Daily Current Affairs and GK | 2 July 2025

Topic: Sports

1. Ayush Shetty made history by winning his first BWF World Tour title at the 2025 US Open.

• He made history by becoming the first Indian to win a BWF World Tour title this season by securing the US Open 2025.
• He defeated Canada’s Brian Yang in the final. The final score was 21-18, 21-13.
• Shetty displayed dominant control throughout the match.
• He beat World No. 6 Chou Tien Chen in the semifinals.
• This is India’s first men’s singles BWF Tour title on foreign soil since the 2023 Canada Open.
• The 20-year-old’s win is a major breakthrough in his career.
• In women’s singles, Tanvi Sharma finished as the runner-up.
• She is just 16 years old. Tanvi lost to top seed Beiwen Zhang in the final.
• The final score was 11-21, 21-16, 10-21.
• This was Tanvi’s first appearance in a BWF World Tour final.
• Her performance showed great potential for the future.

Topic: Summits/Conferences/Meetings

2. The first ASEAN-India Cruise Dialogue held in Chennai.

• On 30 June, the inaugural ASEAN–India Cruise Dialogue was inaugurated by Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal aboard MV Empress at Chennai Port.
• This is an important milestone in maritime cooperation between India and SoutheastAsian countries.
• Delegates from the ten ASEAN nations and Timor-Leste were convened to discuss cruise connectivity and sustainable tourism.
• India plans to commercialise 5,000 km of navigable waterways to enhance cruise connectivity with ASEAN countries.
• The Sagar Mala initiative targets one million cruise passengers by 2029, with over 14,000 ship visits today, up from 102 in 2013-14, thanks to policy reforms, tax measures and improved port infrastructure.
• An integrated cruise network linking Indian and ASEAN ports was proposed in line with Viksit Bharat 2047 and ASEAN Vision 2045.
• The two-day dialogue included thematic sessions on investment and cruise tourism circuits and took place at Mamallapuram, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• ASEAN's central role in India's Act East Policy was highlighted, and India's commitment to revitalize centuries-old maritime ties through cruise tourism and the blue economy was reiterated.

Topic: Defence

3. The induction of INS Tamal into the Indian Navy will strengthen maritime power and India-Russia defence ties.

• On 1 July, the Indian Navy has commissioned its latest stealth frigate, INS Tamal (F71), at Yantar Shipyard in Kaliningrad, Russia, enhancing India's maritime capabilities.
• The commissioning was conducted in the presence of Vice Admiral Sanjay Jasjit Singh and senior naval officials from both India and Russia.
• INS Tamal, second in the Tushil-class and eighth under Project 1135.6, joins a distinguished fleet of multi-role stealth frigates.
• The frigate will be commanded by Captain Sridhar Tata, a specialist in gunnery and missile warfare.
• A Guard of Honour by the Indian crew and Russia’s Baltic Fleet marked the beginning of the commissioning ceremony.
• The ship’s handover was formalised by signing the Delivery Act, after which the Indian Naval Ensign was hoisted.
• The vessel was equipped with BrahMos missiles, Humsa-NG sonar, and other indigenous systems, accounting for 26% local content.
• Sea trials between November 2024 and June 2025 validated the ship’s weaponry, including Shtil-1 missiles and anti-submarine systems.
• INS Tamal, with a crew of 250 sailors and 26 officers, is designed for multi-dimensional warfare and nuclear-biological-chemical defence.
• The frigate will soon reach its homeport in Karwar, Karnataka, contributing to India’s maritime readiness and strategic depth.

Topic: Infrastructure and Energy

4. The ₹1,853 crore NH 87 four-lane project in Tamil Nadu approved by the cabinet.

• On 1 July, the construction of a four-lane highway on NH-87 between Paramakudi and Ramanathapuram in Tamil Nadu has been approved by the Union Cabinet.
• The project will be implemented under the Hybrid Annuity Mode at a cost of ₹1,853 crore.
• The upgraded 46.7 km stretch aims to ease congestion and enhance safety on the busy route.
• Existing two-lane roads face high traffic due to their role in connecting major towns and religious centres.
• Towns like Paramakudi, Sathirakudi, Achundanvayal, and Ramanathapuram will greatly benefit from the enhanced mobility.
• Upon completion, connectivity will improve between Madurai, Rameshwaram, and Dhanushkodi, boosting tourism and trade.
• The construction is expected to generate around 8.4 lakh person-days of direct and 10.45 lakh of indirect employment.

