Current Affairs Today: 2 August 2025

1. What is the total financial outlay approved by the Union Cabinet for the Central Sector Scheme “Grant in aid to NCDC”?
a) Rs. 1,000 crore
b) Rs. 1,500 crore
c) Rs. 2,000 crore
d) Rs. 2,500 crore
e) Rs. 3,000 crore
Answer: Rs. 2,000 crore

2. Over how many years will the Rs. 2,000 crore grant to NCDC be disbursed?
a) Two years
b) Three years
c) Four years
d) Five years
e) Six years
Answer: Four years

3. Which ministry oversees the National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC)?
a) Ministry of Finance
b) Ministry of Cooperation
c) Ministry of Agriculture
d) Ministry of Commerce and Industry
e) Ministry of Rural Development
Answer: Ministry of Cooperation

4. What is the annual allocation for the “Grant in aid to NCDC” scheme starting from FY26?
a) Rs. 300 crore
b) Rs. 400 crore
c) Rs. 500 crore
d) Rs. 600 crore
e) Rs. 700 crore
Answer: Rs. 500 crore

5. How much funding is NCDC expected to raise from the open market based on the Rs. 2,000 crore grant?
a) Rs. 10,000 crore
b) Rs. 15,000 crore
c) Rs. 20,000 crore
d) Rs. 25,000 crore
e) Rs. 30,000 crore
Answer: Rs. 20,000 crore

6. For what purpose will NCDC provide loans to cooperatives under the “Grant in aid to NCDC” scheme?
a) Short-term credit for daily operations
b) Long-term credit for modernization and expansion
c) Emergency relief funds
d) Subsidies for agricultural inputs
e) Grants for rural infrastructure
Answer: Long-term credit for modernization and expansion

7. Where was India’s first indigenously-built 1 MW Green Hydrogen Power Plant inaugurated?
a) Mumbai, Maharashtra
b) Kandla, Gujarat
c) Chennai, Tamil Nadu
d) Vishakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh
e) Kochi, Kerala
Answer: Kandla, Gujarat

8. Who inaugurated the 1 MW Green Hydrogen Power Plant at Deendayal Port Authority?
a) Piyush Goyal
b) Sarbananda Sonowal
c) Nitin Gadkari
d) Jitin Prasada
e) Shantanu Thakur
Answer: Sarbananda Sonowal

9. What is the annual production capacity of the 1 MW Green Hydrogen Power Plant at DPA?
a) 100 MT
b) 120 MT
c) 140 MT
d) 160 MT
e) 180 MT
Answer: 140 MT

10. Under which mission does the 1 MW Green Hydrogen Power Plant at DPA fall?
a) National Solar Mission
b) National Green Hydrogen Mission
c) National Clean Energy Mission
d) National Renewable Energy Mission
e) National Maritime Mission
Answer: National Green Hydrogen Mission

11. Which company provided engineering support for the 1 MW Green Hydrogen Power Plant?
a) Tata Power
b) Larsen & Toubro Limited
c) Reliance Industries
d) Adani Green Energy
e) NTPC Limited
Answer: Larsen & Toubro Limited

12. What is the financial outlay of the National Green Hydrogen Mission approved in January 2023?
a) Rs. 15,744 crore
b) Rs. 17,744 crore
c) Rs. 19,744 crore
d) Rs. 21,744 crore
e) Rs. 23,744 crore
Answer: Rs. 19,744 crore

13. Which ministry implements the National Green Hydrogen Mission?
a) Ministry of Power
b) Ministry of New and Renewable Energy
c) Ministry of Environment
d) Ministry of Science and Technology
e) Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways
Answer: Ministry of New and Renewable Energy

14. What is the target annual production of green hydrogen under the National Green Hydrogen Mission by 2030?
a) 3 MMT
b) 4 MMT
c) 5 MMT
d) 6 MMT
e) 7 MMT
Answer: 5 MMT

15. With whom did DPIIT sign an MoU to promote innovation in affordable housing and PropTech sectors?
a) Axis Bank
b) HDFC Capital Advisors Limited
c) ICICI Bank
d) SBI Capital Markets
e) Kotak Mahindra Bank
Answer: HDFC Capital Advisors Limited

