This is the current affairs of 18 July 2025. Here are questions and answers of daily current affairs for better preparation of competitive exams for government jobs.
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1. The Indian Army tested which indigenous air defence system equipped with indigenous active radio frequency (RF) seeker in Ladakh in July 2025?
a. S400
b. Patriot
c. THAAD
d. Akash Prime
Answer: d. Akash Prime
– The Indian Army tested the air defense system ‘Akash Prime’ at an altitude of 15,000 feet (4,500 meters) on July 17, 2025.
– This demonstrated that the Akash Prime missile system can effectively strike even at the high altitudes of the Himalayas.
About Akash and Akash Prime
– Developed by: DRDO
– The production of Akash missiles is carried out by Bharat Dynamics Limited.
– Type of missile: An indigenously developed, surface-to-air missile in India.
– These can be launched from any ground-based vehicle or fixed site.
– Akash Prime has become the third major missile in this category.
– This missile is capable of destroying any type of aircraft in the air.
Why is Akash Prime Special?
– It is equipped with an active Radio Frequency (RF) seeker.
– Compared to the existing version of the Akash missile system, Akash Prime is fitted with an indigenously developed active RF seeker, which provides improved accuracy.
– Additionally, it performs better at high altitudes and in low temperatures.
– It can scan nearly 10 times more area than the basic Akash missile.
– Once the missile locks onto a target, it can pursue and destroy it until impact.
– Earlier, in September 2025, this missile was also successfully tested at the Integrated Test Range in Chandipur, Odisha.
– During that test, it tracked and destroyed an unmanned aerial target mid-air.
– The responsibility for manufacturing its surveillance system, radar, command center, and launcher lies with Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), Tata Power Strategic Engineering Division, and Larsen & Toubro (L&T).
– The Army had long been seeking such a missile that could autonomously identify and precisely destroy its targets.
Radio Frequency (RF) Seeker
– It is a device or system used to detect radio waves, track them, and guide the weapon toward its target.
– This technology is primarily used in missiles, radar systems, and military weapons for target locking and homing.
How It Works
– The RF Seeker captures radio signals emitted by the enemy (such as radar, communication, or jamming devices) and guides the weapon or system in that direction.
– This is also called “Passive Homing” or “Passive Targeting” because it does not emit any signals itself; instead, it locks onto the signals from the target.
Working Process:
1. Detects the radio frequency signals emitted by the target.
2. Analyzes the direction, strength, and frequency of those signals.
3. Guides its weapon or sensor toward that direction.
4. As it gets closer to the target, it estimates distance and direction based on the signal strength.
About DRDO
– Full Name: Defence Research and Development Organisation
– Established: 1958
– Headquarters: New Delhi
– Chairman: Samir V. Kamat
– Under: Ministry of Defence
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2. Which organisation, which claimed responsibility for the Pahalgam terror attack (on 22 April 2025), was declared a ‘foreign terrorist organisation’ by the USA?
a. Ummah Tameer-e-Nau
b. Al Umar Mujahideen
c. The Resistance Front (TRF)
d. None of these
Answer: c. The Resistance Front (TRF)
– In July 2025, the United States designated The Resistance Front (TRF) as a Foreign Terrorist Organization.
– U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated, “The Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) front, TRF, claimed responsibility for the April 22, 2025, Pahalgam attack, in which 26 civilians were killed.”
– “This was the deadliest attack on civilians in India since the 2008 Mumbai attacks, which were carried out by Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). TRF has also claimed responsibility for multiple attacks on Indian security forces, the most recent one in 2024.”
India Held TRF Responsible
– On May 7, during a press briefing, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri held TRF accountable for the Pahalgam attack.
– Misri said, “A group calling itself The Resistance Front (TRF) has claimed responsibility for the attack. This group is a front for the United Nations-designated Pakistani terrorist group Lashkar-e-Taiba.”
About The Resistance Front (TRF)
– In August 2019, the Government of India revoked Article 370 of the Constitution, which granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir.
– Allegedly, following this, The Resistance Front (TRF) was formed in October 2019.
– However, the group first came into the spotlight in early 2020 when it claimed responsibility for multiple targeted killings of Hindus in Jammu and Kashmir.
– TRF is linked to the Pakistan-based terrorist group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and functions as its “branch.”