Topic: Government Schemes and Initiatives

5. ₹99,446 crore Employment-Linked Incentive Scheme approved by Cabinet.

• On 1 July, an Employment-Linked Incentive (ELI) Scheme with an allocation of ₹99,446 crore has been approved by the Union Cabinet.

• The scheme has been approved to support employment generation primarily in the manufacturing sector while enhancing employability and social security across all sectors.
• The ELI scheme aims to stimulate the creation of over 3.5 crore jobs in two years.
• Of these, 1.92 crore beneficiaries will join the workforce for the first time.
• The benefits of the scheme will be applicable to jobs created between August 1, 2025, and July 31, 2027.
• Keeping in mind the first-time employees registered with EPFO, in this part, one month's EPF salary up to Rs 15,000 will be given in two installments.
• Employees with salaries up to Rs 1 lakh will be eligible for this.
• The first installment will be payable after 6 months of service, and the second installment after 12 months of service and completion of the financial literacy program by the employee.
• To encourage the habit of saving, a part of the incentive amount will be kept in the saving instrument of deposit account for a fixed period and can be withdrawn by the employee at a later date.
• Employers will get incentives in respect of employees with salaries up to Rs 1 lakh.
• The government will provide employers with an incentive of up to Rs 3,000 per month for each additional employee with continuous employment for at least six months for a period of two years.
• The ELI scheme was announced in the Union Budget 2024-25 as part of the Prime Minister's package of five schemes.
• It aims to facilitate employment, skilling, and other opportunities for 4.1 crore youth, with a total budget outlay of Rs 2 lakh crore.

Topic: Government Schemes and Initiatives

6. The RailOne app launched to streamline all railway passenger services.

• On 1 July, the RailOne app launched by Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw to unify all passenger services into a single platform.
• The launch took place during the 40th Foundation Day celebration of the Centre for Railway Information Systems (CRIS).
• It integrates all the passenger services, such as:
  • Unreserved UTS Tickets via R-Wallet to Get 3% Discount
  • Live train tracking
  • Grievance redressal
  • E-catering, porter booking & last-mile taxi
• The app is available on Android and iOS, with integration support for RailConnect and UTS credentials.
• RailOne supports single sign-on, wherein login is possible using M-PIN or biometrics.
• Reserved tickets will be available on IRCTC.
• Like many other commercial apps that partner with IRCTC, the RailOne app is also authorized by IRCTC.
• The Modern Passenger Reservation System (PRS), due by December 2025, will be agile, multilingual, and scalable to 10x current capacity.
• This will facilitate 1.5 lakh ticket bookings and 40 lakh inquiries per minute.
• Features such as fare calendars, seat choice, and inclusive options for Divyangjan and students will be introduced.

Topic: Defence

7. Yard 12652, named Udaygiri, was handed over to the Indian Navy on 01 July 2025.

• It is the second stealth frigate under Project 17A.
• Project 17A is a continuation of the earlier Shivalik-class frigates, known as Project 17.
• Udaygiri is the second of seven advanced frigates being built by MDL in Mumbai and GRSE in Kolkata.
• These warships are designed for deep-sea, or ‘Blue Water’, operations.
• They are capable of addressing both traditional and unconventional maritime threats.
• Udaygiri is a modern Avatar of its predecessor, erstwhile INS Udaygiri.
• The original ship was decommissioned in 2007 after 31 years of service.
• Project 17A frigates feature advanced stealth designs.
• They are equipped with upgraded weapons and sensor systems.
• These ships represent a major step forward in indigenous warship design.
• They are designed by the Indian Navy’s Warship Design Bureau.
• The ships are built using an ‘Integrated Construction’ method.
• Udaygiri was delivered just 37 months after its launch.
• The P17A hull is 4.54% larger than that of the previous P17 class. This design improves stability and space.
• The propulsion system uses a Combined Diesel or Gas configuration. It includes diesel engines and gas turbines.
• Each shaft has a controllable pitch propeller.
• Udaygiri carries a powerful and modern weapons suite.
• It includes supersonic anti-ship missiles. It also has medium-range surface-to-air missiles.
• The main gun is a 76 mm naval cannon. It is supported by 30 mm and 12.7 mm close-in weapon systems.
• Udaygiri demonstrates India’s growing self-reliance in warship production.
• Most weapons and sensors come from Indian manufacturers.
• Over 200 micro, small, and medium enterprises contributed to its construction.
• The remaining five ships under Project 17A are still under construction.
• They will be delivered in stages by the end of 2026.

