Current Affairs 3 July 2025

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NATIONAL AFFAIRS

Highlights of Cabinet Approvals chaired by PM Narendra Modi on July 1 2025On July 1, 2025, the union cabinet chaired by Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi approved the following proposals:
i.Cabinet Approves National Sports Policy (NSP) 2025 also known as Khelo Bharat Niti 2025.

• NSP 2025 replaces the existing NSP 2001 with an aim to make India a strong contender for excellence at international sporting events including hosting the 2036 Olympic Games.

ii.The Union Cabinet chaired by PM Narendra Modi approved an Employment Linked Incentive (ELI) Scheme, as part of the Union Budget 2024-25, with an aims to facilitate employment, Social Security, skilling and other opportunities for 4.1 Crore youth with a total budget outlay of Rs 2 Lakh Crore.

• The ELI scheme aims to generate over 3.5 crore new jobs between August 1, 2025, and July 31, 2027, with a budget of Rs.99,446 crores for 2 years.

iii.The Union Cabinet approved the Research Development and Innovation (RDI) scheme with a corpus of Rs. 1 lakh crore, with an aim to bolster India’s research and innovation ecosystem.
iv.Cabinet Approves Construction of 4-Lane Paramakudi-Ramanathapuram Section National Highway (NH-87) in Tamil Nadu (TN) worth Rs.1853 crores.
>>Read Full News

Office of PSA to GoI Releases Report on ‘ZET’ Adoption in India & Its Impact on Emission and EnergyIn July 2025, the Office of Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA) to the Government of India (GoI) released the report on the ‘ZET Adoption in India and Its Impact on Emission and Energy (June 2025)’ in New Delhi, Delhi. The report highlights the critical need for supportive policies to fast-track the adoption of Zero-Emission Trucking (ZET) and align with India’s net-zero targets.

• The report examines the growth and potential of India’s Medium and Heavy-Duty Truck (M&HDT) sector, projecting a transition to Battery Electric Trucks (BET) that will help in reducing emissions and fuel consumption by mid-century.
• The adoption of ZETs is a significant step in reducing GreenHouse Gas (GHG) emissions, enhancing air quality, and improving energy security.

Highlights of the Report:
i.The report is the outcome of a year-long exercise and scenario examination in consultation with leading industries, subject matter experts and various other stakeholders.
ii.India’s freight sector, which is driven mainly by M&HDT, accounts for approximately 70% of the country’s logistics operations and plays an important role in economic growth and industrial development.

• However, this sector is also a major contributor to fuel consumption (approximately 40%) and the country’s emissions.

About Office of Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA) to GoI:
Principal Scientific Advisor (PSA) to GoI– Ajay Kumar Sood
Headquarters- New Delhi, Delhi
Established- 1990
>>Read Full News

MoF keeps interest rates on Small Savings Schemes unchanged for Q2 FY26In June 2025, the Department of Economic Affairs (DEA) under the Ministry of Finance (MoF) announced that the Small Savings Scheme (SSS) interest rates will remain unchanged, for 2nd Quarter of Financial Year 2025-26 (Q2FY26), i.e. from July 1,2025 to September 30, 2025, maintaining the same rates as Q1FY26 (April 1,2025 to June 30,2025) 

• This marks the sixth consecutive quarter with no revision in SSS interest rates, despite falling market interest rates and latest repo rate cuts by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).

i.Small Savings Schemes (SSS) are government backed financial instruments aimed at promoting household savings and offering secure investment options.
ii.These schemes are primarily managed by the DEA and administered through Post Offices and designated banks.
iii.The government reviews and updates the interest rates at the start of each quarter based on various factors such as benchmark yields of government securities, prevailing market conditions, and government policy decisions.
Note: The DEA last adjusted the interest rates on SSS in Q4 of FY24.
>>Read Full News

First ASEAN-India Cruise Dialogue Inaugurated in Chennai to Boost Maritime Ties
In June 2025, Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways (MoPSW) inaugurated the first Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-India Cruise 2025 Dialogue in Chennai, Tamil Nadu (TN), marking a significant milestone in maritime cooperation between India and Southeast Asian nations.

