Daily Current Affairs and GK | 23 July 2025

Topic: Sports

1. Koneru Humpy made history by reaching the semifinals of the 2025 FIDE Women’s Chess World Cup.

• She is the first Indian woman to achieve this milestone.
• Humpy defeated China’s Song Yuxin in the quarterfinals. The match took place in Batumi, Georgia.
• This is the first time an Indian woman has reached the final four of the tournament.
• Vaishali Rameshbabu lost in the quarterfinals.
• She was defeated by third seed Tan Zhongyi of China.
• Top seed Lei Tingjie continued her strong performance.
• She beat Georgia’s Nana Dzagnidze to enter the semifinals.
• India will host the 2025 FIDE Chess World Cup.
• The event will take place from October 30 to November 27.
• The host city has not been announced yet.
• The top three players from 2025 World Cup will qualify for the 2026 Candidates Tournament.
• The FIDE World Cup 2025 will feature 206 players.

Topic: State News/ Haryana

2. Professor Ashim Kumar Ghosh was sworn in as the 19th Governor of Haryana.

• He replaces Bandaru Dattatraya in this role.
• The oath-taking ceremony was held at Raj Bhavan in Chandigarh.
• Justice Sheel Nagu administered the oath.
• He is the Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
• Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria was present at the ceremony.
• Kataria also serves as the Administrator of Chandigarh.
• Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini attended the event.
• Haryana BJP President Mohan Lal Badoli was also in attendance.
• Ashim Kumar Ghosh is a noted academic and political scientist.
• He previously taught at Shri Shikshayatan College in Kolkata.
• He is known in the BJP for his intellectual and thoughtful presence.
• The Chief Justice of the concerned State/UT High court administers the oath of office to the Governor/Lieutenant Governor.
• In his absence, senior most-judge of High Court or acting Chief Justice administers the oath.

Topic: Government Schemes and Initiatives

3. India achieved the milestone of 6 crore screenings under the National Mission to Eliminate Sickle Cell Anemia.

• A total of 6 crore individuals have been screened for Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) as part of the National Sickle Cell Mission, against a target of 7 crore.
• Among those screened, 2.15 lakh individuals have been diagnosed with SCD, while 16.7 lakh carriers have been identified.
• Health cards have been distributed to 2.6 crore screened individuals by the respective states.
• Significant progress in screening has been reported from Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Telangana, Karnataka, and Uttarakhand.
• The highest incidence of diagnosed SCD cases has been recorded in Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Gujarat.
• Screening is being conducted using validated Point-of-Care Testing (POCT) kits that ensure rapid and reliable confirmatory results.
• A dedicated dashboard and a sickle cell disease portal have been established to consolidate screening data from all states.
• Future efforts are focused on intensifying screening to meet the remaining target and providing follow-up and counselling for diagnosed individuals and carriers.
• The National Sickle Cell Anemia Elimination Mission was launched on 1st July 2023 by the Prime Minister at Shahdol, Madhya Pradesh.
• The mission aims to eliminate sickle cell anemia by 2047 through awareness creation, universal screening of 7 crore individuals aged 0-40 in tribal areas by 2025-26, and collaborative counselling efforts.
• Sickle cell anemia is a genetic blood disorder in which red blood cells, which are normally round and flexible, become sickle or crescent-shaped.
• These abnormally shaped cells can stick together and block blood flow, causing pain, organ damage, and other serious complications.

Topic: Defence

4. The Indian Army received the first batch of Apache helicopters from the US.

• On July 22, 2025, the Indian Army received its first batch of Apache AH-64E helicopters from the United States at Hindon Airbase.
• Three advanced combat helicopters have been inducted to enhance operational capabilities along the Western Border.
• These helicopters will be deployed in Jodhpur with the Army Aviation Corps after a Joint Receipt Inspection.
• The induction marks a milestone in modernizing the Indian Army's operational effectiveness, especially in challenging terrains.
• Defence Minister Rajnath Singh highlighted the arrival as a proud moment that significantly boosts Army Aviation wing capabilities.
• The delivery follows a conversation between Defence Minister Singh and U.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth on enhancing defence cooperation.
• The U.S. assured delivery of the next batch of three by November 2025.
• The Indian Army had signed a $600 million deal with the United States in 2020 for six Apache attack helicopters.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: International News

5. The United States announced its withdrawal from UNESCO for the third time.

• On July 22, 2025, the United States announced that it will withdraw from UNESCO again, citing anti-Israel bias as the reason.
• This marks the third time the U.S. has left the UN cultural agency and the second time during a Trump administration.
• The decision will take effect at the end of December 2026.
• The U.S. had previously left UNESCO in 2017 under President Trump, with the withdrawal becoming effective in 2018.
• The withdrawal follows a five-year absence before rejoining during the Biden administration in 2023.
• The decision was anticipated by UNESCO officials after a specific review ordered earlier this year by the Trump administration.
• White House deputy spokesperson Anna Kelly described UNESCO as promoting divisive cultural causes misaligned with American policies.
• The U.S. and Israel stopped financing UNESCO after Palestine was granted membership in 2011.
• The U.S. also withdrew from UNESCO in 1984 during the Reagan administration over concerns of mismanagement and Soviet influence.
• UNESCO is headquartered in Paris and focuses on education, science, and culture globally.

