This week’s current affairs quiz highlights significant developments across science, defense, national security, social initiatives, and international relations, offering a concise overview of crucial events from July 13 to July 19, 2025.
Advances in Science and Defense
Gravitational waves, predicted by Albert Einstein in 1915, were first detected in 2015. These ripples in spacetime, created by movements of massive objects like merging black holes, provide insights into the universe’s most energetic events.
On the defense front, the Akash Prime missile, an upgraded variant of the Akash weapon system, was successfully tested in Ladakh. This surface-to-air missile features an indigenous active Radio Frequency (RF) seeker for enhanced accuracy and is designed for reliable performance in low-temperature, high-altitude environments.
Naval Capabilities and Maritime Cooperation
The Indian Navy recently commissioned INS Nistar at Visakhapatnam’s Naval Dockyard. This vessel, indigenously designed and constructed by Hindustan Shipyard Limited, is crucial for deep-sea diving and submarine rescue operations, significantly enhancing India’s undersea operational readiness in the Indian Ocean Region.
Further bolstering maritime ties, INS Sandhayak, an Indian hydrographic survey ship, visited Port Klang in Malaysia. This visit is part of India’s MAHASAGAR vision, which aims to boost regional maritime cooperation and elevate awareness about hydrographic capacity building.
National Security and Legal Developments
The US Department of State has designated The Resistance Front (TRF), an offshoot of Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), as a Foreign Terrorist Organization. The Ministry of Home Affairs in India had already declared TRF a terrorist organization in January 2023 for its involvement in terror activities and smuggling from Pakistan into Jammu and Kashmir.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has been in the news regarding the attachment of properties. Under Section 5 of PMLA, the ED can provisionally attach properties suspected to be proceeds of crime. While the order is initially valid for 180 days, it requires confirmation from an Adjudicating Authority for the ED to claim possession.
In a significant ruling, the Supreme Court of India stated that secretly recorded conversations between spouses are admissible evidence in matrimonial disputes, including divorce proceedings. This decision clarifies the scope of spousal privilege, which generally protects private communications between married individuals, as codified in Section 122 of the Evidence Act.
Development Initiatives and Environment
The Union Cabinet approved the Prime Minister Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana (PMDDKY), a scheme designed to develop 100 agricultural districts through the convergence of 36 schemes from 11 ministries. This six-year plan, beginning in 2025-26, aims to create master plans for agriculture and allied activities, led by district collectors.
In the Swachh Survekshan 2024-25 awards, Ahmedabad was named the cleanest large city in India, followed by Bhopal and Lucknow. Notably, a new ‘Super Swachh League’ category was introduced for cities that consistently ranked in the top three in previous years, including Indore and Surat.
Gujarat has become the first state in India to launch a genome sequencing project for tribal communities. This initiative aims to sequence the genomes of 2,000 individuals across 17 districts to identify the burden of hereditary diseases, such as sickle cell anemia.
Environmental concerns arose as the National Board for Wildlife’s Standing Committee approved the diversion of 310 hectares of forest land from the core area of the Namdapha Tiger Reserve. This land is for the construction of the Arunachal Frontier Highway (NH-913), a critical defense project near the Myanmar border.
Historical Forts and Educational Assessment
Maratha forts, historically significant strongholds, were highlighted for their strategic locations. Pratapgad Fort, Panhala Fort, and Salher Fort are all located in Maharashtra, while Gingee Fort is situated in Tamil Nadu, showcasing the widespread influence and strategic design of these ancient structures.
The PARAKH Rashtriya Sarvekshan, conducted by the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), revealed that learning levels in primary education are still below pre-Covid standards. This survey assesses competencies across various educational stages, aligning with the National Education Policy 2020.
International Trade Relations
The free trade agreement between India and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) is set to be implemented from October 1, 2025. EFTA members include Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland. This pact includes a significant investment commitment of USD 100 billion over 15 years from the EFTA bloc, expecting to generate one million direct jobs in India.
- Gravitational waves, predicted by Einstein, were first detected in 2015, revealing cosmic events.
- INS Nistar is an indigenously built vessel critical for India’s deep-sea diving and submarine rescue.
- The Resistance Front (TRF) has been designated a terrorist organization by both India and the US.
- The Supreme Court has allowed secretly recorded spousal conversations as evidence in matrimonial disputes.
- Ahmedabad topped the Swachh Survekshan for large cities, with a new ‘Super Swachh League’ introduced.
- Gujarat pioneered a tribal genome sequencing project to identify hereditary diseases.
These key updates underscore the diverse and dynamic landscape of current affairs, essential for a comprehensive understanding of national and global developments.
