Daily Current Affairs and GK | 9 July 2025

Topic: International News

1. Colombia and Uzbekistan have joined the New Development Bank.

• Colombia and Uzbekistan have officially joined the New Development Bank (NDB)
• This brings the bank’s total membership to 11 countries.
• The NDB was launched in 2015 by the BRICS nations: Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.
• It was created to finance development projects in emerging economies.
• The bank focuses on infrastructure and sustainability.
• NDB President Dilma Rousseff spoke at the 10th Board of Directors meeting.
• She highlighted the bank’s commitment to supporting the Global South.
• Rousseff emphasized the importance of science, technology, and innovation.
• She said these are key to helping member nations adapt to the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
• The NDB is headquartered in Shanghai.
• Its current members include Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Bangladesh, UAE, Egypt, Algeria, Colombia, and Uzbekistan.
• So far, the bank has approved over 120 development projects.
• These projects span clean energy, transport, environmental protection, water and sanitation, and digital infrastructure.

Topic: National Appointments

2. Sahil Kini has been appointed as the new Chief Executive Officer of the Reserve Bank Innovation Hub.

• He is the co-founder of fintech infrastructure firm Setu and a former core member of the IndiaStack team.
• The appointment comes after Rajesh Bansal, the founding CEO of RBIH, who completed a four-year term earlier this year.
• Kini’s background includes stints at McKinsey, Aspada Investments, and Titan before he co-founded fintech infrastructure firm Setu in 2018.
• Later, Setu was acquired by Pine Labs in 2022.
• He was also a core team member at iSPIRIT Foundation, working on "IndiaStack" projects including Aadhaar and UPI.
• Established in 2022, the Reserve Bank Innovation Hub (RBIH) is a wholly owned subsidiary of the RBI based in Bengaluru.
• It aims to foster innovation in financial services and promote collaboration between the public and private sectors in developing digital infrastructure.

Topic: Miscellaneous

3. Asia's oldest elephant 'Vatsala' passed away in Panna Tiger Reserve.

• Vatsala, believed to be Asia’s oldest elephant, passed away on July 8, 2025, at the Panna Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh.
• The female elephant was over 100 years old at the time of her death, as confirmed by forest officials.
• Vatsala had originally been brought from Kerala to Narmadapuram and was later shifted to Panna Tiger Reserve.
• She had become a prominent figure at the reserve and led the group of camp elephants for years.
• Due to old age and injury in her front leg nails, she collapsed near Khairaiyaan drain in the Hinauta area.
• Despite significant efforts made by forest staff, Vatsala could not be revived.

Topic: Awards and Prizes

4. Veteran Vedachalam honoured with Tamil Wikki Suran Award.

• Renowned epigraphist and archaeologist V. Vedachalam has been conferred with the Tamil Wikki Suran Award in his 51st year in the field.
• Vedachalam, now 75, expressed gratitude for the recognition of his lifelong dedication to archaeology.
• His journey began with a dig at Karur, capital of the Chera Kingdom, where he helped uncover a portion of a fort wall.
• A postgraduate in Tamil literature and archaeology, he found passion in exploring historical roots and inscriptions.
• An inscription hidden for over 2,000 years was discovered by him on the ceiling of a ledge at Vikramangalam.
• His early recognition of the potential of the Keeladi site is still remembered and praised by historians.
• He has written 25 books and has travelled to various historical places not only in India but also abroad.
• An epigraphist is a scholar who specializes in epigraphy, the study of inscriptions, particularly those found on hard surfaces like stone, metal, or pottery.
• An archaeologist is a scientist who studies human history and prehistory through the excavation and analysis of artifacts, structures, tools, bones, and other physical remains.

Topic: Banking/Finance

5. Trinidad and Tobago became the first Caribbean country to adopt BHIM-UPI.

• Trinidad and Tobago has joined the global UPI network, enabling BHIM app transactions for digital payments.
• Trinidad and Tobago is now the eighth to implement India’s UPI system, becoming the first in the Caribbean to do so.
• Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the nation for embracing UPI during his visit on July 3–4.
• Discussions between the two nations included plans to adopt more India Stack technologies like DigiLocker and GeM.
• The collaboration has been praised as a boost to digital financial infrastructure in Trinidad and Tobago.
• The BHIM-UPI system is already operational in seven countries:

Topic: Sports

6. The ASMITA Weightlifting League inaugurated by Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya.

• On 8 July, the 2025 season of the ASMITA League was inaugurated by the Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, in Modinagar, Uttar Pradesh.
• Tokyo Olympics silver medallist Mirabai Chanu was among the dignitaries present at the inauguration of the Asmita Weightlifting League.
• Asmita's 2025 season kicked off with a Weightlifting League, with 42 girls participating in eight different weight categories in a two-day event held in the open category.
• A total of 852 ASMITA leagues are planned for the financial year 2025–26 across 15 sports disciplines.
• These leagues aim to involve over 70,000 female athletes from various states and union territories.
• Last season, 550 leagues were organised across 27 sports disciplines in which 53,101 women players participated.
• Started in 2021, the ASMITA (Achieving Sports Milestone by Inspiring Women) initiative is part of Khelo India’s mission to promote gender-neutral participation in sports.
• Thus, the Sports Authority of India assists the National Sports Federations to organise Khelo India Women's League in multiple age groups at both regional and national levels.

