Daily Current Affairs- 18th July 2025

Daily Current Affairs- 18th July 2025

Kerala Announces Kathakali and Classical Arts Awards

In the News: On July 18, 2025, the Government of Kerala, via the Sangeetha Nataka Akademi under the Department of Cultural Affairs, announced its prestigious classical arts awards—including the State Kathakali Awards, Pallavur Appu Marar Vadya Puraskaram, and Keraleeya Nritta‑Natya Puraskaram—honouring masters of traditional performing arts.

Key Points:

• State Kathakali Awards 2023 : Awarded to Kathakali percussion maestros—Kuroor Vasudevan Namboothiri (Chenda) and Kalamandalam Sankara Warrier (Maddalam)
• Pallavur Appu Marar Vadya Puraskaram: Presented to Mattannur Sankarankutty Marar, celebrated for his innovative Chenda rhythms.
• Keraleeya Nritta‑Natya Puraskaram: Conferred upon Kalamandalam P.N. Girijadevi for her distinguished contributions to Koodiyattam, Kerala’s 2,000‑year‑old Sanskrit theatre.
• Purpose & Impact: These annual awards, carrying cash prizes, citations, and plaques, reinforce support for veteran artists, foster generational transmission of traditional arts, and affirm Kerala’s commitment to preserving its intangible cultural heritage.
• Institutional Role: Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi, under the Cultural Affairs Department, administers the awards annually, showcasing state-level patronage for arts. 

NCOIS Receives National Geospatial Practitioner Award 2025

In the News: The Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS), an autonomous body under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, was honoured with the National Geospatial Practitioner Award 2025 at the Open Source GIS Day (Edition 02) held at IIT Bombay. The award recognizes INCOIS’s pioneering use of open-source geospatial technology in ocean information services and its substantial contribution to marine governance and environmental protection.

Key Points:

• Award Recognition: INCOIS received the prestigious National Geospatial Practitioner Award 2025 for its innovative integration of open-source GIS (e.g., QGIS, GeoServer) to enhance public-facing marine data and ocean advisory services.
• Platform & Event: The award was presented at the second annual Open Source GIS Day, hosted at IIT Bombay, underscoring the importance of open-source frameworks in geospatial work.
• Operational Mandate: Headquartered in Hyderabad under MoES, INCOIS delivers real-time services—like Potential Fishing Zones, tsunami alerts, and storm surge advisories—to fishermen, coastal authorities, disaster agencies, and researchers
• Technological Edge: By leveraging open-source tools, INCOIS has made oceanographic data more transparent, cost-effective, and easily accessible—a boon for disaster preparedness, marine ecosystem monitoring, and policy-making.
• Core Applications: Their GIS platforms are used for dynamic ocean mapping, advisory dissemination, fisheries guidance, and marine disaster warnings, also drawing data from satellites, IoT buoys, and ocean modelling systems 

Vijayawada Receives Top Award for Cleanliness Despite 2024 Floods

In the News: Vijayawada was honoured with the prestigious Super Swachh League recognition during Swachh Survekshan 2024–25, despite facing severe flooding in September 2024. The award ceremony took place in New Delhi and celebrated the city’s outstanding sanitation efforts.

Key Points:

• Award Recognition: Vijayawada earned a top-four ranking in the Super Swachh League for cities with over 1 million residents, marking its continued excellence in urban cleanliness despite 2024’s monsoon deluge.
• Context of Floods: In late August 2024, Vijayawada was severely impacted by heavy floods (August 31–September 9), affecting infrastructure and displacing residents. Yet, the city bounced back to secure national recognition.
• Statewide Success: Vijayawada was one of five Andhra Pradesh cities—along with Visakhapatnam, Guntur, Tirupati, and Rajamahendravaram—to receive national awards for cleanliness and waste management.
• Cleanup Efforts: After record floods, the municipal corporation cleared 12,000 tonnes of canal waste in 2024 and removed an additional 5,000 tonnes in early 2025—including plastics and hyacinth—using boats and equipment like an amphibious Truxor.
• Super Swachh League Status: This elite category recognizes cities that consistently rank in the top three on cleanliness surveys over multiple years; alongside Vijayawada, Indore, Surat, and Navi Mumbai also featured. 

Indian Navy Set To Participate in SIMBEX 2025

In the News: The Indian Navy is set to participate in the 32nd edition of SIMBEX (Singapore–India Maritime Bilateral Exercise) in Singapore later this month. This annual drill, the longest uninterrupted maritime drill conducted by India, underscores its commitment to regional cooperation and maritime security in the Indo‑Pacific .