16. What is the name of the programme launched by HDFC Capital to promote PropTech startups?
a) Innovate@HDFC
b) H@ART Programme
c) TechRealty Initiative
d) PropTech Accelerator
e) UrbanTech Hub
Answer: H@ART Programme

17. Who signed the MoU with DPIIT on behalf of HDFC Capital Advisors Limited?
a) Mohammad Isharar Ali
b) Vipul Roongta
c) Dr. Sumeet Jarangal
d) Rajwinder Mehdwan
e) Piyush Goyal
Answer: Vipul Roongta

18. Which company did DPIIT sign an MoU with to strengthen India’s healthcare and life sciences startup ecosystem?
a) Cipla India
b) Roche India
c) Pfizer India
d) Novartis India
e) Sun Pharma
Answer: Roche India

19. Which therapeutic area is NOT a focus of the MoU between DPIIT and Roche India?
a) Oncology
b) Neurology
c) Ophthalmology
d) Haematology
e) Cardiology
Answer: Cardiology

20. Which initiative launched by ICRISAT aims to assist smallholder farmers with AI-powered climate advisories?
a) Smart Farming Initiative
b) AI-powered Context-Specific Agromet Advisory Services
c) ClimateSmart Agriculture Program
d) AgroTech Mission
e) FarmerAI Project
Answer: AI-powered Context-Specific Agromet Advisory Services

21. Where was the inception workshop for ICRISAT’s AI-powered climate advisory initiative held?
a) New Delhi, Delhi
b) Hyderabad, Telangana
c) Bengaluru, Karnataka
d) Pune, Maharashtra
e) Chennai, Tamil Nadu
Answer: Hyderabad, Telangana

22. Which tool serves as the digital backbone for ICRISAT’s AI-powered climate advisory initiative?
a) AgroBot
b) Intelligent Systems Advisory Tool (iSAT)
c) ClimateGPT
d) FarmSense
e) WeatherAI
Answer: Intelligent Systems Advisory Tool (iSAT)

23. Which state is the pilot phase of ICRISAT’s AI-powered climate advisory initiative launched in?
a) Karnataka
b) Maharashtra
c) Gujarat
d) Andhra Pradesh
e) Tamil Nadu
Answer: Maharashtra

24. Which organization provides funding for ICRISAT’s AI-powered climate advisory initiative?
a) National Clean Energy Fund
b) Monsoon Mission III
c) National Agricultural Research Fund
d) Climate Change Adaptation Fund
e) Rural Development Fund
Answer: Monsoon Mission III

25. Which entities signed an MoU for collaborative biomedical research and training in July 2025?
a) ITBPF and ICMR
b) ITBPF and DBT
c) ITBPF and AIIMS
d) ITBPF and DRDO
e) ITBPF and CSIR
Answer: ITBPF and DBT

26. Where was the MoU between ITBPF and DBT signed?
a) Mumbai, Maharashtra
b) New Delhi, Delhi
c) Bengaluru, Karnataka
d) Hyderabad, Telangana
e) Chennai, Tamil Nadu
Answer: New Delhi, Delhi

27. What is one of the focus areas of the MoU between ITBPF and DBT?
a) Cybersecurity
b) Human adaptability to high altitudes
c) Agricultural biotechnology
d) Renewable energy
e) Urban planning
Answer: Human adaptability to high altitudes

28. Who signed the MoU on behalf of the Department of Biotechnology (DBT)?
a) Rahul Rasgotra
b) Rajesh S. Gokhale
c) Mohammad Isharar Ali
d) Dr. Sumeet Jarangal
e) Rajwinder Mehdwan
Answer: Rajesh S. Gokhale

29. When do the key provisions of the Banking Laws (Amendment) Act, 2025 come into effect?
a) July 1, 2025
b) August 1, 2025
c) September 1, 2025
d) October 1, 2025
e) November 1, 2025
Answer: August 1, 2025

30. What is the new threshold for “substantial interest” under the Banking Laws (Amendment) Act, 2025?
a) Rs. 1 crore
b) Rs. 2 crore
c) Rs. 3 crore
d) Rs. 4 crore
e) Rs. 5 crore
Answer: Rs. 2 crore

