Get your daily GK boost with major updates on geopolitics, finance, defense, economy, and international observances from July 24, 2025. This roundup is a must-read for aspirants preparing for competitive exams like UPSC, SSC, Banking, and more!
📰 International News
🌊 China Begins Construction of World's Largest Dam on Yarlung Tsangpo (Brahmaputra)
In a significant development with serious geopolitical implications, China has commenced work on the Motuo Hydropower Station, projected to become the world’s largest dam on the Yarlung Tsangpo River (known as Brahmaputra in India).
💰 Cost: $167 billion
🏗️ Mechanism: River water will be diverted through mountain tunnels powering five cascading hydropower stations.
📈 China’s energy ambition: Part of its national energy strategy.
⚠️ Concerns:
River flow control into India & Bangladesh
Impact on biodiversity and seismic zones
Livelihood risks for downstream communities
This mega project has become a geo-environmental flashpoint, raising urgent concerns across South Asia.
🏦 Banking News
🏦 Fino Payments Bank Launches “GATI” to Accelerate UPI Growth in West Bengal
Fino Payments Bank has launched “GATI” – a zero-balance digital savings account aimed at increasing UPI adoption in West Bengal, particularly in semi-urban and rural areas.
🔐 Features:
eKYC-based instant account opening
Auto UPI ID creation
FinoPay app access
Insurance, digital gold, and loan services
🧓 Target audience: Youth, women, senior citizens
📍 Accessible via 40,301 merchant points
This initiative enhances financial inclusion, tapping into India’s growing digital banking landscape.
📊 RBI’s Financial Inclusion Index Climbs to 67.0 in FY25
The Reserve Bank of India’s Financial Inclusion Index rose from 64.2 to 67.0 in FY25, reflecting deeper integration of citizens into the financial system.
📌 Sub-indices: Access, Usage, and Quality
🛠️ Enablers:
Government schemes (Jan Dhan Yojana, PMJJBY)
UPI and mobile wallets
Financial literacy drives
This index captures banking, pensions, insurance, and postal services, serving as a comprehensive tool for inclusive economic growth.
💵 RBI Conducts ₹50,000 Crore VRR Auction Amid Liquidity Crunch
In a surprise move, the RBI conducted a ₹50,000 crore Variable Rate Repo (VRR) auction on July 23, 2025, to inject liquidity into the banking system.
💸 Accepted amount: ₹50,001 crore
📉 Average yield: 5.58%
📊 Reason: GST outflows and VRRR locks tightened liquidity
This shows RBI’s proactive liquidity management, ensuring market stability.
🏆 SBI Crowned World’s Best Consumer Bank 2025
State Bank of India (SBI) has been named the World’s Best Consumer Bank 2025 by Global Finance Magazine, a testament to its digital prowess.
🤖 Innovations:
Vernacular voice banking
AI-based personalization
Omni-channel customer engagement
🏡 Special focus on rural & semi-urban areas
This award cements SBI’s position as a global leader in consumer banking, reflecting India’s financial innovation globally.
🚨 PSBs Flag ₹1.62 Trillion in Wilful Defaults
As of March 31, 2025, Public Sector Banks reported 1,629 wilful default cases with outstanding dues totaling ₹1.62 trillion.
⚖️ Government actions:
SARFAESI Act
Insolvency & Bankruptcy Code (IBC)
Public exposure via CIBIL and Experian
The high volume of defaults remains a critical concern for India’s banking health.
💼 Warburg Pincus to Invest ₹4,876 Crore in IDFC First Bank
RBI has approved Warburg Pincus’s investment of ₹4,876 crore in IDFC First Bank, acquiring up to 9.99% stake via Compulsorily Convertible Preference Shares (CCPS).
🌍 Route: Through Currant Sea Investments B.V.
✅ CCI clearance obtained
📈 Impact:
Strengthens capital base
Enhances lending capacity
Speeds up growth trajectory
This marks a significant foreign investment milestone in India’s private banking sector.
