News One Liner: 18-July-2025

  1.  At Urja Varta 2025 in New Delhi, the Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas unveiled a robust upstream strategy featuring diversified crude imports, regulatory reforms, expansion in offshore exploration, and international investment partnerships.
  2. India and Indonesia held a high-level bilateral meeting on 16 July 2025 to enhance cooperation in trade statistics harmonisation, agricultural data digitisation, and statistical capacity building.
  3. Secretary I&B Shri Sanjay Jaju has invited India’s leading AI/ML startups to participate in the ‘Kalaa Setu’ and ‘Bhasha Setu’ challenges on the WaveX accelerator platform to foster inclusive, language-aware media innovation.
  4. India Post and AMFI entered into a landmark MoU to utilise 1.64 lakh post offices for handling Know Your Customer (KYC) documentation and verification for approximately 9.7 million new mutual fund investors annually.
  5. DGFT showcased its Trade Connect ePlatform at IIGF and Toy Biz International B2B Expo 2025 to empower Indian MSME exporters with global trade tools.
  6. Tata Power has signed its inaugural Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) purchase agreement with NHPC, marking a milestone for battery-based renewable integration.
  7. ONGC signed a strategic MoU with BP on 17 July 2025, to drill multiple stratigraphic wells in India’s offshore Category II & III basins—Andaman, Mahanadi, Saurashtra, and Bengal.
  8. IIT Madras introduced the YD One wheel­chair—weighing just 8.5–9 kg, priced under ₹75,000, and customisable—boosting mobility and affordability.
  9. The International Finance Corporation (IFC) is planning to invest $250 million for a 30% stake in ReNew Power’s Commercial & Industrial (C&I) energy business, valuing it at approximately $800 million.
  10. A new Deloitte India report highlights that US $1.5 trillion is required by 2030 across renewable energy, sustainable infrastructure, decarbonisation initiatives, water security, agriculture, transport, waste management, and digital systems to address climate change.
  11. India’s outward FDI surged to US $5.03 billion in June 2025, a significant increase from US $2.9 billion a year earlier and nearly double the May figure of US $2.7 billion.
  12. In May 2025, Indian companies—including NBFCs—filed intentions to raise US $2.73 billion through External Commercial Borrowings (ECB), entirely under the automatic route, marking record ECB applications for FY 2025.
  13. Assam has become the first Indian state government to directly participate in crude oil production and benefit financially following the discovery of hydrocarbons in the Namrup Borhat‑1 well in Dibrugarh.
  14. The Indian Navy will join the 32nd Singapore‑India Maritime Bilateral Exercise (SIMBEX) later this month, reinforcing strategic maritime cooperation under Vision SAGAR and the Act East policy.
  15. The United Kingdom is proposing to lower the voting age from 18 to 16 to enhance youth participation in democratic processes.
  16. Indore has been ranked as India’s cleanest city for the eighth year in a row in Swachh Survekshan 2024–25, with Surat securing second place and Navi Mumbai third.
  17. Nelson Mandela International Day was commemorated on 18 July 2025, urging individuals to dedicate 67 minutes of service, honouring Mandela’s 67 years of public service and advocacy for peace, equality, and human rights.
  18. Axis Bank appointed Neeraj Gambhir as Executive Director, effective 4 August 2025, pending Reserve Bank of India approval, as part of its top‑leadership restructuring.
  19. The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has appointed former CBDT chairman Nitin Gupta as Chairperson of NFRA for a three-year term, restoring leadership to the auditing watchdog.
  20. The government has extended the tenure of Gurdeep Singh, CMD of NTPC, by one year until 31 July 2026, following failed succession efforts.
  21. Mumbai topped the Avendus–Hurun U30 India ranking in 2025, with 15 entrepreneurs under 30, including Anant Ambani, among the 79 young founders across India.

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