July 2025 saw significant advancements in India's space program, with an Indian astronaut on the ISS, and ongoing economic and defence developments. Globally, discussions continued on climate change, and various cultural and religious events were observed.
India-Specific Current Affairs 🇮🇳
Space & Technology 🚀
First Indian on ISS: IAF Group Captain Subhanshu Shukla made history by becoming the first Indian to be on the International Space Station (ISS) as part of the Axiom 4 mission.1 He engaged in a live video call with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, marking a momentous occasion for India's space endeavors.2
SpaDEX Mission Success: ISRO achieved another milestone by successfully conducting its second satellite docking in the Space Docking Experiment (SpaDEX) Mission. This makes India the fourth country to master this critical technology for future space stations and complex orbital missions.
AI Integration in Governance: India is proactively integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI), Natural Language Processing, and Generative AI to enhance government data quality, accessibility, and privacy as part of its statistical reform initiatives.3
Hypersonic Missile: India successfully tested the ET-LDHCM (Extended-Range Tactical – Long-Range Deep-Strike Hypersonic Cruise Missile), joining an elite group of nations with advanced hypersonic weapon systems.4 Project Vishnu, under DRDO, continues to focus on developing these capabilities.5
Economy & Infrastructure 🏗️
Automotive Mission Plan 2047: The Ministry of Heavy Industries launched the development of the Automotive Mission Plan 2047 (AMP 2047), aiming to position India as a global automotive leader by 2047.6 This plan emphasizes technology advancements, quality manufacturing, and infrastructure development, envisioning the automotive sector contributing over 12% to India's GDP and creating 65 million new jobs.7
Green Hydrogen Plant: Larsen & Toubro (L&T) announced the establishment of India's largest green hydrogen plant at Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL)'s Panipat Refinery in Haryana.8 This plant is expected to supply 10,000 tonnes of green hydrogen annually to IOCL for 25 years under a Build-Own-Operate (BOO) model.9
Bihar Infrastructure Projects: Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated infrastructure projects worth ₹7,200 crore in Motihari, Bihar, part of the broader Viksit Bharat Mission, focusing on urban renewal, connectivity, and housing development.10
PM Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana: This scheme was launched with an annual outlay of ₹24,000 crore for six years, targeting 1.7 crore farmers.11 It aims to enhance agricultural productivity and sustainability, focusing on post-harvest infrastructure, irrigation efficiency, organic farming, and credit access.
Financial Inclusion: The World Bank's Global Findex Report 2025 indicated that India maintains 89% financial account ownership, though it faces high inactivity rates.12 Efforts continue to expand smartphone penetration, internet connectivity, and digital infrastructure to enhance financial inclusion.
Electronics Exports: India's electronics exports have soared past $40 billion, marking an eight-fold growth over the last 11 years, reaching $12.41 billion in Q1 FY26.13
UK Immigration Rules: New UK immigration rules effective July 22, 2025, significantly increased skill and salary thresholds for Skilled Worker visas.14 This will impact various sectors that rely on roles below degree level.
Social & Governance ⚖️
Youth Spiritual Summit: Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya inaugurated the 'Youth Spiritual Summit' in Varanasi, focusing on "Nasha Mukt Yuva for" (Drug-Free Youth), promoting a national roadmap for drug prevention, grassroots mobilization, and integration of rehabilitation with spiritual counseling.15
Kargil Vijay Diwas Padyatra: A commemorative padyatra (march) was organized in Kargil on July 26, 2025, involving MY Bharat volunteers, local youth, and the Indian Army to promote fitness and national solidarity.16
Supreme Court Ruling on Free Speech: The Supreme Court upheld dignity over free speech in a significant ruling.17
Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955: Discussions continued around the persistence of untouchability and the need to strengthen the implementation of this act.
Gender Budgeting & Women in STEM: The share of the gender budget in the total national Budget increased to 8.8% in 2025-26 (₹4.49 lakh crore). Efforts continued to boost women's participation in the STEM sector, with estimates suggesting it could increase India's GDP by up to $700 billion by 2025.
National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF): For the first time, NIRF will award negative scores to higher educational institutions for retracted papers, emphasizing academic integrity.18
ITI Revamp Scheme: Cabinet approved a ₹60,000 crore ITI Revamp Scheme, with significant CSR contributions, aiming to improve training quality and align apprenticeships with market demand.19
End-of-Life Vehicles (ELVs) Policy: The CAQM fuel ban prohibits refuelling of diesel vehicles older than 10 years and petrol vehicles older than 15 years to cut emissions and promote fleet renewal.20
Chola Emperor Rajendra Chola I: The Prime Minister is expected to participate in a function in Tamil Nadu to commemorate the 1000th anniversary of the conquest of the Gangetic plains by King Rajendra Chola I.21
Neolithic Habitation in Assam: Archaeologists found evidence of Neolithic habitation in Assam's Dima Hasao, with the discovery of iron slag and a furnace, suggesting early metalworking at the site.22
Environment & Biodiversity 🌿
New Species Discovered: A total of 683 new species were documented in India in 2024, with 459 being globally new and 224 recorded for the first time in India.23 Hotspot regions like the Western Ghats and North-Eastern areas contributed 35% of these discoveries.
