KARNATAKA

• Karnataka is set to launch its Quantum Action Plan during the Quantum India Bengaluru Summit from July 31 to August 1, 2025. The plan, to be unveiled by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, aims to make Karnataka the Quantum Capital of India. It outlines steps to develop a sustainable quantum ecosystem through education, research infrastructure (with IISc), startup support, and regulatory policies. A Quantum Task Force will finalize the strategy, reinforcing Karnataka’s global leadership in advanced technologies.
• A study titled “Gender and Identity: With Reference to the North-Eastern Migrants in Bengaluru”, conducted by the Institute for Social and Economic Change (ISEC), surveyed 796 northeastern migrants. It found that 96% feel safe in Bengaluru due to job opportunities, friendly people, and low discrimination. While 28% reported subtle discrimination, many women prefer permanent settlement. Cultural integration is visible despite language barriers, and 52% of respondents feel more united in Bengaluru than in their home states.

SOCIAL ISSUES

• The 2024 Rashtriya PARAKH Sarvekshan assessed over 21 lakh students in Classes 3, 6, and 9 across India, highlighting that Class 3 learning outcomes remain below pre-Covid (2017) levels despite minor gains since 2021. Aligned with NEP 2020, this competency-based national survey revealed foundational learning gaps, particularly in reading and basic math. As Class 3 concludes the Foundational Stage, such deficits threaten long-term human capital. PARAKH aims to foster accountability, improve outcomes, and guide educational policy effectively.

ENVIRONMENT

• The National Institute of Plant Genome Research (NIPGR), Delhi, used CRISPR-Cas9 to edit japonica rice, enhancing phosphate uptake and yield by targeting the OsPHO1;2 gene. Scientists deleted a 30-base-pair OsWRKY6 binding site, avoiding harmful side effects of full gene knockout. The result: 20–40% higher yield with less phosphate fertilizer, without affecting seed quality. This breakthrough could reduce India’s phosphate import dependence and boost sustainable agriculture. Trials on indica rice are in progress.
• A new freshwater fish species, Barilius imphalensis, locally called “Ngawa,” has been discovered in Manipur’s Imphal River. Endemic to this river, it belongs to the vibrant Danionidae family. This species is unique for its lack of barbels, distinctive blue vertical bars, tiny tubercles on its snout, and a complete lateral line with 41 scales. It thrives in clear, shallow waters with gravel beds and riverbank vegetation, differing significantly from its regional relatives.
• A recent report indicates a remarkable 198.91% growth in the leopard population within the Dudhwa Tiger Reserve (DTR) since 2022. Located on the Indo-Nepal border in Uttar Pradesh, DTR encompasses Dudhwa National Park and the Kishanpur and Katerniaghat Sanctuaries. Characterized by Tarai-Bhabar habitat and rich Moist Deciduous forests with prominent Sal trees, the reserve is crisscrossed by tributaries of the Ghagra River, providing a thriving ecosystem for diverse fauna, including leopards, tigers, and various other mammals.

SCIENCE

• The Vera C. Rubin Observatory, atop Cerro Pachón in Chile, has released its first test images, marking a milestone in astronomy. Designed to unravel cosmic mysteries like dark matter, dark energy, asteroid threats, and the Milky Way’s formation, it houses the world’s largest digital camera (3,200 megapixels). Its Simonyi Survey Telescope offers rapid scanning — the entire sky in 3 days — and will become fully operational by late 2025, revolutionizing observational cosmology.
• Between June 23 and July 7, 2025, DRDO successfully completed user trials of the Extended Range Anti-Submarine Rocket (ERASR) from INS Kavaratti. Developed by ARDE, Pune in collaboration with HEMRL and NSTL, ERASR features a fully indigenous design, twin-rocket motor configuration, and high precision via an indigenous electronic time fuze. All 17 rockets met test objectives, enhancing India’s ASW strike capabilities and boosting blue-water naval deterrence.
• Helgoland, a small German island in the North Sea, is revered by physicists as the birthplace of quantum theory. In June 1925, a hay fever-stricken Werner Heisenberg retreated there and revolutionized atomic theory. He abandoned the concept of electron orbits, focusing instead on observable light frequencies and strengths. By arranging these in matrices, whose multiplication order mattered, Heisenberg formulated the first complete version of quantum mechanics, accurately describing hydrogen atom spectra and changing physics forever.

MISCELLANEOUS

• The Union Culture and Tourism Minister recently unveiled the restored Mughal-era Sheesh Mahal in Shalimar Bagh, North Delhi. Built in 1653 by Izz-un-Nisha Begum, wife of Shah Jahan, it reflects Mughal garden architecture and replicates Kashmir’s Shalimar Bagh. Constructed with bricks and red sandstone, it features a Baradari, mirror-adorned chambers, and a hamam. Aurangzeb’s coronation was held here in 1658. Declared a monument of national importance in 1983, it has since been preserved by the ASI.
• Prime Minister expressed gratitude to Brazil after receiving the Grand Collar of the National Order of the Southern Cross (the highest state honour)
• The US has extended trade deal negotiations with India until August 1, indicating flexibility amid uncertainty over reaching an interim pact. While most “reciprocal tariffs” were initially capped at 10% until July 9, this extension offers India more time. India aims for a mini trade deal covering goods, excluding contentious items like agriculture. This move suggests the US is pushing trading partners to “speed things up,” with the threat of reverting to higher April 2 tariff levels if the deadline is missed.
• Oxford University Press (OUP) has launched its seventh annual Oxford Big Read Global Challenge to boost reading and literacy. This competition invites primary to secondary school students to design book jackets, write reviews, or compare books. Participants get free access to Oxford Reading Buddy, and national winners compete globally with students from over 15 countries. Prizes range from certificates to tablets and internships
• Tadej Pogacar won stage four of the Tour de France at Rouen to claim his 100th professional victory
• Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya inaugurated the ASMITA league for the new season at the Weightlifting Warriors Academy at Modinagar. The league will be a two-day competition, featuring 42 girls in eight weight categories.
• Archaeologists in Peru recently unearthed Penico, a 3,500-year-old lost city founded between 1800-1500 BC, concurrent with early Middle Eastern and Asian civilizations. Located near Caral, the oldest known American civilization, Penico represents its continuation. Researchers found 18 structures, including ceremonial temples and residential complexes, with sculptural reliefs and human/animal figures. Its strategic elevated location suggests a key trading hub connecting Pacific coast, Andes, and Amazon communities, highlighting its ancient importance.