International Relations & Trade

• India-UK CEETA Agreement:
  • Full Form: Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement.
  • Parties: India and United Kingdom.
  • Signed: July 24, 2025.
  • Indian Signatory: Piyush Goyal, Union Minister of Commerce and Industry.
  • Signing Location: Chequers Estate, England (UK Prime Minister's official country residence).
  • Target: Increase bilateral trade to $120 billion by 2030.
  • Benefits for India: Reduced tariffs (near zero) on Indian leather, textiles, toys, garments, footwear, gems, jewelry, tea, coffee, basmati rice, and bakery products, enhancing market access in the UK.
• France and Palestine State Recognition:
  • Decision: France to officially recognize Palestine as a state in September 2025 at the United Nations General Assembly.
  • Significance: First G7 country to make this commitment.
  • Reason: France believes in a two-state solution for peace in the region.
  • G7 Members: Germany, France, Japan, USA, Italy, Canada, United Kingdom (Russia was excluded from the former G8).
  • UN General Assembly (UNGA): Referred to as the "Mini Parliament of the World," comprising 193 member states with a "one nation, one vote" system. The President of the 80th session is mentioned as "Annabella Germany" (likely a mispronunciation of a specific name, but transcribed as stated).
  • Israel-Palestine Conflict Context: The core dispute revolves around Jerusalem, a holy site for Jews, Christians, and Muslims. Gaza Strip and West Bank are Palestinian territories.
• Indian Citizens' Evacuation from Iran:
  • Operation Name: Operation Sindhu.
  • Method: Evacuated through Armenia.
• Iran-US Retaliation:
  • US Operation: Operation Midnight Hammer (US air strike on Iranian nuclear sites).
  • Iran's Retaliation: Operation Basayat Al Fateh (attack on US bases in Qatar).
• Chinese Tourist Visas:
  • Decision: Government of India has re-started tourist visas for Chinese citizens after a 5-year pause (due to COVID-19 and Galwan Valley conflict).
• Colombo Dockyard:
  • Acquirer: Mazagon Dock Limited.
  • Acquisition: Acquired majority stake in Colombo Dockyard for $52.96 million.
• Export of Lychee to Qatar & UAE:
  • Product: Rose-scented lychee.
  • Origin: Punjab, India.
  • Destination: Qatar and UAE.

Science & Technology

• NASA's Trasher Mission:
  • Purpose: To study Earth's magnetic field/shield and its role in protecting against solar storms.
  • Launch Vehicle: Falcon 9 rocket.
  • Related Missions Mentioned:
    • Sparks Mission: To study events after the Big Bang Theory.
    • Artemis Mission: To return humans to the Moon.
    • NISAR: NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (joint mission).
    • Blue Ghost Mission: Moon study/landing mission.
    • Punch Mission: Solar study mission.
• DRDO's ULPGM V3 Missile Testing:
  • Missile Name: ULPGM V3 (UAV Launched Precision Guided Missile V3).
  • Testing Agency: DRDO (Defence Research and Development Organisation).
  • Testing Location: Andhra Pradesh.
  • Significance: First time in India a missile was launched from a drone (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle - UAV).
  • Features: Precision-guided, day/night capability, 12.5 kg weight, "Fire-and-Forget" principle, Air-to-Surface missile.
  • DRDO Information: Established on January 1, 1958. Current Head: Samir Kamat. Motto: "Balasya Mulam Vigyanam" (Science is the source of strength).
• India's First AI-Powered Smart Traffic System:
  • Location: Delhi-Dwarka Expressway.
• Nakshtra (ICMR Pune):
  • Purpose: First high-performance computing facility for genomic surveillance.
  • Developed by: ICMR Pune.
• Small Modular Reactor (SMR) Plant:
  • Location: Bihar (India's first nuclear power plant under SMR mission).

