Current Affairs One - Liner : 19th July 2025

National:

• On July 14, 2025, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) declared Lungphun Ropui in Lianpui village, Champhai district, Mizoram as a Monument of National Importance. 🪨 The site features 114 ancient carved menhirs depicting Mizo tribal customs, funerary traditions, and spiritual beliefs.

• In July 2025, the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) showcased its Trade Connect ePlatform at two major B2B expos in New Delhi—the 71st India International Garment Fair (IIGF) and the 16th Toy Biz International Expo. The platform offers verified buyer access, trade data, and export tools to empower MSME exporters.
• BITS Pilani announced India's first AI+ Campus in Amaravati, Andhra Pradesh on July 13, 2025, during its convocation. The ₹1,000 crore campus will be operational by 2027, with smart tech and global collaborations. It will offer programs in AI, ML, robotics, and innovation, aiming to host 7,000+ students in phase 2.
• On July 18, 2025, India’s first Indian Institute of Creative Technologies (IICT) was inaugurated at NFDC Complex, Mumbai by Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and CM Devendra Fadnavis. It aims to build excellence in AVGC-XR fields with 18 tech-creative courses, global partnerships, and a ₹400 crore expansion plan.

International:

• On July 17, 2025, the United States officially designated The Resistance Front (TRF)—a proxy of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT)—as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) and Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) for its role in the April 22 Pahalgam attack, which killed 26 civilians, including tourists.

Banking:

• JSW Energy entered the FTSE4Good Index, a global benchmark for ESG excellence. It aims for net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 and plans 30 GW capacity by FY2030. The company’s social outreach touches 1.5 million lives across health and education. Stock rose 1.87% post-announcement, highlighting investor confidence in its ESG drive.

Economy:

• In April–May 2025, India’s cement output rose over 8% year-on-year to nearly 79 million tonnes, driven by pre-monsoon construction, government infrastructure spending, and higher railway freight movement. The data was released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation on July 18, 2025.

MoUs:

• On 16 July 2025, the Uttar Pradesh Government signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Lucknow, chaired by CM Yogi Adityanath and UNDP India Head Angela Lusigi. The aim was to build a multi-tiered, scientific disaster management system aligned with global standards.

Sports:

• On July 17, 2025, Aditi Chauhan announced her retirement after a pioneering 17-year football career. She was India’s first female footballer to play professionally in Europe, joining West Ham United in 2015. Her legacy includes 57 caps, 3 SAFF titles, and 2 South Asian Games gold medals.
• Bihar hosted its first Indian Open Athletics Meet on 19 July 2025 at Patliputra Sports Complex, Patna, chaired by Ravindran Shankaran of BSSA. Organized by AFI, Bihar Athletics Association, and BSSA, the event aimed to decentralize athletics and served as a qualifier for the 64th National Inter-State Meet in Chennai. Over 400 athletes, including Olympians, competed across 24+ events.

Summits & Conferences:

• The National Conference on Good Governance Practices was held on July 17–18, 2025 in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, jointly organized by the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG) and the Government of Odisha. Chaired by Dr. Jitendra Singh, CM Mohan Charan Majhi, V. Srinivas, and Manoj Ahuja, the event focused on replicating and innovating governance models. The theme was “Good Governance Practices: Replication and Innovation”, aiming to promote experience-sharing and citizen-centric service delivery.

Important Days:

• Nelson Mandela International Day 2025 was celebrated on July 18, marking his 107th birth anniversary. The theme was “It’s still in our hands to combat poverty and inequity”, urging global solidarity. People dedicated 67 minutes of service, honoring Mandela’s 67 years of activism.

Appointments:

• On July 16, 2025, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet appointed Nitin Gupta, former CBDT Chairman, as the new Chairperson of the National Financial Reporting Authority (NFRA). Nitin Gupta, a 1986-batch IRS officer, will serve a 3-year term or until he turns 65, whichever is earlier. He succeeds Ravneet Kaur.
• On July 17, 2025, Yulia Svyrydenko became Ukraine’s 19th Prime Minister, succeeding Denys Shmyhal. She earlier served as First Deputy PM and Minister of Economic Development. Her priorities include rebuilding Ukraine’s economy, ramping up defence production, and advancing EU membership.

Questions:

Q.1 Who was appointed Chairperson of the National Financial Reporting Authority (NFRA) on July 16, 2025?
a) Ravneet Kaur
b) Nitin Gupta
c) Arun Tiwari
d) Praveen Kumar

Answer: b) Former CBDT Chairman Nitin Gupta, a 1986-batch IRS officer, was appointed NFRA Chairperson for 3 years or till age 65.

Q.2 India’s cement production in April–May 2025 saw a YoY increase of:
a) 6%
b) 8%
c) 10%
d) 12%

Answer: b) As per the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, cement output rose by over 8% due to pre-monsoon construction and infrastructure projects.