CURRENT AFFAIRS DESTINATION FOR UPSC & STATE CIVIL SERVICES EXAMINATIONS
In July 2025, portions of Grand Canyon National Park in the United States were closed during the peak summer tourist season due to two rapidly growing nearby wildfires. These fires necessitated visitor evacuations and posed a significant threat to the iconic natural landmark. Details of the Wildfires: About Grand Canyon National Park:
Varsha Deshpande, a prominent Indian women’s rights activist, has been awarded the 2025 United Nations Population Award in the individual category. This prestigious global honor, now in its 40th edition, recognizes her decades of dedicated work promoting gender equality and reproductive rights. The announcement was made by the United Nations in New York on July 10, 2025. Varsha Deshpande’s Contributions: About the UN Population Award: (Source: TH)
India, along with 18 other nations, is participating in Talisman Sabre 2025 hosted by Australia. Talisman Sabre 2025, Australia’s largest and most sophisticated warfighting exercise, commenced on July 13, 2025. This marks the 11th iteration of the major bilateral military drill. Key Highlights of Talisman Sabre 2025: (Source: TH)
India’s official nomination for 2024-25, the ‘Maratha Military Landscapes of India,’ has been successfully inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. This landmark achievement makes it India’s 44th property to receive this prestigious recognition. Key Highlights of the Inscription: India’s World Heritage Standing: (Source: PIB)
A new study presented at the 2025 Goldschmidt Conference in Prague indicates that the increasing melting of glaciers and ice caps could lead to more frequent and explosive volcanic eruptions. Key Findings and Mechanisms: Areas of Concern and Historical Evidence: About the Goldschmidt Conference: (Source: Ie)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Namibia on July 9, 2025, marking the final leg of his five-country outreach trip to the Global South. During this landmark visit, PM Modi was conferred with Namibia’s highest civilian award, the ‘Order of the Most Ancient Welwitschia Mirabilis’, presented by Namibian President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah. Significance of the Visit: Deep-Rooted India-Namibia Partnership: Key Pillars of Bilateral Relationship: The bilateral relationship between India and Namibia is Read More …
The Kerala High Court recently ordered the conditional “arrest” of the Liberian container ship MSC Akiteta II, currently anchored at Thiruvananthapuram’s Vizhinjam port. This action stems from compensation claims related to the sinking of the MSC Elsa III in May. Key Aspects of the Case: Governing Maritime Disputes in India: Other Relevant Laws for Compensation and Accountability: (Source: IE)
The inhabitants of Nyangai, an island in the Turtle Islands off southern Sierra Leone, are facing severe consequences of climate change despite having made virtually no contribution to global warming. Key points: (Source: TH)
Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey has launched Bitchat, a new peer-to-peer messaging app designed to work without an internet connection or a centralized server/phone network. Currently, this privacy-focused app is available only on TestFlight for iPhone users. Key features of Bitchat
European Union (EU) ministers on Tuesday gave the final green light for Bulgaria to adopt the euro on January 1, 2026, making it the single currency area’s 21st member. This move comes nearly 19 years after Bulgaria, a country of 6.4 million people, joined the European Union. Key Details of the Euro Adoption: Eurozone Expansion and Convergence Criteria: Broader Context:
Scientists have discovered the oldest protein fragments ever recovered from the fossilized teeth of 18-million-year-old mammals in Kenya’s Turkana Basin. This breakthrough extends the known record age for ancient proteins fivefold. Key Findings of the Discovery: About Lake Turkana: (Sources: Newscientist+Unesco)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently visited Brazil and Argentina as part of his five-nation tour (July 2-9, covering Ghana, Trinidad and Tobago, Argentina, Brazil, and Namibia), with a key focus on expanding the India-MERCOSUR Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA). This initiative aims to increase and diversify trade with Latin American countries, particularly in light of US tariff impositions. About MERCOSUR: India-MERCOSUR Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA):
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was conferred with Namibia’s highest civilian award, the ‘Order of the Most Ancient Welwitschia Mirabilis’, on July 9, 2025. The award was presented by Namibian President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah. Here are the key points of the event:
The World Health Organization (WHO) has launched the “3 by 35” initiative, urging countries to significantly increase taxes on tobacco, alcohol, and sugary drinks. The goal is to raise their real prices by at least 50% by 2035 through health taxes. Objectives of the “3 by 35” Initiative: India’s Context and Challenges: (Source: IE)
Japan Coast Guard (JCG) Ship Itsukushima arrived at Chennai Port today as part of its Global Ocean Voyage Training. This port call reinforces the strategic partnership between the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) and JCG in the Indo-Pacific region. Engagements During Port Call: Strengthening Strategic Cooperation: (Source: PIB)