Current Affairs - July 21, 2025 Current Affairs

Banaras Locomotive Works (BLW) reached a major milestone by rolling out its 2,500th electric locomotive, specifically a WAP-7 class with 6,000 horsepower. This achievement was accomplished within just 8 years since electric locomotive production began at BLW in 2017. Known for its significant contribution to Indian Railways, BLW has also extended its reach globally by exporting locomotives to Mozambique. In the financial year 2024–25 alone, the unit manufactured 472 electric locomotives, showcasing both scale and efficiency in production. This milestone reflects BLW’s pivotal role in advancing India’s railway electrification and modernisation goals.

Koneru Humpy created history by becoming the first Indian woman to advance to the semifinals of the FIDE Women’s Chess World Cup. The prestigious tournament took place in Batumi, Georgia, in 2025. Humpy secured her place in the final four by defeating China’s Song Yuxin in the quarterfinals. This remarkable achievement marks the first time any Indian, male or female, has reached the semifinals of this global chess event. Her performance not only reflects her individual brilliance but also highlights the growing strength of Indian women in international chess competitions.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a ₹15,000 incentive scheme on July 19, 2025, aimed at encouraging first-time employment in the private sector, particularly targeting youth in states like Bihar. The initiative seeks to address unemployment and reduce migration by offering financial support to individuals entering formal private jobs for the first time. With a planned rollout from August 1, 2025, and a substantial budget allocation of ₹1 lakh crore, the scheme is positioned to make a significant impact on local job creation, youth retention, and overall economic development in underemployed regions such as East Champaran and beyond.

Saaral Vizha 2025 is a vibrant monsoon cultural festival celebrated in Courtallam, located in the Tenkasi district of Tamil Nadu. Known for its scenic waterfalls and misty monsoon climate, the region hosts this event annually during July. The festival blends natural beauty with cultural richness, featuring classical and folk performances, exhibitions, and public competitions. It promotes Tamil Nadu’s traditional art forms such as Bharatanatyam, Nagaswaram, and silambam, while also serving as a platform for community engagement and cultural revival. The event underscores Tamil Nadu’s commitment to preserving its heritage through inclusive governance and public participation.

The Assam government has introduced a milk subsidy scheme aimed at enhancing the dairy sector in the state. Through this initiative, dairy farmers will receive a subsidy of ₹5 per litre of milk, provided the milk is supplied to cooperative societies for further processing. The primary objectives of the scheme are to increase dairy production, raise the income levels of farmers, and encourage a rural dairy revolution. By supporting local producers and strengthening cooperative channels, Assam seeks to improve the sustainability and profitability of dairy farming in the region.

The 66th International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) in 2025 took place in the Sunshine Coast, a coastal region in Australia. India achieved its highest-ever rank at the IMO, finishing 7th globally with an impressive total of 193 out of 252 points. The Indian team secured 3 gold medals, 2 silver, and 1 bronze, marking a historic performance. Although the results were officially announced in Mumbai by the Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education, the competition itself was hosted in Australia, which served as the international venue for this major academic event.

AdFalciVax is India’s first indigenous recombinant chimeric malaria vaccine candidate, designed to combat the deadly Plasmodium falciparum parasite. It is a multi-stage vaccine that targets two critical stages of the parasite’s life cycle, enhancing its effectiveness against malaria. Developed through a collaborative effort between the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the Department of Biotechnology–National Institute of Immunology (DBT–NII), this innovative vaccine represents a significant milestone in India’s public health and biomedical research initiatives. AdFalciVax reflects the country’s growing capabilities in tackling infectious diseases through indigenous scientific advancements.

England has been selected to host the next three World Test Championship (WTC) finals scheduled for 2027, 2029, and 2031. These finals are planned for June to align with the English cricket season and take advantage of favourable weather conditions. England has already served as the venue for previous WTC finals in 2021 (Southampton), 2023 (The Oval), and 2025 (Lord’s), making it a consistent choice for this prestigious event. The country’s well-established cricket infrastructure and historical significance in the sport contribute to its continued role as the host for these international matches.

China's Shi Yuqi claimed the Men's Singles title at the Japan Open 2025 by defeating defending champion Alex Lanier of France in a thrilling final. After a tight first game (21-17), Shi dominated the second game (21-15) to secure victory. This win marked a significant career resurgence for Shi, reestablishing him among badminton's elite players. The tournament highlighted Asia's badminton dominance, with China emerging as the most successful nation overall. Shi's strategic gameplay and clutch performance at critical moments (winning 4 consecutive points at 17-17 in the first game) demonstrated his championship mentality on this BWF World Tour Super 750 stage.

Murali Sreeshankar emerged as the winner of the Long Jump title at the Portugal Sports Meet, which is a part of the World Athletics Continental Tour – Bronze level. He achieved a leap of 7.75 metres in the second round to secure the top position. Sreeshankar, who is also known for winning a silver medal at the Asian Games, outperformed his competitors at this international event. Piotr Tarkowski from Poland and Chris Mitrevski from Australia followed him in second and third place, respectively, making Sreeshankar’s performance the highlight of the meet.