CURRENT AFFAIRS 28 July, 2025

1. INDIA-MALDIVES RELATIONS –

• Recently, the prime minister visited the Maldives at the invitation of Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu.
• The Prime Minister will be the ‘Guest of Honour’ at the celebrations of the 60th anniversary of the Independence of Maldives on July 26, 2025.
• This will be the Prime Minister’s third visit to Maldives, and the first visit by a Head of State or Government to Maldives during the Presidency of H.E. Dr. Mohamed Muizzu.

Key Highlights of PM Modi’s Maldives Visit

• Economic Cooperation
• Line of Credit (LoC): India announced a ₹4,850 crore ($565 million) LoC to Maldives to support development projects.
• Debt Relief: India reduced Maldives’ annual debt repayment obligations on GoI-funded LoCs.
• India-Maldives Free Trade Agreement (IMFTA): Both countries initiated negotiations for a bilateral Free Trade Agreement (FTA).
• Bilateral Investment Treaty: Discussions to finalise a treaty to boost investments.
• Digital Transformation: MoUs signed for digital cooperation and other sectors.

Defence & Security Cooperation

• India assured continued support to strengthen Maldives’ defence capabilities.
• 72 vehicles provided to the Maldivian Defence Ministry.
• Mutual trust highlighted in defence and security collaboration.
• Diplomatic & Cultural Ties
• PM Modi described ties as “older than history, deep as the ocean”.
• Maldives is India’s “neighbour and co-traveller”.

2. INDIA HAS MADE REMARKABLE PROGRESS ON ITS CLIMATE COMMITMENTS UNDER THE PARIS AGREEMENT 2015, ACHIEVING ONE OF ITS MAJOR TARGETS FIVE YEARS AHEAD OF SCHEDULE AND NEARING COMPLETION ON THE OTHER TWO –

What is the Status of India’s Climate Commitments ?

• Non-Fossil Fuel Capacity: India achieved its non-fossil fuel capacity target in 2024—five years ahead of schedule (2030)—with 242.78 GW (around 50%) of its 484.82 GW total installed capacity from non-fossil sources (solar, wind, hydro, nuclear).
• Carbon Sink: India had pledged to create an additional 2.5–3 billion tonnes of carbon sink through forests and tree cover.
• By 2021, it had already achieved 2.29 billion tonnes, and with a yearly increase of around 150 million tonnes (2017–2021), the total likely crossed 2.5 billion tonnes by 2023.
• Emissions Intensity: India pledged to reduce the emissions intensity of its GDP by 45% from 2005 levels by 2030, and had already achieved a 36% reduction by 2020.
• Despite limited recent data, current trends suggest India is on track to comfortably meet or exceed this target.

3. CENTRAL GOVT. FORMS PANEL FOR COP-33 IN 2028 –

• India has initiated preparations to host the 33rd United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP33) in 2028, marking a significant step in its climate leadership efforts. The Union Environment Ministry has set up a dedicated COP33 Cell to manage the requirements of this global event.

Background

• The Conference of the Parties (COP) is the supreme decision-making body of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), adopted in 1992. These annual meetings assess global progress in combating climate change, especially after the Paris Agreement of 2015, which aims to limit global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.

Significance

• Hosting COP33 would strengthen India’s position as a key player in international climate negotiations. It would allow India to showcase its climate initiatives, renewable energy progress, and commitment to sustainable development while also influencing global policy directions.

Objectives

• The primary aim of hosting COP33 is to provide a platform for multilateral cooperation on climate action. It seeks to mobilize commitments, enhance accountability, and accelerate the transition towards low-carbon, climate-resilient economies across the globe.

4. INDIA–SINGAPORE JOINT MILITARY EXERCISE ‘BOLD KURUKSHETRA 2025’ –

• India and Singapore commenced the joint military exercise ‘Bold Kurukshetra 2025’ in the desert region of Jodhpur, Rajasthan, with a focus on enhancing combat interoperability, especially in urban warfare and counter-terrorism. The exercise underscores the deepening strategic partnership between the two nations and represents a crucial step in preparing both armies for contemporary battlefield challenges.

Background

• ‘Bold Kurukshetra’ is a bilateral military exercise between the Indian Army and the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF), initiated under the framework of enhanced defence cooperation. The exercise is part of a broader defence engagement that includes naval and air exercises like SIMBEX (naval) and Joint Air Training. Previous editions of Bold Kurukshetra have been held in both India and Singapore, with each iteration building on lessons from the last.