Topic: State News/ Haryana

7. Haryana is set to develop the largest jungle safari in Asia.

• The safari will be located in the Aravalli Hills. It will cover an area of around 10,000 acres.
• The project aims to boost eco-tourism in the state. It will also focus on wildlife conservation.
• The safari will host a wide variety of plants and animals. Advanced technology will be used in the development.
• Eco-friendly tourism will be a key feature of the project. Local residents will benefit from new job opportunities.
• Employment will be created in tourism, hospitality, and related sectors.
• Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini recently visited Vantara in Gujarat. He was accompanied by Union Minister Manohar Lal and Minister Rao Narbir Singh.
• They gathered insights from the safari project in Jamnagar.
• The Forest and Environment Department will lead the project. The Tourism Department will work in partnership on its development.
• The safari is expected to attract tourists from across India. It will also appeal to international visitors.
• Haryana aims to become a leader in eco-tourism. The project will help redefine the state’s image through sustainable development.

Topic: International News

8. Prime Minister Narendra Modi received Brazil’s highest civilian award.

• The award is called the Grand Collar of the National Order of the Southern Cross.
• It was presented by Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
• The honour recognizes PM Modi’s efforts to strengthen India-Brazil relations.
• It also acknowledges his role in boosting cooperation on global platforms.
• This is the 26th international award given to PM Modi by a foreign government.
• He has received these recognitions since taking office in May 2014.
• During his visit to Brasilia, PM Modi announced a plan to raise bilateral trade with Brazil to $20 billion in five years.
• Currently, trade between the two countries stands at $12.2 billion.
• India and Brazil plan to expand the Mercosur preferential trade agreement.
• Mercosur includes Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay.
• The agreement will be extended to cover more goods and improve access for Indian exporters.
• PM Modi proposed bringing India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) to Brazil.
• He highlighted agriculture and food processing as key areas for cooperation.
• He also emphasized digital infrastructure and space technology as future focus areas.
• Brasília is third-most populous city of Brazil after Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro.

Topic: Defence

9. The user trials of the Extended Range Anti-Submarine Rocket (ERASR) has been succesfully carried out.

• The trials were conducted from INS Kavaratti between June 23 and July 7, 2025.
• ERASR was developed by DRDO’s Armament Research & Development Establishment (ARDE) in Pune.
• The project was supported by the High Energy Materials Research Laboratory.
• The Naval Science & Technological Laboratory also contributed to its development.
• ERASR is a completely indigenous anti-submarine warfare system.
• It is designed to be launched from the Indigenous Rocket Launcher (IRL) on Indian Naval Ships.
• The rocket uses a twin-motor system for flexible range capabilities.
• This design ensures high accuracy and consistency during operation.
• An indigenously developed Electronic Time Fuze is integrated into the system.
• This fuze enables precise timing for detonation. A total of 17 ERASRs were tested during the trials.
• The rockets were evaluated at various ranges. All performance parameters were successfully achieved.
• These included range accuracy, fuze functioning, and warhead activation.
• Bharat Dynamics Limited in Hyderabad is one of the production partners.
• Solar Defence & Aerospace Limited in Nagpur is also a production partner.
• The Indian Navy is expected to induct the ERASR system soon.
• Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated DRDO, the Navy, and industry partners.

Topic: Science and Technology

10. Dr. Jitendra Singh inaugurated the first Science Centre in Dholpur, Rajasthan.

• Dholpur got the first science center among aspiring districts.
• The centre aims to ignite scientific interest and innovation among local youth.
• It was developed through collaboration between the Department of Biotechnology, National Institute of Immunology, and National Science Centre.
• The project is a part of a national plan to establish science museums in aspirational districts.
• Dr. Singh stressed that the centre is meant to promote scientific thinking, not just build infrastructure.
• It features interactive exhibits and STEM education modules.
• The centre provides platforms for young innovators.
• The goal is to connect science with everyday life in smaller towns and rural areas.
• Dholpur’s centre represents the ‘Vigyan Setu’ initiative.
• This initiative links scientific institutions with underserved regions.
• The centre will also help foster startups from smaller towns.
• Dr. Singh mentioned astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla’s journey to the International Space Station.
• He used this example to inspire young Indians.