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Current Affairs 03 July 2025
1. Google Cloud elevates Sashikumar Sreedhara as MD for India business
- Sashikumar Sreedharan has been appointed Managing Director (MD) of Google Cloud India, effective July 1, 2025
- He succeeds Bikram Singh Bedi, who led the India cloud arm for about 4.5 years and will now take on regional strategic responsibilities across Asia Pacific
- Sreedharan brings over 30 years of experience, including roles at Microsoft India (MD of enterprise business), SAP, and IBM
- Since joining Google Cloud as COO for APAC in September 2023, he has overseen broad regional operations from Bengaluru
- In his new role, he’ll lead the go‑to‑market strategy in India, focusing on enterprise, digital-native clients, partners, developers—and especially scaling the company’s AI-first agenda
2. NIPCCD renamed as Savitribai Phule National Institute of Women & Child Development
- Name Change & Legal Basis: The National Institute of Public Cooperation and Child Development (NIPCCD) has been officially renamed the Savitribai Phule National Institute of Women & Child Development, effective June 19, 2025, as per a gazette notification under Sections 12 and 12A of the Societies Registration Act, 1860
- Honoring a Pioneer: The renaming honors Savitribai Phule, a 19th-century social reformer, educator, and India's first female teacher, recognized for championing women’s rights and challenging caste barriers
- Government Acknowledgement: Union Women & Child Development Minister Annpurna Devi called the move a reaffirmation of the government's commitment to women- and child-centric development, describing it as a “tribute to Savitribai Phule’s legacy”
- Expansion of Regional Outreach: As part of decentralizing its training efforts, the institute is inaugurating a new regional centre in Ranchi, which will serve frontline workers across Jharkhand, Bihar, Odisha, and West Bengal under flagship initiatives like Mission Shakti, Mission Vatsalya, Mission Saksham Anganwadi, and Poshan 2.0
- Enhanced Training & Capacity Building: The Ranchi centre will offer an Advanced Diploma in Child Guidance & Counselling, in addition to supporting research, extension activities, adolescent mental health, and women’s empowerment—enhancing region-specific interventions
3. Bengaluru City University to be Renamed After Former PM Manmohan Singh
- Official Renaming Announced in Budget: On March 7, 2025, during the Karnataka state budget presentation, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced that Bengaluru City University will be renamed Dr Manmohan Singh Bengaluru City University, marking it as the first Indian university to bear his name
- Cabinet Approval Finalised: The Karnataka Cabinet formally approved the decision on July 2, 2025, reinforcing its commitment to honouring Dr. Singh’s legacy
- Tribute to Economic and Infrastructure Contributions: Dr. Manmohan Singh (1932–2024) is widely acknowledged as the architect of India’s economic liberalisation (1991 reforms) and oversaw significant infrastructural milestones, including foundations for Bengaluru Metro, elevated highways, and Kempegowda International Airport
- Academic Expansion & Integration: As part of the renaming initiative, the Government Arts College and Government RC College have been integrated as constituent colleges under the university to elevate its academic stature
- Mixed Public Reaction & Future Plans: Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar hinted that more institutions might be renamed after Dr. Singh, highlighting plans for a research centre in his name.
4. Indore Launches India’s First QR-Based Digital House Address System
- Nation‑first initiative: Indore Municipal Corporation (IMC) has become the first city in India to pilot a city‑wide digital house addressing system using QR‑coded plates at every residence—starting with Ward 82 in Sudama Nagar from June 29–30, 2025
- Integrated with national DigiPIN: The system links each QR‑code plate to the central DigiPIN platform (by India Post, IIT Hyderabad, NRSC, ISRO), assigning a GPS‑enabled Digital Address Code (DAC) to every house .
