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 9 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 – 9 July 2025

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Honoured with Brazil’s Highest Civilian Award

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has received the Grand Collar of the National Order of the Southern Cross, the highest civilian distinction in Brazil, from Brazilian Presidents Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. The Grand Collar represents Brazilian recognition of the strengthening diplomatic, economic and cultural ties which connect India and Brazil.

It is important to note that this award is not simply an accolade for the Prime Minister but also a signal of the growing international recognition of India’s leadership and India’s growing global influence.

The Grand Collar of the National Order of the Southern Cross is the highest non-military honour in Brazil and is awarded to heads of state or heads of government who made noteworthy contributions to strengthen Brazil’s relations with other countries.

There is no doubt that by awarding this honour to Prime Minister Modi, Brazil has recognized his contribution to the further development of the India-Brazil strategic partnership and of strengthening cooperation through international forums such as BRICS, G20, and United Nations.

A Political Statement and a Portrait of a Strong and Deepening India-Brazil Relationship

This honour is a political statement and crystalizes the strength of the relationship between India’s and Brazil’s political engagements. Both countries have similar values which include respect for sovereignty, sustainable development and a commitment to a multipolar world order. Barrier-free two-way collaboration to date has been found in a mix of areas including those listed below:

• Trade and investment

• Renewable energy

• Agricultural technology

• Space research

• Global governance

Prime Minister Modi’s leadership has built bridges that have connected India and Brazil even more strongly, in many multilateral forums and regional conversations.

Pride for India on International Platforms

This is the 26th international award or honour which has been conferred on Prime Minister Narendra Modi by a foreign country to date, since he took office in May 2014. These accolades are indicative of India’s diplomatic robustness, growing economic power, and increasing trust in India’s leadership on the international stage.

Brazil has, through awarding the honour to Prime Minister Modi, also recognised India’s increasing significance in establishing a broader course of policy for an increasingly fragmented world, especially within the Global South.

This award announcement has garnered wide appreciation within India. Leaders across India have shared their appreciation of the honour, calling it a proud moment for all Indians. Many leaders have recognised this award as recognition not only of Modi’s quest for strong diplomacy, but also a recognition of India’s growing importance in international affairs.

Vatsala, Asia’s Oldest Elephant, Passes Away in Madhya Pradesh’s Panna Reserve

In an immensely heartbreaking moment for wildlife aficionados, forest officials, and everyday people from all over India, Vatsala – Asia’s oldest living elephant, died on Tuesday July 8, 2025, at the Panna Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh. At over 100 years old, Vatsala was one of the last living elephants of her age, experiencing an extraordinary, lengthy, and special life as an Asian elephant.

Her death marked an end of an era – a life from long ago, which connected generations and epitomized the fragile coexistence with wildlife.

A Journey from Kerala to Madhya Pradesh

Vatsala’s long and fantastic life began from Kerala, as it was later reported that she had been moved to Narmadapuram, and then finally to Panna Tiger Reserve. Over the years, she became a true icon at the reserve, loved by all – tourists, forest personnel, and wildlife enthusiasts.

A Figure of Matriarch & Guardian of Forest

Vatsala was distinguished by age and deservedly will be missed, for years she filled a special and honorable position at the reserve as the matriarch of her elephant group. Vatsala was calm and relaxed in her role, yet taught the younger elephants and their caretakers by simply being there for them. When other females gave birth, she instinctively acted as the grandmother of the newborn calf and treated with care and affection, just like its mother would.  It is clear Vatsala was socially intertwined with her group, which demonstrated the higher-level emotional and familial relationship elephants are known for.

Declining health and end of life

In her final days, Vatsala was having more and more trouble with her body. She had lost her sight due to the effects of old age, and had lost the use of some of her legs, which limited her range of movement. The Hinauta Elephant Camp were taking care of her extremely well.

Every day, the forest staff would take her to the Khairaiyaan drain in the Hinauta range, to take a bath, along with her special diet (with porridge to allow her to gain additional nutrients). Vatsala’s health had been slowly deteriorating due to her injury to the nails of her front legs.

On the morning of July 8, Vatsala sat down next to the Khairaiyaan drain and didn’t get up. After several determined but unsuccessful attempts to help her up by the forest department staff throughout the morning and afternoon, the majestic elephant died peacefully in the afternoon.

Veterinary Care

Throughout Vatsala’s twilight years, veterinarians and wildlife experts had been able to monitor Va (Vatsala) on a regular basis, so much so, that many wildlife folks credit her remarkable length of life to the kindness of the forest staff. Vatsala was able to live in the dry and sparse forests of Panna, substantially longer than what would be the normal lifespan of most elephants in captivity (even protected).

