Current Affairs One - Liner : 24th July 2025

National:

• On July 22, 2025, Tamil Nadu announced India’s first Centre of Excellence for Hornbill Conservation at Anamalai Tiger Reserve, Coimbatore. Funded under the Endangered Species Conservation Corpus Fund, it aims to protect four native hornbill species. The CoE will focus on habitat mapping, nest monitoring, forest restoration, and community engagement.

• On July 21, 2025, Uttarakhand launched India’s first systematic plant conservation programme. It targets 14 Rare, Endangered, and Threatened (RET) plant species across the Western Himalayas. After 4 years of research, the first phase began with monsoon reintroductions and habitat protections. The project sets a national precedent for restoring ecologically and medicinally vital native flora.
• On July 21, 2025, a replica of the Ashoka Pillar was unveiled at Waskaduwa Sri Subhuthi Viharaya in Sri Lanka, celebrating shared Buddhist heritage. Indian envoy Santosh Jha and Mahanayaka Thero led the event. It honors Emperor Ashoka’s legacy and his role in spreading Buddhism.
• On July 23, 2025, a report by MoS Health Anupriya Patel in the Rajya Sabha revealed an 84% drop in mother-to-child HIV transmission in India from 2010 to 2024. The report, released by NACO, highlights a 74.5% decline in vertical transmission, surpassing global averages.
• On July 23, 2025, the Indian government approved six semiconductor manufacturing projects worth ₹1.55 lakh crore. This includes 1 Fabrication Facility and 5 Assembly, Testing, Marking & Packaging (ATMP)/Outsourced Semiconductor Assembly and Test (OSAT) units. These projects will create over 27,000 skilled jobs.

Banking:

• Equitas Small Finance Bank, on July 22, 2025, introduced two NRI-focused offerings: the FCNR (B) Deposit—Foreign Currency Non-Resident (Bank) account in USD that offers tax-free returns and full repatriation for tenures ranging from 12 to 36 months with interest rates up to 6.00%—and the Explorer Savings Account in NRE (Non-Resident External) and NRO (Non-Resident Ordinary) formats, tailored for overseas professionals.
• On July 22, 2025, PhonePe and SBI Card launched two co-branded credit cards—PURPLE and SELECT BLACK. They offer cashback rewards up to 10% on PhonePe and milestone travel vouchers worth ₹3,000–₹5,000. PURPLE has a ₹499 fee and SELECT BLACK ₹1,499, with respective lounge access and fuel waivers.

Sports:

• The Japan Badminton Open 2025 was held on July 20 in Tokyo, Japan. Shi Yu Qi won the Men’s Singles title by defeating France’s Alex Lanier. An Se-young clinched the Women’s Singles crown, beating China’s Wang Zhiyi. Both players reaffirmed their dominance in the global badminton circuit.

Defence:

• On July 22, 2025, defence-tech start-up Apollyon Dynamics, founded by BITS Pilani students, delivered indigenous kamikaze drones to the Indian Army. Deployed across four strategic locations, the radar-evading drones can hit speeds over 300 km/h and carry 1 kg payloads.

Questions:

Q.1 Which Indian state launched the country’s first systematic plant conservation programme in July 2025?
a) Uttarakhand
b) Sikkim
c) Himachal Pradesh
d) Meghalaya

Answer: a) Uttarakhand launched India’s first systematic plant conservation programme.

Q.2 On July 22, 2025, which state announced India’s first Centre of Excellence (CoE) for Hornbill Conservation?
a) Kerala
b) Assam
c) Tamil Nadu
d) Arunachal Pradesh

Answer: c) Tamil Nadu launched the country’s first Centre of Excellence for Hornbill Conservation at the Anamalai Tiger Reserve in Coimbatore. This is a first-of-its-kind initiative in India.