Current Affairs 22 July 2025

We are here for you to provide the important Recent and Latest Current Affairs 22 July 2025, which have unique updates of Latest Current Affairs 2025 events from all newspapers such as The Hindu, The Economic Times, PIB, Times of India, PTI, Indian Express, Business Standard and all Government official websites.

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NATIONAL AFFAIRS

Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya Inaugurates Youth Spiritual Summit in Varanasi, UPOn July 19, 2025, Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports (MYAS), Ministry of Labour and Employment (MoL&E), inaugurated the ‘Youth Spiritual Summit’, organized by MYAS under the theme “Nasha Mukt Yuva for Viksit Bharat(Drug-Free Youth for a Developed India)” at the Rudraksh International Cooperation and Convention Centre in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh (UP).

• The two days event brought together more than 600 youth representatives from over 120 spiritual organizations across India.

Key People:
Several dignitaries, including Union Minister Dr. Virendra Kumar, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MSJE); Union Minister Nityanand Rai, Ministry of Culture and Ministry of Tourism (MoT), Union Minister of State (MoS) Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, MYAS, were also present.
Highlights of the Summit:
i.The summit featured four plenary sessions, which covered the psychological and societal impacts of addiction, the required strategies to dismantle drug trafficking networks, designing for grassroots outreach and awareness campaigns, and the role of spiritual and cultural bodies in rehabilitation and prevention.
ii.Each session of the summit brought together policymakers, domain experts, spiritual mentors, and youth leaders, to create a roadmap for achieving a drug-free society by 2047.
iii.The summit concluded with the adoption of the Kashi Declaration, affirming national consensus to treat substance abuse as a public-health and societal challenge.
About Kashi Declaration:
i.The Kashi Declaration is a comprehensive policy document, outlining a five-year strategic roadmap till 2030 to combat drug addiction, under the guidance of MYAS.
ii.The declaration also includes the formation of a Joint National Committee(JNC), which will comprise government officials, spiritual leaders, psychologists, and youth leaders.
iii.A digital platform will be launched to connect with helplines, counseling and rehabilitation services.
iv.The Declaration will be revisited and reviewed during the Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue 2026, ensuring course correction and momentum.
About Uttar Pradesh (UP):
Chief Minister (CM) – Yogi Adityanath
Governor – Anandiben Patel
Capital – Lucknow
National Parks (NPs) – Dudhwa NP

GoI Initiated Formulation of AMP 2047 to Position India as Global Auto-LeaderIn July 2025, the Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHI) has launched the development of the Automotive Mission Plan 2047 (AMP 2047), a comprehensive strategy designed to position India as a global automotive leader by 2047.

• This plan supports the Government of India’s (GoI) vision of ‘Viksit Bharat @2047’, emphasizing innovation, sustainability, and enhanced global competitiveness.
• The decision was made during the inaugural meeting of the AMP 2047 Sub-Committees which was held under the leadership Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi, and with the guidance of Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, MHI, to outline the objectives and framework for AMP 2047.

About Automotive Mission Plan 2047 (AMP 2047):
i.Building upon the achievements of the previous Automotive Mission Plan 2026 (AMP 2026), AMP 2047 sets phased targets for 2030, 2037, and 2047.

• The plan emphasizes enhancing India’s share in global automotive trade through advancements in technology, quality manufacturing, and infrastructure development.
• The plan also envisions the automotive sector contributing over 12% to India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and creating an estimated 65 million new jobs.

ii.To guide the development of this comprehensive plan, seven sub-committees have been established, comprising experts from government institutions, industry bodies, and academic organisations have been formed to guide the comprehensive plan.
iii.These committees will set specific targets for 2030, 2037, and 2047, with a focus on sectoral growth, export expansion, and industry advancement to increase India’s participation in global automotive trade.
>>Read Full News

L&T Unveiled India’s Largest Green Hydrogen Plant at IOCL’s Refinery in Panipat
In July 2025, Larsen & Toubro Limited(L&T) announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary, L&T Energy Green Tech Limited will establish India’s largest green hydrogen plant at Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL)’s Panipat Refinery in Haryana. The project is scheduled for commissioning by December 2027.

