NATIONAL AFFAIRS
1. What is the name of the joint maritime exercise conducted by the Indian Coast Guard and Japan Coast Guard off the Chennai coast in July 2025?
A. Sahyog Kaijin
B. Jaa Mata
C. Indo-Japan Maritime
D. Samudra Shakti
E. Varuna
Answer: B. Jaa Mata
2. What does the name ‘Jaa Mata’ mean in the context of the ICG-JCG joint exercise?
A. Maritime Unity
B. See You Later
C. Ocean Harmony
D. Coastal Strength
E. Friendship Forever
Answer: B. See You Later
3. Who led the Japanese delegation during the JCG’s port visit to Chennai in July 2025?
A. Paramesh Sivamani
B. Datwinder Singh Saini
C. Kanosue Hiroaki
D. Jieliang Zhao
E. Harish Duhan
Answer: C. Kanosue Hiroaki
4. Which vision aligns with the India-Japan maritime cooperation during the ‘Jaa Mata’ exercise?
A. Make in India
B. SAGAR
C. Digital India
D. Atmanirbhar Bharat
E. Swachh Bharat
Answer: B. SAGAR
5. Where is India’s second-longest cable-stayed bridge, the Sigandur Bridge, located?
A. Bengaluru, Karnataka
B. Shivamogga, Karnataka
C. Mysuru, Karnataka
D. Mangaluru, Karnataka
E. Hubli, Karnataka
Answer: B. Shivamogga, Karnataka
6. What is the total length of the Sigandur Bridge inaugurated in July 2025?
A. 1.75 km
B. 2.25 km
C. 2.75 km
D. 3.25 km
E. 3.75 km
Answer: B. 2.25 km
7. What is the name of India’s first Aqua Tech Park inaugurated in Assam?
A. Fishery Innovation Park
B. Aqua Tech Park
C. Blue Revolution Hub
D. Sonapur Aqua Centre
E. Atmanirbhar Aqua Park
Answer: B. Aqua Tech Park
8. Which organization collaborated in establishing the Aqua Tech Park in Assam?
A. National Fisheries Development Board
B. Kolong-Kopili
C. Ministry of Agriculture
D. Assam Agricultural University
E. Bharat Electronics Limited
Answer: B. Kolong-Kopili
9. Where was India’s first all-women operated dispensary, Vasant Vihar Dispensary, inaugurated?
A. Raipur, Chhattisgarh
B. Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh
C. Durg, Chhattisgarh
D. Korba, Chhattisgarh
E. Jagdalpur, Chhattisgarh
Answer: B. Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh
10. How many women are part of the team managing the Vasant Vihar Dispensary?
A. 10
B. 12
C. 14
D. 16
E. 18
Answer: C. 14
INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS
11. What is the new status of New Caledonia as per the “Bet on Trust” agreement signed in July 2025?
A. Independent Nation
B. State of New Caledonia within the French Republic
C. Overseas Territory of France
D. Autonomous Region
E. Special Administrative Region
Answer: B. State of New Caledonia within the French Republic
12. Which sector will New Caledonia assume immediate responsibility for under the “Bet on Trust” agreement?
A. Defence
B. Foreign Affairs
C. Currency
D. Security
E. Justice
Answer: B. Foreign Affairs
BANKING & FINANCE
13. What is the name of India’s first power-focused ETF launched by Groww Mutual Fund?
A. Groww BSE Energy ETF
B. Groww BSE Power ETF
C. Groww Power Sector ETF
D. Groww Renewable Energy ETF
E. Groww Infrastructure ETF
Answer: B. Groww BSE Power ETF
14. When does the New Fund Offer (NFO) for the Groww BSE Power ETF close?
A. July 18, 2025
B. July 31, 2025
C. August 1, 2025
D. August 15, 2025
E. August 31, 2025
Answer: C. August 1, 2025
15. What was the penalty amount imposed on HDFC Bank by the RBI for FEMA violations?
A. Rs. 2.70 lakh
B. Rs. 3.50 lakh
C. Rs. 4.88 lakh
D. Rs. 5.25 lakh
E. Rs. 6.10 lakh
Answer: C. Rs. 4.88 lakh
16. Why was Shriram Finance fined Rs. 2.70 lakh by the RBI?
A. Non-compliance with FEMA regulations
B. Breach of digital lending norms
C. Failure to report financial transactions
D. Violation of KYC norms
E. Irregularities in loan disbursal
Answer: B. Breach of digital lending norms
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
17. How much investment did Cypriot shipping firms announce for the Indian shipping industry in July 2025?
A. Rs. 5,000 crore
B. Rs. 7,500 crore
C. Rs. 10,000 crore
D. Rs. 12,500 crore
E. Rs. 15,000 crore
Answer: C. Rs. 10,000 crore
18. What was the global ranking of India’s National Stock Exchange (NSE) in IPO fundraising during H1-CY25?
A. 2nd
B. 3rd
C. 4th
D. 5th
E. 6th
Answer: C. 4th
19. How much did the NSE raise through IPOs in H1-CY25, according to S&P Global Market Intelligence?
