANCE

➤ Digital Governance Initiatives Expansion

News: Government announces comprehensive digital transformation roadmap for public service delivery enhancement

Key Points:

• Digital India 2.0: Enhanced focus on AI-powered governance solutions
• Service Delivery: 90% government services to be available digitally by 2026
• Cybersecurity Framework: National cybersecurity strategy implementation
• Digital Literacy: Target to train 10 crore citizens in digital skills
• Rural Connectivity: BharatNet Phase-III covering remaining villages
• Data Protection: Implementation of Digital Personal Data Protection Rules 2025

📦 STATIC COMPONENT:

• Digital India Mission: Launched July 1, 2015, three pillars approach
• JAM Trinity: Jan Dhan-Aadhaar-Mobile convergence for service delivery
• Aadhaar Coverage: 134+ crore Indians enrolled in unique identification system
• UPI Transactions: Unified Payments Interface revolutionizing digital payments
• e-Governance: National e-Governance Plan (NeGP) for citizen-centric services
• Common Service Centers: 4+ lakh CSCs providing government services
• DigiLocker: Digital document storage, 13+ crore users registered
• UMANG App: Unified Mobile Application for New-age Governance
• GeM Portal: Government e-Marketplace for procurement transparency
• MyGov Platform: Citizen engagement platform for policy participation

Exam Perspective: Digital governance, e-governance initiatives, technology in administration

TNPSC Mains Angle:

• Challenges: Digital divide, cybersecurity threats, privacy concerns
• Reforms: Need for digital literacy, infrastructure development
• Way Forward: Inclusive digital transformation, skill development programs

Tamil Nadu Relevance:

• TN e-Governance initiatives: Tamil Nadu e-Governance Agency (TNeGA)
• Digital Tamil Nadu mission objectives and achievements
• Tamil language integration in digital platforms

3. ECONOMY

➤ Manufacturing Sector Growth Initiatives

News: Government announces new manufacturing incentives targeting job creation and export enhancement

Key Points:

• Production Linked Incentive (PLI) 2.0: Extended to additional sectors
• Employment Generation: Target 1 crore jobs in manufacturing sector
• Export Promotion: 60% production for exports mandatory for maximum incentives
• Technology Integration: Industry 4.0, automation focus areas
• MSME Support: Enhanced credit facilities and technology upgradation
• Regional Development: Manufacturing clusters in tier-II cities

📦 STATIC COMPONENT:

• Manufacturing Share: Current 17% of GDP, target 25% by 2025
• Make in India: Launched September 2014, 25 focus sectors
• PLI Scheme: Originally ₹1.97 lakh crore across 14 sectors
• MSME Contribution: 30% GDP, 11 crore employment
• Industrial Policy 1991: New Economic Policy, liberalization reforms
• Ease of Doing Business: World Bank ranking improvement trajectory
• Atmanirbhar Bharat: Self-reliant India initiative launched 2020
• FDI Policy: Foreign Direct Investment liberalization measures
• Export Performance: Merchandise exports trends and targets
• Global Value Chains: Integration strategies for Indian manufacturing

Exam Perspective: Industrial development, economic policies, employment generation

TNPSC Mains Angle:

• Challenges: Labor reforms, land acquisition, environmental clearances
• Reforms: Skill development, technology adoption, infrastructure enhancement
• Way Forward: Sustainable manufacturing, green technology adoption

Tamil Nadu Relevance:

• TN industrial policy initiatives and achievements
• Major industrial corridors: Chennai-Bengaluru, Coimbatore clusters
• Automobile, textile, electronics manufacturing hubs

4. INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

➤ India-Global South Cooperation Enhancement

News: India announces expanded cooperation initiatives with Global South countries through development partnerships

Key Points:

• Development Partnership: Enhanced technical assistance programs
• Capacity Building: Training programs for developing nation officials
• Technology Transfer: Sharing of digital governance solutions
• South-South Cooperation: Strengthened multilateral engagement
• Climate Cooperation: Joint initiatives on renewable energy projects
• Trade Enhancement: Preferential trade agreements with partner countries

