Daily Current Affairs and GK | 18 July 2025

Topic: Summits/ Conferences/ Meetings

1. The Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG), in partnership with the Government of Odisha, is hosting a two-day National Conference.

• The event is focussed on “Good Governance Practices” and taking place in Bhubaneswar on July 17-18, 2025.
• Union Minister of State Dr. Jitendra Singh and Odisha Chief Minister Shri Mohan Charan Majhi jointly inaugurated the conference.
• Shri V. Srinivas, Secretary of DARPG, and Shri Manoj Ahuja, Chief Secretary of Odisha, also spoke during the inauguration.
• The conference will feature five sessions focused on exemplary governance practices.
• These sessions will highlight initiatives that received the Prime Minister’s Awards in 2023 and 2024.
• The first session, on “Holistic Development of Districts,” chaired by Shri Puneet Yadav, Additional Secretary, DARPG.
• Smt. Sarita Chauhan, Joint Secretary, DARPG, will lead a session on the Aspirational Block Programme.
• Other sessions will explore innovation, district-level transformation, and the Aspirational Block Programme in greater detail.
• Over 20 speakers will share their award-winning initiatives.
• These speakers include District Collectors and senior officials from both state and central governments.
• The conference aims to connect national and state-level administrative bodies on a common platform.
• It will promote the exchange of innovative ideas and governance strategies.

Topic: Summits/Conferences/Meetings

2. The Sri Lankan Prime Minister inaugurated the 7th ISA Asia-Pacific Meeting in Colombo.

• The Seventh Regional Committee Meeting of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) for Asia and the Pacific was held in Colombo, Sri Lanka, from 15 to 17 July.
• The event was formally inaugurated by Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya alongside ISA Director General Ashish Khanna.
• This year’s theme was “Advancing Solar Cooperation Across a Region of Diversity and Opportunity,” emphasizing solar energy expansion.
• The conference focused on de-risking investments, promoting green hydrogen, and strengthening energy storage capabilities.
• The sessions also discussed cross-border solar trade, regional star hubs, and operationalization of solar markets for small island developing states.
• ISA Director General Ashish Khanna described the sector as central to the global energy transition and highlighted the role of the meeting in shaping investment-ready, scalable solutions.
• International Solar Alliance (ISA):
  • ISA was co-founded by India and France.
  • India and France jointly launched the International Solar Alliance (ISA) on 30 November 2015 at COP21 in Paris, France.
  • ISA is an intergovernmental organization whose headquarters is located in Gurugram, Haryana.
  • ISA serves as an important platform for international cooperation, uniting nations in efforts to combat climate change and transition to clean energy sources globally.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: State News/West Bengal

3. PM Modi launched development projects worth Rs 5,000 crore in Durgapur.

• On 18 July, PM Narendra Modi inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for multiple development projects worth over ₹5,000 crore in Durgapur, West Bengal.

• The foundation stone for the Bharat Petroleum Corp. Ltd City Gas Distribution project in Bankura and Purulia districts laid by the Prime Minister.
• The City Gas Distribution project aims to provide PNG connections to households, commercial establishments, and industries, along with CNG at retail outlets, creating employment opportunities in the region.
• A 132 km section of the Durgapur-Kolkata pipeline, part of the Jagdishpur-Haldia and Bokaro-Dhamra pipeline project (Pradhan Mantri Urja Ganga), dedicated to the nation.
• The Retrofitting Pollution Control System-Flue Gas Desulphurization at Durgapur Steel Thermal Power Station and Raghunathpur Thermal Power Station under Damodar Valley Corporation also inaugurated.
• The doubling of the 36 km Purulia-Kotshila Rail Line dedicated, improving rail connectivity between Jamshedpur, Bokaro, Dhanbad, Ranchi, and Kolkata.
• Two road overbridges at Topsi and Pandabeshwar in Paschim Burdwan, constructed under the Setu Bharatam Programme, inaugurated to enhance connectivity and prevent accidents at railway level crossings.
• These projects are expected to significantly boost industrial logistics, reduce travel time, and improve safety in the region.

