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Current Affairs 31 July 2025
1. Anant Ambani appointed as Executive Director of Reliance Industries
- Effective Date and Term: Anant Ambani's appointment as Whole-time Director, designated as Executive Director, became effective from May 1, 2025, for a period of five years.
- Shareholder Approval: His appointment was approved by the shareholders of Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) on July 29, 2025, with an overwhelming majority (94.41% of valid votes in favor).
- Role in Succession Planning: This appointment is a significant step in Mukesh Ambani's long-term succession plan, aiming to ensure continuity in leadership and gradually hand over responsibilities to the next generation of the Ambani family.
- Focus Areas: As Executive Director, Anant Ambani is expected to lead and drive the expansion of Reliance's energy and materials businesses, with a strong focus on renewable and green energy initiatives. He is also involved in corporate functions like Human Resources Management and Capital Projects Execution.
- Prior Experience: Before this executive role, Anant Ambani served as a non-executive director on Reliance's board.
2. India and UAE Sign Agreement on Maritime Security and Safety Cooperation
- Enhanced Bilateral Maritime Cooperation: The agreement, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), aims to establish a robust framework for enhanced cooperation between the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) and the UAE National Guard Command in maritime security and safety domains.
- Key Areas of Collaboration: The MoU specifically outlines cooperation in crucial areas such as Maritime Search and Rescue (M-SAR), combating transnational maritime crimes, Maritime Law Enforcement (MLE), and Marine Pollution Response (MPR). It also includes provisions for joint capacity building and professional exchanges.
- Strengthening Institutional Linkages: This agreement is the 10th such pact India has signed with Coast Guard agencies of Friendly Foreign Countries (FFCs). It signifies a shared commitment to strengthening institutional linkages and promoting collaborative engagements for a safe, secure, and sustainable maritime environment in the region.
- Formalized at Joint Defence Cooperation Committee (JDCC) Meeting: The MoU was formalized during the 13th Joint Defence Cooperation Committee (JDCC) meeting between India and the UAE in New Delhi on July 30, 2025.
3. India’s growth forecast for 2025 and 2026 raised to 6.4% by the IMF
- India Remains Fastest-Growing Major Economy: The revised forecast solidifies India's position as the fastest-growing major economy in the world for both 2025 and 2026, outpacing other large economies like China and the United States.
- More Benign External Environment: The IMF cited a "more benign external environment" than initially anticipated as a key factor for the upward revision. This suggests an easing of global trade tensions and improved financial conditions contributing to India's positive outlook.
- Drivers of Growth: India's stable growth is largely attributed to its ongoing reform momentum, robust domestic consumption, and consistent public investment. These internal factors are providing a strong cushion against global uncertainties.
- Slight Upgrades from Previous Forecasts: The 6.4% forecast for 2025 is a 0.2 percentage point increase from the IMF's April 2025 projection, and the 2026 forecast is up by 0.1 percentage point, indicating a consistently improving outlook.
4. Indian Coast Guard’s Fast Patrol Vessel ‘Atal’ Launched
- Sixth in a Series: 'Atal' (Yard 1275) is the sixth in a series of eight state-of-the-art Fast Patrol Vessels being constructed for the Indian Coast Guard. This continuous delivery highlights India's commitment to bolstering its maritime security.
- Indigenous Design and Construction: The vessel has been designed and constructed by Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL), a premier Defence Public Sector Undertaking (DPSU) under the Ministry of Defence. This underscores India's 'Atmanirbharta' (self-reliance) in defense manufacturing.
- Key Features: The FPVs are 52 meters in length, with an 8-meter beam and 320-tonne displacement. They are high-speed assets equipped with modern naval architecture, ensuring both speed and stability.
- Multipurpose Operational Roles: 'Atal' is built to undertake a wide range of missions, including coastal patrols, island security, offshore asset protection, anti-smuggling operations, anti-piracy missions, and search and rescue (SAR) operations.
5. Lt Gen Pushpendra Singh to be next Vice Chief of Army Staff
- Date of Assumption: Lt Gen Pushpendra Singh will take over as the next Vice Chief of the Army Staff on August 1, 2025. He will succeed Lt Gen NS Raja Subramani, who superannuated on July 31, 2025.
- Illustrious Career Background: Commissioned into the 4 Para (Special Forces) in December 1987, Lt Gen Singh has had an distinguished career spanning over 35 years. His operational experience includes participation in significant operations like Operation Pawan, Operation Meghdoot, Operation Rakshak, and Operation Orchid.
- International Experience: Beyond domestic operations, he has also gained valuable foreign combat exposure through his service in United Nations Peacekeeping Missions in Lebanon and Sri Lanka, which adds to his global military and diplomatic understanding.
- Previous Command: Prior to this appointment, Lt Gen Pushpendra Singh served as the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the Rising Star Corps (IX Corps) since April 2022. This Corps is strategically located in the Yol cantonment town in Himachal Pradesh.
6. Divyanshi Bhowmick Creates History at Asian Youth Table Tennis Championships
- Historic Gold Medal: Divyanshi Bhowmick won the U-15 Girls' Singles title at the Asian Youth Table Tennis Championships in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, becoming the first Indian in 36 years to achieve this feat. The last Indian to win an age-group girls' title was Subramanian Bhuvaneswari in 1989.
