Daily GK Update- 29th July, 2025

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. SPARSH Pension System: Since its launch by the Ministry of Defence, the System for Pension Administration Raksha (SPARSH) aims to streamline pension delivery for Indian military veterans. However, many ex-servicemen report that the centralised digital platform has complicated pension management. Issues range from difficult access to persistent errors in pension records. This has sparked widespread concern and calls for reform. SPARSH was introduced to digitise and centralise pension processes for military veterans. It seeks to replace manual and bank-based systems with an online portal. The goal is faster pension disbursal and easier record maintenance. The system covers pension payments, life certificate submissions and corrections in personal details.

 

2. Low Wages and Women’s Workforce Participation Challenges: The issue of low wages is increasingly recognised as a major barrier for women entering and staying in formal employment in India. A 2025 report by Quess Corp and the Udaiti Foundation marks that over half of women in blue- and grey-collar jobs are dissatisfied with their pay. Most women save very little or nothing monthly, making financial independence difficult. This situation puts stress on the urgent need to re-examine wage structures and labour policies to support women workers better. The report reveals that women in blue- and grey-collar roles earn only about 70 per cent of men’s wages. Nearly 54 per cent of these women are unhappy with their pay. Around 80 per cent save less than Rs 2,000 monthly or nothing at all. Low wages combined with high living costs and unpaid caregiving duties make it hard for women to sustain employment. This financial strain often forces women to leave the workforce.

 

3. Veer Parivar Sahayata Yojana: The National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) launched the Veer Parivar Sahayata Yojana. This scheme aims to provide free legal aid to defence personnel and their families. It was revealed during the North Zone Regional Conference in Srinagar. The initiative strengthens legal support through dedicated clinics linked with Sainik Boards at district, state, and central levels. Defence personnel often face legal challenges while posted in remote areas. Issues such as land disputes, matrimonial conflicts, and service entitlements become difficult to manage from afar. The scheme recognises this gap and offers a legal support network to ease these burdens. It honours the sacrifices of soldiers and ensures their families receive timely legal assistance. The scheme builds on existing legal services clinics. It establishes a dedicated network within Sainik Boards across all administrative levels. These Boards are already welfare hubs for serving and retired personnel. Now, they will also provide legal guidance. Panel lawyers and para-legal volunteers will actively assist defence families. This creates a robust support system tailored to their unique needs.

 

4. Gujarat’s Samras Gram Panchayats: Gujarat witnessed a unique electoral phenomenon. Out of 4,564 Gram Panchayats scheduled for elections, 761 villages bypassed voting. These villages, termed ‘Samras Panchayats’, chose leaders by consensus. This approach, encouraged by the Gujarat government, rewards villages with grants ranging from Rs 3 lakh to Rs 13 lakh. The scheme aims to encourage harmony and reduce electoral conflicts. Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel disbursed Rs 35 crore to these villages via Direct Benefit Transfer in July 2025. The Samras Gram Yojana promotes consensus-based elections in rural Gujarat. Villages agreeing on candidates without contest avoid formal polling. This saves time and reduces election-related tensions. Financial incentives are provided to encourage this practice. Grants vary by population size, from Rs 3 lakh for smaller villages to Rs 13 lakh for larger ones. The scheme has been promoted since Narendra Modi’s tenure as Chief Minister.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Iran Launches Nahid-2 Satellite Aboard Russian Soyuz Rocket for Telecom and Research Missions: Iran successfully launched its telecommunications and research satellite Nahid-2 aboard a Russian Soyuz rocket, as part of a multi-payload mission that included satellites from several countries.Nahid-2 is designed to operate in orbit for five years and features an indigenous propulsion system capable of adjusting its altitude by up to 50 km for better orbital stability.The Soyuz rocket has previously launched several Iranian satellites, including Khayyam, Pars-1, Kosar, and Hodhod, showcasing ongoing space cooperation between Iran and Russia.

 

2. Air Pollution Linked to Increased Dementia Risk: Recent research from Cambridge University marks link between long-term air pollution exposure and dementia risk. This large-scale study reviewed 51 investigations involving over 29 million people exposed to air pollutants for at least one year. It found a clear and statistically association between common pollutants and the likelihood of developing dementia. The study focused on three main pollutants – PM2.5, nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and soot (black carbon). PM2.5 consists of fine particles less than 2.5 micrometres in diameter. These particles mainly come from vehicle emissions and thermal power plants. For every 10 micrograms per cubic metre (µg/m³) increase in PM2.5 exposure, dementia risk rose by 17%. Nitrogen dioxide, produced by burning fossil fuels in vehicles and industries, increased dementia risk by 3% per 10 µg/m³. Soot, a component of PM2.5 from exhaust and wood burning, raised dementia risk by 13% per 1 µg/m³. These figures show a strong dose-response relationship.

