Daily GK Update- 1st July, 2025

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Govt launches ‘GoIStats’ app for easy access to official data on the Go: The government has launched the ‘GoIStats’ mobile app, developed by the National Sample Survey Office (NSO) under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, to provide stakeholders with seamless access to official statistics on the go.The GoIStats app features an interactive “Key Trends” dashboard with dynamic visualisations of critical socio-economic indicators such as GDP, inflation, and employment, enhancing the accessibility and user experience of official data.The Android version of GoIStats is now available free on the Google Play Store, with an iOS version expected soon, reflecting India’s commitment to making official statistics more user-centric and widely accessible.

 

2. Jindal Steel Commissions Odisha’s First Continuous Galvanising Line, Boosts Value-Added Steel Production: Jindal Steel has commissioned its first continuous galvanising line at the Angul integrated steel complex in Odisha as part of a ₹3,400 crore investment in a cold rolling mill complex, marking a significant step in expanding its value-added steel product portfolio.The new galvanising line will produce galvanised and galvalume products under the Jindal Panther Galvanised and Zinkalume brands, catering to key sectors including appliances, automotive, infrastructure, and construction industries.With this commissioning, Jindal Steel aims to boost its downstream capabilities for higher-margin products, while the crude steel capacity at Angul is set to rise to 12 million tonnes per annum by the end of 2025 as the company adds another 6 mtpa.

 

3. 1 July – National Doctors’ Day: National Doctors’ Day in India is celebrated every year on 1st July to honour the invaluable contributions of doctors and healthcare professionals in serving humanity.Theme 2025 – Behind the Mask: Who Heals the HealersThe day commemorates the birth and death anniversary of Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy (B.C. Roy) — a renowned physician, freedom fighter, educationist, and the second Chief Minister of West Bengal, who was awarded Bharat Ratna in 1961.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Western Ghats Ecologically Sensitive Areas: The Western Ghats, a UNESCO World Heritage site, are facing critical discussions on the designation of Ecologically Sensitive Areas (ESAs). An expert panel is actively reviewing proposals from Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Goa. This follows a prolonged period of indecision concerning environmental protection in this vital region. The panel, led by Sanjay Kumar, is considering separate notifications for these states, which could expedite the protection process. The Western Ghats stretch over six states in India. They are known for their rich biodiversity and unique ecosystems. In 2012, the Madhav Gadgil report proposed extensive ecological protection. This report suggested that the entire region should be designated as ecologically sensitive. However, political resistance has hindered its implementation. The panel is evaluating the extent of ESAs in Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Goa. Reports indicate that Gujarat has the least area designated as ESA. Maharashtra has been proactive in submitting information, while Goa has also complied with the panel’s requests. The committee aims to resolve these states’ issues before addressing the remaining three states – Kerala, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu.

 

2. India-Pakistan Prisoner Exchange: India and Pakistan conducted their biannual exchange of prisoner lists. This exchange is part of the Agreement on Consular Access established in 2008. It aims to enhance transparency and cooperation regarding humanitarian issues between the two nations. The lists included number of civilian prisoners and fishermen from both sides. The Agreement on Consular Access was signed in 2008. It mandates both countries to share lists of prisoners in their custody twice a year. This initiative aims to address humanitarian concerns and improve relations. The agreement reflects a commitment to uphold human rights and ensure the welfare of prisoners.

 

3. Canada Scraps Digital Services Tax: Canada announced the withdrawal of its Digital Services Tax (DST) just before its implementation. This decision came after pressure from the United States, particularly from President Donald Trump. The DST was designed to impose a 3% levy on revenues generated by foreign digital companies from Canadian users. The tax was controversial due to its retroactive payments clause and the potential financial burden it would impose on major American tech firms. The Digital Services Tax was introduced to address the taxation gap for large international tech companies operating in Canada. It aimed to collect a 3% tax on revenues exceeding $20 million from Canadian users. The tax was intended to ensure that digital companies contributed fairly to the Canadian economy. However, its implementation was met with strong opposition from the US government.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

DEFENCE

 

1. Parag Jain Appointed as New RAW Chief: Senior IPS officer Parag Jain has been appointed as the new chief of the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), succeeding Ravi Sinha, who retires on June 30; Jain will serve a two-year tenure.Jain, a 1989-batch IPS officer from the Punjab cadre, currently heads RAW’s Aviation Research Centre (ARC) and is the second senior-most officer in the agency.He played a key role in intelligence operations during Operation Sindoor, launched after the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir, which led to retaliatory strikes by India.Jain’s extensive experience includes handling the Pakistan desk, tenures in J&K during Article 370 abrogation, and stints in Indian missions in Sri Lanka and Canada monitoring Khalistani terror networks.