National Affairs & Governance

• Election Commission of India (ECI) Voter List Revision:
  • Context: Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists conducted in Bihar.
  • Findings in Bihar: Identified 1.8 million deceased voters, 2.6 million voters who changed constituencies, and 0.7 million duplicate voters.
  • ECI Decision: To launch a nationwide (All India) intensive revision of voter lists to ensure free and fair elections.
  • ECI Information: Established on January 25, 1950 (celebrated as National Voters Day). First head: Sukumar Sen. First female head: Rama Devi. Current head: Gyanesh Kumar (as stated).
• IRDAI Chairman Appointment:
  • Body: IRDAI (Insurance Regulatory Development Authority of India).
  • Establishment: 1999 Act, started operations in 2000.
  • Headquarters: Hyderabad, Telangana.
  • New Chairman: Ajay Seth (former Finance Secretary).
• Prime Minister's Tenure Comparison:
  • Narendra Modi: As of July 25, 2025, his tenure as Prime Minister exceeded that of Indira Gandhi (approx. 4078 days vs. 4077 days).
  • Rank: Narendra Modi is now the second longest-serving Prime Minister of India (continuous tenure).
  • First Oath: May 26, 2014.
  • Longest-Serving PM: Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru (over 16 years).
• IGATU and PESA Centre of Excellence:
  • Agreement: Between Government of India and Indira Gandhi National Tribal University (IGNTU).
  • IGNTU Location: Amarkantak.
  • Centre Location: Bhopal.
  • Purpose: To establish a PESA (Panchayats Extension to Scheduled Areas Act, 1996) Centre of Excellence.
  • PESA Act: Based on recommendations from the Dilip Bhuria Committee.
  • Objectives: Tribal empowerment, capacity building, and promoting sustainable development in tribal areas.
• CM FLIGHT Scheme (Assam):
  • Launch: By the Government of Assam (CM Himanta Biswa Sarma).
  • Purpose: To provide foreign language training (e.g., Spanish, German, French) to Assamese youth to facilitate overseas employment.
• Krishi Samriddhi Yojana (Maharashtra):
  • Launch: By the Government of Maharashtra.
  • Purpose: Agricultural development.
  • Budget: ₹25,000 crore.
• Fastag Based Annual Pass:
  • Value: ₹3000 annual pass.
  • Benefit: Allows 200 passages through toll gates.
• Pratibha Setu Portal (UPSC):
  • Purpose: Connects private companies with UPSC candidates who reached the interview stage but were not selected, facilitating their recruitment.
• Committee on Coaching Center Reliance:
  • Head: Vineet Joshi (Higher Education Secretary).
  • Purpose: To review the reliance on coaching centers for entrance examinations.
• Ullas Nav Bharat Saksharta Karyakram (Full Functional Literacy States):
  • Rankings: 1st Mizoram, 2nd Goa, 3rd Tripura.
• Constitution Murder Day:
  • Commemorated on: June 25 (marking the imposition of the third Emergency in India in 1975).
• All India Household Income Survey (2026):
  • Expert Group Head: Surjit Bhalla.
• International Potato Center - South Asia Regional Centre:
  • Location: Singhana, Uttar Pradesh.
• 5th Khelo India University Games:
  • Future Location: Jaipur, Rajasthan.
• Indian Conservation Conference ICON 2025:
  • Location: Dehradun.
• Operation Bihali (Indian Army):
  • Location: Jammu & Kashmir.
  • Purpose: To eliminate terrorism.

Awards, Indices & Reports

• ITF Women's Tournament Doubles Title:
  • Winner: Indian tennis star Ankita Raina.
  • Location: Portugal.
• Desi Oon (Film):
  • Award: Jury Award for Best Commissioned Film.
  • Festival: International Animation Festival in France.
• Energy Transition Index 2025 (World Economic Forum):
  • India's Rank: 71st.
• Performance Grade Index 2.0 (Ministry of Education, 2023-24):
  • Top Performer: Chandigarh (State/UT).
• Bloomberg Philanthropy Award 2025:
  • Recipient: India.
  • Reason: For tobacco control efforts.
• Global Peace Index:
  • India's Rank: 115th.
• Sustainable Development Goal Index:
  • India's Achievement: Ranked in the top 100 for the first time.
• Digital Payments Award 2024-25:
  • Awarded by: Financial Services Department, Ministry of Finance.
  • Recipient: Indian Post Payment Bank.
• Hurun Global Unicorn Index:
  • India's Rank: 3rd place.

Culture & Heritage

• Adi Thiruvathirai Festival 2025:
  • Location: Gangaikonda Cholapuram, Tamil Nadu.
  • Occasion: Commemorates the 1000th birth anniversary of King Rajendra Chola I.
  • Organizer: Ministry of Culture.
  • Rajendra Chola I: Son of Rajaraja Chola I, known for expanding the Chola empire to Southeast Asia and strengthening the navy.
• Halley's Comet Archival Evidence:
  • Location: Found at Mallikarjuna Swamy Temple, Andhra Pradesh.
• Bonalu Festival:
  • Location: Telangana.

Sports & Other Highlights

• Neeraj Chopra's Achievements:
  • Paris Diamond League: Won gold with an 88.16m throw.
  • Doha Diamond League: Won silver with a 90+m throw (his personal best, though it fetched silver).
  • Ostrava Golden Spike 2025: Won javelin gold.
• Rishabh Pant:
  • Record: First Indian and second wicketkeeper globally to score centuries in both innings of a Test match.
• Thailand Asia Para Badminton Championship:
  • India's Medal Tally: 27 medals.
• Under-23 and Under-17 Asia Wrestling Championship 2025:
  • Location: Vietnam.
  • India's Medal Tally: 35 medals.
• Book "The One":
  • Author: Shikhar Dhawan (Indian cricketer).
• Longest Animal Overpass Corridor:
  • Location: Delhi-Mumbai Expressway, near Ranthambore Tiger Reserve.
• Arlaam Forest:
  • Significance: India's first butterfly sanctuary.
  • Location: Kerala.
• Relating Hindi as Third Language:
  • State: Maharashtra adopted Hindi as a common third language in schools, leading to controversy.
• "Linacavir" Drug:
  • Purpose: HIV/AIDS treatment.
  • Approval: Approved by US FDA.
• FPB Adamyam (Fast Patrol Vessel):
  • Inclusion: Included in the Indian Coast Guard.
  • Location: Goa.
• President Droupadi Murmu:
  • Inauguration: Rashtrapati Tapovan and Rashtrapati Niketan.
  • Location: Dehradun.
• "Nandini Cooperative Milk Federation (Karnataka):
  • Plan: To launch milk products in Gulf countries.
• CO2 Conversion:
  • Technology: China developed a method to convert CO2 into sugar.