- The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) officially announced on July 18, 2025 that hallmarking for 9-karat gold jewellery will become mandatory starting July 2025, under BIS Amendment No. 22. This move expands the hallmarking system to include 9K gold (375 ppt), ensuring purity certification and consumer protection across more affordable jewellery segments.
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- On July 18, 2025, Union MoS Dr. Jitendra Singh launched the National Standards for Civil Service Training Institutes 2.0 (NSCSTI 2.0) at the Civil Services Officers Institute (CSOI), New Delhi, under Mission Karmayogi. Developed by the Capacity Building Commission (CBC), it reduces evaluation metrics from 59 to 43 for sharper, outcome-based training.
- On July 11, 2025, Maharashtra became India’s first state to grant agricultural status to livestock and poultry farming. This benefits over 3.7 crore farmers, giving access to Kisan Credit Cards, subsidised electricity, and solar incentives. The move is expected to boost rural income by ₹7,080 crore annually, aligning with ICAR and NITI Aayog recommendations.
- On July 18, 2025, the Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA) and Coal India Limited (CIL) launched a joint initiative to uplift tribal education in Chhattisgarh. Over 28,000 students across 68 Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) will benefit from digital labs, hygiene tools, and mentorship. Tribal youth will attend entrepreneurial bootcamps at IITs, IIMs, and NITs, fostering innovation and career readiness.
- On July 10, 2025, Switzerland completed ratification of the India–EFTA (European Free Trade Association) Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA). The pact, signed in March 2024, promises $100 billion investment and 10 lakh jobs in India over 15 years. It reduces trade barriers, streamlines customs procedures, and enhances IP (Intellectual Property) protections.
- On July 19, 2025, Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched development projects worth ₹1,271 crore at the Uttarakhand Investment Festival in Rudrapur. The projects include rail and road upgrades, SIDCUL industrial expansion, and tourism infrastructure like ropeways to Kedarnath and Hemkund Sahib.
- Cricket returns to the Olympics after 128 years, with the T20 format confirmed for LA28. The tournament will feature six men’s and six women’s teams, held at Pomona Fairplex Stadium from July 12–29, 2028. Medal matches are scheduled on July 20 (women) and July 29 (men). The qualification process is yet to be finalized and will be discussed by the ICC.
- On July 18, 2025, Jio Financial Services Ltd (JFSL) and Allianz Group signed a pact to form a 50:50 domestic reinsurance joint venture (JV) in India. The JV will combine JFSL’s digital strength with Allianz’s global underwriting expertise. It aims to support the "Insurance for All by 2047" mission with broader risk solutions.
- On July 19, 2025, Aurum PropTech became the first listed company in India to get SEBI (Securities and Exchange Board of India) approval to launch a Small and Medium Real Estate Investment Trust (SM-REIT). Named AMSA SM REIT Investment Trust, it will allow retail investors to access fractional ownership in rent-generating premium office assets, marking a new era in real estate democratization.
- On July 18, 2025, The Wealth Company Asset Management Holdings Pvt Ltd (TWC AMHPL), part of the Pantomath Group, got final approval from SEBI (Securities and Exchange Board of India) to launch its mutual fund business, becoming India’s 49th AMC (Asset Management Company). It will focus on Tier-3 and rural markets, using AI (Artificial Intelligence)-powered insights and PE (Private Equity)-style research, aligned with the Viksit Bharat vision.
- On July 18, 2025, the UAE–India Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement Council (UICC) signed an MoU with AIC–MFIE–IM–BHU in Varanasi to boost startup ties. The pact launched the CEPA Start-Up Series, offering Indian startups access to UAE licensing, mentorship, and investor networks. Focus sectors include healthcare, technology, finance, logistics, and agriculture.
- A 54-pound Martian meteorite, named NWA 16788, was sold for $5.3 million at Sotheby’s New York on July 17, 2025. Discovered in Niger (Nov 2023), it’s the largest Martian rock ever found on Earth, with a fiery fusion crust. The specimen traveled 140 million miles from Mars after a massive impact.
