CURRENT AFFAIRS
15 July, 2025
1. NOMINATION OF MEMBERS TO RAJYA SABHA –
• Recently, the President of India has nominated four distinguished individuals to the Rajya Sabha.
About Recent Nominations to the Rajya Sabha
• Members Nominated: These include:
A. Harsh Vardhan Shringla, Former Foreign Secretary
B. Ujjwal Nikam, the Special Public Prosecutor in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack case
C. C. Sadanandan Master, a BJP leader from Kerala
D. Dr. Meenakshi Jain, a noted historian
• The nomination of members to the Rajya Sabha by the President of India is taken from the Irish Constitution.
• Article 80(1) of the Constitution: This article mandates that the Rajya Sabha shall consist of not more than 250 members, of which 12 are to be nominated by the President.
• Clause (3) of Article 80: It specifies that the President may nominate individuals who possess special knowledge or practical experience in literature, science, art, or social service.
• Example: Rakesh Sinha (Literature), Ilaiyaraaja (Arts) etc.
• While Article 80(1)(a) identifies that 12 members are to be nominated, it is Article 80(3) that explicitly lays out the criteria for these nominations.
• Tenure: Nominated members in the Rajya Sabha have a tenure of six years, and one-third of the members retire every two years, aligning with the tenure of elected members.
• Rights and Privileges: Nominated members in the Rajya Sabha enjoy equal rights and privileges as elected members. They are allowed to join a political party within six months of taking their seat in the House.
• They can participate in debates, vote on bills, and serve on parliamentary committees.
• However, they are not entitled to vote in the election of the President, though they can vote in the election of the Vice-President.
2. INDIA LAUNCHES E-TRUCK INCENTIVE SCHEME UNDER PM E-DRIVE –
• Recently, India launched its first financial incentive scheme for electric trucks under the PM E-DRIVE initiative, targeting green freight transition.
About e-Truck Incentive Scheme
• e-Truck Incentive provides financial incentives for purchase of electric trucks under the PM E-Drive initiative.
• Green Freight Vision: It supports the vision of sustainable freight mobility and aims to cut transport-related greenhouse gas emissions.
• Net-Zero Goal: Aligns with India’s target of achieving net-zero emissions by 2070 and creating a Viksit Bharat by 2047
Significance of the Scheme
• Boost to Indigenous Industry: Tata Motors, Ashok Leyland, Volvo Eicher already engaged in manufacturing e-trucks.
• SAIL has set an internal target to ensure that at least 15% of all vehicles hired across its units are electric
• Wider Goal: Enhances air quality, reduces logistics costs, and supports Atmanirbhar Bharat through green mobility transition.
About PM E-DRIVE Scheme
• Introduction: Launched in 2024, PM E-DRIVE is a national scheme to accelerate electric vehicle (EV) adoption across multiple vehicle categories.
• Nodal Ministry & Budget: Implemented by the Ministry of Heavy Industries, the scheme has a total outlay of ₹10,900 crore over two years.
• Focus Areas: Provides ₹3,679 crore in demand incentives for e-2Ws, e-3Ws, e-trucks, e-ambulances, and other emerging EVs.
3. WORLD’S OLDEST MARATHON RUNNER FAUJA SINGH DIES AT 114 –
• Fauja Singh, the world’s oldest marathon runner, died at the age of 114 after being hit by an unknown vehicle on the Jalandhar-Pathankot highway in Punjab on July 14, 2025. Known as the ‘Turbaned Tornado’, Fauja Singh inspired people across the globe with his fitness and spirit. His sudden death has shocked the nation, and tributes are pouring in.
Tragic Accident on Punjab Highway
• Fauja Singh was out for a walk near his village, Bias, around 3:30 PM when he was struck by an unidentified vehicle. The accident happened on the Jalandhar-Pathankot highway. His death was confirmed by writer Khushwant Singh, who shared the news online after speaking with Singh’s family. A police investigation into the accident is ongoing.
A Life of Inspiration and Strength
• Born on April 1, 1911, Fauja Singh took up running after the death of his wife and son. He ran his first marathon at the age of 89 in London in 2000. He went on to complete nine full marathons in London, New York, and Toronto. He also carried the Olympic torch for the 2004 Athens and 2012 London Olympics.
• He was featured in global sports campaigns with legends like Muhammad Ali and David Beckham. Singh stood out for his strong will and was a living example of fitness at any age.
4. DELHI RANKED WORLD’S MOST AFFORDABLE STUDENT CITY IN QS 2026 RANKINGS –
• In a significant recognition of India’s growing status in global education, the QS Best Student Cities Rankings 2026 saw four major Indian cities—Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Chennai—make strong upward progress.
• Most notably, Delhi was named the world’s most affordable student city, marking a major boost to India’s reputation as an attractive destination for higher education. The rankings reflect improvements in factors such as university quality, cost of living, and graduate employability.
5. HIMACHAL LAUNCHES MY DEED NGDRS PILOT PROJECT FOR LAND REGISTRATION –
• On July 11, 2025, the Himachal Pradesh government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, launched a series of digital reforms in the revenue sector, spearheaded by the ‘My Deed’ NGDRS (National Generic Document Registration System) pilot project.
• Aimed at modernizing the land registration process, this initiative is designed to reduce physical visits, enhance service delivery, and promote transparency in land-related matters. The move marks a significant step toward the state’s broader vision of a paperless, presence-less, and cashless governance system.
NGDRS Pilot for Simplified Land Registration
• The ‘My Deed’ NGDRS initiative enables residents of Himachal Pradesh to apply for land registration online from anywhere at any time. The process has been simplified so that citizens are required to visit the tehsil office only once for final formalities. The system aims to save time and effort for the public while improving the efficiency of government service delivery.
MCQ QUIZ
Q1. Patriot Air Defense Missile System is developed by which country ?
a) France
b) Russia
c) Germany
d) United States
Q2. Barak Valley, that was recently seen in news, is located in which state ?
a) Sikkim
b) Manipur
c) Assam
d) Meghalaya
Q3. Which government department has launched the Sanchar Mitra Scheme to empower youth as digital ambassadors ?
a) Department of Posts (DoP)
b) Department of Science and Technology (DST)
c) Department of Telecommunications (DoT)
d) Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR)
Q4. Which of the following statements about Rare Earth Elements (REEs) is/are correct ?
1. They include 15 lanthanides along with scandium and yttrium.
2. Despite their name, they are not truly rare in Earth’s crust.
3. They are usually found in low concentrations, making extraction economically viable.
Select the correct answer using the code below:
a) 1 and 2 only
b) 2 and 3 only
c) Only 1 and 3
d) 1, 2, and 3
Explanation-
• Statement 1: Correct. REEs include 15 lanthanides plus scandium and yttrium, totaling 17 elements.
• Statement 2: Correct. They are not truly rare in the Earth’s crust; the term “rare” refers to their occurrence in low concentrations.
• Statement 3: Incorrect. REEs are rarely found in rich concentrations, which is why mining them is challenging and expensive.
Q5. Which of the following operations was conducted by India to evacuate its nationals from Haiti amid civil unrest in 2024 ?
a) Operation Sadbhav
b) Operation Samudra Setu
c) Operation Indravati
d) Operation Maitri
Explanation-
• Operation Indravati was launched by India in 2024 to evacuate Indian nationals from Haiti amid civil unrest.
• Operation Maitri (Nepal earthquake), Samudra Setu (COVID evacuation), and Sadbhav (Myanmar aid) are related.
Answer Key
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
D | C | C | A | C |