Current Affairs 13 July 2025

Current Affairs 13 July 2025. India shines in education, space tech, and digital reforms this week. Catch up on big updates—from PM Modi’s tours to Punjab’s PARAKH win and ISRO tests!

🇮🇳 NATIONAL AFFAIRS

PARAKH Victory
Punjab tops national learning assessment across 3 classes
Summary: Punjab emerged as the best-performing state in India in the 2024 PARAKH Rashtriya Sarvekshan, a learning survey led by NCERT under the Ministry of Education. It assessed over 21.15 lakh students from Classes 3, 6, and 9 in 74,229 schools across 781 districts. Punjab scored the highest in foundational and middle-stage learning outcomes. This survey, once called NAS, was revamped under the NEP 2020. It sets a national baseline for what students should know at each stage of school, pushing India towards more measurable learning outcomes.
Key Takeaway: Punjab sets the standard for learning in India’s classrooms with top PARAKH scores.

DMF Boost
Union launches Aspirational DMF to uplift mining districts
Summary: Union Minister G Kishan Reddy introduced the Aspirational DMF Programme on July 9, 2025, aligning it with India’s development goals for mining-affected regions. Odisha stands out, having raised ₹31,324 crore in DMF funds—the highest in India. A new Coffee Table Book highlights successful DMF projects, and a special exhibition displayed local crafts supported by DMF. The move aims to empower 152 districts by aligning DMF projects with the Aspirational District and Block Programmes for better livelihood, infrastructure, and services.
Key Takeaway: India turns mining wealth into community development through the new DMF push.

MSTC Hub
Steel Ministry opens MSTC HQ and digital Upkaran portal
Summary: Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy inaugurated a new office for MSTC Ltd. at World Trade Center, Delhi. Alongside, he launched “Upkaran”—a one-stop digital portal for managing and auctioning machinery. This platform supports PSUs, MSMEs, and government bodies to manage inventory or sell outdated assets transparently. MSTC, a key player in India’s scrap and asset management sector since 1964, now steps into digital innovation, making disposal and procurement simpler.
Key Takeaway: Government asset auctions now go digital and smoother with MSTC’s new platform.

Farm Power
7 new agri-products added to India’s e-NAM platform
Summary: The Ministry of Agriculture added sugarcane, Jardalu mango, Shahi litchi, two special rice types, and two regional paans to e-NAM, India’s online mandi. The platform now trades 238 products. This move supports farmers from Bihar and UP by making their GI-tagged goods more discoverable to national buyers. The Digital Market also revised quality parameters for four existing products, like water chestnut flour and baby corn, making pricing more transparent. Farmers can now track their earnings and sell with ease using this trusted portal.
Key Takeaway: Bihar and UP farmers get more visibility and better prices with e-NAM expansion.

NGO Portal
DEPwD launches upgraded grant portal for 1,200+ NGOs
Summary: The Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities replaced its old e-Anudaan site with a streamlined portal to process grants for DDRS/DDRC schemes. NGOs can now apply, track, and access past applications more easily. This upgrade cuts red tape and ensures faster fund disbursal for projects benefiting persons with disabilities across India. Over 1,200 NGOs are likely to benefit, making inclusion and support more seamless.
Key Takeaway: Simplified grant portals mean faster aid and better reach for disability support NGOs.

BHASHINI Push
Puducherry, Bihar join BHASHINI for multilingual e-gov
Summary: On July 9, 2025, Puducherry signed an MoU with BHASHINI, the language tech arm under MeitY, to offer digital services in regional languages like Tamil and Telugu. Bihar also joined to preserve local language heritage and make archives more accessible. This move brings AI-based translation tools into local governance. Four focus areas—Bhashini Udyat, Mitra, Appmitra, and Pravakta—will guide the mission. It’s a big leap toward inclusive governance in India, especially for citizens who prefer using their native languages.
Key Takeaway: Language is no longer a barrier—BHASHINI helps governance reach every tongue.

