Daily Current Affairs – 12 July 2025: UNESCO Recognition, RBI Penalties, Operation SHIVA & More

📰 Daily Current Affairs – 12th July 2025
A complete and professional breakdown of the day’s most important national and international updates for UPSC, SSC, Banking, and other competitive exams. From global recognitions to major economic decisions, stay informed with this in-depth analysis of the latest headlines.

🇮🇳 National News

🏰 Maratha Forts Receive UNESCO World Heritage Status

In a historic move, 12 Maratha forts spread across Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu were officially added to the UNESCO World Heritage List on July 11, 2025, during the 47th session held in Paris.
These forts, a part of the Maratha Military Landscapes, were constructed between the 17th and 19th centuries, demonstrating the exceptional military strategies of the Maratha Empire.

Notable figures like Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj are directly associated with these forts.
This global recognition is expected to boost heritage tourism, aid in cultural conservation, and promote India’s rich historical legacy.

🛡️ Operation SHIVA 2025 Launched for Amarnath Yatra Security

To ensure the safe conduct of the Amarnath Yatra, the Indian Army has rolled out Operation SHIVA 2025 beginning July 12, 2025.

Over 8,500 troops have been deployed.
Advanced anti-drone systems, medical units, and engineering support are part of the operation.
The initiative is in close coordination with CAPFs and civil authorities, aimed at tackling threats from Pakistan-backed terror outfits.

The operation underlines the Indian Army’s commitment to securing religious events and ensuring public safety.

🏛️ State News

🚓 Kerala’s Arthunkal Police Station Becomes India’s First ISO-Certified Station

Setting a national precedent, the Arthunkal Police Station in Alappuzha, Kerala has become the first in the country to receive the IS/ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System certification from the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS).

The award applauds efficiency in law enforcement, crime prevention, and public grievance handling.
This milestone was achieved under the Modernised Cherthala Police Programme, led by ASP Harish Jain.
Kerala DGP Ravada Azad Chandrashekhar graced the certification ceremony.

🌱 Uttarakhand to Plant 5 Lakh+ Saplings During Harela Festival

On July 16, 2025, Uttarakhand will observe Harela Festival with an ambitious statewide plantation drive of over 5 lakh saplings.

Spearheaded by CM Pushkar Singh Dhami, the initiative promotes themes like “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam” and “Dharti Maa Ka Rin Chukao”.
Students, local communities, and government employees will participate actively.
The green mission aims to break previous records and underline Uttarakhand’s leadership in environmental preservation.

🏯 Gingee Fort Joins UNESCO Heritage List

Gingee Fort in Tamil Nadu’s Villupuram district has also earned a spot on the UNESCO World Heritage List, as part of the Maratha Military Landscapes.

Popularly known as the “Troy of the East”, the fort is revered for its strategic design and military engineering.
This heritage tag is expected to bring in international tourism and bolster restoration efforts.

🌍 International News

🕊️ Khmer Rouge Genocide Sites in Cambodia Recognized by UNESCO

Three genocide-era locations in Cambodia — Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, M-13 prison, and Choeung Ek Killing Fields — were added to the UNESCO World Heritage List on July 11, 2025.

These were used by the Khmer Rouge regime (1975–1979) for detention, torture, and executions.
This inclusion coincides with the 50th anniversary of the regime’s rise.
Cambodian PM Hun Manet welcomed the move as a step towards memorialization, justice, and educating the youth.

🏦 Banking & Economy

💸 RBI Penalizes HDFC Bank and Shriram Finance

On regulatory grounds, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has levied fines on:

HDFC Bank: ₹4.88 lakh for violations related to foreign investment in term loans.
Shriram Finance: ₹2.70 lakh for digital lending rule breaches discovered during inspections.

This action showcases RBI’s firm stand on compliance, transparency, and financial discipline in the banking sector.

📉 Tax Revenue Drops Amid High Refunds

India’s net direct tax collection saw a 1.3% dip as of July 10, 2025, despite gross collections rising 3.2% to ₹6.6 lakh crore.

The drop is due to a 38% increase in tax refunds, impacting revenue flow.
Both corporate and non-corporate taxpayers contributed to the decline.

🌍 Tax Benefits for SWFs and Pension Funds Extended to 2030

The Indian Government has extended tax exemptions for Sovereign Wealth Funds (SWFs) and Pension Funds till March 31, 2030.

Exemptions include dividends, interest, and long-term capital gains.
Introduced under Section 10(23FE) of the IT Act, this move is expected to attract long-term FDI into energy, telecom, and logistics.
SWFs now hold assets worth ₹4.7 lakh crore in India, as per NSDL.

