Current Affairs 01 August 2025

Trump slaps 25% tariff on imports from India, "plus a penalty".

• Recently, the US President has announced a 25% tariff on all imports from India, effective August 1, 2025, along with an unspecified penalty for India’s continued purchases of Russian oil and military equipment.
• India’s high tariffs on U.S. goods, which the US President called among the highest in the world.
• The US has about a $40.8 billion trade deficit with India.

Centre launches 100-day drive to facilitate dividend claims & KYC.

• The Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority (IEPFA) has launched a 100-day campaign.
• The campaign is titled Saksham Niveshak.
• Duration: From 28th July to 6th November 2025.
• It is a national awareness drive to empower shareholders.
• Focuses on unclaimed dividends held by companies.
• Guides shareholders on KYC updates, nomination details, and reclaiming dividends.

USA to Explore Pakistan's Oil Reserves as Part of Broader Trade Deal with India.

• The US has shifted its trade strategy in South Asia.
• President Trump imposed new tariffs on India, citing unfair trade practices and oil imports from Russia.
• He criticized India’s involvement in BRICS, calling it anti-United States.
• Soon after, the US announced a deal with Pakistan to explore and develop its oil reserves.
• This move is seen as a way to balance relations between India and Pakistan.

Gurukul Students To Get Research Opportunities In IITs.

• Ministry of Education and IKS division of Central Sanskrit University launched the Setubandha Scholar Scheme.
• Aims to integrate Gurukul-trained students into mainstream academia.
• Open to those trained in traditional Vidyās and Kalās under the Gurukula system.
• Scholars can pursue Postgraduate and Ph.D. studies, even at top institutes like IITs.

RBI caps investment by a bank in AIF scheme at 10 per cent.

• Reserve Bank of India (RBI) sets new rules for investments.
• These rules limit how much banks and NBFCs can invest in Alternative Investment Funds.
• A single entity can only contribute up to 10 percent of an AIF scheme.
• All regulated entities together cannot exceed 20 percent. RBI may exempt certain AIFs from these rules after consulting with the government.