Current Affairs Quiz 10th July 2025 Quiz

Exp. ISA to Host 7th Asia-Pacific Regional Meet in Colombo

The 7th Regional Committee Meeting for Asia and the Pacific, hosted by the International Solar Alliance (ISA), will be held in Colombo, Sri Lanka from 15–17 July 2025, under the theme ‘Advancing Solar Cooperation Across a Region of Diversity and Opportunity’.

The meeting will bring together governments, universities, think tanks, private sector leaders, and international partners to advance solar deployment, promote regional solar interconnections, and explore technologies like Green Hydrogen, storage, and E-Mobility.

Key agenda items include operationalizing the SIDS solar platform, signing Country Partnership Frameworks, launching new STAR Centres for capacity building, and aligning regional solar priorities with ISA’s four-pillar strategic vision, including blended finance, technology roadmap, and policy innovation.

The RCM aims to strengthen ISA’s leadership in the Asia-Pacific solar transition, build on the ISA-ADB Green Hydrogen project, and explore cross-border solar trade frameworks, ensuring inclusive and resilient growth especially for Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS).

Exp.  Trinidad & Tobago 8th country to have UPI

India will assist Trinidad and Tobago in developing a digital payment system similar to Unified Payments Interface (UPI), as part of PM Narendra Modi’s recent visit during his five-nation tour.

UPI is currently operational in several countries including UAE, Singapore, France, Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Mauritius, allowing Indian users to make payments abroad by scanning QR codes and paying in INR while merchants receive local currency.

To use UPI internationally, users must have a UPI-enabled app, an Indian bank account linked to UPI, and international roaming activated for OTPs. Apps like BHIM offer a “UPI Global” feature for secure overseas transactions.

Cross-border UPI transactions may involve minimal conversion fees, often lower than debit/credit card charges, and NPCI has signaled further expansion into Europe and the Caribbean, making Indian digital wallets increasingly borderless.

About Trinidad & Tobago

• Capital- Port of Spain
• Currency- Trinidad & Tobago Dollar
• Continent- South America

Exp. Punjab Launches ‘Young Entrepreneurs’ Scheme to Teach Business Skills in Govt Schools from 2026

Starting from the 2026–27 academic year, the Punjab government will introduce business and marketing skill education for Class 11 and 12 students in government schools under the ‘Punjab Young Entrepreneurs’ scheme.

At the Business Blasters Expo 2025 in Rupnagar, Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains highlighted the government’s aim to turn students into job creators, providing financial and technical assistance to support their ventures.

Ten student-led ventures pitched their ideas in a Shark Tank-style showcase and secured funding, while another 30 teams exhibited and sold products at Expo stalls. ₹17 lakh has been invested to set up innovation labs for product development, possibly in collaboration with IITs.

Former Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia said students will now be required to present a business idea to pass school, emphasizing practical learning, earning while studying, and building real-world entrepreneurial skills before graduation.

About Punjab

• Capital – Chandigarh
• Chief Minister – Bhagwant Mann
• Governor – Banwarilal Purohit

Exp. Punjab Becomes First State to Offer ₹10 Lakh Universal Cashless Health Insurance Under ‘Mukh Mantri Sarbat Sehat Bima Yojana’

Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann has launched a universal health insurance scheme under the Mukh Mantri Sarbat Sehat Bima Yojana, offering cashless treatment of up to ₹10 lakh per annum to all 65 lakh families in the state at government and empanelled private hospitals.

The scheme expands on existing coverage by providing an additional ₹5 lakh top-up, raising the insurance limit from ₹5 lakh to ₹10 lakh for families already enrolled under the Ayushman Bharat Yojana and Punjab’s state scheme.

A total of ₹778 crore has been allocated in the Punjab Budget 2025–26 to implement this initiative, which is set to become operational from October 2, making Punjab the first state in India to offer such comprehensive cashless health coverage.

Exp. India Wins 588 Medals at World Police and Fire Games 2025

Team India secured a total of 588 medals, including 280 gold medals, at the 21st edition of the World Police and Fire Games 2025 in Birmingham, Alabama, USA.