Topic: MoUs/Agreements

6. The MoUs signed between India and Nepal for five high-impact community development projects.

• On 22 July, MoUs were signed between India and Nepal for five High Impact Community Development Projects (HICDPs) in education and health sectors.
• The MoUs were signed between the Embassy of India, Kathmandu, Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration, Government of Nepal and Project Implementing Agencies of the Government of Nepal.
• MoUs signed under grant assistance from the Government of India in the education and health sectors with a total estimated cost of 390 million Nepalese Rupees.
• These five projects are:
  • Construction of Shree Jan Shakti Secondary School Building in Dhanusha;
  • Construction of Shree Mahobani Padam Secondary School in Parsa;
  • Construction of Shree Basuki Secondary School in Achham;
  • Construction of School Building, hostel, and Library of Benga Sah Secondary School in Bara and
  • Construction of a 5-bed hospital building in Manang
• These five projects will be implemented through local authorities and institutions of the Government of Nepal, including municipalities and rural municipalities.
• These constructions aim to improve education and health facilities for the Nepalese population.
• Since 2003, India has undertaken 579 HICDPs in Nepal, focusing on health, education, sanitation, connectivity, and utilities.
• Out of these, 496 projects have been completed across all seven provinces at the grassroots level.

Topic: Indian Polity

7. The Supreme Court has asked the Centre and all state governments to respond on the issue of delays in action on Bills.

• There is currently no constitutional deadline for the President or Governors to act on Bills.
• President Droupadi Murmu made a reference to the Supreme Court under Article 143 of the Constitution.
• She sought the Court’s opinion on the options available to the President and Governors under Articles 200 and 201.
• This request followed the Supreme Court’s ruling in April 2025 in a case involving the Tamil Nadu government.
• The case arose from Governor R.N. Ravi’s delay in giving assent to 10 Bills passed by the state legislature.
• The Court found the Governor’s refusal to assent to the Bills to be unlawful and arbitrary.
• It used its special powers under Article 142 to resolve the standoff.
• The Court ruled that once a Bill is re-passed by the legislature, the Governor cannot send it to the President.
• It also imposed a three-month deadline for the President to act on such Bills.
• This judgment, apparently, brought the President’s legislative actions under judicial review.
• As a result, the President asked for the Court’s advisory opinion under Article 143.
• Article 143 allows the President to consult the Supreme Court on legal or constitutional matters of public importance.

Topic: International News

8. Bolivian President Luis Alberto Arce Catacora has thanked the Indian government.

• India donated 300,000 doses of the Measles and Rubella vaccine to Bolivia.

• Bolivian President Luis Alberto Arce Catacora described the donation as a vital and compassionate gesture.
• He said it came at a critical time during Bolivia’s growing health crisis.
• The vaccines will support a major immunisation campaign in the country.
• The campaign targets children between the ages of 1 and 14.
• On June 23, Bolivia declared a National Health Emergency.
• This followed a sharp increase in measles cases across several regions.
• India responded quickly to the emergency.
• It sent not only MR vaccines but also essential medical supplies.
• This assistance will help Bolivia strengthen its public health response.
• Bolivia is a landlocked country located in central South America. Its capital is Sucre and currency is Boliviano.
• Measles is a highly contagious viral disease. It is characterized by a distinctive rash, fever, cough, and red eyes.
• It is is an airborne disease. It spreads easily from one person to the next through the coughs and sneezes of infected people.
• It is preventable through vaccination. It is a significant cause of death among young children globally.
• Rubella is also known as German measles. It is also a viral infection. It is milder than Measles.

Topic: State News/ Nagaland

9. Nagaland University has been selected as one of four new Incubation Centres in the Northeast.

• This is part of a central government initiative to support and promote entrepreneurship.

• The programme is titled ‘Establish, Develop, and Manage Entrepreneurship Development Centres and Incubation Centres in the Educational Institutes of the North Eastern Region’.
• It is funded by the North Eastern Council. The Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship is responsible for implementing the project.
• Nagaland University’s Kohima campus will host 44 participants in the first phase.
• These include 16 from Arunachal Pradesh, 6 from Assam, 4 from Manipur, and 18 from Nagaland.
• The onboarding of these incubatees will begin this month (July 2025).
• A total of 145 individuals have been selected across the Northeast under this initiative.
• The top 50 performers will receive startup seed funding of up to ₹5 lakh each.
• Dr. Dhrubajyoti Bordoloi is coordinating the programme at Nagaland University.
• He stated that participants will receive mentorship from experienced entrepreneurs and industry experts.
• The programme will also feature workshops, boot camps, and hackathons as part of the training.

Topic: International News

10. The UN Security Council has adopted Resolution 2788 with unanimous approval from all 15 members.

• The resolution aims to enhance global efforts to resolve international disputes through peaceful methods.
• It urges all UN member states to make full use of peaceful tools listed in Article 33 of the UN Charter.
• These include negotiation, inquiry, mediation, conciliation, arbitration, judicial settlement, and regional mechanisms.
• Other peaceful methods chosen by the parties are also encouraged.
• The resolution reaffirms the Security Council’s authority to recommend appropriate procedures for resolving disputes.
• It calls on member states to actively implement relevant Security Council resolutions related to peaceful conflict resolution.
• The resolution highlights the important role of the UN secretary-general in leading mediation and preventive diplomacy.
• It encourages the secretary-general to continue using his diplomatic influence and good offices.
• Member states are urged to support and cooperate with the secretary-general in these peace efforts.