Current Affairs – 17 July 2025
Current Affairs is the most important area in all competitive exams. But the difficulty level is very high. That’s why many aspirants get confused, how to select Current Affairs for Preparation of Competitive Examination? In this Post, Daily Current Affairs 17 July 2025, we have tried to cover each and every point and also included all important facts from National/ International news that are useful for upcoming competitive examinations such as UPSC, SSC, Railway, State Govt. etc.
Current Affairs – 17 July 2025
Deepika Sehrawat Wins Prestigious Poligras Magic Skill Award
In a significant milestone for Indian sport, Deepika Sehrawat became the first-ever Indian player to be awarded the Poligras Magic Skill Award for her astonishing individual goal against the Netherlands during the 2024–25 FIH Hockey Pro League. This award represents the individual brilliance of Deepika as well as the growing influence of Indian women in international women’s hockey.
Deepika is from Hisar, Haryana and first came to fame in the 2018 Sub-Junior National Championships when she scored 16 goals to win the best player award. She represented the junior national team in the Youth Olympic Qualifiers (2018) and was part of the India squad in the 2021 Junior Women’s World Cup and Junior Asia Cup where India won a gold medal. She made her senior debut in the 2021–22 FIH Pro League.
Poligras Magic Skill Award is an annual international award voted by hockey fans to the most creative and skilful play of an individual during the Pro league season given out by FIH. This is important because this is the first time that an Indian male or female has received this award and highlights the emergence of Indian women in international hockey.
Deepika’s winning goal occurred in an important game against world no. 1 Netherlands. Down 0-2, Deepika managed to dribble past a number of defenders, lifted the ball over a defender’s stick, and produced a stunning individual goal. India then ended the match 2-2 and won the shootout, certainly a memorable match for the fans.
Khattar Launches ₹1,000 Crore ADEETIE Scheme to promote industrial energy efficiency
The Government of India has initiated a national-level scheme called Assistance for Deployment of Energy Efficient Technologies in Industrial Establishments (ADEETIE) program to enhance energy efficiency, primarily in Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), the scheme was launched by Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar is implemented on behalf of the Ministry of Power by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) with a budget of ₹1,000 crore.
Importance
The ADEETIE scheme is essential in making improvements on power-to-product ratio, as well as creating green energy corridors especially for MSMEs to prepare with most technologies that could lead to 30–50% improvement in energy savings, reducing total energy consumption and ultimately operating costs while assisting India’s climate pledges.
Objectives
• Encourage deployment of energy efficient technologies in industrial units
• Financial aid/subsidies to MSMEs
• Strengthening technical capacity of MSMEs for sustainability
• Monitoring and verification (M&V) that tracks the long-term impacts
Key Features
- ₹1,000 crore total budget, with:
- ₹875 crore for interest subvention
- ₹50 crore for energy audits
- ₹75 crore for implementation support
- Interest subsidy: 5% for Micro & Small Enterprises, 3% for Medium Enterprises
- Phase-wise implementation covering 14 energy-intensive sectors and 60 industrial clusters
- Includes support for Investment Grade Energy Audit (IGEA) and Detailed Project Reports (DPRs)
Impact
The scheme will lead to improved competitiveness for MSMEs, reduced energy bills, and enhanced production efficiency. Furthermore, the scheme is expected to lead to the general adoption of clean technology, and reduced carbon emissions in India’s industrial sector, while also increasing the pressure on its sustainability pursuits.
Maharashtra Grants Agricultural Status to Livestock and Poultry Farming
In a landmark policy shift, Maharashtra has become the first state in India to recognize livestock farming (including poultry) as agriculture. On July 11, 2025, the Maharashtra Cabinet approved the historic policy decision to recognize the importance of animal husbandry in rural development and the rural economy with a view to bringing equality to the rights of crop cultivators and livestock farmers.
The recognition, which was about 37 million livestock farmers will beneficiate from receiving frontier benefits, will open up livestock farmers to receive subsidies, lower tariffs, and institutional credit .
Importance of This Move
The recognition of livestock farming as agriculture will provide policy implications. Livestock farms will now receive agricultural tariff for agricultural electricity and will be able to avoid higher costs, which are previously charged to commercial businesses. Tax relief from local levies, credit eligibility, subsidies to solar equipment are allowed for the first time. The changes clearly recognize animal husbandry as an important pillar of agriculture.
