Daily GK Update- 25th July, 2025

 

NATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. JSW Energy Signs 25-Year Power Pact with BESCOM for 100 MW Solar Project with Battery Storage in Karnataka: JSW Renew Energy Forty Five, a step-down subsidiary of JSW Energy, has signed a 25-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with BESCOM for a 100 MW grid-connected solar project integrated with a 100 MWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) at a tariff of ₹4.31/kWh.The project will be developed on a designated site and connected to the 220/400 kV KPTCL Firozabad substation in Kalaburagi district, enhancing grid reliability and renewable power integration.Following this deal, JSW Energy’s total committed energy storage capacity has reached 29.4 GWh, including 3.0 GWh from BESS and 26.4 GWh from Pumped Hydro Storage.

 

2. Ajay Seth Appointed as New IRDAI Chairman for Three-Year Term: The government appointed former Finance and Economic Affairs Secretary Ajay Seth as the Chairman of the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI).His appointment is for a period of three years, or until he turns 65, or until further orders—whichever comes earlier.A 1987-batch IAS officer of the Karnataka cadre, Ajay Seth succeeds Debasish Panda, whose term ended in March 2025, leaving the IRDAI post vacant since then.

 

3. Nirmal Minda Appointed as New President of ASSOCHAM: Nirmal K. Minda, Executive Chairman of Uno Minda, has been appointed as the new President of ASSOCHAM, succeeding Sanjay Nayar.Amitabh Chaudhry, MD & CEO of Axis Bank, is set to become the Vice-President of ASSOCHAM, subject to approval from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).The appointments aim to combine manufacturing expertise and financial leadership to advance ASSOCHAM’s goals of sustainable growth, innovation, and global competitiveness.

 

4. India’s Gig Economy Growth: India’s gig economy has expanded rapidly in recent years. By FY 2024–25, gig workers numbered about 12 million, up from 7.7 million in 2020–21. This sector now comprises over 2% of the total workforce. Growth is driven by digital connectivity, urbanisation, and a shift towards flexible work. This change marks a structural shift in India’s labour market. Gig workers are individuals earning income without formal employment benefits. They include cab drivers, food delivery personnel, home cleaners, and other service providers working through digital platforms. Unlike traditional informal workers, gig workers operate in a semi-structured system where tasks and payments are documented. This formalisation brings transparency and some recognition to their work.

 

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

 

1. Assam Launches ₹1.5 Lakh Scholarship Scheme for Japanese Language Training to Boost Overseas Employment: The Assam Government has launched a scheme named Chief Minister’s Foreign Language Initiative for Global Human Talent (CM-FLIGHT) to promote Japanese language learning and facilitate overseas employment for Assamese youth under Japan’s Specified Skilled Worker (SSW) visa programme.Under the scheme, the government will provide a scholarship of ₹1.5 lakh per student pursuing Japanese language training (up to JLPT N2 level), helping youth qualify for global employment opportunities.A pilot project will be implemented in the current financial year through three designated agencies that will provide language training and assist in overseas placements, especially in Japan.3,000 youth will be selected in the first phase of the programme. Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma highlighted that with Japan’s aging population (average age 48) and Assam’s younger demographic (average age 22), there is huge potential for employment, with a minimum salary of ₹2.5 lakh/month in Japan.

 

2. India Set to Become World’s 3rd Largest Economy by 2028: Morgan Stanley: India is projected to become the world’s third-largest economy by 2028 and could double its GDP to $10.6 trillion by 2035, according to Morgan Stanley.States like Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, and Karnataka are expected to individually approach the $1 trillion mark by 2035, ranking among the top 20 global economies.Over the last decade, infrastructure investment has surged, with highway networks expanding by 60%, airports doubling, and metro systems quadrupling. Central schemes like PM Gati Shakti, Bharatmala, and UDAN have driven this growth.

