Daily Current Affairs- 19th July 2025

Daily Current Affairs- 19th July 2025

Mahila Aarogyam Kaksh

In the News: The Department of Legal Affairs, Ministry of Law & Justice, inaugurated the Mahila Aarogyam Kaksh at Shastri Bhawan—an innovative wellness centre for women government employees—officiated by Union MoS (Independent Charge) for Law & Justice, Shri Arjun Ram Meghwal.

Key Points:

• Purpose & Location: Established in a repurposed garage space within Shastri Bhawan, the centre provides a gym area and private lactation room tailored exclusively for women employees
• Wellness Objectives: Aimed at fostering physical fitness, mental well-being, and better work–life balance, encouraging women to prioritize self-care without guilt.
• Institutional Significance: This marks the first initiative institutionalizing gender-sensitive wellness infrastructure in a government office, reinforcing human-centric workplace reform.
• Leadership & Vision: Shri Arjun Ram Meghwal linked the launch to the national ‘Hum Fit Toh India Fit’ movement, stressing women’s health as vital to a productive and inclusive nation.
• Inclusive Culture: Law Secretary Dr. Anju Rathi Rana highlighted that the space reminds women that self-care is essential and foundational to empowerment—not a luxury.
• Wider Impact: The initiative exemplifies a shift in imagining government offices as supportive environments that prioritize employee well-being, aligning with India's broader goals of a fit and equitable workforce . 

NSCSTI 2.0 Framework Launched to Upgrade Civil Services Training in India

In the News: The Union Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions Dr. Jitendra Singh officially launched the NSCSTI 2.0 framework, developed by the Capacity Building Commission (CBC) under Mission Karmayogi, at CSOI, New Delhi .

Key Points:

• Framework Launch: NSCSTI 2.0 (National Standards for Civil Services Training Institutions) marks a modernization milestone, introducing a streamlined, inclusive, and tech-enabled accreditation system for civil services training institutes .
• Enhanced Assessment: The evaluation metrics have been reduced from 59 to 43, prioritizing clarity, outcome orientation, and efficiency in institutional performance reviews .
• Digital & AI Integration: The framework supports hybrid learning models, artificial intelligence, and the Amrit Gyaan Kosh (AGK) digital repository, aligning with global standards and India-specific knowledge systems .
• Competency-Based Training: It incorporates the Karmayogi Competency Model (KCM) and Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS), and promotes peer benchmarking and continuous improvement across central, state, and local body training institutes .
• Global Recognition: Over 195 Civil Services Training Institutions (CSTIs) have already been accredited under the framework, and countries like Bangladesh, South Africa, and Maldives have shown interest in adopting similar reforms.
• Institutional Excellence: NSCSTI 2.0 emphasizes quality assurance and accountability, fostering a future-ready, citizen-centric civil service that supports India’s governance and capacity-building objectives . 

PM Modi Launches Rs.7,200 Crore Infrastructure Projects in Bihar

In the News: Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated infrastructure projects worth over ₹7,200 crore in Motihari, Bihar. The projects cover critical sectors such as railways, roads, energy, and urban development, and aim to integrate Bihar into India’s broader development vision under the Viksit Bharat programme.

Key Points:

• Project Launch: PM Modi launched multiple development initiatives in Motihari, signaling a strategic push to enhance Bihar’s connectivity and infrastructure.
• Total Outlay: The cumulative investment of ₹7,200 crore includes major allocations for national highway expansion, railway infrastructure upgrades, and electricity transmission projects.
• Rail and Road Infrastructure: Projects include doubling of railway lines, electrification of sections under East Central Railway, and expansion of National Highway-227 and NH-28B corridors to improve trade and mobility.
• Urban and Energy Initiatives: The PM laid the foundation for smart city projects and new sub-stations to strengthen Bihar’s power grid and urban amenities
• .National Integration: These infrastructure schemes align with the Centre’s Viksit Bharat vision, focusing on regional equity and holistic development in states like Bihar.
• Public Participation: PM Modi emphasized the importance of people’s involvement in development and reaffirmed the Centre’s commitment to accelerating Bihar’s growth trajectory.
• Political Context: The visit comes ahead of the 2025 Bihar Legislative Assembly elections, making the launch a key part of the government’s public outreach and development agenda. 

INS Nistar Commissioned: India’s First Indigenous Diving Support Vessel
In the News:  India’s first indigenously designed and constructed diving support vessel, INS Nistar, was commissioned into the Indian Navy at the Naval Dockyard in Visakhapatnam. The ceremony was officiated by Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth and attended by Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi.