India ranked third overall, behind the USA with 1,354 medals (569 gold, 433 silver, and 352 bronze) and Brazil with 743 medals (266 gold, 246 silver, and 231 bronze).

The 2029 edition of the tournament will be hosted by India in Ahmedabad.

The World Police and Fire Games is an Olympic-style competition for athletes representing law enforcement, firefighters, and officers from corrections, probation, border protection, immigration, and customs offices globally.

The event, held biennially, features over 60 sports. It is governed by the California Police Athletic Federation (CPAF), the Host City, and the WPFG Board of Directors. The inaugural edition of the competition took place in 1985 in San Jose, California.

Exp. Indian Navy Inducts First Indigenous Diving Support Vessel ‘Nistar’ Built by Hindustan Shipyard

‘Nistar’, the first indigenously designed and built Diving Support Vessel, was delivered to the Indian Navy by Hindustan Shipyard Limited at Visakhapatnam, marking a major step in India’s self-reliance in naval capabilities.

Designed as per Indian Register of Shipping (IRS) standards, the 118-meter-long vessel weighing nearly 10,000 tons is equipped for deep-sea saturation diving up to 300 meters and side diving operations up to 75 meters.

The vessel serves as a ‘Mother Ship’ for the Deep Submergence Rescue Vessel (DSRV) and can carry out submarine rescue missions, with advanced systems like Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) capable of operations up to 1000 meters.

With nearly 75% indigenous content, ‘Nistar’ aligns with the Government of India’s ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ and ‘Make in India’ initiatives, showcasing India’s growing defence manufacturing capabilities.

The ship’s name, ‘Nistar’, originates from Sanskrit and means liberation, rescue or salvation.

Exp. Bulgaria to Adopt Euro as 21st Member of Eurozone from January 1, 2026

Bulgaria is set to become the 21st member of the Eurozone on January 1, 2026, after receiving the final approval from EU finance ministers, marking a major economic milestone nearly 19 years after joining the European Union.

The official exchange rate has been fixed at 1.95583 Bulgarian lev per euro, as part of the legal framework adopted by EU ministers to facilitate Bulgaria’s transition from its current currency (the lev) to the euro.

Bulgaria’s entry follows Croatia, which became the 20th member in 2023, continuing the expansion of the euro area that began with 12 countries in 2002 and gradually included others like Slovenia (2007), Slovakia (2009), and Lithuania (2015).

The euro has been strengthening against the U.S. dollar recently, partly due to global shifts in economic confidence and trade tensions driven by former U.S. President Donald Trump’s protectionist policies.

About Bulguria

• Capital- Sofia
• Currency- Lev (BGN)
• Continent – Europe
• President- Rumen Radev

Exp. Magnus Carlsen Wins Super United Rapid & Blitz Title in Zagreb

World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen clinched the Super United Rapid and Blitz Chess tournament title in Zagreb with a round to spare, finishing with an impressive 22.5 points—2.5 points ahead of second-place Wesley So.

Indian Grandmaster D. Gukesh delivered a strong performance to finish third with 19.5 points, narrowly edging past France’s Alireza Firouzja and Poland’s Duda Jan-Krzysztof, proving his critics wrong.

From the total prize pool of USD 175,000, Carlsen secured USD 40,000, while Wesley So and Gukesh earned USD 30,000 and USD 25,000 respectively for their second and third place finishes

Exp. Mexico Beats USA 2-1 to Win Record 10th CONCACAF Gold Cup Title in Thrilling Final

Mexico defeated the United States 2-1 in a thrilling final at NRG Stadium, Houston, to secure their 10th CONCACAF Gold Cup title, coming from behind after Chris Richards opened the scoring for the U.S. in just the 4th minute.

With this win, Mexico successfully defends their Gold Cup title and extends their record to 10 championships, also having previously won the CONCACAF Nations Championship (the Gold Cup’s predecessor) three times.

Exp. Kasaragod Bags Kerala Fisheries Excellence Award 2025 for Outstanding Aquaculture Initiatives

Kasaragod district won the Kerala Fisheries Department’s Excellence Award 2025 for outstanding performance under the Popular Fish Farming Project, recognizing its grassroots-level implementation of fisheries schemes.

