Current Affairs 16th July 2025 : Daily GK Update in English
1. Which country hosted the International Conference on Glaciers’ Preservation in 2025?
a) Tajikistan
b) Indonesia
c) Switzerland
d) India
Answer: a) Tajikistan
Explanation: The conference was held in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, to address glacier retreat and freshwater protection.
2. Which ministry launched the WAVEX Startup Challenge 2025 for AI-powered multilingual translation?
a) Ministry of Finance
b) Ministry of Science and Technology
c) Ministry of Information and Broadcasting
d) Ministry of Commerce and Industry
Answer: c) Ministry of Information and Broadcasting
Explanation: The WAVEX Startup Challenge 2025, titled BhashaSetu, aims to develop AI-based translation tools for 12 Indian languages.
3. Which companies received in-principle approval from RBI to operate as cross-border payment aggregators in 2025?
a) Paytm and Razorpay
b) PayPal Payments and Worldline ePayments India
c) PhonePe and Google Pay
d) Amazon Pay and Stripe
Answer: b) PayPal Payments and Worldline ePayments India
Explanation: The RBI granted approval to these companies for cross-border payment services.
4. What is the theme of the BRICS Youth Council Entrepreneurship Working Group Meeting hosted by India in 2025?
a) Digital Innovation for Growth
b) Youth Entrepreneurship for Sustainable Growth
c) Global South Collaboration
d) Economic Resilience
Answer: b) Youth Entrepreneurship for Sustainable Growth
Explanation: The meeting, held from 3–7 March 2025, focused on sustainable entrepreneurship.
5. Where is the Annual Conference of Zone II of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPa) India Region being held in 2025?
a) Shimla
b) New Delhi
c) Dharamshala
d) Dehradun
Answer: c) Dharamshala
Explanation: The CPA conference was inaugurated in Dharamshala from 30 June to 1 July 2025.
6. Which ministry launched the ‘Adi Karmyogi’ programme in June 2025?
a) Ministry of Home Affairs
b) Ministry of Finance
c) Ministry of Tribal Affairs
d) Ministry of Women and Child Development
Answer: c) Ministry of Tribal Affairs
Explanation: The Adi Karmyogi programme ensures tribal welfare schemes reach grassroots levels.
7. In which state/UT is Kalpeni Island, where a possible 17th-century warship wreckage was found, located?
a) Lakshadweep
b) Andaman and Nicobar
c) Tamil Nadu
d) Puducherry
Answer: a) Lakshadweep
Explanation: Divers found the wreckage near Kalpeni Island in the Lakshadweep archipelago.
8. Under which ministry does the Armed Forces Tribunal (AFT) function in 2025?
a) Ministry of Home Affairs
b) Ministry of Defence
c) Ministry of Tourism
d) Ministry of Culture
Answer: b) Ministry of Defence
Explanation: The AFT operates under the Ministry of Defence to handle defense-related cases.
9. Which ministry is responsible for the PM-YASASVI scheme in 2025?
a) Ministry of Tribal Affairs
b) Ministry of Rural Development
c) Ministry of Education
d) Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment
Answer: d) Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment
Explanation: The PM-YASASVI scheme supports educational needs for OBC, EBC, and DNT students.
10. Which state launched the Nakshatra Sabha, India’s first astro-tourism campaign, in 2025?
a) Uttarakhand
b) Himachal Pradesh
c) Rajasthan
d) Jammu and Kashmir
Answer: a) Uttarakhand
Explanation: Uttarakhand’s Tourism Board launched Nakshatra Sabha to promote astro-tourism.
11. Which country did India surpass to become the world’s fourth-largest economy in 2025?
a) Germany
b) Japan
c) United Kingdom
d) France
Answer: b) Japan
Explanation: India overtook Japan to become the fourth-largest economy in 2025.
12. Who won the Palme d’Or at the 78th Cannes Film Festival in 2025?
a) Jafar Panahi
b) Hirokazu Kore-eda
c) Bong Joon-ho
d) Asghar Farhadi
Answer: a) Jafar Panahi
Explanation: Jafar Panahi won the Palme d’Or for his film at the 78th Cannes Film Festival.
