Sports & Governance
WADA Anti-Doping Workshop 2025
The WADA Intelligence & Investigations Workshop was held in New Delhi in 2025 with support from INTERPOL and Sport Integrity Australia, along with NADA India. The focus was on fostering cross-border intelligence-led anti-doping cooperation.
Healthcare
National Ayush Mission Funding
Under the National Ayush Mission (NAM), States and UTs receive financial support as grant-in-aid based on proposals submitted through State Annual Action Plans (SAAPs), in line with NAM guidelines from the Ministry of Ayush.
Defence
Exercise Bold Kurukshetra 2025
The 14th edition of Exercise Bold Kurukshetra began on July 25, 2025 in Jodhpur. It is a bilateral mechanised warfare exercise between the Indian Army and the Singapore Armed Forces, enhancing interoperability and strategic cooperation.
Geopolitics
France Recognizes Palestine
French President Emmanuel Macron confirmed that France would formally recognize Palestine at the UN General Assembly in September 2025, making it the most powerful European nation to officially recognize the Palestinian state.
International Trade
India-UK Trade Agreement Benefits
The India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) removes import tariffs on marine products. This zero-duty access is projected to result in a 70% surge in seafood exports from India to the UK.
Education
IGNOU’s First Woman VC
Prof. Uma Kanjilal became the first woman Vice-Chancellor of IGNOU in 2025. Before this appointment, she served as Pro-Vice-Chancellor from March 2021 to July 2024, bringing extensive experience in open distance learning.
Finance & Governance
RBI Board Appointment
Anuradha Thakur, a 1994-batch IAS officer from Himachal Pradesh cadre and Secretary of the Department of Economic Affairs (DEA), was appointed Director on the RBI’s Central Board. She replaces Ajay Seth, who now heads IRDAI.
Politics
Tamil Nadu Rajya Sabha Members
Four members were sworn in as Rajya Sabha members from Tamil Nadu in July 2025: Kamal Haasan, P. Wilson, Poet Rajathi (Salma), and S.R. Sivalingam. This includes notable personalities from cinema and literature.
Environment
World Nature Conservation Day 2025
The theme for World Nature Conservation Day 2025 was “Connecting People and Plants, Exploring Digital Innovation in Wildlife Conservation”. The theme emphasizes the synergy between technology and ecological conservation efforts.
Energy & Environment
Ethanol Blending Target Achievement
India achieved its 20% ethanol-petrol blending target in June 2025, five years ahead of the original 2030 deadline. This milestone reduces carbon emissions, saves foreign exchange, and benefits sugarcane farmers economically.