Key Points:

• Operational Capability: INS Nistar is equipped with deep-sea saturation diving systems, submarine rescue technology (including a DSRV mothership role), ROVs, side-scan sonar, hyperbaric chambers, and a 15 tonne subsea crane—enabling complex rescue and salvage missions up to ~300 m depth
• Indigenous Content: Built by Hindustan Shipyard Ltd with over 80% domestic content and participation of 120 MSMEs, marking a significant stride in India’s defence self-reliance
• Strategic Significance: Enhances India’s underwater rescue and submarine support capability, placing her among a select group of navies with such deep-sea rescue vessels; reinforces India as a “Preferred Submarine Rescue Partner” in the Indo-Pacific region.
• Legacy & Scale: INS Nistar (118 m, >10,000 ton displacement) succeeds the earlier Soviet-era Nistar (commissioned 1971); it joins its sister ship INS Nipun and the older INS Nireekshak in India’s expanding deep-sea rescue fleet
• .First Responder Role: With an onboard ICU, operation theatre, helipad, and long endurance (60 days at sea), the vessel is positioned as a multi-role asset for search-and-rescue, disaster relief, and support to regional maritime security.

India Raises Reserve Prices For Wheat And Rice

In the News: The Government of India increased reserve prices for wheat and rice from its strategic foodgrain reserves, to be sold through open-market e‑auctions under the OMSS‑D scheme. This move supports farmers, manages surplus stocks, and aims to curb food inflation.

Key Points:

• Reserve Price Changes for Wheat: Set at ₹2,550/quintal (up ~10.9%)—valid for all rabi seasons through June 30, 2026; significantly above MSP of ₹2,425/quintal (a 6.6% MSP rise)
• Reserve Price Changes for Rice: From November 1, 2025, prices vary by buyer: ₹2,890/quintal for private/co‑ops (25% broken), ₹2,320 for state/ethanol use, and ₹3,090 for custom‑milled rice (10% broken)—all ~3.2% above prior prices.
• Record Stocks: As of June 1, 2025, central pool held ~37.9 Mt of rice and ~36.9 Mt of wheat—among the highest in recent years—enabling offloading without risking buffer norms.
• Rationale: Aligning with MSP hikes, curbing inflation, managing surplus stocks, and preserving buffer stock levels under PDS and emergency norms. 

Senegal Declared Free of Trachoma by WHO

In the News: The World Health Organization (WHO) officially declared Senegal free of trachoma, recognizing it as the ninth African country and 25th globally to eliminate the disease as a public health problem.

Key Points:

• WHO Validation: WHO confirmed that Senegal had met the criteria for trachoma elimination under its public health guidelines.
• Reduction Timeline: Trachoma was first mapped nationally in 2000, with full disease mapping completed by 2017, marking decades of focused intervention.
• SAFE Strategy Implementation: Senegal adopted the WHO-endorsed SAFE protocol—Surgery, Antibiotics (azithromycin), Facial cleanliness, and Environmental improvements—reaching 2.8 million people across 24 district.
• Nationwide Commitment: The elimination effort was led by Senegal’s Ministry of Health in coordination with national programs PNLC and PNPSO, with strong support from WHO and partners.
• Neglected Tropical Disease Milestone: This victory follows Senegal's earlier achievement in eliminating dracunculiasis (Guinea-worm disease) in 2004, underscoring progressive gains in combating NTDs.
• Sustained Vigilance: Even after validation, WHO will continue assisting Senegal in surveillance to ensure the disease does not return to previously endemic communities. 

US Designates The Resistance Front As Terrorist Group

In the News: The U.S. Department of State officially designated The Resistance Front (TRF) as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) and a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT). This decision comes in the wake of heightened international scrutiny of proxy terror networks operating in South Asia.

Key Points:

• Designation by the US Government: The Resistance Front (TRF) was classified as an FTO under Section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act and as an SDGT under Executive Order 13224. These legal tools allow for blocking financial assets and restricting international movement.
• Connection to Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT): TRF is considered a proxy of the Pakistan-based terrorist group Lashkar-e-Taiba, already designated as a terrorist entity by multiple global agencies. TRF has been held responsible for several attacks in Jammu & Kashmir, including the Pahalgam ambush
• Sanctions and Restrictions: The designation ensures that all TRF assets subject to U.S. jurisdiction are frozen, and U.S. persons are barred from providing any material support to the group.
• Impact on Counterterrorism Cooperation: The move reflects strengthening U.S.–India collaboration in counterterrorism efforts and aims to disrupt the financing and logistical operations of groups threatening regional peace.
• Strategic Signal: This designation sends a strong message against state-sponsored terrorism and highlights Washington’s commitment to global efforts to dismantle terror infrastructure, especially in sensitive regions like South Asia.