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Current Affairs 25 July 2025
1. Government Appoints Former Finance Secretary Ajay Seth as IRDAI Chief
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Current Role: Ajay Seth is currently serving as the Finance Secretary in the Ministry of Finance, Department of Economic Affairs.
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Experience: He has over three decades of experience in shaping India's economic policies and spearheading financial reforms, notably leading infrastructure financing and public-private partnerships.
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IRDAI Appointment: Seth is emerging as a frontrunner for the IRDAI Chairman position, given his experience and expertise, although a final decision is yet to be announced by the government.
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Educational Background: He holds a BTech in Mechanical Engineering from IIT Roorkee and an MBA from Ateneo de Manila University.
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Awards and Recognition: Ajay Seth received the Prime Minister's Award for Excellence in Public Administration in 2013 for transforming Karnataka's commercial tax administration.
2. Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai Hits $1.1 Billion Net Worth Milestone
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Net Worth: Sundar Pichai's net worth has reached $1.1 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, thanks to Alphabet's surging stock prices and landmark AI investments.
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Decade-Long Leadership: Pichai has completed 10 years as Alphabet's CEO, marking a rare achievement for a non-founding tech CEO to join the billionaire club.
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Stock Performance: Alphabet's market value has soared over $1 trillion since early 2023, delivering 120% returns to investors and driving Pichai's net worth up.
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AI Investments: Under Pichai's leadership, Alphabet has invested heavily in AI infrastructure, spending nearly $50 billion in 2023 alone, and raising its 2025 capital expenditure forecast by $10 billion to $85 billion.
3. Vikramaditya Chaufla named captain of the Indian squad for the World Racketlon Championship
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Leadership Role: Vikramaditya Chaufla has been named captain of the Indian squad for the World Racketlon Championship, showcasing his leadership skills and expertise in the sport.
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Experience: Chaufla is a former badminton player with significant experience, having led the Indian team at last year's World Championship and winning a silver medal in the individual category in 2022.
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Tournament Details: The World Racketlon Championship will take place in Rotterdam, Netherlands, from July 30 to August 3, where Chaufla will lead a team of Indian players competing in table tennis, badminton, tennis, and squash.
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Team Members: The Indian squad includes Krishna B Kotak, Prashant Sen, Nihit Kumar Singh, Suhail Kapur, and Raghav Jatia as reserve, with Nidhi Tiwari representing India in the women's event.
4. DRDO Successfully Test-Fires Drone-Launched Missile ULPGM-V3
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Successful Test-Firing: The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully conducted flight trials of the UAV-Launched Precision Guided Missile (ULPGM)-V3 at the National Open Area Range (NOAR) in Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh.
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Precision Strike Capability: The ULPGM-V3 is designed for high-precision strikes from unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), enhancing India's defence capabilities with advanced indigenous technologies.
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Advanced Features: The missile features imaging infrared (IIR) seekers for advanced target acquisition, dual-thrust propulsion systems for extended range and speed, and lightweight construction for compatibility with various UAVs.
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Industry Partnership: The project showcases India's growing defence-industrial ecosystem, with private players, MSMEs, and start-ups working alongside DRDO, highlighting the nation's progress towards self-reliance in critical defence technologies.
5. BCCI to host Asia Cup in UAE in Sept
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Tournament Venue: The Asia Cup 2025 will be held in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), with India likely to play its matches in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
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Tournament Dates: The tournament is scheduled to take place from September 5 to 21, spanning over 17 days.
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India-Pakistan Clash: India and Pakistan are likely to be drawn into the same group, potentially facing each other three times in the group stage, Super Four, and possibly the final.
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Tournament Format: The Asia Cup will be in the T20 format, aligning with the upcoming ICC World Cup, set to be held in India and Sri Lanka in February 2026.
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Participating Teams: Eight teams are expected to participate in the tournament, which will serve as a preparatory event for the T20 World Cup.
6. Jahangeer Alam Ansari Selected as Director (Finance) of Goa Shipyard Limited
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Background: Jahangeer Alam Ansari is currently serving as Chief General Manager (Finance) at Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL), with over 27 years of experience in finance and strategic leadership.
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Appointment: Ansari has been recommended by the Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB) for the post of Director (Finance) at Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL), pending final approval from the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC).
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Qualifications: Ansari is a Chartered Accountant and holds a Bachelor's degree in Finance from Aligarh Muslim University, showcasing his strong financial expertise.
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Experience: Throughout his career at IOCL, Ansari has managed diverse portfolios, including overseas project finance, treasury management, and taxation, demonstrating exceptional analytical acumen and financial judgment.
7. BHEL appoints Shri Sanjay Guha as New Head of company (PMG)
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Appointment: Sanjay Guha has been appointed as the new head of Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL), one of India's largest engineering and manufacturing companies.
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Company Overview: BHEL is a leading power equipment manufacturer, contributing over 50% of India's total power generated from conventional sources, with a presence in over 90 countries across six continents.
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Manufacturing Capabilities: BHEL has 16 manufacturing facilities across India, producing equipment conforming to international standards, and is involved in design, engineering, construction, testing, commissioning, and servicing of various products.
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Research and Development: BHEL invests around 2.5% of its turnover in Research & Development, with a dedicated R&D center in Hyderabad, 15 Centers of Excellence, and 5 research centers, driving innovation and technology advancements.
8. HURL and NSDC Sign MoU for Skill Development Initiative Project SAKSHAM
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Project Objective: Project SAKSHAM aims to economically empower 2,265 rural youth, women, and smallholder farmers from low-income families through industry-aligned skill development training and enhanced employability support.
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Target Locations: The project will be executed in the districts of Gorakhpur (Uttar Pradesh), Begusarai (Bihar), and Dhanbad (Jharkhand), focusing on bridging the skill gap in these regions.
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Expected Outcomes: The project aims to increase job-readiness and employment opportunities, create self-employment potential via vocational skills, and provide stronger linkages to government schemes and support systems.
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Partnership Significance: This collaboration marks a significant stride in HURL's commitment to nation-building through skill-building, reaffirming its role as a catalyst for socio-economic transformation in rural India.
9. ICAR-SBI Coimbatore bags national award
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Award Details: The ICAR-Sugarcane Breeding Institute (SBI) in Coimbatore has been conferred with the prestigious Rashtriya Krishi Vigyan Puraskar 2025 for Innovation & Technology in Agriculture & Allied Sciences.
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Soil Moisture Indicator: The award-winning team developed the Soil Moisture Indicator (SMI), a portable device that optimizes irrigation by monitoring soil moisture using electrical conductivity principles.
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Water Conservation: SMI-based irrigation has shown a 15% reduction in water use while increasing sugarcane yields from 55.8 to 60.4 tonnes per acre per year.
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Team Members: The award-winning team consists of scientists K Hari, D Puthira Prathap, P Murali, A Rameshsundar, and B Singaravelu.
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Impact: The SMI is priced at Rs 2,000 and has been integrated into national farming guidelines and subsidy programs, benefiting farmers across the country .
10. Hulk Hogan, WWE Icon and Global Pop Culture Phenomenon, passed away
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Hulk Hogan's Death: WWE legend Hulk Hogan passed away at 71 after suffering a cardiac arrest at his Clearwater, Florida home on July 24.
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Emergency Response: Medics and police responded to the emergency call, and Hogan was treated before being taken to Morton Plant Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 11:17 AM.
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Cause of Death: The cause of death was cardiac arrest, with no signs of foul play or suspicious activity.
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Legacy: Hogan was a global pop culture icon, known for his charismatic persona and wrestling career spanning over four decades, with six WWE championships and two inductions into the WWE Hall of Fame.
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