Daily Current Affairs for UPSC IAS: 15th July 2025

Tungabhadra River:

Police retrieved bodies of three Karnataka youngsters from Tungabhadra river near Mantralayam in Kurnool district recently.

• It is a significant peninsular river in southern India, flowing through the states of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.
• It is the principal tributary of the Krishna
• The Hindus consider this river sacred, and there is a mention of the river in the Ramayana, where it is referred to as Pampa.
• It originates at Koodli, near Shimoga district in the state of Karnataka, where two rivers—the Tunga River and the Bhadra River—meet and give birth to the Tungabhadra.
• Both the Tunga & Bhadra Rivers originate on the eastern slopes of the Western Ghats.
• Major Tributaries: Varada River and Hagari (Vedathy) River.
• The river has several dams and reservoirs built on it, including the Tunga Anicut Dam, the Bhadra Dam, the Hemavathy Dam, and the Tungabhadra Dam.

Barak Valley:

Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) President and Lok Sabha MP Gaurav Gogoi recently urged the Prime Minister to urgently intervene in the worsening connectivity crisis of the Barak Valley.

• It is the southernmost region of Assam, named after the Barak River that flows through it.
• It includes the three southernmost districts of Assam, viz., Cachar, Hailakandi, and Karimganj, which together cover about 9% of the geographical area of the state.
• It shares borders with Meghalaya on its north, Mizoram on its south, Manipur on its east, and Tripura and the Sylhet division of Bangladesh on its west.
• The area is known to have fertile lands, making agriculture a major occupation of the region.
• Silchar is one of the main cities and also the educational hub of the region.
• Barak River is the second largest river in Northeast India after the Brahmaputra.
• The river runs through Manipur, Nagaland, Mizoram, Assam in India, and Bangladesh.

Exercise Talisman Sabre, 2025:

India, along with 18 other nations, is participating in Talisman Sabre 2025, a major bilateral military drill led by Australia that commenced recently.

• It is the largest bilateral military exercise between Australia and the United States, with multinational participation.
• It has been conducted between Australia and the United States biennially since 2005.
• It is conducted across a number of locations across Australia and offshore, using both Defence and non-Defence training areas.
• It is designed to advance a free and open Indo-Pacific by strengthening partnerships and interoperability among key allies.
• Now in its 11th iteration, Talisman Sabre 2025 is the largest and most sophisticated warfighting exercise ever conducted in Australia.
• More than 35,000 military personnel are participating.
• In addition to the United States, forces from Canada, Fiji, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, Thailand, Tonga, and the United Kingdom are participating.
• Malaysia and Vietnam will also attend as observers.
• This year’s exercise will consist of live-fire exercises and field training activities, incorporating force preparation activities, amphibious landings, ground force manoeuvres, and air combat and maritime operations.

New Butterfly Species Found in Kerala’s Western Ghats:

A team of Indian scientists has discovered a new butterfly species named Zographetus mathewi in the Western Ghats of Kerala. The butterfly, found in low-elevation forests, is unique to this region and adds to India’s rich wildlife diversity. This rare discovery highlights the importance of studying and protecting the Western Ghats, a globally recognized biodiversity hotspot.The butterfly was discovered by experts from the Travancore Nature History Society, the Institute of Tropical Research, Ecology and Conservation, and the Zoological Survey of India. At first, scientists thought it was a known species called Zographetus ogygia. However, after closely studying its wing patterns and genital structures, they confirmed it as a new species. The detailed research was published in the journal Entomon.

Antarctic Summer Sea Ice Hits Record:

New research has confirmed that Antarctica’s summer sea ice is melting at record levels. This change, observed over the past few years, is warming the ocean, damaging ecosystems, and risking long-term climate effects. Scientists warn that these changes could seriously harm both the planet and people.A large team of scientists, including Edward Doddridge from the University of Tasmania, studied the sea ice loss using satellites, ocean robots, and computer models. Their findings, based on years of data and new missions to Antarctica, show that the loss of summer sea ice is more serious than expected. The researchers explored how this loss affects the climate, ocean temperatures, marine life, and even supply missions to Antarctica.

President Murmu Appoints New Governors for Haryana, Goa, and Ladakh:

President Droupadi Murmu announced the appointment of new Governors for Haryana and Goa, and a new Lieutenant Governor (LG) for Ladakh. This marks a significant reshuffle in key constitutional posts in two Indian states and one Union Territory.

New Appointments Announced:

• Prof. Ashim Kumar Ghosh has been appointed as the Governor of Haryana. He is known for his leadership roles in higher education and administration.
• Pusapati Ashok Gajapathi Raju, a senior leader and former Union Minister, has been appointed as the Governor of Goa.
• Kavinder Gupta, a senior BJP leader from Jammu, has been named the new LG of Ladakh.

