1 India developed the first indigenous malaria vaccine
India has taken a big step towards malaria elimination . Now malaria can be eradicated before dengue . Indian scientists have prepared the first indigenous vaccine against malaria which is capable of preventing not only infection but also its spread in the community. To produce this vaccine as soon as possible, the New Delhi- based Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has started the process of signing agreements with private companies. ICMR has been running a campaign against mosquito-borne diseases for the last several decades. The search for a vaccine to prevent diseases like malaria, dengue and chikungunya is going on in different institutions of the country. However, in the meantime, scientists have completed the search for a malaria vaccine. It has been named Adfalcivax for now, which has been found to be completely effective against the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum . Researchers from ICMR and Bhubaneswar -based Regional Medical Research Center (RMRC) have jointly prepared this indigenous vaccine. According to ICMR, currently two malaria vaccines are available, which cost around Rs 800 per dose. However, their effectiveness is between 33 to 67 percent. Apart from this, RTS and R21/Matrix-M vaccines approved by Oxford University and World Health Organization are being given in some countries of the world. In comparison to these, this vaccine of India shows dual effect in pre-erythrocyte i.e. the stage before reaching the blood and transmission-blocking i.e. preventing the spread of infection. In its manufacture, Lactococcus lactis is used which is a gram-positive bacterium and is used extensively in the production of buttermilk and cheese.
2 Odisha Government decided to launch special program ‘Shaktishree’ in colleges and universities
The Odisha government has decided to launch a special programme ‘ Shaktishree ‘ to ensure safety of girl students in colleges and universities in the state . Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi announced this in Bhubaneswar. This programme will be implemented in all 16 universities and 730 government and aided colleges under the Higher Education Department of the state. This announcement has been made after the recent incident of self-immolation by a girl student of FM College, Balasore.
3 Yulia Sviridenko becomes the new Prime Minister of Ukraine
Former economic minister and chief negotiator of Ukraine’s mineral agreement with the US, Yulia Sviridenko, has been appointed as the new Prime Minister of Ukraine . She has replaced Denis Shmal, who will now take over the role of the country’s Defense Minister. Outgoing Defense Minister Rustem Umerov may be made Ukraine’s new ambassador to the US. Sviridenko was earlier posted as Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister.
4 Kranti Prakash Jha and actress Neetu Chandra were given big responsibility by the Election Commission in Bihar
In a major initiative to promote electoral awareness, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has appointed renowned artists Neetu Chandra and Kranti Prakash Jha as SVEEP icons for Bihar . As the state prepares for the forthcoming assembly elections, the association of these popular personalities among the masses aims to promote voter literacy and participation in creative ways. The appointment is part of the Commission’s flagship voter awareness campaign SVEEP (Systematic Voters’ Education and Electoral Participation) , which works towards creating aware and responsible voters.
5 Typhoon ‘Wipha’ wreaks havoc in South China
South China has been put on high alert due to the wrath of Typhoon Wipha . The typhoon has entered the South China Sea . Heavy rains are falling due to its impact. According to the Hainan Meteorological Department, Typhoon Wipha intensified from a tropical storm to a powerful typhoon early this morning. Its center was in the northeastern part of the South China Sea this morning.
6 India shines in the 57th International Chemistry Olympiad
India once again demonstrated its strong foundation in science education, securing the sixth position globally by winning two gold and two silver medals at the 57th International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO) 2025 held in Dubai, UAE . The event was held in Dubai from July 5 to 14 , with 354 students from 90 countries participating. The medal winners include Devesh Pankaj Bhaiya from Jalgaon, Maharashtra and Sandeep Kuchi from Hyderabad, Telangana , who won gold medals . Debdutta Priyadarshi from Bhubaneswar, Odisha and Ujjwal Kesari from New Delhi were awarded silver medals. India has been participating in IChO since 1999 and has consistently performed well. The selection and training process in the country is organised by the Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education (HBCSE), Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), Mumbai.
7 EximPe gets cross-border payment aggregator license from RBI
In a significant development in India’s fintech and regulatory landscape, EximPe has received in-principle approval from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to operate as a Cross-Border Payment Aggregator (PA-CB) . The move is a significant step towards promoting cross-border digital transactions and e-commerce, especially in the India-Asia trade corridor. As cross-border payments are becoming increasingly important in international trade and digital services, such regulatory approvals reflect strong infrastructure and compliance in the digital economy.
