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Current Affairs 17 July 2025
1. Dharmendra Pradhan gets Kalinga Ratna Award from President Murmu
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Award Presentation: President Droupadi Murmu presented the Kalinga Ratna Award 2024 to Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan at a ceremony in Cuttack, Odisha, on July 15, 2025.
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Significance: The Kalinga Ratna Award is one of Odisha's most esteemed honors, given to individuals who have made remarkable contributions at the national or international level across diverse fields.
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Occasion: The award ceremony coincided with the 600th birth anniversary celebrations of Adikabi Sarala Das, a legendary 15th-century Odia poet and literary figure.
2. Andre Russell Announces Retirement from International Cricket
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Retirement Plans: Andre Russell had initially hinted at retiring from international cricket after the 2024 T20 World Cup, but he has since changed his mind and plans to continue playing until after the 2026 T20 World Cup.
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Conversation with Coach: Russell's decision to extend his international career was made after discussions with West Indies white-ball head coach Daren Sammy, indicating a renewed commitment to the team.
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Targeting 2026 World Cup: Russell has explicitly stated his desire to play in the 2026 T20 World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka, showing his enthusiasm for the tournament.
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Current Focus: Russell is currently focused on the T20 Global Super League 2025, playing for Rangpur Riders, and has upcoming matches against Central Stags and other teams in the tournament.
3. Indian Army Successfully Tests Akash Prime Air Defence System
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Successful Test-Firing: The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully test-fired the Akash Prime missile, an advanced version of the Akash surface-to-air missile system, at the Integrated Test Range (ITR) Chandipur in Odisha on September 27, 2021.
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Improved Accuracy: Akash Prime is equipped with an indigenous active Radio Frequency (RF) seeker, providing improved accuracy while intercepting targets in various conditions, and has a 360-degree engagement capability.
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Range and Capabilities: The Akash Prime missile has a target range of 50-80 kilometers at heights of 18,000 meters and is capable of neutralizing fighter planes, cruise missiles, and air-to-surface or ballistic missiles.
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Operational Significance: The successful test demonstrates the DRDO's expertise in designing and building world-class missile systems, boosting the confidence of the Indian Army and Indian Air Force in the Akash Prime system.
4. Ancy Sojan won bronze in women’s long jump at Lignano Continental Tour event
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Event Details: Ancy Sojan secured the bronze medal at the Lignano Meeting, a World Athletics Continental Tour Bronze event held in Lignano Sabbiadoro, Italy, on July 13, 2025.
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Jumping Sequence: Ancy's jump sequence was impressive, with five of her six jumps crossing the 6.15m mark. Her jumps were: 6.26m, 6.35m, 6.19m, 6.36m, 6.18m, and 6.11m.
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Best Jump: Ancy's best jump of the day was 6.36m, achieved on her fourth attempt, although it was below her season's best of 6.54m registered in May 2025.
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Medal Winners: Australia's Delta Amidzovski took gold with a 6.47m jump, while South Africa's Danielle Nolte secured silver with a 6.44m jump.
5. Bihar won U18 boys’ rugby title, complete golden double
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Championship Victory: Bihar won the U18 Boys' title at the 10th Junior National Rugby 7s Championship 2025, defeating defending champions Odisha 17-15 in a thrilling final at Maharana Pratap Sports College in Dehradun.
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Golden Double Achievement: This victory completed a remarkable double for Bihar, who had also captured the Girls' U18 crown earlier in the week, mirroring their golden sweep from 2022.
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The Winning Match: Bihar's win was sealed with Goldan Kumar's try and conversion early on, followed by Odisha's comeback attempts through Mantu Tudu, Subash Hansdah, and Eswar Pujari's tries. However, Goldan Kumar's last-minute winning try gave Bihar the 17-15 victory.
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Unbeaten Campaign: Bihar remained unbeaten throughout the tournament, with dominant wins over Chandigarh (49-0), Haryana (62-0), Punjab (29-0), West Bengal (39-0), and Maharashtra (10-5).