Bihar Reserves 35% Government Jobs for Domicile Women

In a substantial policy change designed to accentuate women, the Bihar government headed by Nitish Kumar, has approved a proposal that grants 35% reservation in government jobs, only for women that are domicile Rajasthan. The decision was taken on 8th July 2025, at a meeting of the State Cabinet chaired by the Chief Minister.

Domicile Policy in Women’s Reservation Is Approved

While before, 35% horizontal reservation was available to all female candidates irrespective of their state of domicile, now women domicile includes only women articulation in the state of Bihar in the direct recruitment in all cadres of state government jobs.

The decision was finalized through a proposal from the General Administrative Department (GAD) and is a historic decision as it is the first decision consistently domicile based policy in women’s reservation by the state of the last few years.

Women from Other States Will Now Be Categorized in General Category

S Siddharth as Secretary in the Cabinet Secretariat Department said, “now, women domicile in other states will be treated as general category women candidates and would not be able to benefit from the 35% women reservation.”

The expectation is that this decision will give priority to women domicile in the state of Bihar for state government employment, and encourage and enable women in Bihar to increase their involvement in governance and administration.

Political and Social Outcomes Prior to Assembly Polls

The timing of the announcement is significant, as Bihar is in the midst of the state assembly elections. Many political analysts see this as a tactic for ruling party to woo woman voters, an influential demographic in prior elections.

Nitish Kumar’s government has a long history of developing women-centric policies, and this gesture further solidifies the state’s direction towards gender-inclusive governance in the future.

Cabinet also approved Bihar Youth Commission

Focus on Skill Development and Employment for Youths

In another significant matter arising from the cabinet meeting, Bihar Government recently announced the establishment of Bihar Youth Commission, a platform to guide, empower, and uplift the youth of Bihar.

The Commission will have the responsibility for the outcomes of

• Advice the government on youth development policy

• Create and offer education and employment opportunities to local youth

• Monitor private sector employees to prioritize Youth Bihari

• Protect the interests of Students and working professionals from Bihar living outside the State of Bihar.

Structure and Purpose of Youth Commission

The Commission will have a Chair, two Vice Chairs, and provide for a further seven members aged less than 45 years or as specified by the Government. This structural format reflects the Governments intention to ensure a youth perspective in developing policy.

The Commission will be responsible for the assessment of economically disadvantaged youth, unemployed youth and meritorious students and recommend methods for improving their standards of living.

Punjab Launches Mukhya Mantri Sehat Yojana

The Punjab government has officially launched its Mukhya Mantri Sehat Yojana (Chief Minister Health Scheme), a flagship healthcare program that provides free and cashless medical treatment costing up to ₹10 lakh annually per family for families living in the state. It was launched in the state capital Chandigarh on July 8, 2025, by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann in the presence of AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal.

Scheme Benefits:

The scheme targets about 65 lakh families which covers nearly 3 crore people across Punjab. The scheme will cover families from all social and economic strata, including government employees, pensioners, farmers, workers and businessmen.

The Chief Minister said that every family eligible for the scheme will receive health cards that will enable residents to avail cashless treatment in both government and private hospitals in Punjab.

Top-Up Coverage for Existing Central Government Scheme Beneficiaries

In fact, residents enrolled under the Central Government scheme (Ayushman Bharat) will also receive the same benefit as health insurance beneficiaries and therefore will get an additional ₹5 lakh top-up cover under Mukhya Mantri Sehat Yojana, which is ₹10 lakh healthcare cover in the year through the scheme.

When Will It Be Implemented?

The scheme will be launched on October 2, 2025. The government will establish registration camps in different regions to help people register and get their health cards. It will also do away with categorization through colored cards (blue and yellow) which used to create confusion among the residents and will have a simple and uniform scheme.

Healthcare Coverage for 2000+ Diseases

Under the Mukhya Mantri Sehat Yojana, the treatment of more than 2000 diseases will be provided, including serious diseases like heart disease, cancer, kidney disease, and surgeries. People will receive care in any empanelled hospital, in either government or private institutions, without paying anything out of pocket.

In order to obtain treatment, beneficiaries will only need to show their Aadhaar card and health card. There will be no out-of-pocket expenses time and no reimbursement mechanism. The process will be cashless, and beneficiaries, and therefore healthcare services, will be more accessible to everyone.

