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 12 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.
Daily Current Affairs – 12 July 2025
Gingee Fort Nominated for UNESCO World Heritage Site
Gingee Fort in the Villupuram district of Tamil Nadu, India, was awarded a UNESCO World Heritage Site designation at the World Heritage Committee’s 47th session, in Paris. The fort is one of twelve forts in India that comprise a designation of the Maratha Military Landscapes which is part of the criteria of recognizing a culturally significant site on a global level.
Global Honor for Gingee Fort
Gingee Fort, also known as the “Troy of the East,” is one of the oldest and most distinctive forts in South India, was the only site from Tamil Nadu in contention this year for the UNESCO World Heritage title. The fort is included in twelve additional forts from the Maratha period that form the basis of the nomination called ‘Maratha Military Landscapes,’ which exhibits military engineering, strategic design, and historical significance.
With this designation, the fort will be featured on a globally significant historical framework, receive funding opportunities toward the preservation of the fort and allow promotion of tourism to the fort. The fort will be made a priority with potential for international and domestic tourism.
Decision Made at UNESCO Committee Meeting
The announcement was made during the on-going 47th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, during which entry point educations were made for the state of Tamil Nadu and proud moment for India to be recognized for its legacy and historic architecture and military history.
India’s officials and people with heritage experience were supporting the idea of consideration on whether or not the nomination had educational and heritage significance, which was an achievement. The local administration has considered the chaos of tourism possibilities in considering an upgrading of education service at the fort.
About the Fort and Its Importance
Gingee Fort located in Villupuram district, Gingee Fort dates back to the 9th century and has seen the rule of various dynasties including the Cholas, Vijayanagar Empire, Marathas, Mughals, and British. Known for its unique hilltop structure and strong fortification, the fort has often been praised for its military strength and strategic design.
One of its most famous structures is the Kalyana Mahal, a tower-like building often highlighted in tourism promotions. The fort played an important role in South Indian military history and is a symbol of Tamil Nadu’s rich heritage.
Prasar Bharati Signs MoU to Promote Handball in India
The Handball Association of India (HAI) and Prasar Bharati have signed a three-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to produce and broadcast all national and international handball events, to promote handball in India. The MoU will help promote and show the sport of handball on DD Sports, Waves OTT, and other public broadcast platforms, and increase the visibility of the sport in India.
The MoU was officially exchanged between Prasar Bharati CEO, Gaurav Dwivedi and Executive Director of HAI, Anandeshwar Pande, who also attended the event along with Navneet Kumar Sehgal, Chairman of Prasar Bharati. The MoU is for a three year period and is expected to enhance the visibility of handball in India to allow greater number of youth and talent to be recognised and supported.
National virtual broadcast of handball events
As part of the MoU, all national and international handball events would be telecast on DD Sports, streamed on Waves OTT, and publicised through Prasar Bharati, expanding access to all people including youth from urban and rural areas.
Objectives of the MoU
The primary objective of signing this MoU is to develop the sport of handball in India, increasing opportunities for the players, fans and supporting the athletes, and promote the game further through providing visibility and tap into funding on a range of platforms. Along with the expected dedicated coverage, it is likely that handball will take the next steps towards elevating their sport, and develop individuals to help handball in India compete at a better level in international competitions.
Arthunkal Police Station Becomes India’s First ISO-Certified Station
The Arthunkal Police Station in Alappuzha district, Kerala, has made history as the first police station in India to obtain the IS/ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System (QMS) certification granted by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). The certificate was presented on July 10, 2025, in recognition of the station’s commitment to quality service in policing and public safety.
A First for Indian Police
The ISO 9001:2015 certificate was presented by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) during a ceremony at the Arthunkal Police Station. The certificate is in recognition of the excellent work undertaken by the Arthunkal Police Station in the areas of crime prevention, crime investigation, traffic management, response to public grievance, and all law enforcement activities.
The certificate was presented by Sri Praveen Khanna, Deputy Director General (Standardization), Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) to Sri Ravada Azad Chandrashekhar, State Police Chief, Kerala in the presence of senior officers including, G. Venkatanarayanan, S. Syamsundar (IG, South Zone), and Dr. S. Sateesh Bino (DIG, Ernakulam Range).
Event Highlights
The event was inaugurated with a welcome speech by Sri M.P. Mohanachandran, District Police Chief, Alappuzha and by a President’s address by Sri H. Venkatesh, ADGP (Law & Order). Sri Ravada Azad Chandrashekhar gave the keynote lecture and emphasised the need to adopt global quality standards in the police to build trust with the public and demonstrate the efficiency of police services.
The programme ended with a vote of thanks from Sri Harish Jain, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), Cherthala, who is leading the Modernised Cherthala Police Programme – an effort to modernise local police as part of improving systems, infrastructure.
A Model for Other Police Stations
This accomplishment aids the larger goal of the Kerala Police to do structured, systematic national and international reform of policing. The Modernised Cherthala Police Programme (MCP) is led by ASP Harish Jain that improves the policing station by helping all the stakeholders involved: better service, transparency, and citizen participation.
This certification promotes a standard for police stations throughout India, making it evident that expectations and benchmarks in crime control and citizen satisfaction and involvement are achievable and sustainable.
