Stay updated with the most important national and international developments from 25th July 2025, including governance reforms, economic highlights, strategic partnerships, and major political milestones. This current affairs digest is a must-read for UPSC, SSC, Banking, and other competitive exam aspirants.
🇮🇳 NATIONAL NEWS
📘 India-UK Vision 2035: A
Strategic Blueprint for the Future 🇮🇳🤝🇬🇧
The India-UK
Vision 2035 is a forward-looking plan aimed at reshaping bilateral
ties between the two nations through comprehensive cooperation in:
- Trade: Including CETA and Bilateral
Investment Treaty (BIT).
- Defence: Featuring a 10-year roadmap,
joint military R&D.
- Technology:
Collaborations in AI, biotechnology, and semiconductors.
- Climate Goals:
Partnership in green finance, SMRs, and clean
energy.
- Education: Promotion of transnational
degrees and youth exchange programs.
This
visionary roadmap is reviewed annually and includes high-level
strategic dialogues to ensure it evolves with changing geopolitical realities.
🏛️ National Cooperation
Policy – 2025: Building Self-Reliant India from the Villages Up 🧑🌾🏘️
The National
Cooperation Policy – 2025 is a transformative initiative to revitalize
the cooperative sector:
- Goal: Triple the cooperative sector’s GDP
contribution.
- Target: Mobilize 50 crore members and
establish at least one cooperative per village.
- Focus Areas:
Insurance, tourism, green energy, and taxi services.
- Key Schemes:
- White Revolution 2.0
- Sahkar Taxi
- Dedicated Cooperative University
This policy
promotes a transparent, tech-driven, and youth-led cooperative
movement, boosting inclusive growth at the grassroots level.
📜 India-UK Free Trade
Agreement (FTA): Signed & Sealed! 🛍️🚗💼
On 24th
July 2025, India and the UK signed a landmark Free Trade Agreement,
expected to double bilateral trade by 2030. Major outcomes
include:
- 99% of Indian exports to
the UK now duty-free.
- Cheaper imports for
Indian consumers: Scotch whisky, British luxury cars, cosmetics,
and medical devices.
- Boost for Indian sectors like textiles, gems, auto
parts, and pharmaceuticals.
- Eased visa norms and social
security exemptions for Indian professionals.
This
agreement reflects a win-win partnership and strengthens
India’s global economic positioning.
⛽ Ethanol Milestone: India
Hits 20% Blending Target 5 Years Early! 🌱🚗
India
has achieved 20% ethanol blending in petrol by 2025,
well ahead of the 2030 target. Key achievements:
- CO₂ reduction: 698
lakh tonnes.
- Foreign exchange savings:
₹1.36 lakh crore.
- Farmer income boost:
₹1.18 lakh crore paid to producers.
- Production base:
Mostly from sugarcane and grains.
This major
milestone highlights India’s commitment to clean energy, climate
action, and energy independence.
🏆 PM Modi Surpasses Indira
Gandhi: Second Longest-Serving Indian PM! 📅🇮🇳
On 25th
July 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi broke Indira
Gandhi’s record by completing 4,078 days in office, making
him:
- India’s second-longest-serving PM.
- The first non-Congress leader to complete two full
terms.
- The longest-serving PM from a non-Hindi-speaking state.
- The first PM born after Independence to achieve
this feat.
This
achievement marks a defining moment in India’s political history.
🏛️ STATE NEWS
🎭 Aadi Thiruvathirai
Festival 2025: Tribute to Rajendra Chola I 🎉🏛️
The Ministry
of Culture is celebrating Aadi Thiruvathirai Festival from 23–27
July at Gangaikonda Cholapuram to commemorate:
- 1,000 years since Rajendra
Chola I’s maritime conquests and temple legacy.
- Key events include Bharatanatyam, Devaram
chanting, ASI exhibitions, and a musical
performance by Ilaiyaraaja.
- PM Modi is the Chief Guest,
highlighting the ruler’s cultural and political vision.
The event
promotes Shaiva Siddhanta, Tamil Bhakti, and Chola-era
architectural glory.
🌍 INTERNATIONAL NEWS
🌐 Historic India-UK FTA:
Trillions in Trade, New Geopolitical Era 📈💼
The newly
signed India-UK FTA not only lowers tariffs but also:
- Increases bilateral trade to $120 billion by 2030.
- Includes strategic elements from Vision 2035.
- Promotes cooperation in climate change, terrorism,
and cybersecurity.
- Marks PM Modi and PM Starmer’s joint
commitment to a rules-based global order.
🧳 India Resumes Tourist
Visas for Chinese Nationals After 5 Years 🧭🛬
India has
lifted the five-year visa suspension for Chinese tourists. Key
details:
- Online visa applications and services available in Beijing, Shanghai,
and Guangzhou.
- Comes soon after the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra reopening.
- Aims to boost tourism, improve bilateral
relations, and revive economic exchange.
🕊️ France Recognises
Palestine: A New Diplomatic Chapter in the Middle East 🇫🇷🇵🇸
In a major
diplomatic move, France will recognize Palestine in September
2025, becoming the first G7 nation to do so.
- Aims to push for a ceasefire and support Gaza’s
reconstruction.
- Promotes a two-state solution.
