31 August 2025

• Diplomacy: SCO Tianjin summit : India's EAM S. Jaishankar at the 25th anniversary meeting; Tianjin Declaration outcomes.
• Environment: Ravi River flooding at Kartarpur : Kartarpur Corridor temporarily affected.
• Economy: India's monthly GST collection : August 2025 collection and the FY26 trend.
• Governance: Guru Granth Sahib's importance in constitutional and legal contexts : oath provisions.
• History: August 31 historically significant : Malaysia's Independence Day (1957).

GS area: International Relations

The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation's 25th anniversary summit took place at Tianjin, China on August 31-September 1, 2025.

• India's representative: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar : India did not send the Prime Minister, signalling calibrated rather than full engagement.
• Tianjin Declaration: The summit adopted a joint declaration. India objected to language that it interpreted as indirectly legitimising Pakistani narratives on terrorism : specifically references to "state-sponsored terrorism" without naming state sponsors.
• China's goals: China wanted to use the summit to present SCO as an alternative multilateral architecture to G7/NATO. China pushed language on "multipolar world order."
• India's consistent SCO behaviour: India participates in the economic and connectivity pillars of SCO but resists political alignment with China-Russia positions on geopolitics.
• Connectivity agenda: INSTC : the International North-South Transport Corridor : connecting India via Iran-Azerbaijan-Russia to Europe : was a positive agenda item. Iran's SCO membership makes this more feasible.
• Counter-terrorism failure: Despite the RATS mechanism, SCO members remain divided on which groups constitute terrorist organisations. Pakistan's presence ensures India's position on cross-border terrorism remains contested within the forum.

Static linkage: International relations, SCO, India-China.

GS area: Economy (Taxation, Fiscal Policy)

India's GST collection in August 2025 was approximately Rs 1.75 lakh crore : maintaining the above-Rs 1.7 lakh crore monthly trend of FY26.

• FY25 full year: Rs 21.98 lakh crore : the highest since GST implementation in July 2017.
• FY26 target: Budget 2025-26 pegged GST revenue growth at 11 per cent.
• Components: CGST (Central GST), SGST (State GST), IGST (Integrated GST on interstate trade and imports) and cess (on tobacco, pan masala, luxury and sin goods).
• IGST and devolution: IGST is settled periodically : allocated between CGST and SGSTs. The Centre retains CGST and shares it with states via Finance Commission's vertical devolution formula. SGST goes directly to states.
• E-invoicing: Mandatory e-invoicing for businesses with turnover above Rs 5 crore has strengthened compliance. E-invoices are real-time reported to the GST Network, reducing fraud.

Static linkage: Economy, taxation, GST.

GS area: Geography (Rivers), International Relations

The Kartarpur Corridor : India's visa-free pilgrimage route to Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistan : was briefly disrupted by Ravi River flooding.

• Kartarpur Sahib: Located in Narowal district, Pakistan Punjab. The resting place of Guru Nanak Dev : the founder of Sikhism : who spent the last 18 years of his life here.
• Kartarpur Corridor: Inaugurated November 9, 2019 (550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev). Allows Indian Sikh pilgrims to cross the international border visa-free. India built a 4.7 km stretch; Pakistan built a bridge and terminal on their side.
• Ravi River basics: Originates in the Kullu hills of Himachal Pradesh. Flows through Chamba, then into Punjab. Drains into Pakistan and joins the Chenab.
• Water Treaty: The Indus Waters Treaty (1960) gives India control over three eastern rivers (Ravi, Beas, Sutlej) and Pakistan control over three western rivers (Indus, Jhelum, Chenab). India is entitled to use Ravi waters : but upstream use affects Kartarpur's riverside access.
• Flood management: The upper Ravi basin in Himachal Pradesh has several hydropower projects (Chamera). Flooding downstream relates to snowmelt, monsoon precipitation and dam operations.

Static linkage: Geography, rivers, India-Pakistan relations.

GS area: International Relations (Neighbouring countries of interest)

Malaysia observed its Merdeka Day (Independence Day) on August 31, 2025 : 68 years since independence from Britain in 1957.

• Merdeka: The Malay word for "freedom." August 31, 1957 : Malaya (later Malaysia) gained independence.
• Malaysia formation: Malaysia as we know it formed in 1963 with the merger of Malaya, Singapore, North Borneo (Sabah) and Sarawak. Singapore separated in 1965.
• Strategic significance: Malaysia controls part of the Malacca Strait : the world's most critical maritime chokepoint.
• India-Malaysia relations: India is a significant trading partner. Malaysian PM Anwar Ibrahim visited India in 2024. Diaspora: 1.8 million Tamil Malaysians : a historic link from plantation-era migration.
• Belt and Road: Malaysia's early BRI enthusiasm (under PM Najib) was revised dramatically by PM Mahathir (2018) who cancelled $22 billion in BRI projects. Under Anwar Ibrahim, cautious engagement resumed.

Static linkage: International relations, geography, Southeast Asia.

GS area: Economy (Mining, Energy)

India completed its 10th round of commercial coal mine auctions in August 2025 : part of the liberalised coal sector post-2020.

• Commercial coal mining (2020): Before 2020, only public sector companies and captive end-users could mine coal. The Coal Mines (Special Provisions) Act, 2015 opened auctions for commercial mining : fully implemented from 2020.
• Auction mechanism: Competitive bidding : companies bid the revenue share percentage they will pay to the state government. Higher percentage wins.
• Revenue to states: State governments where the mine is located receive the royalty and revenue share. Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Odisha are the primary beneficiaries.
• Production target: India produced 997 million tonnes in 2024-25 : just below 1 billion tonnes. The target is 1,500 MT by 2030 to reduce import dependence.
• Coal India Limited: The dominant PSU : produces approximately 780 MT. Commercial mining is meant to add private-sector efficiency and fill the gap.

Static linkage: Economy, mining, energy.

GS area: Defence, Science and Technology

The Defence Research and Development Organisation celebrated 66 years on January 1, 2024 : but its August 2025 report card highlighted key milestones.

• Establishment: DRDO was established on January 1, 1958 by merging Defence Science Organisation with 10 technical development establishments.
• Organisation: 52 laboratories and establishments. About 30,000 scientists and support staff.
• Key 2024-25 achievements: Agni-5 MIRV test (August 2025), Sudarshan Chakra IADWS induction, Tejas Mk1A delivery began (HAL), BRAHMOS NG (Next Generation) ground test.
• iDEX: Innovations for Defence Excellence : a DRDO-supported programme for startups and MSMEs. Over 350 contracts awarded to startups. Defence innovation ecosystem is a stated priority.
• Criticism: DRDO's development timelines are frequently extended. Arjun tank took 40 years to reach full induction. The Light Combat Helicopter (Prachand) took 20 years. Critics argue the failure-averse culture produces safe projects rather than breakthroughs.

Static linkage: Defence, science and technology, indigenous manufacturing.

• Guru Granth Sahib and oath: The Constitution provides for oath on "religious scriptures" in the Third Schedule. Sikh members of Parliament take oath on the Guru Granth Sahib.
• August 2025 in review: Key developments : Operation Sindoor aftermath and India's new security posture; Agni-5 MIRV; MiG-21 retirement announcement; S&P credit upgrade; Asiatic lion count 891; Himasagar Express and railway milestones; SIGHT green hydrogen pilots.
• Transparency in coal auctions: Each coal block auction records the revenue share percentage bid : publicly displayed on the Coal Ministry auction portal. This was a reform from the 2012-14 coal allocation scam when blocks were allocated without competitive bidding.