19 July 2025 Current Affairs (With PDF)

Stay updated with 19 July 2025 Current Affairs on this page! We bring you the most relevant and important news updates from around the world and India, specially curated for competitive exams and different entrance exams. Today's Current Affairs cover all significant national and international headlines, legal updates, economic news, and environmental highlights to boost your preparation. With our crisp, to-the-point coverage, you can confidently tackle current affairs questions in your exams. 

Global Wetland Outlook 2025

The Global Wetland Outlook 2025, released by the Secretariat of the Ramsar Convention, presents a comprehensive update on the state of wetlands worldwide, their degradation trends, and action priorities aligned with global biodiversity goals.

Key Findings of the Global Wetland Outlook 2025

1. Global Wetland Extent

• Wetlands — encompassing inland freshwater, coastal, and marine ecosystems — now cover an estimated 1,800 million hectares globally.

2. Worsening Wetland Health

• 22% of wetlands worldwide have been lost since 1970, signaling alarming environmental degradation.
• Low-income and lower-middle-income countries (LICs/LMICs) report a disproportionately higher share of wetlands in poor ecological condition.
• Africa’s wetlands are among the most severely degraded across the globe.

Major Threats

• Rapid and unplanned urban expansion
• Industrialization and large-scale infrastructure projects
• Disconnected planning that overlooks wetland-dependent biodiversity and communities

Strategic Alignment

• The Ramsar Convention’s goals now reflect and reinforce the targets under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KM-GBF), especially in terms of habitat protection, ecosystem services, and nature-based solutions.

Notable Case Studies

1. Regional Flyway Initiative

• A $3 billion collaboration across Asia.
• Aims to restore over 140 wetlands vital to migratory birds and supporting nearly 200 million people.

2. Seychelles’ Blue Bond Innovation

• Seychelles pioneered the issuance of the world’s first sovereign “blue bond”, a financial instrument aimed at marine conservation and sustainable fisheries management.

Recommendations and Way Forward

1. Mainstreaming Wetlands in National Policies

• Integrate wetlands into national development and climate strategies.
• Recognize their importance in natural capital accounting and water security frameworks.

2. Hydrological Significance

• Acknowledge wetlands’ central role in regulating the global water cycle, supporting biodiversity, and providing critical ecosystem services.

3. Financing Mechanisms

Promote innovative financial solutions such as:

• Green bonds, blue bonds
• Results-based financing instruments
• Nature-linked debt mechanisms

About the Ramsar Convention (1971)

• A global intergovernmental treaty for the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands.
• Establishes a legal and policy framework for wise use of wetland resources.
• India became a signatory in 1982, and currently has 75 Ramsar-designated wetlands.

 

Swachh Survekshan 2024-25 Awards

The President of India conferred the Swachh Survekshan 2024-25 Awards, recognising outstanding efforts of Indian cities in promoting cleanliness and sustainable urban living under the Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban).

Swachh Survekshan 2024-25: Key Highlights

• Edition: 9th edition of the world’s largest urban sanitation survey.
• Theme: “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle”
• Organised by: Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA)
• Purpose: To foster healthy competition among cities, promote citizen engagement, and enhance cleanliness across urban India.

Award Categories

1. Population-Based Classification

Cities were grouped into 5 categories:

• Million Plus Cities: Population above 10 lakh
• Big Cities: 3–10 lakh
• Medium Cities: 50,000–3 lakh
• Small Cities: 20,000–50,000
• Very Small Cities: Below 20,000

2. New Category Introduced

• Super Swachh League Cities: Introduced to honour cities demonstrating consistent excellence in previous surveys.
• Winners: Indore, Surat, and Navi Mumbai

3. Top Performers (Swachh Shehar)

• Leading Cities: Ahmedabad, Bhopal, and Lucknow emerged as the cleanest in their respective categories.

4. Special Recognitions

• Ganga Towns
• Cantonment Boards
• SafaiMitra Suraksha
• Mahakumbh Cleanliness Initiatives

5. State-Level Recognition

• Promising Clean Cities Awards: Presented to 34 cities across various States/UTs for remarkable efforts.

