CURRENT AFFAIRS
09 July, 2025
1. 17TH BRICS SUMMIT 2025 RIO DE JANEIRO: KEY HIGHLIGHTS, EXPANSION, AND GLOBAL IMPACT –
• The 17th BRICS Summit, held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 2025, marks a pivotal moment in the grouping’s evolution as it witnessed a major expansion in membership and partnerships.
• The Summit concluded with the adoption of the Rio de Janeiro Declaration, reaffirming their collective commitment to strengthening cooperation across the Global South and promoting a more inclusive, equitable, and sustainable global governance framework.
About 17th BRICS Summit
• Theme: “Strengthening Global South Cooperation for a More Inclusive and Sustainable Governance”
• Location: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
• Date: 6-7th July, 2025
• Last Summit Held: In Kazan, Russia (16th Summit)
2. SPECIAL INTENSIVE REVISION OF ELECTORAL ROLLS –
• The Election Commission of India (EC) has initiated a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls in Bihar before the general elections for its Legislative Assembly.
About SIR
• Refers: A house-to-house verification process to update electoral rolls from scratch.
• Aim: To enrol all eligible citizens and remove ineligible/duplicate/foreign entries.
• Conducted by: Booth Level Officers (BLOs) under Section 21(3) of RPA, 1950 and Article 324(1) of the Constitution.
Objectives
• Ensure only genuine Indian citizens aged 18+ are on the rolls.
• Weed out illegal immigrants, duplicates, and ineligible voters.
• Maintain the integrity and credibility of the Electoral Roll.
• Strengthen democracy and enable free & fair elections.
3. PM MODI SETS $20 BILLION TRADE TARGET WITH BRAZIL BY 2030 –
• During a state visit to Brazil on July 9, 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi set a bold goal to increase India–Brazil bilateral trade to $20 billion by 2030, up from the current $12.2 billion.
• Speaking at a Joint Press Conference alongside Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in Brasilia, PM Modi outlined a roadmap to deepen economic cooperation and strategic ties between the two major Global South economies.
Expanding Trade Through Mercosur
• Widening the Mercosur Preferential Trade Agreement
• PM Modi emphasized India’s intent to expand the Mercosur preferential trade agreement. Mercosur, a regional trade bloc comprising Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay, currently has limited coverage with India.
• Modi stressed the need to include more products and enhance market access for Indian exporters.
The Prime Minister also highlighted sectors ripe for expansion such as:
• Agriculture and food processing
• Agri-tech and value-added food exports
• Digital public infrastructure
• Space technology and research collaboration
4. BIHAR RESERVES 35% GOVERNMENT JOBS FOR DOMICILE WOMEN –
• In a major policy shift aimed at empowering women, the Nitish Kumar-led Bihar government has approved a proposal granting 35% reservation in government jobs exclusively for women who are native to Bihar. This decision was taken on July 8, 2025, during a meeting of the State Cabinet chaired by the Chief Minister.
Domicile Policy in Women’s Reservation Comes into Effect
• Previously, 35% horizontal reservation for women was available to all female applicants irrespective of their state of origin. However, with the new approval, only women who are domiciled in Bihar will now be eligible for this quota in direct recruitment across all cadres of state government jobs.
• The decision has been formalized through a proposal from the General Administration Department (GAD) and is the first implementation of a domicile-based policy in women’s reservation by the state in recent years.
5. BULGARIA TO JOIN EUROZONE AS 21ST MEMBER FROM JANUARY 1, 2026 –
• On July 8, 2025, the European Union (EU) finance ministers gave their final approval for Bulgaria to adopt the euro as its official currency starting January 1, 2026. This move will make Bulgaria the 21st member of the eurozone.
From Lev to Euro
• Bulgaria will officially replace its national currency, the lev, with the euro. The fixed conversion rate is set at 1.95583 lev per euro. Prime Minister Rossen Jeliazkov hailed the decision as a “landmark moment” and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to a smooth and effective transition.
Reactions and Support
• Top EU figures congratulated Bulgaria:
• European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the euro would bring “big benefits for Bulgarian people and businesses”.
• European Central Bank (ECB) President Christine Lagarde welcomed Bulgaria into the single currency area.
• EU Economy Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis stated that the change represents a brighter, more prosperous future at the heart of Europe.
MCQ QUIZ
Q1. Which institute used CRISPR-Cas9 technology to enhance phosphate uptake in japonica rice ?
a) ICAR-Central Institute of Agricultural Engineering (CIAE), Bhopal
b) Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana
c) Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), New Delhi
d) National Institute of Plant Genome Research (NIPGR), Delhi
Q2. AIR LORA is an advanced air launched ballistic missile developed by which country ?
a) France
b) Russia
c) United States
d) Israel
Q3. Seine River, that was recently seen in news, is located in which country ?
a) Indonesia
b) France
c) Australia
d) China
Q4. Regarding the expansion of the BRICS forum, consider the following statements:
Statement I: Indonesia’s inclusion in BRICS at the 17th Summit in Brazil marked a significant expansion of the group’s presence in Southeast Asia.
Statement II: The expansion of BRICS, often referred to as BRICS+, is aimed at enhancing cooperation within the Global South and providing a counterbalance to Western-led forums like the G7.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements ?
a) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I
b) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct but Statement-II is not the correct explanation for Statement-I
c) Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect
d) Statement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct
Explanation-
• Statement I is correct. The 17th BRICS Summit held in Brazil formally welcomed Indonesia as a full member. This was a notable event as Indonesia became the first nation from Southeast Asia to join the intergovernmental forum, thereby geographically extending the bloc’s influence and representation into this economically dynamic region.
• Statement II is also correct. The broader strategic rationale behind the expansion of BRICS into what is now known as BRICS+ is to strengthen its role as a representative of the Global South. By including new members from different continents, the forum aims to promote multipolarity, deepen economic and political cooperation among emerging economies, and create a more influential platform that can serve as a counterbalance to the dominance of Western-led institutions such as the G7.
• Statement II provides the strategic context and explanation for the action described in Statement I.
Q5. With reference to the C-FLOOD platform, consider the following statements:
1. It is an indigenous, real-time flood forecasting system developed exclusively by the Central Water Commission (CWC).
2. The system provides flood inundation forecasts with a lead time of up to seven days.
3. It leverages advanced 2-D hydrodynamic simulations and is currently operational for all major river basins in India.
How many of the above statements is/are incorrect ?
a) Only one
b) Only two
c) All three
d) None
Explanation-
• Statement 1 is incorrect. C-FLOOD is not an exclusive development of the CWC. It is a collaborative effort involving multiple agencies. It was developed by the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), Pune, and the Central Water Commission (CWC), in partnership with the National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) and supported by various ministries including the Ministry of Jal Shakti, MeitY, and DST.
• Statement 2 is incorrect. The platform is designed to provide advance inundation forecasts, but the specified lead time is two days (48 hours), not seven. This two-day window is crucial for enabling timely evacuation and local-level planning.
• Statement 3 is incorrect. While the system uses advanced modelling, its coverage is not yet pan-India for all major river basins. It was initially launched for the Mahanadi, Godavari, and Tapi basins.
Answer Key
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
D | D | B | A | C |