Two individual farmers from Kasaragod also received recognition: Ravi P.P. from Padanna secured second place for Best Backwater Fish Seed Production, while Sea Pearl Aquafarm from Kumbala won third place for Best Innovative Fish Farming.

The awards are part of Kerala’s annual State Farmer Awards, which aim to honour exemplary contributions in aquaculture and promote innovation in the fisheries sector across the state.

This accolade adds to Kasaragod’s list of recognitions, including the Matsya Karshaka Award for Best District, the Best BMC award in the 2023 State Biodiversity Awards, and becoming the first district to declare an official tree, flower, and bird for biodiversity awareness.

Recent Awards

• Brazil’s highest civilian honour, the Grand Collar of the National Order of the Southern Cross – PM Narendra Modi
• Key to the City of Buenos Aires by Argentina – PM Narendra Modi
• First Indian Actress Honored on Hollywood Walk of Fame Class of 2026 – Deepika Padukone
• Global Leadership Award by USISPF – Kumar Mangalam Birla
• American Music Award (AMA) at the 51st AMA held in Los Angeles – Raja Kumari

Exp. International Cricket Umpire Bismillah Jan Shinwari Passes Away at 41

International cricket umpire Bismillah Jan Shinwari (Afghanistan) passed away at the age of 41.

A member of the ICC International Panel of Umpires, Shinwari officiated in 25 ODIs and 21 T20Is, starting his international career in December 2017 with an ODI between Afghanistan and Ireland in Sharjah.

Exp. DRDO Successfully Conducts User Trials of ERASR from INS Kavaratti

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully conducted the final user trial of the indigenously developed Extended Range Anti-Submarine Rocket (ERASR) from the Indian Naval Ship (INS) Kavaratti.

The DRDO conducted the first test of the ERASR on April 3, 2023, from the Navy’s guided missile destroyer, INS Chennai.

The ERASR will replace the existing Soviet-era RBU-6000 Smerch-2 system currently deployed on Indian naval ships with a range of up to 5 km.

The ERASR rocket system has been indigenously designed and developed by two DRDO labs based in Pune. The  Armament Research and Development Establishment, as well as the High Energy Materials Research Laboratory and the Naval Science and Technological Laboratory.

The launcher and the rocket have been manufactured by the Hyderabad-based public sector company, Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL), and the private sector company Solar Defence and Aerospace Limited, based in Nagpur.

Exp. PM Modi Receives Namibia’s Highest Civilian Honour ‘Order of the Most Ancient Welwitschia Mirabilis’

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was conferred with Namibia’s highest civilian award, ‘The Order of the Most Ancient Welwitschia Mirabilis’, during his one-day state visit, becoming the first Indian leader to receive this honour.

The award was presented by Namibian President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, symbolising a deepening of diplomatic and cultural ties between India and Namibia.

Established in 1995, the award is named after the unique Namibian desert plant Welwitschia Mirabilis, which represents resilience and longevity; this marks Modi’s 27th international honour, and his fourth during the ongoing five-nation tour.

About Namibia

• Capital – Windhoek
• Currency – Namibian dollar, South African rand
• President – Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah (First woman president of nation)

Exp. Centre to Set Up New Akashvani Kendra in Ujjain Under BIND Scheme

The Government of India has announced the establishment of a new Akashvani Kendra in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, aimed at enhancing regional broadcasting and timely public communication.

The initiative will be implemented under the Broadcasting Infrastructure and Network Development (BIND) scheme, which provides financial support to Prasar Bharati for upgrading infrastructure and content creation.

The Kendra will also focus on preserving Madhya Pradesh’s cultural heritage, promoting regional identity, and strengthening the connection between the government and the people through effective media outreach.

Exp. 10 July – Global Energy Independence Day

Global Energy Independence Day is observed every year on 10 July to promote awareness and action toward achieving energy self-reliance and reducing global dependency on non-renewable and imported energy sources.

It encourages the use of clean, renewable, and sustainable energy solutions such as solar, wind, hydro, and bioenergy.