Current Affairs Today: 29 July 2025

National Affairs

• PM Modi’s Tamil Nadu Visit: The PM inaugurated projects worth over Rs 4,800 crore in Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu.³ He also participated in the Aadi Thiruvathirai Festival at Gangaikonda Cholapuram temple and released a Rs 1,000 coin to commemorate the 1,000th anniversary of Emperor Rajendra Chola-I’s naval expedition.⁴
• India-Singapore Joint Military Exercise: The 14th edition of “Ex Bold Kurukshetra 2025,” a joint military exercise between India and Singapore, began on July 2, 2025, at the Jodhpur Military Station in Rajasthan. The exercise, which will run until August 4, 2025, aims to strengthen military cooperation and interoperability.⁵
• ‘Gyan Bharatam Mission’: PM Narendra Modi launched the ‘Gyan Bharatam Mission (GBM)’, a Central Sector Scheme with a total allocation of Rs 482.85 crore for the period of 2024-2031. The mission aims to digitize and conserve over 10 million ancient manuscripts and create a National Digital Repository (NDR).
• TEMA India Commissions First Private Test Facility: TEMA India Private Limited commissioned India’s first private test facility for Depleted Heavy Water (DHW) in Vapi, Gujarat. The facility, designed with technology from BARC, will improve the efficiency of DHW for nuclear reactors.
• NALSA’s ‘Veer Parivaar Sahayata Yojana’: The National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) launched the Veer Parivaar Sahayata Yojana 2025 to provide free legal aid to armed forces and paramilitary personnel and their families.⁶ The scheme will set up a dedicated network of legal clinics and use digital platforms like e-Lok Adalats.
• Indian Railways Tests DDEI System: Indian Railways successfully pilot-tested the new Direct Drive Electronic Interlocking (DDEI) system to enhance rail safety.⁷ The system uses optical fiber to eliminate human interface and reduce the need for conventional copper cables and relays by 60-70%.

International Affairs

• PM Modi’s Maldives Visit: PM Narendra Modi visited the Maldives from July 25-26, 2025, to attend the nation’s 60th Independence Day celebrations.⁸ During the visit, he and President Mohammed Muizzu jointly released a commemorative postage stamp, inaugurated the Dhoshimeyna Building of the Ministry of Defence, and launched several India-funded projects.⁹
• India-Maldives MoUs: Six MoUs were signed to enhance cooperation in key sectors, including fisheries, meteorology, digital solutions, healthcare, and the launch of UPI in the Maldives.¹⁰

Science & Technology

• Stardour Test-Fires Hydrogen-Oxygen Engine: Indian space-tech startup Stardour Aerospace Technologies Private Limited successfully test-fired India’s first hydrogen-oxygen propulsion engine at IISc, Bengaluru.¹¹ This clean-burning engine, which emits only water vapor, is designed to power the company’s next-generation Orbital Transfer Vehicle (OTV), Lucas, set for a 2027 launch.
• Turkey Unveils New Bombs: Turkey unveiled two powerful non-nuclear weapons—the ‘GAZAP bomb’ and the ‘NEB-2 Ghost bunker-buster’—at the 17th International Defense Industry Fair (IDEF 2025) in Istanbul.¹² The NEB-2 Ghost is capable of penetrating 7 meters of C50 concrete.

Environment

• ZSI Discoveries: Scientists from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) discovered Piratula acuminata, India’s first Piratula wolf spider, in West Bengal’s Sundarbans.¹³ Separately, two new frog species, Raorchestes jakoid and Raorchestes jadoh, were documented in Meghalaya.¹⁴

Sports

• Belgian Grand Prix 2025: Australia’s Oscar Piastri (McLaren) won the 70th edition of the Belgian Grand Prix at the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, securing his sixth win of the season. His teammate, Lando Norris, finished second, and Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) came in third.
• 100 Years of Indian Hockey: Hockey India announced a nationwide festival and enhanced financial grants to commemorate 100 years of Indian hockey.¹⁵ The celebration will feature 1,000 simultaneous matches across India on November 7, 2025, engaging over 36,000 players.¹⁶

Books & Authors

• New Book on Student Wellness: Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami released a book titled, “Sustainable Wellness of Students: A Collective Responsibility in Higher Education,” which focuses on the mental health and holistic wellness of students.¹⁷ The book was edited by Lata Pandey and Dr. Ramanand.

Important Days

• CRPF Foundation Day: Observed annually on July 27, CRPF Foundation Day marks the 87th anniversary of the establishment of the Central Reserve Police Force in 1939 as the Crown Representative’s Police (CRP).
• World Hepatitis Day: Celebrated every year on July 28, World Hepatitis Day raises global awareness about viral hepatitis.¹⁸ The theme for 2025 is “Hepatitis: Let’s Break It Down.”
• World Nature Conservation Day: Observed annually on July 28, this day emphasizes the importance of protecting the Earth’s natural resources and preserving biodiversity.¹⁹

State News

• Odisha Inaugurates ‘ODISHA TEX 2025’: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi inaugurated the first-ever ‘ODISHA TEX 2025’, Eastern India’s largest textile and apparel industry event.²⁰ The state government signed 33 MoUs worth Rs 7,808 crore and announced a vision to create over 1 lakh jobs by 2030.