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Current Affairs 23 July 2025
1. Ashok Chaudhary elected as Chairman of GCMMF
- New Leadership: Ashok Chaudhary has been elected unopposed as the new Chairman of the Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF), succeeding Shamal Patel.
- Background: Chaudhary currently serves as the Chairman of Dudhsagar Dairy in Mehsana and has been a prominent figure in Gujarat's cooperative sector.
- Key Objective: Chaudhary aims to prioritize the interests of the 3.6 million dairy farmers associated with GCMMF, ensuring sustainable income growth and strengthening the federation's reach.
- Vice Chairman: Gordhan Dhameliya, Chairman of Rajkot District Cooperative Milk Producers' Union, has been elected unopposed as the Vice Chairman of GCMMF.
2. Equitas Small Finance Bank launches FCNR deposits & Explorer saving a/c for NRIs & Seafarers
- FCNR (B) Deposit Account: This account allows NRIs to save their foreign earnings in US Dollars, offering tax-free interest income and full repatriation of principal and interest.
- Equitas Explorer Savings Account: Designed for NRIs and Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) working in foreign shipping companies, merchant navy, and oil rigs.
- Launch Date: Equitas Small Finance Bank launched these financial products on July 22, 2025, to cater to the financial needs of NRIs and seafarers.
3. EASF Small Finance Bank to be corporate agent for Shriram Life Insurance
- Partnership Goal: The partnership aims to expand the reach of life insurance products to underserved segments across India, focusing on first-time insurance buyers, low-income families, and rural households.
- Corporate Agency: ESAF Small Finance Bank will act as a corporate agent for Shriram Life Insurance, distributing its insurance offerings through its extensive branch network of 788 branches across 24 states and 2 Union Territories.
- Target Market: The partnership will cater to households earning ₹4-15 lakh annually, with Shriram Life's average individual policy size being ₹25,346 and non-single premium ticket size being ₹24,112, significantly below the industry average.
- Financial Inclusion: Both companies aim to promote financial inclusion by offering simple, relevant, and accessible protection to those who need it most, driving the vision of "Insurance for All".
4. L & T Unveiled India's Largest Green Hydrogen Plant
- Location and Commissioning: L&T's Green Hydrogen Plant is located at its A M Naik Heavy Engineering Complex in Hazira, Gujarat, and was commissioned on August 20, 2022.
- Production Capacity: The plant produces 45 kg of Green Hydrogen daily, which is used for captive consumption in the company's Hazira manufacturing complex, reducing greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 300 tonnes per annum.
- Electrolyser Capacity: The plant features an electrolyser capacity of 800 kW, comprising both Alkaline (380 kW) and PEM (420 kW) technologies, powered by a 990 kW peak DC rooftop solar plant and a 500 kWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS).
- Indigenous Manufacturing: L&T has also commissioned its first indigenously manufactured hydrogen electrolyser at the Hazira plant, with a rated power capacity of 1 MW (expandable to 2 MW), producing 200 Nm3/Hr of hydrogen.
5. Anand Swaroop appointed as Director General in NHRC
- Appointment: Anand Swaroop, a 1992-batch IPS officer from the Uttar Pradesh cadre, has been appointed as Director General (Investigation) in NHRC, succeeding R Prasad Meena.
- Tenure: Swaroop's tenure will begin on or after August 1, 2025, and will continue until his superannuation on August 31, 2029, or until further orders.
- Background: Swaroop is currently attached to the Director General of Police Headquarters in Lucknow and has been awaiting posting orders since his promotion to the DG rank on May 31, 2025.
- Role and Responsibilities: As Director General (Investigation), Swaroop will lead the investigation division of NHRC, which conducts spot enquiries, fact-finding missions, and investigations into custodial deaths, among other responsibilities.
6. A K Yadav replaces S K Singla as Principal Resident Commissioner
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Senior IAS Officer: A. K. Yadav is a senior Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer with decades of experience in public administration and governance.
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Cadre Background: He belongs to the Uttar Pradesh cadre, known for holding significant administrative positions both in the state and central government.
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Extensive Bureaucratic Experience: Yadav has served in various key roles including district administration, planning, and public policy implementation, showcasing his broad expertise in governance.
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Delhi Posting: As Principal Resident Commissioner, he will be the main liaison between the state and the central government in Delhi, responsible for coordinating inter-governmental matters, infrastructure development, and official communications.
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Replaces S.K. Singla: He succeeded S.K. Singla, bringing a new leadership approach to the Resident Commissioner's office, which plays a pivotal role in representing state interests at the national level.
7. Telangana's Bhadradri Kothagudem District Won Open-Source GIS Cohort Award
- Award Recognition: Bhadradri Kothagudem district in Telangana received the Open-Source GIS Cohort Award for its innovative application of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology in public service delivery and rural development.
- Effective Use of GIS: The district effectively utilized GIS to address public issues, including predicting the Godavari River flood, skilling programs, and converging data from various government departments.
- District Collector's Statement: District Collector Jitesh V Patil mentioned that cotton and maize farmers are being guided to switch to Moringa (Drumstick) cultivation with the help of GIS technology.
- National Geospatial Practitioner Award: Bhadradri Kothagudem district also won the National Geospatial Practitioner Award for its GIS implementation, recognized at the 'Open Source GIS Day' event held at IIT Bombay in Mumbai.
8. Suhani Shah Became First Indian To Win ‘Oscar for Magicians’ at FISM 2025
- Historic Win: Suhani Shah has become the first Indian to win an award at the FISM World Championship of Magic, often referred to as the "Oscars of Magic".
- FISM 2025: The FISM World Championship of Magic is a prestigious event that takes place every three years, gathering top magicians from around the world to compete in various categories.
- About Suhani Shah: Suhani is India's first female mentalist, illusionist, and magician, known for her mind-reading skills, situational comedy, and audience participation in her shows.
- Achievements: She has performed over 5,000 shows globally, holds the Guinness World Record for being the world's youngest magician at age 7, and is the most subscribed mentalist on YouTube.
9. National Broadcasting Day observed on 23rd July
- Date and Significance: National Broadcasting Day is celebrated annually on July 23rd to commemorate the first-ever radio broadcast in India, which took place in 1927 from the Bombay Station.
- History of Radio Broadcasting: Radio broadcasting in India began in 1923 under the Radio Club of Bombay's initiative, with the Indian Broadcasting Company (IBC) starting organized radio broadcasting on July 23, 1927.
- All India Radio (AIR): AIR was established in 1936, replacing the Indian State Broadcasting Service, and has since become one of the largest radio networks globally, broadcasting in 23 languages and 146 dialects.
- Role of Radio: Radio has played a significant role in shaping public opinion, disseminating information, and providing mass entertainment, especially in rural areas where it remains a vital source of news and information.
10. Former Chief Minister of Kerala, VS Achuthanandan, passed away
- VS Achuthanandan, the former Chief Minister of Kerala and veteran CPI(M) leader, passed away on July 21, 2025, at the age of 101 due to cardiac arrest.
- Achuthanandan had a long and distinguished political career spanning over eight decades, serving as Kerala's Chief Minister from 2006 to 2011 and Leader of the Opposition for three terms.
- He was a dominant figure in Kerala politics and a founding member of the CPI(M), known for his unwavering dedication to social justice and workers' rights.
- Achuthanandan was a mass leader and crowd puller, celebrated for his oratory skills and ability to connect with people, earning him the admiration of youngsters who chanted slogans like "VS is our eye and heart".
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