A. USD 3.51 billion
B. USD 4.51 billion
C. USD 5.51 billion
D. USD 6.51 billion
E. USD 7.51 billion
Answer: C. USD 5.51 billion
AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS
20. How many awards did Andhra Pradesh win at the National ODOP Awards 2024?
A. 7
B. 8
C. 9
D. 10
E. 11
Answer: D. 10
21. Who was conferred the Hem Bahadur Malla Award 2080 in Nepal?
A. Prakash Man Singh Raut
B. Kalyan Shrestha
C. Anup Raj Sharma
D. Deepak Kumar Karki
E. Bishowambhar Shrestha
Answer: B. Kalyan Shrestha
APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS
22. Who was appointed as the new MD & CEO of Life Insurance Corporation in July 2025?
A. Sat Pal Bhanoo
B. Siddhartha Mohanty
C. R. Doraiswamy
D. Manoj Yadava
E. Sanjay Kaul
Answer: C. R. Doraiswamy
23. Who is the first woman to be appointed as the Director General of the Railway Protection Force?
A. Meenakshi Jain
B. Sonali Mishra
C. Anupriya Patel
D. Priya Nair
E. Varsha Deshpande
Answer: B. Sonali Mishra
24. Who was appointed as the MD & CEO of GIFT City Company Limited in July 2025?
A. Tapan Ray
B. Sanjay Kaul
C. Raghavendra Srinivas Bhat
D. R. Doraiswamy
E. Manoj Yadava
Answer: B. Sanjay Kaul
25. Who is the interim MD & CEO of Karnataka Bank Limited effective from July 16, 2025?
A. Srikrishnan Hari Hara Sarma
B. Raghavendra Srinivas Bhat
C. Varun Gupta
D. Nikhil Satam
E. Aakash Chauhan
Answer: B. Raghavendra Srinivas Bhat
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
26. What is the name of the communications satellite launched by Israel in July 2025?
A. Amos-8
B. Dror-1
C. Ofek-12
D. EROS-C
E. Venus-2
Answer: B. Dror-1
27. What is the weight of the Dror-1 satellite launched by Israel?
A. 3.5 tonnes
B. 4.0 tonnes
C. 4.5 tonnes
D. 5.0 tonnes
E. 5.5 tonnes
Answer: C. 4.5 tonnes
28. What is the weight of the ‘Cyborg Bee’ brain control device developed by Chinese researchers?
A. 54 milligrams
B. 64 milligrams
C. 74 milligrams
D. 84 milligrams
E. 94 milligrams
Answer: C. 74 milligrams
SPORTS
29. Who became India’s 87th Chess Grandmaster in July 2025?
A. P. Iniyan
B. Harikrishnan A. Ra
C. Viswanathan Anand
D. Koneru Humpy
E. D Gukesh
Answer: B. Harikrishnan A. Ra
30. Which team won the inaugural expanded 32-team FIFA Club World Cup 2025?
A. Paris Saint-Germain
B. Manchester City
C. Bayern Munich
D. Chelsea FC
E. Real Madrid
Answer: D. Chelsea FC
OBITUARY
31. At what age did former Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari pass away on July 13, 2025?
A. 78
B. 80
C. 82
D. 84
E. 86
Answer: C. 82
32. In which year was Muhammadu Buhari first elected as Nigeria’s President?
A. 2003
B. 2007
C. 2011
D. 2015
E. 2019
Answer: D. 2015
IMPORTANT DAYS
33. What is the theme of World Youth Skills Day 2025?
A. Skills for a Sustainable Future
B. Youth Empowerment through AI and Digital Skills
C. Bridging the Skills Gap
D. Empowering Youth for Employment
E. Digital Transformation for Youth
Answer: B. Youth Empowerment through AI and Digital Skills
STATE NEWS
34. In which state was the ‘My Deed’ pilot project launched to digitize land registration?
A. Punjab
B. Himachal Pradesh
C. Uttarakhand
D. Haryana
E. Jammu & Kashmir
Answer: B. Himachal Pradesh
35. How many tehsils were included in the initial phase of the ‘My Deed’ pilot project in Himachal Pradesh?
A. 8
B. 9
C. 10
D. 11
E. 12
Answer: C. 10
Current Affairs Today: 16 July 2025
NATIONAL AFFAIRS
- ICG & JCG Joint Exercise ‘Jaa Mata’: In July 2025, the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) and Japan Coast Guard (JCG) conducted a joint maritime exercise, ‘Jaa Mata’, off the coast of Chennai, Tamil Nadu. The exercise aimed to enhance operational synergy and maritime cooperation between the two nations, featuring drills like boarding operations and firefighting. This marked the conclusion of a six-day port visit by the JCG’s training vessel, Itsukushima.
- Sigandur Bridge Inauguration: Union Minister Nitin Gadkari inaugurated the Sigandur Bridge over the Sharavathi River in Shivamogga, Karnataka. At 2.25 km long, it’s India’s second-longest cable-stayed bridge and the eighth extra-dosed cable-styled bridge in the country. The bridge, built at a cost of Rs 472 crore, significantly reduces travel time and is the first of its kind in Karnataka.