Key features and benefits
• Electricity tariff will be paid for poultry sheds, fish ponds, and cattle shelters on agriculture subsidised agricultural rate.
• Tax relief will allow for local levies and access taxes to be charged at agriculture rates not commercial rates.
• Agricultural credit will allow livestock farmers to obtain Kisan Credit Cards (KCC) as well as agricultural loans at lower rates of interest as well as be eligible for other benefits in schemes, such as, Deshmukh Interest Relief Scheme.
• Subsided Solar equipment which will allow chickens to have chicken sheds that have infrastructure that has power to pump drinking water and other that also has power if there is a requirement.
Sector Impact
• Poultry: The reduction of electricity costs will allow broiler units and hatcheries to expand and increase production of meat and eggs.
• Dairy: This will support small and medium herd owners with reduced utility bills and better access to finances.
• Sheep & Goat: Important for marginal farmers, sheep and goats would improve its viability at agricultural tariffs.
• Fisheries: Aquaculture will benefit as well with improved access to subsides and utility costs.
Economic and policy impacts
The government estimates its move would add another ₹7,080 crore of annual income because of this policy development, which could revolutionise rural livelihood, while aligning with the agriculture-nominated policy priorities of ICAR and NITI Aayog, responding to the recommendation of scientific livestock development; a necessity for productivity, disease management and resilience. In addition, it is likely to provide value chain returns to milk, meat, eggs, leather, wool, and processed outputs.
Challenges
Despite the enthusiasm for this move, some experts have raised concerns about to what degree the action could be an action, given its effectiveness. It is important for government authorities to work on resolving issues around land-use class, zoning, and bureaucracy governing smallholder agriculture so that this could develop a more effective form of governing livestock policy. Monitoring of the implementers and building upon their capacity would also be important, so the benefits will trickle down to smallholder farmers.
Gujarat Launches India’s First Tribal Genome Sequencing Project
Gujarat is the first Indian state to start a Tribal Genome Sequencing Project which aims to facilitate better health care services for tribal people’s health, through genetic research. The Tribal Genome Sequencing Project pertains to the early detection of hereditary diseases and developing personalised medical solutions using genome data.
Dr. Kuber Dindor, Gujarat’s Tribal Development Minister, announced the scheme at a high-level meeting held in Gandhinagar. The project will be executed by the Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre (GBRC) with inputs from several Government of Gujarat Departments and experts. It is endorsed under the budget of a 2025–26 Gujarat government budget.
The Significance
India’s tribal populations have historically been neglected in genetics studies. This momentous project will establish strides and integrate scientific developments with welfare of tribes. Furthermore, it will enable tribal communities using modern healthcare tools; which is critical to fostering an important transition towards more inclusive development.
Objectives
- Sequence genomes of 2,000 tribal individuals across 17 districts
- Identify genetic markers linked to diseases like sickle cell anaemia, thalassemia, and cancer
- Build a reference genome database for future medical research
- Facilitate personalised medicine and improve access to early healthcare interventions
Key Characteristics
• Implementation by GBRC using the latest genomic sequencing technology.
• Project has a physical sample collection phase, as well incorporating data analysis phase, as well as genetic interpretation phases.
• Will produce scientific data that is significant to India’s tribal communities.
• Top officials involved as well as a commitment from scientists providing and institutionalising the interdisciplinary orientation of the project.
President Murmu Confers Kalinga Ratna Award 2024 to Dharmendra Pradhan
On June 29, 2020, President Droupadi Murmu presented the Kalinga Ratna Award-2024 to Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan at a program held in Cuttack, Odisha. The award was announced during the 600th birth anniversary celebration of Adikabi Sarala Das, a great 15th century Odia poet, organized by the Sarala Sahitya Sansad, which recognized the significant contributions of Sarala Das while allowing attendees to promote Indian languages and culture.
Objectives and Highlights of the Event
The purpose of the event was to recognize Sarala Das’s life and literary contribution while stressing the importance of values of linguistic inclusion and cultural pride. The President spoke on unity in India’s linguistic diversity and how literature is a bridge among culture, language and education. She highlighted the importance of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which encourages education in the mother tongue, allowing children to connect more to their roots and traditions.
The Kalinga Ratna Award
The Kalinga Ratna Award is presented each year by the Sarala Sahitya Samsad to a recipient who has made significant contributions in the fields of education, literature, culture or public service. The recipient for the 2024 Kalinga Ratna Award, Dharmendra Pradhan, was recognized for his dedication to reforms in the education system and for working to elevate Indian languages in education.