 

New Initiatives Launched

Swachh City Partnership Programme

• Concept: Each of the 78 top-performing cities will mentor one underperforming city from their respective State.
• Objective: Knowledge-sharing and collaborative improvement in sanitation.

Accelerated Dumpsite Remediation Programme

• Goal: One-year focused effort to eliminate legacy waste dumpsites and enhance scientific waste processing.

About Swachh Survekshan

1. Initiated in:

• 2016 under Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban)

2. Survey Methodology:

• Data Submission: By Urban Local Bodies (ULBs)
• Document Review: Validated through a structured assessment
• Field Verification: Conducted by an independent third-party agency

3. Evaluation Components

• Swachh Survekshan (80% weightage): Includes data, documentation, and field assessment.
• Certification (20% weightage): Based on ODF+, ODF++, and Water+ status.

Significance

• Enhances citizen awareness and participation in sanitation.
• Encourages cities to innovate in waste management and hygiene practices.
• Strengthens public accountability in urban governance.

 

CARA ‘s Directives to State Adoption Resource Agencies

The Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA) has issued fresh directives to States/UTs aimed at strengthening psychosocial counseling support at every stage of the child adoption process. These guidelines align with the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 (amended 2021) and the Adoption Regulations, 2022.

Key Directives to State Adoption Resource Agencies (SARAs)

1. Enhanced Counseling Support

Build a robust psychosocial framework to support:

• Prospective Adoptive Parents (PAPs)
• Adopted Children
• Biological Parents

2. Professional Support Structure

• Empanel and designate trained counselors at both District and State levels.
• Ensure the availability of qualified mental health professionals to support all stakeholders throughout the adoption journey.

3. Customized Interventions

• Enable Specialised Adoption Agencies (SAAs) and District Child Protection Units (DCPUs) to assess specific situations and provide targeted psychosocial interventions wherever necessary.

 

Child Adoption in India – Legal and Institutional Framework

Nodal Ministry

• Ministry of Women and Child Development (MoWCD)

Governing Laws

• Hindu Adoption and Maintenance Act, 1956
• Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000 (and its 2015 and 2021 amendments)

International Commitments

Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption (1993):

• Ensures ethical, transparent, and legal procedures in cross-border adoptions.
• India ratified the Convention in 2003.

 

Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA)

About CARA

1. A statutory body under the MoWCD.

2. Functions as the nodal agency to regulate:

• In-country (domestic) adoptions
• Inter-country adoptions

International Role

• Designated as the Central Authority for intercountry adoptions under the Hague Convention.
• Ensures safeguards against child trafficking and promotes child-centric practices.

Role of State/UT-Level Institutions

• State Adoption Resource Agencies (SARAs): Facilitate adoption and implement CARA’s directives.
• Child Welfare Committees (CWCs): Declare children legally free for adoption.
• District Child Protection Units (DCPUs): Assist in placement, follow-up, and counseling of adoptive families.

 

Centre to Form Technical Committee on Polavaram Banakacherla Link Project

The Central Government has decided to constitute a high-level technical committee to address the ongoing inter-state water-sharing dispute between Telangana and Andhra Pradesh concerning the Polavaram Banakacherla Link Project (PBLP).

About the Polavaram Project

1. Location:

• On the Godavari River, near Ramayyapeta village, Polavaram Mandal, Andhra Pradesh

2. Objectives:

• Irrigation development
• Generation of hydropower
• Drinking water supply
• Diversion of surplus water to the Krishna river basin, particularly to benefit the drought-prone Rayalaseema region

Key Contention

• Telangana has accused Andhra Pradesh of violating provisions of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014, which outlines the framework for inter-state river water sharing post-bifurcation.

 

Legal and Constitutional Framework for Inter-State River Water Disputes

Statutory Provisions

1. Inter-State River Water Disputes (ISRWD) Act, 1956

• Empowers the Central Government to set up a Water Disputes Tribunal for adjudication.
• Tribunals are quasi-judicial bodies with exclusive jurisdiction over referred disputes.