📈 Economy News
🇮🇳 India Retains Title as World’s Fastest-Growing Major Economy: ADB
According to the Asian Development Bank (ADB):
🔼 2025 GDP Forecast: 6.5%
🔼 2026 Forecast: 6.7%
🌧️ Aided by normal monsoon, robust domestic demand
📉 Inflation at a 6-year low in June 2025
Despite global trade headwinds, India leads the Asia-Pacific region in economic momentum.
🛡️ Defense News
🚢 ICG Inducts ‘Samudra Prachet’: A Pollution Control Game-Changer
On July 23, 2025, the Indian Coast Guard launched 'Samudra Prachet', the final Pollution Control Vessel (PCV) built by Goa Shipyard Ltd.
⚓ Tonnage: 4,170 tonnes
🌊 Purpose: Oil spill response, maritime pollution control
🇮🇳 Supports Atmanirbhar Bharat and MARPOL compliance
This strengthens India’s maritime eco-defense in its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
🏆 Ranks & Reports
✈️ Mumbai Airport Among World’s Top 10 Again
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) continues its winning streak:
🥇 Ranked in Top 10 International Airports – 2025
📊 Score: 84.23 (Travel + Leisure Magazine)
✈️ Connectivity: Over 121 global destinations
📈 Handled 55 million passengers in a year
This milestone confirms CSMIA’s global leadership in aviation.
🛂 India’s Passport Makes Historic Jump in Henley Index
India has recorded its biggest passport ranking gain ever in the Henley Passport Index 2025:
⬆️ From 85th to 77th position
🌏 Visa-free/Visa-on-arrival access: 59 countries
Malaysia, Maldives, Thailand, Sri Lanka among them
Though a mobility gap with top countries like Singapore (193 destinations) persists, this marks India’s rising global influence.
📅 Important Days
👩🏾🦱 International Day for Women & Girls of African Descent – July 25
The International Day for Women and Girls of African Descent honors:
🌍 Diversity, creativity, and resilience
❌ Challenges like racism, sexism, socio-economic discrimination
🧭 Call for inclusive leadership, education, and rights protection
Their contribution is vital for global equity and development.
🌊 World Drowning Prevention Day – July 25
First declared by the UN in 2021, this day aims to combat the silent epidemic of drowning:
⚠️ 236,000+ deaths annually, mainly in low-income nations
🛟 Prevention strategies:
Barriers
Swimming lessons
Community rescue training
This observance promotes multi-sectoral collaboration to save lives from preventable water tragedies.
⚖️ International Day for Judicial Well-being – July 25
Declared via UN Resolution A/RES/79/266, this day aims to support:
👨⚖️ Mental wellness of judges & legal professionals
💡 Inspired by Nauru Declaration (2024) and Justice Rangajeeva Wimalasena
🧠 Focus on stigma reduction, reform, and wellness programs
A global recognition of the human side of the judiciary.
💰 Income Tax Day – July 24: Celebrating India’s Tax Evolution
Income Tax Day marks the introduction of tax in 1860 by Sir James Wilson.
📈 From manual collection to digital efficiency
💻 Key reforms:
Centralized Processing Centre (CPC)
TIN 2.0
Faceless assessment
Annual Information Statement (AIS)
💡 Use of “Nudge Theory” encourages voluntary compliance
The day celebrates India’s fiscal transparency and taxpayer empowerment.
🔚 Conclusion
From geopolitical tensions over dams to India's dominance in global finance and aviation, July 24, 2025, offered a rich mix of developments across domains. Whether you're prepping for an exam or just staying informed, these updates are crucial.
🔗 Source Links
🔗 China’s Brahmaputra Dam – The Hindu
🔗 Fino Payments Bank Launches GATI – Financial Express
🔗 RBI Inclusion Index – RBI.gov.in
🔗 SBI Global Award – Business Standard
🔗 ADB Economic Forecast – Asian Development Bank
🔗 Henley Passport Index 2025 – Henley Global
🔗 CSMIA Airport Ranking – Travel + Leisure
🔗 Income Tax Day – incometaxindia.gov.in
#DailyCurrentAffairs #UPSC2025 #SSCPreparation #BankExam2025 #IndiaEconomy #RBIUpdate #SBIAward #JudicialWellBeing #IncomeTaxDay #GKDose #CurrentAffairsToday #WorldDrowningPreventionDay
