4.5/5
Current Affairs 24 July 2025
1. Divya Deshmukh, first Indian to reach FIDE women's World Cup final
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Historic Win: Divya Deshmukh defeated former World Champion Tan Zhongyi of China in the semifinals, winning the match 1.5-0.5.
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Youngest Indian Woman: She became the youngest Indian woman to reach the title clash of this prestigious tournament.
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Grandmaster Norm: Divya earned her first Grandmaster norm, taking her a step closer to becoming India's fourth female Grandmaster.
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Candidates Tournament: Divya secured a spot in the 2026 Women's Candidates Tournament, where the winner will get a chance to challenge the reigning Women's World Champion, Ju Wenjun.
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All-Indian Final Hopes: Divya will face the winner of the second semifinal match between Koneru Humpy and Lei Tingjie of China, leaving room for an all-Indian final.
2. India makes biggest jump to 77th in Global Passport rankings
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Rank Jump: India made the largest jump in ranking, climbing 8 spots from 85th to 77th in the Henley Passport Index 2025.
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Visa-Free Access: Indian passport holders now have visa-free access to 59 destinations worldwide, including popular spots like Malaysia, Indonesia, the Maldives, and Thailand.
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Global Mobility: This ranking reflects India's growing diplomatic influence and international relationships, granting Indian travelers more flexibility for spontaneous trips and business travel.
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Comparison to Neighbors: India ranks higher than its neighbors Pakistan (96th) and Bangladesh (94th) in global mobility rankings.
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Top Passports: Singapore retains the top spot, offering visa-free access to 193 destinations, followed by Japan and South Korea with access to 190 destinations each.
3. RBI Approves Warburg Pincus Investment in IDFC First Bank
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RBI Approval: The Reserve Bank of India has approved Currant Sea Investments B.V., an affiliate of Warburg Pincus, to acquire up to 9.99% stake in IDFC First Bank.
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Investment Details: Warburg Pincus and Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) have committed to a joint investment of Rs 7,500 crore in IDFC First Bank through compulsorily convertible preference shares.
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Shareholding: Upon full conversion, Warburg Pincus and ADIA will hold a combined 15% stake in the bank, with Currant Sea Investments subscribing to 81.27 crore shares and ADIA's arm, Platinum Invictus, subscribing to 43.71 crore shares, both priced at Rs 60 per share.
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Regulatory Clearance: The investment has received clearance from the Competition Commission of India (CCI) on June 3, 2025, and the RBI's approval was granted subsequently.
Foot notes:
About RBI-
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Governor: Sanjay Malhotra
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Established: 1935
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Headquarters: Mumbai
4. Reserve Bank withdraws curbs on Religare Finvest
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Withdrawal of CAP: RBI has withdrawn the Corrective Action Plan (CAP) imposed on Religare Finvest Ltd (RFL) with immediate effect, July 23, 2025.
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Reason for Withdrawal: The decision follows RFL's compliance with CAP conditions and a change in the company's management and directors.
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CAP Imposition: RBI imposed CAP on RFL in January 2018 due to irregularities observed during the inspection for its position as on March 31, 2017.
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New Promoter: The Burman family acquired a controlling stake in Religare Enterprises Ltd (REL) earlier this year, with REL being designated as its promoter, holding 2021 shares representing 25.16% stake.
5. ISRO signs MoU with NIOT for submersible spherical vessel MATSYA-6000
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Partnership Details: ISRO's Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) to develop MATSYA-6000, a submersible vessel capable of carrying humans to a depth of 6 km.
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Project Objective: The MATSYA-6000 is part of the 'Samudrayaan' project under the Deep Ocean Mission, aiming to explore deep-sea resources and conduct scientific research at depths of up to 6,000 meters.
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Vessel Specifications: The submersible features a titanium alloy sphere with an 80mm thickness and a diameter of 2,260mm, designed to withstand pressures up to 600 bar and temperatures as low as -3°C.
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Crew Capacity: MATSYA-6000 can carry a three-member crew into the deep ocean, with a planned operation duration of 12-16 hours and an emergency oxygen supply lasting up to 96 hours.