📦 STATIC COMPONENT:

• Global South Definition: Developing countries primarily in Africa, Asia, Latin America
• Indian Technical Assistance: ITEC program covering 160+ countries
• Development Finance: Lines of credit exceeding $30 billion
• Vaccine Diplomacy: COVID-19 vaccine distribution to partner countries
• Digital India Solutions: Export of UPI, Aadhaar technology models
• Space Cooperation: Satellite technology sharing with developing nations
• Solar Alliance: International Solar Alliance leadership role
• Non-Aligned Movement: Historical leadership in Global South cooperation
• BRICS Leadership: Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa partnership
• G77 Participation: Group of 77 developing nations cooperation

Exam Perspective: Multilateral diplomacy, development cooperation, foreign policy

TNPSC Mains Angle:

• Significance: India’s soft power projection and leadership role
• Challenges: Resource constraints, competing priorities
• Way Forward: Technology-enabled cooperation, mutual benefit frameworks

Tamil Nadu Relevance:

• Tamil diaspora connections with Global South countries
• TN companies’ international expansion in developing markets
• Cultural and educational exchanges with partner nations

5. ENVIRONMENT & CLIMATE CHANGE

➤ Coastal Zone Management Framework Update

News: Ministry of Environment releases updated guidelines for coastal development and conservation balance

Key Points:

• Sustainable Development: Balance between conservation and development needs
• Blue Economy: Ocean-based economic activities promotion
• Climate Resilience: Adaptation measures for sea-level rise impacts
• Livelihood Protection: Traditional fishing communities’ rights preservation
• Renewable Energy: Coastal wind and solar project facilitation
• Biodiversity Conservation: Marine ecosystem protection measures

📦 STATIC COMPONENT:

• Indian Coastline: 7,516 km mainland, 2,094 km island coastline
• Coastal States: 9 coastal states, 4 Union Territories
• CRZ Notifications: 1991, 2011, 2018, 2019 evolution
• Marine Protected Areas: 31 marine national parks and sanctuaries
• Blue Economy Potential: $25 billion contribution by 2025
• Mangrove Cover: 4,975 sq km, carbon sequestration benefits
• Coral Reef Area: 2,375 sq km, biodiversity hotspots
• Exclusive Economic Zone: 2.37 million sq km maritime territory
• Coastal Vulnerability: Climate change impact assessments
• Traditional Rights: Fishing community livelihood dependencies

Exam Perspective: Environmental governance, sustainable development, climate adaptation

TNPSC Mains Angle:

• Challenges: Development pressure vs conservation needs
• Reforms: Integrated coastal zone management approaches
• Way Forward: Community participation, scientific management

Tamil Nadu Relevance:

• TN coastal length: 1,076 km, longest among Indian states
• Major ports: Chennai, Ennore, Tuticorin development
• Coastal aquaculture and fishing industry importance
• Climate vulnerability and adaptation measures

6. AWARDS & HONORS

➤ National Awards Recognition 2025

News: President announces various national awards recognizing excellence in different fields of human endeavor

Key Points:

• Civilian Awards: Padma awards for distinguished service
• Scientific Excellence: Recognition for research contributions
• Social Service: Community service and social work recognition
• Cultural Preservation: Awards for traditional arts promotion
• Environmental Conservation: Green initiatives recognition
• Sports Achievement: Outstanding sports performance awards

📦 STATIC COMPONENT:

• Award Hierarchy: Bharat Ratna, Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, Padma Shri
• Selection Process: Awards Committee recommendations to President
• Civilian Awards: Up to 120 Padma awards annually
• No Monetary Benefit: Certificate and medallion only
• Notable Recipients: Diverse fields representation historically
• Nomination Process: Open nominations from public
• Regional Representation: Balanced geographic distribution
• Posthumous Awards: Recognition after death permitted
• Constitutional Basis: Article 18 provisions for titles
• International Recipients: Foreign nationals eligible