• The two-day forum brought together over 30 delegates from all ten ASEAN countries such as Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao People’s Democratic Republic (PDR), Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam, along with Timor Leste.

i.Under the Sagar Mala Initiative, which was launched in 2015 to modernize India’s ports and boost coastal and inland waterways development, the Government aims to professionalise 5,000 kilometres of navigable waterways to enhance cruise connectivity with ASEAN member countries.
ii.The dialogue aims to strengthen maritime cooperation, enhance cruise connectivity, and promote sustainable tourism across the Indo-Pacific region. And includes thematic sessions on investment and cruise tourist circuits.
iii.The dialogue serves as a high-level platform for collaboration on cruise tourism, port infrastructure development, regulatory alignment, and the identification of cruise routes connecting cultural and commercial centres across the Bay of Bengal and beyond.
iv.The initiative aims to reach 1 million cruise passengers a year by 2029 through better policies, modern ports and more cruise facilities, increasing ship calls from 102 in 2013–2014 to over 14,000 by 2025.

Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw Launches RailOne Super App for Passenger Services
On July 1, 2025, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Ministry of Railways (MoR), launched the ‘RailOne’, a new super application (App) during the 40th Foundation Day of the Centre for Railway Information Systems (CRIS) held in New Delhi (Delhi).

• RailOne has been developed by CRIS to consolidate all railway-related services into a single interface, enhancing convenience for passengers. It is a rebranded version of the earlier SwaRail App.

Key Features of RailOne App:
i.Single Sign-On (SSO): Users can log in using their existing RailConnect or Unreserved Ticketing System on Mobile(UTSoM) credentials, removing the need to remember multiple passwords.
ii.Comprehensive Services: Book reserved/unreserved tickets through Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC), platform ticket purchases, track Passenger Name Record (PNR) status, check coach positions, access Rail Madad (feedback), and monitor live train movements.
iii.R-Wallet: Integrated Railway-Wallet (R-Wallet) supports secure payments via biometric login or mPIN authentication.
iv.Storage Efficiency: Replaces multiple separate applications such as IRCTC Rail Connect, National Train Enquiry System (NTES), and UTS, reducing the overall storage requirements on users’ devices.
v.Platform Availability: Downloadable on Android Play Store and iPhone Operating System (iOS) App Store.

BANKING & FINANCE

SBI Marks 70 Years with Plan to Solarise 4 Million Homes by FY27On July 1, 2025, Mumbai(Maharashtra) based State Bank of India (SBI), India’s largest bank, commemorated its 70th anniversary with a special event held at the Dr. Ambedkar International Centre, Janpath, New Delhi, Delhi.

• During the event, SBI announced the “Solar Rooftop Programme”to support India’s Renewable Energy(RE) transition. This initiative aligns with India’s commitment to achieving Net Zero emissions by 2070.

Key Highlights:
i.SBI’s Solar Rooftop Programme aims to solarise 4 million (mn) homes by the Financial Year 2026-27 (FY27), promoting clean energy adoption at the household level.

• It has undertaken a mission to plant 9 lakh trees in the Cauvery basin while also supporting underprivileged students and persons with disabilities.

ii.The bank also plans to establish a Centre of Excellence (CoE) focused on project finance for emerging sectors such as RE, e-mobility, data centres, semiconductors, green hydrogen, decarbonisation, and smart infrastructure.
About State Bank of India(SBI):
Chairman – Challa Sreenivasulu Setty
Headquarters – Mumbai, Maharashtra
Tagline – Pure Banking, Nothing Else
Established – 1st July 1955
>>Read Full News

AU SFB Partners with LIC to Expand Life Insurance Access
In June 225, Jaipur(Rajasthan) based AU Small Finance Bank (AU SFB) has entered into a strategic partnership with Mumbai (Maharashtra) based Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) to distribute LIC’s life insurance portfolio through AU SFB’s extensive network.

• This collaboration supports the national vision of “Insurance for All by 2047”, aiming to increase insurance penetration among underserved and unserved populations.

i.Under the agreement, AU SFB will distribute LIC’s comprehensive suite of insurance products, including: Term insurance Endowment plans Whole life policies Pension and annuity schemes Child-specific plans.
ii.The partnership seeks to enhance life insurance accessibility for underserved and unserved communities throughout India.
iii.These products will be offered through AU SFB’s wide network of banking outlets, utilizing its extensive reach to serve underserved communities.
Note: Established in 1996, AU SFB is the largest SFB in India and also operates as a Scheduled Commercial Bank (SCB).