Other Honour
Also at the program, well-known short story writer Bijaya Nayak received the Sarala Samman, one of the prestigious state literary awards for his contribution to contemporary Odia literature.
Indian Army Successfully Tests Akash Prime Air Defence System at 15,000 ft in Ladakh
In a tremendous boost to the indigenous defence capabilities of India, the Indian Army has successfully completed trials of the Akash Prime air defence missile system at more than 15,000 feet altitude in Ladakh. This notable success backs India’s growing competence in high altitude warfare and self-reliant defence production. As a modified variant of the original Akash, and carrying both upgraded seeker and precision-strike capabilities, the Akash Prime version signifies a technological leap forward in surface-to-air missiles systems, most importantly with respect to securing strategic borders against aerial threats.
Akash Prime Background
Akash Prime is a leads variant of the initial Akash surface-to-air missile system. The Akash system is intended to be a medium-range air defence system and has been extensively deployed by the Indian Army and Air Force to protect against aerial threats along border regions in particular with Pakistan and China. Unlike the older version, the new Akash Prime system enhances India’s air-defence shield through higher altitude operations and the ability to provide precision targeting.
Importance of the Ladakh Trials
The fact that the Akash Prime system has been tested in the high altitude region of Ladakh is a significant success. The trials were conducted by the Army Air Defence Corps with DRDO scientists and enabled an examination of the missile’s capacity to conduct direct hits on fast-moving aerial targets potentially in a thin atmosphere. This operational capability adds to India’s capabilities in high altitude conflicts (especially along the LAC and LoC) where aerial threats are becoming increasingly mobile and dynamic.
Role in Operation Sindoor
The Akash Prime system was earlier used in Operation Sindoor, a strategy of Indian Army to neutralize drone attacks and ceasefire violations from Pakistan. During the night of May 8-9 2025, more than 50 drones were destroyed during this operation and Akash Prime was an important part of how the coordinated attack was repelled. This deployment of Akash Prime demonstrated its utility as a real-time combat weapon against Chinese-origin aircraft and Turkish-made drones.
Features and Capabilities
Akash Prime features an improved seeker designed for better tracking and precision targeting in all weather conditions. The system can simultaneously engage a number of targets using phased array radar and command guidance to them. Akash Prime has both autonomous and group modes of operation. The Akash Prime operates well regardless of the weather and is adaptable for use in different terrains. It offers 360-degree protection which makes it optimal for defence of critical military sites and moving columns.
Self-Reliant Defence and Future Induction
The development and trials of Akash Prime are consistent with India’s aim to be Atmanirbhar Bharat (Self-Reliant India) in defence manufacturing. The successful trials will lead to the establishment of the third, and fourth, regiment of the Akash air defence system, aimed at using this upgraded variant of the system. Akash Prime’s induction will significantly strengthen India’s layered air defence architecture, ensuring that national security is prepared to deal with evolving aerial threats.
Nelson Mandela International Day 2025
Nelson Mandela International Day, celebrated every year on 18th July, honors the birthday of Nelson Mandela, South Africa’s first Black President and international symbol of peace, justice and reconciliation. Having been commemorated by the United Nations in 2009, Nelson Mandela International Day and the values that he embodied – freedom, dignity and equality, in addition to human rights, inspiring each of us to engage in community service (67 minutes, representing the 67 years of service to humanity).
The theme for Nelson Mandela International Day 2025 is “It’s still in our hands to fight poverty and inequality”. It is an important reminder, challenge and opportunity to individuals and communities all around the globe, to examine the underlying causes of social and economic inequality. There is a sense of urgency to recognize that our world is changing quickly across many levels, and we have a responsibility and ability to shape a more just, equal and compassionate society. Building on Mandela’s stellar reputation and commitment to improve justice and create shared human dignity, the theme urges all levels of society to focus on grassroots efforts, volunteerism, and collective solidarity, to raise up marginalized populations and provide long-term solutions to poverty and inequality.
Nelson Mandela International Day is composed of a number of unique narratives that bring together an important ceremonial day with a global call to action that asks each and every one of us to take responsibility for making the sustainable world better for the present and all future generations. The essential and immense message of the day is that everybody has the potential, if not the responsibility, to shape their world, no matter how small. It enacts and realizes the memory of Mandela through positive acts of service to counter contemporary issues of poverty, inequality and discrimination.