• This project is in alignment with the Government of India (GoI)’s National Green Hydrogen Mission (NGHM), which aims to position India as a global hub for green hydrogen production and technology.

i.The newly announced green hydrogen plant is expected to supply 10,000 tonnes(t) of green hydrogen annually to IOCL for a period of 25 years.
ii.The plant is being developed under a Build-Own-Operate (BOO) model. It will operate 24 hours using Renewable Energy (RE) and will support IOCL’s wider strategy to decarbonise its refining operations.
iii.This new plant will produce green hydrogen using high-pressure alkaline electrolysers manufactured at L&T Electrolysers Ltd’s facility based in Hazira, Gujarat.

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

India’s millet standards praised at 88th Session of CCEXEC88 in Rome, ItalyThe 88th Session of the Executive Committee meeting of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CCEXEC88) was held at the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) headquarters in Rome, Italy from July 14th to 18th, 2025.

• During the meeting, India’s leadership in formulating a group standard for whole millet grains received formal recognition.
• The Indian delegation, representing the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) and the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), played a key role in advocating national interests and promoting inclusive international standards.

Background:
i.At the 47th Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC47) in 2024, India was officially acknowledged for spearheading the development of global millet grain standards, with support from Mali, Nigeria, and Senegal as co-chairs.
ii.The initiative was finalized during the 11th session of the Codex Committee on Cereals, Pulses and Legumes (CCCPL) in April 2025.
iii.The proposed standards are scheduled for review and potential adoption at the 48th session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) in November 2025.
>>Read Full News

WHO Validated Senegal for Eliminating Trachoma as a Public Health ProblemIn July 2025, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has officially validated that Senegal has eliminated ‘Trachoma’ as a public health problem. Following this validation, Senegal became the world’s 25th country and the 9th in Africa to achieve this feat.

• Also, Trachoma was the 2nd Neglected Tropical Disease (NTD) to be eliminated in the country following Guinea-worm disease (dracunculiasis) in 2004.

Implications of WHO Validation:
i.For certification, trachoma prevalence must be below 0.2% for trichiasis in adults and under 5% among children aged 1–9, sustained for at least two years without mass antibiotic campaigns, along with effective case management systems.
ii.This aligns with WHO’s broader goal to eliminate at least one neglected tropical disease (NTD) in 100 countries by 2030.
Key Efforts by Senegal to Eliminate Trachoma:
i.Senegal joined the WHO Alliance for the Global Elimination of Trachoma in 1998. The country conducted its 1st national survey in 2000, with technical support from the Global Trachoma Mapping Project and Tropical Data and completed full mapping by 2017.
ii.Senegal integrated trachoma control into its national eye health programme, first under the National Program for Blindness Prevention (PNLC) and later through the National Program for the promotion of Eye Health (PNPSO) which ensures its long-term commitment to elimination.
iii.Senegal implemented the WHO-recommended SAFE strategy to eliminate trachoma with the support of partners, which reached 2.8 million people who needed them across 24 districts of the country.
About Trachoma:
i.Trachoma is a highly contagious bacterial eye infection caused by bacterium ‘Chlamydia trachomatis’.
ii.According to WHO, trachoma is responsible for blindness in about 1.9 million people, accounting for nearly 1.4% of global blindness.
iii.Apart from Senegal, 24 other countries worldwide (as of July 2025) including: Benin, Burundi, Cambodia, China, Gambia, Iran, Lao People’s Democratic (PDR), Ghana, India(2024), Iraq, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mexico, Morocco, Myanmar, Nepal, Oman, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Saudi Arabia, Togo, Vanuatu and Vietnam, have been validated by WHO for having eliminated trachoma as public health problem.
About Senegal:
President- Bassirou Diomaye Faye
Capital- Dakar
Currency- West African CFA Franc (XOF)