 

3. 4th Edition of World Food India 2025 to be Held in New Delhi: The 4th edition of World Food India will be held in New Delhi from 25–28 September 2025, showcasing India’s food culture and investment opportunities in the food processing sector.The 2025 edition will be the largest ever, with participation from over 90 countries and 2,000+ exhibitors and stakeholders across the food value chain.The event is organised by the Ministry of Food Processing Industries, co-organised by India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO), with FICCI as the National Partner and Ernst & Young as the Knowledge Partner.The theme of World Food India 2025 is “Processing for Prosperity”, aiming to boost collaboration and growth in the global food processing ecosystem.

World Food India aims to promote India as a promising global hub for food processing, manufacturing, and cold chain logistics.

 

4. India Rises 8 Spots to 77th Rank on Henley Passport Index 2025, Gains Visa-Free Access to 59 Countries: India has improved its position on the Henley Passport Index 2025, climbing 8 spots to rank 77th, compared to 85th in 2024, despite a modest increase in visa-free access from 57 to 59 countries.The Henley Passport Index, based on International Air Transport Association (IATA) data, ranks passports by the number of destinations their holders can access without a prior visa.

Singapore holds the top spot with visa-free access to 193 destinations, followed by Japan and South Korea in second place (190 destinations), and seven EU countries (Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, and Spain) in third place (189 destinations).Traditionally strong passports like the U.S. and U.K. have declined in ranking — the U.S. dropped to 10th place (182 destinations), and the U.K. fell to 6th (186 destinations).The Philippines and Sri Lanka are the two new additions to India’s visa-free access list in 2025, contributing to its improved global ranking.

 

5. Trump Unveils Aggressive AI Action Plan to Make U.S. a Global AI Export Powerhouse: The Trump administration has introduced a new Artificial Intelligence (AI) Action Plan titled “Winning the Race“, aimed at transforming the U.S. into a global AI export powerhouse.The plan includes three executive orders focusing on cutting environmental regulations for faster construction of AI supercomputers, promoting the sale of U.S.-made AI technologies, and streamlining permits for data center infrastructure.

 

OTHER UPDATES:

DEFENCE

 

1. Indigenous Pollution Control Vessel ‘Samudra Prachet’ Launched by Goa Shipyard for Indian Coast Guard: ‘Samudra Prachet’, the second and final indigenous Pollution Control Vessel (PCV) built by Goa Shipyard Ltd (GSL), was launched for the Indian Coast Guard (ICG), with 72% indigenous content, promoting local industry, MSMEs, and national skill development.The vessel is 114.5 meters long, 16.5 meters wide, with a displacement of 4,170 tonnes, and will be operated by 14 officers and 115 sailors; it features state-of-the-art oil spill response systems, including side-sweeping arms and advanced radar for detecting oil slicks.‘Samudra Prachet’ is capable of recovering oil across all viscosity levels, pumping contaminated water, analyzing and separating pollutants, and storing recovered oil in dedicated onboard tanks, ensuring rapid and efficient response to maritime pollution incidents.

 

2. India Tests ULPGM-V3: India achieved milestone in defence technology with the successful test-firing of the UAV Launched Precision Guided Missile (ULPGM)-V3. Conducted at the National Open Area Range (NOAR) in Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh, this trial marks a major boost to India’s missile capabilities. The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) led the development and testing, reflecting India’s growing self-reliance in advanced defence systems. The ULPGM-V3 is a precision-guided missile launched from unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). It is designed for high accuracy strikes on ground targets while minimising risks to personnel. This variant is an extended-range version, building on earlier models like ULPGM-V2. It incorporates advanced technologies such as imaging infrared (IIR) seekers and dual-thrust propulsion systems. The missile suits modern battlefield demands with its lightweight and versatile design.

 

SPORTS

 

1. Divya Deshmukh Creates History as First Indian to Reach FIDE Women’s World Cup Final: Divya Deshmukh created history by becoming the first Indian to reach the final of the FIDE Women’s World Cup 2025, after defeating China’s Tan Zhongyi in the semifinal held in Batumi, Georgia, with a 1.5-0.5 score.With this win, the 19-year-old not only entered the final but also secured a spot in the 2026 Candidates Tournament and achieved her first Grandmaster norm, marking a major milestone in her chess career.In the final, Divya will face the winner of the other semifinal match between China’s Lei Tingjie (top seed) and India’s No. 1 Koneru Humpy, setting the stage for a high-stakes showdown.