Topic: Defence

4. India successfully test-fired nuclear-capable short-range ballistic missiles Prithvi-II and Agni-I.

• India has successfully test-fired nuclear-capable short-range ballistic missiles Prithvi-II and Agni-I from the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur off the Odisha coast, demonstrating its strategic deterrence capability.
• The Defense Ministry stated that all operational and technical parameters of the missiles were validated during the test-firing conducted by the Strategic Forces Command.
• The Prithvi-II missile, with a range of around 350 km, can carry payloads of up to 500 kg, including both conventional and nuclear warheads.
• The Agni-I missile, having a range between 700 and 900 km, is capable of carrying a 1,000 kg payload.
• Both missiles are integral components of India’s nuclear deterrence strategy.
• Additionally, on July 16, the indigenously developed Akash Prime missile, which has been optimized for operating at altitudes of over 4,500 meters, was successfully test-fired in Ladakh.
• The Defence Ministry highlighted that upgrades to the Akash Prime missile, including an indigenously developed radio frequency seeker, were made based on operational feedback.
• The successful firing in Ladakh demonstrated the missile’s operational effectiveness near the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

Topic: Awards and Prizes

5. Bhadradri Kothagudem from Telangana won the Open-Source GIS Award for public-focused innovations.

• On 17 July, the Bhadradri Kothagudem district in Telangana was honored with the Open-Source GIS Cohort Award for effective use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for public life efficiently.
• The award was received by District Collector Jitesh V. Patil at a ceremony held in Mumbai.
• The district was recognized for its innovative use of GIS in predicting the Godavari River flood and addressing related public issues.
• GIS was also used for skilling programs and to integrate data from various government departments efficiently.
• Mr. Patil stated that cotton and maize farmers are being guided to switch to Moringa (Drumstick) cultivation with the help of GIS technology.

Topic: Sports

6. Indian wrestler Sujeet Kalkal won the gold medal at the Poliak Imre and Varga Janos Memorial.

• Indian wrestler Sujeet Kalkal secured the gold medal in the men’s 65kg freestyle category at the Polyak Imre & Varga Janos Memorial 2025 tournament held in Budapest, Hungary.

• In the final, Sujeet defeated four-time European medallist Ali Rahimzade of Azerbaijan with a score of 5-1.
• This victory marked India’s first gold medal in wrestling at any Ranking Series event this year.
• India also earned a bronze medal in the men’s 57kg category as wrestler Rahul defeated Germany’s Niklas Stechele 4-0.
• Indian wrestlers participated in men’s and women’s freestyle, as well as Greco-Roman categories, at the ongoing Budapest meet, which will conclude on July 20.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: State News/ Bihar

7. Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched development projects worth over ₹7,200 crore in Bihar.

• Prime Minister laid foundation stones, inaugurated, and dedicated these projects to the nation.
• Four new Amrit Bharat trains flagged off to strengthen Bihar’s rail connectivity with other regions.
• PM Modi will address a public gathering at Gandhi Maidan in Motihari.
• Automatic signalling will be introduced on the Samastipur-Bachhwara rail line to improve train movement.
• Railway track doubling between Darbhanga-Thalwara and Samastipur-Rambhadrapur will reduce delays and boost capacity.
• This ₹580 crore project is part of a larger Darbhanga-Samastipur rail upgrade.
• A maintenance facility for Vande Bharat trains will be established at Patliputra in Patna.
• The Bhatni-Chhapra Gramin section will get automatic signalling and upgraded traction systems.
• A ₹4,080 crore rail doubling project between Darbhanga and Narkatiaganj will enhance passenger and freight movement.
• The Ara bypass on NH-319 will be expanded into a four-lane road to ease traffic flow.
• The Parariya to Mohania section of NH-319, costing over ₹820 crore, will be opened to traffic.
• This section links Ara town to NH-02 of the Golden Quadrilateral.
• Under PM Matsya Sampada Yojana, new fisheries infrastructure will be launched.
• Projects include hatcheries, biofloc units, ornamental fish farming, aquaculture units, and feed mills.
• Four new Amrit Bharat train routes will connect Rajendra Nagar–New Delhi, Bapudham Motihari–Anand Vihar, Darbhanga–Lucknow, and Malda Town–Lucknow via Bhagalpur.
• ₹400 crore will be released to over 61,000 Self-Help Groups under the National Rural Livelihoods Mission.
• As part of PM Awaas Yojana-Gramin, keys will be given to 12,000 new homeowners.

