Daily Current Affairs- 16th July 2025

Daily Current Affairs- 16th July 2025

President Murmu Confers Kalinga Ratna Award 2024 to Dharmendra Pradhan

In the News: On July 15‑16, 2025, President Droupadi Murmu presented the prestigious Kalinga Ratna Award‑2024 to Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan at a cultural event in Cuttack to mark the 600th birth anniversary of Odia poet Adikabi Sarala Das.

Key Points:

• Award Presentation: President Murmu conferred the Kalinga Ratna Award to Dharmendra Pradhan at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium in Cuttack during the celebration of Odia poet Sarala Das’s 600th birth anniversary.
• Cultural Significance: The event highlighted the rich legacy of Odia literature, with Murmu praising the National Education Policy 2020’s focus on mother-tongue learning.
• Promoting Odia Language: Pradhan emphasized the importance of promoting Odia globally and integrating artificial intelligence and digital platforms to enrich and preserve the language.
• Broader Context: The award was part of a larger ceremony that also honored cultural luminaries like Bijaya Nayak with the Sarala Samman and recognized literary contributions to Odia heritage. 

India’s Second Longest Cable-Stayed Bridge Opens in Shivamogga

In the News: On July 14, 2025, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari inaugurated the Sigandur bridge in Shivamogga, Karnataka—India’s second-longest cable-stayed bridge—spanning approximately 2.44 km across the Sharavathi backwaters and built at a cost of about ₹472 crore.

Key Points:

• Location & Design: The bridge connects Ambaragodlu and Kalasavalli in Sagara taluk, enhancing access to Sigandur’s Chowdeshwari temple .
• Construction Cost: The ₹472 crore investment involved an extradosed cable-stayed cum balanced-cantilever design, featuring 2.25–2.44 km of continuous deck and first such design in Karnataka.
• Connectivity Benefits: It eliminates reliance on ferry services, slashes travel time by around two hours, and supports KSRTC in adding all-day bus routes to Sigandur.
• Political Context: The inauguration took place amid tensions—Karnataka’s Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and state ministers boycotted over last-minute invites.
• Future Planning: Authorities plan enhanced regional highway corridors and improved village connectivity, reinforcing the strategic importance of the new structure. 

India Achieves 50% Non-Fossil Fuel Power Capacityz

In the News: On July 14, 2025, India announced it has reached the milestone of 50% of its installed electricity capacity coming from non‑fossil fuel sources—solar, wind, hydro, and nuclear—five years ahead of its 2030 target under the Paris Agreement.
Key Points:

• Milestone Achieved Early: Reached 50% non‑fossil capacity five years ahead of schedule, marking a significant step toward India’s 500 GW non‑fossil capacity goal by 2030 . 
• Capacity Summary: As of mid‑June 2025, total power capacity stands at ~484.8 GW, with approximately 242.8 GW from clean sources (renewables, large hydro, nuclear).
• Rapid Growth in Renewables: Added 28 GW of solar and wind in 2024, and another 16.3 GW between January and May 2025—India's fastest pace since 2022.
• Coal’s Role Reducing: Coal-based generation dipped nearly 3% in the first half of 2025, although coal still dominates actual electricity output
•  Further Decarbonization Steps: India plans to expand battery storage, develop green hydrogen, recycle clean-energy components, and strengthen its grid, while also adding 80 GW of coal capacity by 2032 to meet demand
• .Clean Energy Strategy: The government continues to support clean energy via subsidies, tax breaks, and domestic manufacturing—while acknowledging ongoing dependency on coal generation. 

South Asia Achieves Highest-Ever Child Immunisation Coverage in 2024

In the News: On July 14, 2025, Yakten in Pakyong district was officially inaugurated as India’s first Digital Nomad Village under the “Nomad Sikkim” initiative—a program designed to attract remote-working professionals from across India and around the world by blending Himalayan living with modern amenities.

Key Points:

• Village Launch: Yakten was designated as the pioneer Digital Nomad Village in India as part of the broader “Nomad Sikkim” strategy.
• Lead Partnership: The initiative is driven collaboratively by District Administration Pakyong and the Sarvahitey NGO.
• Objective: Aims to draw remote professionals, offering them a unique Himalayan lifestyle while ensuring connectivity and workplace facilities.
• Infrastructure Support: Equipped with high-speed internet, co-working spaces, and accommodations aligned with digital work conditions.
• Cultural Immersion: Provides an opportunity for professionals to engage with local Himalayan culture, bolstering rural development and eco-tourism.
• Expansion Potential: Seen as a pilot project with a view to replicating the model in other Sikkim locations, furthering sustainable rural entrepreneurship and talent retention. 

Israel’s Most Advanced Communications Satellite, Dror-1 Launched

In the News: On July 15, 2025, Israel successfully launched its most advanced communications satellite, Dror-1, marking a significant leap in the nation’s space and defense capabilities. The satellite was launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral, Florida.

Key Points:

• Satellite Launch: Dror-1 was launched on July 15, 2025, via SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket. It is Israel's most advanced communications satellite to date and is expected to serve for at least 15 years.
• Technological Advancement: Designed by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), Dror-1 features a fully digital payload and advanced signal processing technologies to enable secure, high-capacity communication across diverse sectors, including military and civilian use.
• Strategic Capability: Dror-1 enhances Israel’s autonomous communication infrastructure, reducing dependency on foreign satellite networks. It also provides strategic resilience during times of regional instability or conflict
• Dual Use Focus: The satellite is built to cater to both defense needs and commercial services, ensuring robust and uninterrupted coverage for internet, broadcasting, and secure defense communication.
• National Milestone: This marks the first time in over a decade that Israel has developed a fully indigenous communications satellite, reaffirming its position as a key space technology player in the Middle East.
• Government Support: The Israeli government supported the project under its long-term national space strategy, emphasizing technological independence and innovation in aerospace.