 

2. Reliance Infra, US Firm Seal ₹20,000 Crore Pact to Modernise India’s Jets and Choppers: Reliance Defence Limited, backed by Reliance Infrastructure, has signed a strategic partnership with US-based Coastal Mechanics Inc (CMI) to jointly address India’s ₹20,000 crore defence market for maintenance, repair, overhaul (MRO), and upgrades of critical defence platforms.The collaboration will focus on providing comprehensive MRO, upgrades, and lifecycle support for key assets like over 100 Jaguar and MiG-29 fighter jets, Apache attack helicopters, L-70 air defence guns, and other legacy systems needing modernisation and long-term sustainment.A joint venture will be established at MIHAN in Nagpur, Maharashtra, enabling the companies to offer end-to-end MRO and upgrade services to the Indian Armed Forces and tap opportunities in both domestic and export defence markets.

 

3. INS Udaygiri: On 1 July 2025, the Indian Navy received INS Udaygiri, the second ship of Project 17A stealth frigates. This delivery signifies a major advancement in India’s naval capabilities. Udaygiri is built at Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited, Mumbai, and is part of a series of seven ships designed for modern naval warfare. The frigate is a successor to the Shivalik class and is equipped to operate in a ‘Blue Water’ environment, addressing both conventional and non-conventional threats. Project 17A is a follow-on to the earlier Shivalik class (Project 17) frigates. The project includes the construction of seven multi-mission frigates. These ships are designed with enhanced stealth features and advanced weaponry. The capabilities of the Project 17A frigates represent upgrade from their predecessors.

 

SPORTS

 

1. Lando Norris Clinches Austrian Grand Prix Victory: Lando Norris won the Austrian Grand Prix, overtaking his McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri in an intense battle and converting his pole position into victory despite pressure; this marked Norris’ third win of the season and his first since the Monaco Grand Prix.The race saw drama early on with Max Verstappen eliminated on the first lap, while Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc finished third, Lewis Hamilton fourth, and Mercedes’ George Russell fifth, signaling a strong return for Ferrari at the Red Bull Ring.

 

2. Ayush Shetty Wins First BWF World Tour Title at US Open 2025: Ayush Shetty clinched his maiden BWF World Tour title by winning the US Open 2025, a BWF Super 300 tournament, defeating Canada’s World No. 33 Brian Yang 21-18, 21-13 in a 47-minute final; his stellar run also included a remarkable semifinal win over World No. 6 Chou Tien Chen, avenging his earlier loss at the Taipei Open 2025.The 20-year-old fourth seed started strong with victories over Denmark’s Magnus Johannesen, compatriot Tharun Mannepalli, and Chinese Taipei’s Kuo Kuan Lin before his semifinal and final triumphs, cementing his status as a rising star in Indian men’s badminton.

In women’s singles, 16-year-old Tanvi Sharma impressed the world by becoming the youngest Indian to reach a BWF World Tour final, defeating multiple higher-ranked opponents before narrowly losing to 34-year-old veteran Beiwen Zhang 11-21, 21-16, 10-21, continuing her streak after two BWF International Challenge titles and a final appearance at the Odisha Masters.

 

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

 

1. Om Birla inaugurated CPA Zone-2 conference on good governance in digital era at Dharamshala: Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has inaugurated the annual conference of Zone-2 of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) at Tapovan, Dharamshala. This zone includes the states of Delhi, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, and Punjab.The Conference aims to serve as a vital platform for strengthening democratic institutions, sharing best practices, and exploring innovative approaches to governance and legislative functioning in the contemporary era.

 

2. The theme of the Conference is – Good Governance in the Digital Era: Managing Resources, Defending Democracy, and Embracing Innovation. The CPA is a global organisation that brings together parliamentarians to strengthen parliamentary democracy.MiPhi Becomes India’s First Homegrown Enterprise SSD Manufacturer, Boosting Digital Sovereignty: MiPhi Semiconductors, a joint venture between Micromax Informatics and Taiwan’s Phison Technology, has begun designing and manufacturing enterprise-grade SSDs in India, becoming the country’s first homegrown brand to produce such advanced storage solutions.The company stated that this achievement marks a major milestone in India’s journey toward digital sovereignty and technological leadership, showcasing Indian innovation backed by engineering excellence and global collaboration.MiPhi’s enterprise SSDs are purpose-built for data centres, high-performance computing, and mission-critical environments, making it the only brand currently designing and manufacturing enterprise SSDs entirely within India.