- Defeating Chinese Opponents: Her path to gold was particularly impressive as she defeated three top-ranked Chinese opponents, including Zhu Qihi in the final (4-2) and Liu Ziling in a thrilling seven-game semifinal. This is an unprecedented achievement in Indian Youth Table Tennis history.
- Qualification for World Championships: With this victory, Divyanshi also secured her direct qualification for the upcoming World Youth Table Tennis Championships, scheduled to be held in Romania in November. This will provide her with another platform to showcase her talent on the global stage.
- Significance for Indian Table Tennis: Divyanshi's win is seen as a watershed moment for Indian table tennis, signaling a resurgence in the youth categories and offering immense hope for future success.
7. D2C insurer ACKO brings MS Dhoni on board as brand ambassador
- Dual Role: Investor and Brand Ambassador: This is more than just a celebrity endorsement. MS Dhoni has made a strategic investment in ACKO through his family office, Midas Deals, showcasing his confidence in the company's vision and business model. He will also be the face of ACKO in their upcoming campaigns.
- Alignment of Values: Both ACKO and Dhoni emphasize trust, simplicity, and a customer-centric approach. ACKO aims to simplify the often-complex world of insurance through technology, a value Dhoni resonates with, stating he's "excited to support a brand that's focused on trust and transformation."
- Targeting "New India": ACKO's "tech-first, customer-centric approach" is highlighted as reflecting "the way new India wants to engage with insurance." Dhoni's widespread appeal, especially among a younger, digitally-savvy demographic, makes him an ideal choice to connect with this audience.
- Strengthening Market Position: By partnering with a highly respected and trusted figure like Dhoni, ACKO aims to enhance its brand visibility, credibility, and reach in India's competitive insurtech market. This move is expected to attract more mainstream consumers, especially in non-metro areas.
8. Swiggy Instamart appoints Flipkart's Amitesh Jha as CEO
- Strategic Leadership Change: Amitesh Jha's appointment as CEO of Swiggy Instamart, effective September 4, 2024, is a major strategic move for Swiggy. He succeeds co-founder Phani Kishan, who transitions to a broader role overseeing Swiggy's central growth unit.
- Flipkart Background and Expertise: Jha brings over two decades of experience, with a significant 14-year tenure at Flipkart. At Flipkart, he played a crucial role in making e-commerce mainstream in India, leading core categories like smartphones, fashion, and large appliances, and also managing their logistics arm. This experience is highly relevant for Instamart's operations and supply chain.
- Focus on Quick Commerce Growth: Swiggy Instamart is a key growth driver for Swiggy, and Jha's appointment signals a strong push to further accelerate its expansion and solidify its market position. The quick commerce sector in India is experiencing rapid growth but is also intensely competitive.
- Addressing Competitive Landscape: The quick commerce market in India is dominated by players like Zomato-owned Blinkit, Zepto, and BigBasket. Jha's experience in managing large-scale e-commerce operations and logistics from Flipkart will be crucial in navigating this competitive environment and improving Instamart's market share and profitability.
9. Nikhil Ravishankar appointed as the airline’s next CEO
- Effective Date: Ravishankar will officially assume the role of CEO on October 20, 2025. He will succeed Greg Foran, who is stepping down after almost six years at the helm.
- Internal Promotion and Background: This is an internal promotion, as Ravishankar currently serves as Air New Zealand's Chief Digital Officer. He has been with the airline for nearly five years, gaining a deep understanding of the aviation sector and leading significant advancements in the airline's technology backbone, loyalty program, and customer proposition.
- Extensive Experience: Before joining Air New Zealand, Ravishankar held key leadership roles including Chief Digital Officer at Vector and Managing Director at Accenture, bringing a strong background in digital transformation and leadership to his new position.
- Strategic Vision: The Air New Zealand board highlighted Ravishankar's "fresh perspective" grounded in New Zealand values, coupled with his digital literacy, global outlook, and people-leadership skills, as essential for navigating the complex challenges facing the airline industry, such as climate change, evolving customer expectations, and cost pressures.
- Indian Origin: Notably, Nikhil Ravishankar is of Indian origin, marking a significant appointment for an individual from the Indian diaspora in a major international airline's top leadership role.
10. Eminent Economist Lord Meghnad Desai passed away
- Date and Age of Passing: Lord Meghnad Desai passed away on July 29, 2025, at the age of 85, in Delhi.
- Distinguished Academic Career: He was an Emeritus Professor of Economics at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), where he taught for nearly four decades. His academic work spanned a broad range of topics including Marxian economics, econometrics, development economics, and globalization.
- Member of the House of Lords: Elevated to the UK House of Lords as a Labour Party peer in 1991, Lord Desai was a prominent voice in British politics. He later resigned from the Labour Party in 2020 and served as a crossbench peer.
- Author and Public Intellectual: Lord Desai was a prolific writer, authoring over 20 books and more than 200 academic articles. His works often explored complex economic theories, Indian development, and even cultural subjects, reflecting his wide-ranging intellectual interests.
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