Polish tennis star Iga Swiatek won her first Wimbledon title:

Iga Swiatek from Poland won her first Wimbledon title on July 12, 2025, beating Amanda Anisimova of the United States in just 57 minutes. The final score was 6-0, 6-0, making it one of the most one-sided women’s finals in tennis history. This match was important because it added another major title to Swiatek’s record and made history with a rare “double bagel” win.Iga Swiatek, 24, dominated the match on Centre Court at the All England Club, giving Amanda Anisimova no chance to settle. Swiatek won 55 of the 79 points and hit only 10 winners, letting Anisimova defeat herself with 28 unforced errors. This was only the third time in Grand Slam history that a women’s final ended in 6-0, 6-0, and the first time since 1988.

Jannik Sinner Stuns Alcaraz to Win First Wimbledon Title:

Jannik Sinner won his first Wimbledon title by defeating two-time champion Carlos Alcaraz on Sunday, July 13, 2025, in London. This was a big moment in tennis, as it showed how strong the rivalry between the two young stars has become. The win also gave Sinner his fourth Grand Slam title and ended many winning streaks held by Alcaraz.

Chelsea Beat PSG to Win Inaugural Edition of Club World Cup 2025:

Chelsea FC won the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 by defeating Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) 3-0 in the final on July 13, 2025, at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, USA. Young midfielder Cole Palmer was the star, scoring two goals and assisting the third in a dominant display. This is Chelsea’s second Club World Cup title and a proud moment in their football history.Cole Palmer, just 22 years old, played a brilliant first half, scoring twice and setting up a third goal. The first goal came in the 22nd minute, after PSG defender Nuno Mendes gave the ball away to Malo Gusto, who assisted Palmer. After the 30th-minute cooling break, Palmer scored again with a clever move and finish from a long pass by Levi Colwill.

Centre Appoints Dr Abhijat Sheth as New NMC Chief:

The Central Government has appointed Dr Abhijat Sheth as the new Chairperson of the National Medical Commission (NMC). The move comes at a time when the medical regulator is under scrutiny following a corruption probe involving several officials. Dr Sheth will take over from Dr B N Gangadhar, who had resigned earlier but stayed in office due to a lack of suitable replacements.The National Medical Commission (NMC) is the top body that regulates medical education in India. Its role is very important in ensuring quality and fairness in how doctors are trained and medical colleges operate.

President Murmu Nominates Four Members to Rajya Sabha:

President Droupadi Murmu nominated four prominent individuals to the Rajya Sabha, the Upper House of Parliament. The nominations were made on the advice of the Council of Ministers under Article 80 of the Constitution. The move ensures representation from varied fields like law, education, diplomacy, and social service.

The four newly nominated members are:

• Ujjwal Nikam – A well-known lawyer known for his work in high-profile criminal cases.
• C. Sadanandan Master – A teacher and social worker known for his resilience and work for youth empowerment.
• Harsh Vardhan Shringla – A senior diplomat and former Foreign Secretary who played a key role during India’s G20 Presidency.
• Dr. Meenakshi Jain – A respected historian and academic expert in education, political science, and literature.

Sonali Mishra Becomes First Woman to Lead RPF:

Sonali Mishra, a senior IPS officer from the 1993 batch, has been appointed as the Director General (DG) of the Railway Protection Force (RPF). She will be the first woman to head the RPF, which is responsible for ensuring the safety of railway passengers and property. The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet approved her appointment, and she will serve in the role until October 31, 2026.The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet approved the appointment of Sonali Mishra as the new DG of the RPF. She will take over from Manoj Yadava, who will retire on July 31, 2025. This marks the first time a woman has been chosen to lead the RPF since its formation. The appointment was confirmed through an official order by the Personnel Ministry.

Gujarat Becomes First State to Support Cruise Bharat Mission:

Gujarat has become the first state in India to join the Cruise Bharat Mission, a national initiative to boost cruise tourism. This move, announced in Ahmedabad, is expected to help Gujarat tap into its long coastline and develop new cruise circuits. It is a key step toward making India a top global cruise destination by 2029.Gujarat has officially partnered with the Cruise Bharat Mission, launched by Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on September 30, 2024. The mission aims to increase India’s sea cruise traffic tenfold by 2029. Gujarat’s decision puts the state at the forefront of India’s push to promote maritime tourism.

India Launches World’s First Traditional Knowledge Digital Library:

India became the first country in the world to launch a Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (TKDL). This important step aims to protect and promote India’s rich traditional medicine systems using modern digital tools like Artificial Intelligence (AI). The World Health Organization (WHO) praised India’s efforts, calling it a big moment for global healthcare innovation. India’s Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (TKDL) is a first-of-its-kind online platform that collects and preserves ancient knowledge from systems like Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha, Sowa Rigpa, and Homoeopathy. It uses AI-based tools to organize and understand old texts and practices, making this knowledge easier to access and apply in today’s healthcare system.