BANKING & FINANCE

WB’s Global Findex Report 2025: India maintains 89% financial account ownership, Faces High Inactivity RatesIn July 2025, the World Bank (WB) has released the 5th edition of its Global Findex Database titled “Connectivity and Financial Inclusion in the Digital Economy”. As per the report, financial account ownership in India rose sharply to 89% in 2024, up from 77.5% in 2021 and a significant leap from just 35% in 2011.

• The Global account ownership rate stood at 79%, an increase of 28% points since 2011, when the first round of Global Findex data was collected.
• In low- and middle-income economies, account ownership grew from 42% in 2011 to 75% in 2024, while in most high-income economies, it surged to 95% in 2024, from 87% in 2011.

Key Highlights:
i.As of 2024, around 1.3 billion adults globally remain unbanked, lacking access to financial accounts and, consequently, the benefits of the formal financial system. Of these, over 700 million are women.
ii.In India, the inactive account holder status i.e., non-usage of accounts in the past 12 months in 2024 is 16% of account holders, compared to the global average of 6%.
iii.Out of the above 89% account ownership in India, 88.7% were held with a bank/financial institution and 23.1% reported having a mobile money account.
iv. Only 48.5% of Indian adults made or received a digital payment in the past year.
>>Read Full News

ADB granted Rs.975 cr loan for building infrastructure in 9 industrial areas in TripuraIn July 2025, Manila(Philippines) based the Asian Development Bank (ADB) has granted a loan amounting to Rs. 975.26 crores(USD 85.4 million) for building infrastructure in nine industrial areas in Tripura.

• The initiative aims to revamp Tripura’s manufacturing ecosystem by promoting inclusivity and boosting global competitiveness.
• The Tripura Industrial Development Corporation (TIDC) announced that the project will encompass the development of industrial sheds, power substations, underground electrical infrastructure, fire service stations, and the construction of 34 roads across designated industrial areas.

Key Highlights:
i.Under this project, the State government has handed over plots for setting up industrial areas at Santirbazar (127 acres) in South Tripura and Fatikroy (28 acres) in Unakoti district, Tripura.

• The Rs.975 crore cover 9 industrial areas including Bodhjungnagar, RK Nagar, Dukli, AN Nagar, Kumarghat, Dhajanagar, Dharmanagar, Deewanpasa, and Sarasima

ii.TIDC has recovered 28 acres of land from 24 dormant industrial units to make space for new entrepreneurs setting up industries in the northeastern(NE) state.

• The TIDC has already begun demarcation work to undertake infrastructure building in the two new areas.

iii.Currently, two plywood manufacturing units are operational in the state, with seven more in the pipeline.
iv.Tripura, with 1,10,000 hectares of rubber plantations, has identified 10,000 hectares of senile trees suitable for plywood production.
About Tripura:
Chief Minister (CM)- Dr.Manik Saha
Governor– N Indrasena Reddy
Capital– Agartala
Ramsar Sites – Rudrasagar Lake
About Asian Development Bank (ADB):
ADB has 69 shareholding members including 50 from the Asia and Pacific region.
President – Masato Kanda
Headquarters – Manila, Philippines
Established – 1966

RBI Grants Scheduled Bank Status to NSDL Payments BankIn July 2025, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has announced the inclusion of NSDL Payments Bank Limited, a subsidiary of National Securities Depository Limited (NSDL) in Schedule II of the RBI Act, 1934. This inclusion was made by RBI in exercise of its powers given under Section 42(6) (a) of the RBI Act, 1934.

