Daily GK Update- 12th July, 2025

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. NESTS Signs MoU with Tata Motors to Empower Tribal Youth through Skill-Based Education and Employment Opportunities: The National Education Society for Tribal Students (NESTS) and Tata Motors Limited (TML) signed an MoU to enhance skill-linked education and employment for tribal students from Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS).Under this partnership, tribal students completing Class 12th will be enrolled in the Tata Motors Kaushalya Program, focusing on employability and vocational training.This five-year MoU reflects a shared goal of uplifting tribal communities through structured skill development, aligned with India’s national development and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

 

2. Kumar Mangalam Birla joining the USISPF Executive Committee: Kumar Mangalam Birla, Chairman of the Aditya Birla Group, has been appointed to the Executive Committee of the U.S.-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF) Board of Directors.He was also honoured with the Global Leadership Award at the 2025 USISPF Leadership Summit held in Washington, D.C., recognizing his global business influence. The Aditya Birla Group, India’s third-largest conglomerate, operates across diverse sectors with a global workforce of 180,000+ employees, and is known for its meritocratic culture and innovation-driven growth.

 

3. Kumar Mangalam Birla Joins USISPF Executive Committee: Kumar Mangalam Birla, Chairman of Aditya Birla Group, has joined the Executive Committee of the S.-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF). He received the Global Leadership Award at the 2025 USISPF Leadership Summit in Washington, D.C., recognizing his global business impact. Aditya Birla Group, India’s third-largest conglomerate, operates across multiple sectors with a global workforce of over 1.8 lakh employees.

 

4. Assam Cabinet Launches Gaja Mitra Scheme: The Assam Cabinet, led by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, approved the launch of the Gaja Mitra Scheme in eight high-risk districts to address rising human-elephant conflicts through community-based rapid response teams in 80 conflict-prone villages. These teams, consisting of eight local members, will function during peak conflict periods like the paddy cultivation season to ensure safe elephant passage and safeguard local livelihoods.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. NESTS and UNICEF India Launch TALASH to Empower Tribal Students with Life Skills: The Ministry of Tribal Affairs, in collaboration with UNICEF India, has launched the TALASH initiative (Tribal Aptitude, Life Skills and Self-Esteem Hub) to promote holistic development among students of Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRSs). TALASH focuses on enhancing self-awareness, life skills, and career clarity among tribal youth, aiming to nurture both educational and personal excellence. It is the first national-level program of its kind specifically dedicated to tribal students, representing a focused effort to empower and uplift tribal communities through targeted educational support.

 

2. Prajakta Koli Becomes The Only Indian On 2025 TIME100 Creators List: Prajakta Koli, popularly known as MostlySane, has been featured in the 2025 TIME100 Creators List, making her the first and only Indian-born digital creator to receive this global recognition. The TIME100 Creators List highlights the world’s most influential digital voices and includes global icons like Mr. Beast (Jimmy Donaldson), Khabane Lame, Kai Cenat, and Mel Robbins. Koli began her journey on YouTube in 2015, gaining fame through relatable comedy sketches based on everyday Indian life, amassing 7 million+ subscribers and 8 million Instagram followers. Beyond digital content, she has acted in Netflix’s “Mismatched”, Bollywood films like Jugjugg Jeeyo and Neeyat, hosted YouTube Originals’ “Pretty Fit”, and in 2025, published her debut novel “Too Good To Be True”.

 

3. 11 July – International Day of Reflection and Commemoration of the 1995 Genocide in Srebrenica: The United Nations observes 11 July as the International Day of Reflection and Commemoration of the 1995 Genocide in Srebrenica to honour the victims and survivors. The genocide, which occurred in July 1995 during the Bosnian War, led to the massacre of more than 8,000 Bosniak men and boys in Srebrenica. The day serves to promote global awareness, remembrance, and education to prevent future genocides and uphold human rights.

 

4. 11 July – World Horse Day: World Horse Day is observed annually on 11 July to celebrate the significance of horses in human history, culture, agriculture, and sports. The day recognises the significant role horses have played in transportation, warfare, farming, and companionship across civilisations. It aims to raise awareness about horse welfare, protection, and ethical treatment, especially in industries where they are used for work or sport.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

DEFENCE

 

1. Centre Approves ₹1,066 Crore Relief for Flood and Landslide-Affected States: The Central Government has approved the release of ₹1,066 crore for flood and landslide-affected states—Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Kerala, and Uttarakhand, with Uttarakhand receiving the highest share of over ₹455 crore. So far in 2025, the Centre has released ₹6,166 crore from the State Disaster Response Fund to 14 states, ₹1,988 crore from the National Disaster Mitigation Fund to 12 states, and ₹726 crore from the State Disaster Mitigation Fund to 5 states. The government has provided logistical support including the deployment of 104 NDRF teams, Army units, and Air Force assistance across 21 states and UTs for monsoon-related rescue and relief operations.

 

 

SPORTS

 

1. Prasar Bharati Signs MoU with HAI to Boost the Sport Nationwide: Prasar Bharati and the Handball Association of India (HAI) have signed a three-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to produce and broadcast all national and international handball events. These events will be broadcast on DD Sports, Waves OTT, and other Prasar Bharati platforms. The MoU aims to significantly boost the sport’s reach and nurture talent in the country. Chairman of Prasar Bharati – Navneet Kumar Sehgal

 

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

 

1. Dharmendra Pradhan Inaugurates Agricultural Technology Innovation Centre in Meerut: Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan inaugurated the Agricultural Technology Innovation Centre at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Agricultural University, Meerut, aiming to transform farmers into entrepreneurs using AI and innovation. He emphasized AI’s potential in doubling farmers’ income and ensuring fair prices, and highlighted IIT Ropar’s role in leading the Centre of Excellence for AI in Agriculture. A new Skill Development Centre was also announced to support farmer-centric research and startups, with Union Ministers Jayant Chaudhary and Surya Pratap Shahi attending the event and backing the IIT-Agriculture University collaboration

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. AIIB Invests $100 Million in IIFL Home Finance to Boost Affordable Housing and Green Infrastructure in India: The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) has invested $100 million in IIFL Home Finance Limited to support affordable housing for low-income and economically weaker sections in India. This is AIIB’s first partnership with IIFLHF, promoting green building practices aligned with India’s climate goals and the Paris Agreement. The funding supports initiatives like Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Urban 2.0 and AIIB’s Sustainable Cities Strategy, addressing both the social and environmental sides of India’s housing needs.

 

2. RBI Imposes Penalties on HDFC Bank and Shriram Finance for Regulatory Violations: RBI has imposed a monetary penalty of ₹4.88 lakh on HDFC Bank for violating foreign investment norms while sanctioning a term loan to a client. Shriram Finance Limited was penalised ₹2.70 lakh by the Reserve Bank of India for non-compliance with certain provisions of the RBI (Digital Lending) Directions, 2025 after a statutory inspection based on its March 2024 financials.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. Telangana Wins IESA Industry Excellence Award 2025 for State Leadership in Battery Manufacturing: Telangana received the India Energy Storage Alliance (IESA) Industry Excellence Award 2025 under the State Leadership – Battery Manufacturing category, recognizing its advancements in energy storage. The award was presented at the 11th India Energy Storage Week (IESW) 2025 held in New Delhi, acknowledging the state’s proactive efforts in fostering new energy technologies. With progressive policies like the Telangana EV and Energy Storage Policy and dedicated industrial clusters, the state has emerged as a national hub for battery manufacturing and EV supply chains.