Exam Perspective: Constitutional provisions, public recognition system, civil awards

Tamil Nadu Relevance:

• TN recipients of national awards in various categories
• Cultural icons, scientists, social workers recognition
• State-level award systems parallel to national awards

🔴 TAMIL NADU AFFAIRS

➤ State Government Policy Initiatives

News: Tamil Nadu government announces comprehensive development programs across multiple sectors

Key Points:

• Industrial Development: New policies for manufacturing sector growth
• Agricultural Support: Enhanced farmer welfare schemes implementation
• Educational Reforms: Quality improvement initiatives in state institutions
• Healthcare Enhancement: Medical infrastructure development programs
• Infrastructure Projects: Transport connectivity improvement plans
• Social Welfare: Targeted programs for vulnerable communities

📦 STATIC COMPONENT:

• TN GDP: ₹20+ lakh crore, second-largest state economy
• Industrial Contribution: Manufacturing, services sector dominance
• Agricultural Production: Rice, sugarcane, cotton major crops
• Educational Infrastructure: Universities, colleges, technical institutions
• Healthcare System: Primary, secondary, tertiary care facilities
• Transport Network: Railways, highways, ports connectivity
• Social Indicators: Human development parameters
• Cultural Heritage: UNESCO sites, traditional arts forms
• Diaspora Connection: Global Tamil community networks
• Administrative Structure: 38 districts, local governance systems

Exam Perspective: State governance, development policies, administrative structure

TNPSC Mains Angle:

• Development Challenges: Resource mobilization, implementation gaps
• Policy Reforms: Evidence-based policymaking, stakeholder participation
• Way Forward: Sustainable development, inclusive growth strategies

7. IMPORTANT DAYS & EVENTS

➤ National Space Day Significance

Context: August 23 designated as National Space Day commemorating Chandrayaan-3 success

Key Observances:

• Space Science Awareness: Educational programs in schools and colleges
• ISRO Achievements: Public exhibitions of space technology
• Future Missions: Gaganyaan and other upcoming project highlights
• International Cooperation: Space diplomacy initiatives showcase
• Youth Inspiration: Career opportunities in space technology
• Scientific Temper: Promotion of scientific thinking and innovation

📦 STATIC COMPONENT:

• Important Space Days: World Space Week (October 4-10), Asteroid Day (June 30)
• Indian Space Milestones: Aryabhatta (1975), Mars Orbiter Mission (2013)
• Global Space Calendar: International space cooperation events
• Educational Outreach: Space science popularization programs
• Career Opportunities: Engineering, research, technology development
• Space Applications: Communication, navigation, earth observation
• Commercial Space: NewSpace India Limited operations
• International Partnerships: NASA, ESA, Roscosmos cooperation
• Future Vision: India’s space station, lunar missions roadmap

Exam Perspective: Space technology, scientific achievements, national development

💡 MEMORY POINTS FOR QUICK REVISION

• National Space Day 2025: August 23, Chandrayaan-3 commemoration, lunar south pole success
• Theme 2025: “Aryabhatta to Gaganyaan: Ancient Knowledge to Infinite Possibilities”
• Historic Achievement: India first country to land on Moon’s south pole
• Mission Cost: ₹615 crore, most cost-effective lunar mission globally
• Digital India 2.0: 90% government services digital by 2026 target
• PLI Scheme 2.0: Manufacturing incentives, 1 crore job target
• Global South Cooperation: Development partnership enhancement initiatives
• Coastal Management: Updated CRZ guidelines, blue economy focus
• Tamil Nadu Economy: ₹20+ lakh crore GDP, second-largest state economy
• Space Budget 2025: ₹13,942 crore allocation for ISRO programs
• Gaganyaan Mission: First Indian human spaceflight preparation
• Manufacturing Target: 25% GDP contribution by 2025 goal
• BharatNet Phase-III: Rural connectivity completion initiative
• ISRO Centers TN: Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre, Mahendragiri
• TN Coastline: 1,076 km, longest among Indian states