Topic: Defence

8. India has made a significant advancement by successfully testing the Akash Prime air defence system.

• The system intercepted two high-speed aerial targets during a trial in the high-altitude region of Ladakh.

• Akash Prime is an enhanced version of the original Akash Weapon System.
• It is specifically designed for operations above 4,500 metres.
• The system features an indigenously developed Radio Frequency seeker for improved target accuracy.
• These upgrades are based on feedback from field users to enhance performance in real combat scenarios.
• The Indian Army Air Defence collaborated with DRDO on this project.
• Public sector units like Bharat Dynamics Limited and Bharat Electronics Limited also played key roles.
• This success reflects the growing strength of India’s indigenous defence capabilities.
• The test follows the outstanding performance of Indian air defence systems in Operation Sindoor.
• It marks a major milestone in India’s ongoing missile development programmes.
• Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated the Indian Army, DRDO, and industry partners.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Awards and Prizes

9. President Droupadi Murmu presented the Swachh Survekshan 2024–25 Awards in New Delhi.

• The awards ceremony was held at Vigyan Bhawan and organized by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.
• Indore was declared India’s cleanest city for the eighth consecutive year.
• Surat ranked second, while Navi Mumbai secured the third position.
• These three cities were inducted into the elite Super Swachh League.
• Ahmedabad, Bhopal, and Lucknow were named as the next generation of clean Indian cities.
• Noida was ranked the cleanest city in the 3–10 lakh population category.
• Chandigarh and Mysore followed Noida in this category.
• Ahmedabad topped the list among cities with a population of over 10 lakh.
• A total of 78 awards were given across different city categories.
• There were 43 national-level awards, including special honours for Mahakumbh.
• Prayagraj was awarded Best Ganga Town for its efforts in river cleanliness.
• Secunderabad Cantonment Board was recognized as the Best Cantonment Board.
• Visakhapatnam, Jabalpur, and Gorakhpur received the Best Safai Mitra Surakshit Shehar awards.
• These cities were honoured for ensuring the safety and dignity of sanitation workers.
• The Uttar Pradesh government and Prayagraj authorities received special recognition.
• They were praised for effective waste management during the Mahakumbh event.
• Thirty-four cities were recognized as Promising Swachh Shehars from various States and UTs.
• This year’s survey made participation easier for smaller cities. Smaller cities competed on equal terms with large urban areas.
• The “One City, One Award” approach ensured balanced recognition across States.
• A handcrafted sarangi made from recycled materials was presented to the President.
• Union Minister Manohar Lal launched the Swachh City Partnership initiative.
• Under this program, each of the 78 top cities will mentor one underperforming city.
• He encouraged peer-to-peer learning under the slogan “Each one clean one.”
• The Accelerated Dumpsite Remediation Program was also announced.
• It will begin on August 15, 2025, and run for one year.
• The program will target legacy waste and expand scientific waste processing.
• This year’s survey introduced 10 new evaluation parameters.
• Five different population-based categories allowed fair comparison.

(Source: PIB)

Topic: Sports

10. Lakshmi Jadala has qualified for the 2027 Special Olympics World Games.

• The event will take place in Cairo, Egypt.
• He is Asia’s top-ranked para lawn tennis player with an intellectual disability.
• Jadala won the gold medal at the 2025 National Tennis Championship.
• The championship was held in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh.
• He competed in the Under-17 junior category.
• Jadala delivered an outstanding performance throughout the tournament.
• He won all three of his matches in straight sets.
• At just 15 years old, he is emerging as a major talent in para sports.