 

3. India’s Heatstroke Cases Highlight Surveillance Challenges: India has reported 7,192 suspected heatstroke cases and 14 confirmed deaths from March to June 2025. This follows a record-breaking 2024 with nearly 48,000 cases and 159 deaths due to extreme heat. The data reveals serious gaps in India’s heat-related illness and death reporting systems amid rising temperatures. Most heatstroke cases occurred in May, the peak summer month, with 2,962 suspected cases and three deaths. April recorded 2,140 cases and six deaths. March and June (up to 24th) saw fewer cases and deaths. Andhra Pradesh reported over half of all suspected cases with 4,055. Other states with high cases include Rajasthan, Odisha, Telangana, and Madhya Pradesh. Maharashtra and Uttarakhand reported the highest confirmed deaths, three each. Several states reported many suspected cases but no confirmed deaths.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

DEFENCE

 

1. NALSA Launches ‘Veer Parivar Sahayata Yojana’ to Strengthen Legal Aid for Defence Personnel and Their Families: National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) launched the ‘Veer Parivar Sahayata Yojana’ during the North Zone Regional Conference in Srinagar, aimed at enhancing legal aid and support services for defence personnel and their families, particularly through existing Sainik Boards at Zilla, Rajya, and Kendra levels.Justice Surya Kant, Supreme Court judge and Executive Chairman of NALSA, highlighted that these legal clinics will now function within Sainik Boards, transforming them into dedicated legal service centres to assist serving and retired soldiers and their families with legal challenges.The scheme reaffirms NALSA’s constitutional commitment to justice for soldiers and tribals, pledging legal vigilance and support for the welfare and rights of defence and paramilitary personnel, just as they remain vigilant in safeguarding the nation’s borders.

 

2. What are BHISHM Cubes?: India recently gifted two BHISHM cubes to the Maldives on its 60th Independence Day. This gesture marks India’s regional cooperation and healthcare diplomacy in the Indian Ocean. The BHISHM cubes are portable medical units designed for rapid emergency response. They enhance disaster preparedness in vulnerable island nations like the Maldives. BHISHM stands for Bharat Health Initiative for Sahyog, Hita & Maitri. It is part of India’s Aarogya Maitri mission launched in 2024. The initiative aims to provide timely healthcare support in disaster-hit and developing countries. The cubes are self-contained medical units ready for quick deployment in emergencies and conflict zones. The system is modular and scalable. Thirty-six mini cubes form one mother cube. Two mother cubes combine to create a full BHISHM Cube. Each full cube can manage about 200 emergency cases, including surgeries. The cubes contain medicines, trauma supplies, surgical tools, and AI-powered coordination systems.

 

3. Exercise Drone Prahar: The Indian Army recently conducted Exercise Drone Prahar in Arunachal Pradesh’s East Siang district. This high-tech military drill validated the use of drone technology in tactical battlefield scenarios. The exercise demonstrated the effective application of drones for intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and precision targeting under realistic operational conditions. The primary aim was to enhance command reach and situational awareness for tactical commanders. Drones provided layered surveillance and supported dynamic decision-making on the ground. This marked step towards modernising combat capabilities by integrating emerging technologies into battlefield operations. The exercise showcased real-time sensor-to-shooter coordination using drones. It brought into light precision targeting capabilities based on live intelligence and surveillance data. The use of drones enabled faster and more accurate responses to battlefield threats, improving operational efficiency.

 

SPORTS

 

1. Seema Creates History with 5000m Silver as India Shines with 9 Medals at World University Games: Seema created history by becoming the first Indian woman to win a medal in the 5000m event at the World University Games, securing silver with a season-best time of 15:35.86 minutes at the Rhine-Ruhr edition.Indian archers ended their campaign with five medals, with Sahil Jadhav winning gold in the men’s compound individual event, while Preneet Kaur won silver in the women’s compound final. The team also bagged gold (mixed), silver (men’s), and bronze (women’s) in the compound archery events.Praveen Chitravel clinched silver in the men’s triple jump with an impressive jump of 16.66 meters, taking India’s total medal count to 9 at the ongoing 32nd World University Games being held across six cities in Germany.

 

2. Divya becomes fourth Indian woman to earn Grandmaster title: 19-year-old Divya Deshmukh won the prestigious FIDE Women’s World Cup title by defeating veteran Indian Grandmaster Koneru Humpy in a thrilling final held in Batumi, Georgia, with a final score of 2.5 – 1.5 after tiebreaks.With this win, Divya became the fourth Indian woman Grandmaster, joining the elite list of Koneru Humpy, Dronavalli Harika, and R Vaishali, and became the 88th person overall to achieve this title.Her triumph also qualified her for the 2026 Candidates Tournament, where she will compete for the right to challenge Women’s World Champion Ju Wenjun, adding to India’s growing presence in global chess alongside stars like D Gukesh, Praggnanandhaa, and Arjun Erigaisi.