IndusInd Bank Launched Digital Banking Platform ‘’INDIE for Business’ to Empower MSMEs
In July 2025, Mumbai (Maharashtra) IndusInd Bank Limited, leading Private Sector Bank in India, has launched ‘INDIE for Business’, a comprehensive digital banking platform designed to empower India’s Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), which comprises over 60 billion businesses.

• This newly launched digital platform offers all banking services, across payments, loans, collections, and account insights.
• The bank has positioned this digital platform as an integral component of its MSME growth strategy, aiming to double its MSME revenue over the next 3 years.

Key Points:
i.This platform has some industry-first features such as a 360° view of all business accounts, real-time tracking of loan balances, Equated Monthly Installments (EMIs) and due dates and digital self-onboarding.

• It also enables profile switching for entrepreneurs managing multiple entities.

ii.Through this platform, businesses can make bulk payments for salaries and vendors, pay Goods and Services Tax (GST), income tax, and customs duties.
iii.It offers a fully paperless onboarding process, enabling MSMEs to register instantly using Aadhaar card, debit card, or net banking credentials.

• Following the successful registration, the business will be able to accept payments via Point of Sale (POS), Quick Response (QR) codes, and payment links.
• The platform also aims to transform cross-border payments with its quick and paperless solutions.

AIIB Invests Rs 1,301 Crore in Aditya Birla Capital for Green Infrastructure
In July 2025, Beijing (China) based Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), a multilateral funding organisation has subscribed to Rs 1,301.25 crore worth of Non-Convertible Debentures (NCDs) issued by Mumbai (Maharashtra) based Aditya Birla Capital Limited (ABCL), a listed systemically important non-deposit taking Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC).

• The 3-year privately placed investment by NCD, aims to boost financing in the Renewable Energy (RE) and e-mobility sectors to support India’s transition toward a sustainable infrastructure ecosystem.

Key Points:
i.The capital raised by ABCL will support lending in RE generation which includes solar, wind, geothermal, pumped storage, hydrogen production, and energy storage systems.

• It will also back electric-mobility projects covering electric-vehicle (EV) development, EV batteries, and charging infrastructure.

ii.As part of this strategic partnership, AIIB has supported ABCL to enhance its Environmental and Social Management System (ESMS), aligning it with Environmental and Social Framework (ESF) of AIIB to ensure robust environmental and social governance in sub-projects.
iii.The investment supports India’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement (signed in 2015) and also supports various programmes of Government of India (GoI) such as: National Infrastructure Pipeline (NIP)and Renewable Energy targets.

ECONOMY & BUSINESS

Reliance Defence and Coastal Mechanics Partnered for Defence MRO Facility in MaharashtraIn June 2025, Mumbai (Maharashtra) Reliance Defence Limited (RDL), a subsidiary of Reliance Infrastructure Limited (RIL), signed a strategic agreement with the United States of America (USA) based Coastal Mechanics Company, Inc., a US Department of Defense (DoD)-authorised contractor, to establish India’s first major private sector Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) facility for military aircraft, tapping into the Rs 20,000 crore defence MRO market.

• The partnership aims to provide end-to-end MRO, upgrade, and lifecycle support for the Indian Armed Forces (IAF) under the ‘Make in India’ and ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ initiatives.
• The collaboration supports India’s shift from asset replacement to lifecycle extension through performance-based logistics.

Key Details:
i.Joint Venture(JV): Reliance Defence and Coastal Mechanics will establish a JV at the Multi-modal International Cargo Hub and Airport at Nagpur (MIHAN) in Maharashtra.

• The facility will cater to both domestic and export markets, offering services for air and land-based defence platforms.

ii.Platforms: The JV will deliver comprehensive MRO and sustainment solutions for:

• Over 100 Jaguar fighter aircraft
• Over 100 Mikoyan MiG-29 fighter aircraft
• Boeing Apache attack helicopters (used by Indian Army, IA)
• L-70 air defence guns
• Other legacy platforms require modernization.

Note: In the Financial Year 2024-25(FY25), India’s defence production soared to Rs.1.46 trillion, marking a 15% rise compared to FY24, while defence exports climbed to Rs.24,000 crore.
About Reliance Defence Limited (RDL):
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) – Rajesh Kumar Dhingra
Headquarters – Mumbai, Maharashtra
Established – 2015

AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS

WHO SEAR Regional Director Saima Wazed Receives Mental Health Award 2025 at 24th IMHC, ThailandOn July 1, 2025, Saima Wazed, Regional Director of World Health Organisation (WHO) South-East Asia Region (SEAR), was bestowed with the Mental Health Award 2025 at the 24th Annual International Mental Health Conference (IMHC) held at ICONSIAM, Bangkok in Thailand.