Legacy Coin
India releases stamp and silver coin for Dr. Mookerjee’s 125th
Summary: At an event in Delhi’s Siri Fort Auditorium, a ₹125 silver coin and ₹5 stamp were launched to honor the 125th birth anniversary of Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee. Minted in 99.9% pure silver, the coin bears his portrait and the years 1901–2026. A two-year celebration of his legacy has also begun, covering his contributions to education, unity, and national values. The stamp was designed by artist Nenu Gupta and shows his vision for India.
Key Takeaway: India remembers a nationalist icon with a lasting silver tribute and commemorative stamp.

🌍 INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

Modi in Brazil
PM Modi gets Brazil’s top civilian honour, signs 6 key MoUs
Summary: PM Modi visited Brazil from July 5–8 as part of his five-nation tour. He met President Lula da Silva and was awarded Brazil’s highest civilian award—the Grand Collar of the Southern Cross. India and Brazil signed 6 major MoUs covering energy, IP, agriculture, and more. Trade is set to grow from USD 1.2 billion to USD 20 billion in five years. Modi also visited Namibia, where he received the ‘Order of the Most Ancient Welwitschia Mirabilis,’ its highest civilian award.
Key Takeaway: India strengthens ties with Brazil and Namibia through MoUs and rare national honors.

UNESCO Exit
3 African sites removed from UNESCO danger list
Summary: On July 9, 2025, UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee removed three African sites—Madagascar’s Rainforests, Egypt’s Abu Mena, and Libya’s Old Town of Ghadamès—from its “in danger” list. Each site had suffered due to illegal logging, water damage, or conflict. Conservation steps like solar-powered drainage and local patrols helped restore over 60% of affected zones. These places now get better global support and funding.
Key Takeaway: Heritage wins as African treasures get global green light for preservation success.

WHIF Joins BRICS+
Indian medtech joins BRICS+ manufacturing group
Summary: On July 9, 2025, the World Health Innovation Forum (WHIF), based in Andhra Pradesh’s MedTech Zone, joined the BRICS+ Manufacturing Working Group. This global nod boosts India’s image as a medtech leader. WHIF will now lead international health tech R&D and help scale innovations for Global South partners. This also places Visakhapatnam on the map as a medtech innovation hub for developing countries.
Key Takeaway: Andhra Pradesh goes global as Indian medtech powers BRICS+ healthcare future.

💼 ECONOMY & BUSINESS

KareXpert Deal
Egypt partners with India’s KareXpert for e-healthcare
Summary: During Africa Health ExCon 2025 in Cairo, Egypt signed a big MoU with India’s KareXpert Technologies, backed by Reliance Jio. The goal? Launch a secure national digital healthcare platform on Egypt’s cloud. The system includes hospital management tools, electronic medical records, and AI-powered billing systems. It aligns with Egypt’s Vision 2030 to modernize healthcare. This partnership makes India a key tech ally in Africa’s digital health mission.
Key Takeaway: Indian healthtech is making waves globally—Egypt taps KareXpert to heal smarter.

ESG Milestone
JSW Energy joins FTSE4Good Index for green commitment
Summary: On July 9, 2025, JSW Energy was included in the FTSE4Good Index, which ranks companies on strong ESG—Environment, Social, and Governance—practices. It’s a big recognition from FTSE Russell, part of the London Stock Exchange Group. JSW Energy, a major power firm, scored high on corporate governance, safety, and anti-corruption. The company’s renewable projects in solar, hydro, and wind gave it an extra edge.
Key Takeaway: JSW’s clean energy push isn’t just working—it’s being globally applauded.

T-Hub Boost
T-Hub backs 17 spacetech startups in new accelerator
Summary: T-Hub, India’s top startup incubator, has launched the second batch of its spacetech accelerator. This Orbit programme includes 17 startups from Telangana and beyond, working on reusable rockets, satellite tech, and space biology. The programme hopes to raise ₹3 crore+ in funding and create at least 10 new IPs. This move supports India’s growing role in the space economy, which may hit USD 44 billion by 2033.
Key Takeaway: Hyderabad’s spacetech dreams are soaring—T-Hub fuels India’s cosmic ambitions.