 

2. Vikramaditya Chaufla to Lead India at World Racketlon Championship 2025 in Netherlands: Vikramaditya Chaufla has been appointed captain of the Indian squad for the World Racketlon Championship 2025, scheduled from July 30 to August 3 in Rotterdam, Netherlands.Racketlon is a multi-racket sport involving four disciplines: table tennis, badminton, squash, and tennis. Chaufla, a former badminton player, had previously led the team and secured a silver medal in the 2022 edition.The Indian men’s squad includes Krishna B Kotak, Prashant Sen, Nihit Kumar Singh, Suhail Kapur, with Raghav Jatia as a reserve, while Nidhi Tiwari is India’s only representative in the women’s category.

 

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

 

1. NASA’s TRACERS Mission: NASA’s TRACERS mission recently launched to study how Earth’s magnetic shield protects the planet from space weather effects. The twin satellites aim to understand magnetic reconnection, a key process in space weather that influences phenomena such as the aurora and satellite disruptions. TRACERS will operate in low Earth orbit, passing through the polar cusps where solar wind interacts with Earth’s magnetosphere. TRACERS was launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from California’s Vandenberg Space Force Base. Along with TRACERS, three small NASA satellites—Athena EPIC, PExT, and REAL—were deployed to test new technologies and collect scientific data. Communication with both TRACERS satellites was established within hours after deployment. The mission entered a four-week commissioning phase to check instruments and systems before starting its main scientific operations.

 

BANKING AND FINANCE

 

1. RBI Approves Warburg Pincus Arm Currant Sea to Acquire 9.99% Stake in IDFC First Bank: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has approved Currant Sea Investments B.V., an arm of Warburg Pincus, to acquire up to 9.99% stake in IDFC First Bank.This approval follows an earlier clearance by the Competition Commission of India (CCI) on June 3, despite shareholders recently rejecting the appointment of a non-retiring Currant Sea board member due to insufficient support (only 64.1% votes, below the 75% threshold).As part of the deal, IDFC First Bank will issue 81.26 crore preference shares to Currant Sea and 43.71 crore shares to ADIA-backed Platinum Invictus, both priced at ₹60 per share.

 

2. IRDAI Proposes Internal Ombudsman Scheme to Strengthen Complaint Resolution for Insurance Claims up to ₹50 Lakh: The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) has released draft norms proposing an Internal Insurance Ombudsman Scheme for insurers to handle complaints related to claims up to ₹50 lakh.The proposed framework mandates an independent and impartial review mechanism, where the internal ombudsman will report directly to the board or its committee and will have decision-making authority for eligible complaints.The scheme will be applicable to all insurers (except reinsurers) with more than three years of operations, making it mandatory to appoint an internal insurance ombudsman. This mechanism aims to enhance grievance redressal quality and boost consumer confidence in the insurance sector by ensuring faster and more transparent complaint resolution.

 

3. Angel One to Invest ₹400 Crore in Digital-First Life Insurance JV with Singapore’s Livwell: Angel One has announced an investment of ₹400 crore in a life insurance joint venture with Singapore-based Livwell Holding Company, aiming to launch a digital-first life insurance company in India.In the JV, Angel One will hold a 26% stake, while Livwell will hold the remaining 74%; the initiative targets India’s underpenetrated life insurance market.Livwell is backed by private equity firm Olympus Capital, which has previously invested in notable institutions like HDFC Bank, CreditAccess Grameen, Karur Vysya Bank, and Utkarsh Small Finance Bank.

 

4. Fino Payments Bank Launches “GATI” Digital Savings Account: Fino Payments Bank has launched “GATI” (which means “speed” in many Indian languages), a zero-balance digital savings account aimed at expanding UPI adoption in semi-urban and rural West Bengal, especially among digitally-savvy individuals underserved by traditional banks.With over 40,000 merchant points, Fino leverages its merchant-led model to provide last-mile access to banking services, enabling instant onboarding through eKYC and immediate UPI activation without the need for physical bank visits.