25th July 2025

1. BEML Limited Secured Rs 293.81 Crore Defence Order for 150 Indigenous HMVs
2. UNSC adopts resolution on peaceful settlement of international disputes unanimously
3. PayPal to Launch PayPal World, Partners with NIPL and Others
4. NUCFDC Signs MoU with IIA India to Enhance Governance and Internal Audit Standards in UCBs
5. GoI Appoints Ajay Seth as the IRDAI’s New Chairman for 3 Years
6. Vaishali Nigam Sinha Elected as President of UNGCNI
7. NASA Launched TRACERS Mission to Study Earth’s Magnetic Shield
8. Veteran Theatre Director and Padma Shri Awardee Ratan Thiyam Passed Away
9. Maharashtra Launches ‘Krishi Samruddhi’ Scheme to Empower Farmers
10. Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai Hits $1.1 Billion Net Worth Milestone
11. PM Modi Makes History: Breaks Indira Gandhi’s Record as India’s 2nd Longest Serving PM!
12. DRDO Successfully Test-Fires Drone-Launched Missile ULPGM-V3
13. France to Recognise Palestinian State
14. Hulk Hogan, WWE Icon and Global Pop Culture Phenomenon, Dies at 71
15. India Resumes Tourist Visas for Chinese Citizens After Five Years
16. Ministry of Culture To Celebrate Rajendra Chola I: Aadi Thiruvathirai Festival 2025
17. India-UK Vision 2035
18. UK-India FTA Signed

National News

1. PM Narendra Modi Becomes India’s Second Longest-Serving Prime Minister

• What:
  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi has surpassed Indira Gandhi’s record to become India’s second-longest-serving Prime Minister in a single term by completing 4,078 days in office on July 25, 2025.
• Tell me more:
  • Modi started as Gujarat’s Chief Minister in 2001 and has led elected governments for nearly 24 years, a first among Indian Prime Ministers.
  • He is the first Prime Minister born after India’s independence in 1947 and the longest-serving from a non-Hindi-speaking state.
  • Modi is the longest-serving non-Congress Prime Minister and the first non-Congress leader to complete two full terms with a clear majority.

Source: IT

2. India to Resume Tourist Visas for Chinese Citizens from July 24

• What:
  • India will resume issuing tourist visas to Chinese citizens starting from July 24, 2025, after a gap of five years.
• Why:
  • The move aims to improve bilateral ties and personal exchanges between India and China as part of repairing strained relations.
• Tell me more:
  • Chinese citizens must apply online, print the visa form, book an appointment, and then submit documents at the Indian Visa Application Center.
  • India had suspended tourist visas for Chinese citizens in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic; China had also suspended visas for Indian citizens but lifted restrictions in 2022 for students and business travellers.
  • The International Air Transport Association (IATA) declared Chinese tourist visas invalid in April 2022 as a tit-for-tat response to China limiting Indian student re-entry.

Source: HT

3. India-UK Endorse Vision 2035 to Deepen Partnership

• What:
  • The Prime Ministers of India and the United Kingdom endorsed the “India-UK Vision 2035,” a strategic roadmap to deepen cooperation for shared prosperity, growth, and security.
• Why:
  • The vision aims to build on the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership by setting ambitious goals in multiple sectors to enhance bilateral ties and address global challenges collaboratively.
• Tell me more:
  • The partnership includes regular high-level engagements, ministerial mechanisms, and flagship projects focusing on economic growth, education, technology, climate action, defence, and security.
  • Both countries reaffirm commitment to a rules-based international order and multilateral institution reforms such as the UN, WTO, WHO, IMF, and World Bank.
  • Key initiatives include trade expansion through CETA, a forthcoming Bilateral Investment Treaty, and enhanced cooperation in financial services, green finance, innovation, and infrastructure investments.
  • Collaboration will cover technology and innovation with a Joint AI Centre, connectivity improvements with 6G cooperation, biotechnology partnerships, health and life sciences, and advanced defence technology R&D.
  • People-to-people ties will be strengthened through educational dialogues, mutual recognition of qualifications, youth exchange programs, and cultural cooperation.