🏆 AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS

TIME Star
Prajakta Koli only Indian on TIME 100 Creator list
Summary: On July 9, 2025, TIME Magazine revealed its first-ever TIME 100 Creators list—and Indian YouTuber and actor Prajakta Koli made the cut! With over 7 million YouTube subscribers and 8 million Instagram followers, she stood out in the Entertainment category alongside MrBeast and Khaby Lame. From YouTube comedy to acting in Netflix’s Mismatched, Prajakta’s rise shows the global power of Indian content creators.
Key Takeaway: From vlogs to Netflix—Prajakta proves Indian creators have global magic.

🚀 SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Gaganyaan Test
ISRO successfully tests Gaganyaan propulsion system
Summary: In July 2025, ISRO ran two successful hot tests of the Gaganyaan Service Module Propulsion System at Mahendragiri, Tamil Nadu. These tests—30 and 100 seconds long—proved the system works as planned. The module includes 5 powerful engines and 16 smaller thrusters to steer India’s human space mission, planned for 2027. The tests showed smooth performance in steady and pulsed firing modes.
Key Takeaway: India’s first human spaceflight clears another big hurdle with engine success.

Starlink Go-Ahead
Starlink gets final nod to offer satellite internet in India
Summary: Elon Musk’s Starlink has received full approval from IN-SPACe to offer satellite broadband in India for five years. Using 4,408 low-Earth satellites, Starlink can beam internet even to remote villages. With 600 Gbps capacity, it’s set to rival OneWeb and Reliance Jio-SES. This comes after Starlink got telecom clearance in June 2025.
Key Takeaway: India’s rural internet is about to blast off—Starlink brings sky-powered Wi-Fi.

Mars Dream
Alyssa Carson may be first human on Mars, at just 24
Summary: Meet Alyssa Carson, aka “NASA Blueberry,” the youngest astronaut-in-training aiming for Mars. At just 24, she’s already attended all NASA space camps and finished PoSSUM space academy. She dreams of walking on Mars by the 2030s and is now an icon for young girls in STEM. Her Mars journey is backed by years of training, research, and a love for space sparked in childhood.
Key Takeaway: A young dreamer with sky-high goals—Alyssa inspires a generation to reach Mars.

📅 IMPORTANT DAYS

• National Fish Farmer’s Day – July 10
  Why it matters: This day celebrates India’s fish farmers and the vital role they play in food security and rural livelihoods. The day also reminds us of the need for sustainable aquaculture practices that protect water bodies and ensure healthy fish stock for generations.
  2025 event: The 25th National Fish Farmer’s Day was celebrated by the Department of Fisheries at ICAR-CIFA, Bhubaneswar. Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh and other MoS joined the celebration.
  Fun fact: India is the world’s second-largest fish producer, and fisheries support over 28 million people!

📌 KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Punjab topped India’s national school learning survey PARAKH 2024, showcasing strength in foundational and middle-stage education.

• The Centre launched the Aspirational DMF Programme to uplift mining-hit areas, with Odisha leading in DMF collections.

• MSTC launched its digital marketplace ‘Upkaran E-Portal’ for transparent government machinery auctions.

• Seven new agri-products, including Jardalu mango and Banarasi paan, were added to the e-NAM platform.

• DEPwD launched a fresh, streamlined portal for disability welfare grants under DDRS and DDRC schemes.

• Puducherry signed an MoU with BHASHINI to make digital governance available in local languages.

• India released a Rs.125 coin and a stamp to honor the 125th birth anniversary of Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee.

• PM Modi wrapped up a 5-nation tour, receiving Brazil’s and Namibia’s highest civilian honors.

• UNESCO removed three African sites from the danger list thanks to restoration and conservation work.

• India’s WHIF joined the BRICS+ Manufacturing Working Group, highlighting India’s medtech leadership.

• KareXpert signed an MoU to help Egypt build its national digital healthcare platform.

• JSW Energy made it to the FTSE4Good Index for its strong ESG and sustainability practices.

• T-Hub launched a new spacetech accelerator supporting 17 startups across the space innovation chain.

• Prajakta Koli became the only Indian on TIME’s new Creator 100 list, proving the global rise of Indian content.

• ISRO cleared another Gaganyaan hurdle with successful hot tests of its space propulsion system.

• Starlink got IN-SPACe approval for satellite broadband in India, expanding rural internet dreams.

• Alyssa Carson, just 24, may become the first human on Mars, inspiring global youth in STEM.