Today’s important current affairs for students preparing for government job examinations:
NATIONAL
1. Anurag Jain to be the new CEO of NITI Aayog
- Anurag Jain was appointed Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NITI Aayog on 23 July.
- The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) approved his appointment.
- He will serve in the post for a term of two years from the date he assumes charge.
- Anurag will replace interim CEO Nidhi Chhibber.
- Nidhi was appointed to the position on 24 February.
- Anurag is a 1989-batch IAS officer of the Madhya Pradesh cadre.
- He has been serving as the Chief Secretary of Madhya Pradesh since October 2024. His tenure ends on 31 August.
- He has extensive experience in departments including health, forests, environment, agriculture and administration.
- Following the appointment, the General Administration Department of Madhya Pradesh named senior IAS officer Ashok Barnwal as interim Chief Secretary.
- Anurag served as Principal Secretary to former Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan from August 2016. He continued in the role after the Congress government led by Kamal Nath came to power in 2018.
- NITI Aayog (National Institution for Transforming India) is the Government of India’s premier public policy think tank. It replaced the Planning Commission in 2015.
- The Prime Minister is the Chairperson of NITI Aayog. The Vice-Chairperson is appointed by the Prime Minister, while the CEO is appointed by the Central Government..
2. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh flags in ‘Samudra Pradakshina’ expedition
- On 22 July, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh virtually flagged in the ‘Samudra Pradakshina’ expedition through video conferencing.
- This was the first tri-service sailing expedition undertaken by an all-women crew from the Army, Navy and Air Force.
- Nine women officers sailed aboard the Indian Army Sailing Vessel (IASV) Triveni for 314 days.
- During the voyage, the crew covered around 25,500 nautical miles.
- Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi, Navy Chief Admiral Krishna Swaminathan and Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh were also present during the flag-in ceremony.
- IASV Triveni was flagged off from the Gateway of India in Mumbai on 11 September 2025.
- During the voyage, the vessel circumnavigated the three Great Capes — Cape Leeuwin in Australia, Cape Horn in South America and the Cape of Good Hope in Africa.
- IASV Triveni completed a global maritime circumnavigation by crossing all longitudes and major latitudes, including the Southern Ocean belt.
- The vessel followed an open-sea route without using the Panama Canal or the Suez Canal and completed the voyage at the same point from which it had set sail.
- The crew included Major Karamjit Kaur, Major Omita Dalvi, Captain Prajkta Nikam, Lieutenant Commander Priyanka Gusain, Wing Commander Vibha Singh, Squadron Leader Aruvi Jayadev and Squadron Leader Vaishali Bhandari.
During the voyage, the IASV Triveni crew successfully circumnavigated four oceans.
3. India and Panama agree on maritime security cooperation
- On 22 July, India and Panama agreed to enhance cooperation in maritime security.
- The Panama Canal is a major hub of global maritime trade and is considered a gateway to Latin America and the Caribbean.
- Following the agreement, India’s Directorate General of Shipping and the Panama Maritime Authority will work together.
- Both countries will strengthen cooperation in port development, logistics, shipping and maritime transport.
- The partnership focuses on logistics, digital innovation and global connectivity.
- Cooperation will also be expanded in maritime education, skill development and seafarer training.
- The Panama Canal is a key global trade route, and the partnership is expected to benefit Indian exporters.
- Under the Digital Maritime Transformation initiative, both sides will collaborate on technologies such as artificial intelligence, smart port logistics and the Maritime Single Window system.
- The agreement also includes proposals to enhance cooperation in green ship recycling, modern warehousing and maritime infrastructure development.e.
This initiative also supports India’s Sagarmala programme, Maritime India Vision 2030 and efforts to strengthen global maritime connectivity.
4. DRDO signs contracts for Airbus A321 aircraft
- On 23 July, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) signed two contracts related to six Airbus A321 aircraft.
- The first contract was signed with AI Engineering Services Limited (AIESL).
- Under the agreement, six Airbus A321 aircraft will be converted into a green configuration for military use.
- The second contract was signed with Adani Defence Systems and Technologies Limited (ADSTL).
- The aircraft will be converted into Netra Mk II Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) systems.
- The systems are designed to detect enemy aircraft, missiles and drones at long range and support command and control operations during air warfare.
- Indigenous radars and sensors will be installed in the aircraft as part of the project.
MISCELLANEOUS
- 5. India sends aid to Kenya to combat Ebola
- On 23 July, India sent its first medical consignment of 4.5 tonnes to Kenya to support efforts to combat Ebola.
- The consignment was handed over by India’s High Commissioner to Kenya, Adarsh Swaika, to Kenya’s Health Minister Aden Duale at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi.
- The first shipment includes 279 packages containing PPE kits, sample transportation kits, infrared thermometers, face shields, heavy-duty protective boots and infection prevention materials.
- India has provided the assistance under the spirit of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam to support friendly countries during public health emergencies.
This assistance is part of India’s humanitarian outreach efforts and reflects the principles of its Vaccine Maitri initiative and Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) policy.
SPORTS
5. Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya participates in Commonwealth Sports Ministers Meeting
- On 23 July, Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Dr Mansukh Mandaviya participated in the Commonwealth Sports Ministers Meeting in Glasgow.
- Sports ministers from Commonwealth member countries attended the meeting.
- During the meeting, Dr Mandaviya held discussions with Commonwealth Secretary-General Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey.
- He highlighted key reforms introduced in India’s sports sector, including the Khelo India programme and the Asmita League.
- The discussions also covered India’s bid to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games in Ahmedabad.
- India also expressed its interest in chairing the Commonwealth Advisory Body on Sport (CABOS) for the 2026–2030 term.
TODAY IN HISTORY
1969: Apollo 11, the mission that carried Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin to the Moon, returned safely to Earth.
1991: India launched its New Economic Policy under Prime Minister P. V. Narasimha Rao and Finance Minister Manmohan Singh, marking the beginning of economic liberalisation.
2000: S. Vijayalakshmi became India’s first woman Grandmaster in chess.