 

3. Italy Unveils iRonCub MK3: World’s First Jet-Powered Flying Humanoid Robot for Disaster Response: Italian researchers have unveiled iRonCub MK3, the world’s first jet-powered flying humanoid robot, standing 3 feet tall, weighing 22 kg, and controlled remotely; its child-like appearance has unsettled many viewers online.Developed over two years by the Italian Institute of Technology, iRonCub MK3 is designed with applications in disaster response, combining aerial mobility with ground-based locomotion to assist in search and rescue missions by clearing debris and locating victims.Researchers highlight that flying humanoid robots like iRonCub MK3 could perform tasks in hazardous or hard-to-reach environments, such as repairs on bridges’ undersides or operations in areas affected by nuclear or chemical leaks; the robot has been tested outdoors and in wind tunnels.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. Bank of Baroda Launches bob Flexi Systematic Deposit Plan: Bank of Baroda has launched the bob Flexi Systematic Deposit Plan (SDP), a recurring deposit scheme that combines disciplined savings with flexible monthly contributions, allowing customers to deposit more based on their liquidity.The plan offers minimum instalments starting at ₹500, with top-ups in multiples of ₹100, and customers can increase deposits up to 10 times the base amount, capped at ₹1 lakh per month.Senior citizens enjoy preferential interest rates on deposits below ₹3 crore, while the scheme also offers a loan or overdraft facility of up to 95% of the outstanding balance.

Additional features include nomination facilities for eligible account holders and the option to open accounts for minors aged 10 years and above, with a deposit limit of ₹1 lakh for minors.

 

2. PhonePe, HDFC Bank Launch Co-Branded RuPay Credit Card with UPI Integration and High Rewards: PhonePe and HDFC Bank have launched a co-branded RuPay credit card—available in ‘Ultimo’ and ‘UNO’ variants—marking PhonePe’s entry into the co-branded card segment with features designed for the evolving needs of Indian digital consumers.The cards offer high rewards on PhonePe spends, including up to 10% reward points on bill payments, recharges, travel bookings, and purchases on Pincode (PhonePe’s hyperlocal delivery app), plus seamless UPI integration for payments via the PhonePe platform.

 

3. India’s GST Collections Double in Five Years to Record ₹22.08 Lakh Crore: Gross GST collection reached a record ₹08 lakh crore in FY 2024-25, doubling from ₹11.37 lakh crore in FY 2020-21, with average monthly collections rising to ₹1.84 lakh crore in FY25 from ₹1.68 lakh crore in FY24 and ₹1.51 lakh crore in FY22, reflecting strong revenue growth.GST recorded its highest-ever monthly collection of ₹37 lakh crore in April 2025, followed by ₹2.01 lakh crore in May 2025; June’s numbers are expected to be released on July 1, 2025.Since GST’s rollout on July 1, 2017, the number of registered taxpayers has more than doubled from 65 lakh to over 1.51 crore by 2025, demonstrating significant expansion of the tax base over eight years.By subsuming 17 local taxes and 13 cesses into a unified five-tier structure, GST has simplified India’s indirect tax regime, improved transparency, and strengthened the country’s fiscal position, according to the government’s statement on eight years of GST.

 

4. States/UTs to borrow Rs 2.86 lakh crore in Jul-Sep quarter: RBI: States and Union Territories in India will raise approximately ₹86 lakh crore from the markets during the July–September 2025 quarter, as per the Reserve Bank of India’s plan finalised after consultations with state governments and UTs.The borrowing drive begins on July 1, with ₹18,100 crore to be raised by 10 states, including Maharashtra (₹6,000 crore), Andhra Pradesh (₹2,000 crore), Kerala (₹2,000 crore), Tamil Nadu (₹2,000 crore), and others.Of the gross market borrowing budgeted at ₹82 lakh crore for FY 2025-26, ₹8.00 lakh crore (54%) is set to be borrowed in the first half of the fiscal through 26 weekly auctions of dated securities spanning maturities from 3 to 50 years.The borrowing distribution will include 10-year securities (26.2%), 15-year and 40-year securities (each at 14%), along with smaller shares in other tenures, ensuring a balanced debt profile across different durations.