Daily Current Affairs — 18 July 2025
6 articles • UPSC Prelims & Mains
China’s Green Energy Transformation
Context China’s transformation from the world’s largest polluter to a global clean energy superpower is the result of decades of strategic planning, massive state investment, and technological dominance across the renewable energy supply chain. About the Green Energy It has emerged as a cornerstone of sustainable development, as the world confronts the climate crisis. It refers to energy generated from natural, renewable sources that have minimal environmental impact and produce little to no gre
Swachh Survekshan 2024-25 Rankings
In News The Swachh Survekshan Awards 2024-25 were presented by President Droupadi Murmu at a ceremony organised by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA). Swachh Survekshan (SS) It is a flagship initiative under Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban (SBM-U) and has played a pivotal role in driving cleanliness in urban India—engaging communities, changing mindsets, and motivating action for the past nine years. Beginning with just 73 urban local bodies in 2016, the latest edition now covers over
CARA Issues Directions to States for Strengthening Counselling Support
In News The Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA) has issued directions to all State Adoption Resource Agencies (SARAs) under powers conferred by Section 70(1)(a) of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 (as amended in 2021), and as per the Adoption Regulations, 2022. Key Provisions of the Directives Designation of Qualified Counsellors: SARAs are mandated to designate or empanel qualified counsellors at district and state levels, ideally with backgrounds in child
NATO Secondary Sanctions: India calls out ‘double standards’
Context India has firmly pushed back against NATO Secretary’s warning of secondary sanctions over its continued trade with Russia. Crude Oil Imports of India India is the world’s third largest crude oil importer, it depends on imports to meet around 88% of its crude oil needs. Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, India has ramped up the purchase of discounted Russian oil.
Constitutional Validity of UAPA Upheld by Bombay High Court
In News The Bombay High Court upheld the constitutional validity of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), 1967, dismissing a petition that challenged the law as being ultra vires and violative of fundamental rights. What is UAPA? Enactment: Brought into force in 1967, being amended several times—most notably in 2004, 2008, 2012, and 2019—to include terror-related offences and empower the government with wider discretionary powers.
Mitochondrial Replacement Therapy (MRT)
Context Eight healthy babies were born in Britain with the help of an experimental technique called Mitochondrial Replacement Therapy (MRT). About The mothers were all at high risk for passing on life-threatening diseases to their babies due to mutations in their mitochondria. The four boys and four girls were born to seven women and have no signs of the mitochondrial diseases they were at risk of inheriting.