- Welcomed by Palestine, condemned by Israel, opposed
by the US.
- Carries significant symbolic weight, though practical
hurdles remain.
💰 ECONOMY NEWS
📉 FDI Inflows Crash by 98%
in May 2025 – RBI Bulletin 🏦📉
According
to the RBI Bulletin, net FDI inflows for May
2025 dropped to $35 million, down 98% year-on-year.
- Major reasons: 24% rise in repatriation, 11%
drop in gross inflows.
- Key investor nations: Singapore, Mauritius, UAE, USA.
- Investment areas: Manufacturing, financial,
and IT services.
- Outward FDI increased to $2.1 billion, mainly in transport and business
services.
India still
maintains robust FX reserves of $696.7 billion,
covering 11 months of imports.
👨💼 APPOINTMENTS NEWS
🧾 Ajay Seth Appointed IRDAI
Chairman: What to Expect 📊🧑⚖️
Ajay Seth, former Finance
Secretary and 1987-batch IAS officer, has been appointed
as the new Chairman of IRDAI.
- Brings extensive experience in fiscal policy, infrastructure,
and economic affairs.
- Expected to lead regulatory reforms in India’s insurance
sector.
- Focus areas: Digital insurance, policy
innovation, and penetration in rural India.
📜 AGREEMENT NEWS
🧑🌾 PESA Act Gets a Boost with New Centre in Amarkantak 🌳📚
A new Centre
of Excellence on PESA has been launched at IGNTU, Amarkantak through
a tripartite MoU.
- Stakeholders: Ministry of Panchayati Raj, MP
Govt, IGNTU.
- Objectives: Capacity building, tribal knowledge
preservation, and self-governance.
- Launch of “PESA in Action” compendium showcases best
practices from tribal areas.
This
initiative promotes inclusive rural governance rooted in India’s
tribal traditions.
🛡️ DEFENCE NEWS
🚀 DRDO Test-Fires ULPGM-V3:
India’s Latest Drone-Launched Missile 🎯🛰️
DRDO successfully test-fired
the ULPGM-V3 missile from a drone at Kurnool, a
major leap in drone-based warfare.
- Specs: 12.5 kg, dual-thrust solid motor, infrared
targeting, two-way datalink.
- Developed with Adani, BDL, MSMEs,
and startups.
- Part of the larger ULPGM programme, this is the most
advanced (ER) variant.
Aligns
with Atmanirbhar Bharat and enhances tactical strike
capabilities.
🧒 SCHEMES NEWS
🍼 Palna Scheme: Childcare
Revolution Across India! 👶🏽🏫
Launched
in April 2022, the Palna Scheme is transforming
India’s approach to childcare:
- Supports children aged 6 months to 6 years.
- Integrated with Anganwadi centres for nutrition, health,
and learning.
- 14,599 centres approved under
the 15th Finance Commission.
It
promotes women’s workforce participation and supports SDG
8 and inclusive development.
🎓 10 Years of Skill India
Mission: A Decade of Empowerment 👩💼⚙️
The Skill
India Mission (2015–2025) has trained over 6 crore youth with
key schemes like:
- PMKVY 4.0, PM-NAPS, and JSS.
- Focus on AI, robotics, green energy,
and digital skilling.
- Key outcomes:
- 1.63 crore trained under
PMKVY.
- 26 lakh via JSS.
- 43.47 lakh apprentices under
PM-NAPS.
The mission
aims to future-proof India’s workforce and harness its demographic
dividend.
🔬 SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY NEWS
🛰️ NASA Launches TRACERS
Mission: Studying Earth’s Magnetic Shield 🌌🛰️
NASA
launched the TRACERS Mission, deploying two satellites to
study magnetic reconnection in Earth’s atmosphere.
- Protects Earth from solar storms and space
weather threats.
- Real-time data will help safeguard satellites, navigation
systems, and power grids.
- Launched aboard SpaceX Falcon 9 with three other
satellites including Athena EPIC and REAL.
Important
for global space research, including India’s ISRO initiatives.
🕯️ OBITUARIES
🏋️ Hulk Hogan Passes Away at
71: Wrestling World Mourns Icon 😢🌎
Legendary
WWE icon Hulk Hogan passed away at 71 due
to cardiac arrest.
- Headlined eight WrestleManias, starred in movies, and
revolutionized sports entertainment.
- Known for “Hulkamania” and catchphrases like “Whatcha
gonna do?”
- His legacy is celebrated despite controversies, marking
him as a pop culture phenomenon.
💼 MISCELLANEOUS
📈 Alphabet CEO Sundar
Pichai’s Net Worth Crosses $1.1 Billion 🧠💸
Sundar Pichai, CEO of Alphabet,
has officially crossed the $1.1 billion mark in net worth.
- Major drivers: AI investments, DeepMind
acquisition, stock rise by 120% in 2024.
- Owns only 0.02% shares, but wealth fueled by stock
options and executive compensation.
- His journey from Chennai to Silicon Valley continues
to inspire millions.
#CurrentAffairs2025
#DailyGKUpdate #IndiaUKFTA #SkillIndia #PMModi #UPSCPreparation #EthanoBlending
#PESAAct #IRDAI #DRDO #PalnaScheme #CholaFestival
