Current Affairs 10 August 2025

India needs a "defence cess" to fund military modernisation.

• As geopolitical tensions escalate and technological warfare evolves rapidly, the need to modernise India’s armed forces has become existential.
• A Defence Cess — a targeted surcharge on ultra-luxury consumption — has emerged as a compelling solution to pace of capital acquisition and defence upgrades.

Rajnath Singh Lays Foundation for ₹1,800 Cr BEML Rail Hub in MP.

• Defence Minister Rajnath Singh laid foundation for BEML Rail Hub in Madhya Pradesh.
• Project worth ₹1,800 crore to be set up in Umaria village, Raisen district.
• Facility spans 60+ hectares and is called Brahma, the creator in Indian tradition.
• Will manufacture coaches for Vande Bharat, Amrit Bharat, and Metro trains.
• Aim: Equip high-speed trains in India with coaches made here.

Rishabh Yadav Wins India’s First Individual Medal at World Games 2025.

• Rishabh Yadav won bronze in men’s compound archery at World Games 2025 in Chengdu, China.
• He is India’s first individual medal winner in World Games history.
• The 22-year-old beat Abhishek Verma 149–147 in the bronze medal match.
• World Games held every four years since 1981, feature sports not in the Olympics.
• India has five medals before 2025 edition: 1 gold, 1 silver, 3 bronze.

PM Modi Inaugurates Longest-Route Vande Bharat: Nagpur–Pune.

• PM Narendra Modi inaugurated Nagpur–Pune Vande Bharat Express and two other trains via video conferencing.
• High travel demand from Vidarbha to Pune prompted request for service.
• Nagpur–Pune Vande Bharat Express covers longest distance among all Vande Bharat trains.
• Travel time: ~12 hours from Nagpur to Pune.

SC stays operation of UP govt's Banke Bihari temple ordinance.

• The Supreme Court has stayed the operation of Uttar Pradesh government's Banke Bihari temple trust ordinance, which rests administrative control of the shrine with the state, till the high court decides its validity.
• A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi refused to entertain the challenges made to the Uttar Pradesh Shri Bankey Bihari Ji Temple Trust Ordinance, 2025.