Source: PIB

4. India-UK Free Trade Agreement Signed to Double Bilateral Trade by 2030

• What:
  • India and the United Kingdom signed a historic free trade agreement (FTA) during PM Narendra Modi’s visit to the UK, aiming to double bilateral trade to $120 billion by 2030.
• Why:
  • The agreement seeks to boost trade by reducing tariffs, facilitating market access for key goods, and promoting investment and service trade between the two nations.
• Tell me more:
  • The FTA reduces tariffs on labour-intensive Indian exports like leather, footwear, and clothing, while cutting import duties on UK whisky and automobiles.
  • India’s exports to the UK will enjoy 99% duty-free access, and UK tariffs on exports to India will fall from 15% to 3%.
  • The deal covers goods, services, innovation, government procurement, and intellectual property rights.
  • The agreement also facilitates movement of various professionals including yoga instructors, musicians, investors, and intra-corporate transferees.
  • A social security agreement (Double Contribution Convention) will prevent Indian professionals in the UK from making duplicate social security payments.
  • The British Parliament’s endorsement is required before implementation, expected to take about one year.

Source: TOI

State News

1. Maharashtra Launches Krishi Samruddhi Yojana to Boost Farming

• What:
  • Maharashtra government has launched the Krishi Samruddhi Yojana to promote sustainable farming and address key agricultural challenges.
• Why:
  • The scheme aims to solve issues like deficient irrigation, rising input costs, inadequate farm credit, and lack of accurate weather forecasting in Maharashtra’s agriculture sector.
• Tell me more:
  • The government plans to invest Rs 5,000 crore annually in the farm sector, totaling Rs 25,000 crore over five years, in line with CM Devendra Fadnavis’ announcement.
  • The scheme focuses on climate-resilient farming, infrastructure creation, innovation, and uses Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) for fund disbursal linked to district-wise crop and farmer data.
  • Krishi Samruddhi Yojana follows the World Bank-funded Nanaji Deshmukh Krishi Samvardhini Prakalp, which improved output by 5%-16%, reduced production costs by 10%-15%, and increased cultivated area by 25%.

Source: TOI

2. Aadi Thiruvathirai Festival to Celebrate Rajendra Chola I Birth Anniversary

• What:
  • The Ministry of Culture will celebrate Rajendra Chola I’s birth anniversary with the Aadi Thiruvathirai Festival from July 23 to 27, 2025, at Gangaikonda Cholapuram, Tamil Nadu.
• Why:
  • The festival commemorates 1,000 years of Rajendra Chola’s maritime expedition and the start of the Gangaikonda Cholapuram temple construction, highlighting his legacy and Chola architecture.
• Tell me more:
  • The festival’s grand finale on July 27 will have Prime Minister Narendra Modi as the Chief Guest, along with Tamil Nadu’s Governor and Union ministers.
  • Cultural events include Bharatanatyam recitals by Kalakshetra Foundation, Devaram Thirumurai chanting by traditional Othuvars, and a musical tribute by Padma Vibhushan Ilaiyaraaja.
  • The Archaeological Survey of India will hold exhibitions on Chola Shaivism and temple architecture, along with heritage walks.
  • The festival celebrates Tamil Shaiva Bhakti tradition and the spiritual as well as artistic achievements of the Chola era.

Source: PIB

International News

1. UNSC Adopts Resolution for Peaceful Settlement of Disputes

• What:
  • The UN Security Council has adopted Resolution 2788 to strengthen ways for peaceful settlement of international disputes.
• Why:
  • The resolution aims to encourage all UN member states to use peaceful methods to resolve disputes, as listed in Article 33 of the UN Charter.
• Tell me more:
  • Resolution 2788 was adopted unanimously by the 15-member council.
  • It urges use of negotiation, inquiry, mediation, conciliation, arbitration, judicial settlement, regional agencies, or any other peaceful means.
  • The UNSC reaffirms its role to recommend suitable procedures for peaceful dispute settlement.
  • Article 33 of the UN Charter covers peaceful means for resolving disputes.