 

3. India Finishes 20th at the 2025 FISU World University Games: India concluded its campaign at the 2025 FISU World University Games held in Germany’s Rhine-Ruhr region, finishing 20th in the overall medal standings with a total of 12 medals — 2 gold, 5 silver, and 5 bronze.On the final day, Ankita Dhyani clinched a silver medal in the women’s 3,000m steeplechase, while two bronze medals were secured in the men’s 4×100m relay and women’s race walk team events.Japan topped the medal tally with 34 golds, followed by China (30) and the USA (28). India’s best-ever performance at the World University Games was in Chengdu 2023, where it finished 7th with 26 medals, including 11 golds.

 

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

 

1. VinFast Auto India Opens First Showroom in Surat Ahead of $2 Billion EV Plant Launch in Thoothukudi : VinFast Auto India, the subsidiary of global EV leader VinFast, inaugurated its first Indian showroom in Surat, Gujarat, marking the brand’s official retail entry into the country.The launch comes ahead of the $2 billion EV manufacturing plant inauguration in Thoothukudi on August 4, reinforcing VinFast’s long-term investment and commitment to the Indian market.The showroom will display VinFast’s upcoming premium electric SUVs — VF 6 and VF 7, and is part of the company’s broader roadmap to establish 35 dealerships across 27+ cities by year-end.

 

2. Glacial Lake Outburst Floods Threaten Himalayan Regions: The Himalayan region witnessed severe Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs) in 2025, causing widespread damage to infrastructure and power supply, especially in Nepal and India. Rising temperatures and melting glaciers have increased the frequency and intensity of GLOFs, posing a grave threat to life, property and ecosystems. The events show the urgent need for trans-boundary cooperation and advanced early warning systems to mitigate risks. On 8 July 2025, a major GLOF from a supra-glacial lake in Tibet triggered flash floods along the Lende river, damaging Nepal’s Rasuwagadhi inland container port and destroying a China-built friendship bridge. Four hydro-power plants on the Bhote Koshi river were rendered inoperable, cutting 8% of Nepal’s electricity supply. Nepalese scientists confirmed the lake’s surface area shrank from 63 to 43 hectares overnight. Later the same day, another GLOF struck Mustang district in Nepal. Earlier in 2025, GLOFs occurred in Humla and Solukhumbu districts, the latter destroying the Everest base camp village of Thame. These successive events tell Nepal’s vulnerability and the lack of early warning cooperation with China.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. IRDAI Mandates Insurance Coverage for 75,000 Gram Panchayats by 2027: IRDAI has directed insurers to cover 75,000 Gram Panchayats over the next two years as part of rural, social sector, and motor third-party obligations.In FY 2025–26, insurers must cover 25,000 Gram Panchayats; in FY 2026–27, they must bring an additional 50,000 under coverage.This directive applies to all life, general, and stand-alone health insurance companies.The minimum coverage target per Gram Panchayat is set at 15% of lives/assets for FY26, 25% for continued Panchayats, and 10% for newly added ones in FY27.

 

2. Citigroup Launches Strata Elite Card to Challenge AmEx Platinum : Citigroup has launched the Strata Elite Card as a new entrant in the premium credit card segment, aiming to compete with top-tier cards like American Express Platinum and Chase Sapphire Reserve.With an annual fee of USD 595, the Strata Elite Card is priced lower than its key competitors and offers enhanced rewards on spending categories such as hotels, car rentals, air travel, and dining, along with everyday purchases.The card also includes notable perks like a USD 300 hotel credit and a USD 200 splurge credit redeemable at brands like Best Buy and Live Nation.

 

3. Karur Vysya Bank Launches Nationwide Cybersecurity Awareness Drive on 109th Founder’s Day: Karur Vysya Bank (KVB) launched a nationwide cybersecurity awareness initiative on its 109th Founder’s Day to promote digital safety and responsible banking practices among people of all age groups.The initiative was flagged off by RBI Deputy Governor J. Swaminathan through a remote ceremony, and it will be implemented via mass media, offline campaigns, and workshops across schools, colleges, workplaces, and senior citizen forums.The campaign reflects KVB’s continued commitment to integrity and safety in banking, combining its rich legacy with a forward-looking vision for a secure digital future.

 

AWARDS AND HONOURS

 

1. 17 parliamentarians get Sansad Ratna Award 2025: 17 Members of Parliament, including Supriya Sule (NCP-SP), Ravi Kishan (BJP), Nishikant Dubey (BJP), and Arvind Sawant (Shiv Sena – UBT), have been selected for the Sansad Ratna Awards 2025 for their outstanding performance in the Lok Sabha.Four Special Jury Awards were given to Bhartruhari Mahtab, N K Premachandran, Supriya Sule, and Shrirang Appa Barne for their consistent contributions across three consecutive Lok Sabha terms (since the 16th Lok Sabha).Other award-winning MPs include Smita Uday Wagh, Naresh Mhaske, Varsha Gaikwad, Medha Kulkarni, Praveen Patel, Bidyut Baran Mahato, and Dilip Saikia, representing a wide political and regional spectrum.In the committee category, the Standing Committee on Finance (chaired by Bhartruhari Mahtab) and the Standing Committee on Agriculture (chaired by Dr. Charanjit Singh Channi) were awarded for their high-quality reports and effective legislative oversight.