- On July 18, 2025, Indian researchers from MACS–Agharkar Research Institute, Pune discovered a new lichen species named Allographa effusosoredica in the Western Ghats. It’s the first Allographa species in India validated through molecular sequencing, featuring effuse soredia and norstictic acid.
- The MRF National Car Racing Championship 2025 – Round 1 unfolded at Kari Motor Speedway, Coimbatore on July 19–20, kicking off the season with rain-soaked excitement. Teen racers Arjun Chheda and Ishaan Madesh battled fiercely in the MRF Formula 2000 category, while Biren Pithawalla stunned veteran Arjun Balu in Indian Touring Cars. Rising talent Bhuvan Bonu (15) swept both races in Formula LGB 1300, and Rithvik Thomas dominated the Indian Junior Touring Cars class.
- On July 18, 2025, BEML Ltd received a ₹185.65 crore order from the Ministry of Defence to supply 79 PAT bulldozers for military use. This is a follow-up to their earlier successful delivery of 66 units. The deal supports the ‘Make in India’ initiative and highlights BEML’s role in indigenous defence manufacturing.
- The National Conference on Making Cities Cyber Secure, held on July 18, 2025, at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, was a joint effort by Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), and Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY). Chaired by senior officials like Shri Srinivas Katikithala (Secretary, MoHUA), Shri Govind Mohan (Union Home Secretary), and Shri Bhuvnesh Kumar (CEO, UIDAI), its theme was "Urban Cyber Preparedness and SPV Sustainability." The aim was to tackle growing urban cybersecurity threats and create a roadmap for resilient smart cities.
- On July 19, 2025, the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) formed a National Steering Committee (NSC) in New Delhi, chaired by Rajit Punhani, to oversee the ₹60,000 crore ITI Upgradation Scheme. The aim is to transform 1,000 Government ITIs and set up 5 National Centres of Excellence (CoEs) in Bhubaneswar, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kanpur, and Ludhiana.
- On July 20, 2025, International Chess Day celebrated the founding of FIDE (Fédération Internationale des Échecs) in 1924, with the theme “Every Move Counts”. FIDE launched the Year of Social Chess, promoting inclusion, education, and mental well-being through the game.
- On July 18, 2025, Tamil Nadu Day was celebrated to mark the renaming of Madras State to Tamil Nadu in 1967 by CM C.N. Annadurai. The theme for 2025 was “Tamil Nadu: Identity, Pride, and Progress”, highlighting the state's cultural legacy and forward-looking vision. CM M.K. Stalin and Dy CM Udhayanidhi Stalin led the celebrations, honoring Tamil identity and linguistic pride.
- On July 16, 2025, scientists from ICAR–Sugarcane Breeding Institute (SBI), Coimbatore won the Rashtriya Krishi Vigyan Puraskar for developing a Soil Moisture Indicator (SMI). The device uses electrical conductivity to measure soil moisture, helping farmers save 15% irrigation water.
- Former Kerala CM V.S. Achuthanandan passed away on July 21, 2025, at age 101 in Thiruvananthapuram. A founding member of CPI(M), he served as CM from 2006 to 2011 and led the Opposition for three terms.
- Legendary lyricist Alan Bergman, known for timeless classics like “The Way We Were” and “The Windmills of Your Mind,” passed away on July 17, 2025, at his home in Los Angeles. He was 99 years old.
Questions:
Q.1 Which Indian state became the first to grant agricultural status to livestock and poultry farming?a) Maharashtra
b) Gujarat
c) Punjab
d) Uttar Pradesh
Answer: a) On July 11, 2025, Maharashtra became the first state to grant agriculture status to livestock and poultry farming, benefiting 3.7 crore farmers through access to credit and subsidies.
Q.2 The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) mandated hallmarking for which new category of gold jewellery starting July 2025?
a) 22 Karat
b) 18 Karat
c) 14 Karat
d) 9 Karat
Answer: d) On July 18, 2025, BIS mandated hallmarking for 9K gold (375 ppt) jewellery, expanding the hallmarking system to affordable jewellery segments for ensuring purity certification and consumer protection