31. What is the extended tenure for directors (excluding chairperson and whole-time directors) in cooperative banks under the Banking Laws (Amendment) Act, 2025?
a) 6 years
b) 8 years
c) 10 years
d) 12 years
e) 14 years
Answer: 10 years

32. To which fund will Public Sector Banks transfer unclaimed amounts under the Banking Laws (Amendment) Act, 2025?
a) National Investment Fund
b) Investor Education and Protection Fund
c) Consolidated Fund of India
d) Reserve Fund
e) Contingency Fund
Answer: Investor Education and Protection Fund

33. How much funding did CEF Group secure from the German Export Finance Bank for CBG plants?
a) EUR 28 million
b) EUR 32 million
c) EUR 38 million
d) EUR 42 million
e) EUR 48 million
Answer: EUR 38 million

34. What is the purpose of the funding secured by CEF Group from the German Export Finance Bank?
a) Solar power plant construction
b) Construction of CBG plants
c) Wind energy projects
d) Hydroelectric power plants
e) Battery storage systems
Answer: Construction of CBG plants

35. Under which initiative does CEF Group function to promote CBG as a clean alternative?
a) National Clean Energy Mission
b) SATAT Initiative
c) Green India Mission
d) Swachh Bharat Abhiyan
e) National Biofuel Policy
Answer: SATAT Initiative

36. In which location is CEF Group constructing a CBG plant using municipal solid waste?
a) Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh
b) Jammu, Jammu & Kashmir
c) Jaipur, Rajasthan
d) Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh
e) Patna, Bihar
Answer: Jammu, Jammu & Kashmir

37. Who was appointed as the 13th Prime Minister of Myanmar’s Interim-Union Government in July 2025?
a) Min Aung Hlaing
b) U Nyo Saw
c) Aung San Suu Kyi
d) U Myint Swe
e) Than Shwe
Answer: U Nyo Saw

38. Who will lead the National Security and Peace Commission in Myanmar?
a) U Nyo Saw
b) Senior General Min Aung Hlaing
c) U Myint Swe
d) Aung San Suu Kyi
e) Than Shwe
Answer: Senior General Min Aung Hlaing

39. What significant action was taken by Myanmar’s military government in July 2025?
a) Declared a new state of emergency
b) Ended the state of emergency
c) Postponed national elections
d) Reinstated the 2020 election results
e) Extended the military coup
Answer: Ended the state of emergency

40. Who assumed charge as the new Vice-Chief of Army Staff (VCOAS) on August 1, 2025?
a) NS Raja Subramani
b) Pushpendra Singh
c) Krishna Swaminathan
d) Sanjay Vatsayan
e) Sanjay J Singh
Answer: Pushpendra Singh

41. Which operation was Lt. General Pushpendra Singh NOT involved in during his career?
a) Operation PAWAN
b) Operation MEGHDOOT
c) Operation ORCHID
d) Operation BLUE STAR
e) Operation RAKSHAK
Answer: Operation BLUE STAR

42. Who took charge as the 47th Vice Chief of the Naval Staff (VCNS) on August 1, 2025?
a) Krishna Swaminathan
b) Sanjay Vatsayan
c) Sanjay J Singh
d) Pushpendra Singh
e) Ravnish Seth
Answer: Sanjay Vatsayan

43. Which shipyard built the INS Himgiri, the third stealth frigate of Project 17A?
a) Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders
b) Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers
c) Cochin Shipyard
d) Hindustan Shipyard
e) Goa Shipyard
Answer: Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers

44. What is the maximum speed of INS Himgiri?
a) 24 knots
b) 26 knots
c) 28 knots
d) 30 knots
e) 32 knots
Answer: 28 knots

45. What was the contract value for the construction of three stealth frigates under Project 17A?
a) Rs. 18,833 crore
b) Rs. 20,833 crore
c) Rs. 21,833 crore
d) Rs. 22,833 crore
e) Rs. 23,833 crore
Answer: Rs. 21,833 crore

46. From where was the Pakistan Remote Sensing Satellite (PRSS) launched?
a) Sriharikota, India
b) Xichang Satellite Launch Centre, China
c) Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan
d) Kennedy Space Center, USA
e) Tanegashima Space Center, Japan
Answer: Xichang Satellite Launch Centre, China