• She received this award in recognition of her invaluable contribution and transformative leadership in shaping the future of global mental health.
• The award was presented on the inaugural day of the IMHC 2025, organised by the Department of Mental Health, Ministry of Public Health, Thailand, in partnership with the Jittavejsart Songkrao Foundation and the Somdet Chaopraya Institute of Psychiatry.

About Saima Wazed:
i.In February 2024, Saima Wazed, daughter of former Bangladesh Prime Minister (PM) Sheikh Hasina, officially assumed charge as Regional Director for WHO-SEAR, one of the 6 WHO regions.

• Wazed is the person from Bangladesh and only the 2nd woman after Dr. Poonam Khetrapal (from India), to hold this office.

ii.Saima Wazed is a licensed school psychologist and expert on neurodevelopmental disorders, autism and mental health.
iii.In 2015, she was appointed WHO-SEAR’s Regional Champion. Later, in 2017, she was appointed as WHO’s Goodwill Ambassador for Autism in SEAR.
iv.In 2014, She became the 1st recipient of the Excellence in Public Health Award by WHO-SEAR.
About WHO-SEAR:
i.The 1st regional committee for WHO-SEAR was established in November 1948, and WHO South East Asia Regional Office (WHO-SEARO) is headquartered in New Delhi (Delhi).
ii.The committee comprises 11 member nations from South-East Asia region: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, India, Indonesia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Timor-Leste.
iii.The representatives of 11 member countries meets annually to discuss important public health challenges.

APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

RBI Appoints Kesavan Ramachandran as EDOn July 1, 2025, Mumbai (Maharashtra) based Reserve Bank of India (RBI) appointed Kesavan Ramachandran as an Executive Director (ED), effective immediately. As ED, he will lead the Department of Regulation (Prudential Regulation Division), which is responsible for shaping the regulatory framework governing Indian banks.

• Before this elevation, Kesavan Ramachandran was serving as Principal Chief General Manager (PCGM) in the Risk Monitoring Department of RBI.

About Kesavan Ramachandran:
i.Kesavan Ramachandran has over 30 years of experience within the RBI, specializing in currency management, Banking and Non-Banking supervision, training, and administration
ii.He previously served as Principal of the Reserve Bank Staff College (Chennai, Tamil Nadu, TN), and RBI nominee on the Board of Canara Bank for over five years.
iii.He was also a member of the Auditing and Assurance Standards Board of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) for two years.
SEBI Appoints Sunil Jayawant Kadam as ED:
On July 1, 2025, Mumbai (Maharashtra) based Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) appointed Sunil Jayawant Kadam as its ED, effective immediately. This appointment is a promotion from his earlier role as Chief General Manager (CGM) in SEBI.

• As ED, Sunil Jayawant Kadam will oversee key functional divisions, Information Technology Department (ITD), Office of Investor Assistance & Education (OIAE), Department of Economic & Policy Analysis (DEPA), General Services Department (GSD), Board Cell, Right to Information (RTI) & Parliamentary Questions Cell, and matters related to the National Institute of Securities Markets (NISM).

About Sunil Jayawant Kadam:
i.Sunil Jayawant Kadam has been part of SEBI since 1996, accumulating 29 years of diverse regulatory experience.
ii.He held various roles as Registrar at NISM, Regional Director of SEBI’s Northern Regional Office, and Senior positions in Corporation Finance, Market Regulation, Surveillance, and Investigations.
iii.He is Specialist in forensic accounting, Indian Depository Receipts (IDRs), Electronic voting(e-voting), and Business Responsibility Reporting.
iv.He contributed to SEBI Committee on Disclosures & Accounting Standards (SCODA) and Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) report on “Related Party Transactions & Minority Shareholder Protection”.

ACC Extends FSIB Chairperson Bhanu Pratap Sharma and Members’ Tenure by One Year
On July 1, 2025, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) approved a one-year extension for the Financial Services Institutions Bureau (FSIB) leadership. Bhanu Pratap Sharma, who serves as part-time Chairperson, along with six part-time members, will continue in office until 30 June 2026, or until further orders, whichever is earlier.

