In August 2025, significant regulatory, legal, and policy updates were reported across multiple jurisdictions. From data protection reforms in the UK and US, to AI regulation and child labor laws in the US, to major policy initiatives in India spanning fisheries, animal welfare, pensions, and social security, the landscape reflects a strong push toward strengthening governance, consumer rights, and institutional frameworks. Below is a roundup of the key developments:
India
Kuttanad Aquaculture Revival – The Department of Fisheries announced a pilot project to revitalize Kuttanad’s economy through modern and traditional aquaculture practices, including integrated and biofloc fish farming, supported by Fish Farmers Producers Organizations and training programs.
Animal Blood Transfusion SOPs – The Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying (DAHD) released India’s first national guidelines and SOPs for veterinary blood transfusion and animal blood banks, setting standards for donor selection, collection, storage, and transfusion safety.
Unified Pension Switch Facility – The Finance Ministry introduced a one-time facility allowing subscribers of the Unified Pension Scheme to switch to the National Pension System before superannuation.
Cotton Import Duty Exemption Extended – The Government extended its temporary exemption on cotton import duty (HS 5201) until December 31, 2025, to support exporters.
DESW–QCI MoU for Veteran Welfare – The Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare signed an MoU with the Quality Council of India to enhance pension, healthcare, resettlement, and welfare services for over 63 lakh veterans and their dependents.
UIDAI–Education Ministry Partnership – UIDAI will provide Aadhaar biometric update status of schoolchildren on the UDISE+ platform, aiding timely mandatory biometric updates at ages 5 and 15.
Working Equines Welfare Guidelines – DAHD issued guidelines for the welfare and management of working equines used in religious pilgrimages, standardizing registration, health checks, and welfare norms.
Revised Glanders Action Plan – DAHD also issued a revised national plan to control and eradicate Glanders, a fatal equine disease.
PM SVANidhi Restructuring Approved – The Union Cabinet approved restructuring and extending the PM Street Vendor’s AtmaNirbhar Nidhi Scheme until March 31, 2030, with an outlay of ₹7,332 crore, expected to benefit 1.15 crore vendors.
United Kingdom
ICO Consultation on Data Guidance – The UK Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has launched consultations on draft guidance concerning recognized “legitimate interests” under the UK GDPR and handling data protection complaints.
United States
- FTC Consumer Data Protection Warning – The U.S. Federal Trade Commission issued warning letters to major technology companies, reminding them to safeguard consumer data under the FTC Act, even when operating under foreign legal regimes.
- ABA Law School Accreditation Debate – The American Bar Association’s accreditation council adopted new “core principles and values” to defend its oversight role amid criticism from the Trump administration and certain states, which have questioned the ABA’s curriculum mandates.
- ACA Rule Changes Paused – A federal judge in Baltimore temporarily blocked parts of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ planned regulatory changes to the Affordable Care Act marketplace, siding with challengers who argued that the rules risked leaving millions uninsured.
- Colorado AI Act Amendment – Colorado lawmakers passed amendments to the AI Act, setting enforceable obligations on developers and deployers of high-risk AI systems from June 30, 2026.
- AGs Call for Deepfake Safeguards – Forty-seven U.S. state Attorneys General urged technology and financial platforms to curb the misuse of deepfake non-consensual imagery.
- NIST Control Catalog Update – The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) updated its security and privacy controls pursuant to Executive Order 14306, introducing measures for event logging, software failure analysis, and resilient system design.
- New York Child Labor Protections – Governor Kathy Hochul signed amendments strengthening New York’s child labor laws, raising penalties, reforming permits, and ending exemptions, with phased implementation through 2027.
Read the previous RoundUp