• Following this inclusion NSDL Payments Bank Ltd. attains the status of a Scheduled Bank (SB) and will now able to access facilities from the RBI like: borrowing from the Marginal Standing Facility (MSF) and participating in Liquidity Adjustment Facility (LAF) operations, will further enhance its operational capabilities within the Indian financial system.
• With this, it becomes the 5th payment bank in India to get the SB status after India Post Payments Bank Limited (IPPB); Fino Payments Bank Limited, Airtel Payments Bank Limited, and Jio Payments Bank.

About Scheduled Banks (SB):
i.SBs are classified into two main categories: Scheduled Commercial Bank (SCB) and Scheduled Co-operative Banks.
ii.To get a status of a SB, a minimum paid-up capital of Rs 5 lakh is required. But, in order to operate as commercial bank, RBI recommended minimum capital of Rs 100 crores.
iii.SBs become eligible for debts/loans at the bank rate from the RBI; gets the membership clearing housing automatically and gets rediscount from RBI for 1st class exchange bills.
iv.Also, these banks are required to maintain a Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) with RBI.
Recent Related News:
In June 2025, RBI granted a Scheduled Bank (SB) status to Vishweshwar Sahakari Bank Limited (VSBL), one of India’s leading Urban Cooperative Bank (UCB), in exercise of powers given under Section 42(6) (a) of the RBI Act, 1934.

• Following this new recognition, Vishweshwar Cooperation Bank became the 50th cooperative bank from India and 3rd bank from Pune city to get status of Scheduled Bank from RBI.

About NSDL Payments Bank Limited:
Chairman – Dhananjaya Tambe
Managing Director (MD) & Chief Executive Officer (CEO) – Abhijit Kamalapurkar
Headquarters – Mumbai, Maharashtra
Established – 2018

RBI Imposed Monetary Penalty on Gujarat-based Mandvi Nagrik Sahakari Bank and 3 Other Cooperative Banks
In July 2025, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) imposed monetary penalty of Rs 2 lakh on the Mandvi Nagrik Sahakari Bank Limited, based in Mandvi district in Surat, Gujarat, for non-compliance with its directives on ‘Management of Advances by Urban Cooperative Banks (UCBs)’.

• This penalty has been imposed by RBI in exercise of its power given under Section 47A(1)(c) read with Sections 46(4)(i) and 56 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949.

i.RBI has also imposed monetary penalty of Rs 3 lakh on Sarvodaya Nagrik Sahakari Bank Limited (Gujarat) for failing to comply with its directions on the Comprehensive Cyber Security Framework for Primary UCBs and the Harmonisation of Turn Around Time (TAT) and customer failed compensation for failed transactions using authorised Payment Systems.
iii.Two cooperative banks from Maharashtra were also penalized:

• Laxmi Vishnu Sahakari Bank Limited (Maharashtra) has been penalized Rs 20,000 for non-compliance with RBI directions related to ‘Loans and advances to directions, their relatives, and firms/concerns in which they are interested’.
• Thane District Central Co-operative Bank Limited(Thane, Maharashtra) has been fined Rs 2.10 lakh for lapses in adherence to the Know Your Customer (KYC) rules.

Laraware Launches India’s First Fully AI-Driven Fintech Platform ‘Nxtbanking’
In July 2025, Anvesh Tiwari, Chief Technology Officer (CTO), Laraware Private Limited spearheaded the launch of “Nxtbanking”, India’s first fully Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered fintech software platform, developed by Laraware, to revolutionise the digital financial services in India.

