Current Affairs - July 29, 2025 Current Affairs

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) collaborated with Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation Ltd. (TIDCO) to set up a state-of-the-art ₹400 crore testing facility focused on the Mechanical and Material domain. This facility will be located in Tiruchirappalli as part of the Tamil Nadu Defence Industrial Corridor (TNDIC). The initiative falls under the Defence Testing Infrastructure Scheme (DTIS), which aims to boost indigenous defence manufacturing by providing world-class testing infrastructure. The MoU reflects the government's commitment to strengthening defence capabilities and promoting industrial growth through strategic partnerships.

On July 26, 2025, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami released the book “Sustainable Wellness of Students: A Collective Responsibility in Higher Education” at a program in Dehradun. The initiative underscores the importance of mental health, student welfare, and holistic development in higher education. The book highlights student-centric approaches, emphasising psychological support, skill development, and collaborative responsibility from educators, families, and policymakers. Uttarakhand has also led the way in implementing the National Education Policy 2020, demonstrating its proactive stance on educational reform and student well-being. The event reflects the state’s ongoing commitment to building a supportive academic environment for youth.

Scientists at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) created a groundbreaking non-invasive, real-time microscope that captures molecular movement at the angstrom scale. This advanced microscope uses ultrafast laser pulses and a digital micromirror device (DMD), enabling it to film at hundreds of billions of frames per second. The innovation allows researchers to observe rapid molecular interactions with unprecedented clarity. While MIT, Stanford, and Harvard are leading research institutions, this specific breakthrough was achieved at Caltech. The development highlights Caltech’s contributions to cutting-edge scientific instrumentation and ultrafast imaging technologies.

The state of Bihar, under the leadership of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, has announced the formation of the Bihar Rajya Safai Karmachari Ayog (Bihar State Sanitation Workers Commission). This commission aims to address the welfare, rights, and rehabilitation of sanitation workers across the state. It will comprise a chairperson, a vice-chairperson, and five members, including a representative who is either a woman or a transgender person, reflecting a strong focus on inclusivity. The initiative seeks to ensure the implementation of welfare schemes, offer grievance redressal, and promote the social and economic upliftment of sanitation workers, especially those from marginalised communities.

Odisha has made a major move to revamp its textile and apparel industry by signing 33 Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) totalling $902 million during the Odisha-TEX 2025 summit held in Bhubaneswar. This initiative, under the Odisha Apparel & Technical Textile Policy 2022, is designed to position the state as the textile hub of eastern India. The agreements involve over 160 companies and aim to generate more than one lakh jobs by 2030. Additionally, the state plans to develop textile clusters across six districts, ensuring regional industrial development and promoting inclusive economic growth across Odisha.

The second edition of the Kala Utsav 2025 – Artists in Residence Programme took place at Rashtrapati Bhavan, which is the official residence of the President of India. The event saw the participation of artists representing three significant indigenous art forms—Sohrai Art from Jharkhand, Pattachitra from Odisha, and Patua Painting from West Bengal. President Droupadi Murmu's interaction with the artists highlighted the importance of preserving and promoting traditional art forms in national venues of prominence such as the Rashtrapati Bhavan. This not only honours the artists but also brings wider recognition to these unique cultural expressions.

As of June 30, 2025, unclaimed bank deposits in India have reached a total of ₹67,003 crore, reflecting a growing concern within the financial system. The majority of these funds are lying with public sector banks, led by the State Bank of India, with over ₹19,000 crore. In response, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has launched the UDGAM portal to streamline the process for individuals to locate and claim these dormant funds. This initiative emphasises the importance of financial awareness and inclusion, while also addressing inefficiencies caused by inactive accounts and improving transparency within the banking system.

The new EU-US trade agreement, finalised after prolonged negotiations, imposes a 15% tariff on EU exports to the United States. This rate is a compromise, significantly lower than the 30% tariff previously threatened by the US administration. The deal marks a major step in stabilising transatlantic trade relations and aims to prevent further escalation into a trade war. While the US retains certain high tariffs on global steel and aluminium, the 15% rate on EU goods is part of a broader agreement that includes tariff-free access for specific American exports and major European investments in the US energy and manufacturing sectors.

Maharashtra’s first glass bridge was inaugurated over the Napne Waterfall, located near Nadhavade village in the scenic Konkan region. This perennial waterfall, which flows throughout the year, is now a centrepiece of the Sindhuratna Tourism Scheme—a state initiative aimed at spotlighting lesser-known yet beautiful destinations. The glass bridge offers a unique experience to visitors, enhancing tourism in the area while also creating an iconic viewpoint. The project is expected to draw more attention to the natural beauty of the Konkan region and encourage eco-friendly tourism practices in Maharashtra.

The ‘Gyan Bharatam Mission’, launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is a major initiative focused on the digitisation and preservation of India’s ancient manuscripts. With an aim to conserve over one crore historical texts, the mission envisions the creation of a National Digital Repository to make these cultural treasures globally accessible. By safeguarding fragile manuscripts and enabling easy access for researchers, students, and historians, the mission seeks to revive India’s civilisational knowledge and ensure its transmission to future generations. This aligns with broader efforts under ‘Viksit Bharat’ to preserve traditional wisdom and promote cultural and linguistic heritage across the nation.

International Tiger Day, also known as Global Tiger Day, is observed every year on July 29 to raise awareness about tiger conservation. The day was established during the First International Tiger Forum held in Saint Petersburg, Russia, in 2010, with participation from 13 Tiger Range Countries. The forum, hosted under the leadership of Russian President Vladimir Putin, culminated in the adoption of the St. Petersburg Declaration on Tiger Conservation. This declaration aimed to double the global tiger population by 2022, recognising the alarming decline in tiger numbers and the urgent need for coordinated international efforts to protect them and their habitats.