19 Aug 2025: PRELIMS CURRENT AFFAIRS

Prelims Current Affairs includes Deep Ocean Dives in Atlantic, Swayam Portal, Indian Tri-color hoisted at Seattle Space Needel, WPI Inflanation, World Sanskrit Day, World Humanitarian Day and World Photography Day.

IMPORTANT DAY

1. WORLD PHOTOGRAPHY DAY

Observed every year on 19 August.
Aim: To celebrate the art, science, and history of photography, connecting people worldwide through visual narratives.
Origins: Marks 19 August 1839, when the French government made the daguerreotype process (early photography) publicly available as a “free gift to the world.”
Recognition: Introduced in 1988 by Indian photographer O. P. Sharma; first celebrated internationally in 1991 with support from the Royal Photographic Society and the Photographic Society of America.

2. WORLD HUMANITARIAN DAY

Observed on 19 August.
Aim: To honor the humanitarian workers who risk or sacrifice their lives while helping people in crisis, highlighting the spirit of global solidarity.
Background: Declared by the UN General Assembly in 2008 to commemorate those killed in the 2003 Canal Hotel bombing in Baghdad, including UN envoy Sérgio Vieira de Mello.
Inauguration: First observed in 2009.
Theme 2025: “Strengthening Global Solidarity and Empowering Local Communities”.

3. WORLD SANSKRIT DAY (VISHVA-SAMSKRITA-DINAM)

Celebrated annually on Shravana Purnima (full moon of Shravana month).
In 2025, it falls on 19 August.
Significance: Celebrates Sanskrit, known as the “language of the gods”, for its role in shaping Indian civilization, philosophy, literature, and knowledge traditions.
Establishment: Started in 1969 by the Government of India to revive interest in Sanskrit learning and preserve cultural heritage.

ECONOMY

4. WPI INFLATION

Current Context: India’s Wholesale Price Index (WPI)-based inflation stood at –0.58% in July 2025, marking the second consecutive month of deflation, mainly due to falling prices of food, fuel, and metals.

ABOUT WPI INFLATION (JULY 2025)

Released By: Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
Rate: –0.58% (Year-on-Year basis).
Trend: Deflation for the second month in a row.
Reason: Cooling input prices across food, energy, and metals.

KEY DRIVERS OF WHOLESALE DEFLATION

Food Prices Decline
- WPI Food Index: –2.15%
- Reduced prices of vegetables, cereals, edible oils, pulses, onions, tomatoes.
Primary Articles Weakness
- Inflation: –4.95%
- Lower agricultural output, minerals, forest produce.
Fuel and Power Segment in Deflation
- Inflation: –2.43%
- Impact of stable international oil prices and moderate domestic demand.
Manufactured Goods Show Mild Inflation
- Inflation: 2.05%
- Input cost recovery in some sectors, stable demand in consumer durables and capital goods.

WPI vs CPI (JULY 2025)

WPI: –0.58%
CPI: 1.55% (lowest in 8 years).
Significance: Indicates widespread price moderation across wholesale and retail levels, potentially shaping monetary policy.

E-GOVERNANCE

5. SWAYAM PORTAL – FREE AI COURSES LAUNCHED

Current Context: The Ministry of Education has launched free Artificial Intelligence (AI) courses on the SWAYAM Portal to equip students with skills in emerging technologies and meet the growing demand for AI expertise.

ABOUT SWAYAM PORTAL

Full Form: Study Webs of Active–Learning for Young Aspiring Minds.
Launched By: Ministry of Education (2017).
Purpose: To bridge the digital divide and provide quality online education free of cost.
Nature: India’s own MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses) platform.
Courses Offered: From Class 9 to Post-Graduation level across Engineering, Science, Humanities, Management, Commerce, Language, and more.

FEATURES

Four-Quadrant Model:
1. Video Lectures.
2. Downloadable Reading Material.
3. Self-Assessment Tests.
4. Online Discussion Forum.
Certification: Available with nominal fee + proctored exam.
Credit Transfer: Allowed under UGC Regulation 2016.
Interactive Content: Prepared by best teachers across the country.

MISC

6. INDIAN TRICOLOUR HOISTED AT SEATTLE’S SPACE NEEDLE

Current Context: On 15 August 2025, marking India’s 79th Independence Day, the Indian Tricolour was hoisted for the first time at the Space Needle in Seattle (USA), symbolizing deepening India–US relations and diaspora recognition.

ABOUT THE HISTORIC EVENT

Occasion: India’s 79th Independence Day.
Venue: 605-feet-tall Space Needle, Seattle.
Event Hosted By: Consulate General of India in Seattle.
Key Participants:
- Consul General Prakash Gupta.
- Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell.
- Senior Seattle officials.
- Indian-American community.

SIGNIFICANCE OF SPACE NEEDLE

Constructed for the 1962 World Fair.
Icon of Seattle’s innovation and global outlook.
Illuminated in saffron, white, and green for the event.

7. INDIA ACHIEVES HISTORIC DEEP OCEAN DIVES IN ATLANTIC

Current Context: Recently, two Indian aquanauts descended to 4,025 metres and 5,002 metres depth in the Atlantic Ocean, as part of an Indo-French collaboration using the French submersible Nautile. This milestone places India among the very few nations capable of exploring extreme ocean depths.

SIGNIFICANCE

First Time: India crossed the 4,000 metres depth mark.
Capability Boost: Strengthened India’s deep-sea research and technological expertise.
Global Standing: Enhanced India’s role in international marine exploration.
Knowledge Gain: Insights into deep-sea ecosystems and mineral resources.

INDO-FRENCH COLLABORATION

Partner: IFREMER (French Marine Research Institute).
Vessel Used: Nautile submersible from research ship L’Atalante.
Knowledge Transfer: Training Indian scientists in piloting, sampling, and submersible operations.

ABOUT MATSYA-6000 (INDIA’S INDIGENOUS SUBMERSIBLE)

Design Depth: 6,000 metres.
Endurance: 12 hours.
Features: Titanium hull, lithium-polymer batteries, acoustic communication, emergency escape system.
Trials: Wet trials in 2025, shallow water tests in 2026, deep-sea missions planned in 2027–28.

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