2. River Boards Act, 1956

Provides for the establishment of River Boards by the Centre for:

• Regulation
• Development and coordination of water resources in inter-state rivers and valleys

Constitutional Provisions

1. Article 262

• Empowers Parliament to make laws for the adjudication of disputes relating to inter-state river waters.
• Parliament enacted the ISRWD Act under this article.
• Clause (2): Prohibits the Supreme Court or any other court from exercising jurisdiction over disputes referred to a tribunal.

2. Entry 56 of Union List (Seventh Schedule)

• Grants Parliament authority over regulation and development of inter-state rivers and river valleys, to the extent that such regulation is in the public interest.

Way Forward

• The Centre’s move to set up a technical committee seeks to provide an expert assessment of the PBLP concerns and resolve the inter-state impasse through technical and legal mediation, rather than extended litigation.

 

Supreme Court Grants Equal Succession Rights to Tribal Women

The Supreme Court of India has ruled that tribal women cannot be denied inheritance rights solely based on customary practices, thereby reinforcing gender equality and constitutional morality.

Key Highlights of the Judgment (Ram Charan & Ors. vs. Sukhram & Ors7)

1. Violation of Fundamental Rights:

• Denial of inheritance to tribal women violates Article 14 (equality before law) and Article 15 (prohibition of discrimination) of the Constitution.

2. Constitutional Ethos:

• Articles 38 and 46 reinforce the State’s obligation to promote justice and eliminate inequalities, particularly for women and weaker sections.

3. Status of the Hindu Succession Act, 1956:

• While the Act excludes Scheduled Tribes under Section 2(2), it does not imply automatic exclusion of tribal women from equal succession.

4. Application of Justice and Equity:

• In the absence of clear, proven, and reasonable customs, courts must apply principles of justice, equity, and good conscience.

Important Precedents Cited

1. Mst. Sarwango v. Mst. Urchamahin (2013):

• Held that daughters are entitled to inherit tribal property based on equity and fairness.

2. Tirith Kumar v. Daduram (2024):

• Reinforced the equal right of tribal women to ancestral property.

Custom as a Source of Law: A Judicial Perspective

1. Nature of Custom:

• Recognized as one of the oldest sources of law, derived from long-standing practices.

2. Judicial Test for Valid Custom:

To be legally binding, a custom must be:

• Ancient
• Reasonable
• Morally sound
• Not opposed to public policy

3. When Custom Fails the Test:

• Customs promoting discrimination or obscurantism (e.g. Sati, child marriage, triple talaq) cannot be upheld.

Significance of the Verdict

• Marks a progressive shift from earlier judicial hesitation in interfering with tribal customs.
• Promotes gender justice and aligns tribal rights with constitutional guarantees.
• Strengthens the legal empowerment of tribal women across India.

 

National Financial Reporting Authority

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has appointed a new Chairperson of NFRA, India's apex body for accounting and auditing oversight.

About NFRA

• Established: 2018
• Constituted Under: Section 132 of the Companies Act, 2013
• Headquarters: New Delhi
• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA)

Functions and Responsibilities

1. Regulatory Recommendations:

• Recommends accounting and auditing standards to be adopted by companies.

2. Compliance Oversight:

• Monitors and enforces compliance with prescribed accounting and auditing standards.

3. Quality Assurance:

• Oversees the quality of service of professionals in accounting and auditing.

4. Adjudicatory Functions:

• Has the power to investigate, discipline, and impose penalties on audit firms and chartered accountants for misconduct (in certain cases).

5. Incidental Duties:

• Performs other functions as may be necessary or incidental to its primary roles.

Significance of NFRA

• Enhances transparency, accountability, and credibility in corporate financial reporting.
• Addresses gaps in the regulation of auditors and audit firms post major financial frauds (e.g., IL&FS).
• Acts as an independent regulator, separate from ICAI, for large public interest entities.

 

Economic Census

The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) has proposed integrating the 8th Economic Census’s preliminary work with the upcoming 16th Population Census, to improve coordination and data accuracy.

About Economic Census

• Conducted By: MoSPI (Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation)
• Purpose: To carry out a comprehensive enumeration of all entrepreneurial and economic establishments across India at a specific point in time.

