CURRENT AFFAIRS
08 July, 2025
1. 17TH BRICS SUMMIT –
• India’s Prime Minister took part in the 17th BRICS Summit held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, under the theme “Strengthening Global South Cooperation for More Inclusive and Sustainable Governance,” and signed the Rio de Janeiro Declaration.
• Indonesia officially joined BRICS, while Belarus, Bolivia, Kazakhstan, Cuba, Nigeria, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Uganda, and Uzbekistan were welcomed as BRICS partner countries.
• India will assume the BRICS Chairship and host the 18th BRICS Summit in 2026.
What are the Key Outcomes of the 17th BRICS Summit?
• Global Governance Reform: BRICS backed expansion of the UN Security Council to include more permanent members from Asia, Africa, and Latin America for greater Global South representation, urged IMF and World Bank reforms to reflect Emerging Markets and Developing Countries’ (EMDCs) role, and supported a rules-based WTO.
• Sustainable Development: BRICS adopted the Leaders’ Framework Declaration on Climate Finance to mobilize resources for developing countries and endorsed an MoU on the BRICS Carbon Markets Partnership to enhance cooperation in carbon pricing and emissions trading.
• Peace and Security: BRICS reaffirmed “African Solutions to African Problems”, called for a Gaza ceasefire and two-state solution. BRICS leaders condemned the Pahalgam attack, and India stressed that terrorism must be rejected on principle, not treated as a matter of convenience.
• Financial Cooperation: BRICS advanced talks on a Cross-Border Payments Initiative to reduce US dollar reliance, supported the New Development Bank’s expansion, and the BRICS Multilateral Guarantees (BMG) pilot to de-risk investments.
2. INDIA BECOMES 4TH ‘MOST EQUAL’ COUNTRY GLOBALLY –
• India is not only the world’s fourth-largest economy but is also ranked among the most equal societies today. According to the World Bank, India’s Gini Index stands at 25.5, making it the fourth most equal country globally.
What is the Gini Index ?
• About: The Gini index, or Gini coefficient, was developed in 1912 by Italian statistician Corrado Gini. It measures income inequality within a population.
• The index is derived from the Lorenz curve, which plots the cumulative percentage of total income received against the cumulative percentage of recipients, starting with the poorest.
• The Gini coefficient quantifies the area between the Lorenz curve and the line of perfect equality (a 45-degree line), with values ranging from 0 (perfect equality) to 1 (maximum inequality), or 0 to 100 when expressed as a percentage (where 0 indicates perfect equality and 100 indicates maximum inequality). A lower Gini value reflects a more equitable society.
3. INDIA ALLOWS PAKISTANI ATHLETES AMID VISA SUSPENSION –
• India suspended visa services for Pakistani nationals following terror attacks in Pahalgam. Despite this, the government clarified that Pakistani athletes would still be allowed to participate in multi-nation sports tournaments hosted in India. This move separates sports diplomacy from political tensions and reflects adherence to international sports regulations.
Background
• The visa suspension was a response to security concerns after terror attacks. However, Indian officials confirmed that this ban would not extend to Pakistani athletes in multi-nation events. This policy aims to maintain India’s commitments to international sports bodies and ensure uninterrupted hosting of major tournaments.
4. HARYANA TO BUILD ASIA’S BIGGEST JUNGLE SAFARI –
• The Haryana government has announced that it will build Asia’s largest jungle safari in the Aravalli Hills. The project was shared on July 6, 2025, and it will cover around 10,000 acres of forest land.
• The main goal is to protect animals and nature, while also boosting tourism and creating new jobs for people. This is an important step for both environmental conservation and eco-tourism in India.
5. NEERAJ CHOPRA WINS FIRST NEERAJ CHOPRA CLASSIC IN BENGALURU –
• Neeraj Chopra, India’s Olympic and World Champion in javelin, once again showed why he is among the best in the world. Competing on home soil, he delivered his winning throw of 86.18 metres in his third attempt. His performance drew loud cheers from the local crowd in Bengaluru.
• He had a strong start, reaching 82.99 metres in his second throw. His third throw sealed the win. He made a foul in his fourth throw but came back with 84.07 metres in his fifth and 82.22 metres in his final attempt.
Others on the Podium
• Kenya’s Julius Yego, a former world champion, gave a tough fight and secured second place with a season-best throw of 84.51 metres. Sri Lanka’s Rumesh Pathirage finished third with 84.34 metres.
• The competition was close among the top three, but Neeraj maintained a clear lead with his best throw.
MCQ QUIZ
Q1. Which state government has launched Mukhyamantri Vrindavan Gram Yojana to develop model rural villages ?
a) Rajasthan
b) Uttar Pradesh
c) Madhya Pradesh
d) Gujarat
Q2. Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla recently interacted with students from the International Space Station using which radio service ?
a) Amateur radio (Ham radio)
b) Citizens band radio (CB radio)
c) MicroMobile Radio
d) Walkie-Talkies
Q3. The term “Girmitiyas”, recently mentioned in news, refers to which group of people ?
a) Tribal farmers
b) Indian indentured labourers sent to British colonies
c) Freedom fighters
d) British officers in India
Q4. Which among the following government initiatives contributed to reducing inequality in India ?
1. PM Jan Dhan Yojana
2. Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT)
3. Ayushman Bharat
4. National Smart Cities Mission
a) 1, 2 and 3 only
b) 2 and 4 only
c) 1 and 3 only
d) All four
Explanation-
• PM Jan Dhan Yojana: Brought banking to the poor, improving financial access.
• DBT: Reduced leakages and improved targeted welfare delivery.
• Ayushman Bharat: Provided health insurance, improving equality in healthcare access.
• Smart Cities Mission is not directly aimed at income inequality; it focuses on urban infrastructure.
Q5. Which of the following was not one of the four key proposals made by India at the BRICS Summit 2025?
a) Responsible use of Artificial Intelligence
b) BRICS Space Alliance for joint satellite launches
c) Strengthening supply chain resilience
d) Collaborative science and research repository
Explanation-
• India proposed:
• AI for All (Responsible AI)
• Resilient Supply Chains
• Collaborative Research Repository
• Improving BRICS systems (financial credibility)
• BRICS Space Alliance was not proposed.
Answer Key
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
C | A | B | A | B |