• The platform integrates more than 50 financial Application Programming Interface (API), including Aaadhar Enabled Payment System (AEPS), Bharat Bill Payment System (BBPS), and Micro Automated Teller Machine (ATM).

i.The platform is designed to support banks, Non-Banking Finance Companies (NBFCs), Payment Aggregators (PAs), and fintech startups to instantly provide end-to-end banking services with rapid and secured functionality.
ii.It is designed to streamline onboarding, verification, transaction processing, and fraud prevention, with AI automation.
iii.The platform is equipped with an 8-layer AI compliance engine, which includes Real-Time Aadhar, Permanent Account Number (PAN), Goods and Services Tax Identification Number (GSTIN) & Bank Account Verification, AI-based Optical Character Recognition(OCR) and document parsing, Facial Match and liveness detection, geographical tagging(Geo-tagging), device fingerprinting, and real-time fraud scoring.
iv.Developer-first architecture supporting white-labeled retailer portals, custom business intelligence (BI) and analytics dashboards, developer Software Development Kits (SDKs), and Application Programming Interface (API) tools

ACQUISITIONS & MERGERS

NCLT Approves Merger of Adani Cementation with Ambuja Cements
On 18 July 2025, the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT),  Ahmedabad Bench in Gujarat, approved the merger of Adani Cementation Limited (ACL), a wholly owned subsidiary of Adani Enterprises Limited (AEL) into Ambuja Cements as a significant step to combine the cement and infrastructure businesses of the Adani Group as one unit.

• NCLT announced April 1, 2024, as the effective date of the merger.

i.The merger will be executed through a share swap arrangement, where AEL will receive 8.7 million shares of Ambuja Cements, at a ratio of 174 shares of Ambuja Cements for each 1 share of ACL.
ii.The merger aims to enhance operational efficiencies, resource utilization, and project execution. With this merger, all assets, liabilities, and property rights of Adani Cementation will be merged into Ambuja Cements.
iii.Ambuja Cements is required to adhere to regulatory directives issued by SEBI (Securities and Exchange Board of India), BSE (Bombay Stock Exchange), NSE (National Stock Exchange), and the Luxembourg Stock Exchange, where its Global Depository Receipts (GDRs) are listed.
Note: A share swap agreement is when a company acquires another company by exchanging its own company’s shares for the target company’s shares, in place of cash.

RBI Permits Currant Sea to Acquire 9.99% Stake in IDFC First Bank
In July 2025, Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has approved the proposal of Currant Sea Investments B.V, a subsidiary of Warburg Pincus, to acquire 9.99% stake for Rs. 7,500 crores in Infrastructure Development Finance Company (IDFC) First Bank.

• The approval follows the approval by the Competition Commission of India (CCI) on June 3, 2025.

i.Currant Sea Investments B.V. and Platinum Invictus B 2025 RSC, a subsidiary of the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA), had jointly agreed to invest in IDFC First Bank through the issuance of Compulsorily Convertible Preference Shares (CCPS).
ii.Currant Sea Investments B.V. will infuse Rs. 4,876 crore by subscribing to approximately 81.26 crore CCPS, while Platinum Invictus B 2025 RSC, will invest Rs. 2,624 crore for 43.71 crore CCPS. Each share is priced at Rs. 60.
iii.IDFC First Bank, founded in 2015, specializes in financial services such as Retail Banking, Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) lending, wealth management, credit cards, and rural finance through its subsidiary IDFC First Bharat.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

GRSE Launches Last of Eight ASW Ship ‘Ajay’ for Indian NavyOn 21 July 2025, Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) Limited, a defence Public Sector Undertaking (PSU), operated under the Ministry of Defence (MoD) launched ‘Indian Navy Ship (INS) Ajay’, the final of the eight Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Crafts (ASW-SWC), built for the Indian Navy (IN), to strengthen the maritime defence capabilities of India.

• The ASW SWC was launched by Priya Deshmukh, wife of Kiran Deshmukh, Vice Admiral, Chief of materiel of the IN in Kolkata, West Bengal(WB).
• With this launch, the contract to deliver eight next-generation ASW SWCs by GRSE to the IN has concluded.

