Current Affairs Quiz 16th July 2025 Quiz

Exp. Yakten in Sikkim Declared India’s First Digital Nomad Village Under ‘Nomad Sikkim’ Initiative

Yakten village in Sikkim’s Pakyong district has been officially declared India’s first digital nomad village, marking a significant step towards promoting remote work tourism in the Himalayan region.

The initiative is a collaboration between the district administration and NGO Sarvahitey under the ‘Nomad Sikkim’ project, aimed at turning remote locations into year-round digital work hubs for professionals from India and abroad.

About Sikkim

• Capital – Gangtok
• Chief Minister – Prem Singh Tamang (2^nd time)
• Governor – Om Prakash Mathur (replace Lakshman Prasad Acharya)

Exp. LIC Partners with AU Small Finance Bank to Boost Insurance Access in Rural and Underserved Areas

LIC (Life Insurance Corporation of India) has entered into a corporate agency tie-up with AU Small Finance Bank, allowing the bank to distribute LIC’s insurance products including annuity, ULIPs, term insurance, and savings plans through its branches and digital platforms.

The partnership aiming to boost insurance penetration and promote financial inclusion, particularly in rural and underserved areas.

Through this alliance, AU Small Finance Bank will leverage its strong rural presence to expand LIC’s reach, offering customers easier access to a wide range of life insurance solutions.

Exp. EximPe Secures RBI Licence to Offer Regulated Cross-Border Payment Services Across Asia

EximPe, a fintech startup focused on cross-border payments, has received the RBI’s In-Principle Payment Aggregator for Cross-Border (PA-CB) licence for both export and import operations, becoming one of the first firms to do so without prior payment authorisations.

This regulatory approval allows EximPe to offer compliant pay-in and pay-out services tailored for digital services, e-commerce, and B2B trade across emerging markets in Asia.

With this licence, EximPe transitions from a payment technology provider to a fully regulated cross-border payments infrastructure platform, strengthening its position in the India-Asia trade ecosystem.

Exp. NABARD Launches RuralTech CoLab to Drive Innovation and Digital Transformation in Rural India

NABARD has launched RuralTech CoLab, a unified portal aimed at bringing together fintech, agritech, and digital partners to co-create smart, scalable, and inclusive solutions for agriculture and rural development.

The platform ensures a structured and transparent onboarding process, enabling rural tech ecosystem partners to work effectively with NABARD’s grassroots network including SHGs, FPOs, NGOs, rural banks, and cooperatives.

As part of its 44th Foundation Day celebrations in Chennai, NABARD also launched a WhatsApp channel to deliver market advisories and updates related to Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs).

Recent Facilities Launched in Banking & Insurance Sector

• MCX to Launch India’s First Electricity Futures Contracts for Power Sector Hedging
• IndusInd Bank Launches ‘INDIE for Business’ Platform to Empower Over 60 Million MSMEs in India
• Bank of Baroda opens first ‘Phygital’ branch in Kolkata
• Canara Bank Launches “CANARA TruEdge” Suite for Institutional Banking with Tailored Benefits
• SBI Card Partners with Apollo HealthCo to Launch Health-Focused Credit Card

Exp. India’s wholesale price inflation dips to -0.13% in June

Retail inflation in June 2025 fell to a 77-month low of 2.1%, driven mainly by easing food prices, as per the Consumer Price Index (CPI) released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation.

Wholesale inflation turned negative at -0.13% in June 2025, marking a contraction after 20 months, with falling crude oil and food prices being key contributors, according to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

The food and beverages category in the CPI registered a 0.2% contraction in June 2025, a sharp decline from 8.4% inflation in June 2024, making it the eighth consecutive month of easing food inflation.

Recent WPI-based Wholesale inflation in India

• January 2025 – 31%
• February 2025 – 38%
• March 2025 –05%
• April 2025 –85%
• May 2025 – 39%
• June 2025 – (-)0.13%

Exp. DRDO & AIIMS Bibinagar Unveil India’s First Indigenous Carbon Fibre Foot Prosthesis Under ₹20,000

DRDO’s DRDL and AIIMS Bibinagar have jointly unveiled India’s first indigenously developed, cost-effective advanced Carbon Fibre Foot Prosthesis (ADIDOC), under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative.