India Launches First Electric Truck Incentive Scheme Under PM Modi’s Green Mobility Vision
On July 12, 2025, the Government of India implemented its first electric truck (e-truck) subsidy scheme under the PM E-DRIVE initiative. The e-truck subsidy is available, in a maximum amount of ₹9.6 lakh per vehicle, for the purchase of an electric truck. The scheme was announced by Union Minister Sir. H.D. Kumaraswamy and aims to improve clean freight transport while lessening pollution. The PM E-DRIVE initiative is a critical step in Prime Minister Mr. Modi’s green mobility vision and aspiration for net-zero emissions by 2070.
What are some of the Key Aspects of the e-Truck Scheme?
The scheme offers financial incentives to electric trucks under classifications N2 and N3, which covers trucks with gross vehicle weight (GVW) from 3.5 tonne to 55 tonne maximum. The maximum subsidy is ₹9.6 lakh (which is given as an upfront discount) per truck. And, while manufacturers must access the PM E-DRIVE portal on a first-come, first-served basis for reimbursement, MMUT contracts (painfully long) remain standard across India, which foresees that the clearance is fixed for the customer when buying a truck.
The the warranty rules are inclusive of disability criteria to avoid abuse of the subsidization decisions.
Five years (or 5 lakh kms) for each battery; and five years (or 2.5 lakh kms) on electric motor(s) and the vehicle.
Finally, buyers must scrap their decommissioned old polluting diesel truck(s), which will count on not only the diesel number of trucks in an economy but mark a borderline anti-pollution activity.
So, why does this matter to India?
While diesel trucks only comprise roughly 3% of vehicles in India, they account for an astonishing 42% of all transport-linked greenhouse gas emissions; and more importantly, this action for the country represents one of the most immediate and irreversible action towards improving air quality, decreasing carbon emissions and whether it meets the Indonesian aspirations, India’s own environmental aspirations!
India’s scheme is seeking support for a total of 5,600 electric trucks throughout the life of the program. The first 1100 members will be in the NCT of Delhi estimated at a cost of ₹100 crores (negative impact to public sector entity – transportation).
They focus on utilization sectors of cement, steel, ports, and logistics into heavy trucks being commercially utilized to revenues.
Industry participation and Government Push
Some of India’s leading corporate entities, such as Tata Motors, Ashok Leyland, and Volvo Eicher, are kind of presently involved in developing electric trucks. The scheme will help build the domestic electric vehicle (EV) industry in the framework of India’s Atmanirbhar Bharat mission.
Much similarly, the public sector unit SAIL has committed to buying 150 e-trucks, with the aim to electrify 15% of its hired fleet. This could set an example for other government-public sector units to start promoting some form of greening of transport modes.
DRDO, IAF Successfully Test Astra Missile from Su-30 MKI
On July 11, 2025, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Indian Air Force (IAF) conducted successful tests of the Astra missile from a Su-30 MKI fighter aircraft, flying off the coast of Odisha. The Astra missile was equipped with a Radio Frequency (RF) seeker, allowing it to accurately strike its targets. This successful test of the Astra missile will contribute toward India’s capabilities in air combat.
The missile firing tests were conducted over the Bay of Bengal, where the Su-30 MKI fired the Astra missile twice against high-speed unmanned aerial targets flying at various ranges and in various directions. The Ministry of Defence stated that both missiles hit their targets with considerable accuracy, indicating the advanced capabilities of the missile system.
The Astra is a Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missile (BVRAAM) developed to engage enemy aircraft well beyond the range of the launching aircraft. The version of the Astra missile tested is armed with a new indigenous RF Seeker, which enables the missile to lock on to and navigate toward the target. The RF seeker has been developed in India and demonstrates that India is taking strides in indigenous defense technology that will support self-reliance through the ‘Make in India’ initiative.
UNESCO Removes 3 African Sites from Danger List
UNESCO recently took three notable heritage sites off its World Heritage in Danger List. The sites were both in Madagascar as well as Egypt and Libya during the 47th session of the World Heritage Committee in Paris. In an important recognition of their strong efforts to protect and rehabilitate the sites, these nations have demonstrated that strong interventions can change the functionality of important World Heritage sites quickly.
Sites Removed From the Danger List
The three African sites that were removed from the danger list are,
1. Rainforests of Atsinanana in Madagascar
2. Abu Mena in Egypt
3. Old Town of Ghadames in Libya
UNESCO highlighted how these nations have worked hard to reduce several of the threats listed including damage from illegal activities, rising water levels, conflict, and climate change induced catastrophe. It is confirmed that these sites are more protected and no longer in immediate danger.
Why Were They in Danger?
The Rainforests of Atsinanana were inscribed as endangered in 2010 in response to threats including illegal logging, deforestation, and loss of iconic species, such as lemurs. The rainforests, which are part of a UNESCO World Heritage site, support an extraordinary diversity of unique flora and fauna found nowhere else in the world.
Abu Mena, a popular Christian pilgrimage site in Egypt, was placed on the world heritage in danger list in 2001 because the site was flooding from agriculture irrigation creating issues that are severely damaging – some sections of the site have already collapsed.
Old Town of Ghadames in Libya was put on the endangered list in 2016 because of risk of armed conflict, wildfires, and flooding resulting in severe damage to the site.
UNESCO’s Actions and Statements
UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay stated during the notification concerning the deletion of the sites from the danger list that this was a “great victory” for the world. Information further indicated that UNESCO is focusing on Africa by training experts and countries in the ongoing protection and preservation of the sites.
Since 2021, UNESCO has also removed three other African sites located in DR Congo, Uganda, and Senegal from the danger list. This clearly indicates that the program is succeeding.