47. Which organization operates the Pakistan Remote Sensing Satellite (PRSS)?
a) ISRO
b) SUPARCO
c) NASA
d) CNSA
e) ESA
Answer: SUPARCO

48. Which of the following is NOT an application of the PRSS satellite?
a) Disaster management
b) Precision farming
c) Space exploration
d) Urban planning
e) Climate change mitigation
Answer: Space exploration

49. Which antlion species was discovered in Vazhayur, Malappuram district of Kerala?
a) Palpares contrarius
b) Indopalpares pardus
c) Stenares harpyia
d) Myrmeleon indicus
e) Neuroleon striatus
Answer: Indopalpares pardus

50. In which journal was the discovery of the three antlion species in Kerala published?
a) Journal of Entomology
b) Journal of Insect Biodiversity and Systematics
c) Nature Communications
d) Insect Science
e) Biodiversity Research
Answer: Journal of Insect Biodiversity and Systematics

51. Which organization provided financial assistance for the discovery of the antlion species in Kerala?
a) Indian Council of Agricultural Research
b) Council of Scientific and Industrial Research
c) Department of Biotechnology
d) Ministry of Environment
e) National Biodiversity Authority
Answer: Council of Scientific and Industrial Research

52. Where will the 8th Commonwealth Youth Games be held in 2027?
a) India
b) Malta
c) Australia
d) Canada
e) South Africa
Answer: Malta

53. Which sport will make its debut at the 8th Commonwealth Youth Games in 2027?
a) Badminton
b) Sailing
c) Basketball
d) Hockey
e) Archery
Answer: Sailing

54. How many athletes will participate in the 8th Commonwealth Youth Games in 2027?
a) Over 500
b) Over 750
c) Over 1,000
d) Over 1,250
e) Over 1,500
Answer: Over 1,000

55. What is the theme of World Lung Cancer Day 2025?
a) Together Against Cancer
b) Stronger Together: United for Lung Cancer Awareness
c) Fight Lung Cancer
d) Hope for a Cure
e) Breathe Easy
Answer: Stronger Together: United for Lung Cancer Awareness

56. When was the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Act, 2019 enacted?
a) July 1, 2019
b) August 1, 2019
c) September 1, 2019
d) October 1, 2019
e) November 1, 2019
Answer: August 1, 2019

57. What is the alternative name for Muslim Women’s Rights Day in India?
a) Muslim Mahila Suraksha Divas
b) Muslim Mahila Adhikar Divas
c) Muslim Women Empowerment Day
d) Triple Talaq Abolition Day
e) Muslim Women Equality Day
Answer: Muslim Mahila Adhikar Divas

58. What does World FinTech Day commemorate?
a) Launch of Bitcoin
b) Death anniversary of Cosimo de’ Medici
c) Establishment of the World Bank
d) Introduction of UPI
e) Founding of PayPal
Answer: Death anniversary of Cosimo de’ Medici

59. Where will the 6th Global FinTech Fest (GFF) be held in 2025?
a) New Delhi, Delhi
b) Mumbai, Maharashtra
c) Bengaluru, Karnataka
d) Hyderabad, Telangana
e) Chennai, Tamil Nadu
Answer: Mumbai, Maharashtra

60. What is the theme of the 6th Global FinTech Fest (GFF) in 2025?
a) Innovate Finance
b) Empowering Finance for a Better World, Powered by AI
c) FinTech for All
d) Digital Banking Revolution
e) AI in Finance
Answer: Empowering Finance for a Better World, Powered by AI

61. Who assumed charge as the new Chief Secretary of Uttar Pradesh in July 2025?
a) Manoj Kumar Singh
b) Shashi Prakash Goyal
c) Yogi Adityanath
d) Durga Shanker Mishra
e) Rajendra Kumar Tiwari
Answer: Shashi Prakash Goyal

62. Which batch and cadre does Shashi Prakash Goyal, the new Chief Secretary of UP, belong to?
a) 1987-batch IAS, Bihar cadre
b) 1989-batch IAS, UP cadre
c) 1990-batch IAS, MP cadre
d) 1988-batch IAS, Gujarat cadre
e) 1991-batch IAS, Rajasthan cadre
Answer: 1989-batch IAS, UP cadre