Source: NOA

2. NASA Launches TRACERS Mission to Study Earth’s Magnetic Shield

• What:
  • NASA launched its new mission called TRACERS, consisting of two satellites, to study how Earth’s magnetic shield protects the planet from space weather.
• Why:
  • The mission aims to advance the understanding of Earth-Sun interactions and support future space exploration to the Moon and Mars.
• Tell me more:
  • TRACERS was launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.
  • The twin satellites will fly closely, taking 3,000 measurements over one year, orbiting near Earth’s North Pole to study magnetic reconnection caused by solar wind.
  • The mission will have a four-week commissioning phase before starting its 12-month operational period.
  • TRACERS is led by the University of Iowa, with contributions from UCLA, UC Berkeley, and Southwest Research Institute, and managed by NASA’s Heliophysics Explorers Program Office.
  • Alongside TRACERS, three other small satellite missions—Athena EPIC, PExT, and REAL—were also deployed to study Earth’s radiation and communication technologies.
  • The launch was managed under NASA’s VADR contract at Kennedy Space Center.

Source: NASA

3. France to Recognise State of Palestine

• What:
  • French President Emmanuel Macron announced that France will officially recognise the State of Palestine and plans to formalise this at the United Nations General Assembly in September.
• Why:
  • The move aims to respond to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, promote peace by stopping the war, saving civilian lives, and advancing a two-state solution with secure borders.
• Tell me more:
  • Palestinians seek an independent state in the West Bank, east Jerusalem, and Gaza, territories captured by Israel in 1967.
  • France has Europe’s largest Jewish population and largest Muslim population in Western Europe, with Middle East conflicts often affecting social tensions in France.

Source: IT

Banking and Economy

1. PayPal Partners with NPCI for New Cross-Border Payments

• What:
  • PayPal has announced a partnership with the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) and others to launch a new cross-border payments platform called PayPal World.
• Why:
  • The partnership aims to allow consumers to make cross-border payments to global businesses by connecting local payment systems with PayPal.
• Tell me more:
  • PayPal World will enable interoperability between local systems and PayPal, helping Indian users make payments abroad and allowing global businesses to access UPI users.
  • The platform is set to go live later this year and will use open commerce APIs and a cloud-native, multi-region architecture.
  • Partners include India’s NPCI, Brazil’s Mercado Pago, Tencent Holdings’ Tenpay Global, and Venmo.
  • UPI handles nearly 85% of India’s total retail digital transaction volume.

Source: BS

2. NUCFDC and IIA India Form Strategic Alliance

• What:
  • The National Urban Cooperative Finance and Development Corporation Ltd. (NUCFDC) has signed an MoU with the Institute of Internal Auditors India (IIA India) to improve audit quality and governance in India’s Urban Cooperative Banking (UCB) sector.
• Why:
  • The collaboration aims to introduce global audit and risk frameworks aligned with RBI’s guidance to enhance internal controls and audit standards in UCBs.
• Tell me more:
  • The partnership will help UCBs adopt international audit standards, strengthen governance, and build auditors’ and senior management’s capabilities.
  • IIA India will provide UCBs access to global resources such as ESG and AI audit tools, training, webinars, and leadership content.
  • NUCFDC will assist UCBs in implementing strong governance frameworks to ensure transparency and depositor trust.
  • Key leaders including NUCFDC CEO Prabhat Chaturvedi and IIA India CEO K. V. Mukundan signed the MoU in Mumbai.