The ADIDOC prosthesis is biomechanically tested for loads up to 125 kg and comes in three variants to suit patients of different weight categories, offering performance comparable to international models at a fraction of the cost.

With an estimated production cost under ₹20,000, compared to imported versions priced around ₹2 lakh, ADIDOC aims to improve accessibility for low-income amputees and reduce reliance on foreign prosthetic technologies.

Exp. Legendary Actress and Padma Bhushan Awardee B. Saroja Devi Passes Away at 87

Veteran actress B. Saroja Devi, renowned as one of the most successful stars in Indian cinema, passed away at the age of 87. She acted in over 200 films across Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, and Hindi languages.

She was honoured with multiple prestigious awards, including the Padma Shri (1969) and the Padma Bhushan (1992), along with the Kalaimamani Award from Tamil Nadu and an honorary doctorate from Bangalore University.

Known for her iconic roles in films like “Abhinaya Saraswathi” and “Kannadathu Paingili,” she earned immense popularity and the title “Abhinaya Saraswathi” for her expressive acting skills.

Exp. Coal India’s First All-Women Operated Dispensary Inaugurated at SECL Headquarters, Bilaspur

Coal India’s first fully women-operated dispensary was inaugurated at the Vasant Vihar Dispensary in SECL Headquarters, Bilaspur.

The dispensary is run by a dedicated 14-member all-women team comprising doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and support staff, aiming to set a precedent for gender-inclusive healthcare services.

The facility offers comprehensive medical services including OPD, emergency care, dressing and injection room, ECG, blood collection for pathology tests, and an OPD pharmacy.

Exp. President Murmu Grants ₹7,500 Aid to 823 EMRS Toppers Under NESTS Discretionary Fund Initiative

President Droupadi Murmu has sanctioned a discretionary fund to the National Education Society for Tribal Students (NESTS), providing ₹7,500 each as one-time financial assistance to 823 top-performing students of Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) across India.

The beneficiaries were selected from Class XII board toppers in Science, Commerce, and Humanities streams, with two meritorious students per stream per school, and special preference given to girl students in the event of tie-breakers.

The amount, totalling ₹62.40 lakh, was directly transferred to the students’ bank accounts within 2–3 weeks of the board exam results, reinforcing NESTS’ commitment to transparency and timely support.

Administered by NESTS under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, the EMRS scheme currently operates 470+ residential schools for tribal students nationwide, and is part of the government’s broader push to empower Scheduled Tribe youth through quality and inclusive education.

Exp. France Signs Historic Accord to Recognize New Caledonia as a State Within the Republic

France and New Caledonia have signed a historic 13-page accord proposing the creation of a “State of New Caledonia” within the French Republic, to be inscribed in the French Constitution, including the introduction of a Caledonian nationality alongside French nationality.

The agreement includes an economic and financial recovery pact, focusing on reviving nickel processing capabilities, and is seen as a significant step towards redefining New Caledonia’s political and economic future.

Although French President Emmanuel Macron hailed the deal as historic, it still requires final approval in New Caledonia, where a referendum may be held in February 2026; the last independence vote occurred in 2021.

About France

• Capital- Paris
• President- Emmanuel Macron
• Prime Minister– Francois Bayrou
• Official language- French

Exp. Aiden Markram and Hayley Matthews Win ICC Player of the Month Awards for June 2025

South Africa’s Aiden Markram was named ICC Men’s Player of the Month for June 2025 after his match-winning 136-run knock and all-round performance in the WTC Final vs Australia, helping South Africa secure their first ICC title since 1998.

West Indies captain Hayley Matthews won the ICC Women’s Player of the Month for June 2025, becoming the second cricketer to win the award four times, following her impactful performances in both the ODI and T20I series against South Africa.