Topic: Sports

8. National Sports Policy 2025 has been approved by cabinet.

• The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the National Sports Policy (NSP) 2025.
• This policy marks a major step toward overhauling India's sports landscape.
• It aims to promote holistic national development through the power of sports.
• NSP 2025 replaces the earlier National Sports Policy introduced in 2001.
• The new policy lays out a clear and ambitious strategy for the future.
• It envisions India becoming a global leader in sports.
• The policy also sets the goal of making India a strong contender at global sporting events.
• This includes focused efforts toward the 2036 Olympic Games.
• NSP 2025 was developed through a broad consultative process.
• It involved inputs from Central Ministries and the NITI Aayog.
• State Governments, National Sports Federations, and athletes were also consulted.
• Experts in the sports field and members of the public contributed to the policy.
• The policy is built on five core pillars. Each pillar addresses a critical area in sports development and performance.
• Together, they form a strategic foundation to elevate India’s sporting capabilities.
  • Excellence on the Global Stage
  • Sports for Economic Development
  • Sports for Social Development
  • Sports as a People’s Movement
  • Integration with Education (National Education Policy 2020)

Topic: Government Schemes and Initiatives

9. The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting has launched the WAVEX Startup Challenge 2025.

• This initiative is part of its startup accelerator program, WaveX.

• The challenge invites startups to develop ‘BhashaSetu’, an AI-driven language technology solution.
• ‘BhashaSetu’ aims to deliver real-time translation, transliteration, and voice localization.
• It will support at least 12 major Indian languages.
• The goal is to create inclusive and emotionally aware communication tools.
• These tools should be accessible to diverse users across the country.
• The challenge is open to all startups without any eligibility restrictions.
• This allows startups at any development stage to participate.
• Startups are encouraged to create scalable and affordable AI solutions.
• Open-source or low-cost AI models are preferred.
• However, proprietary models are allowed if they are cost-effective and practical.
• The selected startup will join the WaveX Accelerator for incubation support.
• They will receive mentorship, workspace access, and technical guidance.
• This support will continue until the product is ready and deployed.
• The deadline to submit working prototypes is July 22, 2025.
• WaveX is part of the Ministry’s larger WAVES initiative. It is the dedicated startup accelerator platform.
• It focuses on fostering innovation in media, entertainment, and language technology.
• At the WAVES Summit in May 2025, WaveX showcased over 30 promising startups.
• These startups had the opportunity to pitch to investors, government bodies, and industry leaders.
• WaveX continues to drive innovation through hackathons, incubation programs, and national-level integration.

Topic: MoUs/Agreements

10. A collaboration agreement was signed on July 1, 2025, between the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) and the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee.

• The pact is designed to promote mutual efforts in knowledge exchange, skill development, and cross-disciplinary research in the power and energy domains.
• It was officially signed by CEA Chairperson Shri Ghanshyam Prasad and IIT Roorkee Director Prof. Kamal Kishore Pant.
• The event saw participation from key CEA members across various departments, along with senior officials and academic representatives from both sides.
• One of the primary aims is to build the technical expertise of CEA staff through hands-on project experiences.
• They will also gain access to digital learning platforms of IIT Roorkee.
• The agreement emphasizes the execution of joint research initiatives on pressing challenges in India’s evolving power landscape.
• Focus areas include sustainable practices such as emissions reduction, boosting energy efficiency, and ensuring an equitable energy transition.
• The initiative supports India’s broader climate goal of reaching net-zero carbon emissions by or before 2070.
• Collaborative efforts will span hydropower, pumped storage systems, and the shift to cleaner power sources.
• Integration of renewables, localized energy production, and power system flexibility are also key areas of interest.
• Innovative technologies like green hydrogen, electric mobility, energy storage solutions, biomass blending, and geothermal energy will be explored.
• The partnership will assess how energy infrastructure can adapt to climate risks and quantify pollution impacts.
• It also aims to shape regulatory standards for electric vehicles and battery recycling processes.
• This collaboration reflects a national push to deepen ties between academia and industry.
• The goal is to drive technological advancements and informed policymaking in the energy sector.