• This marks the second consecutive year the government has extended the FSIB leadership’s term.

Members Granted Extension:
The extension also includes six part-time members:
i.Animesh Chauhan, former Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of Oriental Bank of Commerce.
ii.Deepak Singhal, former Executive Director (ED) of Reserve Bank of India (RBI)
iii.Shailendra Bhandari, former MD of ING Vysya Bank
iv.Usha Sangwan, former MD of Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC)
v.A V Girija Kumar, former CMD of Oriental Insurance Company Limited
vi.Sujay Banarji, former whole-time member (distribution) at Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI)
About Bhanu Pratap Sharma:
i.Bhanu Pratap Sharma is the former Secretary of the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) under the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions (MoPP&P).
ii.He has led FSIB since 2018, having first been appointed as Chairperson of the Banks Board Bureau (BBB), the predecessor institution.
FSIB’s Role:
i.Acts as the primary headhunter for top roles in Public Sector Banks (PSBs), financial institutions (FIs), and public sector insurance companies (PSICs).
ii.It recommends candidates for Whole-Time Directors (WTDs) and Non-Executive Chairpersons (NECs), with final approvals by the ACC (chaired by the Prime Minister (PM) of India)
iii.Previously known as the Banks Board Bureau (BBB), which was established in April 2016, FSIB was restructured in 2022.

ACQUISITIONS & MERGERS

CCI Approvals on July 01, 2025On July 01 2025, the Competition Commission of India (CCI) has approved the following proposals:
i.Approved the proposal of Viggo Investment Pte Limited (GIC Investor), subsidiary of Singapore based sovereign wealth fund, GIC  to acquire 2.143% stakes in Initial Public Offering (IPO)-bound Billionbrains Garage Ventures, the parent company of Bengaluru (Karnataka) based investment tech unicorn Groww.

• This investment by GIC is part of a larger funding round estimated at USD 250-300 million.

ii.Approved the proposal of Murugappa Group-backed  Coromandel International Limited (CIL) to acquire certain equity shares in Hyderabad (Telangana) based NACL Industries Limited.

• In March 2025, CIL announced the acquisition of a majority stake (53%) in NACL Industries Ltd. for Rs 820 crore.

iii.Approved the proposal of (the United Kingdom, UK) based development finance institution, British International Investment plc (BII) to acquire stake in Delhi based ReNew Photovoltaics Private Limited(RPVPL).

• The proposed deal involves BII, which supports private sector businesses in developing countries, investing in RPVPL by subscribing to its securities.

>>Read Full News

AM Green Acquires 17.5% Stake in Greenko from ORIX for USD 1.4 Billion
In June 2025, Netherlands based AM Green BV (AMG) acquired a 17.5% equity stake in Hyderabad(Telangana) based Greenko Energy Holdings (Greenko) from Japan based ORIX Corporation (ORIX) for USD 1.4 billion (approximately Rs. 11,690 crore).

• Post-transaction, AMG’s total stake in Greenko will rise to 25%, including its promoter’s existing shares. The acquisition was executed through AMG’s wholly-owned subsidiary, AM Green Power BV (AMG Power).

i.ORIX invested in a convertible note issued by AM Green (Luxembourg), AMG’s parent company, gaining 10% ownership in AM Green.

• This entitles ORIX to USD 650 million in cash and USD 750 million in stock, aligning with its strategy to access green hydrogen, ammonia, Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), and next-gen molecules.

ii.Greenko co-founders Anil Chalamalasetty and Mahesh Kolli will retain a 90% ownership stake in AM Green following the transaction.
iii.AMG plans to produce 5 Million Tonnes Per Annum (MTPA) of green ammonia, with the first 1 MTPA facility currently under construction at Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh (AP).

• The Kakinada Industrial Zone will be the world’s first integrated green industrial hub.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

INS Tamal Commissioned into Indian Navy in Kaliningrad, RussiaOn July 1, 2025, Indian Naval Ship (INS) Tamal (F71), a multi-role stealth guided missile frigate, was commissioned into the Indian Navy (IN) at Yantar Shipyard in Kaliningrad, Russia in the presence of senior Indian and Russian naval officials, including Vice Admiral Sanjay Jasjit Singh, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Western Naval Command (WNC).

• INS Tamal is the last foreign-built major warship to be inducted into the IN, in line with the Government of India (GoI)’s emphasis on indigenization under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India initiatives.
• The ship is the eighth in the series of Project 1135.6 (Talwar class) and the second vessel in the follow-on Tushil-class of ships.

