Current Affairs One - Liner : 1st August 2025

National:

• Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan inaugurated the Akhil Bharatiya Shiksha Samagam (ABSS) 2025 in New Delhi, marking 5 years of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. The Ministry of Education (MoE) launched projects worth ₹4,000+ crore, focusing on AI integration, skilling, and innovation.

• On July 30, 2025, Indian Railways (IR) commissioned Kavach 4.0, an advanced Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system on the Mathura–Kota section of the Delhi–Mumbai Corridor Approved by Research Designs & Standards Organisation (RDSO), it supports speeds up to 160 kmph with Safety Integrity Level 4 (SIL-4) standards.
• On July 31, 2025, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved four multi-tracking railway projects worth ₹11,169 crore across six states. The projects span 574 km in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, Bihar, Odisha, and Jharkhand, aiming to decongest routes and boost freight capacity.
• In August 2023, Sikkim pioneered India’s first Sabbatical Leave Scheme for state government employees. Regular staff (5+ years) eligible for 365–1,080 days leave with 50% basic pay while retaining seniorit. Temporary employees can apply after 6 months, promoting personal growth, education, and wellness.
• On July 31, 2025, Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurated India’s first 1 MW Green Hydrogen Plant at Deendayal Port Authority (DPA), Kandla, Gujarat Built in just 4 months, the plant is part of a larger 10 MW project whose foundation was laid by PM Modi in May 2025. It’s a 100% Make-in-India initiative, led by L&T, producing 140 metric tonnes/year of green hydrogen.
• On 31 July 2025, Ladakh officially declared August 12 as Safai Andolan Day to conserve the Indus River. The initiative, part of the Mission Indus Clean-Up Movement, involves mass participation from government bodies, defence forces, BRO, and schools to tackle pollution and restore river health.
• On 30 July 2025, the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) launched an AI-powered climate advisory initiative in Hyderabad under Monsoon Mission III. It offers real-time, hyper-local agromet advisories through tools like Intelligent Systems Advisory Tool (iSAT) and an AI-driven WhatsApp bot.

International:

• On July 30, 2025, Australia launched Eris, its first indigenous orbital rocket, which crashed just 14 seconds after liftoff from Bowen Spaceport. Developed by Gilmour Space Technologies, the hybrid-propelled rocket aimed to carry small satellites into orbit. Despite receiving AU$57 million in federal support, the mission failed due to mid-air stalling.

MoUs:

• On July 30, 2025, the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) signed MoUs in New Delhi with NSE IFSC Ltd (NSE IX) and Indian Venture and Alternate Capital Association (IVCA). MoUs aim to promote global investment education, standardize financial reporting, and enhance alternative capital governance.
• On 31 July 2025, the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with HDFC Capital Advisors Limited in New Delhi to advance innovation in Affordable Housing and Property Technology (PropTech). The collaboration is anchored in the HDFC Affordable Real Estate and Technology (H@ART) Programme, aiming to reduce costs and boost housing efficiency.
• On 31 July 2025, the Indo-Tibetan Border Police Force (ITBPF) and the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at ITBP Headquarters, New Delhi to advance collaborative biomedical research and training for high-altitude paramilitary forces.

Science & Technology:

• On 31 July 2025, researchers from Christ College, Thrissur’s Shadpada Entomology Research Lab (SERL) discovered three antlion species—Indopalpares pardus, Palpares contrarius, and Stenares harpyia—for the first time in Kerala’s Western Ghats. Found in Malappuram, Kollam, Idukki, and Wayanad, these species were earlier known only from dry zones.
• On 31 July 2025, Pakistan launched the Pakistan Remote Sensing Satellite-II (PRSS-II) from China’s Xichang Satellite Launch Centre, supported by its space agency SUPARCO. The satellite enhances climate change response, tracking glacial melt, soil erosion, and deforestation with high-resolution data.
  

Sports:

• On July 31, 2025, Indian women wrestlers delivered a remarkable performance at the U17 World Wrestling Championships held in Athens, Greece, securing the prestigious U17 Women’s Team Title with a total of 151 points, ahead of the USA and Japan. The medal tally included 2 golds, won by Rachana (43kg) and Ashvini Vishnoi (65kg), 2 silvers by Moni (57kg) and Kajal (73kg), and 1 bronze by Komal Verma (49kg).

Defence:

• On 31 July 2025, the Indian Navy received Himgiri, the third Nilgiri-class stealth frigate under Project 17A, at GRSE Kolkata. It’s the first P17A ship built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and features 75% indigenous content with advanced weaponry and CODOG propulsion. Designed by the Warship Design Bureau, it boosts maritime capability with modern missile systems and integrated combat tech.

