Current Affairs 19 August 2025

India’s Unemployment Rate Drops to 5.2% in July 2025.

• India's unemployment rate dropped to 5.2% in July 2025, down from 5.6% in June 2025 for individuals aged 15 years and above.
• The unemployment rate for females was 5.1%, while for males it stood at 5.3%.
• During the April-June 2025 period, the unemployment rate for both genders was 5.4%.
• The rural unemployment rate was 4.8%, lower than the 6.8% observed in urban areas.

Arogyam Health Centre Inaugurated under Operation Sadbhavana in Tawang.

• Arogyam Health and Wellness Centre inaugurated at DahJhong in Tawang district.
• Operation Sadbhavana launched in 1998 by the Indian Army.
• Aims to win the hearts and minds of people affected by terrorism, insurgency, and slow development.
• Primarily focused on Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, and parts of Northeast India.

Neeraj Ghaywan’s Homebound Wins Best Film at IFFM 2025.

• Neeraj Ghaywan's latest film Homebound won Best Film at the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) 2025.
• Ghaywan also received the Best Director award at the festival on August 15, 2025.
• Homebound stars Ishaan Khatter, Vishal Jetwa, and Janhvi Kapoor.
• The film deals with themes of belonging, displacement, and emotional complexities of returning home.

Assam Rifles and IIIT Manipur Collaborate on Drone Technology.

• Assam Rifles and IIIT Manipur signed a Memorandum of Understanding at Mantripukhri to promote drone technology for defence and security.
• An Advanced Drone Training and Refresher Course was launched as part of the initiative for Assam Rifles personnel, covering drone flight operations, maintenance, and DGCA-certified training.

Indian Oil to start SAF production in December 2025.

• Indian Oil Corporation will commence sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production in December at its Panipat refinery, with a 35,000-tonne annual capacity.
• This output aims to meet India's international airline SAF blending requirements by 2027, utilizing used cooking oil as feedstock.
• The company has secured ISCC CORSIA certification.