About INS Tamal:
i.INS Tamal is designed for blue water operations across the spectrum of naval warfare in all four dimensions such as air, surface, underwater and electromagnetic.

• The name ‘Tamal’ comes from the mythical sword of Lord Indra.

ii.The warship is commanded by Captain Sridhar Tata, a specialist in gunnery and missile warfare. The ship is headed to its homeport in Karwar, Karnataka.

• The ship is manned by 26 officers and around 250 sailors. It will operate under the Western Fleet, the IN’s primary strike formation in the Arabian Sea.

iii.With a top speed exceeding 30 knot, the 125 metre (m) long, 3,900-tonne(t) frigate boasts a high tonnage-to-firepower ratio, featuring cutting-edge Indian and Russian technologies.
>>Read Full News

Indian Navy Receives Indigenous Stealth Frigate ‘Udaygiri’ under P17AOn 1 July 2025, the Indian Navy (IN) received the stealth frigate Yard 12652 (Udaygiri) from Mumbai (Maharashtra)-based Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL). This is the second ship delivered under Project 17A (P17A), which is the successor to the Shivalik class (Project 17) frigates.

• Named after the erstwhile Indian Naval Ship (INS) Udaygiri, which was decommissioned on 24 August 2007 after 31 years of service, the new Udaygiri frigate is a modern, stealth-enhanced avatar with advanced combat capabilities.

About Project 17A:
i.Project 17A involves constructing seven advanced stealth frigates designed for operations in a blue water environment, capable of countering both conventional and non-conventional threats.
ii.The ships are designed by New Delhi (Delhi) based Warship Design Bureau (WDB) and being built by MDL, and Kolkata (West Bengal, WB)-based Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE).

• Udaygiri represents the 100th warship designed and delivered by the WDB, marking a major milestone in India’s journey toward defence self-reliance.

iii.The remaining five Project 17A frigates are under various stages of construction at MDL and GRSE, with phased deliveries expected to be completed by the end of 2026.
About Yard 12652 (Udaygiri):
i.The hull of Udaygiri is 4.54% larger than the P17 frigates, improving stability and capacity. It is designed to operate in a ‘Blue Water’ environment, effectively countering both conventional and non-conventional threats.
iii.Equipped with a Combined Diesel or Gas (CODOG) propulsion system, which integrates a diesel engine and a gas turbine to drive Controllable Pitch Propellers (CPPs).
iv.Managed by an advanced Integrated Platform Management System (IPMS) for efficient operations.
v.The weapon suite includes, Supersonic Surface-to-Surface missiles, a Medium-Range Surface-to-Air Missile (MRSAM) system, a 76 millimeter (mm) gun, and 30 mm & 12.7 mm close-in weapon systems.
About Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL):
MDL is a public sector undertaking (PSU) under the Ministry of Defence (MoD). The Government of India (GoI) holds an 80.82% equity stake in the company.
Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) – Captain Jagmohan (Retd)
Headquarters – Mumbai, Maharashtra
Founded – 1934

MiPhi launches India’s first locally designed, manufactured enterprise SSDs
In June 2025, New Delhi(Delhi)-based MiPhi Semiconductors Private Limited, a joint venture(JV) between Micromax Informatics and Taiwan’s Phison Technology, made history by becoming the first Indian company to design and manufacture enterprise-grade Solid State Drives (SSDs). 

• This achievement marks a significant step in India’s self-reliance (Atmanirbhar Bharat) in semiconductor and data storage technology.

i.MiPhi’s SSDs offer ultra-fast speeds, durability, and enterprise-grade security, tailored for data centres, high-performance computing, cloud infrastructure, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and edge computing.
ii.With global data generation projected to surpass 180 zettabytes (ZB) by 2025, these indigenous SSDs enhance India’s digital sovereignty and reinforce the nation’s domestic technological infrastructure.
iii.The global enterprise SSD market is projected to expand from USD 27 billion in 2024 to over USD 50 billion by 2028.

• India’s data centre capacity is estimated to surpass 1.3 gigawatts(GW) by 2026, backed by over USD 10 billion in investments.

ENVIRONMENT

India Added 683 Faunal Species and 433 Flora Taxa to Biodiversity Records in 2024In June 2025, Union Minister Bhupender Yadav, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), released the ‘Annual biodiversity report 2024’ during an event held in Kolkata, West Bengal(WB).