- Multi‑functional QR scan: Scanning the QR code on a smartphone provides instant access to property ownership details, GPS coordinates, cleanliness scores, municipal service status, and enables online payment for water and property taxes and lodging civic complaints
- Improving civic and emergency services: This digital address enables faster and more accurate services—e.g., improved e-commerce deliveries, postal services, and timely emergency response via precise geo-coordinates
- Privacy, expansion & civic feedback: The plates display only non-sensitive info publicly, while personal data is private. The pilot is free, with plans to expand across ~700,000 households. IMC will refine the system based on public feedback
5. Shubman Gill became 4th India captain to score consecutive centuries as a Test captain
- Historic Back‑to‑Back Test Centuries: On July 2, 2025, during the Edgbaston Test vs England, Gill scored a century (114*) on Day 1—following his earlier 147 at Headingley—making it back‑to‑back hundreds as captain
- Just the 4th to Achieve This for India: He joins an elite club of only four Indian captains to score hundreds in each of their first two Tests as skipper, following Vijay Hazare, Sunil Gavaskar, and Virat Kohli
- One of Few to Do It in England: Gill is the second Indian captain after Mohammad Azharuddin (1990) to notch centuries in both initial Tests of an England series
- Matched Kohli’s Feat in Australia: His consecutive tons as captain echo Virat Kohli’s feat during the 2014‑15 Australia tour, making Gill only the second Indian skipper to replicate this across formats
- Leadership & Form Under Pressure: In addition to his runs, experts have praised his new-found technical consistency and mental composure, notably his “top hand control” at Edgbaston—a quality former coach Ravi Shastri pointed out
6. Jio Becomes World’s Largest Fixed Wireless Access Provider
- Dominant Share in India: India’s TRAI data shows Jio holds approximately 85% of the country’s 5G FWA market, with 4.84 million of the 5.72 million total Indian FWA subscribers in January 2025
- Rapid Growth & Reach Expansion: Jio connected over 5.6 million premises by March 2025 and is adding roughly 1 million homes per month, accelerating broadband access especially in semi-urban and rural regions
- Market Gap & Strategy: With nearly 70% of additions from beyond the top 1,000 towns, Jio’s strategy targets bridging India’s broadband divide—using 5G standalone, network slicing, and high-speed AirFiber technology to bypass fiber deployment challenges
- Driven by Automation & AI: Jio’s FWA deployment is powered by automation and AI—using advanced analytics, network slicing, and a digital twin platform to ensure service quality, proactive issue resolution, fraud detection, and personalization
7. Slice Launches India’s First UPI-Powered Bank Branch in Bengaluru
- Pioneering UPI-first Physical Branch: Slice has launched its first-ever UPI-powered physical bank branch and ATM in Koramangala, Bengaluru—making it the first of its kind in India.
- UPI-Centric Credit Card Integration: The branch is complemented by the Slice Super‑Card, a credit card fully integrated with UPI—no joining or annual fees, 3 % cashback, and the option to convert transactions into three interest-free EMI instalments (“slice in 3”).
- QR-Based ATM for Cash In/Out: The UPI ATM enables users to deposit and withdraw cash by scanning a QR code—eliminating the need for traditional debit or credit cards.
- Instant Onboarding & Digital Experience: The branch offers streamlined digital onboarding and self-service kiosks, ensuring fast, paperless customer experience with UPI integrated in every customer interaction.
8. Ravi Shastri honoured with Lifetime Achievement Award
- SJAM Recognition: On July 2, 2025, the Sports Journalists’ Association of Mumbai (SJAM) honoured Ravi Shastri with its prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award, recognizing his contributions as both a player and coach
- Shared the Stage with Other Legends: He was among 11 celebrated Indian athletes acknowledged at the Bombay Gymkhana—alongside notable names like Shubhangi Kulkarni (women's cricket), Michael Ferreira (billiards), Anjali Bhagwat (shooting), Mervyn Fernandes (hockey), Sanjay Sharma (badminton), and others
- Absent at the Ceremony: Unable to attend in person—he was engaged in commentary duties during India’s Test series—his mother, Lakshmi Shastri, received the award on his behalf
- Beloved Anecdote Recalled: At the ceremony, Lakshmi nostalgically recounted the story of his six sixes in an over during a 1984–85 Ranji Trophy match. She humorously revealed that the first hint came not from him—but from their family's bhelpuri vendor
9. Sudhanshu Mittal re-elected as president of Kho Kho Federation of India
- Unanimously Re‑elected President: On July 2, 2025, Sudhanshu Mittal was re-elected—by unanimous consent—as President of KKFI for another four-year term, in a ceremony overseen by returning officer Dr. Kamini Lau
- Leadership Team Named: Upkar Singh Virk (Punjab Kho Kho Association) was appointed General Secretary, and Govind Sharma (Maharashtra Kho Kho Association) took over as Treasurer. Additionally, the governing body includes eight Vice Presidents, four Joint Secretaries, and 13 Executive Members
- Vision for Global Expansion: Mittal expressed his ambition to increase Kho Kho’s international footprint—growing from 58 to 90 participating countries within the year—and aiming for inclusion in the 2030 Asian Games and 2032 Summer Olympics
- Structured Development & Transparency: General Secretary Virk highlighted a focus on systematic sport development, transparency within KKFI operations, and transforming Kho Kho into a modern global sport rooted in cultural tradition
10. Renowned hypnotist BV Pattabhiram passed away
- Dr. Bhavaraju Venkata Pattabhiram, widely known as B. V. Pattabhiram, was celebrated as a hypnotist, magician, psychologist, motivational speaker, and author. He held postgraduate degrees in psychology, philosophy, and guidance & counselling, and earned a PhD from Osmania University for his thesis “Yoga and Hypnotism—A Pragmatic Approach”
- He died of a cardiac arrest on the night of June 30, 2025, at his residence in Hyderabad. His death occurred around 9:45 pm and left the personal development community in mourning
- Starting as a magician, he founded India’s first magic school, recognized by the Limca Book of Records. He authored numerous best-selling books and conducted motivational workshops across India, the US, Australia, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, and the Middle East, helping thousands overcome stress and fears
- He received praise from luminaries such as former President A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, former Prime Minister P. V. Narasimha Rao, and Andhra Pradesh CM N. Chandrababu Naidu. In 1983, the University of Florida awarded him an honorary doctorate, and he also received honorary citizenship from the mayors of Nashville and New Orleans.
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