Govt. Schemes:

• Union Cabinet approved the “Grant in aid to NCDC” CSS on July 31, 2025 ₹2,000 crore outlay over 4 years to mobilize ₹20,000 crore for cooperative lending Benefits ~2.9 crore members across 13,288 cooperative societies Focuses on dairy, fisheries, food processing, textiles, and women-led cooperatives.

Important Days:

• World Ranger Day, observed annually on July 31, pays tribute to frontline defenders of nature and culture. Theme 2025: “Rangers, Powering Transformative Conservation”—supports the target to conserve 30% of Earth by 2030.Rangers contribute to wildlife protection, law enforcement, community education & engagement.

Appointments:

• Lt Gen Pushpendra Singh to become Vice Chief of Army Staff from August 1, 2025. He will take over from Lt Gen NS Raja Subramani, who retired after nearly 40 years of service. Singh is a veteran of 4 Para (Special Forces) with 35+ years of experience.
• On 30 July 2025, Professor Michele Dougherty became the first woman appointed as the UK’s Astronomer Royal since its inception in 1675. Approved by King Charles III, she succeeded Lord Martin Rees, who held the post for 30 years. She’s a renowned space physicist from Imperial College London, known for her role in NASA’s Cassini and ESA’s JUICE missions.
• Telangana High Court added 4 new judges on July 31, 2025, raising the strength to 30. Appointed: Gouse Meera Mohiuddin, Chalapathi Rao Suddala, Gadi Praveen Kumar, Vakiti Ramakrishna Reddy. Names cleared by Supreme Court Collegium on July 2, approved by Centre on July 28. Chief Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh administered the oath—his first formal induction since taking office.
• Dr. A. Rajarajan became Director of Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) on August 1, 2025, replacing Dr. S. Unnikrishnan Nair. He previously led Satish Dhawan Space Centre, key to missions like Chandrayaan-3 and Gaganyaan. Expert in composite tech, he advanced launch vehicle indigenization and private space involvement.
• Shashi Bhushan Kumar Singh (SBK Singh), a 1988-batch IPS officer of the Arunachal Pradesh-Goa-Mizoram and Union Territory (AGMUT) cadre, became Delhi Police Commissioner on August 1, 2025, replacing Sanjay Arora. Nicknamed the "Spiritual Policeman", he blends tech-driven policing with ethical leadership—also runs a blog by that name.
• Dr. Mayank Sharma, a 1989-batch Indian Defence Accounts Service (IDAS) officer, assumed charge as Financial Advisor (Defence Services) on August 1, 2025. He previously served as Controller General of Defence Accounts (CGDA) and held key roles in the Cabinet Secretariat, AIIMS Delhi, and Municipal Corporation of Delhi.
• On August 1, 2025, Vice Admiral Sanjay Vatsayan, Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM), Nao Sena Medal (NM), assumed charge as the 47th Vice Chief of the Naval Staff (VCNS) in New Delhi, succeeding Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan. He is a specialist in Gunnery and Missile Systems, commissioned into the Indian Navy on January 1, 1988.
• On 31 July 2025, Myanmar’s National Defence and Security Council (NDSC) appointed U Nyo Saw as Prime Minister, leading a newly formed Interim-Union Government. The move ended the emergency rule in place since February 2021, transferring sovereign power back from the military. A State Security and Peace Commission, chaired by Min Aung Hlaing, was also established to oversee electoral transition.

Obituaries:

• Pramila Tai Medhe, former chief of Rashtra Sevika Samiti, passed away at 97 on July 31, 2025 in Nagpur. A respected leader from 1978 to 2003, she was honored for her contributions to women’s empowerment.
• Dr. V. Vasanthi Devi, former VC of Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, passed away on 1 August 2025 at age 87 due to cardiac arrest. She was Tamil Nadu’s first woman university VC (1992–1998) and chaired the State Commission for Women (2002–2005).
• Kalabhavan Navas, Malayalam actor and mimicry artiste, passed away on 1 August 2025 at age 51 due to suspected cardiac arrest in a Kochi hotel room. He began with the Kalabhavan troupe, debuting in Chaithanyam (1995) and starred in hits like Junior Mandrake and Mattupetti Machan.

Questions:

Q.1 Which state introduced India’s first Sabbatical Leave Scheme for government employees?
a) Himachal Pradesh
b) Sikkim
c) Kerala
d) Uttarakhand

Answer: b) In 2023, Sikkim became the first to introduce a long-leave policy for state staff, promoting personal and professional development.

Q.2 Which British scientist became the first woman Astronomer Royal in 2025?
a) Jane Goodall
b) Jocelyn Bell Burnell
c) Michele Dougherty
d) Sarah Gilbert

Answer: c) An expert in planetary physics, Dougherty was appointed by King Charles III, breaking a 350-year tradition.