Kasaragod Wins Kerala Fisheries Department’s Excellence Award 2025

The Kerala Fisheries Department has awarded the Fisheries Department Excellence Award 2025 to Kasaragod district for excellence in performance in the Popular Fish Farming Project. Awards such as this affirm Kasaragod on the leading edge of sustainable and innovative aquaculture and its continued work from bottom-up.

State Level recognition for fisheries efforts.

Kasaragod was recognized as the best district in the State for its success with fisheries development projects. This award is part of the annual State Farmer Award from the Department of fisheries to recognize excellence in the fisheries and aquaculture industry throughout the State of Kerala.

According to the district administration, the honour indicates the district’s proactive support both in terms of promotion of aquaculture and increase of inland fish production and active engagement with local fish farmers/palawans to promote sustainable fish farming practices.

Local fish farmers receiving recognition in individual categories.

In addition, two fisheries practitioners from Kasaragod also received recognition in individual categories. The individual awards were:

• Ravi P.P from Padanna, a farmer, came in second for the Best Backwater Fish Seed Production Farmer

• Sea Pearl Aquafarm based in Kumbala, got third place for Best Innovative Fish Farming.

This recognition reinforces the importance of individual entrepreneurship and innovation in supporting the strength and cultivation of the the fisheries ecosystem in the district.

Leadership and Coordination Acknowledged.

District Collector K. Inbasekar thanked all stakeholders for pride in getting the honour, specifically acknowledging Deputy Director of Fisheries, K.A. Labib, for his stewardship and management of multiple fisheries projects and initiatives to successful outcomes in the Kerala fisheries.

Banakacherla Project: Water dispute between Andhra Pradesh and Telangana

The Banakacherla project, which seeks to interconnect the Godavari basin to the Krishna basin, has sparked old water-sharing controversies between Andhra Pradesh and Telangana once again in 2025, with Andhra Pradesh attempting to divert surplus floodwaters from the Godavari to the drought-prone Rayalaseema and Telangana asserting that the project breaching several inter-state agreements on water usage. The project encounters multiple hurdles relating to environmental issues, legal issues, and inter-state issues.

Banakacherla Project

The Banakacherla project envisions the transfer of floodwaters from the Godavari to the Krishna basin. This transfer will include modifications or additions to canals, reservoirs, and lift irrigation schemes. The floodwaters will be harvested from the Polavaram Dam, and diverted to the Krishna river at Vijayawada, then through canals and tunnels under the Nallamala forests to Banakacherla reservoir. The project is aimed to benefit areas in Rayalaseema’s Kadapa and Kurnool districts. The project is estimated to cost more than ₹80,000 crore, and require more than 40,000 acres of land, including forested land.

Water Allocation Context Legal Context

There are agreements and tribunal awards that govern water allocation. The Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal apportioned 2130 tmc ft of water among Andhra, Karnataka, and Maharashtra. Following the bifurcation, Andhra and Telangana agreed upon water shares from Krishna waters. The Godavari Water Disputes Tribunal allocated 1486 tmc ft to the undivided Andhra Pradesh, which included 80 tmc ft of water to be taken from the Polavaram Dam. Andhra claims that the Banakacherla project will actually only use surplus Godavari waters that flow into the sea unused, and will therefore follow the directives in the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014.

Telangana’s Opposition and Concerns.

Telangana claims that the project violates the Reorganisation Act and will threaten its water security. It has argued that the allocation of Godavari water has no surplus water and that Andhra Pradesh proceeded without proper clearances and without conducting a proper impact assessment. Telangana is demanding transparency and that the project must be undertaken within the legal framework before it can be implemented.

Environmental and Ecological Impacts.

Experts warn that the project can result in interception of the natural flow of the river and the decline in the availability of freshwater upstream for the deltas. This could result in further salinity intrusion and detrimentally impact agriculture, fisheries and mangroves. This would also result in diminished soil fertility. Tunnelling through the Nallamala forests would also displace wildlife habitat of endangered species and threaten local indigenous communities. Further, there have been several alternative ways to manage water, such as groundwater recharge and rainwater harvesting to limit dependence on rivers.

Current status and regulatory response.

Recently, the Central Environmental Expert Committee denied environmental clearance for the project, based on environmental concerns, legal concerns and interstate water-sharing issues. It also noted that environmental and impact assessment studies must be conducted. Furthermore, the committee noted that the no project can be allowed to proceed without consultation with the Central Water Commission and consideration of the Godavari Water Disputes Tribunal verdict of 1980. As such, Andhra Pradesh must resubmit a revised project proposal when the time is right for regulatory approval.