🏅 Awards & Recognition

👩‍⚖️ Varsha Deshpande Wins 2025 UN Population Award

Varsha Deshpande, a Maharashtra-based advocate and activist, was honored with the 2025 United Nations Population Award in New York on July 11.

She is celebrated for promoting gender equality, saving the girl child, and empowering Dalit women.
Deshpande leads the Dalit Mahila Vikas Mandal and is known for her enforcement of the PCPNDT Act.
The UNFPA hailed her work as crucial in advancing reproductive rights and social equity.

👥 Appointments

📡 Abhijit Kishore Reappointed COAI Chairperson

The Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) reappointed Abhijit Kishore (Vodafone Idea) as Chairperson and Rahul Vatts (Airtel) as Vice Chairperson for 2025–26.

Their leadership is crucial as India gears up for 5G expansion and digital infrastructure upgrades.

🔐 Babitha B P Appointed as SBI’s Deputy CISO

Babitha B P has taken charge as the Deputy Chief Information Security Officer at State Bank of India (SBI).

She will oversee infrastructure security and digital safety initiatives.
Her appointment reflects growing gender representation in India’s tech-finance landscape.

🤝 Agreements & MoUs

🏐 Prasar Bharati to Broadcast Handball Events in India

Prasar Bharati signed a 3-year MoU with the Handball Association of India (HAI) to air national and international handball matches.

Matches will be available on DD Sports, Waves OTT, and digital platforms.
The deal aims to popularize handball, encourage new talent, and expand the sport’s reach.

🛡️ Defense & Technology

🚀 Astra Missile Test Success by DRDO & IAF

The DRDO and Indian Air Force successfully tested the Astra Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missile (BVRAAM) from a Su-30 MKI off the Odisha coast.

The missile uses an indigenous RF Seeker and demonstrated high-speed target accuracy.
This success supports India’s Make in India defense initiative and reduces foreign dependency.

🚛 Government Schemes

⚡ PM E-DRIVE Scheme for Electric Trucks Launched

India introduced the first incentive scheme for electric trucks under PM E-DRIVE, offering up to ₹9.6 lakh per vehicle.

Targets N2 & N3 category trucks with companies like Tata Motors, Ashok Leyland, and SAIL participating.
Old diesel trucks will be scrapped, and strict warranty clauses will ensure quality.
The initiative aligns with India’s net-zero emissions goal by 2070.

💼 ₹1 Lakh Crore Job-Linked Incentive Scheme Approved

The Union Cabinet approved an ambitious ₹1 lakh crore scheme to create 3.5 crore jobs from August 2025 to July 2027.

Employers will get ₹3,000 per employee/month, while new workers receive up to ₹15,000 in wage support.
Announced by Ashwini Vaishnaw, this scheme is a part of the PM’s ₹2 lakh crore youth employment plan.

📚 Summits & Conferences

📜 India to Host Global Manuscript Heritage Conference

From September 11–13, 2025, India will host the first Global Conference on Manuscript Heritage at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.

Over 500 delegates, rare manuscript exhibits, and AI-driven archival demos will be featured.
The event coincides with Swami Vivekananda’s 1893 speech date, symbolizing India’s knowledge revival.

🧪 Trade Facilitation Conference 2025 Kicks Off

MoS Finance Pankaj Chaudhary inaugurated the Trade Facilitation Conference 2025 in New Delhi, organized by CRCL and CBIC.

Themed “Scientific Excellence for Seamless Trade”, the event focused on infrastructure development for faster, error-free trade processes.

🏏 Sports News

🏆 Italy & Netherlands Qualify for ICC T20 World Cup 2026

In the ICC T20 Europe Qualifiers, both Italy and the Netherlands secured qualification for the 2026 T20 World Cup to be hosted in India and Sri Lanka.

Italy’s qualification marks its first-ever appearance in the global cricket tournament.
Key players included Roelof van der Merwe and Michael Levitt from the Netherlands.

♟️ Harikrishnan A. R. Becomes India’s 87th Grandmaster

Harikrishnan A. R., a 23-year-old chess prodigy from Chennai, earned his final GM norm at the La Plagne International Chess Festival, France, on July 11, 2025.

Coached by Shyam Sundar, he has already achieved GM norms in Switzerland (2023) and Spain (2025).
Harikrishnan, an SRM M.Com graduate, now targets Elo 2600 and plans to pursue MBA in the USA.