- India’s First Aqua Tech Park: Assam’s Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma inaugurated India’s first Aqua Tech Park at Bagibari, Sonapur. The park aims to boost fish production and promote aquaculture by providing modern technologies like aquaponics and biofloc systems to local fish farmers.
- India’s First All-Women Operated Dispensary: Coal India Limited (CIL) and its subsidiary South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL) inaugurated India’s first fully women-operated dispensary, Vasant Vihar Dispensary, in Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh. The facility is managed by a 14-member all-women team and offers a wide range of healthcare services.
INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS
- New Caledonia to Become a State: France and New Caledonian political forces signed the “Bet on Trust” agreement, redefining New Caledonia as a “State of New Caledonia” within the French Republic. The accord grants the Pacific territory its own “Caledonian” nationality and immediate responsibility for foreign affairs.
BANKING & FINANCE
- Groww MF Launches First Power-Focused ETF & FoF: Groww Mutual Fund launched India’s first power-focused Exchange Traded Fund (ETF), the ‘Groww BSE Power ETF’, and its associated Fund of Fund (FoF). These schemes track the BSE Power Index and provide investors with a low-cost option to invest in India’s power sector.
- RBI Imposes Penalties on Banks: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) imposed monetary penalties on HDFC Bank and Shriram Finance for regulatory non-compliance. HDFC Bank was fined for violating Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) norms, while Shriram Finance was penalized for breaching digital lending regulations by allowing loan repayments from third-party accounts.
- Cypriot Firms Invest in Indian Shipping: Two Cyprus-based shipping firms, Interorient Navigation and Danship & Partners, announced a Rs 10,000 crore investment in the Indian shipping industry. This marks the largest Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the sector since it was opened to 100% FDI in 2005.
- NSE Ranks 4th in Global IPOs: According to S&P Global Market Intelligence, India’s National Stock Exchange (NSE) ranked 4th globally in Initial Public Offering (IPO) fundraising during the first half of 2025 (H1-CY25), raising USD 5.51 billion. It also led globally in the number of IPOs, with 73 listings.
AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS
- National ODOP Awards 2024: The Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoC&I) conferred the National One District One Product (ODOP) Awards 2024. Andhra Pradesh was a top performer, winning 10 awards across different categories.
- Hem Bahadur Malla Award: Former Chief Justice of Nepal, Kalyan Shrestha, was awarded the Hem Bahadur Malla Award 2080 for his significant contributions to judicial and institutional development.
APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS
- R. Doraiswamy as LIC MD & CEO: The Government of India appointed R. Doraiswamy as the new Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (MD & CEO) of Life Insurance Corporation (LIC). He is the first to hold the full-term position under the new regulatory framework.
- Sonali Mishra as First Woman RPF DG: Senior Indian Police Service (IPS) officer Sonali Mishra was appointed as the first female Director General (DG) of the Railway Protection Force (RPF). She will succeed Manoj Yadava on July 31, 2025.
- Sanjay Kaul Appointed GIFT City MD & CEO: Sanjay Kaul, an IAS officer, has been appointed as the new MD & CEO of Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City).
- Raghavendra Srinivas Bhat as Interim MD & CEO of Karnataka Bank: Raghavendra Srinivas Bhat has been appointed as the interim MD & CEO of Karnataka Bank Limited (KBL).
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
- Israel Launches Communications Satellite ‘Dror-1’: Israel launched Dror-1, a geostationary communication satellite, into space from Cape Canaveral, Florida. The satellite, developed by Israel Aerospace Industries, is designed to serve Israel’s communication needs until 2040.
- China Develops ‘Cyborg Bee’: Chinese researchers at the Beijing Institute of Technology have developed the world’s lightest brain control device, the ‘Cyborg bee’, weighing just 74 mg. This device can control the movement of bees and could be used for tasks like search and rescue or environmental monitoring.
SPORTS
- Harikrishnan A. Ra. Becomes India’s 87th Chess GM: Harikrishnan A. Ra from Tamil Nadu became India’s 87th Chess Grandmaster (GM) after achieving his final GM norm at the La Plagne International Chess Festival in France.
- Chelsea FC Wins FIFA Club World Cup 2025: Chelsea Football Club won the inaugural expanded FIFA Club World Cup 2025, defeating Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) 3-0 in the final. This is Chelsea’s second Club World Cup title.
OBITUARY
- Former Nigeria President Muhammadu Buhari Passed Away: Muhammadu Buhari, who served as Nigeria’s president from 2015 to 2023, passed away at the age of 82.
IMPORTANT DAYS
- World Youth Skills Day 2025: Observed annually on July 15, World Youth Skills Day highlights the importance of equipping youth with skills for employment. The 2025 theme is “Youth empowerment through AI and digital skills.”
STATE NEWS
- HP Launches ‘My Deed’ Project: Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu launched the ‘My Deed’ pilot project to digitize and simplify the land registration process. The initiative allows citizens to submit documents online, reducing the need for multiple office visits.