13. Which state launched the ‘Gajah Mitra’ scheme on 11 July 2025 to address human-elephant conflict?
a) Karnataka
b) Kerala
c) Assam
d) Odisha
Answer: c) Assam
Explanation: The ‘Gajah Mitra’ scheme aims to reduce human-elephant conflicts in Assam, which reported over 1,400 human and 1,200 elephant deaths between 2000 and 2023.
14. What is the name of South Asia’s largest Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) launched in 2025?
a) Kilokari BESS
b) Delhi Power BESS
c) SolarSync BESS
d) GreenGrid BESS
Answer: a) Kilokari BESS
Explanation: The 20-MW Kilokari BESS in South Delhi, with 40 MWh capacity, uses Lithium Iron Phosphate technology and is India’s first commercially approved energy storage system.
15. How many Asiatic lions were recorded in Gujarat’s 16th lion census in 2025?
a) 674
b) 891
c) 523
d) 1023
Answer: b) 891
Explanation: The 2025 census recorded 891 Asiatic lions in Gujarat, reflecting conservation success.
16. Which core industry carries the highest weight in the Index of Eight Core Industries in 2025?
a) Coal
b) Electricity
c) Steel
d) Petroleum Refinery Products
Answer: d) Petroleum Refinery Products
Explanation: Petroleum Refinery Products hold the highest weight (28.04%) in the Index of Eight Core Industries.
17. The Ancient Stitched Ship inducted by the Indian Navy in May 2025 was inspired by what?
a) Ajanta Caves painting
b) Indus Valley artifacts
c) Chola dynasty ships
d) Vedic manuscripts
Answer: a) Ajanta Caves painting
Explanation: The ship’s design draws inspiration from a historical painting in the Ajanta Caves.
18. Where was the first edition of the Khelo India Beach Games (KIBG) held in May 2025?
a) Puri Beach, Odisha
b) Ghoghla Beach, Diu
c) Marina Beach, Chennai
d) Juhu Beach, Mumbai
Answer: b) Ghoghla Beach, Diu
Explanation: The inaugural KIBG was hosted at Ghoghla Beach, Diu, promoting coastal sports.
19. Who won the SAFF Under-19 Football Championship 2025?
a) Bangladesh
b) Sri Lanka
c) Nepal
d) India
Answer: d) India
Explanation: India emerged victorious in the SAFF Under-19 Football Championship 2025.
20. What was the main purpose of sending 59 MPs to 32 countries under Operation Sindoor in May 2025?
a) Trade negotiations
b) Cultural exchange
c) Diplomatic outreach
d) Climate policy advocacy
Answer: c) Diplomatic outreach
Explanation: Operation Sindoor aimed to strengthen India’s diplomatic ties through parliamentary engagement.
21. What is the name of the digital platform launched by CAG in 2025 to improve transparency in public spending?
a) e-Samiksha
b) OCMS
c) BharatNet
d) e-Governance Portal
Answer: b) OCMS
Explanation: The Online Concurrent Monitoring System (OCMS) was launched by the Comptroller and Auditor General to enhance transparency and accountability.
22. What is the primary goal of the cash flow analysis system for Scheduled Commercial Banks announced by RBI in 2025?
a) Enhance digital payments
b) Promote financial inclusion
c) Reduce non-performing assets
d) Improve liquidity management
Answer: d) Improve liquidity management
Explanation: The RBI’s cash flow analysis system aims to improve liquidity management for Scheduled Commercial Banks.
23. Which two companies received in-principle approval from RBI to operate as cross-border payment aggregators in 2025?
a) PayPal and Worldline
b) Paytm and Razorpay
c) PhonePe and Google Pay
d) Stripe and BharatPe
Answer: a) PayPal and Worldline
Explanation: PayPal Payments and Worldline ePayments India received RBI’s approval to operate as cross-border payment aggregators.
24. What is the focus of the ‘Kala Setu’ and ‘Bhasha Setu’ challenges launched in July 2025?
a) Digital education platforms
b) Multilingual digital innovation
c) Cultural heritage preservation
d) Rural infrastructure development
Answer: b) Multilingual digital innovation
Explanation: These challenges promote AI-based startups for multilingual digital solutions in India.
25. What is the name of the new air-launched ballistic missile India plans to acquire in 2025?
a) Nirbhay
b) BrahMos
c) AIR LORA
d) Prithvi
Answer: c) AIR LORA
Explanation: The Indian Air Force plans to acquire AIR LORA to enhance its long-range strike capabilities.