Daily Current Affairs and GK | 31 July 2025

Topic: Science and Technology

1. Researchers in Bengaluru have developed cost-effective smart windows.

• These are made using affordable materials. The windows can change color when a small electric current is applied.
• This allows them to block both visible and near-infrared (NIR) light.
• By limiting heat and light entry, they help reduce energy use in buildings. They also regulate indoor temperatures effectively.
• In addition to blocking light, these windows can store electrical energy.
• This dual functionality makes them useful for sustainable infrastructure.
• Traditional smart windows use expensive materials like tungsten oxide (WO₃). They also rely on lithium-based electrolytes, which raise the cost.
• The team at the Centre for Nano and Soft Matter Sciences (CeNS) found cheaper alternatives.
• They used titanium dioxide (TiO₂) films instead of tungsten oxide.
• They also replaced lithium electrolytes with aluminum-ion-based ones.
• TiO₂ has electrochromic properties but has been underused due to lower efficiency.
• To improve this, the team introduced oxygen vacancies in the TiO₂ films. This boosted the coloration efficiency to about 27 cm²/C.
• The films showed light modulation of 55% (solar), 47% (luminous), and 41% (NIR).
• They achieved this using ultra-thin films only 340 nanometers thick.
• The windows also had an energy storage capacity of 34 mF/cm².
• They performed reliably over 2000 switching cycles, retaining 96% of their capacity.
• The use of low-cost and abundant materials makes this technology more accessible.
• It could benefit homes, offices, and future zero-energy buildings.
• The research was led by Dr. Ashutosh K. Singh. It was recently published in the journal 'Small'.

Topic: Personality in News

2. Renowned economist Lord Meghnad Desai passed away at the age of 85.

• Lord Meghnad Desai, an eminent economist and member of the UK’s House of Lords, has passed away on July 29, 2025.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep grief over his demise, calling him a distinguished thinker and a bridge between India and the UK.
• Desai was known for his deep connection with Indian culture and frequent contributions to Indian public discourse.
• His academic journey began in Vadodara and took him to the University of Pennsylvania, where he completed his PhD in 1963.
• He authored over 20 books and 200 academic articles, spanning topics from Marxian economics to global capitalism.
• His teaching career at the London School of Economics was marked by scholarly excellence and influence.
• Notable works include Marx’s Revenge and Who Wrote the Bhagavad Gita?, in which he critically examined foundational ideas.
• Desai was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 2008 for his significant contributions to economics and public service.

Topic: Space and IT

3. India-US space cooperation achieved a major milestone with the successful launch of NISAR.

• A significant milestone in Earth observation was achieved on 30 July as India and the United States marked their first joint space mission with the successful launch of the NISAR satellite.
• NISAR, developed collaboratively by ISRO and NASA, was precisely placed into orbit by the GSLV F-16 rocket.
• The Synthetic Aperture Radar satellite was injected into the intended Sun Synchronous Polar Orbit (SSPO), around 745 km from Earth, following a 19-minute flight.
• The satellite's dual-band radar system—comprising L-band and S-band capabilities—will enhance data collection on land ecosystems, cryosphere, and solid Earth.
• The mission is aimed at monitoring land and ice deformations, ocean dynamics, and other critical Earth systems for scientific research.
• Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh hailed the launch as a “game-changer,” stating that it will aid disaster management, particularly in scenarios involving fog, cyclones, and floods.
• He emphasized that the satellite’s ability to penetrate dense clouds and ice layers would be especially beneficial for aviation and maritime navigation.
• NISAR has been termed a “path-breaking” mission and is expected to provide global benefits in the spirit of Vishwabandhu.

Topic: Geography

4. Typhoon Co-May has made landfall in China’s Zhejiang Province.

• Eastern China witnessed widespread disruption as Typhoon Co-May made landfall in Zhejiang Province on 30 July, bringing heavy rainfall and strong winds.
• The storm first struck Zhoushan city, with maximum sustained winds of 83 km/h recorded near its centre.
• Meteorological authorities upgraded the rainstorm alert in Shanghai to orange, the second-highest warning level.
• More than 280,000 people were evacuated as a precaution, with authorities stating that nearly all at-risk individuals had been safely relocated.
• Hundreds of flights were cancelled across eastern China, including 410 flights at Pudong and 230 at Hongqiao airports in Shanghai.
• Emergency response teams were deployed in vulnerable regions to mitigate the impact of the tropical storm.
• A tropical cyclone is called a ‘hurricane’ in the American continent. In the Philippines, China, and Japan, it is called a ‘typhoon.’ In Australia, tropical cyclones are called willy-willys.

Topic: MoUs/Agreements

5. An agreement signed between India and the UAE to enhance maritime security cooperation.

• On 30 July, an agreement on Maritime Security and Safety Cooperation was signed by the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) and the United Arab Emirates National Guard Command in New Delhi.