Objectives

• Enhance Interoperability: To ensure seamless joint operations during multi-nation deployments.
• Improve Urban Warfare Skills: Focused training in urban combat tactics, vital for modern military engagements.
• Strengthen Counter: Terrorism Preparedness: Real-time drills on neutralising threats in complex environments.
• Boost Tactical Coordination: Joint planning, intelligence sharing, and real-time decision-making in simulated conditions.

5. INDIA’S FIRST HYDROGEN-POWERED TRAIN COACH SUCCESSFULLY TESTED –

• India has entered a new era of green transportation with the successful testing of its first hydrogen-powered train coach at the Integral Coach Factory (ICF), Chennai, on July 25, 2025.
• This breakthrough marks a critical step toward sustainable mobility in railways and places India among a handful of countries adopting hydrogen-based rail technology. The initiative is part of a broader push to meet India’s net-zero emissions targets and modernize its railway infrastructure with clean energy alternatives.

Background

• The concept of hydrogen trains emerged globally as an alternative to diesel-powered locomotives, especially on non-electrified tracks. Countries like Germany, France, and Japan have already deployed hydrogen trains in limited routes. India began exploring hydrogen-based rail technology under its “Hydrogen for Heritage” initiative in 2023.
• The Railway Ministry proposed retrofitting DEMUs (Diesel Electric Multiple Units) and developing new hydrogen-powered trains to support clean transport in heritage and hill routes.

MCQ QUIZ

Q1.  Which organization has launched the global initiative ‘Global Specs 2030’ to provide affordable eye care for all by 2030 ?

1. a) European Union (EU)
2. b) United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)
3. c) World Bank
4. d) World Health Organization (WHO)

Q2.  Where was India’s first hydrogen-powered coach successfully tested ?

1. a) Chennai
2. b) Varanasi
3. c) Bengaluru
4. d) Raebareli

Q3.  Trimbakeshwar Shiva Temple, that was recently seen in news, is located in which state ?

1. a) Gujarat
2. b) Madhya Pradesh
3. c) Odisha
4. d) Maharashtra

Q4.  Consider the following statements regarding the UAV-Launched Precision Guided Missile (ULPGM)-V3:

1. It is a fire-and-forget missile that relies exclusively on a LASER guidance system for targeting.
2. The missile has a uniform effective range for both day and night operations.
3. It was developed solely by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) without private sector collaboration.

          How many of the above statements are correct ?

1. a) Only one
2. b) Only two
3. c) All three
4. d) None

Explanation-

• Statement 1 is incorrect: The ULPGM-V3 is a fire-and-forget missile, but its guidance is based on an imaging infrared (IIR) seeker, not a LASER guidance system. The IIR seeker allows for autonomous target acquisition and tracking during both day and night without external illumination.
• Statement 2 is incorrect: The missile’s effective range is not uniform. It has an extended range of 4 km for daytime operations, but this is reduced to 5 km during the night due to the operational characteristics of its IIR seeker and thermal contrast limitations.
• Statement 3 is incorrect: The development of ULPGM-V3 is a prime example of a public-private partnership under the Make in India initiative. It was developed by DRDO in collaboration with Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL), Adani Defence & Aerospace, and several MSMEs and start-ups.

Q5.  The Ta Muen Thom temple complex, a site of recent border tensions, is located on a strategic mountain pass along the historical highway that connected which two ancient centres ?

1. a) Sukhothai (Thailand) and Pagan (Myanmar)
2. b) Phimai (Thailand) and Angkor (Cambodia)
3. c) Ayutthaya (Thailand) and Luang Prabang (Laos)
4. d) Borobudur (Indonesia) and Wat Phu (Laos)

Explanation-

• The Ta Muen Thom temple complex occupies a strategically significant location on the Dangrek mountain range, which forms a natural border between modern-day Thailand and Cambodia.
• This location was not arbitrary; it was situated on the ancient Khmer Highway. This major route was crucial for trade, pilgrimage, and military movements during the zenith of the Khmer Empire.
• It directly connected the empire’s grand capital, Angkor (in present-day Cambodia), with one of its major provincial administrative and religious centres, Phimai (in present-day northeastern Thailand).
• The temple complex itself, including structures like a hospital shrine and a rest house (Dharma Sala), served travellers along this vital artery.

Answer Key