Latest General Knowledge – 21 August 2025

• Indian Railways has installed removable solar panels for the first time between railway tracks at Banaras Locomotive Works in Varanasi. 28 solar panels over a 70-meter track produce a total of 15 kilowatts.
• The Union Cabinet approved the Online Gaming Bill 2025, promoting e-sports and special gaming while enforcing penalties for betting and money-based games.
• The Lok Sabha passed the IIM (Amendment) Bill, which establishes a new IIM in Guwahati, Assam. This inclusion grants the institute national status.
• Dubai launched the "One Freezone Passport" allowing companies to operate across all free zones with a single license, reducing operational costs and aligning with the D33 economic agenda.
• According to ICRA, India’s economy is projected to grow by 6.7% in Q1 2026—higher than RBI’s 6.5% estimate, but lower than the 7.4% growth in Q4 2025.
• A Knight Frank India report stated that India’s Infrastructure Investment Trust (InvIT) market, valued at $73 billion in 2025, could grow to $258 billion by 2030.
• Karnataka renamed Bengaluru City University to Dr. Manmohan Singh Bengaluru City University under the 2025 amendment act.
• Thailand launched a digital payment pilot project allowing tourists to convert digital assets (like cryptocurrencies) into Thai Baht to spend locally. The 18-month initiative aims to boost tourism and promote transparent financial transactions with lower risks.