Key Objectives & Scope

1. Captures Data On:

• Ownership patterns (proprietorship, partnership, private/public limited, etc.)
• Number of persons engaged (including hired workers and family labour)
• Nature and type of economic activity
• Sector-wise and geographical distribution of enterprises

2. Utility:

• Acts as a vital input for policy formulation, planning, and implementation of various development schemes.

Significance of Integration with Population Census

• Reduces duplication of efforts and resources
• Enhances data quality and coverage efficiency
• Enables holistic understanding of both demographic and economic landscapes

 

Pradhan Mantri Virasat Ka Samvardhan

Skill training and women entrepreneurship development projects under the PM VIKAS scheme have been launched at IIIT Kottayam for the benefit of minority candidates.

About Pradhan Mantri Virasat Ka Samvardhan (PM VIKAS)

1. Ministry:

• Ministry of Minority Affairs

2. Type:

• Central Sector Scheme

3. Launched to Empower and uplift six officially recognized minority communities in India through:

• Skill development
• Entrepreneurship support
• Leadership training for women
• Educational support for school dropouts

Scheme Convergence

PM VIKAS consolidates and streamlines five earlier standalone schemes:

• Seekho aur Kamao – Skill development for youth
• Nai Manzil – Education and livelihood initiative for school dropouts
• Nai Roshni – Leadership development for minority women
• USTTAD – Preservation of traditional arts and crafts
• Hamari Dharohar – Cultural heritage conservation

Target Beneficiaries

The scheme specifically focuses on the following six notified minority communities: Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Zoroastrians (Parsis)

Implementation Strategy

• Implemented in convergence with the Skill India Mission
• Aims to promote inclusive growth, reduce socio-economic disparities, and enhance employability among minorities

 

Global Findex 2025 Report Released by the World Bank

The World Bank has published the Global Findex 2025 report, offering comprehensive insights into global progress on financial and digital inclusion, with a special focus on developing economies.

India-Specific Highlights

1. High Account Ownership:

• Around 90% of Indian adults now own a financial account, indicating strong outreach of formal banking systems.

2. Inactive Accounts Remain a Challenge:

• 16% of account holders in India do not actively use their accounts.
• This figure is significantly higher than the global average of 4% for other low- and middle-income countries.

3. Improvement in Gender Parity:

• The proportion of women and men with inactive accounts has declined between 2021 and 2024, showing improved engagement across genders.

4. Barriers to Mobile Ownership:

• The cost of mobile devices and inadequate mobile network coverage remain the primary hurdles to expanding mobile-based financial access.

 

SIMBEX 2025: India – Singapore Maritime Bilateral Exercise

Indian Navy is set to participate in the 32nd edition of the Singapore-India Maritime Bilateral Exercise (SIMBEX) in Singapore.

About SIMBEX

1. Origin:

• Initiated in 1994 as Exercise Lion King, later renamed SIMBEX.

2. Nature:

• An annual bilateral naval exercise between the Indian Navy and the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN).

Significance:

• One of India’s longest uninterrupted maritime exercises with any foreign navy.
• Showcases the deepening strategic and naval cooperation between India and Singapore.

Strategic Relevance

• Supports India’s Vision SAGAR: Security and Growth for All in the Region—India’s maritime cooperation framework for the Indian Ocean Region.
• Part of India’s Act East Policy: Reinforces India’s commitment to engage with Southeast Asia through enhanced defense and maritime collaboration.

 

Prime Missile Successfully Tested in Ladakh

India has achieved a significant milestone in its air defence capabilities by successfully neutralizing two high-speed aerial targets at high altitude using the Akash Prime missile system in the Union Territory of Ladakh.

About Akash Prime

1. Developer:

• Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)

2. Type:

• Advanced version of the Akash Surface-to-Air Missile (SAM) system

3. Special Features:

• Engineered to function in extreme weather conditions, including sub-zero temperatures
• Capable of high performance in high-altitude regions (above 4,500 metres)
• Designed for low-oxygen environments, making it ideal for deployment in mountainous terrain

 

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