Source: ET

Defence News

1. BEML Receives Rs 293.81 Crore Order for HMVs

• What:
  • BEML Limited has got an order of Rs 293.81 crore from the Ministry of Defence to supply 150 indigenously designed high mobility vehicles (6×6 HMVs).
• Why:
  • These vehicles are designed to work in extreme terrains, different climatic conditions, and high altitudes.
• Tell me more:
  • The HMVs will be mainly manufactured at BEML’s Palakkad and Mysore plants, with extra production at other divisions if needed.
  • BEML Limited is a Schedule ‘A’ public sector enterprise under the Ministry of Defence.
  • Shri Shantanu Roy is the Chairman and Managing Director of BEML Limited.

Source: BS

2. DRDO Successfully Tests UAV-Launched Precision Guided Missile V3

• What:
  • The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully conducted flight trials of the UAV-Launched Precision Guided Missile (ULPGM) V3 at National Open Area Range in Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh.
• Why:
  • The trials aim to enhance India’s defence capabilities with advanced precision strike missiles designed for unmanned aerial vehicles (drones).
• Tell me more:
  • ULPGM V3, also named ULM-ER, is a next-generation air-to-ground missile with a passive imaging infrared seeker enabling fire-and-forget targeting day and night.
  • It weighs 12.5 kg, uses dual-thrust solid propulsion, and has an operational range of up to 4 km by day and 2.5 km by night, with two-way datalink communication.
  • The missile can carry various types of warheads and engage both static and moving targets with high accuracy.
  • This variant is a significant upgrade over ULPGM V1 and V2 in seeker, guidance, range, and performance.
  • Key manufacturing partners include Adani Defence and Bharat Dynamics Limited; a DRDO hexacopter UAV was the launch platform.

Source: BS

Awards

1. Sundar Pichai’s Net Worth Crosses $1.1 Billion Milestone

• What:
  • Sundar Pichai, CEO of Alphabet Inc., has crossed a net worth of $1.1 billion due to the rise in Alphabet’s stock value.
• Tell me more:
  • Alphabet’s shares have risen about 120% since early 2023, pushing the company’s market value above $1 trillion.
  • Pichai owns a 0.02% stake in Alphabet worth around $440 million currently; he has sold shares valued over $650 million in the past decade.
  • If he had retained all shares, his stake would be worth over $2.5 billion at current prices.
  • Sundar Pichai was born in Tamil Nadu and began his education journey with a scholarship to Stanford in 1993.

Source: IT

Appointments

1. Appointment of Ajay Seth as IRDAI Chairman

• The central government has appointed former Finance Secretary Ajay Seth as the chairman of the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) for three years.

Source: ET

2. UNGC India Elects Vaishali Nigam Sinha as First Private Sector President

• What:
  • Vaishali Nigam Sinha, co-founder of ReNew, has been elected as the president of United Nations Global Compact Network India (UNGCNI), becoming the first private sector leader to hold this position in over 20 years.
• Tell me more:
  • The new 12-member governing council represents corporates, not-for-profits, consultancies, and top educational institutes to promote sustainability.
  • Under Sinha’s leadership, the council will drive the global initiative ‘Forward Faster’ and expand efforts on gender equality, climate action, water resilience, and circular economy.
• Knowledge Nuggets:
  • UNGCNI promotes ten universal principles related to human rights, labour, environment, and anti-corruption.
  • The network has 361 members and chapters in Mumbai, Hyderabad, Chennai, Kolkata, and Bengaluru.

Source: TW

Miscellaneous

1. Ratan Thiyam, Renowned Theatre Director, Passes Away at 77

• Ratan Thiyam, a famous Indian theatre director and playwright, passed away at age 77 after a long illness.
• He received many awards, including the prestigious Padma Shri in 1989.

Source: TOI

2. Hulk Hogan, Wrestling Icon and Pop Culture Legend, Dies at 71

• What:
  • Hulk Hogan, a famous professional wrestling star and pop culture icon, has died at the age of 71 at his home in Florida.
• Tell me more:
  • Hogan’s real name was Terry Bollea, known for his 6’7” stature, blond handlebar mustache, and charismatic catchphrases.
  • He was instrumental in popularizing World Wrestling Federation (now WWE) during the 1980s through “Hulkamania.”

Source: TOI

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