– In January 2023, India’s Ministry of Home Affairs banned this group and designated it as a terrorist organization under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) of 1967.
– In 2022, a total of 172 terrorists were killed in Jammu and Kashmir, out of which 108 were linked to TRF.
– In the same year (2022), the Central Government declared TRF chief Sheikh Sajjad Gul a wanted terrorist.
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3. When is World Plastic Surgery Day celebrated?
a. 15th July
b. 16th July
c. 17th July
d. 18th July
Answer: a. 15th July
– The Association of Plastic Surgeons in India (APSI) had announced the observance of this day.
– This day is celebrated to raise awareness about the importance of plastic surgery.
– It was first observed on July 15, 2021.
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4. Which city was awarded the first prize in the Super Swachh League (10 lakh+ population) category of the Swachh Survekshan Ranking 2025 by the President?
a. Indore
b. Surat
c. Navi Mumbai
d. Vijayawada
Answer: a. Indore
– Indore, a city of Madhya Pradesh, became the cleanest city of the country for the 8th consecutive time.
– The Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs released the cleanliness ranking in July 2025.
– In this, cities have been divided into five categories in the ‘Super Swachh League’ introduced for the first time.
Swachh Bharat Award 2024-25: Super Swachh League Award
# Super Swachh League: Cities with a population of 10 lakh+
1) Indore (became the cleanest city of the country for the 8th consecutive time) [Madhya Pradesh]
2) Surat (Gujarat)
3) Navi Mumbai (Maharashtra)
4) Vijayawada (Andhra Pradesh)
# Super Swachh League: Big cities with a population of 3-10 lakh
1) Noida (UP)
2) Chandigarh
3) Mysore (Karnataka)
4) Ujjain (Madhya Pradesh)
5) Gandhinagar (Gujarat)
# Super Swachh League: Medium cities with a population of 50,000 – 3 lakh
1) New Delhi (NDMC)
2) Tirupati (Andhra Pradesh)
3) Ambikapur (Chhattisgarh)
4) Lonavala (Maharashtra)
# Super Swachh League: 20,000 – Small towns with population less than 50,000
1) Vita (Sangli, Maharashtra)
2) Saswad (Pune, Maharashtra)
3) Deoli Paravara (Ahmednagar, Maharashtra)
4) Dungapur (Dungarpur, Rajasthan)
# Super Swachh League: Very small towns with population less than 20,000
1) Panchgani (Satara, Maharashtra)
2) Patan (Durg, Chhattisgarh)
3) Panhala (Kolhapur, Maharashtra)
4) Bishrampur (Surajpur, Chhattisgarh)
About Swachh Survekshan
– Swachh Survekshan is an annual survey conducted by the Government of India to assess cleanliness in urban areas.
– It has been organized every year since 2016 by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA).
– It is considered the largest cleanliness survey in the world.
Objectives of Swachh Survekshan
– To promote cleanliness in urban areas.
– To track the progress of the Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban) goals.
– To motivate urban local bodies through competition.
– To encourage citizen participation.
– To focus on waste management and improvement of public toilets.
What Does Swachh Survekshan Evaluate?
– Waste collection
– Waste segregation at source
– Processing and disposal of waste
– Open Defecation Free (ODF) status
– Condition of public toilets
– Citizen feedback
– Innovation
– Good governance and digital initiatives
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5. Which city ranked first in the Super Swachh League (3 – 10 lakh population) category of Swachh Survekshan 2024-25?
a. Chandigarh
b. Noida (UP)
c. Mysore (Karnataka)
d. Ujjain (Madhya Pradesh)
Answer: b. Noida (UP)
Super Swachh League: Big cities with a population of 3-10 lakh
1) Noida (UP)
2) Chandigarh
3) Mysore (Karnataka)
4) Ujjain (Madhya Pradesh)
5) Gandhinagar (Gujarat)
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6. To which city did the President give the first prize in the Clean City Award (10 lakh+ population category) of Swachh Survekshan Ranking 2024-25?
a. Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh)
b. Bilaspur (Chhattisgarh)
c. Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh)
d. Ahmedabad (Gujarat)
Answer: d. Ahmedabad (Gujarat)
– Ahmedabad, Bhopal and Lucknow emerge as new clean cities of India
Swachh Survekshan 2024-25: Clean City Award
# Clean City Award: Cities with a population of 10 lakh+
1) Ahmedabad (Gujarat)
2) Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh)
3) Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh)
# Clean City Award: Large cities with a population of 3-10 lakh
1) Mira-Bhayandar (Thane, Maharashtra)
2) Bilaspur (Chhattisgarh)
3) Jamshedpur (Jharkhand)
# Clean City Award: Medium cities with a population of 50,000 – 3 lakh
1) Dewas (Madhya Pradesh)
2) Karad (Satara, Maharashtra)
3) Karnal (Haryana)
# Clean City Award: Small cities with a population of 20,000 – 50,000
1) Panaji (Goa)
2) Aksa (Ganjam, Odisha)
3) Kumhari (Durg, Chhattisgarh)
# Clean City Award: Very small cities with population less than 20,000
1) Bilha (Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh)
2) Chikiti (Ganjam, Odisha)
3) Shahganj (Sehore, Madhya Pradesh)
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7. Which city got the first rank in the Clean City Award (3 – 10 lakh population) category of Swachh Survekshan 2024-25?
a. Bilaspur (Chhattisgarh)
b. Jamshedpur (Jharkhand)
c. Mira-Bhayandar (Thane, Maharashtra)
d. Shahganj (Sehore, Madhya Pradesh)
Answer: c. Mira-Bhayandar (Thane, Maharashtra)
Clean City Award: Big cities with a population of 3-10 lakh
1) Mira-Bhayandar (Thane, Maharashtra)
2) Bilaspur (Chhattisgarh)
3) Jamshedpur (Jharkhand)
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8. Who got the top award among the cleanest Ganga cities in Swachh Survekshan 2024-25?
a. Patna, Bihar
b. Haridwar, Uttarakhand
c. Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh
d. Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh
Answer: d. Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh
– Honoured with a special national award for the successful planning and implementation of preparations for the world’s largest religious gathering Maha Kumbh-2025.
– Prayagraj Mayor Umesh Chandra Ganesh Kesarwani received the honour on behalf of the city from Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Thursday.
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9. Which is the cleanest city in Bihar in Swachh Survekshan 2024-25?
a. Patna
b. Gayaji
c. Bhagalpur
d. Supaul
Answer: a. Patna
– Among 40 cities with a population of over 10 lakh, Patna ranked 21st.
– Patna is the cleanest city in the state, followed by Gaya (2nd) and Bhagalpur (3rd).
– Among 101 cities with a population between 3–10 lakh, Gaya secured the 27th position and Bhagalpur 64th position.
– In the national cleanliness rankings, 100 cities of Bihar received the ODF Plus certificate.
– Patna Municipal Corporation also received a Ministerial Award.
– Among 88 cities located along the Ganga river, Patna ranked 4th, improving from its previous 6th position.
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10. Which is the cleanest city of Uttar Pradesh in Swachh Survekshan 2024-25?
a. Lucknow
b. Meerut
c. Firozabad
d. Amethi
Answer: a. Lucknow
– In the Swachh Survekshan Rankings 2024, among cities with a population of over 10 lakh, Lucknow Municipal Corporation surprised the entire country by securing 3rd place.
– This is the same Lucknow that ranked 44th in last year’s rankings.
– In other words, the state capital made a giant leap of 41 positions, placing itself among the top three cleanest cities.
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11. When is the World Day for International Justice celebrated?
a. 17 July
b. 16 July
c. 15 July
d. 14 July
Answer: a. 17 July
– It is also called International Criminal Justice Day or International Justice Day.
– The day focuses on advocating fundamental human rights and promoting international criminal justice.
Why is This Day Observed?
– On July 17, 1998, several countries signed the international treaty known as the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.
– Based on this treaty, the International Criminal Court (ICC) was established on the same date, July 17, 1998.
– For this reason, World International Justice Day is celebrated every year on July 17.
About the International Criminal Court (ICC)
– Headquarters: The Hague, Netherlands
– The ICC is different from the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
– Established: July 1, 2002
– The court was created under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, signed on July 17, 1998.
– Member States: 123 (India is not a member and has not signed the treaty).
ICC’s Jurisdiction
– It applies only to those countries that have signed and ratified the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.
– Total member states: 123.
Types of Crimes the ICC Prosecutes
1- Genocide
2- Crimes against humanity
3- War crimes
4- Crime of aggression
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