6. Vinita Narera takes interim charge as CVO in SJVN Ltd
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Interim Appointment: Vinita Narera, currently Chief Vigilance Officer at Rural Electrification Corporation Ltd (REC), has been given additional charge as CVO of Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam Ltd (SJVN) for six months or until a regular CVO is appointed.
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Expertise and Leadership: This appointment reflects the Government of India's confidence in her expertise, leadership, and impeccable service record.
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Background: Vinita Narera is a seasoned officer of the 2000 batch of the Indian Railway Service of Signal Engineers (IRSSE) with extensive experience in vigilance and management.
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Qualifications: She holds a B.Tech degree in Electronics from NIT Raipur, a Post Graduate Diploma in Financial Management from IMT Ghaziabad, and an MBA in Strategic Leadership and Public Policy from IIT Madras.
Foot notes:
About SJVN-
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Chairman & MD: Raj Kumar Chaudhary
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Headquarters: Shimla
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Founded: 1988
7. Shri P. Shankar appointed as Private Secretary to Member NITI Aayog
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Appointment Details: Shri P. Shankar, a retired Senior Principal Private Secretary from the Central Secretariat Stenographers' Service (CSSS) cadre, has been appointed as Private Secretary to Dr. V.K. Paul, Member (Health) at NITI Aayog.
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Contract Basis: The appointment is on a contract basis, effective June 1, 2025, with a tenure that will be co-terminus with Dr. Paul's assignment or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
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Rank and Pay: Shri P. Shankar will serve at the level of Under Secretary (Level 11 in the Pay Matrix), reflecting his significant administrative experience.
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Role Significance: As Private Secretary, Shri P. Shankar will play a crucial role in facilitating the smooth functioning of Dr. Paul's office, coordinating between various government departments, stakeholders, and NITI Aayog's policy initiatives.
8. BHEL Honored with Supplier Excellence Award by BSES
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Award Recognition: BHEL received the Supplier Excellence Award from BSES, recognizing its long-standing partnership and contributions to Delhi's power infrastructure.
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Engineering Excellence: The award highlights BHEL's engineering excellence, commitment to quality, and customer-centric approach in delivering essential equipment and services to BSES.
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Essential Equipment and Services: BHEL provided critical equipment, including 33 kV Gas Insulated Switchgear, spare parts, and associated services, ensuring reliable support for BSES's operations.
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Decades-Long Partnership: The award underscores the deep trust and mutual collaboration between BHEL and BSES, built over decades of working together to strengthen Delhi's power infrastructure.
Foot notes:
About BHEL-
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Chairman & MD: K S Murthy
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Headquarters: New Delhi
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Founded: 1956
9. Income Tax Day, celebrated annually on July 24
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Historical Significance: The concept of income tax was introduced to compensate for losses during the First War of Independence in 1857, marking a significant milestone in India's fiscal history.
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First Celebration: Income Tax Day was first celebrated in 2010 to acknowledge 150 years of income tax in India, highlighting the evolution of the tax system.
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Tax Administration: The Income Tax Act of 1922 established a structured tax system, while the Central Board of Revenue Act of 1924 strengthened tax administration, laying the groundwork for modern tax policies.
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Importance of Income Tax: Income tax plays a vital role in nation-building, supporting public services, infrastructure development, healthcare, education, and social security schemes, contributing to the country's economic growth.
10. Ozzy Osbourne, godfather of heavy metal who led Black Sabbath, passed away
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Ozzy Osbourne passed away on July 22, 2025, at the age of 76, surrounded by his family at his home in Buckinghamshire.
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His final concert was on July 5, 2025, at Villa Park in Birmingham, where he reunited with Black Sabbath members Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward for a historic performance titled "Back to the Beginning".
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Ozzy had been battling Parkinson's disease, which he publicly revealed in January 2020, and had undergone multiple spinal surgeries. Despite his health issues, he performed seated on a black throne during his final concert.
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Ozzy Osbourne is considered the "godfather of heavy metal" and pioneered the genre through his work with Black Sabbath. He sold over 100 million albums worldwide and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Black Sabbath in 2006 and as a solo artist in 2024.
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