ICC Men’s Player of the Month

• January 2025 – Jomel Warrican (West Indies)
• February 2025 – Shubman Gill (India)
• March 2025 – Shreyas Iyer (India)
• April 2025 – Mehidy Hasan Miraz (Bangladesh)
• May 2025- Muhammad Waseem (UAE)
• June 2025 – Aiden Markram (South Africa)

ICC Women’s Player of the Month

• January 2025 – Beth Mooney (Australia)
• February 2025 – Alana King (Australia)
• March 2025 – Georgia Voll (Australia)
• April 2025 – Kathryn Bryce (Scotland)
• May 2025 – Chloe Tryon (South Africa)
• June 2025 – Hayley Matthews (West Indies)

Exp. Varun Aaron Appointed Sunrisers Hyderabad Bowling Coach for IPL 2026

Former Indian pacer Varun Aaron has been appointed as the new bowling coach of Sunrisers Hyderabad for IPL 2026, succeeding James Franklin, who served the team for two years.

Aaron retired from cricket earlier this year and transitioned to commentary; he played 52 IPL matches across five franchises, taking 44 wickets at an economy of 8.93.

He was part of the Gujarat Titans’ title-winning team in 2022 and has represented India in 9 Tests and 9 ODIs, with a total of 93 wickets in 95 T20 matches.

Exp. R. Doraiswamy Assumes Charge as LIC’s New CEO and MD

1. Doraiswamy officially took charge as the Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC), following his appointment by the Department of Financial Services, Ministry of Finance, for a tenure of three years or until he turns 62, whichever is earlier.

With his assumption of charge, Sat Pal Bhanoo ceases to hold the financial and administrative responsibilities of the CEO and MD at LIC.

A 17th batch direct recruit officer with over 39 years of experience, Doraiswamy has handled key domains in LIC, including operations, marketing, technology, academics, bancassurance, group business, customer relations, finance, and compliance.

Recent Appointment in Banking & Insurance Sector

• MD & CEO of Karnataka Bank – Raghavendra S Bhat (replace Srikrishnan Hari Hara Sarma) for 3 months.
• Executive Director of Federal Bank – V. Venkateswaran
• Deputy Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) at SBI – Babitha B P
• CEO of Reserve Bank of Innovation Hub (RBIH) – Sahil Kini (replace Rajesh Bansal)
• CEO of Asirvad Microfinance – Roy Varghese

Exp. Hemant Rupani Appointed CEO of Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages,

Hemant Rupani has been appointed as the new CEO of Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages Pvt Ltd (HCCB), effective from September 8, 2025. He will succeed Juan Pablo Rodriguez, who is moving to a new role within the Coca-Cola system.

Rupani is currently serving as the Business Unit President for Southeast Asia at Mondelez International Inc., overseeing operations across Indonesia, Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand. He joined Mondelez in 2016 as Director of Sales for India and rose to senior leadership positions.

Recent Appointments

• Governor for Ladakh – Kavinder Gupta (replace Dr. B.D. Mishra)
• Governor of Goa – Pusapati Ashok Gajapathi Raju (replace P.S. Sreedharan Pillai)
• Governor of Haryana – Prof. Ashim Kumar Ghosh (replace Bandaru Dattatreya)
• First Woman DG of Railway Protection Force (RPF) – Sonali Mishra (replaceManoj Yadava)
• Nominates to Rajya Sabha by President – Harsh V Shringla, Ujjwal Nikam, Meenakshi Jain & C Sadanandan Master

Exp. Maharashtra Grants Agricultural Status to Livestock Farming

The Maharashtra Cabinet has granted agricultural status to livestock farming, including dairy, poultry, goat, and pig rearing, aiming to support small-scale rural farmers while excluding large commercial entities like hatcheries.

The move, announced by Animal Husbandry Minister Pankaja Munde, is expected to benefit around 76.41 lakh families and generate an additional ₹7,700 crore in income through increased livestock production. Maharashtra becomes the first state in India to take this step.

Livestock farmers meeting specific capacity limits (e.g., up to 100 dairy animals, 25,000 broilers, or 500 goats/sheep) will now be eligible for agricultural electricity rates, subsidies on solar pumps and equipment, and a 4% interest subsidy on project loans via Kisan Credit Cards.

About Maharashtra

• Capital – Mumbai
• Chief Minister – Devendra Fadnavis (3^rd time)
• Deputy Chief Minister – Eknath Sindhe & Ajit Pawar
• Governor – C P Radhakrishnan