Banni Grassland Cheetah Reintroduction: Banni Grassland in Gujarat is fully prepared for cheetah reintroduction, with established breeding and quarantine enclosures.24 Spotted deer have also been reintroduced to increase the prey base.25
Pale-Capped Pigeon Sighting: The elusive Pale-capped Pigeon was photographed in Dehing Patkai National Park in Assam, a significant sighting for conservationists.26
New Dragonfly Species: A new species of dragonfly, Lyriothemis abrahami, was officially documented in Kerala.27
Chikungunya Treatment: Research continued on treatments for Chikungunya, as there is currently no vaccine or antiviral drug.
Sports & Culture 🏟️
FIDE Chess World Cup 2025: India will host the FIDE Chess World Cup from October 30 to November 27, 2025.28
World Test Championship Finals: The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) was awarded the hosting rights for the next three World Test Championship (WTC) Finals (2027, 2029, and 2031).29
Badminton Bronze at FISU World University Games: India made history by winning a bronze medal in badminton at the Rhine-Ruhr 2025 FISU World University Games, its first medal in badminton since 1959.30
Koneru Humpy in FIDE Women's World Cup Semifinals: Indian Grandmaster Koneru Humpy became the first Indian woman to reach the semifinals of the FIDE Women's World Cup.31
Indian Institute of Creative Technology (IICT): The first campus of the IICT was established in Mumbai, aiming to make India a leader in the global AVGC-XR ecosystem.32
Millets Standards Praised: India's millet standards were praised at the 88th Session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CCEXEC88) in Rome, Italy.33
Fit India Cycling Event: A Fit India cycling event kicked off at BHU, promoting health and youth awareness.34
BIMSTEC Maritime Transport Cooperation: India hosted the BIMSTEC Maritime Transport Cooperation Conclave to operationalise the BIMSTEC Agreement on Maritime Transport Cooperation (AMTC), boosting regional maritime trade and connectivity.35
Festivals: July 2025 featured numerous festivals, including Devshayani Ekadashi (July 6), marking the start of Chaturmas; the beginning of Shravan (Sawan) month (July 11); and Hariyali Teej (July 27). Kargil Vijay Diwas was observed on July 26.36
Global Current Affairs 🌍
International Relations & Conflicts ⚔️
Global SDG Regression: A report highlighted that 35% of SDG targets (across 14 of 17 goals) have either stalled or reversed, threatening sustainable and inclusive development.37 Goals like Zero Hunger, Clean Water & Sanitation, and Decent Work & Economic Growth showed significant regression.
UN Voting Patterns: An analysis revealed that India's annual percentage of 'yes' votes in the UN has fallen to 56%, the lowest since 1955, with abstentions surging to 44%, indicating increasing polarization among major global powers.
Trachoma Elimination: The World Health Organization (WHO) validated that Senegal has eliminated 'Trachoma' as a public health problem, making it the 25th country globally and 9th in Africa to achieve this.38
Global Climate Trends: 2024 was recorded as the hottest year ever, and the WMO projected an 80% chance that at least one year from 2025–2029 will surpass 2024's temperature record.39 Sea-surface warming in the Arabian Sea is intensifying severe cyclonic storms.
Tuvalu Climate Migration Visa: Over 5,000 people applied for a migration visa offered by Australia (or similar initiative) that provides residents of Tuvalu an escape from the worst effects of climate change.
Science & Environment 🔬
Hypersonic Technologies (INVICTUS): The European Space Agency (ESA) and UK-based Frazer-Nash kicked off the INVICTUS research program to develop hypersonic technologies for future reusable vehicles capable of horizontal launch.40
Global Wind Energy: The Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) reported unprecedented growth in wind energy capacity in 2024, with 117 gigawatts added globally.41
Microplastics in Soil: A review found that agricultural soils now hold around 23 times more microplastics than the oceans, raising significant environmental concerns.42
Other Global Developments 🌎
International Chess Day: Observed on July 20, 2025, commemorating the founding of FIDE (International Chess Federation).43 The theme for 2025 is "Every Move Counts".
International Friendship Day: Celebrated globally on July 30.44
International Tiger Day: Observed on July 29, raising awareness about tiger conservation.45
World Population Day: Observed on July 11, highlighting global population issues.46
World Day for International Justice: Observed on July 17.
Nelson Mandela International Day: Celebrated on July 18.
World Hepatitis Day: Observed on July 28.
World Nature Conservation Day: Observed on July 28.47