• The MoU was formalized during the 13th Joint Defence Cooperation Committee meeting between both nations.
• Director General of the Indian Coast Guard Paramesh Sivamani and UAE Coast Guard Commander Brigadier Khalid Obaid Shamsi were signatories to the agreement.
• This marks the 10th maritime cooperation pact signed by India with Coast Guard agencies of Friendly Foreign Countries (FFCs).
• The agreement is designed to improve institutional linkages and facilitate joint action in areas such as Maritime Law Enforcement (MLE) and Marine Pollution Response (MPR).
• Maritime Search and Rescue operations, combating transnational crimes, and joint training programs are also included under the agreement’s scope.

Topic: National News

6. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw confirmed that Vande Bharat trains have now reached all states.

• Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw informed the Lok Sabha that Vande Bharat trains now connect all Indian states.
• According to the minister, the Vande Bharat service expanded nationwide within just three years of its launch.
• A total of 144 Vande Bharat trains are currently operational across various routes in India.
• The Railway Ministry said that the operational feedback of this train is very encouraging, leading to more demand for such trains from the states.
• Mr. Vaishnaw emphasized that the government is focused on serving the middle class and low-income populations.
• In line with this vision, the number of general and non-AC coaches has been substantially increased in recent years.
• Nearly 70% of the total 82,000 train coaches in the Indian Railways are now general class or non-AC.
• On February 15, 2019, the first Vande Bharat Express train was flagged off on the New Delhi-Kanpur-Allahabad-Varanasi route.

Topic: Miscellaneous

7. Australia has now restricted YouTube access for children under 16.

• This is part of broader efforts to improve online safety for minors.
• The goal is to reduce young users’ exposure to harmful digital content.
• YouTube had previously been excluded from restrictions.
• It was considered valuable for its educational content.
• Authorities changed course after new research emerged.
• A survey showed that 37% of minors encountered harmful material on YouTube.
• The law was originally introduced in November 2024.
• It regulates how teens interact with social media platforms.
• Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat were already covered under the law.
• The updated restrictions will begin on December 10, 2025.
• Tech companies must comply with the new rules.
• Failure to do so may result in fines. Penalties could reach up to 49.5 million Australian dollars.
• This step highlights Australia’s strict stance on digital safety for teens.

Topic: Banking/Finance

8. The Banking Laws (Amendment) Act, 2025 will take effect on August 1.

• The Act focuses on strengthening governance in the banking sector.
• It is also intended to provide better protection for depositors and investors.
• The Finance Ministry notified the Act on April 15, 2025.
• A key aim is to improve audit standards in public sector banks.
• The Act extends the tenure of Directors in cooperative banks.
• This extension does not apply to the Chairperson and whole-time Directors.
• The definition of “substantial interest” has been revised.
• The threshold of substantial interest has increased from ₹5 lakh to ₹2 crore. This limit had not changed since 1968.
• The Act aligns Director terms in cooperative banks with the 97th Constitutional Amendment.
• It increases the maximum term from 8 years to 10 years.
• This change excludes the Chairperson and full-time Directors.
• There are 19 amendments included in the Act. These amendments apply to five key banking laws.
• One of them is the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934. Another is the Banking Regulation Act, 1949.
• It also amends the State Bank of India Act, 1955.
• The remaining changes affect the Banking Companies (Acquisition and Transfer of Undertakings) Acts of 1970 and 1980.

Topic: Indian Polity

9. The Lok Sabha has approved the extension of President’s rule in Manipur.

• The extension will last for another six months starting August 13, 2025.

• Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai presented the resolution regarding the extension of President’s rule in Manipur.
• President’s rule was first implemented in Manipur on February 13, 2025.
• Rai said the extension is needed to maintain peace and order in the state.
• He mentioned that only one violent incident has occurred since February.
• He said the Prime Minister visited North-Eastern states over 78 times in the last decade.
• Rai claimed that violence in the region has dropped under the NDA government.
• He emphasized that dialogue is ongoing to bring peace to Manipur.
• About President’s rule in state-
  • If there is a failure of constitutional machinery in the state, Article 356 of the Constitution provides for the Centre to take over the government of a state.
  • This is popularly known as President's rule. It is also called State Emergency or Constitutional Emergency.
  • Both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha must approve imposing of the President's rule within two months from the date on which it was imposed.
  • The President's rule remains in force for six months if both Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha approve it.
  • With the approval of the Parliament, it may be extended every six months for a maximum of three years.

Topic: International News 

10. India has sent a consignment of humanitarian aid for the people of Syria.

• This is meant to support the Syrian people. The total weight of the consignment is 5 metric tonnes.
• It includes essential medical supplies. The medicines include anti-cancer drugs.
• It also contains antibiotics and anti-hypertensive medicines.
• Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs, said that India will continue to provide humanitarian support to Syria.
• Syria is a country in West Asia. Its capital is Damascus. Syrian Pound is its currency.
• It is a republic under a transitional government, which is internationally recognised provisional government of Syria.
• This government was formed on 29 March 2025 under President Ahmed al-Sharaa.
• India-Syria relations:
  • India and Syria share a long-standing relationship based on historical, cultural, and economic ties.
  • India has consistently supported Syria’s sovereignty and provided humanitarian and developmental assistance.
  • Both countries have cooperated in areas like education, capacity building, and pharmaceuticals.