Background:
i.In April 2019, the MoD and GRSE signed an agreement for the construction of eight ASW-SWC Ships for the IN for Rs.6,311 crores, to be delivered by 2026
ii.INS Arnala (P68) is the first of the series of eight ASW-SWC, delivered on May 8, 2025. It was commissioned on 18 June 2025.
About INS Ajay:
i.INS Ajay, the Arnala class ASW SWC, has been designated Pennant 34 (P34) and Yard Number (No:) 3034.
ii.The ASW SWC warships of 77.6 metre(m) long and 10.5 m wide, are capable of full-scale underwater surveillance and carrying out operations against surface platforms.
About ASW SWC:
i.ASW SWCs are Arnala Class warships, designed to detect, track, and neutralize enemy submarines in shallow and coastal waters in areas where larger warships and submarines are effective.
ii.The series of eight ASW SWC includes INS Arnala, INS Anjadip, INS Amini, INS Agray, INS Akshay, INS Abhay, INS Androth, and INS Ajay.
iii.These eight ASW-SWC are built to replace the Abhay-class corvettes and enhance anti-submarine warfare capabilities.
iv.The ships are equipped with lightweight torpedoes, Anti Sub-Marine Warfare (ASW) rockets, hull-mounted and variable depth sonar, stabilized guns, Close-In-Weapon System (CIWS), and mine-laying rails.
About Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE):
Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) – PR Hari
Headquarters – Kolkata, West Bengal (WB)
Established – 1884

SPORTS

ICC Formed an 8-member Working Committee to Explore Two-tier Test System; CL-T20 to Re-launch in 2026In July 2025, the International Cricket Council (ICC), apex body of international cricket, has formed an 8-member working group, headed by Sanjog Gupta, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of ICC, to explore the possibility of restructuring test cricket into a two-tier system.

• The committee was constituted during the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of ICC held in Singapore, under the leadership of its current chair Jay Shah and Sanjog Gupta.

Key Points:
i.The working group also includes Jay Shah, Richard Gould (Chief of the England and Wales Cricket Board, ECB), Todd Greenberg (Chief Executive of Cricket Australia, CA), along with four other senior representatives from ICC member boards.
ii.The newly formed working group has been directed to submit its recommendations to the board by the end of 2025.
iii.At present, 9 teams compete in the World Test Championship (WTC), but if the proposed two-tier system is implemented , then, there would be two divisions of six teams each.

• However, any change would be implemented for the next cycle of the World Test Championship due to run from 2027 to 2029.

Other Key Outcomes of ICC AGM:
i.The ICC has awarded the hosting rights for the ICC WTC Finals for 2027, 2029 and 2031 to the ECB, following the successful hosting of 2021, 2023 and 2025 WTC finals in England.
ii.ICC has also elected 3 new associate member representatives for ICC Chief Executives’ Committee (CEC) and these are: Gurumurthy Palani (France Cricket), Anurag Bhatnagar(Cricket HongKong) and Gurdeep Klair (Cricket Canada).
iii.During the AGM of ICC, discussions were also held around re-launching the Champions League T20(CL-T20), a club-based international T20 competition, which could make a comeback next year (2026).

• The 8th edition of the inter-league competition is likely to be held in September 2026.
• The previous edition of the CLT20 was held in India in 2014 with Chennai Super Kings (CSK) winning the title against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the final match held in Bengaluru, Karnataka.

iv.Timor-Leste and Zambia have been granted Associate Member status by the International Cricket Council (ICC), bringing the total number of ICC member nations to 110.
About International Cricket Council (ICC):
Chairman- Jay Shah
Headquarters- Dubai, the United Arab Emirates (UAE)
Established- 1909

IMPORTANT DAYS

World Chess Day 2025 – July 20The United Nations (UN’s) World Chess Day, also known as International Chess Day, is annually observed across the globe on 20 July to celebrate chess as one of the oldest and most intellectual games, recognizing its role in promoting education, peace, inclusion, and global cooperation across cultures.

• The day commemorates the founding of FIDE (Fédération Internationale des Échecs / International Chess Federation) on 20th July 1924 in Paris, France.
• The theme for World Chess Day 2025 is “Every Move Counts”, emphasizes the importance of thoughtful decision-making both on the chessboard and in life.