8 HSBC pulls out of Net Zero Banking Alliance
HSBC , one of the world’s largest banks and a founding member of the Net Zero Banking Alliance (NZBA) , has become the first British bank to exit the alliance , which aims to align the global banking sector’s activities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to zero by 2050. HSBC’s decision comes after the recent withdrawal of several major banks in the US and Canada and has raised concerns among climate activists and investors about the bank’s long-term commitment to tackling the climate crisis. The Net Zero Banking Alliance (NZBA) was launched in 2021 under the United Nations Environment Programme’s Finance Initiative. It aimed to create a transparent global framework for banks to set targets to reduce emissions to zero and report their progress. The alliance saw more than 144 banks from 44 countries join, with HSBC being a key founding member. Recently the NZBA loosened its rules, no longer requiring all members to align funding with the 1.5°C temperature rise target – a change made in response to growing political and market pressure following the US presidential election.
9 VimanaAnu-CYGR Partnership: Strengthening India’s UAV Capabilities
India has taken a significant step towards strengthening its drone manufacturing ecosystem . This initiative is a new partnership between Vimana Limited (a defence arm of RRP Defence) and Franco-American company CYGR . Under this partnership, a state-of-the-art drone production facility will be set up in Navi Mumbai , which will meet both defence and industrial requirements.
10 new lichen species reveal ancient symbiosis in the Western Ghats
Lichens are symbiotic organisms formed by the association of fungi and photosynthetic partners —usually green algae or cyanobacteria . These organisms are extremely important for ecological purposes, such as soil formation, monitoring air pollution, and maintaining the food chain. The genus Allographa , which belongs to the Graphidaceae family , is found primarily in tropical regions , including the Western Ghats —a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the richest biodiversity regions in the world . The discovery of Allographa effusosoredica by scientists from MACS-Agharkar Research Institute, Pune , is the first Allographa species to be confirmed by molecular data in India . The discovery takes India’s understanding of tropical lichen diversity to new heights and sets a new standard in the use of integrative taxonomy (combination of classical identification and modern DNA techniques). Morphologically it resembles Graphis glaucescens, but genetically it is related to Allographa xanthospora—raising new questions about evolutionary relationships within the Graphidaceae family.
11 Srihari Nataraj and B. Benediction Rohit set new standards in swimming
India achieved a significant milestone at the FISU World University Games 2025 held in Rhine-Ruhr, Germany , where swimmers Srihari Nataraj and B. Benediction Rohith performed record-breaking performances in their respective events. Srihari Nataraj clocked 1:48.22 minutes in the men’s 200m freestyle event, breaking his own Indian best performance , which he had completed in 1:48.66 minutes a month ago. At the same time, B. Benediction Rohith created history by becoming the first Indian male swimmer to complete the 50m butterfly in less than 24 seconds. He recorded a time of 23.96 seconds in the semi-finals. Srihari Nataraj topped the 200m freestyle heat and entered the semi-finals. Rohit not only set a new national record in the semi-finals, but also broke Vardhawal Khade’s 7-year-old record (24.09 seconds) in the heat before that. The FISU World University Games is a prestigious international multi-sport event involving university-level athletes.
The B.C. Roy Junior Football Championship will begin from July 21 in Amritsar, Punjab . The first match will be played between Telangana and Goa. A total of 16 states and union territories will participate in this 10-day tournament. Each group will have 4 teams. The winners of each group will play the semi-finals on July 28. The final will be played on July 30.
13 International Lunar Day 2025
International Lunar Day is observed every year on 20 July to commemorate the historic event of the first human landing on the Moon through the Apollo 11 mission in 1969. The day was officially declared by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in 2021. The day celebrates global achievements in lunar exploration and promotes international cooperation, sustainable space practices and peaceful use of lunar resources. The theme for 2025, ‘ One Moon, One Vision, One Future ‘, reflects the spirit of global unity and shared ambition in the continued exploration of the Moon. India has also made remarkable progress in lunar exploration. From the discovery of water molecules on the Moon by Chandrayaan-1 in 2009 to the successful landing of Chandrayaan-3 near the South Pole of the Moon in 2023, India has demonstrated its proficiency in cost-effective and innovative space missions.
14 International Chess Day
Every year on 20 July , International Chess Day is celebrated to commemorate the founding of the International Chess Federation on 20 July 1924. The International Chess Federation has launched the “Year of Social Chess” this year to use chess as a tool for inclusiveness, education, empowerment and mental health. The theme of this year’s International Chess Day 2025 is “ Every move counts” , which reminds us that every decision we make shapes our life’s journey. From Vishwanathan Anand to the new generation of talented players, chess legends are taking the game to the global glory stage.