• The findings were published in two flagship reports: “Animal Discoveries 2024” by Kolkata,West Bengal(WB) based Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) and “Plant Discoveries 2024” by Kolkata based Botanical Survey of India (BSI).

Key Highlights of Discoveries in 2024:
i.India added 683 faunal species, comprising 459 new species and 224 new records.
ii.433 plant taxa were documented, which include 410 new plant species and 23 infra-specific taxa.
iii.Kerala recorded the highest faunal discoveries: 101 species (80 new species and 21 new records), followed by Karnataka(82) and Arunachal Pradesh(AR)(72).
iv.Kerala recorded the highest number of floral discoveries in 2024, with 58 newly documented species, followed by Maharashtra with 45 species and Uttarakhand with 40 species.
>>Read Full News

BOOKS & AUTHORS

Renowned Cricketer V.V. Kumar Honoured on 90th Birthday with Commemorative Book Launch
In June 2025, former Indian leg-spinner Vaman Vishwanath (V.V.) Kumar who was born on 26th June 1935, was honoured on his 90th birthday with the launch of a commemorative book titled Celebrating V.V. Kumar @ 90 in Chennai, Tamil Nadu(TN).

• It was launched by the Indian former Test Cricketer Chingleput Doraikannu (C.D) Gopinath, member of India’s first test win in 1952. V.V. Kumar received the first copy of the book.

i.The book features articles by former cricketers and other eminent personalities.
ii.V.V. Kumar made his test debut for India against Pakistan in 1961 and played only two test matches. He played against England in his second test match.
iii.He played 129 first class matches and got 599 wickets. He was the first bowler to go past the 400-wicket mark in the Ranji Trophy.
iv.He served in coaching and selection roles with the Chennai (TN) based Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA)
v.N.Ram, Director, Chennai-based The Hindu Group, has written a chapter in the book, highlighting V.V. Kumar’s contribution to domestic cricket.

IMPORTANT DAYS

World Sports Journalists Day 2025 – July 2World Sports Journalists Day is annually observed across the globe on July 2 to honour the vital contributions of sports journalists worldwide and commemorates the founding of their primary international body.

• This day also marks the establishment of the International Sports Press Association (AIPS – Association Internationale de la Presse Sportive), established on 2 July 1924 in Paris, France.
• 2 July 2025 marks the 101st anniversary of the AIPS, the World Sports Journalist body.

Theme:
The theme for World Sports Journalists Day 2025 is “Championing Fair Play: Reporting with Integrity and Impact” highlights the journalist’s role in ensuring ethical storytelling, maintaining audience trust, and advocating for accountability in sports governance.
Background:
i.World Sports Journalists Day was established in 1994 by the AIPS to commemorate the 70th anniversary of its founding.

• To mark this milestone, 2 July of each year has been designated as World Sports Journalists Day to honour sports journalists worldwide.

ii.The first ever observance of this day took place on 2 July 1994.
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STATE NEWS

AP Launches Digi-Lakshmi Scheme for Urban Women Empowerment
In June 2025, the Government of Andhra Pradesh(AP) launched the ‘Digi Lakshmi Scheme’, a transformative initiative aimed at digitally empowering urban poor women and promoting self-reliance through entrepreneurship.

• The scheme aims to enable Self-Help Group (SHG) women to become entrepreneurs under the State’s ‘One Family, One Entrepreneur’ (OF-OE) vision, transforming SHGs into Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).

i.The scheme plans to set up 9,034 Common Service Centres (CSCs) across Urban Local Bodies(ULBs) in the state.
ii.The centres will be operated exclusively by eligible SHG women, who must meet the following criteria:

• Minimum three years of active SHG membership
• Age between 21 and 40 years
• Must be married, settled in their area of operation, and hold a graduate degree with technical aptitude

iii.The eligible women will receive support to secure loans ranging from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 2.5 lakh to establish their CSCs and operate them sustainably.
iv.All CSCs will operate as standardised ‘Automated Tax Office Management(ATOM) Kiosks’ delivering around 250 public services to citizens.
v.The Mission for Elimination of Poverty in Municipal Areas (MEPMA), under Andhra Pradesh’s Municipal Administration and Urban Development (MA&UD) Department, will implement the scheme by offering training support and financial assistance.

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