Background:
i.The idea of celebrating International Chess Day was first proposed by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
ii.Since 1966, under the initiative of FIDE, 20th July has been observed globally by chess players as International Chess Day.
iii.On 12th December 2019, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted Resolution A/RES/74/22, officially proclaiming 20th July of every year as World Chess Day.

• The resolution was introduced by Armenia and co-sponsored by 52 other countries.

iv.The first UN-recognised World Chess Day was officially observed on 20th July 2020.
>>Read Full News

International Moon Day – July 20The United Nations(UN’s) International Moon Day (IMD) is observed annually on 20 July to commemorate the Apollo 11 mission (1969), when astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first humans to walk on the lunar surface.

• The day aims to celebrate global achievement in lunar exploration, inspire youth in space science, and encourage sustainable, peaceful, and responsible use of lunar resources.
• The theme for International Moon Day 2025, endorsed by UN Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA)and the Moon Village Association(MVA), is “One Moon, One Vision, One Future.”

Background:
i.During the 65th session of the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS), the MVA formally submitted a proposal via the UNOOSA to designate 20 July as IMD.
ii.On 9 December 2021, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted Resolution A/RES/76/76, officially proclaiming 20 July each year as International Moon Day, under “International cooperation in the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space”
iii.The inaugural International Moon Day was observed on July 20, 2022.
>>Read Full News

STATE NEWS

First-Ever Mango Festival held in Nagaland to Boost Agriculture
On July 19, 2025, Nagaland’s first-ever Mango Festival was held in Longmatra village, Kiphire district, bringing together farmers from 13 neighbouring mango-growing villages. The event aimed to promote agriculture and rural entrepreneurship by providing a platform for farmers to showcase their produce and explore market opportunities.

• The event was organized by the District Administration of Kiphire in collaboration with the Department of Horticulture, Nagaland.

i.The government representatives, including Kiusumew Yimchunger, Advisor for Home Guard & Civil Defence Services, Relief and Rehabilitation, encouraged cluster farming, organic branding, and regular market access for farmers.
ii.The event served as a platform to highlight the contribution of mango farmers and promote local mango varieties. The farmers were given guidance on organic farming, organic branding and market access.
iii.The Department of Agriculture assured support to farmers by providing planting materials, training, and by collaborating with the Land Resources Department to enhance mango cultivation in the region.
iv.Nagaland has celebrated other festivals such as Potata festival, and Garlic festival, aiming to align with the “One Village One Product(OVOP)” policy.

Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma Launches Milk Subsidy Scheme
On July 20, 2025, Chief Minister (CM) of Assam Himanta Biswa Sarma launched a Milk Subsidy Scheme, offering dairy farmers Rs.5 per litre of milk, supplied to cooperative processing units, at an event in Guwahati, Assam.

• The scheme aims to enhance milk production, increase farmers’ incomes, and strengthen the dairy sector in the state.

i.Under the subsidy scheme, financial assistance of Rs.5 per litre of milk, for up to 30 litres per day will be provided to approximately 20,000 dairy farmers, associated with 601 dairy cooperative societies across Assam.
ii.The total budget outlay of the scheme is Rs.10 crores for the Financial Year 2025-26 (FY 26).
iii.During the event, CM also performed the Bhoomi Pujan for the expansion of the Panjabari milk processing plant operated by West Assam Milk Producers’ Cooperative Union (WAMUL) under the Purabi Dairy brand.
iv.The expansion of Purabi Dairy plant facility, with an estimated cost of Rs.104.55 crores, will increase the capacity of the plant from 1.5 lakh litres per day (LLPD) to 3 LLPD.
v.This initiative is part of the Assam Dairy Development Plan (ADDP), backed by an Memorandum of understanding(MoU) between WAMUL and the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB), aiming to increase Assam’s formal milk processing capacity to 10 LLPD.

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