6. Ajay Kumar Shrivastava appointed as Director (Engineering & R&D), HAL
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Appointment: Ajay Kumar Shrivastava assumed charge as Director (Engineering and R&D) of HAL on July 15, 2025, bringing 37 years of experience in aircraft design and development to the role.
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Background: Shrivastava began his career at HAL in 1988 as a Management Trainee (Technical) and has held key leadership positions, including Head of the Aircraft Research & Design Centre (ARDC) and Head of the Transport Aircraft Research and Design Centre (TARDC).
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Key Contributions: He has made significant contributions to major projects, including avionics upgrades for HS-748, Do-228, Sea King helicopter, and IL-78, and led the DGCA Type Certification for the Do-228 and Hindustan-228 aircraft.
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Awards and Recognition: Shrivastava is a recipient of the FASIA (French Aeronautics & Space Industry Award) for his outstanding contributions to the aeronautics sector, and recently showcased advancements at Aero India 2025.
7. Sabyasachi Couture appoints Manish Chopra as CEO
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Appointment: Manish Chopra has been appointed as the Chief Executive Officer of Sabyasachi Couture, a luxury fashion house founded by Sabyasachi Mukherjee, under Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Ltd (ABFRL).
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Background: Chopra brings over two decades of experience in brand building, digital innovation, and consumer-centric growth, having held leadership roles at Meta, LinkedIn, Microsoft, and Shein India.
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Key Strengths: He has a deep understanding of consumer behavior and a digital-first mindset, which will help Sabyasachi Couture expand its international footprint and strengthen its position in the luxury fashion ecosystem.
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Strategic Goals: Under Chopra's leadership, Sabyasachi Couture aims to leverage cutting-edge digital strategies, new retail formats, and global collaborations to accelerate growth while preserving the brand's heritage and craftsmanship.
8. Sanjay Kaul appointed as CEO of GIFT City, Gandhinagar
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Appointment: Sanjay Kaul, a 2001-batch IAS officer from the Kerala cadre, has been appointed as the Managing Director and CEO of GIFT City Company Limited in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, for a period of three years.
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Background: Kaul is currently serving as Joint Secretary in the Union Ministry of Culture, handling international cultural relations, UNESCO affairs, and intangible cultural heritage. He has previously worked in Gujarat as Managing Director of Tourism Corporation of Gujarat Ltd and Gujarat Informatics Ltd.
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Previous Experience: Kaul has over two decades of administrative experience, including roles in Kerala as Chief Electoral Officer, Secretary (Finance - Expenditure), and District Collector of Thiruvananthapuram.
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Role at GIFT City: As MD & CEO, Kaul will oversee the growth and management of GIFT City, a global business hub playing a major role in India's financial services sector.
9. World Day for International Justice observed on 17th July
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Date and Significance: World Day for International Justice is observed annually on July 17 to promote international criminal justice and strengthen efforts to end impunity for serious crimes, marking the anniversary of the adoption of the Rome Statute.
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History: The Rome Statute was adopted on July 17, 1998, by 120 countries in Rome, creating the International Criminal Court (ICC), which became operational on July 1, 2002.
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Objectives: The day aims to promote awareness about international justice systems, encourage cooperation among nations, support victims' rights, and strengthen the rule of law as a foundation for peace and security.
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Theme: The theme for World Day for International Justice 2024 was "Overcoming Barriers and Unleashing Opportunities for Social Justice," highlighting the need for the international justice system to fill gaps in the changing global landscape while maintaining core principles.
10. World’s Oldest Marathon Runner Fauja Singh passed away
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Tragic Death: Fauja Singh was struck by an unidentified vehicle while crossing the road on July 14, 2025, and succumbed to his injuries at a nearby hospital.
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Running Career: Singh began his running journey at 89 to cope with grief and went on to set numerous age-group world records, including becoming the first centenarian to complete a marathon.
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Legacy: He was known as the "Turbaned Tornado" and was a symbol of resilience, inspiring many with his achievements. Singh participated in numerous marathons worldwide, including events in London, New York, Toronto, and Mumbai.
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Awards and Recognition: Fauja Singh was the first non-American to receive the Ellis Island Medal of Honor in 2003 for promoting racial tolerance and was awarded the Pride of India title in 2011.
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