63. What is one of the additional responsibilities held by Shashi Prakash Goyal as Chief Secretary of UP?
a) Director General of ICRISAT
b) Chairperson of PICUP
c) Minister of State for UP
d) Governor of Uttar Pradesh
e) Chief Justice of UP High Court
Answer: Chairperson of PICUP

NATIONAL AFFAIRS

Union Cabinet Approves CSS “Grant in Aid to NCDC”
- Details: Approved on July 31, 2025, with Rs. 2,000 crore outlay for FY26–FY29, with Rs. 500 crore annually.
- Funding: Budgetary support from GoI; NCDC to raise Rs. 20,000 crore from the market.
- Implementing Agency: NCDC under Ministry of Cooperation.
- Purpose: Long-term loans for cooperatives for modernization, technology upgrades, expansion, and working capital.
- Loan Disbursement: Via state governments or directly based on NCDC guidelines.
1 MW Green Hydrogen Plant at Deendayal Port Authority, Gujarat
- Event: Inaugurated by Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on July 31, 2025, at DPA, Kandla.
- Details:
  - India’s first indigenously-built 1 MW Green Hydrogen Plant under NGHM.
  - Annual production: 140 MT.
  - Engineering support: Larsen & Toubro (L&T).
  - Aligns with Maritime India Vision 2030 for Net Zero emissions by 2030.
- NGHM: Approved in January 2023 with Rs. 19,744 crore outlay; aims for 5 MMT green hydrogen production by 2030.
DPIIT MoUs with HDFC Capital and Roche India
- DPIIT-HDFC Capital:
  - Signed on July 31, 2025, to promote affordable housing and PropTech via H@ART Programme.
  - Focus: Support PropTech startups, enhance efficiency in real estate, and align with Atmanirbhar Bharat and Viksit Bharat@2047.
- DPIIT-Roche India:
  - Aims to strengthen healthcare and life sciences startups in oncology, neurology, and rare diseases.
  - Offers mentorship, technology access, and international scaling opportunities.
ICRISAT’s AI-Powered Climate Advisory Initiative
- Details: Launched on July 29–30, 2025, in Hyderabad, Telangana, under Monsoon Mission III.
- Objective: Provide hyper-local agromet advisories for smallholder farmers using AI-powered Intelligent Systems Advisory Tool (iSAT).
- Partners: ICAR-CRIDA, ILRI, IITM, IMD, IIT Ropar, CSIO, IISc.
- Features: Real-time weather forecasts, crop analytics, WhatsApp bot delivery; pilot in Maharashtra with national expansion plans.
- Integration: Linked with MausamGPT for localized climate information.
ITBPF-DBT MoU for Biomedical Research
- Details: Signed in July 2025 in New Delhi to advance biomedical research for ITBPF personnel.
- Focus Areas: Human adaptability to high altitudes, biosecurity, biomedical devices, prosthetics, food biotechnology.
- Significance: Leverages DBT’s R&D infrastructure for innovative solutions to ITBPF’s operational challenges.

BANKING & FINANCE

Banking Laws (Amendment) Act, 2025
- Effective Date: August 1, 2025.
- Key Provisions:
  - Enhances bank governance, depositor protection, and PSB audits.
  - Increases “substantial interest” threshold from Rs. 5 lakh to Rs. 2 crore.
  - Extends cooperative bank directors’ tenure (except chairperson/WTD) from 8 to 10 years.
  - PSBs to transfer unclaimed assets to IEPF.
CEF Group Secures EUR 38 Million for CBG Plants
- Details: Funding from German Export Finance Bank for two CBG plants; part of CEF’s plan for 22 plants.
- Purpose: Convert agricultural/municipal waste into clean fuel, supporting SATAT initiative.
- Projects: Plants in Jammu, Ahmedabad, and Western UP (press mud processing).

APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

Myanmar’s New Interim-Union Government
- Details: Announced in July 2025 by NDSC; U Nyo Saw appointed as 13th PM.
- National Security and Peace Commission: Led by Senior General Min Aung Hlaing.
- Key Updates:
  - State of emergency ended; national elections planned by December 2025.
  - Min Aung Hlaing continues as acting President and Chief of Armed Forces.
  - NDSC, formed in 2021 post-coup, dissolved; sovereign powers transfer revoked.
Lt. General Pushpendra Singh as VCOAS & Vice Admiral Sanjay Vatsayan as VCNS
- VCOAS: Lt. Gen. Pushpendra Singh (Parachute Regiment, 1987 batch) assumed charge on August 1, 2025, succeeding Lt. Gen. NS Raja Subramani.
  - Key Operations: Pawan (Sri Lanka), Meghdoot (Siachen), Orchid (North East), Rakshak (J&K).
- VCNS: Vice Admiral Sanjay Vatsayan (1988 batch) took charge as 47th VCNS, succeeding Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan.
  - Previous Roles: Deputy Commandant (NDA), Chief of Staff (ENC), Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Fleet.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Indian Navy Receives INS Himgiri
- Details: Third Nilgiri-class stealth frigate (Project 17A) delivered by GRSE on July 31, 2025, in Kolkata.
- Specifications: 149m long, 17.8m beam, 6,670 tonnes, 28 knots speed, 5,500 nautical miles range; CODOG propulsion.
- Background: Part of Rs. 21,833 crore contract; named after decommissioned Leander-class INS Himgiri (F34).
Pakistan’s PRSS Satellite Launch
- Details: Launched on July 31, 2025, from Xichang, China, via KZ-1A rocket under SUPARCO’s URAAN program.
- Applications: Disaster management, CPEC infrastructure, climate resilience, precision farming, urban planning.
- Significance: Fourth Earth observation satellite; enhances Pakistan-China space cooperation.

ENVIRONMENT

Three Antlion Species Discovered in Kerala
- Details: Discovered by SERL at Christ College, Thrissur, published in Journal of Insect Biodiversity and Systematics.
- Species: Indopalpares pardus (Vazhayur), Palpares contrarius (multiple locations), Stenares harpyia (Gavi, Thirunelly, Vallakkadavu).
- Features: Large, patterned wings; leopard-like or harpy eagle-like appearance.
- Funding: Supported by CSIR-India.

SPORTS

8th Commonwealth Youth Games 2027 – Malta
- Details: Announced on July 31, 2025, by Commonwealth Sport; to feature 1,000+ athletes (14–18 years) from 74 countries.
- Sports: Athletics, para-athletics, netball, squash, swimming, para-swimming, triathlon, weightlifting, sailing, water polo.
- Significance: Largest para-sport program in CYG history; venues across Malta and Gozo.

IMPORTANT DAYS

World Lung Cancer Day – August 1, 2025
- Theme: “Stronger Together: United for Lung Cancer Awareness.”
- Purpose: Raise awareness about lung cancer risks, early detection, and research funding.
- Origin: Initiated in 2012 by FIRS, IASLC, and American College of Chest Physicians.
- Symbol: Pearl/white ribbon.
Muslim Women’s Rights Day – August 1, 2025
- Details: Marks 6th anniversary of Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Act, 2019, criminalizing instant Triple Talaq.
- Background: Enacted in 2019; first observed in 2020 by MoMA.
- MoMA: Union Minister Kiren Rijiju, MoS George Kurian.
World FinTech Day – August 1, 2025
- Purpose: Highlights FinTech’s role in modernizing financial services.
- Commemoration: Marks death anniversary of Cosimo de’ Medici (1464), father of modern banking.
- Event: 6th Global FinTech Fest in October 2025, Mumbai; theme: “Empowering Finance for a Better World, Powered by AI.”

STATE NEWS

SP Goyal as Chief Secretary of Uttar Pradesh
- Details: Assumed charge in July 2025, succeeding Manoj Kumar Singh; 7th CS under CM Yogi Adityanath.
- Profile: 1989-batch IAS officer, UP cadre; served in CM’s Office for 8+ years.
- Additional Roles: Chairperson (PICUP), CEO (UPEIDA, UPSHA), Project Director (UPDASP).

Current Affairs Today: 2 August 2025