Key Points:

• Exercise Significance: SIMBEX, held annually since 1994, reflects deepening naval ties between India and Singapore and supports India's Vision SAGAR and Act East policy along with strengthening regional security.
• Edition & Timing: The upcoming 32nd SIMBEX will take place in Singapore later this month with participation from INS Delhi, INS Satpura, INS Shakti, and INS Kiltan
• Operational Scope: Known for its complex drills, SIMBEX includes anti-submarine warfare, maritime interdiction, live-firing, communication interoperability, and joint planning exercises.
• Strategic Context: The exercise is designed to uphold a rules-based maritime order amidst rising threats like piracy, non-state actors, and geopolitical challenges in the Indo‑Pacific .
• Policy Alignment: SIMBEX aligns with India’s Act East Policy, reinforcing maritime engagement and collective security in Southeast Asia.
• Future Engagements: Following SIMBEX, India is set to host the International Fleet Review, MILAN exercise, and IONS conclave in Visakhapatnam, further expanding its regional naval footprint . 

Zepto’s Founders Top In Hurun India U30 List 2025

In the News: On July 17, 2025, the inaugural Avendus‑Wealth Hurun India Under‑30 List was unveiled, spotlighting 79 of India’s most dynamic entrepreneurs under 30. Topping the list are Zepto co‑founders Kaivalya Vohra and Aadit Palicha, both aged 22, marking a milestone in youth‑led innovation.

Key Points:

• Top Ranking: Kaivalya Vohra and Aadit Palicha, co‑founders of quick‑commerce giant Zepto, secured the #1 position on the Avendus‑Wealth Hurun India U30 2025 list.
• Youthful Leadership: At just 22 years old, they stand as the youngest entrepreneurs on the list, showcasing rapid success and strategic vision.
• Vibrant Young Entrepreneur Ecosystem: The list highlights a diverse cohort of 79 U30 entrepreneurs across sectors like tech, retail, finance, and healthcare, demonstrating sweeping youth impact.
• Economic Impact: Collectively, these young leaders have raised over $5.2 billion in equity and $270 million in debt, creating more than 64,000 jobs nationwide.
• Mumbai’s Lead: Mumbai emerged as the top city, contributing 15 entrepreneurs—including the Zepto duo—underscoring its strength as an innovation hub.
• First‑Generation Trailblazers: 66 out of the 79 honorees are self‑made founders, signifying a shift toward meritocratic and scalable entrepreneurship. 

UK Lowers Voting Age To 16

In the News: In July 2025, the United Kingdom implemented a landmark electoral reform, officially lowering the voting age from 18 to 16. This major policy shift expands democratic participation and reflects evolving societal attitudes toward youth engagement in politics.

Key Points:

• Reform Announcement: The UK government announced the decision to reduce the minimum voting age to 16 in July 2025, marking a significant shift in electoral policy and civic inclusion.
• Youth Empowerment: The change is aimed at empowering younger citizens, recognizing their stake in long-term national policies such as climate action, education, and digital rights.
• Global Context: With this move, the UK joins countries like Austria, Brazil, and Scotland (in devolved elections), where 16-year-olds already have the right to vote.
• Legislative Action: The reform followed extensive parliamentary debate and was supported by youth-led movements and civil society groups advocating for increased political representation.
• Education Alignment: The government plans to integrate civic education in secondary schools to prepare 16- and 17-year-olds for responsible voting.
• Democracy Milestone: The reform is being hailed as a progressive milestone in the UK’s democratic evolution, potentially influencing similar reforms in other democracies. 

India’s Successful Test of Prithvi-II and Agni-I Ballistic Missiles

In the News: On July 17, 2025, India conducted back-to-back test firings of two short-range ballistic missiles—Prithvi-II and Agni‑I—from its Integrated Test Range at Chandipur, Odisha. Both launches, overseen by the Strategic Forces Command, fully met operational and technical requirements.

Key Points:

• Missile Launch: Prithvi‑II and Agni‑I were successfully test-fired on July 17, 2025, demonstrating routine operational readiness under the Strategic Forces Command
• Purpose & Coverage: Prithvi‑II, with a range of 250–350 km, enhances short-range nuclear and conventional deterrence. Agni‑I, capable of reaching 700–1,200 km, covers strategic targets and bolsters India’s medium-range nuclear deterrent.
• Technical Validation: The launches validated critical operational and technical parameters, confirming missile accuracy, reliability, and performance.
• Strategic Significance: Conducted amid ongoing regional tensions, the tests underscore India's commitment to maintaining a credible and robust nuclear deterrent posture in South Asia.
• Continuity of Defence Preparedness: These drills reflect India's ongoing effort to sustain and modernize its strategic missile capabilities, ensuring the readiness of its deterrence infrastructure.